It was a little before dawn when Addison woke up in her bed at Kingston Castle. She had gotten in very late the previous night, but did not have the emotional courage to try and find Ryan or Holly after seeing them together at the wedding. She simply brought her exhausted and drunken mother upstairs and got her to bed before doing the same to herself. If something was to come of her inevitable meetings with her best female friend and her true best friend and the keeper of the keys to her heart, she was going to accept it as it came and not a moment sooner. But now, in the waning hours of the night, she found herself unable to go back to sleep.

She looked to the foot of her bed and found Zero the Rockruff by her feet, scratching his ear with his hind paws in a dream. She gently pet him on the head to wake him up. The Pokémon stretched his body out and licked her fingers. She took the Rockruff in her arms and, though still in her nightgown, decided to go for a walk to see if it would wind her down again.

Kingston Castle was still very much asleep. Though dozens of guests had remained the night after the wedding, including those from far away, none of them had the urge to wake up in the dark and early morning. It made Addison's peaceful romp through the halls a bit more enticing. She walked past her mother's bedroom and could hear her snoring in the room and smiled. At least she and her Aunt had enjoyed their reunion after being apart for so long.

She paused as she came up to the stairs that would lead to the first floor. On the other side of the castle were the wings where the Kingston Family was resting. It wouldn't take her long to find his bedroom. To walk all the way to the western most tower, slip her way inside and wait for him to wake up. It would take even less time for her to tell the boy she loved exactly what was on her mind. To tell him that it was a mistake for her not to go with him and that even though she was a little miffed at how he and Holly had ended up going together, she wouldn't hold it against them. It would relieve as much stress as she had ever had to have him take her in his arms and for the two to once more pledge love to the other and share their first true kiss in what had to have been months. To finally be in a state of normalcy with someone that she was finally beginning to feel the sting of not having around her. Not having his courage or his heart to balance out hers had certainly made her a bit testier and a bit harder to be around. Plus, it didn't hurt to have her Aunt Caitlin's words echoing in her head all night. She truly would never forgive herself if she ended up losing Ryan.

And yet, she couldn't bring herself to do it. To walk the halls right up to where he and Matthew used to room whenever they visited their Grandmother. Some part inside of her was still hesitant. Was it still too soon? Did Ryan still feel the same way about her? Was he having second thoughts now that he had rekindled a strong friendship with Holly? Did he need her anymore? Was it worth it?

What am I saying? Addison told herself. Of course it's worth it! I love him! And yet, despite her own reassurances, her feet were planted where she and Zero stood. Zero licked her arm, prompting Addison to make the final decision. Okay. We'll go for a walk. Then, we'll go talk to Ryan. She descended the staircase as lightly as possible, hoping not to attract much attention to herself. A handful of servants were awake and cleaning up from the previous evening, but they paid her little notice. She skipped along towards the veranda, but paused at the door. Because it was too dark, she couldn't see exactly who it was. But someone was standing out on the veranda. The last thing she wanted to do was intrude on someone else's solitude. She was about to turn around, when Zero ripped himself free of his trainer's arms and used his snout to open the door and run over to this person.

Addison ripped the door open and was about to reprimand her Pokémon, but held her breath. Zero had run smack into Mufasa the Arcanine. The two sniffed each other, with the tiny Rockruff trying his hardest to puff himself out like the much larger Pokémon he was opposing. Mufasa huffed to himself and flared his nostrils, causing a few warning sparks to shoot out. Zero skittered back towards his trainer, while Mufasa proudly trotted his way over towards his own.

"That's how you don't make friends, Mufasa" Michael laughed. His Arcanine howled in argument before sitting down and letting out a loud yawn.

"Sorry about that" Addison apologized. "Zero can be a little hard to handle. He is still a puppy."

"No trouble at all, sweetie" her idol responded. "What are you doing up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep. I've got a lot on my mind."

"We're in the same boat then. I haven't even gone to sleep." He rested on the railing and looked out at the gardens of his home. "The party was definitely draining. Both physically and mentally. But, it's over and the guests, both wanted and unwanted, can finally leave and go on with their lives. And now we can finally get some kind of normality back into these walls."

Addison frowned. "Normality. I'd love to find that." She walked her way over to the former Champion of Arcana and rested beside him on the railing. "It has been way too long since the last time I felt even slightly normal." She looked to Zero, who was now sitting quietly by her side and looking up at the still dark skies above them, as if mesmerized by the stars above.

"They say normal is boring" Michael thought aloud. "But I'd kill for some boring to be honest. I didn't come back here wanting to resume the same fight we won before. Yet here we are, as if those two years between saving you on Mt. Heatmor and the World Tournament didn't happen. Taking part in the same struggles as if they never end. I'm starting to think they never will." He looked down at Addison and sighed contently. "But, at least we're all still here. And hopefully, we'll get those we're missing back."

