"Why Arry no splash!" Arya Kingston cried out as she was being carried by her father out onto the veranda of Kingston Castle.

"Because you're not taking any swimming classes until you're old enough, Arya" Michael told her sternly. "And Auntie Piper is going to make sure you don't by putting you in the stroller."

"Arry good swimmer, Daddy!" his daughter insisted. "Arry no need stroller!"

"Until your mother and I say you can, you aren't going into any water of any kind" her father bluntly concluded as they made it out onto the veranda. Piper was waiting for them with the stroller to take her niece out on a beautiful day. With Arya already fidgeting in his arms, Michael was downright relieved to be sending her off for a minute with her aunt. "Thanks again, Pipe."

"Aw, I can never say no to this little princess" Piper giggled as she waved at the grouchy toddler. "Besides, if it helps you guys keep focused on the upcoming trial, I'll help anyway I can." She took Arya from Michael and put her inside the stroller, giving the toddler a binky to suck on to not only calm her down, but to quiet her as well.

Michael nodded. "We could use it. Leonard should be coming by any minute now." After helping Piper carry the stroller down the steps and out into the gardens, he sent both his daughter and Piper out to go for a long walk among the gardens and perhaps to the King's Bay all the way in the back of the Kingston grounds, provided she behaved herself. Once the two were on their way, he ascended the steps of the veranda and found that he wasn't alone. Cameron was sitting on a lounge chair in silence, brooding as she usually did. "You know, you could probably use a change of scenery yourself, Cam."

Cameron simply sat in silence and hardly acknowledged him.

The Lord of Kingston Castle shrugged it off and returned to the table, going over all of the notes Annie had found him regarding the defense of his own case. Thought it had ended in his exile, perhaps there would be a way to save Ryan from the same fate if he had a united front on his cousin's behalf instead of just his Aunt Jane to defend him as it had been in his own case. There wasn't much to go on that made Michael feel any more optimistic about Ryan's odds, but so long as he could give it his all, he could probably weaken the terms of a sentence down to a few years at most.

"Michael" a voice called out to him. His bespectacled cousin Leonard shuffled his way over to the table. The look on his cousin's face was nothing he wanted to see. He didn't even have his briefcase on him, which was a sign of things being about as bad as they could be in the sense of the law.

"Leonard?" Michael asked coolly. "What's going on?"

"There's been a change in plans, Michael" the lawyer spoke nervously.

"Is the case being thrown out?"

"Oh, heavens no" Leonard responded. "But the prosecution is bringing in some of it's heaviest hitters. And let me tell you, I do not envy the poor sucker who's going to be stuck defending Ryan."

Michael went white in worry. "You are."

Leonard shook his head. "My campaign manager has suggested that I keep myself as far away from this case as possible. And I'm inclined to agree with her."

"You can't be serious. You know as well as I do that no junior grad kid is going to be able to defend Ryan against whatever Claude's jackbooted thugs can throw. Leonard, we need your help."

"I can give legal advice, but I'm not taking part in this trial, Michael. I'm sorry."

Michael was livid. "You promised me you would do this."

"And sometimes, promises have to be broken. I can't defend Ryan and expect to keep my chances of winning the District Attorney race. There's no shot I can win if I hitch my boat to a losing case, Michael." His father's nephew tried to comfort Michael, but he would have none of it. He lurched away from his cousin and rose to his feet coldly. "There's nothing else I can do. I've got my own hide to worry about."

"Fine" Michael growled. "Since you're backing out, then that means I can back out too. I'm withdrawing the family's endorsement of you. You can expect the Queensbury and Tress endorsements to dry up as well. And you can bet I'll be sending you the bill for all of that money we've sunk into your campaign to take down Charles Lester. I believe it was to the tune of 15 million Poké Dollars, not to mention what my father's unions have done to speak up on your behalf or what my cousins offered. Your funds will be left to a lousy lemonade stand when I'm through with you."

Now, it was Leonard's turn to freak out. "You can't do this."

"I think you'll find that promises can sometimes be broken" Michael slyly replied. "And you'll find that you're not going to even put your name up for the head of a children's chess club now that you've turned against us."

