Pokemon: The Dawn of Arcana

by TheNMan64

The Final Clash with Mewtwo is upon us in the next chapter of the Crimson Fury Saga. With the forces of good pushed to their breaking point and on the brink of collapse, an unexpected chosen must rise to the occasion and oppose Mewtwo despite their fears and lack of confidence. Darkness will rise, light will fall and the end of an entire age of the world is coming...

31. Chapter 30: Shaymin's Guardian

The days following his father and brother's deaths were ones Matthew could not remember. Sure, he had been present and emotional during all of them, but he could not tell anyone the details. He had simply waded from one event to the next, nodded and hugged whoever he had to and found himself in the same place at the end of every day: on the steps that led to the veranda of Kingston Castle. No matter how much he wanted to be there for his utterly distraught mother, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He was himself deeply wounded by the losses of both his father and Ryan. Ryan in particular. The two would never be able to solve their rivalry. Never be able to find out which of them were better. Never able to see what could lie ahead for them if their rivalry was finally settled? Could they have been able to be friends again? Or were those bridges burned for good? And now, any of Matthew's plans for the future had been tossed into the incinerator. He now had to stand for both Ryan and their father. The man of the house. The head of the family. The only father figure Kayleigh might ever have. The only emotional weight his mother would have now.

On this particular day, the day of the funeral and banquet for the two, Matthew again found himself on the steps of the veranda, sitting by himself and contemplating what the future had in store for him. The family left him to his own devices, but he would get the occasional glance or voice of support from someone like Holly or Dawn, but he would gently thank them and ask to be left alone. He knew he would have to address his emotional state soon, but he didn't feel able to do it now.

He wore the same suit he had worn for Jon and Annie's wedding, but no one seemed to notice. If anything, they all seemed to be completely supportive of whatever he chose to do with his time. Even if it meant he wanted to be completely alone.

"Matthew" a voice called down to him.

Matthew couldn't bring himself to face the newcomer and just stared blankly out into the gardens and towards the King's Bay. The person who had called to him walked down the steps and sat beside him. He didn't need to look at her to know who she was.

"Jasmine."

"I-I thought I would find you out here" she said politely. "I spoke to your mother. She's worried about you."

Matthew shook his head. "She's the one who's lost a son and her husband. Why worry about me?"

"You two are going to be in a really rough spot for a while, Matt" his ex-girlfriend told him sadly. "You both need-"

"I don't need anything" he scoffed.

"Okay" Jasmine spoke up, altering her tactics. "Then I don't want you to be alone, right now." She wrapped her arm around his. "I know you want to be left be right now, but considering the path you're going to be walking for a while, I think you should know that you still have people in your corner." When Matthew made no movement to acknowledge her, Jasmine sighed and kissed him on the cheek. "Well, you know where to find me if you need me. My number hasn't changed." She rose from his side and walked back into Kingston Castle. "Oh, excuse me."

"My pleasure, Lady Augustine" Cynthia replied. The Sinnoh Region Champion made her way out to Matthew's side and sat beside him.

"You gonna try and tell me I can't be alone?!" Matthew snapped at her.

"Nope" Cynthia answered. "I can just sit here in silence too, right?"

When Matthew had no answer for her, the two simply sat in silence as time passed. He was surprisingly thankful that she was not trying to strike up conversation, not trying to make him emote. He was even more thankful to have her. Even if it was in silence, the companionship was enough to keep him from revisiting his dark thoughts. In some ways, Cynthia reminded him of Jocelyn. Jocelyn would often let Matthew brood and be emotional whenever he was in one of his outbursts from either a failure in the Johto League or being reminded of his own past, but she never left him on his own until he ran off from her on Mirage Island. Even then, she kept following him until the very end, when she gave up her life for him and let Mewtwo do Arceus knows to her. Now, Cynthia took the role of simply sitting with him and saying nothing.

Matthew spotted a white and green tuft of fur skittering about the soccer pitch below him and Cynthia. "Shaymin?" Shaymin paused and looked at him, before dashing across the field and leaping into Matthew's arms, burrowing into his chest. "Whoa whoa whoa! Easy there, little guy. What's gotten into you?"

"I think Shaymin knows what happened" Cynthia theorized. "Pokémon tend to be much smarter than we think they are."

