The now emptied and vacuous chambers of the Syndicate Base was bad enough for Avery to be frequenting on her own. After all, the base had always been full of people only a few hours ago. Even those who had been sound asleep until Cresselia broke the spell of the Dark Void over them had filled the base with a sense of community. Now, there was next to no one at the base. Mewtwo's forces were likely being routed in Arcana and the only beings left in the base at all at this point would be Mewtwo, herself, Cresselia, Darkrai and hopefully Ryan. Whatever was left of the boy she loved, she had to find out for herself.
But getting up to find where Mewtwo was would be dangerous. Even if the mighty Pokemon was somehow unhinged at the loss he endured in Arcana, his power could likely track her in the base, especially now if he no longer needed to control as many people as part of the Singularity. She needed to be more stealthy and observant than ever before. Above all, at least for the moment, she had to stop herself from trying a foolhardy attempt to rescue Ryan from his clutches. He was, as far as she was concerned, one of Mewtwo's flunkies now. How much, was what she needed to discover.
Slowly, she made her way through the now silent network of tunnels leading up to the Throne Room where Mewtwo had taken up refuge. She paused at the doorway when she heard the sounds of someone choking.
You were warned what defeat would bring! Mewtwo's anger sounded throughout the base.
Daring a peek, Avery peered around the corner and gasped. Mewtwo was keeping Courtney levitated in the air, strangling her with his immense Psychic Power. The Black Knight was chained to a wall nearby, himself howling and groaning in pain as Mewtwo delved into torturing the both of them simultaneously. She shuddered at the thought of the two being tormented beyond their ability to take in pain (well, mostly Ryan) and feared that this would make her attempts to make sure Ryan was safe all the more impossible.
Now, thanks to your ineptitude, Courtney, I have NOTHING! He slammed her to the ground in front of him, with Courtney desperately gasping for breath in front of him. Our enemies have been awakened! My armies of Clones and Syndicate troops has been eradicated! You were bested by that witless Cameron Kingston! And now, my enemies have abducted Helen Wong and brought her to Arcana! Give me one good reason not to split your skull open right now!
Courtney, who to Avery's surprise was not immediately groveling, simply shook her head. "I have no reason. None whatsoever."
None whatsoever?
Avery studied Courtney. Something happened to her in battle. She always had a bit of an unhinged look about her. But now, she looked as if she had just realized a horrific truth about the world. Someone who no longer had the drive to fight. Someone who was ready to die.
"None whatsoever" Courtney repeated. "I have no reason to fight for you anymore, Master. I was wrong about the future. I was wrong about my predictions. I was wrong about the King." She looked like she might convulse, but quickly shook it off before standing in defiance of Mewtwo. "But more importantly, I was wrong about you."
Mewtwo simply stared at her.
The Knight was taken aback by these comments, but said nothing.
"Your plans have cost us everything!" Courtney scowled. "I would have had Michael Kingston bent to my will if you hadn't forced me into your service! We would have had everything we ever wanted if you weren't so hellbent on destroying humanity! Hunter and Claude were right to defy you and think for themselves! You are the reason why our plans never-" She began to choke again as her body was slammed repeatedly on the ground. Even Avery had to pity her for what she was suffering.
I'm the reason why we suffer? I AM?! THE ONLY REASON MY PLANS ARE AMENDED ARE BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR LITTLE TWISTED DREAMS! If I had it my way, Michael Kingston would be dead! All of them would have been dealt with!
"You honestly are naive enough to believe that Wong was abducted?" Courtney spat defiantly as she landed hard on the ground, spitting out blood. "She abandoned you!"
I WILL HEAR NO MORE OF THIS NONSENSE!
"I am not afraid to die, Master" Courtney replied. "I failed to capture Michael. Without him, I have...nothing. Go on. Destroy me!"
Mewtwo fumed as he floated over her. No. I have a much better punishment for you. I won't let you get off the hook this easily! I shall spare you the pain of ever needing to feel the comfort of Michael Kingston or any other man ever again! Mewtwo pointed his stubby fingers at her. By erasing your mind!
Courtney shrieked as her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Avery looked away, but did hear the sound of Courtney's body crumpling to the ground, lifeless.
Mewtwo glared down at her. I should have known that humans would be nothing but a pest in my plans! With that done, he turned his attention towards his last faithful servant. I want to know something, Knight! And I demand you tell me the answer! How did Addison Tenton know it was you?! How did she uncover the truth about your identity without battling you?! Do your loyalties lie with your Master or this wretched strumpet?!