"I don't know" Addison smiled faintly. "I've sort of gotten used to looking to you whenever I feel down instead of Daddy."

"That doesn't have to change when your father comes back" he promised her. "I'm not just the Lord of Kingston Castle, you know. I'm also a friend. Your parents are two of the greatest people I know. And you are blossoming into one as good as them, if not better."

"That sounds good to me" Addison said sadly. "Because right now, I feel like a mess."

"Lack of sleep? Or emotional?"

"Mostly emotional. It's better now that Mom's back to being herself, but-"

"You two still haven't talked, have you?" Michael asked.

She shook her head shamefully. "And now, part of me is afraid it's too late. I mean, he was at the wedding last night with Holly."

"It's an ancient Arcanan Tradition that members of High Society walk down the aisle together at a wedding" he explained. "Annie wanted a truly authentic wedding and she got her wish. If Ryan didn't walk down the aisle with Holly, he would have had to walk with someone else. As it happens, the person he would have walked with initially besides you was Piper, but she didn't go to the wedding either. But it's not like he was truly happy going down without you."

"So, you don't think there was anything going on between them?"

"Sweetie" Michael said gently, "I have never seen two people both in love and broken hearted at the same time. They went to support one another, not for romantic reasons, but because they do love one another. Don't forget that we're not the only ones missing people we care about on Mirage Island. Jeremy is just as missed as Annette, Giselle and all the rest. If neither of them could be with the person they wanted to be with, they chose to be there as friends."

Addison lowered her head. "Ryan really was that sad?"

"He's more like me than he realizes. He tries to hide that sadness, but it's not done well. It's a tightrope someone in both of our positions has to walk every single day. To be a beacon of hope to the world, when we feel like we don't have the emotional strength to carry on. And you know Holly better than anyone. When has she ever wanted to not be the center of attention?"

Addison watched out of the corner of her eye as Zero trotted out towards the still visible moon and let out a cute howl. She did her best to keep herself at a strong emotional position, but knowing the pain her absence in Ryan's life was causing him made her feel even worse. "Michael. I'm afraid. I don't know about what exactly, but I'm still so scared that the world is going to change. And when it does, I won't be ready for it."

"That's a sign that you're growing up" he told her. "It's not something you can just dodge or evade like a Pokémon." He pet the Arcanine sitting beside him. "You have to just accept it as an inevitable part of life and take it head on."

"But how do you get through it? How do you just walk through life knowing things will happen outside of your control and find the mental strength to get out in the morning?"

"I have a family" Michael explained. "I have a wonderful and beautiful wife I wake up to every morning. A few doors down from where we sleep, are the two most precious things in my world. James and Arya are proof that while life isn't always easy, it's worth it to reap in the rewards of dealing with it. Seeing their smiles when Julia or I are in the room makes it all worthwhile. All the strife, the fear, the doubt. When I'm with them, I feel like I can take on the entire world." He patted the girl on her shoulder. "Maybe you should take a look at your own family. Maybe that will be a key to helping you get over your fears."

"But I see my Mom all the time."

He chuckled and once more patted her. "Oh, Addy. Family isn't always someone you're related to. I think of Mark and Lizzie more as my family than people I am related to. Your mother and Piper have been better siblings to me than my own sister. Cynthia's in the same boat."

"So, I should go and talk to my friends?"

"Frankly, Addy, I think both of the things eating away at you can be solved at the same time" the Lord of the Castle grinned. "After all, isn't your best friend also the most important person in your heart?" Before Addy could respond, Michael looked to his Arcanine. "Alright, Mufasa. Let's go get you and me some breakfast. Then, we've got lots of work to do." The Arcanine stretched his body and barked in approval, trotting alongside him as the two walked back into the castle.

Addison, for the first time in days, found her thinking clear and precise. She blushed as she realized all she needed to do was look at her life from an outsider's perspective. Michael was absolutely right. If she was so afraid of the future and what would unfold, why not make sure that the rest of her present was clearly lined up? And the key to her present was the boy who held the key to her heart. She walked over to Zero and scooped the Rockruff into her arms. "Come on, Zero. We've got some work to do."

{}

Christopher Kingston had endured hangovers, but none to the degree of the one he felt he was going through at this moment. His head was pounding as if he was right beside someone banging a drum. He barely had the strength to open his eyes, but knew that he wouldn't be able to wake up properly until he did so. He instinctively pushed himself up onto his rear end and began to rub his head to try and figure out what was going on.

