"Would you hurry up, Ryan?" Robert Kingston called to his son. "We're just about ready to leave!"

Ryan looked back towards Parlor Beach and shouted down to his father. "Got it! I'll only be a couple minutes!"

"We've got to get out to sea while we have the tides" his father continued.

"I heard you the first time!" Ryan grumbled before he returned his attention to his friends. Dawn, Lucas and Addison made time out of their days to see him off on his ever so reluctant camping trip with his family. He hoped the longer he dragged his feet, the more likely his father would cancel the whole affair. But as his father continued to holler for him to get a move on, the boy admitted defeat and decided now was as good a time as any to say his farewells.

"I'm sure you could use a visit from us" Dawn encouraged him. "Once I've convinced Cynthia to let us stick around, that is."

"I would appreciate it" Ryan admitted to her, "but my father has made it clear he wants it to just be the five of us." He looked depressingly over towards Addison. "He wouldn't even let you come."

"I would have to say no anyway" she reminded her boyfriend. "I've got to help my Mom and Aunt Caitlin move back into our home over the next few days."

"Hey, think of it this way" Lucas assured him. "If you try to rush through it, it may feel like time goes by faster."

Ryan sighed. "I really wish I could think that way. Now, it feels like I'm going to be out on that waste of a rock for an eternity." He looked back towards the beach as his father blared their boat's horn loudly. "YEAH! I GOT IT!"

"Better get going before you get grounded" Dawn giggled. "I mean, he might make you stay longer."

Shuddering at the idea, Ryan high-fived Dawn and Lucas and brought the two into an embrace. "Oh, Arceus help me!" Once the friends came apart, Dawn and Lucas climbed onto the back of her Staraptor and soared into the heavens. As they disappeared into the skies, Ryan turned to Addison. "Please tell me we'll talk every night?"

"I promise" Addison grinned. "You promise you won't kill your brother?"

"Can't make that promise" Ryan joked, earning a light slap from Addison on his forehead.

"Then do it for Kayleigh if you can't do it for me" Addison winked, before she flung herself at him.

The two hugged for a long moment, before Ryan planted a kiss on Addison, prompting the girl to blush happily. When they came apart, Ryan felt something nudging his shin. He looked down and saw Shaymin looking up happily at him. He took the Mythical Pokémon in his arms and scratched him underneath his chin. "Sorry, bud. But I can't bring you with me, this time."

Shaymin cocked his head in confusion.

Ryan looked from Addison to his Pokémon. "Could you look after Addy for me, bud?"

Shaymin happily licked his face before leaping into Addison's arms. "I'm sure he could keep you in good spirits. Arceus knows, I'll need to get into them. Love you, Addy."

"You'll be fine" she promised him. "Take care, Ry. Love you." With that, Addison walked away from him and down the road towards her newly finished home to help her mother and Aunt figure out how the house would be built.

Ryan sighed heavily before jogging back out towards Parlor Beach. He found his sister running around and chasing the Wingulls on the shores, his mother organizing things on the large boat and his brother and father finishing loading the boat with their supplies. Matthew gave him a look and rolled his eyes. "Always leaving me to do the heavy lifting."

"Don't start" Robert snapped. "This is a family trip. Not a battlefield!" He handed Ryan a box to put on the boat. Ryan casually tossed it up on the boat before he noticed Kayleigh nearly bowling over a flock of the Wingulls. He trotted over to her and scooped her into his arms. The girl laughed at the Flying Pokémon before snuggling up to her older brother.

"Let's go, Kayleigh" he told her. "If I can't be happy this week, you can't."

"Kaywee happy!" she laughed. "Broboo be happy too!"

"I can try" Ryan said as he handed her up to their mother as she reached down for her toddler. "Just for you, sweetie."

"Oh stop being such a stick in the mud" Robert told his son. "It's not like we're gonna be gone for weeks." He finished fitting the rope ladder to climb into the boat and gestured for his sons to climb up after their mother and sister. "Come on, boys. We used to love these trips. Just the four of us, out on the open water and camping out like we were pioneers."

"Gee" Matthew replied sarcastically. "I wonder what's changed since then."

"Almost like we were nine the last time we did this" Ryan snickered.

