"Please, help us, Your Majesty!" the man pleaded before King Michael Kingston.

Michael's Council had been quickly called in early in the morning with a series of people who were in desperate need to speak with their new King. With no time to truly form a Council of his own, he called on some of the members of the Thirteen Families to come and stand in as councilors to him. At this moment, in the dawn hours in Kingston Castle, Michael sat in the middle of a series of chairs, with several others sitting at his side or just below him. While he sat in a makeshift throne that would have to suffice for now, he had Julia flanking him on his right and Annie on his left. Both women looked drained, but were determined to make a good presence in this meeting. Annie in particular was still dressed in the same clothing she had worn the previous day before taking off early to spend time with her husband. Below the three of them were two tables brought in for the Council as temporary placeholders. Jack Duon, Caitlin Setenn and Elmont Queensbury sat on the table to the right, while Cameron, Rebecca Eighern and Garret Fiveroux sat on the left most table. All were tired and not happy to have been called, but were determined to ensure that justice was dispensed. Garret in particular was focused with an intensity that Michael could not help but admire.

Apart from the group of petrified people who had been desperate for a meeting, a small retinue of people had gathered for the meeting. The ArcNet trio was sitting in the gallery, with Cynthia, Dawn and Lucas nearby. Also present were Annie's father Wendell Tress, Holly and Tommy Queensbury, Madeline Kingston as the Junior Lieutenant and Countess Rosemary. Notably absent were Chris and Piper (who had disappeared together some time in the evening), Addison and most alarmingly Olivia. He was concerned for Olivia, having not seen her since departing from the Castle so quickly. But Michael's focus needed to be on his subject. And he was determined to give it all.

The lead man was a middle aged man with a bushy mustache that was leaning heavily on a cane. He was shaking violently and looked as if he had just been through a gruesome war, but was the only one who had made it to Kingston Castle to speak. The others looked almost dead.

"We will help you" Michael assured the man. "But first, we need to understand the problem."

"Our homes were attacked!" the man recalled, shivering with fear. "People in masks, burning our houses and driving us from our beds!"

"What motivation could there be for such an attack?" Jack Duon asked, stroking his beard. "Remnants of Claude's followers, perhaps?"

"We know what these attacks were about" Cameron fumed. "But we're afraid to come to that conclusion, because-"

"Because we don't have irrefutable proof" Annie countered. "We need to have evidence before we accuse people."

"We aren't tyrants" Michael concluded. "Nor do we wish to be known as such. All we have now is what these people say. And I intend to listen to every word." He gestured for the man to continue. "Please start with your name. Then, give us as best a detailed recounting as you can."

"My name is Amos, Your Grace" the man stuttered. "And I ask for your help, on behalf of those of us who made it here and those...those who did not." He lowered his head as if weeping.

"Take your time" Annie said gently. "We understand how terrifying it must be to recount."

"We were woken in the middle of the night" Amos recalled. "By people in masks. My wife and I were forced out of our homes in our nightwear. My children were already tied up and locked in the basement. These people...these monsters...they demanded to know whom we worshiped. I wanted to know what they meant, and they struck my wife! They repeated the question and I answered that we were followers of Arceus."

"Was the leader a man or a woman?" Julia inquired. "Or could you not tell?"

"Sounded like a man, but they were using a voice modulator."

"Figures" Elmont grumbled. "Could have been either, in that case."

"Go on" Michael urged. "Don't be afraid."

"The masked one demanded I worship...I worship some kind of new god. A...a Grand Mister...or something like that."

Michael eyed Cameron. "Mewtwo?"

"No doubt."

"The Grand Master" Annie corrected. "We've seen this monster, before."

"We didn't understand what they wanted, my lady" Amos shivered. "We just told them we served Arceus because we knew no other. The man-the fiends set our house on fire! My children are gone!" He wept and fell to his knees. "My babies. They were so young..."

"I am so sorry for your loss" Michael empathized. "Is there more?"

Amos nodded. "They gathered us all into the middle of Charizark Town and told us that if we don't worship this Master of theirs, they'd burn it all. Our children, our homes, our Pokemon. My wife spoke defiantly to them...and they threw her into the fire too!" He went into a begging position and looked desperately towards the King. "Please, sire! Please, save us! These people are going to attack again!"

Michael leaned back on his chair. "Amos, I know this may be difficult for you to recall, but was there anything you could discern from them about their appearances? Body types? Inflections? The way they spoke?"

"No, sir" Amos shook.

Michael looked to the others. "What do you think?"

