"It can't be" Addison exclaimed. After Jasmine had told her that she had found Matthew by the entrance of Titanio Park, she decided to call it an eventful evening. But before they could all plan out what would happen the next time they all met, Addison received a message from the King to come back to Kingston Castle immediately. She had hurried back and was whisked upstairs by Julia and Michael to meet with Countess Rosemary. There, with them all gathered, Michael told her of what had transpired. How Christopher had returned and of what he had seen on Mirage Island. Chiefly, about how Ryan was there. He wasn't dead. "This is-he had to be lying. Or maybe he was mistaken? Either way, there's no way that Chris saw what he did."
"I can't doubt a word he ever says" Michael said proudly. "He has no reason to lie about this."
"Stranger things have happened before" Julia admitted. "It wouldn't surprise me if this is true."
"With you and Michael having encountered Avery Frost and Elezar Aced on Mirage Island" Rosemary interjected, "I'm surprised you wouldn't believe this is a possibility, Addison."
"I do believe it" she answered, holding her hand to her heart. "I just...I don't want to get my hopes up." If this were true, there was a small yet still robust chance for Ryan to come back to her. But the same things that held Avery back from becoming fully human would be the same things holding her Ryan back. For one thing, it was only through the now seemingly limitless power of Mewtwo that she even got the chance. Would Mewtwo be so inclined to do so for his mortal enemy? How could Ryan regain his humanity if Mewtwo was the most grand obstacle in his way?
"The only development we can assure ourselves of is that Christopher returned to Arcana" Rosemary concluded. "Somehow, though I suspect that his return was brought about by Miss Pines. Whatever comes of Ryan's involvement in our battle against Mewtwo will be decided when it comes. We still have only four weeks until the true battle with the enemy comes. Which means that Addison and I have a great deal of work to do in front of us." She glanced politely to her Great Nephew and his wife. "If Your Majesties consent, wa have something we need to discuss in private."
Julia nodded. "Of course. We mustn't get in the way, can we?"
"We've done our part in bringing Addy back" Michael grinned. "Now, we've got our own issues to worry about." The couple departed from the room, but not before Julia kissed Addison on her head.
Once the King and Queen had departed, Rosemary turned her full attention to her pupil. "Addison, this turn of events changes nothing."
"It could mean that-"
"The Prophecy did not speak of Ryan, child. It spoke of you. His survival only means anything for your emotional state. And who knows if it will even be a permanent thing? Lest we forget Mewtwo and he are not on the best of terms."
"I don't need to be reminded of that" she answered coldly. "But if this helps me feel better..."
"Ryan's presence on Mirage Island cannot be a distraction to you" Rosemary sternly scolded. "I can sense it's already changed your attitude towards this."
"So I'm not supposed to feel better knowing he's okay?!" Addison lashed out.
"Why do you twist my words?! I am not trying to drain you of emotions or tell you that you are wrong to feel the way you do. But your battle with Mewtwo will force you into a mental state where even the slightest distraction can and will be used against you if he can sense it. You cannot allow yourself to be led astray at any moment. Your training is paramount to all else." She looked at the gemstone on her scepter and noticed it beginning to flicker in the candlelight. "And we're running out of time to help steer you down the right path. Enjoy your victory tonight, my dear. Tomorrow, we need to intensify your training. There is something very important you will be shown, something to understand that I alluded to previously."
Addison, though still upset that Rosemary was trying to downplay Ryan's return, nodded and walked out of the Countess's chambers. She sprinted down the halls and to her guest room, quickly locking herself inside and made herself comfortable on her bed. Once she had achieved this, she began to concentrate heavily. Avery had contacted Ryan in his dreams, so surely she could try and do the same if Ryan wasn't aware he could.
Come on, Ryan! she thought aloud. I know you can hear me. Please. It's me, Addison. I'm trying to reach you! Ryan?
Nothing.
"Damnit!" she growled. If she could not reach Ryan on the island, did that mean he was the only one who could reach her? Or was this the lesson Rosemary meant to teach her about? "Why can't I reach you, Ryan?"
Our connections were severed, Galatea's voice echoed in her head. Even if what the Countess said was true and Christopher did reunite with Ryan on the island, the connection can only be forged again by he and my mate.