Man, what a headache. What the hell happened? He paused as he tried to remember the last thought he had in his head. It was coming back to him in spurts. A pair of sinister eyes glaring out of the deepest darkness, something about fire or lava and the beaten form of someone who meant the world to him. But none of it was making any sense. What did lava and the broken form of someone he cared about even match up to the deep and foreboding shadow that was the last thing he had seen? He lightly knocked his head with his balled fist to try and physically jog his memory, but it wasn't coming in too well.

There was only one thing on his mind. Only one thing that he had been able to keep a firm grip on mentally since his slumber had began. The gorgeous and dark-haired maiden who had captured his heart and would be eager to see him again. The girl he had spent every moment of his endless dream with. His answer to what made the sun rise in the morning and what made his life feel like it had meaning. Piper Pines, the only girl whom he truly felt proud to have won the heart of. Making it back to her would be all that mattered to...

Wait a minute! Where is she? He frantically looked around, but found no sign of Piper anywhere. He was in a straw hut of some kind, beside a woman who was not Piper. But she too, was a welcome sight in all of this confusion. He turned over and nudged her. "Amanda? Amanda!" He hadn't seen the young scholar since she had disappeared in that freak storm that hit Arcana what felt like months ago. But no matter how much he tried to stir her, she wouldn't wake. He rubbed his eyes when he thought he could see golden rings falling into her head and vanishing. He turned back and nearly let out a scream of shock. A mysterious white and pink Pokémon was concentrating it's power and pouring these cosmic energies into Amanda's brain. "What the heck are you?"

The Pokémon eyed him, but did not stop her work, continuing to send her power to the slumbering form of Amanda Fouritz.

"What is going on here?" Chris demanded. "I need some answers."

"Then get out of that hut and I can tell you" a cold voice responded.

Christopher crawled out of the tent and paused when he saw Elezar Aced sitting cross-legged in front of the hut. He blinked as if he had just seen a ghost, but shook his head and sat down opposite his former adversary. "So, Elezar. We meet again."

"I'm not happier about it than you are, Christopher" the former Syndicate Leader spat out. "But, it had to be done to get what I wanted. I don't expect thanks for being the reason you're not at Mewtwo's mercy, seeing as how I doubt thanks are in your vocabulary. But you should heed my warning. Just because you're free from the Dark Void now, that doesn't mean you're safe from the wrath of that abomination. I expect he will want to hunt you down somehow. Unlike myself, Mewtwo does not see any use in aligning himself with Kingstons at the moment."

Chris blinked as if Elezar had just spoken in some foreign language. "Dark Void?"

Elezar grunted. "Do you even remember what got you into that nightmare deathtrap to begin with, you dense dolt?"

"Sorry, I'm a little groggy on a count that I've been asleep for...wait, how long was I out?"

"A little over six months."

"SIX MONTHS?!"

"Would you shut up?!" Elezar hissed. "Do you want to alert the whole island to your awakening?"

Chris sighed. "Alright, I guess you'd better tell me from the beginning. What's been going on here?" Despite expecting Elezar to use some kind of fabricated story, he listened intently as his former foe went into elaborate detail to what had transpired since his slumber had been induced by the power of Darkrai. He learned of all that his friends and family had endured, from losing their Pokémon to the disappearance of Jocelyn Aced and the war with Claude in Arcana. He also learned that Avery Frost, the girl who had betrayed Ryan to Courtney to begin with, had once more switched sides and was aiding in trying to topple Mewtwo before his schemes could be unleashed. But beyond that, even his new and unwilling ally was in the dark about Mewtwo's plans and anything that was unfolding on Mirage Island. Chris rubbed his head as all of this new information assaulted him. "Man, I missed a ton."

"And that's all of what we now both know" Elezar muttered. "I will not be repeating myself when Miss Fouritz wakens, so that will be your task."

Chris looked towards the aspiring Pokémon Professor as she dreamed away and Cresselia poured her light into her head to help her break free from Darkrai's curse. He then looked down towards his belt and was confused. He still had five of the six Pokémon he had arrived on Mirage Island with. His Blazekin, his Garchomp, his Dusknoir, his Zoroark and his Alakazam were all present and accounted for. Everyone but...

"Manaphy's gone" Chris said sadly.

"I would assume Hunter has possession of your little friend" Elezar said, not uncaringly. "You're not alone in those accounts. He also has Mew, Jirachi and Celebi. Only Shaymin and Victini remain out of his grasp. Who knows what that monster will seek to acquire when he gets a hand on all six of the Mythical Pokémon."

"How come my Pokémon didn't abandon me?" Chris asked in confusion. "I thought Mewtwo's message got to all Pokémon?"