"Come on, isn't it obvious?" Cameron barked. "We know who's behind this. Is anyone shocked that that slimy little bitch hasn't done anything since you were crowned? This has Betsy Seissuon written all over it."

"We can't know for sure" Julia answered. "The last thing we want is to accuse someone who-"

"Betsy was definitely the least supportive person during the Thirteen Families meeting" Caitlin pointed out. "And she was a firm supporter of Claude during the war."

"Is this all being done for Claude, though?" Jack asked. "Jumping to conclusions is dangerous, especially in these highly partisan times."

"I've known Betsy all my life" Rebecca recalled. "She was never the most stable person. But the woman I saw here a few days ago is not the same I was friends with. She's not well. Something is wrong with her."

"I guess Chris calling her Big Betsy helped make her go loopy" Cameron snickered.

"The question is whether or not the Seissuon Family and Betsy in particular, are capable of doing such a thing" Annie concluded. "We don't even know if they are out doing any of this recruitment. This could be just some random nut or remnants of Claude's forces. Some of the old Syndicate Admins remain elusive, namely Nadine and those twin girls Lily and Lena. To pin this all on Betsy strictly because we don't like her is likely playing right into her hand."

"I KNOW!" a voice called from the gallery. All of the eyes turned to Lucas, who despite Cynthia and Dawn urging him to sit down, burst from his chair and raced out to the side of Amos. "Your Majesty, we know that the Seissuon Family is behind this!"

"We?" Caitlin inquired. "And who is we?"

"All of us who were at Titanio Park last night" Lucas declared. "Myself, Dawn, Addison, Holly, Tommy and Matthew. The Augustine Girls were there, too."

"How does this work into the whole burning a village down situation?" Elmont asked, glaring at his children in the gallery. "And why weren't we informed of this earlier?"

As Holly and Tommy shrunk down, Lucas remained standing. "Betsy's son was there. He was Jasmine's date and he was acting like a real jerk. But we found out he was trying to recruit people to start worshiping Mewtwo. All of the people there saw it and we know it was him."

"Betsy has a son?" Julia thought aloud.

Michael was beginning to get angry, but his anger was focused entirely on the vain and cruel woman he was beginning to see who was responsible for this. "What was the boy's name, Lucas?"

"Simon."

"Simon Seissuon?" Rebecca repeated. "I don't remember Betsy ever mentioning a son."

"This could merit some research" Caitlin pondered. "He might not have been."

"He kept calling her 'mother' and everything" Lucas explained. "If he wasn't her son, why would he admit it to us?"

"It could be to stir up trouble" Garret noted. "Somehow, I don't think Betsy is that stupid."

"She could reasonably believe that this whole Mewtwo thing is a realistic possibility" Annie suggested. "It's a growing fear all over Arcana, isn't that right, Lieutenant Madeline?" Madeline looked uncomfortable being put on the spot there, but nodded and remained silent.

"The question remains whether or not Betsy Seissuon has a son" Julia spoke.

Elmont Queensbury, going through the records of births of Arcana, stopped at the Seissuon family. "She does. But his father's name was removed from the ledger, if it was there at all."

"Then that settles it" Rebecca concluded. "Betsy is still trying to cause trouble."

"Murdering people is not trouble" Michael spoke angrily. "Murdering people is crimes. And I'm not going to be a King who allows such actions to be done on his watch."

"How do you propose we settle this, Your Grace?" Caitlin asked.

Michael looked down on Amos and those around him. "I am sorry to say that I do not have the power to bring your homes and loved ones back. If I had the power to do so, I would. But there is one thing I can do for you. And that is to give you the justice you deserve." He looked to his cousin. At the King's notice, Madeline rose to her feet and stood at attention. "Maddy, you're in charge. Get to Charizark Town and shut this little cult down. Anyone practicing the open worship of Mewtwo or trying to commit arson or any actions in his name is to be arrested and held for questioning. Anyone who resists...you know what to do."

Madeline nodded. "As you command, Michael."

Annie was nervously dithering in her seat. Julia looked to her husband worriedly. Cameron and Garret seemed ready for a fight. The other members of his council were quiet and reflective.

Knowing he had no other choice but to go for the throat, he rose to his feet. "As of this moment right now, I decree that the practice of worshiping or following this monstrosity is a crime punishable to the fullest extent of the law, be it exile, life imprisonment or even death! I will not let my people live in fear of a group of arsonists and traitors to the region!"

"Your Grace-" Annie gulped.