The Knight responded as if hypnotized. "I live to serve you, Master."
Then why did you fail me?!
"Addison Tenton has powers beyond your recognition, Master. You underestimated her." As Mewtwo prepared to unleash more torment upon him, the Knight pressed on. "But I am also certain that she cannot defeat you. She is not powerful enough to destroy you. And your armies already caused a great deal of damage to Arcana. All I ask for is another chance to face her. She shall not have the luxury of knowledge this time!"
And how can I trust you not to fail me?
"By drawing her here" the Knight responded, to Avery's horror. "Her power will be balanced by yours here, Master. If I fail, she will have been drained enough to be too weak to destroy you. If I succeed, you will know the Prophecy was nothing to be afraid of!"
How will she be drawn here?
The Knight looked at himself as if trying to make a statement. "There is a portion of Ryan Kingston still inside of me. So long as that part of him remains, she will come for him. And by proxy, you can snare her in your clutches and eliminate her!"
Avery shook her head. What was Ryan doing? Using himself as bait to draw Addison in? Was the Knight just going to lure Addison and the others to their deaths? Or was he secretly trying to undermine Mewtwo on their behalf?
Mewtwo scoffed at this. Hmph. You really think you can fool me? You want her to come so that you can overthrow me!
"What would I gain from overthrowing you, Master? If you are destroyed or revoke my life, I cease to be. The same as the deal you had with Avery Frost."
Avery gulped. He took Ryan's freedom from him? She recalled Ryan telling her he would never want to be brought back out of fear of being kept at the hip by Mewtwo. Now, he was truly Mewtwo's slave. And she could do nothing for him. It was too late.
Mewtwo nodded. Very well. I shall allow you one final chance to serve me. Fail and you'll be sent to a place far worse than here! I have work to do. Without Professor Wong, I have no choice but to work on the Clones myself. We shall see how much they have taken from me by the time I am through with them. Delay her long enough for me to complete the cloning developments. Then bring her here to face oblivion!
"Yes, Master."
Avery shrunk away as Mewtwo vanished from the chambers, leaving the Knight chained to the wall. Realizing this was the only chance she might have, she sprinted over towards her dearest friend in the world. The Knight looked down at her, but said nothing.
"How could they do this to you, Ryan? Make you into a monster? You were never like this! You were kind and caring and loving. How could you let Mewtwo and Courtney do this to you?"
The Knight remained silent.
"Don't you realize the people in Arcana want to help? Mewtwo wants to destroy everyone! Why would you keep helping him?"
Silence.
She shook her head. "I will always love you, Ryan. Truly and deeply. But this isn't you and you know it. But I won't let you destroy the others just so you can serve the Master! If this is goodbye, so be it." She turned on her heel and walked away from the Knight. Finally, her beloved addressed her.
"As long as she lives, Ryan will continue to plague me!"
At those chilling words, Avery left.
{}
"Trust me, I've been in worse pain" Tommy Queensbury assured his sister and her friends. Once word had come that Tommy was beginning to awake from his injury, all of his friends and loved ones gathered around him to ensure he would be alright. Holly found herself, their parents, Jeremy, Dawn, Addison and Matthew surrounding the bed of her brother, who's injuries were not enough to keep his spirits down. His arm was in a sling, his upper body bandaged up and a thick amount of gauze and tape wrapped around where his eye had been mauled. But Tommy acted as if he had just been in a small fight despite clearly being in pain. "Can't think of any moments right now, but still."
Holly shook her head as she fought off tears, looking at her brother's eye bandaged as much as it was. "How can you still act like this was just a scratch or something?"
"It takes a lot of bravery to face something your brother did" Addison told her friend. "I mean, Tommy took the hit for all of us."
Tommy smiled cheekily at his sister. "See? Addy gets it."
"It's a good thing you're our only son" his mother sternly told him. "Otherwise, I'd ground you for the rest of your life!"
Elmont Queensbury sighed. "I expect to see you in plenty of more scrapes like this in the future, assuming we all make it out of this alive."
Tommy nodded. "I'm a fighter. And once I'm back to one hundred percent, I have to get back to training with Jeremy."
Jeremy smiled. "Honestly, Tommy, you outlasted me on Mirage Island. I don't think there's much more you can learn from me."
"No more talk of training until all of this is over" his mother shrieked before Elmont led his wife out of the tent to console her.
