"The forests seem to be getting darker" Ryan commented as he and his group progressed deeper into Mirage Island. He, Amanda, Chris and Avery were determined to make it to the Temple of Dreams before anything else could happen to them, but had found navigating a dark and foreboding domain like Mewtwo's dominion of Mirage Island was proving harder and harder a challenge to overcome. "And bigger, too. I feel like we've been here before."

"Not for nothing" Chris commented to Avery as he hopped over a massive tree root. "I thought we would have no problems finding this place considering this is where you're from." Once he had cleared it himself, he used his foot to try and lower the root, allowing Ryan to clear the jump easily. He then took Amanda's hand and helped her cross over.

"I don't control Mirage Island anymore" Avery explained. "This is Mewtwo's dominion now. Which does have me concerned over what will happen if he does inevitably get destroyed."

"What do you mean?" Amanda asked. "Shouldn't it revert back to normal?"

"You would think that, but I can't be too sure. When Courtney and Hunter first arrived here, the islands were more tranquil and peaceful. But after they took control of the island from me, they began to pour as much of Mewtwo's power into the island as possible. If Mewtwo is destroyed, who's to say all of Mystic Island won't disappear as well?"

"Hopefully not while we're all on it" Chris remarked.

"I hope your fears aren't giving you any second thoughts" Ryan glowered. "The last thing I need is to doubt my ability to trust you again."

"I'm not going down that path again" his old friend answered sadly. "If I am destined to pass on and this whole place disappear after Mewtwo is gone, so be it. I've caused enough trouble already." She paused and looked around at their surroundings. "This is strange. I don't think I've ever been to this part of the island."

Ryan's eyes darted around at the thickening and densely dark forest. He had no real memory of this part of the island from his last voyage there, but he had thought this was simply because of how long it had been since he had frequented these woods. But now, even the trees looked stranger. Some thicker and thriving, others dried and barren. It was as if the island was transforming right before their eyes. "The darkness is growing. Mewtwo is even stronger than before." It wasn't a thought he was glad to have, but it was one that was quite simply inevitable. Defeating Mewtwo was likely no longer an option. He had to be destroyed before he got enough power to wipe mankind off the face of the map.

"Good thing we've got the White Mage with us then" Amanda nervously laughed. She leaned down towards Arcana's Champion. "But in all seriousness, do we have any idea where we are?"

"Haven't the foggiest" he replied honestly. "If Avery is right and Mewtwo is the one who controls this island, he could hypothetically be altering it's appearance and existence without much knowledge of it."

Chris clapped Amanda on her back. "At least you've got us, right? Ryan and I will take care of you."

Ryan lowered his head. "It's probably going to be mostly you, Chris."

"Why? Something happen?"

"Didn't Elezar tell you about Mewtwo separating the trainers from their Pokemon?" Avery inquired.

"I figured that was just the asshat trainers" Chris shrugged. "It really did impact everyone?"

"Only Pokemon whose will were supremely strong and their hearts connected to their trainers could resist the urge to run away" the specter of Ryan's old friend concluded. "But even then, not all bonds last forever." She looked sadly at Ryan. "How many left you?"

"Aside from those that were stolen from my CPU" Ryan glumly spoke, "Sparks, Terra, Simba and Tusker. Achilles is all I have." He glanced back at his Gallade, who brought up the rear of their group, himself puzzled and perplexed by their predicament and eager to solve their woes. "Shaymin wasn't with us when that storm hit Waypoint Island, so I have to guess he's with Addy still."

Chris's eyes seemed to dim at Ryan's words. "I could only imagine what losing a Pokemon like that must feel like."

"It happened to all of us. No one was spared. Not even Cam or Mike got to keep all of theirs." He clenched his fist angrily at the thought of how they had all been duped by the Syndicate and Mewtwo. "I am going to get them back, somehow. Even if it takes me the rest of my life, I won't let my friends forget about me!"

"Easier said than done" Amanda cautioned. "We still need to find out what this White Mage stuff is about."

"And more importantly" Avery added, "try to find a way back to Arcana for all three of you."

Now, it was Ryan's turn to pause. "Wait. Avery, you said I'm just like you now, right? Wouldn't that mean I'm stuck here too? Unable to go back?"

"There's no way that can be true" Chris arrogantly proclaimed. "You'll gut your way off this island faster than-"

"He's right" Avery gasped. She rushed in front of Ryan. "I didn't even think about that. You can't go back. If you go back as you are now, you'll just fade away. Your spirit will pass on to the next life and we'll lose you forever." She held her hand close to her heart. "The only path forward is to restore you."

Amanda was in disbelief. "And how is that even possible? No one can just restore life so easily, right? Not even Arceus."