"Lady Annie" Michael replied, focused on the issues at hand. "Get into contact with Lady Elizabeth Seissuon and her son Simon. They are being charged with treason, sedition, murder and arson in the name of a false idol. They have twenty four hours to report to Kingston Castle to explain themselves. Failure to do so will result in the Seissuon Family being stripped of everything they have. Their wealth, their lands, their titles, their honors and their citizenship. And if these two should attempt to flee, they are to be found, apprehended and charged with further crimes!"

Annie seemed eager to argue, but nodded. "As you say, Your Grace."

"I'll go bring her in!" Garret proclaimed.

"No" Michael countered. "No one else is to get involved with the Seissuon Family under any circumstances! I will not let the same actions done under the shadows of my Grandparents be done under my reign." He looked to the others in the Council and then to Amos. "These people will answer for their crimes, with any word they may have. Even their lives if it comes to it. Council dismissed!"

"Your Grace" Lucas called. "I need to speak with you about-"

"We'll discuss it later, Lucas" Michael told him. "For now, the Council is adjourned." He turned on his heel and exited for the antechamber. He could tell he was being followed and knew very well which four would be the ones behind him the quickest. Not surprisingly, they came in order. First Julia, second Annie, third Cameron and fourth Garret.

"This is a very dangerous move" Annie warned. "Michael, this could cause us more problems. You'll make Betsy out to be a martyr if these aren't her actions!"

"A martyr for who?" Michael argued. "Do you actually think Mewtwo means to spare these people and won't wipe them out?"

"Something has to be done" Cameron agreed. "Betsy is responsible for this!"

"This is dangerous thinking" Annie went on. "It could be seen as the Kingstons going against their enemies for petty reasons."

"What political situation is there going to be if Mewtwo wipes out mankind?" Garret spat out. "I want action done. And if Betsy is in league with this beast who has my sister at his mercy, I want her to pay in blood!"

"I know you want blood" Julia soothed, "but killing Betsy isn't going to get Annette back."

"You all are missing the point!" Annie protested. "Betsy will use every defense she can get to make the throne look worse than her."

"Let her" Michael growled. "Did she forget where all that blabbering got Walter O'Hara? Or her precious hero, Claude? O'Hara is off in some kind of exile away from his home and Claude is dead. She can choose whatever path she wants and so can that little bastard son of hers! Now, unless you all have anything else to add to this, I need to speak with my wife alone." Cameron and Garret seemed eager to go on, but bowed and left. Annie was in shock, but did her duty and followed Cameron and Garret out. When the two were left alone, Michael slumped against the bench in the antechamber. "That was harder than I thought it would be."

"You seemed to like it" Julia commented. "I was afraid you were."

"Afraid I'd like this?"

Julia sat beside him and smiled sadly. "Honey, I never wanted you in this kind of position. It gives you that look."

"Look?"

"You know which one. The one where even the slightest bit of injustice grates on you. The look you had when you were the Champion and no one could oppose you. The look I was afraid you'd never lose."

"I have a million new reasons to protect Arcana" Michael answered gently. "To see these things being done to people and not having the power to have prevented it angers me. But, justice works just as well as prevention, I guess. We'll have to hope Amos feels the same way." He sighed. "Maybe I'll send him a compensatory check or something. Or have Annie do it."

"Maybe when she's not steaming mad at us" Julia laughed faintly. She took his hand in hers. "But for now, I think you're doing the best job any King of Arcana has ever done."

{}

"I see you have your cauldron out again" Addison said playfully as she and Galatea entered Countess Rosemary's chambers for their session. She had been surprised to receive a summons to see her before their usual time in the evening, but nevertheless rushed to see her once she had gotten it. Now, she stood and watched from a distance as Rosemary prepared her cauldron for their next day of training.

"It is time I teach you one of the most important lessons I can" Rosemary told her, a sad feeling in her words. "One that I fear you may have a hard time understanding, especially if you take after the King."

Addison giggled. "I try to. Is that a bad thing?"

"When it comes to this particular situation, my dear, yes. Yes it is. Michael has a hard time letting go of things beyond his control. It may be the one thing that kills him in the end. You may end up on that same path, if you're not careful. Which is why I've devised this for our first session today. Our usual will take place this evening. But this one is perhaps omni-important. I cannot stress enough that you need to know this." She delicately raised a small flash above the cauldron and let two droplets fall into the simmering water, which flashed in a strange and mystical glow of warm colors. "Today, you are going to learn the answer to a question you asked me not that long ago. How indeed, can you prevent yourself from intervening when you know something is fated to be? Your decision to involve yourself in the plans to capture Hunter almost got your friend killed. Fortunately, no one had to suffer from it, but that isn't always the case. Tell me, Addison. Do you know about an idea called branching possibilities?"

