"I told you I don't need that thing on my head!" Matthew snapped at his cousin Jenna in the infirmary. Though his head was still ringing from the blow he had taken from the Golurk, he felt he was capable of going through the pain. Nevertheless, he was completely worn from his experience in the battle and was essentially powerless to prevent his cousin from placing a large ice pack on his head.

"We can't play it too safe" Jenna responded, forcing the boy to accept the ice pack on his head as she knotted it there with a piece of string. "You can still have a concussion and I don't have any of my equipment to test out on you at the moment. You're just going to have to accept my hospitality."

Matthew reluctantly accepted his defeat and let Jenna leave to tend to others who had been injured in the battling. He looked over towards Ryan's bed beside him, but his brother was still passed out and motionless. While he was troubled by what he had seen from his brother, Matthew could do nothing about it until they had cleared up all that was going on in Titanio City. Claude's death would no doubt leave a power gap that needed to be filled by someone in the city. And it was likely someone in Claude's inner circle might still try to prevent them from stabilizing the region into something more peaceful. They needed to tread the next few weeks carefully and hope Mewtwo wasn't strong enough to make his plans fully realized.

Holly and Tommy entered the tent, both worn from their own experiences in battle. Holly in particular seemed as if she could pass out in another moment if given the opportunity, but she eyed Ryan with great worry as they approached their beds. Tommy remained at a distance. Despite their temporary truce, it was clear to Matthew that he was still not at all trusted by his friend's little brother. Though he doubted very much that Tommy was alone in mistrusting him. He might have done enough to get some respect from his family, but he wasn't yet fully reintegrated into the family yet. Part of him was sure he could live with it, though. He had been alone for so long, what was another few years? Then again, he never truly was alone in those days. He always had Jocelyn looking over him...

"Is Ryan okay?" Tommy asked nervously. "We've been hearing things."

"Is it true, Matt?" Holly inquired. "Did he do it?"

Matthew nodded slowly, not wanting the ice pack to fall onto his face. "I saw it with my own eyes. I'm sure Claude provoked him into doing something rash, but I can't imagine he expected Ryan would-"

"Are you sure it was him? I'm finding it hard to believe that Ryan of all people would have done something like this."

"I'd be taking credit if I had been the one who did it" Matthew insisted, though he knew deep down that he would have definitely taken Claude as a prisoner. "Ryan did it. I saw it and I know for a fact Claude's secretary did too. I don't want it to be true, but I can't deny what I saw with my own eyes."

Holly sat beside Ryan's bed and frowned. "Oh Ryan..."

Ryan stirred in bed and looked at everyone in confusion. "Did I miss something? What are we doing here?"

"You mean, you don't remember?" Tommy worriedly asked him.

"What happened?" Ryan's eyes found worried expressions looking back at him and he gulped. "How bad is it? Did Claude get away again?"

"You could say that" a voice echoed from nearby. Their Uncle Byron shuffled into the infirmary, removing his policeman's hat as he did. His face was worn and exhausted from months of fighting on top of his lengthy service as part of Arcana's Police Force. But he also wore a stern and serious look on his face. Something neither twin was used to seeing. "Ryan, we've got a serious problem on our hands. More than one, actually."

"Claude's dead" Matthew told his brother. "Killed."

Ryan gasped. "Who killed him?"

Byron sighed. "You did, son."

Ryan cocked his head to the side. "Huh? When did that happen?" He looked down at his hands and began to shake. "There's no way I could have done it. There has to be some kind of mistake."

"You did" Byron spoke up. "Two corroborating witnesses saw it, including Claude's secretary." Byron went down to a knee in front of his nephew's bed. "I'm not going to lie to you, kid. You're in serious trouble for this. Not just with the court marshals, but there could be criminal charges coming your way too. And add onto that Claude's power in the courts and things can get ugly real fast."

"What are you talking about?" Holly asked the former Chief of Police.