"You'd be surprised what the Realm of Dreams can offer you. Mewtwo had the power to grant me life for a two week period, but used a longer span as a reason to force me to do his bidding. Without Mewtwo's power, I'm what you see right now. Barely a husk of life, scorned by both the Realm of Arceus and the Abyss of Giratina." She gave one last desperate look to their surroundings before admitting defeat. "Well, the only thing I can surmise is that we're lost. I was leading you all to the Temple of Dreams the way I remember we all took last time, but none of this is the same. We'd better settle down for the evening."

Amanda's belly began to make noises. "You wouldn't have any food on any of you, do you?"

Chris looked in his backpack. "Well, I've got jerky. That's about it. You want a stick?"

Almost repulsed by the idea, Amanda shook her head. "I'd rather starve, thank you." She looked desperately towards Ryan and Avery. "You two?"

Ryan shrugged. "Guess I'm not hungry."

"No reason to eat when half of you is dead already" Avery glumly answered. "Ryan and I won't be hungry for a very, very long time."

Despite her disappointment at the lack of food among them, Amanda gladly helped Chris collect wood for a small fire to keep the group warm in the desolate and dark wooded area they were forced to camp in. While they were off gathering and Darkrai used his power to continue to shroud the group from the peering eyes of Mewtwo and Courtney, Ryan sat with Achilles on a large wood stump to ponder their current predicament.

This island is not the same as our last journey, Achilles suggested telepathically. But I do not believe Mewtwo knows he has the capacity to change it.

"We're just going to have to keep laying low after a while" Ryan replied dryly. "Hey, Achilles. There's something I've always wanted to ask you. Why did you stay? You and Galatea both remained when Mewtwo gave that proclamation for all Pokemon to abandon their trainers."

We simply looked at our situation with a sense of common decency and what rationale fit for us the best, the Gallade responded stoically. It did not make sense for either of us to abandon you, because we know you are not the ones who have harmed us or hurt us. Perhaps our strong connections were able to repel the power of Mewtwo's words. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the others, no matter how much I protested.

Ryan laid back on the stump. "I miss them. I miss them so much."

I no longer have the ability to sense their feelings as I do our own, but I do like to think that they have some sense of regret in departing the way they did. Sparks in particular did not feel right leaving you.

"Then why did he?! Doesn't he realize how hurt we were when they left?"

Nothing made sense about those times, which is why so many defaulted back to being Wild Pokemon. It was all they knew how to do. Even Sparks, who was born in the same litter as those other Eevees that Professor Pines granted to you.

Ryan was about to comment, when Chris poked his head through the bushes. "You guys may want to come and see this."

"What did you find?"

"There's this whole little area where Pokemon are!" his cousin exclaimed.

Avery's specter reappeared next to Ryan. "Pokemon on Mystic Island? Aren't they supposed to be the ones who-"

"They all seem friendly" Chris reasoned. "Come on!" He then vanished out of the bush, prompting Ryan and Avery to follow him.

After weaving and dodging several more bushes and low hanging branches, the two found what Chris had been talking about. There was a high, yet tranquil waterfall, nestled deep in the heart of the forest. But there was no sign of any rivers that might lead to the falls, making the area all the more strange. Leading up to the waterfall were various rocks of all shapes and sizes that the Pokemon could either jump off of into the pond, or rest on. And that's exactly what the menagerie of Pokemon were doing. Over thirty Pokemon were playing, chasing, resting or swimming about, seemingly content with all life.

Amanda, who was sitting in a bed of flowers besides a playful Chikorita, was in awe. "These are the happiest Pokemon I've ever seen."

"They all seem happy to just be around people" Chris remarked, while he scratched a Meowth under it's chin and it rolled onto it's back, purring.

Avery thought for a moment. "This is peculiar. This isn't a part of the island I remember, but maybe that's because it's a part I never went to begin with."

"What do you mean?" Ryan asked.

"Mystic Island is supposed to cater to more than just humans" Avery explained, as the two found several Pokemon curiously coming up to them before playfully chirping about and resuming their fun. "This sequestered area seems to be a haven for Pokemon who lost their ways. Or maybe their trainers, which is why these ones seem so happy to be around humans for the first time."

Ryan was content to pet the Lillipup that came up to him for the remainder of the day, but his attention was drawn towards the peak of the waterfall. High on a rock just by the water, sat a glowing and sturdy Pokemon. A Pyroar, who looked over the Pokemon he was protecting as if they were his own little pride. His mane shined like a sun on the Pokemon who would have otherwise been forced to linger in the darkness. He made his way up the rocks towards this Pyroar, hoping he was recognizing what he thought he was. Once he approached, he called out to the Pyroar.

"Simba?"

The Pyroar acknowledged him by licking his paw and glancing back, but did little more, his focus intensifying on the Pokemon in his care.

"Simba? Is that you?"

Achilles was behind Ryan a moment later and concentrating. He seemed surprised. I don't believe it. This is Simba!