"I don't have an answer to that. But I would be more concerned as to why he chose to spare the Pokémon of those who were trapped in that machine of his. Mewtwo has some kind of plan for them, that's for sure." He looked to his Scizor, guarding the small village they were in and nodded. "But I think it's best for you to go back inside, Christopher. I have no doubt Hunter is looking for me, and by proxy, yourself and Amanda. Go inside and lay low."

Chris shook his head defiantly. "You can't expect me to lay low. Not when my family needs me!"

"What good are you going to do them here?" Elezar said practically. "I'm not telling you this to mock you, boy! There is nothing you can do for your sister or Michael. Lay low for a while and wait until Miss Frost returns. She is currently trying to find a way to free others, but until she does, the only opposition capable of fighting off Mewtwo or any of his cronies is yourself. Losing you, as much as it makes me want to vomit to admit it, would be a catastrophe. Your survival is imperative. So get yourself inside and wait until she returns!"

Chris seemed eager to argue, but sighed and crawled back into the hut and sat in a cross-legged position as he watched Amanda being revived. Despite his desperation to make it back to Arcana and be with Piper and the others he held close in his heart, he knew Elezar was right. He needed to bide his time and wait until something developed. For once, he needed to be less like the Kingston half of who he was and be more like the half of his mother's side of the family, the Duons. Be patient. Relax. Don't overthink. Just let things come to you and react instead of trying to incite something. No matter how miserable he was to remain on the sidelines, he had no choice for now.

Key words: for now.

{}

"Are you absolutely sure?" Michael asked Corey and the ArcNet team as they spoke to one another in the Lord's Study. Michael had been asked for an urgent meeting with the kids who had been nothing but a godsend to his family and his cause since rescuing Holly and Ryan from the Syndicate Compound in Titanio City, but he wasn't even prepared for the game changing news they had for him. After several days of trying to decipher what had been on the flash drive they had found on the body of Claude Jacques's leading henchman in Archer, they were certain they had come across something that would be a godsend to the people of the world. "If you are absolutely certain this is what it is, kids, I need to get in contact with the Gym Leaders of the world and tell them."

"We can't be one hundred percent sure" Corey said politely, "but whenever we have a hunch, we're usually never wrong."

"This could be it, sir" Amber told the Lord of Kingston Castle. "This could be all of those Pokémon that vanished from people's CPUs the same time as Claude's invasion."

"I can't give people answers based on guesses and possibilities" Michael said, rubbing his fingers on the side of his head. "I need a guarantee."

"Then let me give one!" Dylan said proudly.

"Dylan!" Corey spat out. "It's only a 80% certainty."

"And we knew it was only an 57% certainty that Walter O'Hara was in league with the Syndicate and we were right!" he countered.

"How can we be completely sure?" Michael inquired. "I have people banging at my door day and night asking if we had answers about this."

"I would be able to fully analyze the drive if I had a stronger CPU for my computer" Corey concluded. "The one we have isn't strong enough since the Battle of Titanio wrecked our old workshop."

Michael nodded. "If it's a computer you need, it's a computer I'll get you." He looked to Gerard the Butler, who was standing in the corner of the room and observing the situation. "Gerard, help these kids with anything they'd need down in the cellar. They have full access to the mainframe." He then looked to Corey personally. "And I'd greatly appreciate it if you could take a look at the KERN and make sure it's functional. I hear Lady Kingston almost destroyed the thing when she lost contact with us on the Island."

"We won't let you down" Amber told him as she bowed. "We'll get the confirmation for you as soon as possible."

"And I'll also take a crack at the KERN" Corey assured him. "Seeing something of that kind of significance is impressive to say the least."

"And we'll once more be at the service of Arcana" Dylan grinned. "Man, if we get this, we'll be set for life."

"All of Arcana will be indebted to you kids" Michael told them. "I doubt you'll have to worry about any media competition for a while. Not while I'm the Lord of the Castle, that's for sure." Gerard opened the door as the ArcNet kids departed towards the cellar to get some more work done on behalf of the region of Arcana. Before the doors could close, his next visitor slipped into the room. Gerard gave Olivia a backwards glance, but followed the group out the door as she turned to face her cousin. She had a bright and excited look on her face as she sat in front of his desk. Michael shrugged. "I do what I can."

"I cannot thank you enough, Michael" Olivia cried out, almost in tears. "I was so afraid I was going to have to do what my relatives wanted me to do and give up custody of my son to them. But thanks to you and your father, I have a job! And I start in two days!" She lowered her head as she thought of the reason she was still going. "We're almost there, my little angel."

"You're welcome to stay here as long as you need to" Michael told her. "We're about to finally start sending the rest of our guests back to Parlor Town with it's construction almost set. Uncle Robert is already moving back in today and Deidre and her daughter should be set in a few days."

"Only as long as we need to" Olivia promised him.