"You were eleven" their father corrected. "Stop acting like it was a decade ago and get on board."

Matthew climbed up the rope ladder, with Ryan close behind him and Robert bringing up the rear. Once all five were aboard, Robert climbed up to the helm and called down to them in a cartoonish captain's voice. "This is your captain speaking. The SS Charizark is set to sail out to Waypoint Island and will make berth at approximately 1800 hours, just in time for some fresh hot dogs roasted over a fire."

"As opposed to rotted ones?" Ryan sarcastically asked, prompting Alison to roll her eyes.

"Everyone buckle up and prepare to cast off!" Robert called down in a more normal voice. After Robert sounded the horn again, he turned the boat's engines on and it began to sail out into the blues of Parlor Bay and the seas to the south. As the boat rocked, Alison bounced Kayleigh on her lap to help her get used to the waves without getting seasick. Ryan looked off towards the bow of the boat and Parlor Town. Where Addison was. Where Tommy and Holly were. Where everything he wanted to do more was located. Not out on this frozen prison of a vacation his father seemed to think they were sorely lacking.

"Please tell me we get our own tents this time" Matthew pleaded with his mother.

Alison nodded. "Your father and I aren't that optimistic about keeping you two from killing each other. You'll both have your own tents and private time. The three of us will have a tent together." She looked to both of her sons and sighed. "I know this isn't what you want. But we do need this. Not just to keep a peace between you two. But to get back to some kind of normality between us. Everything changed when you both set out on your journeys. And not much for the better."

"Why is this so important to do now?" Ryan asked. "When we've got so many other things to worry about?"

"At the end of the day" Alison told her boys, "titles and crowns come and go. What matters the most in this world is family." As Alison resumed bouncing Kayleigh on her knee and Matthew sulked on his starboard side of the boat, Ryan decided to climb up to the mast and see his father. He trotted up the steps and held onto the guard rail as his father piloted them further and further away from Parlor Beach.

"When do you think I'll be able to pilot the boat?" Ryan asked his father.

Robert could only laugh. "Not until you're a boat owner yourself, son. I trust you with a lot of things, but not my prized boat." When he saw the disappointment in his son's eyes, he patted him on the shoulder. "Come on. Buck up, kid. We've got a whole weekend to do nothing but fish, hike, swim and do all of the other things we used to do while camping."

Ryan looked down into the water. As the boat floated over the waves, he noticed several Water Pokémon popping out of the waters to eye who was intruding on their frolicking spaces. Some Seakings, a few Horseas and even a Dratini. The Horsea made Ryan think of Cora, his Kingdra that had disappeared alongside all of his other Pokémon when Claude's theft of Pokémon in the CPUs was completed. He could only wonder where she was or how and if she still cared about him. At this moment, he would gladly take being drenched by one of her Hydro Pumps just to know he still had her. He had already lost four of his most beloved Pokémon. Any more would be catastrophic for him.

"I hope my Pokémon are doing okay" Ryan spoke up.

Robert nodded. "I'm sure they are. Mewtwo didn't seem to force them to join up with him, just to run out and find their freedom. Mine are probably getting as much fun as they can on Mt. Heatmor or something." He began to slow the boat down as it now gently grazed the tops of the waves. "I do wish I could get them back. Just to let them know how much they mean to me. It shook me to know just how well Mewtwo tricked them into thinking we didn't care. But so long as they're getting to enjoy themselves, I don't think it matters in the end. Once Mewtwo is gone, we can figure out how to replenish our losses as it comes. That goes the same for you and yours, your brother and his and everyone else who's down some loved ones."

Ryan shook his head. "No. No one can replace them, Dad. Sparks, Terra, Tusker, Simba. Achilles and Shaymin are all I have left and Shaymin basically does as he pleases at this point."

"Which is why we feel it's so important that we as a family connect on this trip" his father explained. He looked down at Ryan. "Things aren't going to be the same as they were before you kids left. We all know that. But if we could maybe someday find some common ground between you boys, we might be able to live like this. One of these days, the world is going to be open to you both. More than it is, now. One of these days, we're not going to be here for you. Neither will Michael or Julia. Our world is going to be in your hands, Ry. And when that day comes, you can either rule like Claude would have or like your Grandfather did."