The Pyroar looked at the two and rose from his resting place and shook his glowing mane in front of them, causing embers to scatter at their feet. He did not seem eager to reminisce with either of them, but instead kept his distance. He sniffed at the two occasionally. It looked as if the Pyroar was curious about them at least.

"Why doesn't he remember me?" Ryan asked.

Pyroar's recognize members of their own pride by their scent. Perhaps our scents have changed since our fall.

Ryan, thinking for a moment, realized he might have one way of convincing the Pyroar to recognize him. He reached into his bag and pulled out one of the few keepsakes he always chose to keep. An old and worn out gauze wrap he had given to a poor Litleo trapped in one of Hunter's many poaching traps. He held it out for Simba to sniff. "Here. If you are the cub I helped grow up, you'll recognize this."

Simba moved closer, sniffing curiously at the bandage, before his eyes closed. He stepped forward and rolled onto his side, growling up at Ryan to pet him and giving his trainer the same eyes the Litleo cub had once given him. Ryan fell onto his knees and pet the Pyroar on his belly, rubbing him briskly yet tenderly. Once getting these rubs, Simba completely recalled his trainer and the blisteringly hot mane of his began to cool down.

Ryan was moved to tears, resting his head on Simba's stomach. "I missed you, buddy. I missed you so much!"

I do not understand, Achilles pondered. How did Simba get here? Was his soul lost at some point after leaving?

"I don't care!" Ryan exclaimed, shaking as he hugged Simba's stomach tightly. "I'm just so glad to have Simba back!" The Pyroar finally climbed back up and looked over the other Pokemon in his domain, letting out a low roar of dominance. All of the Pokemon, as well as Avery, Chris and Amanda, were drawn towards the Pyroar's commanding presence. He let out a few short chuffs before shaking his mane and letting out another loud roar. In response, the other Pokemon cheered and all bounced about the area, encouraging each other to play and celebrate something.

"I think that's a good thing?" Amanda wondered.

"Guys!" Ryan exclaimed. "It's Simba!"

"Simba?!" Chris laughed. "Well I'll be. I didn't recognize him."

"Is it really him?" Avery asked. "But what is he doing here?"

This thought hadn't crossed Ryan's mind before and he was unwilling to even question the ramifications. He simply scratched Simba's back and was incredibly happy to be with one of his lost Pokemon once more. "Simba, I'm so happy to see you." He buried his head into Simba's side, trying his best to keep his tears away. "If I did anything to hurt you, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. You're one of my best friends in this whole world, Simba!"

Simba growled at his trainer, laying back down on the rock.

He believed you would mistreat him based on Mewtwo's words, Achilles commented. Which was why he chose to leave. And the others followed his example.

Simba made a much softer and more gently growl.

But now he realizes you would never have done that. He knows you loved him. Achilles seemed eager to say more, but kept himself quiet.

"What else?"

Some things are better left unsaid. Though Simba did say there is a chance the others might be here. I cannot sense them, but then again, I could not sense Simba here, either.

Ryan approached Simba. "You've been protecting these other Pokemon this entire time?" His Pyroar put his snout on his trainer's hand and yawned loudly. "That's the Simba I know. You took a lot after Michael's Arcanine, didn't you?" He pet Simba once more and looked towards Achilles. "He's going to come with us, right?"

So long as you have need of him, he will fight for you.

Simba let out a roar to those below him, signalling his departure. The remaining Pokemon all bounced up and down, with some waving and chanting back at him. While Ryan and Achilles slowly made their way down the cliff side, Simba followed. He walked up to the other humans in Ryan's group and gave each hand that came near him an affectionate lick before shaking himself into action.

Ryan looked into his knapsack and found the Poke Ball he had once used to contain the Litleo he had long ago saved from Hunter's wrath. He hesitated to open it, until Simba put his paw on his trainer's arm and growled playfully, giving Ryan the confidence to recall his Pokemon. Simba disappeared inside the Poke Ball easily enough, giving Ryan a second Pokemon to use on his team besides Achilles. He held Simba's Ball close to him and closed his eyes. "Don't worry, Simba. I won't let you down. And you could never let me down."

"Well, that certainly added some power to our side" Amanda remarked. "Though I'm still afraid we don't have enough to take on Mewtwo."

"Good thing we're gonna be avoiding him for a while, then" Avery added. "Simba and Achilles help, but we're going to need more and some additional knowledge if we want to defeat Mewtwo." She looked for the pathway out of the little peaceful glen and back to their makeshift camp. "Come on, you guys. We should head back on the path."

"Do we even know if that path leads anywhere?" Chris asked. "You said yourself you had no idea where we were."

"The beauty of being on an island is that you'll eventually hit water wherever you go" Avery responded playfully.