"Claude had allies in all the right places. That's probably why his escape attempt in that helicopter was so half-baked. He knew if it came down to the courts, they would give him lenient sentences. He has almost every single judge and lawyer in Arcana in his back pocket. If we had taken him alive, we might have been able to secure a few years in jail and exile after that. With him dead, there's every chance they'll try to turn him into a martyr. Especially with a Kingston having been the one who delivered the killing blow."

Ryan's frown only worsened. "Are you hear to arrest me?"

"Michael thinks otherwise" Byron insisted. "That's why I asked your friends to be here."

"What do you mean?" Tommy chimed in. "Do you think we can help?"

"Right now" the Chief explained, "we're worried about any backlash this might bring up in Claude's ranks that haven't surrendered yet. Michael wants you relocated to some place safe and hidden. Some place we're sure none of Claude's men would or could look for you. And he wants you to stay there until we know exactly what's going to happen to you."

"So I'm supposed to go into hiding?" Ryan asked, anger brimming in his voice.

"It's a temporary thing" his uncle assured him. "The last thing we need is for something to happen to you."

"Claude's dead and the war is over, but I have to run off and hide like some piece of criminal trash?!"

Byron rose to his feet and stood over Ryan, a hint of anger in his own voice. "If you don't, you or your loved ones might get targeted by these lunatics. Ryan, you need to think about your family in this instance. What if one of these loons goes after your father? Or Kayleigh? Or even Addison?"

"Where is she, anyway?" Matthew asked. "I haven't seen her since we split up before the battle."

"She's a little sick at the moment" Holly explained. "I don't know how to explain it, but she was having migraines while we were in the city. Michael took her back to Kingston Castle to rest and recover."

"Michael's on his way here" Byron continued. "But he wants you to head off into hiding for a bit."

Ryan eyed those around him and reluctantly nodded. "Okay. I will."

"You're not getting sent away alone" his uncle told him. "We would have ordinarily sent Addison or your brother with you on this, but their health is in question so we're declining." Byron then looked towards Holly. "That's why we're looking to you, Miss Queensbury. You're very close to Ryan and I know you can help him if he's going to be in hiding for a while."

Holly seemed surprised. Matthew could even tell that she was slightly blushing at the idea. "Me? You want me to go with Ryan into hiding?"

Ryan looked to Holly and nodded. "If I have to go into hiding, I'd rather go into hiding with someone like you than going alone."

"Then I'm in."

Byron handed Ryan a special card. "Take this. It's a special Corviknight Cab. It will take you wherever you kids want to go or intend to go into hiding." He eyed the two with sad and tired eyes. "But remember. We cannot know where you're going. No one can. Not your parents, not Michael. Not me. Not Julia. Not Cameron. Not even your brother or sister. Where you two go, only you will know." Byron looked out of the tent and sighed. "Michael is coming and we need to fill him in. You kids need to sort this out." Before waiting for any rebuttals, Byron Kingston exited the tent.

Ryan put his head in his hands. "What did I do?"

Holly put her hand on his shoulder. "Hey. We're going to pull through this. We just need to get a bit more faith in ourselves."

Matthew nodded. "We'll hold the fort down for you guys. You guys just go and do what you need to do."

Ryan looked to his brother and sighed. "If you say so."

Tommy gave his friend a thumbs up. "We know so."

With a bit more confidence in himself, Ryan rose to his feet and turned to Holly. "You sure you can put up with me for however long it will take?"

Holly winked at him. "If I could put up with you walking all around Arcana, I think I can put up with you for a few days in some hiding place." She looked towards Tommy. "Let Mom and Dad know I've gone into hiding with Ryan. I'll get into contact with them as soon as I'm allowed to." Without waiting for any further comment from her brother, Holly took Ryan's hand and led him out of the infirmary, the two nearly barreling over Jenna as they exited. Jenna seemed surprised at the situation as she gathered her supplies to head over and check on Ryan.

"Since when did those two get so close?"

"Since Uncle Byron said they need to go into hiding" Matthew responded, rubbing his head to ensure the ice went onto the lump on his head. "Probably before that though, to be honest."