Holly held her brother's hand for a minute, just staring at him and smiling. "I'm just glad you're okay, Tommy. I'm proud of you."
Tommy shrugged. "I appreciate it." He winced in pain and slumped back on his pillow. "Maybe I should take things easy for a bit."
"A lot longer than a bit" Dawn reminded him, her own face having a few bandages on it from cuts she endured. "Take things easy for a while. We'd rather you at full strength than trying to tag along." She made a passing glance towards Addison. "I expect there's more to be done, right?"
Addison was silent for a moment before responding. "Mewtwo has to be stopped. And I need to find Ryan. Until those things happen, my fight isn't over."
"Then neither is mine" Matthew promised her.
"Nor mine" Dawn promised. "It is strange to imagine Ryan being a bad guy and Matt on our side, though."
"Mewtwo is controlling him, right?" Tommy asked.
Holly nodded. "Which means it's going to take some special strength from our end to help him get through it. Do we have that in us?"
Jeremy frowned. "I may not have that extra strength, but I won't leave a friend behind. Wherever Ryan is, I'm going to help find him. I know Annette will be close behind us as well." He made a cheeky grin at Matthew. "Which is good news for you, considering how much you clearly like her."
"So, when do we go?" Tommy insisted.
Holly shook her head. "We're not going anywhere. You're staying in bed, while we figure out how to reach Ryan."
"Aw, come on!"
"What part of taking it easy do you not understand?" Jeremy laughed. "Let us handle this, Tommy." Realizing Tommy was going to keep arguing about being included, Jeremy herded the rest of their group outside of the tent and out of hearing range of the young boy. "Truth be told, though, I don't think anyone is up for a journey towards this monster's present location. I mean, the only Kingstons still in fighting shape are Matt and the King's sister, but I think she's mourning the loss of their father, so who knows at this point."
Holly took her boyfriend's hand. "We'll finish this together, that much is certain."
"That I know."
Addison thought for a moment. "Well, maybe I can figure out exactly where they're hiding."
"How so?" Holly inquired.
She smiled and shook her head. "Mage stuff. I need to find a quiet place to meditate. If one of you wants to stand guard, I won't stop you."
To Holly's surprise, Matthew politely turned her down. "I need to check in with Mom and pay my respects. A lot of people have lost their lives, so I feel it's best to be where I'm asked." The group looked into the distance and saw Garret Fiveroux and his sister sitting together, Garret's arm around a clearly distraught Annette. As Annette wept into her brother's arms, Matthew's mood only became more dour. "A lot of people need us, apparently."
"I need to see if Lucas is here" Dawn explained. "And maybe check in on Cynthia. I haven't seen her since the battle ended."
"We'll watch over you" Holly promised Addison. "Jeremy and I will. Just let us know what to do so we don't distract you."
"We'll meet up again as soon as we know what's going on" Addison told the others. When all knew what they were doing, Matthew and Dawn departed on their own, with Matthew offering to pay his respects to his Uncle Jeice and Aunt Shannon for the loss of Cameron and Dawn went in search of Lucas or Cynthia.
Holly came up to Addison's side. "So...how bad are we talking? About Ryan?"
Addison sighed. "I don't know. I have to reach out to him. And hope that Mewtwo hasn't been letting him block me." She took a deep breath and looked to the skies above them. "But, I know I have to try." She walked ahead a few feet and began to seek out the perfect place to meditate.
Holly glanced up to Jeremy worriedly. "I feel bad for her, Jeremy."
"To have all the world's burdens on her shoulders" he remarked sadly. "I wish we could do more to help her, but this is all we can do."
Holly rested her head on her boyfriend's shoulders. "Is it bad to say how much I miss him?"
Jeremy eyed her curiously. "Should I be concerned?"
"Not at all" she promised him. "Losing Ryan has been like what it would have felt like to lose Tommy. Stinging pain that hurts. But I didn't sleep for days after you disappeared. You were never forgotten, Jeremy." The couple then returned their attention directly to Addison, the last in their group desperate to reunite with her lost love and determined to find him by any means necessary.
{}
Julia found her husband in the same bedraggled state she did much of the rest of her family at the camps. Word was spreading quickly of the true numbers of the fallen in the battle with Mewtwo and his clones. Five hundred Arcana Police Force members marched into battle alongside their King and the rest of Arcana's protectors, but barely a hundred managed to escape the battle with their lives. Numerous others had met their end or were seriously wounded. Adrian Fouritz was suffering from shellshock after the clone of an Electrode exploded just a few feet away from him, Tommy Queensbury could very well lose his right eye and Jon Kingston would never walk again.