"I'm doing this to-"

"You're doing this to do precisely what Claude would do in this situation" the Lord of Kingston Castle snarled. "And you'll find that I don't fund gutless sewer rats."

Leonard was shaking in both shock and anger. "You'd do this to family? You, who likes to think family is so important to him?"

"Family is what we make of it. You turned your back on me, let me return the favor. Good luck winning with no one backing you."

"I'll get the funding I need" the lawyer boasted. "And now I'll win and perhaps reopen the case into the death of Cassius Sinclair, Michael. If you thought you had enemies before, well-" That loan threat was all it took for Leonard to be grabbed by his suit, dragged over towards the steps of the Veranda and thrown down onto the soccer pitch below. Michael was in shock at just how quickly Cameron had gotten out of her brooding and rose to his defense. Before Leonard could recover, Cameron was right on top of him and glared down on him.

"Consider your next move wisely, Leonard" Cameron warned. "Because you'll find I'm in just the mood to make a worm like you disappear in a body bag, if you know what I mean!" Without waiting a second, Leonard scrambled to his feet and rushed back through the doors into Kingston Castle. Cameron was in full pursuit before coming to a stop by the doorway. "And don't let me catch you sniffing around me or my family ever again, you little weasel!"

"Cameron" Michael spoke up.

"I don't want to hear it" Cameron snarled. "I did what I had to to protect the family, Michael. I'm sure you would do the same if-"

"I would" Michael interrupted. "So, thank you, Cam."

Cameron paused. "What?"

Michael rose to his feet. "If we're going to make it through this tough time, with our family diminished in strength, we're going to need to stand up to people like Claude or Mewtwo, or in this case someone like Leonard. People are going to be coming at us with everything they've got. I'm going to have to be fighting with all we have just to keep them on their toes. But I can't do it alone. I know I have Billy and Jenna backing me. If I know I can count on you, we should make it through this."

Cameron nodded. "You know you always can. I know I haven't been there for you in a while, but-"

"I know" Michael assured her. "I'm feeling the same pain you are." He looked up to the blue skies above. "Not a day goes by where I don't think about him and wish I could go back to Mirage Island to get him back."

"It's getting harder to have hope the more time goes by" his cousin admitted. "I should have been the one to go instead of Chris."

"And then we'd be worrying about you. And Chris was always far less easy to rein in than you, Cam."

His younger cousins shrugged. "I guess there are some benefits to being me, I guess." She then sat beside Michael at the table where his negotiations with Leonard were supposed to go. "So, what happens now?"

Michael shook his head and slumped back into his chair. "I was counting on Leonard to handle this for us. Without someone capable of defending Ryan, his fate is going to be left to some junior law school scrub that hasn't been bought off by Claude." He grinded his teeth in frustration. "You know, I'm getting really sick and tired of members of my family turning their backs on me when I need them."

"There's always Aunt Janine."

Michael sighed. "I already tried. She's too shaken because of Danny. She offered help, but she doesn't feel ready to run a case for a while."

Cameron's eyes widened. "Wait a minute. Maybe that's the key to protect Ryan."

"What do you mean?"

"How did Mom protect you when you were on trial?" Cameron asked her cousin. "Did she get you a lawyer?"

Michael sadly shook his head. "No lawyer in Arcana would go up against Claude. She defended me on her own merit. And it ended up costing her everything." Jenna's words rang in the back of his head. Mom and Dad used to say that while Aunt Erin and Big Mike were your parents, it was really Grandpa and Aunt Jane who raised you. "It was a good idea, but another dead end, I'm afraid."

"Not exactly" Cameron remarked. "Not if he has someone backing him up that's as devoted to him as our Mom was to you."

"Who do you think would qualify for that and is verse in laws?"

"Why not us?"

"You and me?" It was an intriguing thought. After all, who else would or could defend Ryan at this point than someone in the Pokémon League and the Lord of Kingston Castle? He wasn't even that fortunate for his own trial. "Actually, it makes more sense than anything else I can imagine, Cam. After all, this isn't just some kid or even an ordinary Kingston. This is the Pokémon League Champion. There's got to be some kind of procedure for this kind of thing."