"Yeah" Jenna responded kindly. "But I mean...isn't Ryan supposed to be with Addison?"

"Addison's feeling sick" Tommy explained. "She had a migraine when we were battling and Mr. Michael brought her to Kingston Castle."

"That's why Holly is the one going with Ryan instead of Addy or me" Matthew concluded.

Jenna shrugged. "Eh. That's fine I guess. I just hope for Addy and Ryan's sake all that alone time doesn't amount to anything." She made her way over towards Matthew to check on his head. "That lump on your head isn't going to go anywhere for a while. You need to get some rest and take plenty of medication, Matt."

"Yippie" Matthew sarcastically laughed. "Time off."

"I shouldn't think it would be too objectionable" Jenna gently replied. "After all, you'll get to see your Dad and Kayleigh again."

Tommy reclined himself on the bed Ryan had been laying in beforehand. "Ah. Time off."

"All that nothing you've been doing must be tiring" Matthew mocked.

"Alright, you two" Jenna responded. "It's bad enough I've had to break up fights Billy gets into all his life. I'm not doing it between allies in a warzone."

"It was only the one" the voice of Billy Kingston echoed as he entered the infirmary tent. Matthew noticed his cousin had taken on a bit more bulk since the war started. He was looking more and more like Michael every single day, almost as if he thought the more he emulated the only tame and sane Kingston out there, he might take a bit of it with him. "And I would have been more than able to take care of myself if that jerk didn't bring his friends."

"The more you boasted about the Champion being your cousin and saying he and Chris would have your back in a fight, the more you should have expected someone you didn't like to show up with friends. Count your blessings Michael never found out about this. Or Jon. The two of them would have ripped you a new rear end."

Billy shrugged. "Eh. I'm not scared." He looked around the infirmary and lowered his head. "Oh. You mean to tell me I missed the hero who killed Claude?"

Jenna frowned. "Can you not? This is a serious situation, Billy. Claude's death is not what we needed at this moment."

"No one has taken this more seriously than me!" Billy snapped back, shocking those in the infirmary, including his sister. "Or did you forget this war started for me weeks before it did for any of you?" Realizing he had nearly exploded on everyone present, Billy calmed himself. "Sorry. It's just-"

"We've all been through a lot" Jenna told her little brother sincerely. "Maybe you could do with some rest, just like Matty here." She put her hand on his shoulder. "Billy. I mean it."

"Once all this is over" her brother responded. "So long as Lord Kingston needs me, I'm at his service."

"Michael would rather have you as a whole person than as a lieutenant for war" Jenna countered.

Billy seemed eager to argue, but Michael landing outside on the back of Rhaegar all but quashed any side talk. Billy stood firmly at attention as Michael casually entered. Michael sized him up for a moment and let out a chuckle. "That look doesn't suit you, Billy."

"If you'd want me to change it-"

"Billy" Michael responded kindly, "I don't want anyone to ever go down the same path I did. I see a lot of myself in you. And it scares me."

Billy nodded sadly. "I'm just...tired."

"You need to get some rest" Michael agreed with Jenna. "You're in no condition to keep this going."

"I can't stop" he fired back. "Not until we get her back."

Matthew looked to Jenna for some context. "Who?"

"Amanda" Jenna answered quickly before shushing him.

"Amanda wouldn't want you ragged to the bone" Michael told him. "There is no shame in taking it easy for a bit, kid. Trust me, there is not a person here who would want to see Amanda and those on Mirage Island back home and safe more than me. But we can't get to them if we're exhausting ourselves tirelessly over this." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Billy. Go home. See your Mom and Dad. Jenna will be there, too. Get some rest and we'll go back to finding Amanda as soon as we're all back in top form."

Billy choked up on his words before lowering his head and departing from the infirmary. Jenna sighed sadly as she watched her brother woefully shuffle his way out of the tent. "He's taking this so hard."