The most significant of the fallen were no doubt the many losses suffered by her friends and family. Byron Kingston, the man who had been a fiercely loyal Police Chief and had officiated her marriage to Michael, was dead. So too was the man who walked her down the aisle and was the only father she felt she ever knew. Big Mike was gone, having expended all of his strength defending his son. James Junior was dead as well, having been struck down by a vicious Metal Claw from a Clone of a Scizor. Olivia Novren, a woman who had once been one of Julia's greatest adversaries and later a dearly beloved friend, had met her end, leaving behind a son she and Michael would be adopting as their own.
But it was the death of Cameron that shook the family to its core. She was a bastion of strength for the family. A beacon of power and determination. One of James's beloved Grandchildren and beloved by everyone who bore her last name. Above all, she was the tether that kept Michael and Chris weighed down to earth, keeping them focused on what needed to be done before their pleasures. She was every bit as much a piece of their hearts as the others were, and she was mercilessly slaughtered in Courtney's sick and twisted ploy to force Michael to be hers. To know that Michael had unleashed his wrath upon her gave Julia a bit of cathartic joy, but it paled in comparison to how lost she and he felt with Cameron gone. Chris and Michael had to be pried away from Cameron's deathbed by Greg and Jeice Kingston, only for Chris to become a wreck and collapse into the arms of his stepsisters. Julia took Michael away from that scene to make sure he wouldn't be following Cameron so soon.
If Michael had been crushed when he found out about Ryan, he was despondent over a girl who was very much his sister. Jenna, who was being a brave trooper and running the entire camp outside of Pocus Town as it's head nurse, insisted Michael get some medical tests run on him with concern over his heart, but the only thing he would say is that his heart was already broken. While Jenna ran her tests and with her husband hooked up to an EKG Machine, the only thing she could do was hold his hand and shed her own tears. She had always insisted that she would be the strong one, but now she was sure that she had to be. Michael was broken and she had to put the pieces back together before it was too late.
Jenna, who was taking his blood pressure, noted everything into her charts. "Your Majesty is lucky to have made it off that battlefield."
Michael said nothing, staring off into the void of space. This left his wife to answer. "Should he take it easy for a bit?"
"If only that were possible" she replied, eyeing her cousin with concern. "With you, there is no 'taking it easy'." She unwrapped Michael's arm and turned off the machine. "Your heart should be stable for the moment, but you shouldn't take any chances for now. No binge eating or drinking. Julia, I know this isn't easy, but I'm counting on you to make sure this doesn't happen." Jenna felt herself shaking and did everything she could to stop. "Knowing how much we've lost, despite the victory, I want to drink myself into a coma right now."
"I'll keep an eye on him" Julia promised as Jenna rushed out to tend to her other patients. Julia rested her head on his arm. "Oh, honey. My love. If I could take this pain away from you, I would."
"There is no way to take this pain away" Michael mourned. "No way to bring her back. Nothing."
"She was the fourth of our group" the Queen recalled. "There wasn't a place the three of us could go where Cam wouldn't follow. Whenever we watched from the sidelines when you or Chris would battle, she told me she was going to be just like you. I know we became very distant over the years, mostly because of the way I acted, but I still loved her. You three were the first friends I ever had. The only friends I ever had."
"She was everything to us" the King continued. "But whenever I looked at her, from the moment we came back here, I saw Jane. I saw my mother. I always hoped that the more I taught her, the more I helped her become strong, the less likely I'd have to deal with this tragedy again. But I was wrong. This life is nothing but tragedy." He pounded his other fist angrily on the cot he was sitting in, prompting Julia to stand in front of her husband and hold both his hands.
"Life is tragedy, but it's also hope" she reminded him gently. "No matter how much we lose, life always goes on and on. We may lose those that mean the world to us, but we in turn become people that mean the world to others. Abuela is gone. And so are Jane and Cameron. But you know what? We have our little hurricane and that handsome prince of ours at home." She held her hand to her belly. "We have another child on the way." She then looked up lovingly towards her husband. "And we have our newest son, Little Michael. It's the great circle of life in action. Many come, many go. But we're all a part of it, doing everything we can to make our world a better place. Oh my love, I know how much pain you're in and I wish there was nothing in that heart but joy and love." She rose up to her husband and held his cheeks. "And you will always have me and my heart."