"But that doesn't explain how-"
It explains it as best as we know. Avery Frost and Mewtwo are the only beings we've ever known able to traverse dreams and speak within them. Our mates may have the capacity to, but we can never know unless they achieve this on their own. I doubt even the Countess understands how this is all possible. We can only use Avery's words as a crutch here. Ryan and Achilles were spared ends for a reason. They must figure out why.
Addison rested on her bed in frustration. "I just want to see him again. To let him know how I feel."
Unless our feelings have changed, I doubt they fear anything to the contrary.
"Any news with regards to your egg?" she asked.
The egg will hatch soon, though I am afraid for what will unfold because of that.
"What do you mean?"
Our kind, especially raised outside of a clan, can sometimes choose to go off on their own at a very young age.
"You don't think she'll be ready?"
I've no doubt our child will be ready. It's I who fear for the future. As you humans say, my child has been what I use to cope with Achilles not being here. When our child leaves, will I not lose myself to my emotions? Will I once more be a slave to the burning feeling inside of us?
"Burning feeling? You mean the Crimson Fury?"
Surely you have reached the same conclusion as I have, by now, my friend. If the Fury still burns inside of The King as it still did within Ryan, do you not think that the possibility of it lingering somewhere in our hearts is also a possibility?
Addison shuddered at the idea. "I don't like to think of that. The Brand Removal that Professor Krane did for us removed all of the traces from Holly, right? And lots of other people. So why would the three of us be any different?"
Perhaps because you three possessed what the others did not. Deep and personal connections to your Pokemon. After all, you three are also capable of understanding our thoughts almost on the same level as we do. It should only be the same that our bonds are stronger and less likely to be severed. When we feel pain, you feel pain and vice versa. Galatea went silent for a moment before summarizing her thoughts. One thing is for certain. We three will have the burden of the world on our shoulders going forward. Any help in sharing it should be accepted with open arms.
Addison gulped. "I don't like the sound of that at all." She looked to her Poke Gear and noticed she had a new message. She looked at it and noticed it was Matthew messaging her. She opened it up to read what he had sent:
[Sorry for the scare before. I just needed to get my head clear. Simon was right when he said I was a monster. I am. And I can't deny that part of who I am any longer. But I am someone with a purpose. And that purpose is to make sure you are ready for whatever may come from this. I know I can never replace Ryan to you, so I'm not trying. But if you need me for anything, be it serious or silly, I'll be there. I can't afford to lose another huge part of my heart. And that part is where you are. Good night, Addy.]
Addison cracked a smile at the message and lowered her Poke Gear. "Any help in sharing it should be accepted."
{}
There wasn't much they could use to get a fire going inside of the dense and sinister cavern they were trapped in, but Ryan managed to find a few pieces of wood and dried plants from nearby to burn so that they could keep warm in the night. It was mostly him, though, as for some reason, Achilles was drained from their confrontation with the evil specter of a Gardevoir that had attacked them hours earlier. Ryan wasn't tired, but he knew that with he and Avery as little more than specters, they needed to do what was right by Amanda. She was out of her element and with her the only living person among their group, her protection was vital.
Amanda herself was beginning to wear down from lack of food, prompting Avery to venture away from the cavern to try and find some food for her. While she was away, Ryan found himself taking care of Arcana's young and aspiring Pokemon Professor. She was laid down on a relatively soft rock and given as much to rest on as they could afford. He found a fresh spring nearby and set about gathering water for her to drink. Though she was receptive, Ryan could tell something was wrong. No food for several days was definitely painful for her, but now all of this walking no doubt impacted her. He simply knelt by her side and watched over her as she slept, while recounting to himself what had unfolded between him and the shadows in this cave.
"That was a test" he told himself. "A test of what, I don't know. But I do know that it was meant to show me my own inner strength. And I'm pretty sure I passed. But why do I feel so empty inside?"