"The important thing is that he knows how exhausted he is. We're going to find out soon enough just how taxing these last six months have been on all of us." Michael looked to his younger cousin the same way he had her older brother. "Jenna, I meant what I said. You need to be home, yourself. Get some rest. The infirmary can hold until morning."

Jenna took a moment for reflection before she agreed. "I haven't seen Mom or Dad in weeks."

"Probably the same length of time since I've seen my kids" Michael said in kind. "Get to them and keep your brother's spirits up." When Jenna had departed, Michael walked in further to check in on Matthew. "How you holding up?"

"Oh, as best as I can" Matthew laughed, his head throbbing from the blow the Golurk had given him. "Still able to fight better than Tommy would."

"That is not true!" Tommy argued. "I could battle circles around you, concussion kid!"

Michael waved them off. "Alright, alright. I don't need a masculinity contest to brew between you. I just want to make sure you two are going to be okay." He looked to Matthew. "I've been to see Davis. Claude's Secretary."

"What's so good about that Sneasel?"

"I found them."

This caught Matthew off guard. "You...you did?"

"Found who?" Tommy asked.

"Claude was keeping them in Renee's Gym. Along with an entire camp worth of hostages. Davis spilled it all to hope for some kind of deal. I don't care if he gets it or not. What matters to me is getting Tori and your mom out of that Gym and back home where they belong." He patted Matthew on the bed. "But, you're not in a position to go to the Gym with me, if your head is that badly hurting." Michael turned to leave. "I'll go for them with Mark and Lizzie. Your Mom will come for you soon enough, kid. Stay in bed. Tommy, don't let him run off and do anything stupid."

"What makes you think I would?"

Michael eyed him with a bit of a smile. "Last time I left you on your own, you made the biggest mistake of your life."

Matthew grumpily slumped against his bed. "Fair enough."

{}

Once they had made it out of the Kingston Encampment and away from the curious and wandering eyes of their peers, friends and allies, did Holly finally come to a stop and turn to Ryan. Though he was trying to demonstrate a sense of confidence and a reclamation of his prior days as a more carefree and kindhearted boy, she could tell that her friend was suffering from whatever inner demons he was fighting.

"Hey" she spoke calmly to him. "You okay?"

"I'm trying to be" he responded honestly. "How can I be, though?"

"You're too hard on yourself" Holly recognized. "Everybody makes mistakes, Ryan. Even a Champion like you."

"I'm supposed to be better than this" Ryan gloomily responded. "I need to be better."

"You got angry" Holly reasoned. "You're hurt, you're tired and you're broken hearted over what's been going on." She realized only now that she was still holding his hand, but he didn't seem so inclined to let go, so she let him keep it there. "Ry, to be angry is to be human. No one avoids this. Not me. Not you. Not Addy. Not even Michael. You can't be better than what you are."

Ryan kept his head low and his eyes away from hers. "I need to be better. Not just weak."

Holly bit her lip. "Ryan, what you call weak, others would call being strong. You've been strong for so long. Let us be strong for you now." She tugged at his hand and looked at the card that Byron Kingston had given them for the private Corviknight Cab they would use to elude any unscrupulous individuals. "Come on. We've got to find a safe house for us to lay low in for a few days. I have an Aunt who lives in Cauldro City that we could-"

"Can we go to Charizark Town?" Ryan asked.

"What's in Charizark Town?"

"My Dad's private apartment. Only my Dad would know where it is. And me, but that's besides the point. But no one would know where we would be. And it would be just the two of us. Like my Uncle would want." Before Holly could respond, Ryan looked to her with a more serious look. "This is my Dad's private apartment. No one knows about it. And if we go there, can I count on you to keep it's location a secret?"

Holly laughed. "Sure. I see no reason why I would blab about it."

Ryan shrugged. "I needed to be sure. If we're going to be in hiding together, I'd rather no secrets be between us." With Holly holding the card, Ryan dialed out the number into his Poké Gear and sent a message to the Corviknight Cab for their departure. After a moment of waiting, the cab arrived, with the Corviknight landing beside them and letting out a low squawk. The cab doors opened on their own. Ryan led Holly up towards the open door and assisted her into it. "After you."