"Claude and Grandpa?"

"You can either go about your life as a loner without trust in someone" Robert summarized, "or you hold those trusts close to your heart as you reach manhood."

"Putting all of your faith in something can leave you burned" Ryan theorized.

"And it can sometimes be the ailment to a burn. Right now, not having your Pokémon with you probably hurts more than any unresolved feelings you and your brother have with one another. Am I right?"

Ryan folded his arms as he chanced a glance down at Matthew, who had not moved from his spot below. "Only because I know he's got something in Arcana worth fighting for."

"You both can fight for Kayleigh" his father told him. "Just as you both fought to find your mother and bring down Claude. No matter what happened between you, you're still brothers. You need to know that you have the other's back and they have yours." He chuckled to himself. "I did used to get into scrapes with my older brothers. Jeice more specifically. Byron and Erin used to have to be peacemakers between us, but we used to scrap and fight and all that. My father wanted it to end, so he sent us both to Waypoint Island in the middle of the night to find a way home without our Pokémon. We had to rely on each other. Having that common issue helped Jeice and I sort our issues out. And now, he's one of my closest friends."

"Let me know when Uncle Jeice put Mom through hell and back and then we'll be able to talk" Ryan grumbled, before taking his leave and heading back down towards his mother and siblings.

"Keep yourself buckled up down there" Robert called back. "We'll be reaching Waypoint Island before the sun sets."

Ryan slowly sat back down next to his mother and Kayleigh, who was happily cheering for more bouncing. Despite her eagerness to keep her daughter from feeling the ailments of the sea, Alison herself was beginning to pale as the rough waves tossed them about on the boat. As Alison did her best to keep her illness to herself, while her children all had deeply opposing emotions about the camping trip. Kayleigh could not be happier about having both of her "Broboos" with her. Matthew sulked on his own corner of the boat, his frustration with the whole situation only growing. And Ryan sadly looked back as Parlor Town vanished in the distance and he saw nothing but the seas before long.

Addy...

{}

While Julia was researching if there were any ways to quicken the process of becoming pregnant, Michael continued his work in the Lord's Study. But instead of filling out paperwork, he was instead being accosted by one of the many people in Arcana who were growing increasingly angry with him for not producing any results on those missing on Mirage Island. If it were someone from Jeremy's Family or Rui, he might be able to keep them levelheaded. But there was nothing levelheaded about Garret Fiveroux. Annette's older brother was hotheaded and increasingly spiteful of him, despite them once being friends a long time ago. Annette's friendships with Ryan and the others certainly didn't help since they were in Arcana and she wasn't. And it wasn't like they were intentionally refusing to get the bespectacled Pokémon prodigy. They simply lacked all means in terms of strength to do so. Garret didn't understand that, but Michael could not really blame him for his anger. He was still worried sick about his own friends not being safe. But he had to keep himself steady so the rest of Arcana didn't fall alongside him. Sometimes, he felt like Atlas, holding up the world on his own.

Garret Fiveroux was similarly built to Christopher before the Taghwan Hall Attacks. He was tall, lank, with a small bit of muscle and a thick red beard that must have made him feel masculine and macho. He held his ground while arguing with the Lord of Kingston Castle, his words brimming with deep concern and frustration. But unlike previous times he's been called or spoken to, this time Fiveroux was more worried about his little sister than he was angry at Michael.

"It's been six months, Michael" Garret fumed. "How can she still be trapped there after six months?!"

"Did you expect Mewtwo and the Syndicate to just let her go?"

"No, but I expected you to try and mount a rescue!" Garret slammed his hands down on the arms of the chair he was reluctantly seated in. "This is my sister! The only family I have left!"

"Annette is a cherished member of the Pokémon League" Michael assured his guest.

"Don't give me that politician's answer!"

"And she's also one of the Champion's closest friends" the Lord of Kingston Castle continued. "Do not think for a minute that she's been forgotten, Garret."

"Then why isn't she here?"

Michael sighed. "Unfortunately, I was a little worse for wear on Mirage Island. But I'll take Cameron's word for it that they would have rescued more people if they could. Considering she lost her brother, I'd think you can be placated by that. But your sister, Christopher, Giselle, Jeremy and all the others have not been, nor will they ever be forgotten. I want to save all of them. And we will. But until we have an answer about how to deal with Mewtwo, we can only wait."