His Pokemon were by his side. Simba was snoozing in a curled up ball, stretching his body in a dream. Achilles was shaken and weakened from their battle and thus had chosen to sit and meditate. Despite having them by his side and a weak Amanda resting nearby, Ryan felt alone. He didn't trust Avery as much as he probably should. Chris's sudden departure, while helpful to those off of the island, was a disaster for him. Now, protecting both Avery and Amanda, as well as the Pokemon Cresselia, now fell on his shoulders. He needed to defend them from the likes of Mewtwo, Courtney and the rest of their forces. He had no one to lean on his own times of weakness. And despite showing off incredible power only a short while ago, he wasn't feeling particularly strong as the hour grew later.
A soft moaning noise confirmed that Darkrai, and by proxy Avery, had returned. Darkrai was carrying a fairly potent batch of berries, while Avery looked around and stood sentry to ensure none of Mewtwo's thugs were onto them. Darkrai dropped the berries into Amanda's knapsack, allowing Ryan to scoop some up and feed the exhausted Amanda. She was able to eat a few, but turned over in her slumber after a few moments.
"The last thing we need is for her to be unable to travel" Avery spoke up. "But hopefully those berries tide her over until we can get her some real food."
"Yeah" Ryan replied glumly.
Sensing his inner turmoil, Avery gestured for Darkrai to veil them in the darkness while she scooted herself next to her childhood friend. "Are you okay?"
"I feel so lost, right now" he admitted.
"How so?"
"I've always been able to control the Fury before" he recalled. "Keeping it inside of me and not even acknowledging it's existence was how I did during my rise to being the Pokemon Champion. But ever since I battled Matthew here, I've been unable to contain it. I lost myself against Claude and took his life. I almost hurt Holly and Michael in battle. And now, I feel like it's consuming every part of who I am."
Avery frowned deeply. "I'm probably responsible for that. I made you run around this island helping me, and in reality helping Mewtwo."
"You can be blamed for some things" Ryan said, doing his best to inject come levity into their conversation. "But that's not one of them. I chose to let Mewtwo brand me. The Fury is inside of me because of my own choice. I just hoped I'd be free from it after we got the Brands removed, but I guess I was wrong."
Avery could not be cheered. "But I only made things worse. Like I always do. I always dreamed of seeing you again. It was the only thing I ever wanted. But when I found out that you and Addison had gotten together, I basically let Mewtwo ruin your lives just to get a chance to be with you. And now, look where we are? Two lost souls trapped in the darkness of Mewtwo's hellscape, likely to never even see the light of day again." She put her face into her hands. "If I had just been happy for you and let you go, you wouldn't have been dragged into this."
"Mewtwo would have found some other way to do it" Ryan assured her. "I'd be here one way or another."
"How can you be so cheerful about this?"
"My small bit of optimism is the only thing keeping me from getting angry again" he told her.
"If it's any consolation, Ryan, I'm lost too."
"How are you lost?"
"My heart and my mind are torn over you" she revealed. "Having you here with me has made my heart happy. Just...I don't know...seeing you, makes me feel like a little girl again. It's like when we were kids, only this time we have nothing to hide and no lies. I meant when I said I'd always love you and thank you for showing me who I could really be." She slumped in front of the fire. "But my mind and my heart both want to send you back home at the same time. Somehow, someway, if I could get you to reunite with Addy, I would. Even if it means my heart and I would disappear completely along with this island."
"Why would you disappear?"
She grinned, though he could tell she was still sad. "This isn't the island I woke up on after that storm. Mewtwo and his minions hijacked it and turned it into this. Mystic Island was a bit closer to the one you all were on for the World Tournament. But it was smaller, more calm and above all...no one was using others for their plans. It's a haven for those who's souls are lost and unable to find their way to The Celestial Plains or the dark depths of the Underworld. Mewtwo's destroying it. The stronger he gets, the more this island is sinking into the Underworld. If Mewtwo is destroyed, the island will have to go back to what it was before he corrupted it. And I don't know if that means all the wayward souls here will be lost too."
"So you're saying we're going to slide into the darkness no matter what?"
"It's a good possibility."
"Then I guess there's no real reason to be afraid, is there?"
"Huh?"
Ryan finally cracked a smile of his own. "I don't have to be afraid of the Fury or the darkness that engulfs this place. And neither do you, for that matter. The world is divided into so many unique places. The Realm of Arceus, the Underworld, Mystic Island and even earth as we know it. If Mewtwo falls and the rest of my friends and loved ones are safe from him, why would I be afraid of sinking in? They're taken care of. And that's alright by me."