His old friend giggled. "Ah, Ryan. A chivalrous knight until the very end." She entered the luxurious cab and made herself comfortable before pulling Ryan into the cab alongside her. Once both were seated and secured, the cab doors closed and the Corviknight took off into the evening skies with it's two occupants.

{}

As the sun began it's descent on Claude's decayed empire, the war he had longed to force upon Arcana and the day itself, Michael's Dragonite and his old friend Mark Lionel's Charizard landed gently on the shores just outside of the Titanio Bay Pokémon Gym. Michael slid off the back of his Pokémon and observed the situation. Mark climbed off of his Charizard and did the same. Lizzie West had already scrambled off of the back of the Charizard she was sharing and did her best to aid in the scouting situation.

"Wow" Lizzie laughed, "it's been a long time since we were here."

"Two years is a long time" Mark commented. "Especially considering you and I went back home for a while."

Though the three of them, as well as Michael's cousins Christopher and Cameron, had dominated the Arcanan Pokémon League for a decade, the trio found themselves having gone down very different path since they had parted ways following Ryan's ascension to the throne as League Champion. Michael was a family man, focused more and more on preserving the lives of his wife and two children. He was also the new Lord of Arcana, expected to watch and govern over the region the same way his grandparents had. He now was responsible for thousands of people instead of just his small and condensed family. But so long as the other part of his heart, his Pokémon, were missing and likely in the hands of Mewtwo or the tyrannical madman Hunter Bastion (chiefly his Mythical Pokémon friend in Celebi), he was determined to keep his fight going as long as it needed to.

Lizzie, thanks to a slightly unexpected diagnosis of being on the spectrum, had slid back into being a recluse in the Hoenn Region. In fact, had it not been for the resurgence of their old enemies in The Syndicate, she probably would have remained a simple and peaceful lady hermit that did little but remain in the same home her grandparents had raised her in. With her old nemesis Hunter having returned and taken Jirachi from her, alongside Mewtwo causing all but her beloved Umbreon to abandon her while she was in the Lilycove Hospital, she had to return to her friends in Arcana to aid in their quest to restore the world back to what it was beforehand.

Mark was stuck in the middle between both paths his friends had gone down. He wanted to be a family man, but found it much harder to reintegrate into Kanto society after spending years atop the Arcanan one with his friends. He embroiled himself in the construction projects on Cinnabar Island and even found himself in a quasi-relationship with his good friend Greta, but he was still far from having gotten himself the family he always wanted. And yet, he felt he could not help but aid in the brewing conflicts in Arcana to try and reunite with his own missing Pokémon, including his Mythical Pokémon friend in Mew. His fight and subsequently his family growing would have to wait until after he got his and his friend's Pokémon back.

"Why would Claude leave the Gym unguarded?" Michael asked as he realized no one was outside patrolling the Gym. Rhaegar floated up into the air to sniff around for any hiding or lurking guards. When he didn't see any, he soared up towards the main doors and began to melt them with a Dragonbreath attack.

"He's been running low on men since Cynthia and Billy creamed him in Magic Junction" Mark insisted. "He probably had the last of them to defend the city."

"Long enough for the cretin to try and escape" Lizzie added.

"Ryan quashed that plan" Michael said sadly.

"I still can't believe Ryan took down Claude. It's almost scary to think of it."

"It's going to be a rough mess to clean up" Mark commented.

"One I may not be able to get him out of" Michael admitted. "But I can't worry about that right now. All I have to worry about now is getting my sister and Aunt Alison out of here and then get Deidre to be a mother again."

"Where is he now?" Lizzie asked.

Michael shrugged. "My Uncle sent him and Holly Queensbury off into hiding. Even I don't know where those two went. Hopefully they're someplace safe from Claude's thugs and their own thoughts." The former champion ascended the stairs after his Pokémon and approached Rhaegar as the heavy locks on the doorway fell with a loud clang. Mark and Lizzie hurried up to be by his side, though he brushed them back. "Just keep your eyes out. Who knows what Claude might have left behind for us."

