Though Courtney had little to no idea of what to expect when she brought a surprisingly eager Elezar Aced before The Grand Master, even she was flabbergasted by what the former Syndicate Boss had to say. Not only had their situation been altered dramatically since the death of Hunter, but it was now in an increasingly more balanced situation. Far more than she was comfortable with having. And to feel the intense rage driving The Master's every thought as Elezar revealed what he knew to him was positively jarring. He was not just angry. He was livid to the point of seeing nothing but red in front of him. She and Kage simply stood in the shadows of the Master's throne as Mewtwo's Psychic powers began to shatter pillars and blow out the dimly lit torches that hung from the walls.
HE'S STILL ALIVE?!
"I'm afraid so" Elezar scowled. "It would seem both of us overestimated Hunter's ability to secure the kill."
The Master paced in great anger in front of his mighty throne, seething with anger. I felt his presence leave this world. I felt him disappear from all traces. Hunter watched the boy plummet into the depths of a raging sea. How, in all of this wretched universe, did the boy survive?!
"I would not directly say that he is alive" Elezar tempered. "He is simply in a similar case of limbo that your old friend Avery Frost was in and the one I am currently trapped in."
"Wouldn't you mean, your old friend?" Courtney glowered. "Don't forget we know you were in league with her for a time."
"And I would align with her again if I thought she could help me get what I want" Elezar snarled, but calmed himself quickly afterward. "But it has become increasingly clear that she was just using me. And I will not be used again by someone." He gave a pointed look at The Master. "I trust you realize I am coming to you of my own accord to strike a bargain."
I am well aware of your purpose in surrendering yourself to Courtney, The Master responded. And yet I still have my doubts about you, Elezar. You were useless to me before, existing little more as just a puppet for me to use to my needs. Why would I possibly need your services now? Unless you intend on killing the boy yourself, this time.
"Killing him is an impossibility now" Courtney responded. "If he's in this state of limbo, it will be difficult for us to even get to him. And with Avery shielding him from us with Darkrai's powers, we cannot do anything but hope he slips up."
"The boy will slip up" Elezar insisted. "It's in the nature of every Kingston to make a critical flaw in their planning. I exploited James Kingston's fatal flaw and removed him from the equation. Ryan will open himself, if not simply because of his desire to protect the people that matter the most to him. He is just like his precious Michael, after all."
Courtney looked to the Master. "You cannot trust a word he says, Master. He's our enemy. Or don't you remember who swiped the power crystal to the Harvesting Machine!"
Elezar casually tossed the crystal in front of Mewtwo. "You mean this one? It was a matter of leverage I could use in negotiations to get what I want. But thanks to you, Courtney, I don't even need that. Your failure to comprehend what you foretold in your Prophecy is precisely what I will use to get my desires from your side." He then returned his attention to The Master, who had used his telekinetic powers to bring the Crystal to his level. "You know what I want, Mewtwo. I will help you snare the boy into a trap, provided you release Jocelyn from wherever you are keeping her!"
The Master let out a low chuckle. Can you not see her, Elezar? She's just to your left.
Courtney watched with a wry smile as Elezar finally realized what had befallen his only child. He walked over to her and touched her cheeks, though the statue showed no sign of even acknowledging that it was touched. As Elezar's misery swelled inside of him, Courtney thought it best to plunge a dagger of despair into him. "Don't forget that Jocelyn is a Kingston stooge now, Elezar. Which is why she's nothing more than an ornament for the Master to glower over."
If I believe the information you hold is of value, Elezar, I shall ensure that your precious daughter never again leaves your side. If you do not possess anything of value, I shall erase you from existence before I prepare to do the same to Ryan Kingston and his little girlfriend in Miss Frost.
To her surprise, Kage stepped up. "Master, we don't need to rely on this washed up ghost."
Elezar made a motion to respond, but Mewtwo's voice silenced him. Oh? Is that what you'd call someone who evaded you and Hunter for weeks on end?
Kage bowed before Mewtwo. "With Hunter gone, I'm your best chance at taking this kid down before anything else happens. Since I'm not a part of the Singu-whatzit, I can freely pursue them all across the island and take them out as needed. I'm not afraid of a rusty Christopher Kingston or a Darkrai afraid of it's own shadow. I'll take the kid, dead or alive, and bring him to you. That is my solemn vow to you, Oh Grand Master."