As Amanda, Chris and Avery departed down the path, Ryan and Achilles remained behind for a moment, with Ryan's eyes locked on Simba's Poke Ball in his hand. "Somewhere out there are the others. Sparks, Terra, Tusker. Maybe even Marahute." He looked at Achilles and smiled brightly. "These Pokemon are as much my family as Matt or Kayleigh or Mom and Dad. So are you. And my family isn't going to be whole again until we've all reunited."

His Gallade simply echoed his smile, but a shadow of reality hung from his glance. Oh how I wish it could be true...

{}

With Julia unable to participate and Olivia busy working for his father in Terra Town, the duties of trying to coerce the King of Arcana into getting into his duties fell on his Grand Vizier. A task that Annie Tress was eager to abide by, but one that Michael was seemingly keen on making incredibly difficult for her. Not out of malice, but Michael's worries and cares were far more insular than they had been previously. Julia's abduction and mental anguish had scarred him and while he did his best to hide it from those he was around, it was beginning to show as his attitudes and mood swung wildly. Even now, while Annie and he tried to alter the ballroom back into the Throne Room it had once been centuries earlier, it seemed as though his Chief Adviser was more inclined to perform her duties in reinstalling the throne than the King who would be sitting on it.

"In between those tall windows should be where we install the banners of the Kingston Family" Annie informed one of the decoration consultants. "I minored in medieval tapestries back in the day, so I know a thing or two about this."

Michael showed such little interest in this, that he simply stared blankly at the banner of a proud Arcanine that was being displayed for himself and his Grand Vizier to look at. Arcanine, a Pokemon that had been in their family for centuries. Known for it's fierce loyalty and power. Also for how protective it was of others. It made the Kingstons almost the ideal family to hold supreme power in Arcana, and yet the family had lost its ways for centuries. Not his grandfather, nor he had been able to rekindle those famed ideals in the family. And now, he was on the verge of again failing to live up to the standards of the Pokemon that had been his companion since boyhood and whose flames had once burned the passions in his heart.

"If we inverted the colors" Annie suggested, "it might blend in a bit better for this room as it's currently situated. What do you think, Your Grace?"

"Sure" Michael replied, deeply uninterested.

Annie rolled her eyes. "You could at least try to be into this, Your Majesty. Perhaps it will take your mind off of situations beyond your control."

"Kind of hard to ignore them when they hang over me like an executioner's ax."

"Sire, if it's about the colors" the decorator offered.

"It's not" Annie assured her. "Just focus on inverting the colors and having the gold and red colors shine greater than those coal stripes on it's back. Let me handle the King." When the consultants went to work on designing the newer banners, Annie led Michael over towards where the throne had once been situated in the room. It sat at the top of a staircase and allowed the King to overlook all in the room as he was said to look at all of the subjects from Arcana. The throne had since been demolished and repurposed, but another could be made of any material the new King wanted. If he would even open up about what it would be, that is.

"I know you're worried about her, but you also have duties as the King" Annie advised him, wrapping her arm around his. "The Queen is one of the strongest people I know. She will recover from this. I just know it. How can I have more faith than her own husband?"

Michael's frown remained on his face. "There really hasn't been much for me to be positive about lately, Annie. Or did you forget that I have the blood of the champion on my hands."

"Oh stop it" Annie chastised. "Unless you were the one who killed him, Ryan's death was not your fault. Neither was Roberts."

"How can the people trust me to lead them when I can't even keep my loved ones safe?" Michael looked up to the ceiling, as if he could try and hear some sage-like words from his Grandfather or his Aunt Jane. But both were long gone and unable to help him. "If they were here..."

"Unfortunately, they're not" Annie responded, more gently as she realized how vulnerable the King was at this moment. "You were going to have to go on without them at some point, Your Grace. They passed far too early, but you've held together long enough without their guidance, haven't you?"

"I had things to distract me from this" he recalled. "Hunting down the Syndicate, finding a cure for the Fury...being with Julia..."

"You still have enemies lurking in the shadows. And until we know otherwise, you still have Julia."

The doors were flung open. Though Michael was expecting the dreaded report from April about Julia waking and still bearing no memory or love of him, he was surprised to find that it was the ArcNet Team hurrying up to him. The trio took a moment to catch their breaths before both Dylan and Corey bowed politely and Amber tried to curtsy before realizing she wasn't in a dress and she too knelt before him. Still uncomfortable with all of the prostrating, Michael gestured for them to rise. "Come on, guys. You can stand."

"Your Majesty!" Corey exclaimed. "We've done it! We cracked the code. Those firewalls and security protocols we had to get around! We got them!"

Annie giggled. "See? Positive news!"

Michael took a deep breath of relief. "Finally!"

"It's still going to take time for those Pokemon to be transferred to the Computer Mainframe" Amber admitted, "but we've got all of the world's stolen Pokemon back."

"That leaves only the problem of how we're going to get them back to their trainers" Dylan realized.