Garret slumped in the chair. "I don't think I can wait anymore."

"We've lost too much" Michael agreed. "But until life gives us a freebie, we're sort of strapped for choices."

The door to The Lord's Study opened and Gerard entered. "Pardon the intrusions, Lord Kingston. Sir Garret. But Lady Cameron requests an audience."

"Cameron?" Garret asked.

"Send her in" Michael responded.

Garret rose from his chair and nodded towards Michael. "Please. Just-just do what you can for her."

"Before you go, I notice you said that Annette is the only family you have left. What do you mean by that?"

Garret kept his back to Michael as he gathered himself and prepared to leave. "Our parents are gone. Some sort of accident in Kanto where they were vacationing."

Michael sighed. "I am so sorry for your loss."

"Just do what you can for my sister" Garret pleaded, before heading for the door. He paused at the sight of Cameron. The two awkwardly stared at one another, before Cameron slid passed him and eyed him as he exited.

"What's up with him?"

"I think I know now why Garret is frustrated with us" Michael said sadly. "He and Annette are the last two Fiveroux's in Arcana."

"I meant about that stare" Cameron replied, looking back as Gerard closed the door.

"Well, Julia did mention that Grandma wanted to pair you and Garret together in marriage back in the day."

"Fat chance of that happening" she snorted.

Michael leaned back in his chair and stretched himself out before addressing his cousin. "So, what can I do for you, Cam?"

"Has there been anything?" she asked him.

Michael shook his head. "Nothing. Unless you take to heart what Piper told you, we know just as much about him and what's going on back there as we always have."

Cameron nodded. "Then I have no reason to hold back when I ask this."

"Ask what?"

"I want you to promise me something, Michael" Cameron asked her dearest and most trusted confidant left. "You know no one was willing to get in your way when you confronted Cassius. We let you use your rage to wipe him out. I was even willing to blame Julia for what you were going through. Just because I was afraid we were going to lose you again. But you confronting Cassius was something you had to do. And both Chris and I let you do it."

Michael scowled. Revisiting the death of his former tormentor was not something he wanted to go through again. He was on his last emotional leg at that point. He felt Julia no longer loved him and had nothing left to live for. If he ended up becoming a danger to Arcana, he had to hope that Chris and Cam would strike him down and bring an end to this dark chapter of Arcana. But he would take Cassius and Elezar down alongside him, ending his pain along with his life. At least, before Mewtwo was confirmed to be in the picture. "Why are you asking me this?"

"When our battle with Mewtwo comes" Cameron went on, "I want you to promise me you won't get in my way, this time."

"You want to take Mewtwo on by yourself?" It took Michael a moment before he could come to the conclusion as to who was the source of Cameron's darkest thoughts.

Cameron's face darkened as clouds do before a storm. "She humiliated me. She messed with my head, she broke me from inside and made me out to be a fool! She hurt Cynthia and Giselle! And it's because of me that the sick beast is out and running amok again. I didn't get a chance to avenge letting Claude escape. But promise me you will not get in my way when I go to kill Courtney."

Michael folded his hands. "Cam. I know how much this means to you."

"Do you? Were you ever made to be a fool by someone?"

"You forgot how Giselle manipulated me?" When Cameron did not respond, he continued. "Cam, hatred is not going to change anything. If you kill Courtney, what will it accomplish in the end? Mewtwo will still be out there, plotting and scheming. You won't feel better. Your anger won't be satiated. It will only continue burning inside of you until it's flames have destroyed more than you intended for it to."

"But you and Cassius-"

"I killed Cassius" Michael confessed. "In cold blood. Sure, the Fury had something to do with it. But I willingly used it. I thought that if I destroyed Cassius and Elezar, it would have been worth it. But Mewtwo used my power to try and destroy you guys: twice now. My rage would have killed you if Ryan and Addison weren't there to interfere. And in the end, what did my hatred get me? Icarus is still dead. The Fury, despite Professor Krane's efforts, still burns inside of me. Cassius may be dead, but his impact on me will be there for the rest of my life." He lowered his head upon looking into Cameron's eyes and seeing the same anger that he would see in his own reflection. "But, if it means this much to you, I won't stand in your way. But only because I know she won't be satiated until she's gotten to me." There were times when he could still hear her inside of his mind, whispering things to him to throw him off his game. Make him lose focus. It was almost as if she was breathing gently on his necks, giving him goosebumps.