Very well, Kage. Depart from this base immediately. I do not care what happens to Christopher Kingston or Amanda Fouritz. Only Ryan and the treacherous Avery matter now. Begone.
Kage rose to his feet and departed gleefully from the room.
"He's going to die, you know" Courtney predicted.
"One less air-headed buffoon running around here" Elezar smirked.
His success or failure means nothing. I want Kage to flush Ryan out of hiding. So that we might get a direct idea of where he is. If he apprehends the boy, fine. If he only flushes him out, fine as well. If he fails, he gets erased from existence. No matter.
"Are you certain we can trust him, Master?" Courtney asked of Elezar. "He's proven to be untrustworthy and inept in the past."
As have yourself and Hunter, Courtney. I will simply have a well mannered meeting with an old colleague to see just how useful he is to us. You are dismissed.
"Go back to chasing your fairy tale marriage, Courtney" Elezar mocked.
Despite her anger boiling over, Courtney remained composed as she slowly departed from the throne room, hoping against all hope that The Master would vaporize Elezar from existence and she would get to watch. But as the two began to converse, she began to fear that Elezar would once more swoop in and supplant her as Chief Lieutenant to The Master.
{}
As their group approached the valley of thorns that had once been the ultimate snare in a trap to put him in the influence of Darkrai and the Syndicate, Ryan noticed that the island was again morphing and transforming. The valley below them had somehow gotten even deeper into the ground, with it looking more like an abyss of darkness rather than a patch of bristles and prickly plants. The only way across to the other side of the island was a fallen tree log that was just a bit further down the path.
"I guess that's the only place for us to cross?" he suggested.
"We don't even know if the island is in a natural state though" Amanda countered. "Can we even be certain if the Temple of Dreams is on the other side of this?"
"It has to be" Avery responded, though Ryan could tell doubt was floating into her mind. "Where else could a massive temple like that go?"
"This is the Realm of Dreams" Chris reminded the group. "Weirder things have happened."
Ryan led the way up to the fallen log and prepared to run across it, but the sounds of creaking and rumbling made him doubt himself and leap back onto the solid ground. "There's no way we're going to cross here. That log won't hold all of us."
"We have to try" Avery pleaded. "Otherwise we may as well go back to hiding in the village and hope Elezar changed his mind."
Ryan looked to Achilles, who simply teleported over the valley and onto the other side. It was exceedingly simple.
"Look, I bet it'd be super simple if we could all teleport" Ryan laughed. "But we're not like you, Achilles."
"We'll go one at a time" Chris assured the group. "Guess I'll go first." Walking incredibly slowly across the chasm, the eldest Kingston on the island meticulously moved to the next area where Achilles stood. With one confident leap, he landed on the grass and grinned back at the others. "Piece of cake. You're up, Ry."
Ryan followed in Chris's footsteps and moved ever so cautiously across the fallen log, before he too leaped to safety. He turned and gestured towards Amanda. "Come on, Amanda. It's easy."
"Easy for you two to say" she shuddered. Nevertheless, the young aspiring Pokemon Professor made even slower progress across the log, keeping her eyes shut so as not to remember that she was at least several stories in the air. Ryan and Chris both looked to the other to see which of them would be the gentleman and help Amanda. But when Chris seemed distracted by something, Ryan took the initiative and sped over to the end of the log.
"Open your eyes" Ryan called to her.
"WHY WOULD I DO THAT?!"
"So you can see how close you are" he reasoned. "Also to make sure you grab my hand."
Amanda did open her eyes, but she immediately spotted something shocking. "WHAT THE HELL?!"
Ryan turned around and saw his cousin was now glowing. "Huh? Chris? What did you do?"
"How should I know?" Chris asked, looking himself over as his body seemed to be glistening with a heavenly glow. "I didn't do anything different."
Ryan quickly pulled Amanda off the log and onto land as Avery was making her way along the log after her. Once the group was reunited, they all surrounded Chris as he shined like a newly mined diamond. It almost looked as if Chris was beginning to float away. He anchored his cousin to the ground by grabbing his arm and keeping him tethered down. "What's going on?"
His being is about to be transported, Achilles theorized.
"How do-" Ryan was about to argue, but he noticed parts of his cousin were now becoming translucent. As his hand fell off of Chris, Ryan could only watch as he flew higher and higher into the skies. "Where is he going?"
I'd suspect Arcana, Achilles guessed. After all, you would think Mewtwo would want all four of us taken.