Shaymin yipped up at Matthew and burrowed into his chest. When his small head popped back out, Matthew could tell the Pokémon was emotionally distressed. Cynthia was right. He simply patted the Pokémon on it's head, the two of them both in mourning over the same person. "I used to wonder why Ryan would waste his time in getting to know his Pokémon. Why would he pet them, play with them or let them sit on his head and treat them like they were people." As Shaymin nuzzled his chest, with a part of Matthew thinking that Shaymin thought he was his brother. "But I guess that was where Ryan always had the edge over me as a trainer. I mean, just look at this little guy. Absolutely distraught at the idea that his trainer is gone. A part of me thinks that the Pokemon I raised when I was with the Syndicate wouldn't have batted an eyelash if I lost." He lowered his head. "I pushed them too hard. I pushed myself too hard."

"What's important is that you see it" Cynthia suggested. She used her finger to scratch Shaymin's head. The Mythical Pokémon yipped happily and floated about around the duo, having seemingly forgotten it's distress, even if only for a brief moment. "I've heard about you, Matthew. Not a whole lot of positive things."

"I figured as much" Matthew grumbled.

"That you were arrogant, ruthless, dangerous, power-hungry, careless and downright unpleasant."

"That's just Holly. Anyone else you heard from?"

"Your brother" Cynthia informed him.

"Oh goodie. And how did he care to speak of his brother?"

"Ryan said some choice words about you" the Sinnoh Region's Champion recalled. "But the one thing that stuck out to me is this. He told me that he always had faith that you would one day turn around. Or, at least he hoped."

Matthew was surprised by this. "Ryan said that? We were always at each other's throats while we didn't have a common enemy."

"Some wounds take longer to heal. But Ryan told me that long before you all went on your journeys to become Pokémon Trainers, it was just the three of you. You, him and Addison. Sometimes the Queensbury kids would join in, but it was mostly you three." She chuckled to herself. "I didn't grow up with many friends back home. My Pokémon took the places humans would have. So, someone like me finds it astonishing when three friends as close as he said you were let your friendships degrade and fall apart."

Matthew sighed. "We all had a hand in it. I always wanted to be like him, but I couldn't. I also wanted to be the one who solved problems like Michael or The Elite Four. To be a hero. I could have fixed any problems we had without breaking a sweat, while Ryan handled the more personal matters. But it was just that kind of closeness he had to Addy and Holly that drove us apart. I wanted that. More than anything in this world, I wanted to be the one Addy could trust with things. And I let my pride lead me down a path I regret ever taking. I lost my Pokémon, my friends and my family." He fumed in frustration. "The worst part is, we never did get to fix things between us. I would have ripped through those Gyarados with all I had to save Ryan if I didn't think Michael could handle it." He looked back up to the castle. "But I haven't even seen him in days."

Cynthia frowned. "No one has. He's taken this harder than anyone."

"The old me would have taken that as fact that Michael always played favorites with us and picked Ryan. But, the longer I've been home, the more I'm seeing Michael for who he is instead of what I thought he was." His eyes fell back onto Shaymin, who was floating about them with a bit less joy and letting out sadder yips than before. "Ryan could have been like him. He would have been if-"

"As far as I know, you can't change the past. If I had, I would have convinced Michael to stay in Sinnoh when he was in exile. When we spoke after he came back here, he told me he was never happy. Only on very short occasions or time spent with you and your cousins. He never wanted any of this. He only came back for Julia. But a part of me feels like he was meant to do what he was doing in exile. Helping people. I know he did a lot as Champion. I've done my best to be like him to a degree, but it's truly impossible. His devotion to the world is unlike anything I've ever known." Her eyes found one of the higher windows in Kingston Castle. "And he's been fortunate to not have to deal with something like this in a very long time. Not since-"

"Icarus" Matthew interjected. Shaymin floated back down to Matthew and yipped at him once more, before again sitting in his lap. "The more I see this little guy, the more he confuses me."

Cynthia smiled faintly. "You know, I think this may be Shaymin's way of saying he picks you."

"Picks me for what?"

"To fill Ryan's boots."

"Fill his-" Matthew began, before Shaymin ran up and down his body, yipping loudly and playfully. "You mean, he wants me to be his protector?"

Cynthia shrugged. "It's only a guess. Few truly know how these little guys act. But, if not for Shaymin's sake, I think you should take up the mantle for your brother's."