"Who better to protect Ryan than you and me?" Cameron concluded.

"It's going to be risky" Michael cautioned. "Claude may have anticipated something like this and warned his goons of how vehemently your mother defended me."

"We have to try" Cameron insisted. "If we don't, Ryan may end up going down the same path you did."

"Not something I'd recommend to anyone, if we're being frank." Michael folded his arms and found himself deep in thought "But if we're going to be his legal defense, that means we're going to not only have to brush up on Arcanan Law, but also figure out what our plan of attack will be to ensure Ryan isn't banished or imprisoned for any lengthy period. And the trial is supposed to take place in a few days."

"I guess I'll go and get some coffee brewing" Cameron said, slowly jumping out of the chair and heading for the door. "See if Annie and Julia dug up anything for the trial when they were going through Grandma's papers."

Michael froze. "Julia?" That was as much a dead end as Leonard at this point. His wife had made herself scarce since he snapped at her. They hadn't shared a bed that night, but Michael had heard from Annie that Julia was with James and Arya most of the night. Whatever she had heard of their spat, Annie did not reveal. But Michael was not surprised. It wasn't in Annie's character to spread gossip, especially if it was damaging to the family. If Julia was going to be MIA for the time being, or at the very least with their son, Annie would have to do. He made to call his soon to be in-law, when a familiar face popped out of the doors of the castle.

"It's about time you came home" Rui laughed. "I was beginning to think you were enjoying yourself out there in war."

Michael cracked a grin. "No. I've been home for a bit. But I won't be for much longer when this trial comes."

"Are you worried about Ryan?" his old friend asked.

He rubbed the side of his head gently to massage some of the pain away. "Ryan's just one of the many problems on my plate right now, including getting you and Wes back together."

Rui sighed. "Oh, Mikey, I know you're doing your best on that front. Especially knowing that your cousin is still out there. You wouldn't abandon him for anything, so I know you haven't abandoned Wes." She held her hand close to her heart. "It's just hard to keep the doubt away, if we're being honest. I mean, we've come back here to deal with that old guy, but that monster hasn't even given us a second thought since you all came back. There are moments when I wonder if we'll ever even make it back to Mirage Island again."

"We will try, Rui" Michael promised her. "We have to."

"I just wish I had some of his strength with me right now" Rui admitted. "He's been the rock I lean on for years now."

"Perhaps it's time you found your own inner strength" a voice echoed nearby. Cynthia stepped out from the doorway into Kingston Castle, in her casual Sinnoh League Champion's garb. She did not meet the stares of either Michael or Rui as she walked up to lean on the guard rail that overlooked the pitch and the gardens below. "It's important to have others to rely on and depend on. But it's also important to have your own power. A well growing deep inside of you that can help you overcome moments of doubt. I'll bet your Wes has that. I know for a fact Michael has that. He helped me to find my own strength when we were just kids. Perhaps you'll find your own strength someday, Rui. But you need to believe in yourself the same way that Wes does. Give yourself the means with which to move forward."

Rui eyed Michael and then Cynthia, before letting out a smile. "You know what? You're absolutely right, Cynthia. I think I can find that power inside of me, somewhere. All I need is some kind of outlet for my fear and doubt." She waved to Michael and bowed to Cynthia before running back into the castle.

"I didn't teach you much" Michael reminded his childhood friend. "You had it in you all along."

"I know that" Cynthia grinned. "But being here these last few months, seeing you and your family and how they act and interact, I'm starting to understand you more than I used to." She turned and sat at the table, opposite where Cameron had been only a few moments earlier. "So, what's going to happen to the Champion now?"

Michael frowned. "I wish I knew. Cameron and I can only do so much for Ryan. I just hope we can do enough to protect him. I won't have him go down the same path I did."

"Considering I know you won't banish him if it comes down to it" Cynthia teasingly replied, "I'm sure the boy will end up just fine." She looked towards where Cameron had sat and grinned. "So I take it Cameron is going to look after him, too?"