"Couldn't we just do the reverse of how they were all stolen?" Michael inquired.

"Unfortunately, hacking doesn't work that way" Lucas answered honestly. "It's far easier to steal from multiple people than it is to give to just as many. We don't know who's Pokemon are who's and it could take a long time to decipher that. After all, there have to be millions of trainers around the world who use these CPU Systems."

"Which reminds me" Annie interjected. "Your Majesty, you're going to have a collect call meeting with the CPU Network Organizers tomorrow. Bill, Lanette, Bebe and all the others."

"Hopefully we'll get some answers as to why all of the world's Pokemon were able to be stolen so easily" Michael grumbled, before returning to a more gracious attitude in addressing the ArcNet Team. "Thank you for your service, not only to Arcana and the Crown, but to the whole world."

"Just doing our civic duties, Your Excellency" Dylan boasted.

"You can bet that we'll be rewarding your deeds" Michael went on. "Until we can get you kids back to work in Titanio, the Cellar is yours to use as your team base for the time being."

"As it happens" Lucas responded happily, "I wanted to see just how powerful the KERN is and how it works, if it's alright with you."

Michael nodded. "Considering how much you all have done since saving Ryan and Holly, it would be unbecoming of me to say you're not allowed." The trio once more nervously bowed before him before running out of the room. No sooner had they departed, that a guard rushed inside to speak with him. The puffed out face only dampened Michael's spirits more. "What's going on?"

"Your Majesty" he puffed out as he tried to report and catch his breath simultaneously. "The Team has returned."

"What team?"

"Lady Cameron's team" the guard sputtered. "Your friend Mark and the little Lord Matthew need medical treatment."

Michael went white. "Cameron..." What had she gotten herself and their team into? Mark and Matthew were in bad shape and he wasn't even sure how successful they had been. Who had gone with her? Who had taken part and who else was damaged, mentally or physically, in what was no doubt going to be known as Hunter's rampage? He was going to inquire more, but his Uncle Byron burst into the room, a frustrated look on his face.

"Your Majesty" he called, clearly unhappy that he was still on duty. "I need a word."

"You'll have one" Michael assured his uncle, before turning to the guard. "Make sure April sees to Matthew and Mark and that Cameron and the rest of their team come right to me. I need to have a word with her." When the guard rushed out, Michael turned his attention to Byron. "What's wrong?"

"You've got the entirety of Charizark Town and the rest of the southern towns of Arcana in a panic" Byron warned. "Robert's gym burning, dead people talking, warnings from Mewtwo, these people are almost to the point of rioting. They need strong action to calm them down."

"Why bring this up to me?" Michael asked. "This is what the Arcana Police Force is supposed to do, right?"

Annie frowned. "What happened to Madeline?"

"She's only a Junior Lieutenant" Byron answered. "She shouldn't be taking up this much authority." He folded his arms. "But we're coming to a point where we may have some legal problems lurking."

"Regarding?"

"Michael, I need you to tell me who is responsible for this foolhardy mission in Charizark Town."

Michael's mood only worsened with his Uncle's words. "Cameron took the initiative."

"Fine" Byron spoke briskly. "The last thing we need is your seal of approval on this."

"Why's that?" Annie wondered.

"The people are freaked out by this proclamation from Mewtwo" Byron cautioned. "And we all know a certain little lawyer who might use this to revive Claude's war machine."

"Betsy isn't a threat to anyone" Michael scoffed.

"We still don't know how many allies Claude had" the Police Chief continued. "And it's not like the throne is exactly secure at this point. The only thing we have is the support of the Thirteen Families. If the people turn on us, we won't last in power." He looked desperately to the King. "Michael, I understand how much you guys want to do the right thing, but in times like these, Cameron's actions were reckless and dangerous."

"The King said he didn't condone this action" Annie declared. "That should be enough for the people to take in."

But not Cameron. Michael knew better than to expect Cameron to react well if she was to be criticized for this. She, despite being the most levelheaded between the three of them, would likely explode if her own character was called into question. He had to hope the more adult and reserved Cameron Kingston would take charge here and less of the ambitious and fiery one. But rather than wait on Cameron to move, he needed to assert his role as King. After all, it's what Julia would have wanted him to do.

"My Grand Vizier did not give my words enough credence?" Michael demanded.

Byron fell on the defensive. "No, I mean-"

"The Crown did not have any involvement in this. You can relay this information to the people of Charizark Town, the ArcNet News team and anyone else who you think is more worthy of your trust than I am." Byron seemed eager to argue his position, but sighed and nodded before departing.

"Good work" Annie told him sweetly. "I couldn't have said it better myself."