Matthew picked up Shaymin in his arms and looked him over. "So, is that it? You picked me? Over Addy? Over everyone else?" When Shaymin barked playfully and wriggled out of his grasp to perch himself on Matthew's head, the boy knew he had his answer. "Okay, then. I'll keep an eye on you." He looked back up towards the castle. "Now that I think of it, I haven't seen much of either Michael or Addy."

"Well, I can assure you they aren't spending their time together" Cynthia frowned. "She blames him for Ryan's death and he seems to be inclined to believe her." She followed Matthew's gaze. "But things are only going to get worse until we get Michael to come out. Not even Julia has been able to, though." She rose to her feet and walked towards the doors into the dining hall. "Maybe I could give it a try again."

As Cynthia departed, Matthew pet the playful Mythical Pokemon that Ryan had once fiercely protected and befriended. Shaymin hopped off of his had and landed in his lap, before curling up into a ball and taking a nap there. Matthew looked up to the heavens above and nodded slowly. "I don't know why I was the one who made it out of there and you guys weren't, but I promise you both I'm going to do everything I can to make you proud. Dad. Ryan. I won't let Mom fall into despair. I'm going to make sure Kayleigh grows up to be a woman you'll be proud of. And when all of this is over, I promise you both that you won't be forgotten. Even if it takes me the rest of my life, I'm going to keep the fire going. No one else is going to get hurt on my account!" When the heavens above did not respond, Matthew simply returned to cradling the snoozing Shaymin and keeping to himself. One was something he'd always been used to, but the other would take a long while for him to be able to live with.

{}

The chairs in the Lord's Study were filled, the fire was glowing and the room was teeming from top to bottom with life. But there was nothing but deathly silence all around the five women and lone man who sat in there. No matter who it was or what they said, none of them could get anything out of Michael Kingston. And they were beginning to fear the worst. The rock they had all leaned on in times of worry and woe seemed like he was fracturing before them. And rather than try to fix himself, Michael seemed content to wither away into nothing. A thought which terrified those present.

Four chairs sat in front of Michael's desk, with each of the four seated women trying something different to rouse the former Champion. Cameron, who herself had taken the news of Ryan and their uncle's deaths like a freight train, was unable to convince her dearest friend and prodigal brother that they were not his fault. She reminded him that the storm had been an accident, that he never wished harm on either Robert or Ryan, but nothing worked. She could only bite her lip as Michael slumped on his desk, staring blankly at nothing.

Cynthia had been welcomed in by the others, but even she had no luck compelling Michael to take action. She tried to make him think of some more positive memories he had with them, but Michael again did not respond. He simply only slumped harder on his desk, the empty glass of scotch he had been drinking from (something Michael never did) rolling and almost falling to the ground and shattering if Olivia was not so quick to catch it.

Olivia Novren, Michael's old friend and cousin, failed in her own personal quest to cheer him up. She had tried to convince him to go and see his children. To leave the Lord's Study and go do something, which he hadn't done since moments after Addison Tenton had told him directly to his face that he let Ryan die. She promised him that the boy's death wasn't his fault, that his family was scared for him and needed him to be more positive, but all in vain.

Julia was beginning to have her own nervous breakdown over this. She felt every ounce of pain Michael did over the loss of Ryan and Robert, but was seemingly unable to mourn properly. After all, she and Michael both shared in their agreement that Ryan was very much like their son and the two had doted and cared for him since Michael's return from exile. She was broken up over it, but even more horrified to find the gloomy and depressed state her husband was in. He hadn't said anything in days. Hadn't eaten anything in days. He simply drank glasses of scotch and slumped on his Grandfather's desk. And it broke her heart to see just how hard he was being on himself over this.

Countess Rosemary was in meditation on a nearby couch, herself only making passive glances back at her great-nephew. She had warned the ladies as such that they were not the ones who would rouse Michael from this deep state of forlorn and woe. But none had listened to her. She resigned herself to maintaining the aura of mystery and peaceful thought, even as the hinges of those around her began to crack and swing wildly.

Cameron was the first to break, swiveling her body around the chair and glaring at Rosemary. "You're not going to say anything to him? Help him see that this isn't his fault?!"

"If it were my duty to do so, I would have done so by now" the Countess chided her great-niece. "It is not, so I have not."

"You could at the very least make an effort on his behalf!"