"We both are. But we only have a few days to read up on the Laws of the Region and how a trial will take place. Cam and I may be smart, but we're not perfect interpreters of law. Claude's little circus act of thugs are just the kind of opponents in a trial that we don't need." Michael once more went deep into thought. "What we need is some kind of advantage over those jackboots to turn this whole situation around. But I can't for the life of me think of what it might be."

Cynthia reached over and patted Michael on his head. "Well, Mike, I'm sure you'll figure it all out. I'll be there, of course. Offering you two and Ryan what little support I can, considering I wasn't even around for the event. Were there even any witnesses when the old man kicked the bucket?"

"Only Matthew and Claude's secretary."

"At least the trial should be relatively short then" Cynthia joked. "I mean, it's not like someone has the ability to read minds or see visions or anything."

Michael's eyes widened. The witch! Uh, I mean...Grandpa's sister. Countess Rosemary. I never asked Gerard if he got through to Magenta Castle. But she could be just what we need to jumpstart our defense of Ryan. He looked to Cynthia and winked. "If I wasn't married, I'd kiss you, you know."

Cynthia smirked. "Ah, preempting me with that whole 'if I wasn't married' thing, are we?"

"Figured I'd have to learn at some point" Michael laughed. The laughing stopped when Cameron made her way back with a pot of coffee from the kitchen and then Gerard the butler making his way out onto the veranda. Michael eyed Cameron as she sheepishly brought the coffee down and sat in position while avoiding making eye contact with Cynthia, still too worked up about her crush being around her. Cynthia seemed to dismiss it and she was just as intrigued by what Gerard was about to say than with the arrival of Cameron. Michael's eyes followed her glance up towards the butler and his sudden arrival. "Gerard?"

"Forgive me for interrupting, sir" the butler dryly responded. "But I am here to announce the arrival of Countess Rosemary of Magenta Grove." He stepped aside and an elderly woman dressed in all white and bright colors slowly made her way out onto the veranda. She was leaning heavily on a scepter with a jewel fastened in the top, but still had an aura of mystery and wonder to her that Michael could not help but be intimidated by. Cynthia and Cameron too were stunned into silence by the presence of someone with such mystique and power about them, forcing Michael to be the one to rise and speak to his grandfather's sister first.

"On behalf of all of your family, we welcome you back to Kingston Castle, Countess Rosemary" Michael said politely before bowing to her.

Rosemary eyed the three at the table and nodded. "It is good to be within these walls once more. I haven't been for nearly thirty years. Not since-well, more on that in due time." She slowly made her way to the table. Cameron made to pull out the chair for her, but to their amazement, the chair moved on it's own and she made herself comfortable before the chair slid back into place, allowing Rosemary to engage in the conversations. She then eyed the three at the table once more and cleared her throat as only an elderly and properly educated woman could. "Cynthia of Sinnoh. Cameron Lauren. And Michael James."

Cynthia awkwardly nodded to the woman. "It's an honor, Countess. May I ask how you knew it was me?"

"My dear, I know all and see all. You can call it a gift of sorts blessed to me by the Order of the White Guardians, which I run as it's Matriarch."

While Rosemary explained herself to Cynthia, Cameron leaned over towards Michael and whispered at him. "Who's the old chick? And why does she know our names?"

Michael rolled his eyes. "Cam. This is Countess Rosemary. Grandpa's sister and the Countess of Magenta Castle."

"You mean the witch?"

"She's not a witch" Michael hissed.

"Oh, I've been called much worse, Michael" Rosemary interjected. "But I am not a sorceress, a witch or anything of the matter. I am simply one who has perfected the art of using the fullest extent of the mind that one can. It is the duty of the White Guardians to hone such craft until such a time when they have mastered it or that the predestined White Mage has risen to prominence." She let her scepter lean on the table as she made herself more comfortable on the chair. "And to answer your questions, Cameron, I always take a keen interest in what my family has been up to. I may not be at every function, thanks to a spotty relationship with your grandmother, but I know and have been honored to see as much as I can of all of you. From James Junior, my brother's eldest child, all the way down to little James Edward, my great-nephew's son."

"To be honest, Countess" Michael spoke up to ease Cameron's nerves, "I wasn't expecting you to be so readily available."