"So Chris is really leaving?" Amanda asked in astonishment.
"If he truly is" Avery pointed out, "it's probably for the best."
"Why would you say that?!" Chris cried out. "I may explode for all I know."
"You're not going to explode" Ryan promised. "Achilles thinks you're going home. Though why that is, none of us know."
"It's for the best" Avery explained, "because I'm certain you're needed in Arcana far more than you are here, Chris. With Ryan and I here, Amanda will be well looked after. Don't forget what you have waiting for you back home. A Dad, a stepmother, two stepsisters, Michael, Cameron and Piper." She then gave Chris a courtesy wave. "Give everyone my best."
Realizing this may be their only chances to send a message to everyone, Amanda and Ryan scrambled for things to say. Amanda took the initiative. "I'd say give Billy a kiss for me, but since you're his cousin-"
"AND NOT INTO GUYS LIKE THAT!" Chris exclaimed.
"Just tell Billy to not lose hope" Amanda smiled. "We will meet again. When all this is over, it will be just him and me."
"CHRIS!" Ryan cried out last as Chris continued to ascend. "Tell Michael. Tell him to keep up the fight."
"HAVE YOU ALL LOST YOUR MIND?!" Before Chris could get his answer, he vanished in a bolt of light, with what appeared to be a shooting star flying far and away from Mirage Island.
When the comet soared far out of their sights, the remaining members of their group convened. "Okay" Avery spoke, "the Temple should be coming up soon. But even then, it may be crawling with Mewtwo's goons. He has been afraid of the Prophecies of Arcana for quite some time." She eyed Ryan in particular. "I just hope you're up to the challenge in case we get discovered."
Ryan looked to Achilles behind him and shrugged. "Eh. Achilles and Simba should do the trick. I would like to know if the others are okay, but-"
HOLD! Achilles snapped. He cartwheeled in front of the others and looked for the source of what he had sensed. When nothing sounded off, he looked to Ryan and gestured for him to come close. Ryan did as his Pokemon asked. When they were side by side, Achilles finally spoke again. Can you feel him?
"Feel who?"
I sense Terra is nearby.
"Terra?!" Ryan cried out. The Sandslash he had raised from a cracked Pokemon Egg was also on the island. "He's here?"
I sensed his presence, but it's moving quickly. Somewhere in...that direction. He pointed towards a strange tunnel that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
"That tunnel does not look familiar" Avery warned. "I don't remember ever seeing it."
"But Terra is in there" Ryan insisted. "I'm not going to pass up on the chance of seeing him again! Maybe I can convince him to come back like I did with Simba. That would only leave Sparks and Tusker after that."
But perhaps Miss Frost is correct, Achilles cautioned. There is more than just Terra coming from that cave. I sense a dark presence in there as well. This could be a trap set by Mewtwo.
"But Mewtwo doesn't know he's here, does he?" Amanda wondered, nervously fearing they'd be found and recaptured soon enough.
"We have to try" Ryan insisted. "Terra..."
Avery came up to his side. "I know how much he means to you, Ryan. But we don't know what lies in store for us in that cave. Do you still want to go inside?"
Without waiting another second, Ryan began to walk over to the entrance of the dark tunnel. Achilles was at his side in an instant, but both Amanda and Avery were hurrying to catch up. Ryan stopped at the mouth of the cave to let them catch up. Avery reverted from her spirit form into that of Darkrai and elected to enter the tunnel first. Ryan was about to follow, when Amanda grabbed at his arm and latched herself onto him. Knowing he needed to be strong for her as well made Ryan second guess his decision, but only for a moment. If he could somehow get Terra back, he'd put up with the darkness for a bit.
{}
Following the instructions of Countess Rosemary, Addison resigned herself to the Library of Kingston Castle to enrich herself with the power of knowledge. She was not alone, as the Library was becoming quite crowded of late, with people wanting to find a way to escape all that was going on around Arcana. Justin Jacques alone was dodging several high profile ladies wanting to get a chance to meet with him, choosing to hide with Addison in the corner of the room where the fireplace glowed brightly. She had given the awkward young Lord Jacques some books to read and distract himself.
The closest table to where Addison and Justin sat was where Cynthia sat, herself deeply immersed in a book of Arcanan Folklore, though she would occasionally look out the window for something. Lucas was seated close to her, himself scribbling vigorously on a sheet of paper. Dawn, unlike the other two, was completely bored out of her mind and playing around with Lucas's Pachirisu while he bounced about their table.