"Do you even care that Ryan and Robert are gone?" Olivia demanded. "Your own family is-"

Rosemary opened her eyes and found the glances of Cameron and Olivia bearing down on her, but did not change her approach. "Not a day goes by where I wish I could have stopped this. Stopped all of this. I have spent my entire life saying goodbye to the people I knew long ago and those I've met along the way. My parents, my mentor, my brothers, my friends, my allies, all of them. I have had to watch as they all passed on and am bound by my obligations to the White Guardians and the legacies of dozens of those who preceded me not to intervene, even when what is fated to be is something I would very much rather didn't happen. So yes, Miss Novren. Of course I care about my nephew and his son. More than you might think. But it does not fail to dawn on me that it was unavoidable. The Eighth Truth has come to pass, as I told Michael it would. Now, the Ninth must follow in kind."

Cynthia frowned. "Can't you see this Prophecy talk is part of what's breaking him inside?"

Cameron flashed a look back at Michael and clenched her fists. "He already blames himself for my mother's death. What more do you want to put on his shoulders?"

Rosemary shook her head. "He has no reason to. Jane Kingston chose her fate and elected to protect those she loved over her own life. That included you and your brother, Cameron. For Michael to think it was all because of him would be foolish and remarkably selfish of him."

"WOULD YOU JUST STOP IT?!" Julia screamed, rushing around the desk and towards Michael. "Just stop it, Michael! You're scaring me! Give us some sign that what we're saying is getting through to you and not just being used to clean out your ears! PLEASE?!" She grabbed her husband's hands, but Michael simply pulled away from her and resumed slumping on the desk. She was about to explode on him, when the doors to the Study were knocked upon. Julia did her best to compose herself. "Yes?"

"Pardon the intrusion, my lady" Gerard called from the other side. "But Lord Kingston has a visitor."

"He has more than enough visitors" Cameron chided. "Tell them to leave."

"I would, Lady Cameron" the butler continued, "but he insists."

"Then tell him to-"

"He needs to hear this" a familiar voice echoed from the other side.

Julia and Cameron looked at each other in confusion. "Big Mike?"

Olivia smiled faintly. "I'm sure he could use a pep talk from his father."

"Do you even remember what happened-" Julia argued.

"No" Rosemary snapped. "Let him in."

Everyone was caught off guard by the authority with which Rosemary Kingston spoke, but relented as the door opened and Big Mike entered the room, himself looking stiff and rigid in a suit. Julia was the first to greet him. "Hey there, Dad" she said politely.

Big Mike wore a look of long and well hidden woe. "I'm sorry I couldn't be here sooner. I just needed to give Alison my condolences."

Julia came over to her father in-law and embraced him. "Of course. We understand."

"But as soon as I heard what was happening" he continued, eyeing his son as he spoke, "what other choice did I have?"

"I don't think there's anything you can say at this point that hasn't already been said" Cynthia warned. "I mean, we've tried everything."

"Maybe it has to come from someone besides you ladies, then" he suggested before walking to the side of his son's desk. Michael made no motion to recognize him or acknowledge him. "Michael...more than anyone here who's been talking to you since this happened...I know how you feel." He scratched the back of his hand as he tried to formulate the right words to commune to his son. "You were right. You were right about everything you said the other night."

"You can't think that" Olivia interjected.

"It's the truth, Liv" Big Mike countered. "I wasn't there for him or Tori much in their childhood. I did take that job because of how inadequate I felt in comparison to James. And I blindly went about improving my own prospects for my career, completely unaware of the consequences of my absence." He returned his gaze towards his son. "Not only on you and Tori, but also on Erin." He laughed sadly to himself. "You forget just how different your mother and I were brought up. I grew up with nothing. I had to fight to get everything I had, including your mother's affection. She grew up the daughter of Arcana's greatest and wealthiest man. What was I thinking in going after someone who was so far out of my league? But, your mother wanted to be with me, out of either affection or pity. And I wanted to give her and any children we had the best kind of life. When I saw how your grandfather could just shrug his shoulders and buy us a house or pay off a debt, it did make me feel like less of a man." He turned his attention towards Julia. "You weren't the only one who got told they were 'street trash' and unworthy of being with someone."

Olivia slumped in her chair nervously. Cameron's mood seemed to calm at her uncle's words. Julia held her hand close to her heart. Even Cynthia seemed placated by the words. Rosemary had a lone eye kept on her niece's ex-husband, as if studying him in a way she hadn't in twenty eight years. Only Michael had not changed his mood or position.