"Where's your son?"

"He's upstairs playing with Arya" she giggled. "I think the two are going to become good friends."

"We can only hope" Michael sighed. "We're hopefully getting around that sharp corner, but there are still a lot of people in Arcana who hate us."

Olivia shook her head. "A bunch of idiots, whoever they are." She reached for Michael and grasped his hand. "Michael, I used to think you were the greatest thing in the world when we were kids. But seeing you now, you put that little boy I loved to shame. And anyone who doesn't agree is a fool. You are just like your grandfather used to be."

Michael shook his head and pulled away. "I don't think Grandpa ever had this many enemies." He rose from his seat and went behind his chair and looked out the window at the gardens of Kingston Castle. "The only thing keeping the peace in Arcana right now is the fact that no one can challenge us. Even the people who would want to aren't at their full power."

"I don't understand" she implored. "How are you guys getting hate?"

"Claude had many friends beyond just your brother" he reminded her. "The entire Seissuon Family basically owed their remaining existence to personal loans he made to them. If this nephew he has comes back to Arcana to collect one day, they will follow the Aced family into the grave. Betsy is far from the last who will bear a grudge against us for that. Then, there's the Fiverouxs. Garret Fiveroux would have aligned himself with Claude just out of spite if he didn't learn from Elmont Queensbury that his sister Annette was taken hostage on Mirage Island and not by us. And while they may not be as vocal about it, you can bet the Fouritz family also blames us for the lengthy absence of Amanda." He let out a chuckle. "And let's face it, Liv, you can't speak for the whole Novren Family. I asked Annie the other day before the wedding about the feud between Grandma and Uncle Arnold. From what we could gather, it ran very deep."

"Well, my voice is the only one that matters" she said proudly.

"Beyond that, we can only guess how Claude's nephew will be" he continued. "Add into that the silence from the Eigherns and the Duons, and I count only four of the other families behind us. There hasn't been this level of division since before the formation of the region. And a part of me feels like it's my fault. If we don't find something to unite Arcana soon, there's going to be more war and more loss before this ends."

"You have no power over what others think of you" she reminded him gently. "No more than I have the power to make that stupid brother of mine see Claude for what he was. Forget about them and focus on what you can do something about. There's got to be something we can do about this Mewtwo. I mean, didn't that old sorceress lady say that the world was tied together by those prophecies?"

Michael eyed Olivia with as dry a look as he could muster. "Come on, Liv. You and I both know that prophecy stuff is a bunch of nonsense."

"She and that line of people who want to see her don't seem to think so."

"A lot of people under stress can sometimes want those kinds of help" Michael countered. "And they're welcome to do so as long as Countess Rosemary remains my guest here. But I have no interest in partaking. She did what I needed of her and helped me get Ryan out of a jam."

"Nothing can be too easy for us, can it?"

"No it can't. Fortunately, though, with you getting your job and Jon and Annie's wedding going off without a hitch, I think we might be able to turn a corner in this whole nightmare scenario. But only time will tell for-"

The doors burst open and upon seeing the look of utter devastation in Piper's eyes, Michael's heart sank. Olivia was slow to the uptake, but was not inclined to comment as Michael stepped around his desk and caught the bawling Piper as she ran for him, flung her arms around him and cried into his shirt. He could only pat her back gently as he himself felt broken at the news that hadn't even been confirmed yet. But the look in Piper's eyes had given him all he would ever need to know.

"Shhhhh" Michael gently shushed as he hugged her. "It's gonna be okay, Piper. I'm here. I'm here."

"Oh, Mikey!" Piper cried, shaking in his arms. "It's just not fair! Why now? Why did she have to go now?"

"It's never easy, Pipe. If it was, I'd have gotten over losing Icarus a long time ago." He shook his head as he felt himself shed a tear for the loss of another maternal figure in his life. "Was she at peace?"

Piper nodded. "She just...she just stopped breathing in her sleep."

"What happened?" Olivia asked.

"Professor Pines is dead" Michael told her as he consoled Piper.

"No way" Olivia said, surprised and deeply hurt by the news. "Not Professor Maria."

Like many in their age range, Michael recalled that she too had gotten her first Starter Pokémon from the Pokémon Research Facility in Parlor Town. Professor Pines had been the Professor to a generation of trainers around the region. And now, Maria Pines was no more. And she had clearly left behind one devastated granddaughter. But Michael knew all too well that her other granddaughter would be just as broken by this news. All he could do now was stand there as Piper squeezed him and wept into him.

Olivia sighed and patted Piper's back. "I am so sorry, Piper. And for you too, Michael. Please, if there's anything I could do for you guys, just name it."

Michael was about to reject the offer, when a thought occurred to him. "Actually, if you could go and keep an eye on our kids for me, that would be appreciated."