"My business isn't finished, until you all forgive me" Avery reminded him.
"Maybe your business will continue in a new place" he theorized. "Or, maybe after all these years of helping Darkrai and Cresselia, you might finally be due for a rest. You'll never know what happens until the moment it comes. And if it's the end, nothing else will matter. Mewtwo will have been stopped and you will have been forgiven."
"But-"
"Because I know you never meant to hurt anyone" Ryan said proudly. "If you didn't feel any guilt, you wouldn't have been messing with Mewtwo as you did. You saved Amanda and Chris and are probably willing to help more people, regardless of what happens to you. You helped us escape last time and are helping me to figure out a way to crush Mewtwo once and for all. If you aren't someone who deserves to be forgiven, I don't know who is."
"I don't feel like I am" Avery moaned.
"You are to me" he concluded. "And that's all that matters."
"If it were in my power" she said, clearly moved by his words, "I would get you back to Addison. But I don't have that kind of power."
Ryan's thoughts lingered on Addison and he sighed. "Truth be told, I'm starting to think Mewtwo wouldn't have that power, either."
"Why's that?"
He shrugged. "Just a feeling I have in my heart. Remember those things you did for him to become human again. That wasn't you. That was you being someone Mewtwo and Courtney wanted you to be. If I was going to be brought back by him, it'd be as someone he wanted me to be and no other way. And if that happened to me, I'd just want myself to be destroyed."
Avery smiled weakly. "I guess we don't have to worry about you being turned into that."
"Because I know I have people who would never let me fall that deep." While the fire crackled beside them, his thoughts circled around all the others in Arcana that he longed for. His mother, Matthew and little Kayleigh. Chris and Cam. Addison and Piper. Michael, Julia and their children. Dawn and Lucas, Holly and Tommy, Jon and Annie, and everyone else who had stood by his side through thick and thin.
His old friend blushed a bit. "And you have me."
"I'm glad to have a true friend I can count on by my side" Ryan winked. "Maybe if Mewtwo had friends like I did, he wouldn't be like he was." A cold chill stung both of them as the depths of the cavern around them. Even the fire could do little to keep them completely warm. Realizing he had little choice, he moved as close to Avery as their bodies would let them. As they tried to keep warm, Ryan thought he could hear the voice of that shadow demon he and Achilles had fought.
You and I-we're exactly the same. Except for one-one thing. My soul is free on the other side. You? You're trapped here. Destined for one purpose and one purpose only...
{}
With the cloning projects both proceeding at a very methodical and slow pace, Professor Wong allowed a moment of rest. The two clumps of mass within the pods, far from being even remotely close to being complete, were taking in the nutrients from the goo they were inside and developing at a rate she was okay with. She had not been able to sleep much since being abducted by Hunter, but perhaps now she would have an opportunity to get a bit of rest. Soon, once she had given her captors an update to the conditions of the second much smaller clump of mass, she might begin work on a third if expected of her. But Mewtwo had been strangely leaving her be for a while, thus allowing her some time to let her eyes close and try to get some rest.
That girl ghost's warnings continued to ring in her head. Could Mewtwo truly be despicable enough to wipe her from existence when her usefulness to him expired? Or did he truly mean what he said about them being some kind of "family"? She could not trust either the girl named Avery or Mewtwo for that matter. She simply needed to do her job and hope for the best, no matter how scary the outcome of having three Mewtwos in the world would be.
She leaned heavily on a makeshift desk and decided to rest her eyes for a bit. Nothing would come of her being exhausted the next time she was visited by either Mewtwo or one of his flunkies. But any hopes of having dreams of being with her family would have to wait, when she heard a giggle in the room with her. She spun around in her chair. Courtney stood in the doorway, eyeing the pods carefully and giving off an air of menace with her appearance. Despite her cruelty and mental instability, Helen could not help but realize just how beautiful Courtney was. If only she wasn't a black-hearted witch on the inside...