"Now I just hope the mess Cam caused can be rectified" Michael responded worriedly. He noticed Cameron's ragtag group being brought into the ballroom. While Matthew and Mark were being brought up to the infirmary, his prodigal sisters in both Piper and Cameron, as well as Justin Jacques, Lizzie and Cynthia entered the room, looks of exhaustion and worry on their faces. Justin was being "escorted" into the room by a deeply worried and alarmed Madeline Kingston, much to the young man's dismay. Lizzie seemed to be in a different world, her attention on things far beyond his comprehension. Cynthia was quiet and introspective, almost knowing how reckless their actions had been. Cameron and Piper both sheepishly walked up to Michael upon realizing just how upset he was at them for how dangerous their actions were and how devastating they could have been. Michael folded his arms and looked at everyone in the room, until his eyes fell on Madeline. "Report what you know to your father, Maddie. Trust me, I think Justin is able to take care of himself."

Madeline was eager to argue, but Justin managed to slip his arm free from her, thus prompting her to leave the others in the presence of the King and his Vizier. Justin exhaled and nodded to Michael. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"I hope you all realize how dangerous it was to do this" Michael scolded. "Charizark Town is in chaos! People's houses are destroyed. The Gym was demolished!"

"Be mad at us all you want" Cameron insisted, "but at least let us tell you how it went?"

Annie thought for a moment before agreeing. "Very well. I'll tend to things here, seeing as how you aren't interested yourself, Sire." She then left Michael to speak with the others, going to go over the colors of the throne room again.

Michael relented. "Fine. What happened?"

Before Cameron could explain herself, Cynthia took the lead. "We all are to blame for what happened, Michael. Blaming Cameron alone for this would be deeply untrue. I have my own part in this, as does everyone else here, including Mark and Matthew. So if you're going to be upset at anyone, it needs to be all of us." She stepped beside Cameron, who looked away as her cheeks slightly reddened at the thought of her idol defending her.

Michael thought for a moment before nodding. "Very well. I can respect that, Cee." He made sure to look each of the five of them in the eyes. "But I want you all to know just how dangerous this was. I'm thankful you all made it out of this jam, safe and sound, even before I know what happened precisely." He took in a deep breath and glanced at Lizzie. "Liz, what happened to Hunter?"

Lizzie, though seemingly in an emotional state, lowered her head and coughed out her answer lightly. "He's dead."

"We thought that last time and-"

"I think it's hard to be alive after being skewered by your own weapon" Piper commented.

"I guess I'll look to you for this" Michael responded, his attention veering towards Piper. "What happened to Mark?"

"Excuse me" Lizzie interjected, gently brushing past her friends. "I just...I need to be alone for a minute." Without warning, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room.

"What the heck was that about?" Piper inquired.

Cameron worriedly flashed a look at Michael. "You don't think...she and Hunter..."

Michael shook his head. "Not her. Hunter tormented her for about fifteen years, Cam."

"I hope she will be alright" Justin remarked.

"She will be. Now, what about Mark?"

"He was shot" Julia's cousin answered. "I stayed behind with him to patch up his wounds as best as I could, but he needs better help than I could provide. And hopefully a little less worrisome floating around him that Greta might do."

"And Matt?"

Piper shrugged. "You're asking the wrong girl."

"From what it appeared" Cynthia recalled, "he took on Hunter in a fist fight and came out on top."

"He had guns to his head and everything" Cameron added. "But, he didn't kill him."

Michael was surprised by this. "You mean, he spared him?"

"I think a lot of us owe Matthew a second look" Cynthia admitted. "Rather than follow Hunter down his path of cruelty and murder, he tossed his guns aside. It was noble of him to do, even if Hunter got a good shot in on him with his machete." She quickly calmed the situation when she saw the frantic look on the King's face. "But he should be alright. It was just slash, not a stabbing or anything."

"I saved Matt and brought him onto his Noivern" Cameron went on. "Lizzie and he went at it for a bit, before he knocked her off of Rayquaza."

"I caught her" Justin added. "Though I think that was when she was beginning to feel different about things."

"Matt's Noivern spat embers in Hunter's eyes and he tried to attack us, but lost his footing and fell. By the time we all landed, Hunter was on the ground, his own machete sticking through his chest. I don't even think he could cheat a death like that." She clenched her fists in anger. "But that was when Mewtwo took over his body."

"What do you mean, took over his body?" Michael asked. "Was he a part of the Singularity?"

"Mewtwo's mind cult thing? Yep." Cameron looked away for a moment. "He told us he's preparing to make his grand return to Arcana. And that he was grateful to us for getting rid of him, because Hunter was a traitor to his cause. No clue what that meant, but he went on. He told the people of Arcana to either serve him as slaves or that he would decorate Arcana with our corpses. I think he means game on, Mike."

"One full moon cycle" Justin worriedly muttered. "Thirty days from now?"

"We may need all thirty" Michael answered. "Addison will, at least. And?"

"And what?" Piper asked.

"Did this plan work? Did we get them back?"