She nodded. "I will." She kissed both Piper and Michael on the cheek before departing, while Michael brought Piper down onto one of the couches in his room to let them both sit, Piper still clinging to him and sobbing uncontrollably.

"It's okay, sweetie" Michael gently whispered. "Let it out."

"It's not fair" Piper repeated. "There's so much more time we needed to spend together!"

"She lived a good and long life, Pipe" he told her sweetly.

"She didn't get to see me make a family like Julia did" Piper wept. "She didn't see me become what Julia became."

"She was proud of you regardless of if you got to have a family. Sweetie, you and Julia were the Leppas of her eyes."

"She never got to see me and Chris-"

Michael hugged Piper tightly until he saw another tear fall onto her back, one of his own. "We're gonna get through this, okay? You, me and Julia. We're all going to get through this. And you know why? Because we're family. The three of us, James and Arya. We're one big family. We always have been. And we always will be."

"Can we include Chris in that?" she asked, peering up at him.

Michael let out his own fresh stream of tears as he held the devastated Piper in his arms. "Of course we will. You two and whatever family you guys have. One kid, three kids, eleven kids. And it will be just us. You never have to feel alone or afraid, Pipe. Because you will always have us and we'll always have you." He looked up towards the doorway and saw his wife's face as puffy and red as Piper's. The loss of Maria would have torn the family apart if they weren't so close. And Michael was determined to keep it that way. He gestured for Julia to come and the trio sat on the couch and mourned together. Both women now cried at his side and rested their heads on him.

"It's almost jarring to think of" Julia said, tears pouring out of her eyes. "She's been the lone constant in both mine and Piper's lives. And now-"

"Jules" Michael said quietly, "we're going to get through this. Together. If you want it to be just the three of us, or if you want the kids here." He kissed her head. "I promise you."

"My heart feels like it's going to explode" she wept. The three sat together for what felt like an eternity, but none of them would have it another way. All three were broken in their own ways. Piper from all that she didn't get to accomplish with the only maternal figure she would ever know, Julia from the loss of the only person who had been able to keep her spirits up after the death of her parents and all the things she had to endure in her life, and Michael from the loss of yet another figure he held close in his heart that had become a better mother to him than his own had ever been.

Finally, Piper defiantly rose to her feet and turned to the two. "I don't know about you, but I'm going to find a way to get to Mirage Island if it kills me! And I am going to get back to Christopher and we are all going to be that family you promised we would be, Michael!" She turned and stormed out of the room, to the shock and surprise of the married couple she had left behind.

"I guess we're going to have to keep an eye on her" Michael told her. "Can't have Piper doing anything crazy, even if it is for Chris."

Julia nodded. "I know Cynthia and Cameron will keep her in check. Who else has the power to use the Spirit Keys?"

"Herself, me and Addison."

Julia began to shake as her cousin and prodigal sister had. "Oh, honey. I feel so broken."

"And you're going to continue to feel like it, unfortunately" Michael said sadly. "But I am here for you. And I swear to you that you will never go through this on your own."

"There's a hole in my heart" she said as she rested her head on his shoulder. "And I don't think we'll ever be able to fill it."

"I'd like to say that you will, but you won't. You can never replace someone that close to you. You'll just be able to grow your heart to include more people."

"More people?" she repeated. "More people." She raised her head up and looked out into space as if she were in a trance.

"Uh, Jules? Babe?"

She blinked herself back into consciousness and laid back down. "Michael, after all we've been through, I know I am in no position to ever ask something of you."

Michael laughed. "Are you kidding? Jules, I love you. You can ask me for anything. And if it's in my power to make it so, you know I will."

Julia squeezed her eyes shut and took his hands in hers. "Anything, my love?"

"Anything" Michael reiterated. "Now, what will it be? Dinner? A romantic night? A piece of jewelry?"

She took a deep breath to fight off more tears. "Michael, I want to have another baby."

Michael paused at this. While Arya's birth had been normal and relatively without issue, the plane ride back to Arcana for Lady Bonnie's funeral and subsequent birthing process of James had been so tremendously painful for her that it sprouted an infection inside of her. It had almost cost them two lives instead of one. James was the spitting image of a healthy baby boy, but the boy's father had been haunted by the image of his wife lying somewhere between life and death for some time. He and Julia did not share a bed again until well into Michael's recovery from his wounds at Courtney's hands. He was horrified of putting Julia through that again, but the look she gave him showed him that woman he had fallen in love with to begin with. Someone who was completely and wholeheartedly committed to this plan. Someone who was so determined to be a mother once more, that she was willing to risk bringing back this infection she had been completely wiped by to do it. He gave her hands a tender squeeze. "Are you absolutely sure you can handle it? I mean, I'll be there for you every step of the way, but I want you to be the one who makes this decision."