"Don't worry, Professor" Courtney teased. "I'm not here to punish you for napping on the job. I came for a progress report." She proudly strutted about the room and looked at the clones of Mew that she was developing. "Good. Very good. You take after your father, I guess."
"I haven't slept in a long time" Wong reasoned. "I could use it."
"And I could use all the power of the cosmos at my disposal" Courtney giggled. "We don't always get what we want, do we?"
Wong rolled her eyes and handed Courtney the notes she had taken. "The growth is normal and they will remain stable. If we accelerate their growth too quickly, their genetical makeup could become unstable. Surely the Master can agree with that?"
Courtney frowned at this. "Actually, the Master has been a bit preoccupied at the moment."
"With what?"
"I sometimes have these visions that pop into my head" the former Magma Admin explained. "Sometimes I can see them, other times they fly out of my head. And unfortunately, my latest one was the latter. And the only one who heard it was that jerk Elezar. He made me bring him up to The Master. We found out quite a lot from the turncoat turned turncoat. Ryan Kingston is still a pain in our sides and has somehow made it to the island to cause more trouble." She rattled her fingers on Wong's desk in frustration. "But, the Master doesn't seem all that concerned that Ryan could be a problem. Now, all that matters to him is the next part of this Prophecy. A champion to combat the White Mage."
"A champion? Like a fighter?"
"What difference does it make?" Courtney hissed. "I am the Master's true Champion, but he fails to see it that way thanks to a few hiccups along the way! Now, I'm once more relegated to being little more than a SERVANT!" She pounded the desk in frustration, causing Helen to jump back in fright. After taking a second to compose herself, Courtney continued. "But, since I do have my own desires to worry about, I need the Master's power to access it. Which is where you come in, Helen."
Helen gulped. "Why would I come in, now?"
"Because you're the only person on this island who hasn't upset him. And because you are the key to our victory. Well, you and your knowledge." She paced about the room as she spoke. "See, even if we get this so-called Champion to fight for us, that still leaves our enemies loaded with firepower. Even depleted, Michael Kingston is a danger to us." She seemed to nervously twitch at that name, but pressed on. "And he's got plenty of annoying little oxygen suckers at his disposal and ready to fight for him at a moment's notice. It's why Hunter's death was, while funny for me, a problem in the long run. We know they're getting better. Which means we simply need to improve ourselves."
"How do you propose to do that?"
"Your Father and Professor Urbine's notes on cloning have fascinated me" Courtney explained. "Your father encouraged nursing these clones the same way you would any normal Pokemon. But Urbine believed that the process could be streamlined. Pokemon could be cloned like a factory. Strong, powerful and utterly invincible Pokemon in a matter of moments."
"Those Pokemon in Urbine's experiments were genetically unstable" Wong warned. "If they exert too much power over too quick a time frame, they can deteriorate from within and fall apart into goop."
"Your father seemed to think all clones would end up that way. Even the Master could."
"Cloning has not come far enough for us to suspect otherwise. Urbine and my father's deaths caused most cloning projects to slow down, except for a few Fossil Restoration projects in Hoenn and Unova."
Courtney giggled again. "Ah yes. Devon Corporation's work. I'm well aware of them." She gestured in the distance of somewhere outside of the lab. "You know that old fool's son is here?"
"Mr. Stone's son?"
"Steven" she revealed. "He was a thorn in my side once before. When my glorious mentor Maxie sought to expand the landmass, he and some dumb kids intervened and thwarted our plans. He drove Maxie into hiding and left me to hold his crumbling empire. I tried to get some revenge by kidnapping the son of the Pokemon Professor in Littleroot Town, but he and the other little twerp ruined those plans too. I had to flee my own home to come here." She giggled menacingly. "I suppose I should thank Steven the next time I visit his slumbering pod. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be this close to conquering everything!"
"The cloning you're referring to could be dangerous" Wong warned. "An army of unstable Pokemon of that caliber-"
"Don't you worry your little head about it, Helen" Courtney chided. "I will speak with the Master about it when he is able to see me. I can't make you do what I'd want...but he can." She waved at her before vanishing out the door.