Cameron reached for a Poke Ball in her pocket and handed it to her cousin. "Why don't you open it and find out?"

Michael tapped the Ball and from out of it, a small beam of light shot out above them. The small and delicate form of Celebi shot out of the beam of light, letting out a sad moan as it was afraid it would be used for more of Hunter's work. When he wasn't, he looked around and saw his trainer. Celebi gleefully flew around the quintet, shimmering with a celestial power the likes of which only Michael had ever experienced before. When he was finished circling them, he landed in Michael's cupped hands and smiled up at him lovingly.

The presence of Celebi seemed to lift many of the burdens on Michael's shoulders. The fears, the doubts, the worries about the future and what lied in store for his family, all falling by the wayside. The presence of the balm of light on the dark feelings he was carrying made the King finally be able to give the warmest and most loving smile he possibly could. The one so many girls had fallen in love with. The one his family and friends wanted so desperately to see on his face. Here, with Celebi in his hands and the Mythical Pokemon restored to their side, he had the one thing he could reclaim after Ryan's death and Julia's memory loss: hope. Celebi seemed to grasp this and floated atop the King's head, acting as something of a temporary crown as the coronation ceremony was debated back and forth in terms of dates.

"That at least begins to repay my debt to you" Cynthia winked. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to lecture Dawn and Lucas about doing dangerous and dumb things." She put her hand on Cameron's shoulder for a moment before turning and following Lizzie out the door.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty" Justin bowed anxiously. "But I need to speak with my mother about the events of today." He too, rushed out of the ballroom, leaving Michael, Cameron and Piper together.

"We've got them all" Piper said, almost choking up at the sight of Michael's reunion with Celebi. "I can't believe we did it."

"We did something right by Chris for once" Cameron remarked, somewhat sadly. She put her hand to where Cynthia had put hers and sighed. "Things would be easier if he was here."

Michael came in between both girls, with Celebi still on his head and giving him all of the light energy he could need, putting his arms around both of them. "Gotta be honest with you two. Before today, I didn't think I had the strength in me to hope. Part of me still can't truly give my full backing to this, but I'm starting to regain some semblance of hope. And it's all thanks to you two never giving up on me or on him." Both girls went into Michael for a loving embrace.

"Don't think that means we've forgotten about you, Mikey" Piper promised him. "I don't care what it takes, we're going to fix all of this."

"Julia will come out of this and we'll all be together again" Cameron chirped.

Though Michael was unsure if he could believe them, the miracle of having Celebi with him and bathing his wayward and darkened heart in the warmth of celestial lights was filling him with those feelings of hope he hadn't felt in a very long time. Maybe, just maybe, he might get that chance to do right by those he failed. Addison, Julia, Chris, Robert, Ryan, Matthew...

I swear to you all, I will set things right!

{}

Though she wasn't sure she deserved to be there, Addison nevertheless found herself standing in the corner of the Infirmary of Kingston Castle as the unconscious Matthew Kingston was brought back from April stitching up his back from the wounds he suffered at Hunter's hands. He was gently lowered into the bed by the Castle Guards and wrapped up in blankets before April set to ensuring her other patients, including Mark with his arm in a sling and the still slumbering Queen Julia, were still in quality condition. Mark complained about being cooped up inside, prompting April to allow him to get some walking done, but under strict supervision, leaving only Julia and Matthew for Addison to look after.

She stood alone on Matthew's right side, while his mother and Kayleigh sat on the other side. Addison was surprised the toddler was so calm and serene in her brother's otherwise dilapidated state. She also could not help but pity her for all she had to endure at such a young age. Her father and brother were gone and she might well have lost another brother today had Cameron and Lizzie not stepped in. She simply stared at her brother, as if hoping just looking at him long enough would wake him up.

Alison, conversely, sat over her son and doted over him. If Kayleigh had to mature early for such a young age, Alison had almost aged a decade these last weeks. Her hair was slightly grayer and her skin had grown pale. She had not only lost her husband, but nearly lost both of her sons. And yet, she did not once relinquish her role as mother to either Matthew or Kayleigh since that hellish day on Waypoint Island. Here she was, when some mothers would have fallen to other vices, keeping her son company and her daughter's spirits up. Occasionally, when Addison was almost in a daze, she thought she could see in Alison the shadows of another woman. One of almost celestial and angelic light, caring for children not out of a need to, but out of a true mother's love. She would have to ask Rosemary about this woman in their next session.

But now, she could not take her eyes off of her resting friend. The way their last conversation had ended had shaken her to her core. Did Matthew really think she didn't care about him? Was he right about her? Did she actually not care if he lived or died?