Addison shook her head. "Can't say I do." She flashed a look at Galatea, who's attention was entirely on the garden below, as if the egg were about to hatch. "And you, Galatea?"

Her Pokemon shook her head. Not to the extent that I should.

"It has a scientific definition that calls it, multiverse theory" Rosemary concluded.

Addison gasped. "Wait. Lucas said something about that. And I had a vision that he wrote about-"

"Your mind is developing" her mentor said proudly. "I can see clearly. Your eyes are wider. You're eager for more."

"Well, I-"

"In any case, every single decision you make has a multitude of possible directions to take. And for every one, your life branches out and follows the path it would if you went and made that decision. Even something as simple as choosing what flavor of ice cream you want can alter everything. Some choices lead to good things. Others, bad things." She sighed. "But there are also some that are inevitable. Things that we may not be able to stop from happening, but with one unalterable choice. This is something you need to come to terms with, Miss Tenton." Rosemary raised her scepter over the cauldron, causing steam to fly towards the ceiling. "Perhaps I should start. Take hold of the scepter, Addison."

Addison made her way over to the Countess and took hold of the scepter that would one day be hers. "Okay."

"Cauldron. Show us a world where I did not don the mantle of a White Guardian."

The steam around them came down and engulfed the duo. Addison called out to Galatea, but her Gardevoir vanished from her view. Instead, all around the two appeared visions of a life that Rosemary Kingston might have lived. She was seen learning how to be a Lady of the Court at her mother's side. Another scene depicted her compelling her brother Roderick not to go off to war. Another showed a young man she might have gotten together with and the children they would raise. Yet another shined with the image of her alongside her brothers, Balthazar Aced and Bonnie Novren posing in a wedding portrait.

"Look at the life I might have been able to lead" Rosemary offered. "I'd follow my mother's footsteps and become a pure Lady. I'd be an assistant and good friend to Bonnie Novren. My brothers might have lived longer and more plentiful lives. Who knows, I might have been able to see through Claude's facade and either truly rekindle their friendship or prove to my brother that they had become enemies."

"Who's the guy?" Addison asked.

"Oscar Fouritz" Rosemary recalled happily. "He was one of my brother's biggest rivals for the title of Champion. They clashed for years, but it never hampered their friendship. I always...well...had a thing for him, if you know what I mean." She reached with one of her hands at the image of the children she might have had and seemed to become emotional. "I...always wanted to have children. It was my dream to help James and Roddy fill the family. But only James managed to. I can't help but wonder if he and Bonnie had so many children because my brother and I didn't. Would their youngest sons have still been born? How would things have been different? How might they have changed?"

"This seems like you won out in the end, right?" Addison asked.

Rosemary shook her head. "We're focusing on just my life. Perhaps if we broadened the scope a bit, you'd understand." She took a deep breath. Upon exhaling, the scenes shifted. The first scene changed to the Magenta Castle falling into disrepair. The second morphed into the dissolution of the White Guardians. The third showed Rosemary encouraging Balthazar into exploring more about the Crimson Fury. The fourth, showed Mewtwo obliterating their lab and preparing to use the Crimson Fury to enslave mankind.

Addison gasped. "But how? How does this happen?"

"The White Guardians needed a new leader once my master Tiberius passed on. Without me taking up the mantle, he was left to try and find a replacement more quickly. He died without finding the person meant to succeed him. Without his leadership, the White Guardians eventually stopped being. And without them keeping an eye on the world and ensuring the dark forces didn't overrun us, we simply lived carefree and ignorant lives. Even my good brother wasn't immune from it. I was close to James when I took over the White Guardians. I advised him and helped him see things. It was because of that feeling that James was able to see Mewtwo for what he was when Balthazar first met him. Without that, Mewtwo manipulated us all and when we were no longer useful to him..."

"But that doesn't make sense" Addison argued. "Shouldn't someone else take up the mantle if you couldn't?"

"You cannot escape the designs of fate" Rosemary warned. "No matter how much you may want to."

"But you gave up so much" Addison cried, almost becoming emotional herself. "Family, friends, loved ones. Why do it?"

Rosemary's wrinkled face loosened as she tried her best to smile. "Because it was the right thing to do, Addison. I wish I could have lived a life like that. But it was not meant to be."