"I wouldn't have been, had I not woken up from a trance a few days ago" Rosemary explained. "I foresaw the coming demise of Claude Jacques and knew that the time I have been waiting for was coming."

"While we appreciate the visit" Cameron spoke up, as politely as she could, "we're in the middle of something important, Countess. I'm sure that Gerard would-"

"Of course. I know all about it. Your defense of Robert's son under these charges that will certainly hold no merit when brought to trial."

"How do you guess that?"

"Ask your cousin" Rosemary replied, eyeing Michael. "Or more appropriately, ask Bonnie."

"Lady Bonnie is dead" Michael said solemnly.

"You always thought that your Grandmother never looked out for you, Michael" Rosemary laughed faintly. "Perhaps you should look into the final law she had passed before retiring to become solely a Lady of Kingston Castle and not a leader on the legislative side of things. She passed a law that she believed was only to protect you, Michael. It surprised me when I found out about it." She tapped her scepter on the ground, it's gem shining with a mystical power as the elderly woman concentrated. "No man, woman, child or Pokémon can be charged with a crime while under the influence of the Crimson Fury, regardless of what day, time or the circumstances of which the fury was tapped into by said accused party."

"Grandma wrote that law for you?" Cameron gasped.

"Grandma" Michael said sadly.

"I used to think Bonnie was too vain to care for her grandchildren" Rosemary spat out. "But, it would seem I was mistaken. Even someone as versed as I can be wrong on occasion."

"You mentioned that law that Lady Bonnie had passed" Cynthia spoke up after a moment. "But how does that affect us? Ryan couldn't have tapped into the Crimson Fury. His brand was removed two years ago. Without it, he could have only used it during the Crimson Moon, which won't be here for another twelve years."

Rosemary kept her focus on Michael. "Surely, Michael, you've seen moments where it might appear as if the Fury was awakened inside of you or any of the others bound to it's power since Professor Krane's surgeries. Do you recall a battle you had with Matthew Kingston on Mirage Island? Where you lost yourself to anger after the boy provoked you?"

Michael was almost unable to come up with coherent words. "That's-that couldn't have been-"

"I can assure you it was. In fact, had Matthew not recognized it and yielded when he did, the likeliest event would have been that your Dragonite would have massacred his Charizard." Rosemary then let the scepter rest on the table again. "The Crimson Fury does not leave someone so easily. Perhaps the Brands are gone and it's power no longer so easily accessible to one such as you, Michael. But that fury and drive to battle and conquer all humans and Pokémon still burns inside those who have been afflicted by it. The only way for the Fury to truly leave someone is if they simply stopped caring for those they strive to protect, either their Pokemon or their loved ones. Which is something I think is impossible for you, Michael. And if you are as close to the boy as I have seen, the same will be said for Ryan."

Cameron looked to Michael. "This-this could explain everything."

"It's going to open up a can of worms for the trial" Michael frowned.

"So long as you present your case as it is and not as some side show" Rosemary assured the two, "the fate of the Champion will be set. But you must not let Claude's minions do as they would for him. Don't let them try to swing the trial in another direction." She cleared her throat again before continuing. "Now, let's get down to business. We've only got three days before the trial and several more problems to focus on besides what they will try to paint him as."

Michael, Cynthia and Cameron looked at one another for support before shrugging and getting themselves to work on preparing for the trial.

{}

"I'm glad to know you're feeling better" the voice of Caitlin Setenn chirped up as Addison and her mother sat in a conversation with her. "When your mother called me to tell me, I was so worried about my little Addy Pie."

Addison flushed with color. "You don't have to call me that, anymore. I'm just Addison." Addison pet the excitable Rockruff she had caught while training under Michael for the World Tournament and had since become something of a companion to both her and her mother.

"You'll always be my Addy Pie" Caitlin giggled on the other line.

"Well, we're looking forward to your visit" Deidre proclaimed to her sister. "We all could use a bit of girl time now that the war is over."

"And you're not in need of any mon-"

"No" Deidre barked quickly, prompting Addison to eye her mother in confusion. "Like I said in my message to Mom, Michael and I sorted it all out. I'm going to be doing a great deal of babysitting for James and Arya for a while, but I don't mind. Those two are just so precious."