It was natural of her to have an apprehension of him. After all he had put her, Ryan and Holly through, Matthew deserved at minimum that. And yet, he had done nothing but show her and everyone else that he was not the same boy they had learned to despise. And yet, he also was not the same Matthew she had grown up with. He was an entirely new entity to her. Even his mind seemed to show this. Though Galatea was doing her maternal duties and keeping guard of their egg in the garden, their link was allowing Addison to see things one ordinarily wouldn't be able to. And in Matthew, she saw someone who was directionless, but determined to do good. Was he directionless because of his grudge with Ryan? Or was he like this because no one had any faith in him?

Am I the driving force behind his doubt? Am I capable of not caring if someone lived or died? Her sessions with Countess Rosemary were supposed to be opening her mind and allowing her to access all possibilities. Yet here she was, knowing even less than she did before. How had she seen Hunter like he was right in front of her? How much had losing Ryan hardened her heart? Was she truly capable of such malice towards a being? Even one who had such a checkered past?

"Broboo sweeping?" Kayleigh asked.

"We need to let him get all the rest he needs" Alison told her daughter. "He's had a busy day."

"Broboo be kay kay?"

"He will be" Alison promised. "But he needs time to heal." She scooped her daughter into her arms. "Come along, pumpkin. We've got a dinner date tonight with Jon and Annie." She gave Addison a respectful nod before leaving Addison alone with Matthew.

Addison looked down at the sleeping form of Matthew. "I-I don't know what to say to you right now, Matt. But it's not that I want you to die. I never wanted you to die. I-I just wanted things to go back to the way they were. When we were just best friends with the world opening up to us." But deep down, she knew this was an impossibility. Once both brothers saw fit to rival each other, in more ways than as just Pokemon Trainers, there was no going back for them. And the worst feeling of them all was that she didn't even have the capacity to change it. She had always cared for both boys, but her and Ryan had shared a bond that was something greater than all the others. And once it became clear she reciprocated his feelings for her, Matthew's path only became darker and more spiteful. Now, almost three years removed from their journey's beginning, Ryan was gone and Matthew and she were all each other had left. And the past was haunting both of their hearts. Making them mistrust the other or feel as if the other didn't care. Instead of supporting one another, they had just resumed the rivalry for Ryan's sake.

"The last thing I ever wanted was for this to happen" Addison admitted.

"But would you have traded it for anything?" a voice called to her. She flashed a glance up and noticed Countess Rosemary had entered the room. "In places such as ours, it is interesting to wonder how things might have unfolded if we chose different paths. If I had not followed Master Tiberius as the leader of the White Guardians. If my brother had not fallen in love with Bonnie Novren. If you had not fallen in love with Ryan."

"It hurts to do" Addison admitted. "Because I know the three of us were always inseparable, but we let our friendship fall apart."

"Everything happens for a reason" the Countess explained. "We all are where we are, because of the will of fate. No matter how fine a wife and Lady I could have been, I needed to take on my position. My brother and Claude's friendship had to deteriorate. And your friendships had to be changed to help forge the path you need to walk as the White Mage." She stood over her great-nephew and sighed softly. "Some know what role they are meant to have from the beginning of their lives. Others have to find that path on their own time. Some deny their path until they have no choice but to follow it. And others subconsciously follow their path." She patted Matthew's sleeping head. "Matthew here is the latter most. He has followed a rigid path to a future he has no control of, but one he is determined to keep going down."

"Why?"

"Who is to say what the secret desires of another's heart are?"

"Is he...is he doing it all for me?"

"Do you believe the boy is still in love with you?"

Addison shook her head. "No. But I can't help but feel that he's doing this because I keep showing him the door. Am I wrong for doing that? For feeling the way I do?"

"You can only feel the way you know how" the Countess replied. "Matthew knows he cannot be Ryan to you. And he does not intend to." She again patted his head. "His and his brother's paths diverted long ago. Now, he sees what he must do, even if he does not yet comprehend it. Whether or not you allow him to do it or accept him back into your life is entirely up to you. There are some things that even I cannot see clearly. I believe Matthew has a role to play in this, but only he knows what it might be. The rest is mere speculation."

"We're having another meeting tonight?"

Rosemary nodded. "I have something very important to show you. Something that I believe will help you understand what lies in store for you. But, considering the circumstances, our meeting will take place when you feel you're ready."

"I am ready" Addison affirmed.

"Are you?"

Addison put her hand to her heart. "You said so yourself. We all have our duties to do. And if I really am this mage you think of me as, I have to do my duties. I'll-I'll meet you in your chambers."

"So be it. I will be waiting." Rosemary then departed from the room, but not before stopping in front of the slumbering husk of Julia and putting her hand on the Queen's head. Once she had finished, Addison was left to her own devices.

Addison knelt down beside Matthew on the bed. "It won't be the same for either of us, but I promise you that you are still my friend. And Ryan knows it too." She then bent over and kissed his forehead. In a quick movement, she then jumped to her feet and followed Rosemary out the door.