Addison was in disbelief. "I don't know..."

"I'm not the only one who has suffered" the Countess pointed out. "Look no further than the King himself. Which is where we will be going next." She looked down to make sure Addison was still gripping the scepter and looked to the Cauldron once more. "Cauldron! Show us a world where Michael was never Branded."

Once more, the mist around them swirled and changed. The scenes moved and spun around, showing the world Rosemary had asked. Addison watched the colors dance above her until they took more clear shapes. The first scene showed a younger Michael and Giselle meeting in the middle of Arcana Colosseum and shaking hands after a match. Another scene depicted Michael celebrating with his friends and a girl running into Michael's arms and kissing him passionately. She strained to see who this girl was and gasped.

"MOM?!"

"Did you honestly think your mother exaggerated when she told you how close she and Michael were?" Rosemary inquired.

Addison simply kept silent as more scenes appeared above. Christopher, Cameron and Michael reached adulthood together and remaining strongly knit, even with Deidre tagging along more often. A fourth scene depicted Michael taking Deidre to the altar with him and the two pledging love and eternal matrimony to the other. The last scene showed Michael visiting Jane and Jeice Kingston's house with little ones of his own, with a happy Cameron and Chris looking on.

"Michael would have gotten to live his dream life" Addison remarked. "That included marrying Mom."

"Bonnie was a shrewd politician" the Countess recalled. "But she knew her daughter and your Grandmother were planning something like this for ages. The friendship your mother and Michael had for one another was true and wholesome. And Bonnie got her matrimonial wishes. Michael's sister Victoria would marry your father, Christopher would marry Amanda Fouritz, the list goes on. Everyone gets their happily ever after."

"I guess I'm not born, then" Addison sighed. "But everyone's happy, so that-"

"You fell for it again" Rosemary snapped.

"What?"

"These images are lies! They do not tell the real story. If you do not believe me, twist the scepter for each scene to see what's being missed."

Addison did as she was instructed and looked from each scene. The first, which showed Michael and Giselle after a Title Match, showed Elezar and Cassius watching from the shadows and whispering to one another. The second, where Michael and Deidre finally got together and confessed their love for the other, showed several broken hearted girls, none more so than the woman whom Michael had married in real life: Julia Pines. The third shifted towards Julia being approached by Cassius and Elezar and ultimately agreeing to join them. The fourth was, to Addison's horror, Julia being branded and letting the hatred and broken feelings she held inside make her a dangerous fighting machine. The final scene now depicted Michael and Julia confronting each other on Mt. Heatmor, with Michael trying desperately to reach through to her, but her attacking him relentlessly. Julia's rage forced others to bow to the Crimson Fury, Michael included. The Syndicate triumphed and conquered Arcana.

"I don't think I need to explain what happened there" her mentor said ominously.

"I don't get it" Addison shuddered. "Why would Julia do that? She'd never be that weak!"

"The Julia you know and love is not the same as she was as a child" Rosemary recalled. "She was treated worse than dirt by the people of Arcana. Olivia Novren and Elizabeth Seissuon often referred to her as 'common street trash'. Piper seemed to escape from this fate because of her beauty, but Julia was not so fortunate. The one thing that kept Julia from breaking on the inside was how close her friendships were to Michael, Christopher and Cameron. In particular, it was the strong depth of feeling between Michael and her that kept her from going down the same paths that...say...your mother frequented after his branding. If Michael was never Branded, she in turn never got the courage to tell him how she felt and instead became more introverted and closed to the world. She let her friendships dissolve and could only weep when Michael and Deidre's engagement was announced. Who better to use as a pawn if Michael was unavailable, than someone who's heart was blackening by the second?"

"There's no way Michael or Chris would abandon her like that! Friendships are stronger than that!"

"Doubt and loneliness cast long and dark shadows" the Countess warned. "No one is immune from those feelings. And yet another scenario shows that, unfortunately, the events that took place the day Michael was branded needed to occur."

"Needed to? No one deserves to go through what he did!"

She shook her head. "You are missing the point, Addison. It would seem that you need a more up and close experience, my dear. And so, for this one, I will leave entirely to you." To Addison's shock, Rosemary let go of the scepter and vanished from her sight.

"COUNTESS!" Addison cried, but no one responded. She was alone in the mist, the images of the Fury overtaking her friends and loved ones stinging at her heart. Though she remained confident that these shadows were nothing to fear, if she was indeed on her own for this one, she knew she would have to go in for a more personal memory. But surely there would be a memory for her to change that would have fixed everything. Perhaps ending the rivalry between Matthew and Ryan? Or stopping the Syndicate before any of them were harmed? With the scepter in her hand, Addison cleared her throat and tapped at the cauldron in front of her. "Uh...Cauldron?"