Addison remained mostly oblivious to all around her, focused on enriching her mind as best as possible. She needed every single advantage she could get her hands on if she was truly meant to combat Mewtwo. He was, after all, unstoppable when they last met on Mirage Island. If he was that strong back then, she could only shudder in horror at the idea of how strong he had gotten since. Nevertheless, she continued to read notes and studies from all of the world's most famous scientists, copies of their notes having been added to the Library as a gift from Balthazar Aced sometime before his death. Oak, Rowan, Juniper, Balthazar and even Julia's grandmother in Professor Maria had notes and journals donated to James Kingston as he got older and sought to expand his mind. But none seemed to have the kind of answers she was looking for. And with Galatea off safeguarding her egg, it left Addison alone to try and figure out how she was going to achieve the impossible.
"I'm having a rather difficult time understanding these words" Justin admitted to Addison as he tried in earnest to read an excerpt from one of Balthazar Aced's journals. "What would cause someone to try and instill the Crimson Fury within someone, even for scientific purposes? Couldn't that scar someone for life?"
"More than you'd know" Addison responded sadly, recalling how much Michael and Ryan struggled to contain it within them. "But the subject that Balthazar and James Kingston got was a willing participant. He wasn't forced or coerced."
"I guess it's something I'll never understand."
"You should try reading one of his earlier entries" she suggested. "It explains why Balthazar did what he did. It was to find a way to inoculate Arcana from it instead of letting it come to pass every fifteen years. As someone who has been subject to it, Justin, it's not something I'd recommend anyone do. But I can see why someone would be willing to see if there was a way all trainers could be spared the pain." She then paused her own reading and thought she could see, right in front of her, Lucas scribbling on a sheet of paper and jumping up and down in excitement. His scribbles took off into the air for her to see, taking on the form of what appeared to be a tall and wide tree, with limbs expanding in all directions. Above it, the words "Multiverse Theory" shined like the sun. She glanced behind her, but saw him still hard at work on a portion of what he was doing, with Dawn slumping on the table, looking as if she'd rather be anywhere else.
"I think you're doing it all wrong" Dawn argued. "Look, I don't think time just moves like a straight line. Haven't you ever seen those science fiction movies?"
Lucas blinked at her in astonishment. "Since when did you take such an interest in those films?"
"I don't" Dawn admitted, "but that's the only streaming service we had access to back home, so it was all I could watch growing up."
"She may have a point" Cynthia added. "Time can branch off in all directions at any time. A straight line would infer that everything that's happened could not have had an equal chance of not happening, which is just not the case."
"But time only moves forward" Lucas countered. "If things were as you said, that would mean that every single event that happens would in turn create an environment for the opposite to occur."
Dawn moaned. "You know, this is the worst idea for a date I've ever been forced to suffer through."
"I promise we'll get some time together when I've finished my work" Lucas answered. "Please bear with me while I-"
"But that's just it" Addison answered, spinning around on the chair she sat on and leaning on it's back. "Time does branch off in all directions. You figured it out already."
Lucas looked like his brain crashed inside of him. "Uh, what? I haven't figured out anything-"
Addison rose to her feet and skipped over to the table. "It's right there! Mult-" She was alarmed to find nothing had been written. And the diagram showed only a straight line with a few notes jotted down to indicate moments in time. "What the heck is going on here. I saw it as clear as day. You wrote it down and had the diagram all tree-like and stuff."
"You okay, Addy?" Cynthia inquired.
"Did Countess Rosemary already turn your brain to mush?" Dawn joked.
"I saw it right there!" she exclaimed, pointing angrily at the top of the paper. "Lucas! It said Multiverse Theory!"
"Multi-what?"
Cynthia and Lucas looked to each other in shock. The Champion of Sinnoh's brain picked up on what Addison said quickly. "That would mean-"
Lucas gasped excitedly. "Addy, I could kiss you-"
"Do it and I'll rip your lips off" Dawn jealously glared.
Lucas flipped the paper over and gestured for Dawn to see his work. "You guys were partially correct about time. It does jut out like that. But instead of us being able to just reach in and change time at will, Addison's theory is that time works across dimensions. Whenever we come across a choice or crossroads, each decision we can make creates a split in the timeline." When he realized Dawn wasn't following him, he began to write the timeline about Dawn. "Okay, remember when Professor Rowan each let us pick a Pokemon to start with? You chose Chimchar, I chose Turtwig and Barry chose Piplup. But what would have happened if you chose Piplup instead?"