{}
With her gift for comprehending Pokemon finally beginning to take off for her, Lizzie was excitedly running about anywhere she could to try and understand how some Pokemon spoke and if it was different for some or others. Though some might have been put off by her snooping about, most she encountered did not seem to notice or care. On the Veranda, she found Dawn and Lucas sitting and chatting with someone from their home region, while Mark and Greta sat at the opposite end of the table. Mark's Pikachu and Lucas's Pachirisu were sniffing each other in the middle and thus began a rather shocking game of chase. To throw Mark's Pikachu off, the Pachirisu would create duplicates of itself using Double Team and run about the whole Veranda, prompting the Pikachu to dive at one, but phase right through and land on the ground.
Her friend's Pikachi shook off his fall and growled at the Pachirisu. No fair! You can't use moves like that!
The Pachirisu fell on his tail, laughing. Of course I can. The point of Chase is to not get tagged, right?
Lizzie laughed as the two Pokemon resumed their chase and took it all around the Veranda. On the opposite end of the Veranda, she found Bella and Aether looking up at the moonlight with one another, their tails tapping rhythmically together. She took a few steps closer so as not to be noticed, but could not help but be nosy about what the Queen's Sylveon and the King's Espeon were saying to one another.
Julia's Sylveon shined brightly in the night, her ribbons floating about in a cool breeze. What would you say to another litter, Aether?
The Espeon cocked his head slightly to the side. More children?
Galatea's protection of her own egg got me thinking, Bella went on. Life is such a fleeting thing. Perhaps we should make the most of it. I know our mates are trying to have one of their own.
Aether let out a low meow and stretched his lavender-colored body. And succeeding, if my trainer's feelings were correct.
So shouldn't we join them? Our other children are still out there, you know.
Aether nuzzled his own mate. I never understood why humans were so attached to theirs. I know our children can look out for themselves, but with humans the opposite seems true. I mean, our trainers are quite old for humans and yet they keep together in these little bands as if they were out in the wild.
Bella beamed. I believe they are called, "families".
Lizzie giggled. "They are so cute" she told herself as she went down the steps and out into the garden. Galatea was firmly watching over her egg from the Rose Bush, only giving her a courtesy nod before resuming her guard duties. Aside from her, most of the Grass Pokemon she had encountered previously had gone to sleep in the moonlight, save for a lone Gloom who watched over the others. The only other Pokemon who were out and about were Michael's Arcanine and Addison's Rockruff. The two sat on their rear ends, looking up at the moon that hung above them.
So when do we howl, huh?
Lizzie grinned. "Good to know that Addison's Rockruff still acts like a puppy."
We howl at the beginning of every day and again at every night, the Arcanine taught. Lizzie was amused that Michael's Arcanine had taken up to being so much like him. Though he never missed an opportunity to keep being the lovable fiery canine Pokemon, he was very much like her old friend and vice versa. She had never seen such a perfect blending between Pokemon and Trainer before.
What about at lunchtime?
The Arcanine playfully patted the Rockruff on the head. You still have much to learn, young one. The Arcanine lifted his head and nodded to himself, before standing proudly in place and letting out a long howl. The Rockruff tried to imitate it, but fell over onto his back in the process. The Arcanine cocked his head to the side and dashed off towards the Castle quickly. The Rockruff tried to catch up, but the Arcanine huffed at him to slow down.
But what happens now, Mister?!
The Arcanine shook his head. Now is the time for rest. Return to your trainer as I do my own. I am sure yours misses you, dearly. The Arcanine then leaped off and bounded for the castle to take his place sleeping at the foot of the bed of Michael and Julia.
The Rockruff trotted along, but stopped to sniff at Lizzie's shoes before wagging his tail happily. You're a new person! I like new people! My name's Zero! He leaped up at her and licked her face before jumping back down. Well, goodbye, new person. My Mama wants to go to bed, I think! Bye! Lizzie had barely enough time to react to the Rockruff, but smiled as it tried to move as majestically as Mufasa did, to no avail.
"If only I could understand people as much as I do Pokemon" Lizzie lamented as she prepared to go back to the Castle for the night.
"People aren't that interesting" a voice called from nearby. She spun around and saw Justin standing alone on the walkover bridge and looking up at the skies above. "Usually, when you understand how a person feels about you, you're not going to like the results."