Michael's hands went to her body as he lifted her into the cot with him. He eyed her with all of the love possible. "I truly do not know what I would do without you, Julia." The two came together for a passionate kiss, which was naturally when they were interrupted.
"You wanted to see me-oh! Oh my!"
Julia glanced behind her and scowled. "Lady Erin."
"I didn't think I was intruding on-" Michael's mother explained.
"I need you to do something for the family" Michael spoke quickly, Julia knowing he wanted to get back to their love making. "Is Teller's open in Pocus Town?"
"You really want Ice Cream right now, Michael?" Erin asked sternly.
"I need you to take Michael Novren there. Take him to get some Ice Cream and bring him back here." Michael gave his mother the most wholesome and genuine look Julia remembered him ever giving her. "Before you say anything, I figure you'll want some bonding time with him first since we're about to adopt him."
Erin put her hand up to her mouth and gasped. Julia could tell tears were forming in her mother in-law's eyes, but she quickly accepted. "Of course. Of course. I won't say anything, of course. Just an Aunt who wants to spoil her nephew for now." She was about to exit the tent, but then looked backwards. "There's someone else here to see you, Michael."
Julia, despite the utter distress on her husband's face, climbed off of him. "Send him in."
"Actually, Professor" a woman's voice called from behind Erin, "it's just me."
"Helen Wong?" Julia exclaimed. "Yes. Send her in."
Erin departed and the thin and pale-skinned Helen Wong walked in, though she was much more worn and gaunt since the last time she had seen her colleague. Her lab coat was dirty and appeared almost vanilla-colored compared to the usual white it was before. But the fact that the long thought MIA Professor from Kanto had shown up in Arcana with the returning trainers all but made her feeling better.
"I actually haven't been a Professor in a long time" Julia admitted. "We've taken up crowns at this point, so..."
Helen, caught off guard by this, immediately bowed before them. "Oh my. How foolish of me. Forgive me for-"
"There's no reason for that, Helen" Michael assured her. "Rise."
Helen rose and gave Michael a wry smile. "It's been a very long time, Michael."
Julia glanced back at her husband. "You two know each other?"
"Our mutual friend Mark Lionel thought it would be a good idea to try and pair us together a long time ago" the Professor explained. "But both of us were lukewarm to the idea. I was still mourning the death of my father and struggling to prepare for university, so a relationship was not in the cards for me."
"And as I told you once before, Julia" her husband assured her, "I didn't believe I could care for anyone. Not until I met you in Orre."
"Before we go too far off topic" Helen interjected, "there is something important I have to warn you about. The both of you. There is more to this battle. It's far from over."
"I understand you were forced to clone for him?"
"Those clones you faced on the battlefield were bad enough" Helen warned. "But there are more dangerous clones waiting on Mirage Island. Some he made me use the same kind of delicate care he was made with. Clones of himself, or more precise, perfected versions of clones of Mew."
Julia shuddered. "More of him?" She saw her husband's face darken at this news, but attempted to keep things positive. "Well, thank you for bringing this up to us. We knew this battle wasn't over yet. But now we have to prepare for our next move."
"Helen" Michael spoke authoritatively, "I'm going to need you to explain this before my Military Council. I know how worn we all are, but I will not let this fiend cause more nightmares for the people or Pokemon of my kingdom. We'll be meeting shortly, once we all have a basic idea of what we're going to be up against." He made a sad look towards Julia. "There is too much on the line for this."
Helen nodded. "Thank you, Michael. Julia." She bowed before the two and exited the tent.
Julia remained downtrodden. "Will we ever get a moment alone, again?" To her surprise, Michael took her hand and brought her right back on top of him where she had been before being interrupted. Once she was above him, she blushed as she saw the fierce determination in her husband's eyes. "Michael? Honey, are you sure?"
"The world can wait for once" Michael assured her gently. "When our new son needs us, we'll go out there and be parents. Right now, all I am is a husband to my Queen."
"But what about your-" she asked, but he didn't listen. He pulled her into another romantic kiss, and all of her doubts about the future, fears of Mewtwo and the abyss suddenly fell from her as she was at peace in her husband's arms. All that mattered to him was her. And all that mattered to her was him.
Total nirvana.