"That's the kind of stigma I was afraid you were going to have, son" Big Mike continued. "It all began in a desire to give you and your sister the world. But it became selfish and vain in the end. I took over my old boss's business without much of a hassle. But at the cost of being there for you when you needed me. I wasn't even in Arcana when you were branded by Giselle." He knelt beside his son. "But, after doing some soul searching the past few days, I came to a conclusion I should have a long time ago. Even if I disagree with you, even if I think we're in a bit of a different place over what blame gets doled out where, I still failed you. I wasn't there for you." He patted Michael's shoulder. "But I don't and refuse to let that failure define who I am. I admit I failed and I move on from it so that I can become a better person."

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Michael spoke. "But I'm here. Tori is here. Ryan isn't. You've always had a chance to make things right. I don't."

"You're right" his father went on. "The kid isn't here. But that doesn't mean your obligation to him ends. If you feel you failed him, which most of us here think you didn't, then your job to look out for him isn't over yet. Sure, he's gone, but he also left behind people who still need you. A mother, a brother, a sister and of course Deidre's daughter, not to mention a bunch of family and friends. They need you, son. We all do. Would Ryan really want you to stop protecting people and fighting on their behalf just because he's gone? That doesn't sound like the kid I knew."

Michael seemed to stir at these words, but remained slumping on his desk, prompting his father to continue.

"You're more like me than you'd care to know" his father admitted. "Sure, you're more heroic and noble than I am. The people flock to you in droves I could only dream of. But you and I still have things in common. We both failed at many things in our lives. We've both felt inadequate and that we've let the people we care about down. But above all-"

"Did you cause someone you love to die?" Michael asked bitterly. "Did your Pokémon give their life up for you? Did your Aunt lose her life protecting you? Did you fail the one person in the world who never doubted you? The one person who was always by your side? Someone you thought was your son?"

"I almost lost my son, several times" Big Mike corrected. "I lost him when I chose money and power over him and my daughter. I lost him when some evil nut bag branded him and helped a tyrant exile him. I almost lost him when Taghwan Hall burst into flames. And I also almost lost him when some psychotic witch whipped him senseless and messed with his head." He once more patted his son on the back. "Michael, this lesson is without a doubt the most important one a man can ever learn. More important than conquering fears or anything else you might think of. Above all else, my son, your failures and struggles should have told you one thing about yourself: you're only human. Having limitations is not a curse, but a blessing. Humans are capable of great things, both positive and negative. But they are also incapable of certain things. You aren't perfect. You aren't invincible. You aren't a demigod who can and needs to do everything. And that's okay."

"How is it okay, Dad?" Michael cried, shaking violently. "How is it fine to shirk off the deaths of-"

"You're not shirking it off. You're accepting it. You're understanding that there are some things you can't do. You're realizing that just because you couldn't do everything, that doesn't mean the world is ending or everything is your fault." Big Mike sighed as he knelt by his son's side. "Another failure of mine was not teaching you this a long time ago. You put too much on your own shoulders. You keep trying to prevent every single bad thing possible from happening. But the face of the matter is you can't. And it's okay that you can't. Because you aren't meant to be perfect and invincible, You're only meant to be the best version of you."

Michael's head rose at this. "And what about Addison?"

"She'll come around when she realizes this" Julia came in. "She's brokenhearted, of course. Perfectly natural. But this will teach her that some things cannot be done, no matter how much they may want them to." She came to her husband's side and grasped his hand. "Honey, we need you. Having you sink into despair is something no one needs. I loved Ryan. He was practically our son, after all. But even though he's gone, the rest of Arcana still needs you. You and Cameron are the best two hopes we have left in taking on Mewtwo and Courtney. And Addison will see that and come to terms with it. We can't force her to, but we also can't think that it's an impossibility."

Big Mike rose to his feet. "And that is the harshest yet most important lesson to learn. You may not be invincible, but the people of Arcana still see you as a hero. Instead of moping and worrying about things beyond your control, maybe now is the time for you to focus instead on things you can do." He patted his son on the head and kissed his daughter in-law on the cheek. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some time to spend with my little sprouts upstairs." As Big Mike departed, Julia thought she could see Countess Rosemary eyeing him with respect and reverence.