"Who could have that bad of an opinion of someone?"
"My Uncle did" he reminded her. "Of me."
"Claude was not like other humans" Lizzie recalled, making her way to his side and standing beside him. "He was evil. He was hateful. I may not get people as well as others do, but I know he was not someone I would have wanted the acceptance of."
"Mother always used to teach that family is the most important thing" he thought aloud. "So why then, would he wish another member of his own family be drowned at birth?"
Lizzie shrugged. "You can never know what drives people to such dark places. It can be anything."
"So how do you deal with family woes?"
"I don't have many" she admitted. "My family is one of those super closely knit ones, I guess. There aren't almost limitless numbers of us like the Kingstons. But we also aren't as super into so many things like the other families here. My Mom, my Grandmother and my Brother have been nothing but supportive of me and what I choose to do. They even convinced me that I belong here." She looked down at the water below them. "Sometimes, I do wish I got to see them again. More often than I do. But my heart chose Arcana as my home. Which is why I intend to fight for it with everything I have." She smiled. "My friends are my family, just as much as my Mom, my Grandmother and my Brother have always been. Michael and Mark are both big brothers to me. They've looked after me for as long as I can remember. Chris and Cam are like little siblings. They can be a bit annoying at times, but they will have your back no matter what. Julia is like having a big sister. She's so smart and kind and beautiful. I know Michael is in good hands when they're together."
Justin frowned at this. "All I have is my mother. So few people out there who even want to be my friend."
"You always have Madeline" Lizzie giggled.
Justin ducked at the mentioning of her name. "If that's the only friend I'm meant to have, I should just run and hide!"
Lizzie shook her head. "It's not. You have friends, Justin. Like us."
"Like who?"
"Me, for one thing. And I know Mark and Matthew and all of us look to you, not because of your name, but your willingness to be a good person. You didn't have to help us against Hunter, yet you did anyway." She looked away as she felt a strange feeling inside of her. "And you saved my life. You're definitely one of my best friends, just because of that."
Justin nodded. "Oh. Then I guess I do have some friends."
"Friends come to you in weird ways, sometimes" she admitted. "In ways you'd least expect." As a bit of a chill came over them due to the night air, Lizzie shivered in the cold and looked back at the warm castle behind them. "Well, I think it's time I settled in for the night." She turned and began to make her way back to the castle, but stopped when she realized Justin wasn't coming. She came up to his side and tapped his shoulder. "Come on, Justin. You're going to catch a cold if you stay out here."
Justin smiled. "I feel warm enough, knowing I have a friend around."
"Not warm enough to avoid getting sick" she nagged in a joking way. "Come on." She grabbed Justin's hand and pulled him back towards the castle with her. It took several seconds of them walking back to make a few surprising realizations about the current situation. Not only had she just took her friend's hand and was leading him back home (something she often never did for anyone, not even Mark or Michael when she was younger), but what surprised her the most was him. In all of the time she had known Justin, he had been trying in earnest to avoid the clingy and heavily crushing Madeline Kingston, who constantly felt he needed her protection, which included, but was not limited to holding his hands and keeping him at her side at all times. Justin would try to keep her as far away from him as possible. But now, he wasn't trying to free himself. He simply let her lead on. If anything, she noticed he was holding onto her more than she was him.
Unfortunately for the both of them, the action did not go unnoticed by those who were still on the Veranda. As they walked up the stairs towards Kingston Castle, they both drew the curious eyes of Mark, Greta, Dawn and Lucas, all of whom had cheeky grins and wide eyes at the situation. Once they had made it to the top, Lizzie quickly let go of Justin's hand and gave him a gentle push into the castle. "Go on. Get inside."
"Okay" Justin shrugged unknowingly. "Good night, Lizzie. See you tomorrow."
Once Justin had disappeared into the castle, she glared at the others. "NOT! A! SINGLE! WORD! FROM! ANYONE!"
"How about a poem?" Mark snickered.
Greta playfully slapped Mark. "Aw, I think it's cute."
"What part of no talking did you not get?" Lizzie snapped, before preparing to go into the castle. Once she heard Mark and Greta cooing, she fired back at the two. "Oh shut up!"