{}
While she was perfectly able to protect herself while meditating, Addison did find a bit of relief in knowing that Jeremy and Holly would be watching over her as she sought to calm her mind and prepare herself mentally for what was to come. They were true friends to her, and she was in dire need of those. She knew as long as she had those two, as well as Matthew and Annette, she might be able to overcome anything she might encounter as they neared the final clash with Mewtwo. Once she saw that the battle had ended with Mewtwo nowhere to be found, regardless of the fate of Courtney or any other commanders he might have had, she knew this was only the opening act. And it was a truly devastating one. Everyone on her side was either mentally, emotionally or physically taxed beyond the point of salvation.
But it was not over. Not for her and not for Mewtwo. It would not end until one of them was gone and the other victorious.
With her friends standing guard and amidst the fallen Pokemon and trainers around her, Addison sat down, crossed her legs and began to let her mind rejuvenate itself. The Bond Phenomenon still connected her to Galatea, thus allowing this process to be faster than usual, while Rosemary's Alakazam (well, he is her follower now) continued to assist her in the same fields. The duo sat in silence, attempting to gauge what kind of situation lied ahead for them.
Well, at least the Alakazam was.
Addison and Galatea were desperate to find a link to the minds of their beloved. Thanks to Mewtwo and Courtney, Ryan and Achilles had been forced to join in the Bond Phenomenon alongside the rest of Ryan's Pokemon. They had turned him into a weapon of war. One aimed at breaking her in every way possible. She understood why Mewtwo was so confident in the parlay and why he was so horrified when she managed to even temporarily break his hold over Ryan. This time, she hoped to break his hold over the boy she loved for good. If she could only reach him.
You shouldn't be here...
Addison cocked her head and smiled sadly. "Why? You closing the door to old friends?"
You will only get in the way if you interfere further.
"Well, tough. I'm going to. A friend of mine needs me."
I can assure you he doesn't need you. He has all that he has ever needed. His heart can no longer be harmed.
"No heart is safe from harm, though I swear to Arceus above that I would never harm his" Addison declared. "So why don't you let me speak to him and stop safeguarding him."
I am him, Addison.
"You're whatever Mewtwo put inside of him" she hissed. "Now let him go or I'll crush the both of you!"
It would seem you need to understand the truth. Very well. If you wish to understand why Ryan is the way he is, open your eyes.
Addison did as she was told. A mist had built around where she and the Alakazam were meditating. It seemed that time had stopped moving. She rose to her feet, but kept herself on guard. She sensed someone behind her and spun around to attack, but paused. The Knight was standing in front of her. He had no inclination to attack her or threaten her. He simply stood at ease in front of her, his eyes staring from behind the mask and helmet he wore. She lowered her hands and stepped in front of him.
"How do I know it's you and not some trick by your Master?"
"The Master is preparing his ultimate design" the Knight replied. "A weapon that far outclasses any he has used to this point. Even myself."
"And you're willing to let him discard you?"
"My purpose is to serve him. Anything beyond that goes against my ideology."
"And what ideology is that?"
"The Master is the beginning and end of my world" he reiterated. "Without him, I am nothing. Nothing but a husk of painful memories and broken dreams."
Addison took a deep breath. "I want to speak with Ryan."
"We are the same person, Addison."
"Show me his face, then."
The Knight obliged, first removing his helmet and then his mask. Ryan's face was pale. His normally enticing emerald eyes were now dulled. His hair was frazzled without his trusted bandanna over his head. He looked unwell on so many levels. But the way he spoke to her would not have given that away. It was still his voice, but only if his heart had indeed been crushed by some kind of mistreatment.
"Is there something wrong?" he asked her.
Addison wanted so desperately to hug him. To have him hold her in his arms. To hold his hands. To kiss him. To do anything with him to make him see the truth. But she needed to hold back. This was a vision. Nothing more.
"Why? Why did you choose to serve Mewtwo?"
"I didn't" he explained. "That decision was made for me. And for once, it was not because of the will of my Master, nor his follower Courtney. It was made by the people I trusted. The people I loved without a shadow of a doubt." He looked to her longingly. "By you. And by my brother."
"What you saw was a moment of weakness for me" Addison insisted. "They in no way indicate how much I care about him."
"Your own words do not lie."
All around her, Addison could hear her own words, begging Matthew to be with her. Telling her she loved him and needed him. She could not deny she said that, but she would defend her reasoning for doing so. "People are weak when pushed to their limits, Ryan. I pushed Michael away. I pushed so many people away out of fear that I couldn't do what fate destined me to. But I answered the call. Matthew knew I didn't mean it. Why can't you?"