A huge explosion signaled that the cauldron responded to her.

"Uh...show me a world where..." She had to think hard about this one. Ensure that there would be no way that this was the one path that needed to be taken. She only had one thought. The day things truly began to change for them all. "Show me a world where Matthew never left us."

The cauldron spat out a shining beam of light that surrounded Addison, forcing her to shield her eyes from it's glow. When the light dissipated, she opened her eyes and gasped. Her surroundings had changed. "Huh? Wait a minute. This is Craft Terrace!" She spun around, the scepter glowing in her hand and seeming to point her towards a scene taking place only a few feet away. Ryan and Matthew were both there, as was a younger version of her. The look on Matthew's face all but confirmed this was when everything changed for them. He looked like his whole world had crashed down, barely a few days after their journey had started. The day their brotherhood turned into an eternal rivalry. The first time Ryan had bested him.

"NO!" Matthew's younger self shouted. "If I can't beat Tori, then I'm clearly no match for you or anyone else in this region!"

The younger and less burdened Addison tried to reason with him. "You can't give up now, Matt. We still have faith in you. We're your friends. We'll get through this together."

But her words seemed to sway him but little. "Clearly, this teamwork thing is working for you, Ryan. But if I'm going to get stronger, and not let the family down, I have to take my own path!"

Addison frowned. "And this is where it happens..."

Matthew turned and raced off towards the Crafter's Forest, where she knew that his path would turn sinister when he fell under the influence of Elezar and the Syndicate. Matthew raced right past her, as if she didn't even exist in this scene. But this time, instead of falling down in an attempt to chase him, Ryan caught up to his twin brother and stopped him from going any further by blocking the path.

"Get out of my way, Ryan!" Matthew growled.

"No way!" Ryan countered. "We told you we're in this together. Did you forget that? No one gets left behind or forgotten!"

"If you need to get stronger to beat Tori" Addison suggested, "how is you going off on your own going to fix that? We can figure out a way to beat Tori and then make our way to Alchemiburg in time for the Contest Commencement. I know it."

"How are you two so sure of this?!"

"Because there is nothing we can't accomplish if we work together" his brother urged. "I used these to beat Tori. Remember that gift you ran away from? These goggles prevent those spores from affecting your Pokemon." He handed Matthew the pair of goggles. "Use these and see how things go."

"You two aren't going to give me another choice, are you?"

Both Ryan and Addison shook their heads. "Nope" they responded in unison.

Addison giggled at this scene. "Yup. I figured as much. If we stayed together, things would have changed for the better." She paused when the scene shifted once more. The group was now inside of Alchemiburg. She noticed her younger self on her knees and weeping as the crowds were dispersing from the commencement of the Queen of Arcana contests. She could not understand what happened, but saw Matthew coming down and trying to soothe her.

"I'm sorry, Addy" Matthew said sadly. "If it weren't for me-"

The younger maiden shook her head. "No. It's okay. I just-I just wish we had been here in time. It's not your fault."

"It is my fault" he insisted. "If I took those dumb goggles in Craft Terrace in the first place, I could have-"

"It's okay" the younger Addison said, though her voice seemed to be holding back something. "Maybe I wouldn't have made that much of myself as a Contest Queen."

Matthew put his hand on her shoulder. "No way. You would have made the best Queen of Arcana." He then took her hand and pulled her back to her feet. "And just because you missed the Commencement doesn't mean it's over. I'll just get Aunt Erin to tell you all those things she told the others."

Addison smiled. "You really think so?"

"I know so" Matthew said, more gently than Addison had ever heard him speak before.

The two turned and saw Ryan hurrying over to them. "YOU GUYS! I just bumped into Holly and she said that the Ball at Grandma's..." He seemed to be raising his eyebrow in surprise at the duo. "Did I miss something Why are you two holding hands?"

Both Matthew and Addison looked at each other and separated, their faces reddening. "Um, well I-"

"Matthew just gave me a bit of a pep talk" the girl declared. "One I knew I needed." She came up to Ryan's side and patted his shoulder playfully. "Come on, guys. Let's go to the Chateau. Lady Erin needs to teach me all she can before we go to the first Contests." She then raced along the path up towards Erin Kingston's Chateau.