"Well, good to hear everything's improving back home. Hoenn is a bit of a quiet place. What with all that's been going on with the World Tournament and now Lizzie West being over by you guys, this place is practically dead. Not that I'm asking for any excitement. I had my fill in Arcana living under Giselle."

"When will you be coming by, Aunt Caitlin?" Addison inquired.

"Next Friday" she replied. "I'd come sooner, but the Gym Leaders have everything under lock and key so there's a lot of red tape to get around."

"It's all the same to us" Deidre answered. "Can't wait to see you, sis."

"Love you girls" Caitlin said sweetly before ending the call.

Addison looked to her mother. "What was that all about? What did you and Michael sort out?"

"Nothing that need concern you, sweetheart" Deidre insisted. "Now. We need to figure out what we're going to be doing come Monday. Can't have us making too big of a scene when we show up in Taghwan City. The last thing your boyfriend needs is more media publicity."

Addison could only roll her eyes at her mother's blissful ignorance of the situation. "I'm more concerned about what's going to go on during the trial than what would happen beforehand." She had been worried sick about this whole thing for days now. Ryan and Holly had vanished without a trace after the Battle of Titanio, only for Addison to learn later that Claude had apparently been struck down by her boyfriend and now he was going to be tried as a criminal for it. And the fact that she had no way of contacting Ryan or Holly and that everyone else she could lean knew just as little about the situation as she did made it all the worse for her. "Mom, do you think it's going to end badly?"

"Not if Lord Kingston has anything to say about it" Deidre answered as she applied eye shadow in front of the vanity in her and Addison's shared guestroom. "If anyone can save Ryan and bail him out of the situation, it's Michael."

"Michael didn't exactly fair well in his own trial" Addison glumly reminded her mother.

"I already blame myself for not being there when he needed me, please don't try and reload my feelings of guilt more. Michael's got enough on his plate already."

Addison was about to comment further, but a stinging feeling in her heart caused her to fall back on the bed. "Ugh!"

"Addy?!" Deidre gasped, rushing out to her daughter's side, the Rockruff worriedly racing about the bed as mother and daughter came together. "What happened?"

"I can feel-" Addison choked out. "I can feel-sorrow. Pain. Hurt. Fury."

"What does it all mean?"

"I don't know, Mom. But I don't think I can go out, tonight. I need to speak with Galatea."

Deidre nodded. "Sure thing, Pumpkin. We'll eat with Julia and the kids tonight while Michael's in his meetings for the trial." Deidre kissed her daughter on the forehead before going back into the bathroom to wipe off her extravagant makeup.

Once her mother was out of the bedroom, Addison called out to Galatea. The Poké Ball floated off of her belt and her Gardevoir once more appeared in front of her. She wore the same look of worry that her trainer and friend did.

You felt it as well, I presume?

"What happened?" Addison cried out, her heart still beating painfully in her chest. "I feel like something was pounding on my chest."

Galatea closed her eyes and tried to sense into the forces of the universe for such an answer. It's difficult to say. But I know we felt the pain coursing through the hearts of our mates. Achilles felt rage unlike any he's ever felt. Ryan the same. She opened her eyes and sighed. There isn't more I can discern. Without Achilles being close to me, my powers aren't as strong as they ought to be. But if Achilles felt a great deal of pain, I can only imagine it was a fraction of what was brewing inside of his trainer.

Addison gulped. "Ryan..."

I warned you keeping them at arm's length could be dangerous.

"Come on, Galatea. I highly doubt that Ryan and I not distracting ourselves with our relationship caused this."

Perhaps not directly, but the stress of all that has been unfolding is no doubt causing this explosion of emotion within him and Achilles. Few can go on with such stress inside of them for long. Not even Lord Kingston could without the aid of Celebi.

Addison held her hand close to her heart. Could she truly be at the source of all this pain Ryan was going through? How could she be sure, unless she was able to speak with him. But with neither Holly nor Ryan answering her calls or messages, there was no one she could truly turn to in this hour for help. Unless...