Dawn shrugged. "I got all three after a while, so what's-"
"Do you remember how much you struggled to beat Roark in Oreburgh's Gym? If you chose Piplup, you wouldn't have needed to raise your Chimchar to a Monferno to win. You might have been able to breeze your way up to Eterna City's Gym."
Cynthia seemed to get it. "And wasn't your Monferno the real reason you beat Jupiter in the Team Galactic Warehouse?"
"So if I had chosen Piplup" Dawn inquired, scratching her head, "I might not have beaten Jupiter?"
"For all we know" Lucas commented, "you might not even have made it to the Distortion World with Cynthia to stop Cyrus. Team Galactic might have taken the both of us hostage and forced Cynthia to come in and rescue us." He continued to explain himself, with each line he created shooting off into separate directions. "Basically, you are you because of every choice you've made. If you made even one different choice and one different tactic, you might have become a different person."
Dawn shook her head. "No chance. I'm the only me out there."
"As far as you know" Lucas answered. "But I'm glad if that's the case. That means I don't have to share with anyone."
It was Dawn's turn to blush. "Well, I-"
"Thank you, Addy" Lucas exclaimed. "I truly could not have done it without you."
"But I-you're welcome."
Lucas folded the sheet of paper and put it into his pocket. "Alright. I've bored you enough, Dawn. Let's go do something you'll enjoy."
"Like what?" Dawn inquired.
He winked at her. "Just trust in me like I do you." He then gestured for her to follow him and the two ran out of the library.
"I didn't do anything" Addison admitted. "I just-saw it."
"You saw Lucas writing those words and creating it before he did?" Cynthia asked.
"Strange, right?"
Cynthia thought for a moment. "No. Maybe not. Not for someone like you, at least."
"What do you mean?"
Cynthia grinned as she rose from the table herself. "You're the White Mage, Addison. You can figure it out." She then followed Dawn and Lucas out of the library and left Addison more puzzled than ever.
"What does she mean?"
"Wow" Justin admonished from his chair. "You predicted what would happen. That's incredible, Addison!"
Addison froze. Predicted? You mean I predicted the future? But how? She had done so before, but only sparingly. She recalled seeing Archer's death before they found him during The Battle of Titanio and Michael told her she had seen Claude's death before passing out. But why hadn't she passed out now? It was almost as if a barrier had been shattered inside of her. She could not push past the limits of her prior capabilities. And the limits to her mind's power did not seem to exist. If she could not tire from making such a prediction, did that mean she was getting stronger? But how? And why, in the back of her mind, was her brain painting a picture of Matthew?
{}
Upon their return to the courtyard of Kingston Castle, Michael was surprised to find a largely uneventful response. No one was there to greet them, if any knew they had traversed to the Realm of Arceus at all.
But it was within the Celestial Plains that all six of them had gotten to meet and speak with The Creator of All Life himself, Arceus. And he had finally been able to bury the pain he felt about letting his Aunt Jane down upon reuniting with her. Last, but certainly not least, he had been granted the power to protect Addison if she was not feeling confident about her power. The Crimson Fury may be back inside of him, but it would now be under his personal control. He would not be a slave to his rage anymore. Instead, it would be his greatest weapon.
He looked to the rest of his group and found either saddened or content faces looking back at him. Cameron wore a look of sorrow on her face, almost unable to make eye contact with him. He suspected why this was, but he wouldn't overstep his boundary. Piper, conversely, seemed to have joined him in getting some kind of burden off her chest. She looked as confident and happy as she had ever been, especially since they departed for Mirage Island. Mark and Lizzie both wore strangely sad looks on their faces, almost as if they understood that venturing to The Celestial Plains would be the one and only time they'd ever be able to do so. Or it could have something to do with what they wished for. And Matthew was content with how his meeting had gone. In fact, he seemed to have gotten over some kind of hurdle of his own.
"Well, it's been fun" Michael said playfully, "but I've got work to do."
"Wait" Cameron called out to him. "Can we talk for a minute?"
"As a group? Or..."
"You and me" she answered.
"Can't we all take part?" Mark asked. "We're all friends."