"All I could think about while I was on Mirage Island was you" the Knight recounted sadly. "All of those days traveling with Chris, Amanda and Avery. All the talks we had, the plans we had. All of it was forfeit to me if I could just be with you. But it was true, all along. I was never the one for you. You always preferred Matthew. Not me."
"How many times do I have to-"
"It doesn't matter anymore" he snapped. "Nothing about the past does. All that matters now, is our coming clash. And I can assure you, you will not have some nature breaking tricks at your disposal this time! It will be us as it was always meant to be: clashing to the very ends of the earth! I will not fail my master again!" He winced, as if fighting off some kind of anguish, but he pressed on. "My existence depends on it."
"You made a deal with Mewtwo?"
"They tortured me" her love went on. "Courtney with her cattle prod, the Master with his telekinesis. But after weeks of it, it became increasingly clear to them that the only true anguish for me to endure was living in the same universe as the two people who had broken my heart. My brother, who shattered our friendship. And you, who crushed my reasoning for existing. He made me live. My entire life is now in his hands."
"Then you can break free of him" she theorized.
"And become a ghost?"
"Be free of him!"
"The pain will return!"
"THEN LET ME END IT!" she screamed.
The Knight closed his eyes, clutching at his head as if trying to fight off a massive migraine. He would make loud grunts as if losing his fight. But every other word managed to be comprehensible to her. "Addy-need-leave-here! He-rest-you-destroyed!" He finally fell onto his knees, as if about to vomit. He was barely holding himself together, before falling onto his hands. "You...you need to...to let me go...Addison."
"What? Ryan?" She was down on her knees in front of him. She held her hand to his cheek, but pulled away. It felt like it was on fire.
"Don't...don't come for me..." he warned her weakly. "It's not worth it."
"You are worth it" she assured him.
"No" he answered in a hoarse whisper. "He'll...he wants...destroy me..."
"He wants to destroy you?"
"He wants you to."
"Huh?"
"By...ending his...ending me...you'll...he'll come...he'll make you...his."
"What are you talking about?"
"Prepare for him" Ryan spat out, before coughing up a bit of blood. "Addy. Be on guard! He's...ugh...he'll come! He wants...you to be...ugh!"
Addison could only watch as Ryan fell onto his side. The helmet and mask began to float on their own back towards Ryan's face. She desperately tried to shield him from them, but he made a movement with his hand to push her aside. She fell backwards as the mask and helmet refitted themselves upon his head. His breathing returned to normal and he rose back up to his knee. He then chuckled. "That's enough of that."
"Ryan..."
The Knight and she rose simultaneously, though the Knight stood with far more conviction than she did. "There is nothing between us now. Only battle."
"Let go of him, Ryan" she begged. "I know you're still in there. Mewtwo can never break you completely! Be with me!" She reached for his hand and took it. "Ryan. There is no force on this earth that will ever stop me from loving you. I still do. And I always will. And I know you can break through this. We can be together! Just you and me! And all you have to do is believe in yourself! I will be with you! I always have been. Please!"
The Knight's eyes reverted to the bright green eyes Addison adored and his voice seemed to have some semblance of her beloved in it. But his words crushed her soul. "It's too late for me, Addy."
"It's never too late" she promised him. "Not for you or anyone else."
The Knight looked shaken. "Please, Addy. Don't come for me. I'm gone. Accept it and move on."
She was determined to fight more, but the outside world began to break through to her inner psyche. She could hear someone speaking to her. She looked back at where Ryan had been in front of her, only to find he was no longer there. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It's not too late, Ryan. I'm coming for you! She felt the promise ring he had given her on her ring finger and smiled. It's never too late.
When she opened her eyes and exhaled, she felt as if she had just been underwater for an entire day. She fell onto her back and focused her eyes on the two beings in front of her. Jeremy and Holly stood above her, eyeing her with worry.
"Everything okay?" Jeremy inquired. "You were shouting."
"Addy?" Holly squeaked nervously.
Addison nodded and let her friends pull her back to her feet. "No. I'm okay, guys. Really, I am."
"What did you see?"
Addison smiled faintly. "Ryan's still out there. But so is Mewtwo."
"What does that mean?" Jeremy gulped.
Addison felt a late raindrop fall on her head as a gentle rainfall fell over the battlefield of the Crag Hills, her determination fiercer than ever before. "This battle isn't over yet."