"It's what I want" Julia said as she let out a few more tears for her fallen grandmother. "Don't you want another?"

Michael choked on his words at first, but collected himself enough to respond. "Julia, James and Arya are the two greatest gifts Arceus has ever given me, besides you of course. And if more children means I get to have more pieces of you to love, then how can I possibly say no?"

She clung to him and a smile finally broke on her face. "Thank you, Michael. Thank you for everything, my love."

"You saved my life once" Michael told her. "Now, let me be the one who saves yours."

Gerard opened the door to the Study. "My Lord, I believe that Countess Rosemary would-"

"Cancel that appointment, Gerard" Michael told the butler. "In fact, cancel all of them for the day. Today, is about me and my beautiful wife." He cradled the love of his life in his arms before glancing back at the butler. "And while you're at it, take the rest of the day off for yourself."

The Butler nodded. "As you wish, Sir. Shall I lock the door to give the Lord and Lady their...ahem...privacy?"

Julia laughed. "See that you do, Gerard." When the two were certain Gerard had done as they hoped he would, Michael brought Julia into a passionate kiss and their quest for the next miracle from above began.

{}

"What makes you think she would root for you if we battled?!" Ryan snarled at his brother as the two feuded just outside their newly renovated home in Parlor Town. "She doesn't know the kind of stuff you got up to!"

"Oh, and you're some kind of patron saint?" Matthew countered, angrily getting into his brother's face. "Just admit that she likes me more so we can call this a day!"

"Get this through your thick head! SHE WILL NEVER LIKE YOU MORE THAN ME!"

The two were so close to getting into a scrap over this, that their parents rushed over to separate the two. Robert got Ryan into a headlock to calm him down while Matthew was being dragged several feet backwards by his mother. The parents were decidedly finished with the endless arguing between two who had once been best friends and brothers above all else.

"Alright" Robert yelled. "That's enough!"

"We have had it with your fighting, boys!" Alison cried out. "If we turn our backs for a few seconds, you two act like a nuclear war is about to break out."

"How many times do we have to remind you that you two are brothers long before you are enemies?!"

"You don't have to remind me" Ryan flared back, his anger still brimming. "And you also don't have to remind me what this guy got up to as one of Elezar's stooges!"

Matthew tried to break free from his mother's grasp at those words. "Like you're so innocent and noble. I'm not the one who kicked Claude off the roof of a building!"

"ENOUGH!" Alison shrieked, finally getting Matthew to stop trying to fight her.

"This is going to stop, boys!" their father commanded. "You both have done things you aren't proud of. You both have made mistakes. And you both are trying to improve yourselves from where you were before all of this happened." He relaxed his grip on Ryan, prompting Ryan to fall to the ground in front of them. "And I will not have you two bickering like this. Not when we finally have our whole family together for once!"

"How did this latest match even start?" Alison demanded. "Come on. Who started it?"

"There is just no way that Kayleigh could even like Matthew more than me!" Ryan boasted. "I was there when she was born. I was there through all of this."

"I'm the reason she was even born to begin with!" Matthew countered. "And besides, I don't remember you being with her the last few weeks."

"I was a little preoccupied at the-"

"Are you two seriously fighting over your baby sister?" Robert spat out in a fury. "ARE YOU TWO SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!"

Both boys stood in shamed silence as their parents glared at the two of them. Ryan lowered his head and did his best to ignore his Poké Gear going off. Matthew simply kept his eyes shut.

"The rate you two have been fighting" Alison sighed, "I wouldn't be surprised if Kayleigh chose neither of you."

"Kayleigh is lucky to have two brothers she can look up to" Robert told the boys. "Two brave, strong, thickheaded brothers who should remember to put any stupid feuds aside when they involve her!" He folded his arms and glared down at the two of them. "Do I make myself clear?

"Yes, sir" both boys replied simultaneously.

"Ryan, go answer that call" Robert ordered. "Matt, help your mother wash dishes." With that, Robert went back to work building a small play place for Kayleigh outside of the house, while Ryan walked off to see who was calling him on his Poké Gear. Matthew followed his mother back into the house, passing a curious Kayleigh in her highchair as she ate her grilled cheese sandwich with the crusts cut off. Before the two could get into the kitchen, however, Alison stopped her son.

"Why? Why do you two always have to keep fighting?" She leaned on the walls of their house. "You two were best friends, once upon a time. Even when Addison was involved, you two remembered you needed each other more than anyone else. So tell me, Matty? Why do you two constantly have to be at each other's throats? You aren't working with Elezar anymore. You aren't waging war over Addison. Can't you two remember those days when you were side by side and not hating each other."