No sooner was Big Mike out the door, than within seconds another man had entered. James Junior bowed respectfully to his Aunt and to his nephew and his bride. The war and subsequent years of worry and woe had done a number on the eldest of James and Bonnie's children, but he remained a political powerhouse within Arcana's elite and his presence was welcome to the still inexperienced Lord and Lady of the Castle.

"Michael. Julia. Everyone. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Julia was about to speak, but Michael put his hand up to quiet her. "No. You're presence is welcomed, Uncle."

"Given the circumstances and what we've been going through as a family" Junior explained, "I've been thinking about something."

"And that would be?" Cameron asked.

"I think it's time we called for the Arcanan High Council to meet."

"The High what?"

"The Thirteen Families?" Michael inquired. "They haven't met in over a decade."

"Arcana has been pretty keen on letting us clean up the messes" Junior laughed bitterly. "But I think that this is a mess we cannot possibly clean alone. Not without Robert or Ryan. The Arcanan High Council really should be called. But, since I'm only a politician, I can only make the suggestion. It has to be up to you two. Michael? Julia? What do you think?"

"It won't be a full meeting, right?" Michael asked. "The Aceds won't be represented."

"Neither will the Jacques Family" Junior pointed out. "But the rest of the families will have representation there. Not even Betsy Seissuon can turn down the invitation when it's called on. Attendance is compulsory. The families that can be there will be there."

Michael thought for a moment, before nodding. "So let it be. Call on the Thirteen Families to gather."

"It won't just be them" Countess Rosemary added. "It will also include the Queen of Arcana and the current Champion of the Pokémon League. Miss Pines should not be too hard to convince, but our situation leaves the throne of the Pokemon League Champion vacant and needing to be filled. Considering the circumstances, that would fall upon you, Cameron, on an interim basis."

"Me?" Cameron seemed surprised by this.

"Why not? You are the last standing member of the Elite Four. And considering Michael is already the Lord of Kingston Castle, it would be imprudent of us to allow him to hold sway as both Pokémon League Champion and that position in a moment of crisis. Not when our family will be on the hot seat." She looked to everyone in the room, including Olivia, with whom her attention now turned. "It would be wise for you to take up the lead as a member of the Novren Family. I would assume if you are there, your brother will not wish to be."

"Donnie being there is just asking for trouble" Olivia agreed. "I will step up if I must."

Rosemary looked to her nephew. "Write to all of the most agreeable members of each family that remains in Arcana. Some may resist the invitation, but it is compulsory for all to come in some way. Make sure to remind them of that fact, James."

Junior nodded. "Easy." With that, he headed out the door as quickly as he entered.

With Junior gone, Rosemary looked to her great-nephew. "The Ninth Truth will be coming soon enough. But before that can be done, the White Mage must know their part in this. I will assume that responsibility. Keep your spirits up and hold your father's words close to your heart." She laughed through her nose. "It's interesting. I looked down upon your father long ago. But the man behind his initial façade is an extraordinary being. Truly worthy of being your father." Rosemary bowed and followed Junior out of the door.

Michael looked to those that remained. "Get in contact with Jon. He's going to be there to represent our family."

"What about you?" Cameron asked.

"I'm going to be too controversial of a choice to-"

"I think it has to be you" Cynthia pointed out. "Your father is right. Arcana looks to you, now. Not your aunts or uncles. Not Ryan. Not Rosemary. You."

"I can't think Jon will be the one who can get the remnants of the families to support us" Julia agreed. "If the family chose us to lead as Lord and Lady, we need to do so at this council. Because if we don't, things in Arcana will only get worse." She took her husband's face in her hands. "Honey. We need you."

Michael sighed. "I guess I don't have a choice, then." He gently took her hands off of his face and leaned forward to kiss her.

{}

After dismissing everyone who constantly came to ask about her, console her or wished to talk about her feelings towards the death of the only boy she was sure she would ever love, Addison stormed into her guest room at Kingston Castle and angrily threw everything she had into her suitcase. Her clothes, her belongings and everything she had was being forcibly and vigorously thrown into the suitcase to the point where she'd either be unable to close it, or would be able to and would watch it explode only seconds later.