"A Champion needs the ear of the King" Cameron concluded. Before Michael could respond, Cameron grabbed his arm and dragged him away for a private word. Once she was certain the others weren't within immediate earshot, she stopped and stood in front of him, clearly shaken. "I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me you didn't do what I think you did."
"You're going to have to be specific" Michael replied dryly. "I'm not a mind reader."
"Why?!" she cried. "Why would you do it? You spent ten years trying to find a cure for it!"
"And I failed" he argued, softly as he saw Cameron was more upset than she was angry. "It's still inside me the same way as it was with Ryan."
"It feels like you're still trying to play the hero."
"I can assure you I don't want that." He looked to the Arcanine Brand on his shoulder. "Who do you think it's going to fall to if Addison can't stop Mewtwo? Who do you think everyone is going to look to?"
"The Fury almost killed you!"
"And Mewtwo will kill us all if Addison-"
"Why don't you have any faith in her?"
Michael shook his head. "You're missing the point. I have faith in her. I think she can do anything she sets her mind to." He put his hands on her shoulders. "But she doesn't. She's a child being thrown right into the fire. Do you think for a minute that she won't realize this, soon enough?"
"I think you overthink too much" Cameron argued. "We don't even know how Countess Rosemary's training with her has gone. We need to give her some kind of benefit of the doubt, right?" She frowned. "I'm not very good at this whole 'motivation' thing. It's really something that we need Chris for." She clenched her fists and stepped away from the King. "I'm tired of you putting your life on the line for everyone. I'm not sure I can watch you do this to yourself."
"If you're right about Addison not caving under pressure" Michael responded, "then this doesn't matter."
"It does matter, Mike!" she yelled. "You're back where you were when-" She paused and seemed to be puzzling together events in her head. "Is that it? Is this all because of what's going on with Julia?"
Michael brushed past her. "I'm not talking about this, right now. I've got a kingdom to run and children to raise!"
"I thought you should know that-"
"I said I don't want to talk about it" he reiterated, before storming off towards the castle. As he entered the doorways, he found Gerard and Annie coming up to him with numerous duties and affairs of state he needed to attend to.
"Your Grace" Gerard spoke urgently. "We must speak on the matters of the Arcana Police Force. Chief Byron would like to establish a meeting between the heads of-"
"My Uncle is perfectly capable of managing a meeting" he answered curtly. "Have him organize it and tell me the date."
Gerard was politely pushed aside by Annie. "That still leaves a few things for you to look at." In her hands, she held a thick stack of paperwork. "We've got some serious things to discuss over the next few days. Including what happened in Charizark Town yesterday and this strange little Mewtwo Cult that's been growing there. It needs to be quelled before it grows bigger."
"Send Madeline there to smoke them out" Michael ordered. "Look, I need a-"
"Your Grace!" a guard called from the balcony above. "It's your son!"
This drew Michael's attention immediately. "What about him?" Not waiting for an answer, Michael reached the top step within a few seconds, with Annie and Gerard following him, peppering him with questions and more duties to attend to. He launched himself past the others and stormed up to the Nursery. He flung the doors open to find his son wailing. He reached into the crib and scooped his son into his arms. To his relief, the young prince calmed down upon being held. He stopped his flailing when he looked up at his father.
Michael heaved a heavy sigh of relief. "You almost gave me a heart attack, kiddo!" But something was wrong. He glanced behind him at Annie and Gerard by the doorway. "Gerard! Get April! James is burning up!"
Gerard nodded and raced out of the room, but Annie remained outside. "Michael..."
"I'm not doing anything until I know my son will be okay" Michael insisted. "And where the hell is Arya?"
"She's with Aunt Tori and Uncle Greg in the gardens" Annie answered. "But we really should get back to these matters."
"Annie" Michael snapped, his attention completely on his son in his arms. "Not now!"
"There are some things that can't wait!" Annie fired back, with more force than she'd hoped. She took a minute to collect herself. "Sorry. I just-things are really stressful around here."
Michael shook his head. "You're fine." His eyes lay on his son, who seemed to be curling up in a ball in his father's arms. "I'm not going to be able to focus on anything, right now. If you can do anything about that paperwork, do it. If you can't, just leave it on my desk in my bedroom and I'll get to it." He held his son close to him, knowing all too well that this would be the straw that finally broke him if anything happened to his pride and joy.
"Your Grace" Annie inquired, "I'd like to ask for the evening off, if you don't mind."