Matthew was about to follow, but paused when he saw Ryan's look. "Hey. You okay?"

Ryan was pale, but nodded and shook himself out of a daze he might have been in. "No. I'm okay."

Addison was now more perplexed than ever. "Wait a minute? Why would Matthew be the one coaching me out of this?" Could it really have been because of his guilt over causing them to be late to Alchemiburg for the Contest Commencement? And what else hadn't happened? She hadn't met Holly in town, meaning the idea of the two of them going to the Contests together never came to be. Did that mean that Holly's own crush on Ryan wouldn't come to pass? She was trying in vain to connect the dots, but realized the scene was changing and thus decided to pay more attention. It was inside the ballroom at Kingston Castle. But this time, while Michael and Piper were still leading the dance, she was no longer paired with Ryan as that time came. She blinked as she realized it was Matthew who had caught her as the last partner.

"This has been an incredible last few days" Addison remarked happily as she and Matthew waltzed. "First, getting saved by Michael from those creepy twins and now the ball being everything I ever dreamed it would be."

"I'm glad you're having a good time, Addy" Matthew assured her. "I-I still feel bad about-"

The younger Addison leaned up and pecked Matthew on the cheek. "Stop it. We would never have experienced these things if that didn't happen. I just hope this means we're going to get even more adventure from now on." She laughed. "You know, it's funny. I never thought I'd see this side from you. But you've completely surprised me with how much of a gentleman you've been."

"A guy has to grow up at some point, right?" he grinned. He looked towards Michael and Piper as Piper was being held up in a pose by Michael with a single hand. He snorted to himself. "I hope you don't expect me to do that." He paused when he noticed the crowd that had surrounded them was missing a person. "Huh? Where's Ryan?"

"Probably off trying to talk to some girl again" Addison shrugged, rolling her eyes at the thought.

"I should go and check on him-" he began.

Addison pulled Matthew closer, prompting the boy to blush. "He's fine. Don't worry. Ryan can take care of himself."

The elder Addison could only look on as she and Matthew danced until the conclusion of the number. A singular thought echoing in her head as the scene played out like a drama she had only ever taken part in...

...but I always thought there was something special between you guys. I mean, when we were kids, he was always the hero. He was the one who slayed the dragon, rescued the damsel and saved the day when all hope was lost. And a part of me just never wanted to be left out. I knew that one day, I'd get left behind...

Addison shook her head. "No. There's no way Ryan could ever be swayed by that. I'd never leave him behind." But her own eyes couldn't deceive her. Matthew was quite literally about to sweep her off her feet in this dance and Ryan was nowhere to be seen. She knew she was probably in denial, but was unwilling to forgo more of what the Countess was sure she had to see. The scene shifted and this time, the group was huddled around the TV in the Taghwan Hotel room that Ryan and Matthew's parents had rented after the Taghwan Tragedy had taken Michael and the others away. Elezar had seemingly just finished his proclamation to the rest of Arcana and signed off.

Instead of Matthew being hotheaded about it, Ryan was the one who rose to his feet and walked off to be alone. Addison whispered something to Matthew, prompting him to follow him out of the hotel room. The elder Addison followed to listen in, knowing this was something she had to hear.

"Ryan!" Matthew called. "Look, I know things look bad, but we can't just give up now!"

Ryan shook his head. "You don't get it, Matt. You never did! The only one who ever did understand me is gone."

"How do I not understand you?" Matthew asked. "Come on, we're brothers."

Ryan growled and spun around, tears and anger in his face. "NO! YOU DON'T GET IT!" This startled Matthew and drew the attention of the others in the room, who came out to see what was going on. "I'm about to lose everything I've ever wanted. I cost us that battle against Daniel and I got us into trouble in the Flower Sanctuary. And I just know that now that Michael is gone, nothing else is going to matter." He gave an exaggerated hailing of his brother as the others finally came out to try and calm the situation. "Congratulations, Matt! You won. You won everything! Now leave me alone!"

"Honey..." Alison spoke softly.

"Son, we know how you feel" Robert reasoned.

"But this is no time to be alone and you know it" Addison argued. "Now stop acting like a child and come back inside!"

Ryan finally lost it. "WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?!"

The younger maiden staggered backwards. "Huh?!"

"You think you can just come right back and try to make me feel better?! When you KNOW that I'm going to be left out? When you know you've already made your choice?!"

"Choice?"

"ERGH! FORGET IT! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" Ryan then bolted down the hotel hallway, leaving the rest of the group bewildered.

"What's going on with that boy?" Robert sighed.