She had been crying for days. Weeping in her sleep, shedding tears in her solitude and bawling her eyes out around others. But above all, she was utterly devastated and heartbroken. Ryan was gone. After months of keeping their distance from each other, after finally getting back together, after Ryan promised himself to her fully and completely by giving her a promise/engagement ring and after she thought things were finally about to turn a new leaf for her, she had lost him. And this time, there was no Cresselia to waken him or Celebi to cleanse the Crimson Fury from him. He was dead. And she had seen and heard enough from everyone in the Castle about this matter.

Dawn and Holly had tried to console her, to no avail. Tommy tried to keep her cheery, but he failed. And Julia, a mentor and secondary mother to her, had tried to convince her to work things out with Michael, but there was no reworking that. Michael had failed her, but more importantly, he had failed Ryan. The boy who had idolized him, the boy who alongside her had thought of Michael as a deity. Michael didn't save him. He didn't even die alongside him. He came back and Ryan did not. And Addison had enough of it.

Galatea, her last true confidant in the world, sat on the foot of the bed in a deeply emotional and meditative state. Addison, I understand your anger. But don't you think this is going a bit too far?

"If you're not going to help" she snapped at the Gardevoir who now reminded her more of Ryan and Achilles than anything else, "then please let me pack in peace!"

What do you intend to do? Where will you go? Have you planned anything out at all?

Addison stopped, fresh tears falling out of her eyes as she found and cradled the ring Ryan had given her in her hand. "I don't know. And I don't care. I can't stay here another minute." She contemplated putting the ring on her finger, but found herself shaking too much to do so. She placed it back in it's box and put that into her pocket before using all of the force she could muster to close the case. She gathered her belongings and prepared to storm out of Kingston Castle for the last time. Her mother stood in front of the doorway, blocking her way.

"Addison, you're being dumb" her mother responded bluntly. "Do you realize that-"

"Please get out of my way!" Addison snapped. "I can't stay here anymore!"

"Why not? And where do you intend to go? Our house isn't fully furnished yet."

"Then I'll sleep on the floor" she growled back at her mother. "Anything is better than staying here and constantly being reminded of-"

"Honey" Deidre sighed, putting her hands on the girl's shoulders. "I know how you feel. But going back to Parlor Town isn't going to fix anything right now. It will only remind you of the rest of the work we need to do. And it will also keep you thinking about Ryan. Sweetheart, you have to face your demons. Running away from them-"

"I'm running away from the demon who killed my best friend!" Addison snarled.

Deidre paused. "Pardon?"

"Michael should have died instead of Ryan!" Addison shrieked as more tears slid down her cheeks. "He always used to harp on about caring about us like we were his kids, but he let Ryan die?! How dare he get to-" Addison did not get to finish as her mother, for the first time in her life, struck her in the face. Addison fell backwards from the blow and landed on her rear end, dropping the suitcase as she did. Upon landing on the rug, the case exploded and her belongings scattered across the bedroom. Galatea was even alarmed at the force Deidre had shown her daughter. As Addison put her hand towards where she had been slapped, Deidre stepped into her room, her hand shaking from the blow she had given and her face white with shock and pain at what she had done.

"Addison Michele Tenton!" Deidre spoke coldly to her daughter. "I never want to hear those words out of your mouth ever again!"

Addison brushed her cheek and turned away from her mother. "It's the truth!"

"It's the farthest thing from the truth and you know it!" She pulled her daughter up to her feet and flung her arms around her. "Oh, Addy. I know how you feel."

"Do you?!" Addison cried. "Do you know what it's like to never be able to see the-"

"Did you forget why I'm personally in no hurry to get back to Parlor Town?" Deidre asked sternly. "In all of this heartache you've had, don't tell me you've forgotten your own father."

Addison lowered her head. "No. I haven't. But Ryan-"

"Is going to be missed by many thousands of people in Arcana and abroad. You forget I've known him as long as you have. He's been the sweet little boy who always played with you, the determined Pokémon Trainer and the boy who captured your heart. Your father and I would have been completely lost if he hadn't done what he did. Without him, I would never have gotten you back." She embraced her daughter and kissed her head. "But Michael is also just as responsible for your rescue."

The distraught daughter tried to pull herself away. "No. No he's not!"

"Michael saved Ryan and Holly when they were prisoners of the Syndicate and Ryan in turn saved you" her mother reminded her. She gently comforted her grieving daughter. "Sweetheart, I love you with all my heart and soul. And I know how much Ryan meant to you. But do not think for a minute that you are the only one who mourns that boy. The entire Kingston Family is devastated. Alison is an absolute wreck. Poor Matthew is now the head of the household. Mrs. Queensbury told me Holly has been crying hysterically in private while being strong for you and Matthew. Your friends Dawn and Lucas are shaken by all of this." She took a deep breath. "And so is Michael."