"We will be" Mark promised.

With his friend's reassurance, Michael continued inside the dimly lit gym of his cousin. The aquarium just outside of the Gym itself was barren, as if the goons of his family's most dangerous adversary had stolen them all. Or perhaps Mewtwo had convinced them to abandon Renee? It didn't matter in the long run. As long as he was sure that Claude was in fact keeping his prisoners there. He made his way for the doorways to the Gym itself. Another lock was on the door, keeping the prisoners of war inside. But the keys were left right outside the door, allowing Michael to easily unlock the doors and open them.

Over three hundred people from around Titanio City and the rest of Arcana were crammed inside the Gym, huddled together with health mixed between okay and very ill. He could see elderly couples shivering in the cold and young kids crying to their parents for their empty stomachs. Only two women seemed to be holding the entire group together through sheer will. His Aunt Alison was regaling the more sickly prisoners with stories of James Kingston and the heroism of other Arcanan heroes. She had his back to him and thus didn't see him or the doors open. In fact, no one did, as they were all probably conditioned to think it was a guard of Claude coming in to inspect their behaviors before leaving.

Tori, on the other hand, was speaking fondly to the children of others, babysitting them and teaching them as a Pre-School teacher would. Michael could not help but admire his sister's kindness and how well she was worked with children. She had longed to be a mother, but so far had not been as lucky as he and Julia were when it came to having kids. Nevertheless, she demonstrated just the kind of mother she could be as she sat with the children and told them stories of her own as Alison did.

"And do you kids know what happened next?" she asked the group of children. "Ryan tricked Mewtwo into branding him so he could be close enough to imprison him in the Master Ball. Ryan became the hero we all know and love all because of the goodness of his heart." She let out a content sigh. "And I'm proud to have helped him reach those levels."

One of the children noticed Michael standing nearby and raised her hand. "Miss Tori?"

"Yes, Betty?"

"I see Mr. Michael" the little girl replied.

Tori paused before looking behind her. The two siblings locked eyes with one another, prompting Tori to freeze in place. She gestured for the kids to run back to their families. Once all of her group had gone back home, Tori raced for her brother and flung her arms around him, weeping into his jacket. Michael nodded and hugged his sister back.

"You guys came!" Tori cried. "You really really came!"

"Of course we did" Michael told her. "I wouldn't have disappointed you. Sorry it took so long."

His sister shook her head. "You're here, Mikey. That's all that matters." Victoria turned towards everyone in the Gym, who were slowly approaching them as if wondering if their salvation had finally come. She then looked to her brother in worry. "There is a Titanio for them to go back to, right?"

Michael frowned. "It's a bit of a mess, to be honest. But we're ferrying in supplies to all of the people here. Those who need medical treatment will be brought to the infirmary tents outside of the city. But we can't allow people back into the city until we've made sure it's in good shape."

"Good shape?"

"Tori, the battle destroyed half of the East District and there's a fire burning in front of the Grand Titanio Hotel. Not to mention all of the legal ramifications of what's to come when it leaks out just how Claude died."

Before his sister could respond, their Aunt Alison finally came over to speak to her nephew. "Michael. We're so glad to see you." Michael welcomed his aunt into an embrace. "What's been going on out there?"

"The good news is that the war is over" he explained. "Most of Claude's top advisors are either captured or dead. And the old man himself didn't fair much better." His frown only deepened. "That's where the good news ends." He eyed the crowds beginning to gather around him and led both women away to explain the situation further. "But Claude's death puts us in a very precarious situation. Without him, we're blind to Mewtwo's plans on Mirage Island. Even knowing the fate of those trapped on the island is impossible now."

"Who killed Claude?" Tori asked worriedly.

"Ryan."

Alison went as white as a ghost. "What? Not my Ryan. Not my baby boy."