"Then I have a reason to go after her" Cameron declared. "To avenge myself and to protect you."

Michael let out a sad smile. "What makes you think I need protection."

"You don't" Cameron replied, echoing his sorrow. "I just-I just want to be there for you, this time. Like you've always been there for me."

{}

It did not surprise Courtney to find the doorway to her lab blasted open. Nor did it surprise her to find her belongings and devices tossed recklessly to the side as if a hurricane had swept through her lab. In fact, not even the sprawled out body of Caleb could have shocked her. She could easily guess what Hunter was after in his visit to her lab. And he certainly left no stone unturned. Some of the phony helms that she and Caleb had been working on were in pieces, having been smashed on the ground wildly. But the perfected helm with the power to potentially block out The Grand Master's mind was nowhere to be found. She would have railed into Caleb if he was not bleeding out on the floor beside her.

Her enamored minion was clutching at a wound in his chest, having been stabbed by one of Hunter's many hunting knives. He was letting out low, quiet grunts of pain as he tried in vain to get himself back up. When he saw her, he reached up to her. "Mistress Courtney...I'm...I'm sorry..."

She shushed him and knelt down beside him, taking the boy's weak and paling hand. "Shhhhh. It's okay. You did what you could. Hunter was too much for you."

"He took it-he took-"

"I know" she gently said, shushing him once more. "It's only going to aggravate your wound."

Caleb stained to sit up, but fell back down onto his back, laying in a pool of his own blood. "If he uses the helm successfully..."

"He will have all of The Master's power without any of it's weaknesses" Courtney cursed. "The clever bastard!" Caleb's hand weakened in her grasp and she lowered it back down, using it to try and stay the bleeding. "Caleb. Can Hunter truly wield it's power?"

Caleb did his best to answer her, but coughed up more blood. "Mistress..."

She sighed. "You're in no condition to help me, Caleb." She rose to her feet and tried to formulate some way of making this work to her advantage. "Think, Courtney. Think."

"Mis...tress..."

It was then, while formulating her next move, that Courtney realized her minion would not live a moment beyond this. She looked own to him and saw the light leaving his eyes. She gave him a pitying smile and bent over. The two shared a kiss in his final moments, as the life left him. When they had parted, Caleb was dead. And Courtney had found her next move in this game she was playing with Hunter. She looked down fondly on Caleb. "You poor, lovestruck fool. You were useful to me, Caleb. Had you not been as fascinated with me, you might still be alive." She left him there on the floor of her lab and rushed up the stairs and into Mewtwo's chambers unannounced. He was deep in meditation when she knelt down in front of him.

This had better be important, Courtney.

"Grand Master" Courtney prostrated herself. "Hunter means to betray us."

Of course he does. Which is precisely what I intend for him to do. His sapphire eyes opened and he darkened the torches that hung from the wall. Do not pretend to be oblivious, Courtney. I know of all of your workings and concoctions. This helm of yours is a truly impressive invention. Had your assistant not been struck down, he would have been useful to us.

"You mean you know?"

I allowed you to feel you were getting one over on me, quite simply because it amused me. The helm has power. I cannot influence his mind with it, but it does not make Hunter immune from the power of the Singularity as he might hope it would. The moment he defies me or is not of any further use to me, all I need to is give him the same punishment as I would if he fails me.

Courtney was practically kissing the ground in her groveling. "Master, I-"

Spare me your groveling, Courtney. Unlike that greedy poacher, I know you have uses to me beyond your physical limitations. You will not be punished for your attempt of insurrection.

"Thank you, Master!"