"He's taking this harder than I thought he would" Alison suggested.

"I think there's more to his outburst than we've seen" Warren Tenton said as he folded his arms and looked down at his daughter. "Addy?"

Addison shrugged and frowned, giving one last look back towards where her friend had run. "I thought I knew Ryan, but he's changed since we left home. If he wants to go, let him be. Maybe he'll come back as my friend, this time."

Addison was apoplectic. "NO YOU IDIOT! RUN AFTER HIM! MATTHEW ISN'T THE ONE YOU CHOSE! GO BACK!" But she knew this 'memory' would never listen to her. She closed her eyes. "Why? Why didn't I see it? Why did I have to be the one who caused all this strife to them? It's not like I wanted to love either of them more than I already did. So why did this happen?"

The scene shifted one final time and Addison now saw what looked to be her own future if this situation had played out. It was on the slopes of Mt. Heatmor, in the same chamber where Ryan and Matthew had once warred over her. Now, instead of seeing herself as a Crimson Fury slave being bent by the will of a hateful and spiteful Matthew Kingston, now she and Matthew were side by side against both Cassius Sinclair and Ryan now in her place.

The mad scientist Cassius Sinclair cackled wickedly. "Did you honestly think that your precious brother wasn't going to be collateral in this, Matthew?!"

"What did you do to him?!" Addison demanded.

"He did nothing to me" Ryan growled. "All of this was you!"

"Me?!"

"The both of you" Cassius explained. "His fears and jealousy of your growing relationship only fueled the fires of hate in the boy's heart. He was the first willing wielder of the Crimson Fury. It's the reason your little Queensbury Friends are currently our slaves. Just see for yourselves. Pure, unadulterated, hatred. Everything Michael was supposed to be!" He made a twisted look at Addison and Matthew. "Now, let's see how deep this well of hate goes."

Ryan sent out his Jolteon, who's Fury was already causing it to send shock waves all around the battlefield.

Addison and Matthew were seemingly not interested in following in suit. "Ryan..."

"We're not going to fight you" Matthew insisted. "You need to snap out of Cassius's control."

"You still don't get it, do you?!" Ryan snarled. "You never did understand me. Always outshining me at every turn. Always having to do better than me! Now, there isn't anyone in the world better than me! Not Michael, not you, not even Elezar is a match for me! I'm the most powerful trainer in the world. Because thanks to losing the only things I ever cared about, I have nothing else to lose!"

"RYAN PLEASE!" Addison cried. "Of course we still love you! Come back to us!"

"Maybe this will shut you up forever!" Ryan roared. His Jolteon sent a cataclysmic Thunderbolt at the duo.

Addison shook her head and used the scepter to wipe away the scene. "I've seen enough." But as she did, the bolt of lightning still struck right by where she was standing and forced her to fall backwards. From out of the heavens above her, came a being all in black. Sturdy, barrel-chested and seeming to be wearing armor, this warrior glared down at her and bore a sword of seemingly unyielding darkness at her. Addison tried to back away, but the mist kept her from going further.

The figure cackled in a distorted and ominously dark voice. "I'm coming for you, Mage!" He swung the sword down at her. Addison screamed and dropped the scepter, falling backwards to avoid the blast.

But it never came. When Addison recovered, she noticed she had returned to Countess Rosemary's chambers. Galatea was alarmed by her sudden reappearance. Rosemary was seated on her couch and sipping tea. The scepter floated away from Addison's body and towards the Countess once more. The gemstone, which once shined brightly for Addison, resumed it's dim glow for Rosemary.

"What the-what the hell was that?" Addison demanded. "That creature in black?!"

"It would appear you had a vision while inside the mist" Rosemary concluded. "Interesting, but not impossible."

"WHO OR WHAT WAS THAT?!"

Rosemary put down her tea glass. "Only you can know. I saw nothing after I let go of the scepter."

"There was this huge, dark monster! He tried to kill me and claimed that...that he was coming for me!"

Rosemary frowned. "It would seem that a new enemy is rising to the challenge, Addison. Which means we need to move quickly."

"What?!"

The door opened. "Get some rest, Addison. Meet me here this evening for the next segment of your training. We need to make sure you are prepared to face whatever Mewtwo will throw at you."

"Can't we do it now?" Addison worried.

"In the mental state you are in right now" the Countess concluded, "you would not be able to do a thing if I began your training. Empty your mind and come back this evening." To Addison's shock, Rosemary then sat back on the couch and groaned in pain. "We're...we're running out of time..."