"I'm a little fuzzy to the situation myself" Michael went on, "but we have two witnesses, one on each side, who have corroborated the story. Because his life is in danger due to Claude's powerful friends in the courts and maybe even in the Thirteen Families, we've moved Ryan into a WPP. Holly Queensbury elected to go with him. He'll come out of it as soon as we figure out what they want."

"You mean I don't get to see him?" Alison asked politely.

"Not now. I don't even know where they've gone. We can make a few guesses, but it would put his and Holly's lives in danger if we do take this up."

Tori nodded. "But why didn't Addison go?"

"Addy has become sick the last few hours" her brother answered. "Once I'm finished here, I have to go to Alchemiburg to remind Deidre that she has a daughter to take care of. But right now, priority has to be given to get you two out of here."

"Wait" Alison spoke up. "Michael, I appreciate you wanting to bring us home. But we can't go without ensuring these people get to go home to their families as well."

When his sister stood in agreement with their aunt, Michael shrugged. "Fine. Do as you will. We're going to be ferrying supplies over while the city goes into reconstruction. I need you two to be leaders here, if you're not doing so already. Uncle Robert and Greg will be the ones bringing the food and medicines here." He looked to his Aunt. "But there is someone you should see in the city, Aunt Alison. Someone who has been fighting for you the last six months."

"But Robert's coming here and I'm sure Kayleigh will be with him" Alison laughed.

Michael shook his head. "Not them."

"It can't be Ryan" Tori acknowledged. "Not if he's in hiding."

"She has two sons, you know."

Alison was dumbfounded. "Wha-you mean-Matty?"

"He's a little worse for wear right now, but he's going to be alright in a few days." He looked slyly at his liberated Aunt. "And he'd probably benefit from a visit from his mother."

"You're not going to put him on trial for his own actions?" Tori asked. "Or are we going to forget what he did?"

Michael was silent for a moment before answering this perfectly fair question. "I wouldn't say Matthew has atoned for what he did. But in times like these, where our very existence is in jeopardy every single day, sometimes we have to trust those we ordinarily wouldn't for the greater good. Until Mewtwo is gone, and we have those missing to us back by our side, I think we can prolong any retroactive trials for Matthew Kingston."

"Those missing?"

"It's a long story. I'm sure Greg will fill you in." He didn't want to relive that experience on Mirage Island again. Coming that close to losing his mind, losing his best friend and another trusted lieutenant was not something he was comfortable remembering, though he knew it would live with him until his final days. "All I have to say on the matter is they have not and will not be forgotten." He turned to leave as members of the Arcana Police Force arrived bringing in the much needed medical and food supplies. The former prisoners happily flung themselves at the supplies, thanking the men who brought them in. He continued his way down the stairs and towards his friends, who still stood at attention. Rhaegar happily floated along behind him, no longer as on edge as he usually was in these times.

"Were they in there?" Mark asked him.

"They were" Michael said casually. "They'll be taken care of. We're not needed here anymore."

"Back to Kingston Castle, then?" Lizzie asked.

"You guys can. I'm going to Alchemiburg."

"You're going to report to Lady Erin that Tori was found safely?"

Michael whistled for Rhaegar, who floated gently over towards his trainer. "That's a part of the reason why. I've got a promise to keep to Addison as well." He climbed onto the back of his Pokémon and looked to Lizzie and Mark. "I need you two to check on Cameron. Make sure she's holding together."

"Can do" Mark explained. "What about you?"

"Me?"

"How are you holding up?" Lizzie asked. "We're more worried about someone like you who tries to hold together on his own."

"I'll be better as soon as I can be at home with Julia and my children" Michael responded. "Can't exactly go home if a guest of mine needs her mother and she's currently being corrupted by someone else. I'm going to bring Deidre back to the Castle, kicking and screaming if I have to." Michael pet Rhaegar's neck gently and sent his Pokémon on a flight course out of Titanio City and towards the place he had once called home a very long time ago: The Chateau.