As it happens, Courtney, Hunter has no alternative but to do what I say. If Ryan Kingston remains alive, he meets his own fate. If he tries to hide his objectives from me, he meets his own fate. And if he dares to use the Mythical Pokémon to rival me, he'll meet his own fate. I can assure you that arrogant poacher will not try to defy me openly. At least, not until he feels complete. He raised his head and resumed his meditation. Go. Complete your own tasks and leave the tracking of the power source to that oaf Kage. While I wait for word of the fate of Arcana's beloved hero, I want you to keep an eye on those Prophecies. Ensure that no one else will dare stand in my way.

Courtney smirked. "Consider it done, Master." She then trotted along from the Throne Room and back down to her lab. A few Syndicate goons were cleaning up the blood that had poured out of Caleb, while others brought a stretcher to carry him out and find a place to bury him. Courtney paused as she eyed the dead body of the only person in the world who had ever loved her. The only one who had willingly died for her. She put her hand on his head and caressed his hair. "Take him to the Altar of Fire and put him into the volcano. He was a man of fire and passion. His death should reflect that."

"Aye, Lady Courtney" the guard bowed as he and his other brought Caleb's stretcher up the stairs.

Courtney pushed the other henchmen out of her lab and sat down in the only stool that wasn't in pieces thanks to Hunter's tirade. She gently massaged her head. "Oh Michael. What are we going to do? All we have is each other, now. Caleb could have been useful to us. Too bad Hunter had to be a spoil sport." She looked at her computer and noticed the screen flashing with a notification. She quickly moved to the screen and wiggled the mouse to check her progress. The screen read bright for anyone to see:

[DNA Match Confirmed! Johto Recognition Software Successful!]

She stared at the screen as an almost euphoric smile appeared on her face. "At last. We have him!" She looked through the match and found everything she would need to know. A name, a date of birth, an address and all other minute details. All had traced down to one man in the Johto Region. An eccentric man deeply fascinated by the lore of the Mythical Beasts. The most recent picture of him depicted a young man with brown hair, a purple suit and flamboyant white cape.

"Looks like we have a great grandson, Sora" Courtney giggled to herself, a single strand of her lavender hair falling in front of her face as she relished in her victory. "Let's see that smarmy bitch get around this one!"

{}

"They're gonna kill him?!" Chris exclaimed, still seated beside the slumbering Amanda and Cresselia as she continued to try and break her free from the Dark Void.

Avery's facsimile nodded nervously. "That's what I heard. Mewtwo is under the impression that Ryan is the White Mage! If he's right and Hunter is able to get to him..."

Chris wiped his face with his hand nervously. "I can't let anything happen to that kid!"

"We're not exactly in a position to help the boy" Elezar pointed out, still tending to the fire in the hidden village they were taking refuge in.

"I can be" Chris said proudly. "All I need is a boat off this rock."

Avery shook her head. "You know it's not that simple, Chris! Only Mewtwo has the power to traverse between the dimensions! You need the Spirit Keys!"

"Which are all in Arcana, last time I checked" Elezar reminded them. "Not exactly easy to reach for us."

"And it's not like Mewtwo will be oblivious to the Spirit Gate opening again" Avery went on.

"So you just expect me to sit around and do nothing as this monster comes after my cousin?!" Chris snarled. "I failed him once, I won't do it again!"

"You'll be failing him a whole lot more if you get caught again!" Avery pleaded. "Just lay low for a little while longer. We can figure things out a bit more once-"

"What's all that racket about?" a drowsy voice asked the group. The three turned towards Amanda, who finally stretched her long and nimble body as if waking from a mid-afternoon nap. She let out a loud yawn before her senses finally began to come around to her. When the only face she recognized and wasn't afraid of was Chris, she skittered over to his side and hid behind him. "Chris? Who is she? And what is Elezar doing here?"

Elezar rolled his eyes and went back to tending the flames. "Good to know I still get that frightened stare every now and then."

"My name is Avery Frost" Avery spoke kindly to Amanda. "I've been waiting to meet you for some time, Miss Fouritz."

"Avery?" Amanda asked in confusion.

"I take it this is the great genius mind Mewtwo needed?" Elezar mocked.

"I'll sum it up for you, Amanda" Chris said gently to Amanda. He first pointed towards Elezar. "That's still Elezar. He's kinda dead, but not at the same time. He's on the anti-Mewtwo side, but he sure as hell isn't one of us!" He then pointed towards Avery. "And this is Avery and also the Pokémon Darkrai, the one Hunter used to put you to sleep." When Amanda began to freak out, Chris quickly pulled her aside. "Relax, relax, relax! She's on our side now. The story behind that is going to take way too long to tell, though."