"Sure, but what's the occasion?"
She came over to Michael's side and stroked James's head. "James and Arya. I love them so much. They represent so much more than we even think about now. We just look at them as two adorable little kids. But they're Arcana's future. And with all that may be coming with Mewtwo and all this darkness, it may be their Arcana sooner than we'd be ready for." She then turned her attention to the King, a hand falling to her belly. "And Jon and I are going to add to this legacy soon. But Jon doesn't know yet."
"Setting up a night to tell him?"
Annie shrugged. "You're the only one that knows, right now. Well, you and the Queen, but since she's still knocked out, I don't think that counts."
Michael nodded. "Do whatever you need to, Annie. And congratulations."
Annie hugged Michael for a moment before kissing little James and leaving with the paperwork. April entered immediately afterwards with a cold compress to dab the baby with. Michael handed James over to the nurse, who gently lowered him back into his crib.
"Is he going to be alright?!"
April laughed. "Of course he'll be. There's a bit of a bug going around right now, Your Grace. That's all. Just a few dabs of the cold compresses and plenty of fluids and our little prince will be back up in no time."
"How bad a bug?"
"Lady Olivia's son also has it and is bedridden" April explained. "Which is interesting considering she-" She paused and looked in the doorway. "Oh my goodness! Look at the time. I need to be off to check on the Queen." She darted out of the room in such a force that Michael was nearly knocked over in the whiplash.
He turned around and saw Olivia standing there, her face pale and her eyes focusing on anything but his own. "Your Grace."
"Liv" Michael responded awkwardly. "Look, about what happened-"
"I don't think this is going to work out" Olivia concluded.
"What won't work out?"
"Me taking over as Queen." She stepped into the room. "I don't think I'm the right girl for the job. Maybe you should consider Caitlin Setenn. She's smart and spunky and kind. She could be a great mother to the kids if Julia doesn't-"
"Why the change?"
Olivia wiped her hands over her face. "Because I can't think straight. My default in a crisis is to drink. How can I expect to be a good leader in times of woe? How can I be a good mother to those two if I'm having a hard time taking care of my son. And then, there's you." She turned her back to Michael. "I don't think I have to tell you, do I?" When Michael didn't immediately answer, she shrugged. "I thought last night would have said enough, but fine. I can't be your Queen because I love you too much! Don't think for a minute I don't remember what happened. What happened between us."
Michael looked from the sleeping James to a second cousin who was in love with him. Despite all of the red flags for this situation, he could not help but pity her. "Look, Liv. I understand how you feel."
"Do you?! Because I don't think you do."
"I know how you feel" Michael reiterated. "It's been...weird having you back here for so long. I'm actually enjoying all of the lost time we're gaining back. I trust you to be a Queen because I know you're capable of it. You've shown more growth as a person than anyone I've ever known. And it would be an honor for you to sit by my side if-"
"And there's the deal" Olivia answered sadly. "If Julia doesn't come back. But guess what, Michael? Regardless of Julia's presence or state of mind, I won't be able to change how I feel about you. What's to say I won't just drunkenly stumble in on you again one night for another turn with the King of Arcana? I love you enough to know that I can't break your heart. You love Julia. You could even love me if we did marry. But you'll always love her." She stepped closer to him. "I know your heart is in the right place. And that you're feeling my pain for me in the hopes of trying to keep me around. But I can't do it. I don't want to get my son's hopes up. He already idolizes you." She took her Poke Gear out of her pocket and showed him a picture of an apartment complex in Terra Town. "Your father and Atticus got me a place in town. It's not much, but it's close to work and there's a Day Care Center so Little Michael will be taken care of."
"You don't have to do this" Michael insisted.
Olivia shook her head. "Yes. I do. Because I couldn't bear to take you away from Julia. And I couldn't bear to see you two get together again if I got my hopes up." She smiled weakly towards him. "We will keep in touch and I promise you will always have my support..." She took his hand in hers. "...and my love." She threw herself at Michael one last time, kissing him passionately. When they came apart, Olivia let go of him and slowly departed from the nursery.
Michael frowned as he looked down at James, who's cries and cooing had subsided as the compress kept his body temperature cool. "I wish things could be as easy for me as they are for you, James."
"Your Grace" a voice called over to him.
Michael turned around and found Piper standing in the doorway. "Please tell me-"
"She's awake."