Matthew sighed. "Mom, it's not like we like fighting. Or, at least I don't. But we're rivals. That's how we can tolerate being in the same room as each other."

"Yet everything has to be a competition between you two?"

"So long as Ryan is going to keep thinking what I did back then defines who I am, I have to fight back."

"Neither of you is in the right, sweetheart" his mother scolded. "Him for pointing out his shortcomings, or you for pointing out his." She put her hands on her son's face. "Now, Matty. I don't want this to be a thing anymore. You two are brothers. You don't have to be best friends. But I won't have you two fighting anymore, got it?"

Matthew nodded. "Got it."

The door opened and Ryan sped upstairs to his bedroom like a rocket, drawing all of their attention. Even Alison was surprised. "What was that all about?" She looked down to Kayleigh and saw her face tightening to show her unhappiness with the situation. When she made her way over to her daughter, the toddler began to kick the table in frustration. "Alright, Kayleigh. What's the matter?"

The child let out a wild scream and began to cry. "NO! NO! NO!"

Matthew came in front of Kayleigh. "What is it, Kayleigh?"

Ryan was down the stairs a few seconds later. "Don't wait up for me, tonight."

"What's going on?" his mother asked.

Her son wore a bright smile on his face for the first time since they were reunited. "Mom, it finally happened. Addy and I are meeting tonight." He let out a childish squeal of happiness. "Finally!" He then raced out the door and slammed it shut behind him.

Matthew was about to comment on the sudden change of face from Addison, but it finally began to fall into place why Kayleigh was acting this way. He picked up the cranky toddler and held her in his arms. "Kayleigh. Do you miss Ryan?"

"Broboo weave again! No! No! No! No more Kaywee. Only Addy!" The derision in her face when even mentioning Addison's name showed that the child was not too pleased with his brother's girlfriend. "Broboo is Kaywees! Not Addy!"

Matthew carried his sister over to the one piece of furniture in the house that wasn't covered in boxes and other pieces of furniture: his father's old grandfather chair. "Oh, Kayleigh. You're jealous?" He put the toddler up on his lap as he made himself comfortable. "Well, you don't have to worry. We can both be cranky together."

Kayleigh eyed him curiously. "Jelly?"

"Jealous" he corrected. "It's basically when you're unhappy that someone has or is doing something that you can't." He bounced the precocious toddler on his thigh. "And I know you're jealous of Addison. And I'm jealous of Ryan. So, we can be cranky and jealous with each other." He lifted up his sister's shirt and gave her a belly fart, causing the toddler to burst into laughter.

"Broboo Silly!"

"And unlike your other brother" Matthew boasted, "I won't leave you behind for some girl." No matter how much he wanted for it to be the other way around, he was content to know that he was preferred in one way in comparison to his twin brother. He picked her up and rose. "How about I take you for a ride?"

Alison eyed the situation with a mother's concern. "Not on that Dragon, are you?"

"Just around town" Matthew insisted."

Alison seemed about to argue, but she admitted defeat. "I won't have her catch a cold up there. Make sure she wears a coat!"

"Of course, Mom. You act as if I didn't help take care of Kayleigh while you were gone." He helped Kayleigh put her big coat on before scooping her up again and preparing to walk out with her.

"Matt?" Alison called back. "Not for nothing, but I think you're right in this fight. Be careful, sweetheart. Love you."

"Love you too, Mom" Matthew called back. It did his heart a bit of good to know that his mother was seeing reason and had sided with him. There weren't many things he could admit that he was better than Ryan at during this particular moment. But he would not budge when it came to his little sister. He propped Kayleigh up in his arms as he reached onto his belt and called out his Noivern. Upon being freed, she flapped her wings to stretch out and let out a screech. But when she saw Matthew holding Kayleigh, she quieted and lowered her back.

"Noisy!" Kayleigh cried out, covering her ears.

"Noisy" Matthew agreed, "but she's still one of my closest friends. One of the few I have left." He climbed onto her back and put Kayleigh in front of him. He then gave his Noivern a loving pat. "You've got this. Take us for a ride." He then grabbed Kayleigh tightly as the Noivern took off into the skies like a rocket. Kayleigh at first screamed worriedly, but when the Noivern began to glide around the town, the toddler began to let out excited babbling and cheering as they floated through the skies.

"Do you see that house over there?" Matthew pointed. "That's Holly and Tommy's house."

Kayleigh looked around and gushed at all the sights. She then spun around and hugged Matthew as best as her frame would allow her. "Broboo and Kaywee?"

Matthew messed up his little sister's hair as they continued to fly in the beautiful air above their hometown. "Nothing is going to change that, sweetie."