"Michael-"

"He is the only reason you would even have a home to run away to" Deidre reminded her. "We'd be on the streets or on the next flight to Hoenn if Michael didn't pay off our debts." She led her daughter back down to the bed. Galatea had gone to the window to eye at the nest she had made where her and Achilles's egg lay resting, where one day she would bring a child of theirs into the world. She did not look back at the two and kept her gaze on it as Addison and her mother sat down. "Michael hasn't spoken since you chewed him out. He hasn't even left his Study. He won't see anyone. He hasn't seen his children in five days. He hasn't eaten. He hasn't drank anything besides his grandfather's scotch. And I've known Michael my entire life. He never drinks like that. Instead of trying to hold the family together like James would have, he's now sitting alone and wondering why he's still alive and Ryan isn't. I can't say he's more torn up about it than you, but the disparity isn't that great between you."

Addison lowered her head. "How can I trust him again? How can I believe in him again?"

"I don't know, honey. I wish I could tell you how. But I still have my faith in him. I always have. But right now, all of the faith in the universe we could have in him won't mean anything if he doesn't have faith in himself. If he falters, the rest of Arcana will go down with him."

"Ahem" a voice called from nearby. Addison and Deidre looked up to see Countess Rosemary in the doorway, leaning on her scepter. "Forgive me if I've interrupted anything. But I felt I was needed here."

"Of course, Countess" Deidre exclaimed. "We welcome you being here. Sorry the place is such a mess. We've needed to hash some things out, mother to daughter. Maybe you could help Addison with-"

"Addison already knows what she needs to do" Rosemary answered dryly.

"I do?"

"Well, you and Galatea, of course" Rosemary bowed politely towards the Pokémon, who paid them no mind and kept her gaze on where her egg was in the gardens. "While I might say the boy's friendships with his Pokémon were the strongest relationships he had, the two humans that Ryan held with the most regard were you and Michael. He would not want you two to be torn apart over his death. He would want you two to band together and stand for him against the evils that are coming. You know this, Addison. Your mother is right in her assertion that if Michael fails, without proper recourse, no one else stands a chance against this beast."

"Do you think I should speak to him?" Addison inquired.

"Not now, sweetheart" her mother told her. "We need to get you settled back down."

"In three days time" Rosemary explained, "there will be a very important gathering here at Kingston Castle. The very future of Arcana will be determined here. The Arcanan High Council will assemble. Membership from each of the Thirteen Families, sans the Aceds, will be compulsory. The Queen of Arcana, the interim Pokémon League Champion, and all of the others will be meeting." She pointed the jewel in her scepter at Addison. "As the only member of the Tenton Family present in Arcana at this time, Addison, you will have to stand for your father there."

"Me?"

"There is no one else. Your mother is only a Tenton through marriage." She then turned her attention to Deidre. "Will you or your sister be representing the Setenn Family?"

Deidre shrugged. "I guess Caitlin will. I can go for emotional support, but I'm not the best when it comes to legal matters."

Rosemary nodded. "The Kingstons will need all the support they can get."

"But how can I help?" Addison asked. "I know even less than my mother."

"Perhaps, but you also will be the only one there who might be able to speak on Michael's behalf. He may have agreed to this, but his heart is still torn over the death of Ryan. He will not speak for himself. Someone must. And unless someone else gets the gumption to do so that he isn't related to, my dear, I think it must be you." Rosemary bowed to them both. "Take care of yourselves. And I shall see you both in due course." She then turned on her heel and departed from Addison's bedroom.

"The Arcanan High Council" Deidre remarked worriedly. "And with Michael doubting himself..."

"Mom?"

Deidre shook her head. "Honey. We'll worry about that when it comes. But for now, we need to settle you back down and get cracking on some of this Arcanan Law."

Addison, still unsure of herself and in trusting her idol again, could only nod halfheartedly. She simply helped her mother pick up her belongings and put them back into the dressers she had used the past few months and looked longingly at Galatea, who's attention never wavered from the last hope for the future she and Achilles might have had, knowing that she too had no more hope for the future she had been dreaming of for years.