"I need to speak with Michael" Addison proclaimed, doing her best to push herself up as her Rockruff hopped around her feet, barking happily. Shaymin, who was resting on the windowsill, eyed the commotion going on, but continued to sun himself while there was still a sun to bask in. While Addison finally made it up, she found herself being blocked by Galatea.

Lord Kingston is currently in a meeting regarding the fate of your mate and by proxy, my own. He will not have time for our concerns at this moment.

"But-"

We must simply do our best to regain the connections we have lost before it's too late.

Addison scoffed at this. "Now you're just sounding paranoid. You talk like Ryan's going to die because of this."

Name me someone who hasn't suffered in great pain because of the Crimson Fury.

Addison couldn't bring herself to answer. She simply slumped back on the bed, both the Rockruff and Shaymin now coming over to her to comfort her. Galatea's stance even calmed at the sight of her forlorn trainer.

I do not mean to be so cross, Addison. I'm afraid.

"What are you afraid of?"

My kind grow powerful the more strong and close bonds they form over their lifetime. The strongest bond we can form is with our mate. If that link is ever disconnected by anything, or perhaps ever broken by natural causes, then I too would lose my powers. All that you and I have accomplished in our lives would amount to nothing if that happened. I would be worthless to you. Her Gardevoir turned away as if to sulk.

"You would never be useless to me, Galatea" Addison assured her. "You're more than just a Pokémon to me. You're one of my best friends in this whole world. I need you like I need Ryan. Not for your power. But for your counsel and your love. Don't think for a moment that I would abandon you because you're afraid of losing power. And if those fears prove to be too much for you, then maybe you and I should do something about it."

What can we do?

"When all of this is over" Addison promised her, "and Ryan is able to see us again, we'll make sure he remembers how much he means to us and he can reiterate that to us." Addison lowered her head. "It's-not exactly the same with us humans, but there is an idea that when true lovers are separated or lose one another, the pain they feel is so deep that it can sometimes cause loss of everything. Holly told me while Ryan was recovering from the surgery how worried he was about me when we were abducted by the Syndicate. He couldn't eat or sleep without thinking of me. I'm sure Achilles was just as worried."

Perhaps we can, but if Ryan should-

"Remember what my Mom said" Addison assured her Pokémon, taking her hand. "If anyone can keep Ryan safe in all of this, it's Michael."

Her Gardevoir seemed placated by this. I trust in your judgment, Addison. I simply hope I can trust in my own as well.

{}

Holly sat up in the living room of Robert Kingston's apartment, unable to find herself any time to sleep. She could hear his cries and screams in the other room. And it was breaking her heart that she could do nothing for Ryan in this trying moment. Now, as the late hours passed on, she would find herself staring at the doorway of Ryan's bedroom ceaselessly.

He genuinely thought he was going to hurt me, Holly said to herself. But why? What happened to him that made him like this? Perhaps something more on Mirage Island had happened to him than anyone knew about? Or was there more to this whole Claude murder that she wasn't quite understanding? After all, Ryan was usually so levelheaded about these sorts of things. For him to just murder an unarmed prisoner and then fear he might do the same to her in the middle of a exhibition Pokémon Battle is nothing like he'd usually be. Something else was in the works. And until she found out what, she couldn't imagine herself going to sleep. She pushed herself off the couch and made her way over to his bedroom. She nervously knocked on the door.

"Ryan? You okay in there?"

No response.

"Ryan? It's me, Holly."

Again, no response.

She then opened the door to the bedroom. Ryan was sitting on his bed, his head in his hands. She made to sit beside him. She wanted desperately to do something for him, but there was nothing she could do that would make their situation any less awkward than it already was. After all, she was only here because of what happened to Addison when she had her breakdown. And she was still in a relationship with Jeremy. Could she really try to press them both into situations they might regret in the future? She shook her head. It didn't matter right now who was there. Ryan needed her and she would be the rock he could lean on.

"What's wrong, Ry?"

"It was a dream" Ryan answered softly, little more than a whisper. "It was all in fragments. I couldn't put it all together, but it still made me freak out. I think my mind may not know what it meant, but my heart does."

"What happened in it?"

"I told you. It was all in fragments. I couldn't repeat it if I wanted to."

"Do you at least remember parts of it?"