Amanda did her best to try and calm as she stared fearfully at Avery. "You're a Pokémon? How is that even possible?"

"Anything is possible in the Realm of Dreams" Avery explained. "But Chris is right when he says that we don't have time to explain things fully. All you need to know is that I'm on your side. Because right now, we have a more pressing matter to attend to." She looked out into the skies above Mirage Island. "Somehow, we have to warn Ryan of what's coming for him."

"Ryan?" Amanda asked in confusion. "What's going on?"

"Hunter's been sent to kill him" Chris said, worry dripping from every word. "And we have no way of reaching him."

Amanda looked to the group in confusion. "What are you talking about? What about the whole dream communications?"

Both Avery and Chris looked at her like she was speaking gibberish. "Uh...come again?"

"We're in the Realm of Dreams, right?" Amanda asked. "Shouldn't we be able to reach out to someone in their dreams? I was able to speak to Professor Pines while she dreamed."

Chris was left the only one confused now, as Avery's eyes lit up in shock and excitement. "You talked to Julia? When?! Was Piper with her?"

"This is why we needed Amanda's brain!" Avery exclaimed. "We can communicate with Ryan when he's sleeping!" But her joy quickly left her face as she began to try and contemplate how it would get done. "But, who's going to be the one to do it? You two aren't asleep anymore, so it's impossible for you to reach him. The only way someone can reach the dreams of another is if they were in between life and death. It has to be me or Elezar."

"And Elezar has no interest" Elezar snapped. "I've already done more than my fair share."

"Then it's up to me" Avery said sadly. "But will he even believe me?"

"Why wouldn't he?" Amanda asked.

"Let's just say that Ryan and Avery have a bit of a history with one another" Chris summarized. "And not the positive kind."

Amanda sighed. "Guess I'll learn it when there's time."

Avery frowned. "I hurt him. I manipulated him and used him. I loved him so much, but I couldn't accept that he chose Addison over me. But Matthew helped me to see that it wasn't worth it to try and trick Ryan and I needed to let him go. But Ryan was hurt too much by my actions. He may not believe me." She raised her head in resolve. "But I have to try."

"Otherwise, we're going to have to hope Michael can pull off a miracle" Amanda replied, leaning back on the walls of the hut.

Elezar, who had been mostly silently observing the flames in front of the hut, scoffed at this. "I hate to burst your bubble, but there isn't much Michael can do to prevent this from happening."

Chris rose to his feet and stared angrily at him. "And you know this because?"

Elezar looked back at him. "I've seen it in the flames. They speak to you when you observe them long enough."

"You can communicate and understand fire?" Avery gasped. "That's intriguing."

"I am not awake enough for this" Amanda said, rubbing her head.

"Neither of us is" Chris replied, taking Amanda's hand and pulling her to her feet, holding her in place until she was balanced and letting her go. He then walked out to sit beside his previous adversary to learn more. "But I want to know more about what the flames are saying."

Elezar remained focused on the flames in front of him. "I have been trying in earnest to properly understand the flames. See for yourself. They are speaking to us, right now."

Chris looked into the flames, but saw nothing but crackling embers and fire. "What am I supposed to see?"

The former Syndicate Admin took a deep breath. "There are two possible futures the flames speak of. One in which Hunter's quarry lives to tell the tale, but suffers a loss that will break his resolve. The other, in which Hunter succeeds in his efforts, and leaves someone else completely broken. Neither can happen while the other does. In a way, what unfolds when Hunter meets his prey will decide the fate of the entire world."

"Ryan has to make it to the end" Amanda insisted as she slowly made her way out to the bonfire. "If anything happens to him-"

"We'll have to wait until Ryan falls asleep" Avery said, slightly defeated. "I can't reach him while he's awake. Apparently, he's been becoming stronger in his connection with Achilles and it's preventing me from communicating with him now."

"Perhaps the boy is the Mage, after all" Elezar sneered. "That would explain why Mewtwo despises him so, that's for sure."