"The only thing I remember now is how I almost killed you in our battle" her friend lamented. He rose from the bed and walked over towards the door, but stopped, keeping his back to her the entire time. "I blacked out when I killed Claude. I must have, considering I don't remember any of it. But with you, I could see it all. And it scared me to death." He shook his head. "And that's why I'm never going to battle again."

Holly followed him towards the doorway. "But you didn't."

"I could have and I might if I battle again" he snapped. "Which is why I'm going to accept whatever punishment is bestowed upon me and move on with my life."

"Why would you be punished? If you don't remember doing it, then you might not have even done it. Or you might not have had control of yourself when you did. Maybe it was Mewtwo. Or something else."

"What does it matter? Someone is going to prove what I did and they may not even need Matt's testimony."

"It does matter" Holly stamped her foot down before hopping in front of him. "Look, I may not be Addison right now. I can't do the things for you that she might, but you have to understand how devastated we all would be if you ended up being banished like Michael was. Or worse, if you were imprisoned. It would kill us, Ryan. There are more people out there besides Addy who love you, and-"

Ryan went pale at the mentioning of her name. "Addy. That's the only part of the dream I remember."

Holly raised an eyebrow. "What about her?"

"We had switched positions" he explained to her, his body starting to shake as he did. "She found me when I was weak and under the Crimson Fury. But instead of coming to save me, like I did her...she...she..." He clenched his fist angrily. "She went over to Matt. The two of them mocked me for being weak. I...I couldn't take it anymore. So, I just-"

"Okay, I get it" Holly interrupted, the last thing she wanted to visualize being an already vulnerable Ryan doing something horrific.

"I would have done it" Ryan admitted, "if I didn't hear you knock."

"Well, you know it's not true, right?"

"I don't even know what's truth and fiction anymore. Anything could be true."

"Addison loves you, Ryan" Holly reminded him. "As much as anyone has ever loved someone else."

Ryan shrugged. "If you say so."

"And she'd have to be an idiot to pass up on you for Matt." Holly's words rang hollow, though, as her own heart pined for her own missing boyfriend. They would need a mentally and physically fit Ryan in order to try and save Jeremy, Annette, Christopher and the others, but if he was still afraid of his own shadow, their hopes for saving their loved ones was dwindling. "Now, what's this nonsense about you never battling again?"

"I meant it" Ryan groaned. "I almost killed you. I already killed Claude. If I can't control myself when I battle with my Pokémon, I might actually hurt someone I care about." Ryan looked towards the Poké Ball on his nightstand. "No. I can't ever battle again. If that means I have to resign from the Pokémon League and let Cameron take over, so be it."

"Did you forget that three quarters of your Elite Four is currently out of commission? Chris and Giselle are trapped on Mirage Island and Danny is a statue back home. Cameron can't do this alone." Holly inched closer to Ryan. "Ryan, I know things aren't good for you right now, but Arcana needs you. Not to mention all of us. Not just Addy and your parents. But what about Matt? Or Tommy? Or Dawn and Lucas? Or Michael? Or...me?"

Ryan remained frozen in the doorway. "I just don't know anymore."

"We never lost hope in you, Ryan" Holly reminded him. "Not when Michael and the others were thought dead. Not when Addison was kidnapped. Not even when you and I were put through the ringer by the Syndicate. You were all Tommy and I had to lean on, Ry. We never abandoned you, so don't you abandon us now." Holly stepped past Ryan and made to return to sitting on the couch. To her surprise, Ryan stopped her.

"I know you never abandoned me" he responded. "You were the only one who never did. And I would be twice as big a mess right now if I didn't have you here with me. So thank you." He tried a smile, but Holly knew it was fake.

"Just promise me you'll get some rest. The trial starts Monday." She took a step away from the boy she had once idolized, but stopped dead in her tracks. "I...it may not be the same as it was when we were younger. But I love you, Ryan. Don't ever forget that." Her heart stung for both of the boys in her life she adored being in perilous situations out of her power to mend, but she could only do so much for both Jeremy and Ryan. Nevertheless, she continued out towards the living room.

"I love you too, Holly" Ryan spoke up, before his bedroom door closed.