To say that Addison was caught off guard by the downtrodden and gloomy mood surrounding Kingston Castle would have been the understatement of the century. The chandeliers were dim, barely lighting the halls. The guards were standing in positions, but in truth, she could tell they were nervous. The servants stood twiddling their fingers, occasionally glancing upward towards the higher towers of the castle. Even the murals, paintings and portraits that adorned the walls seemed to be slanting downwards with whatever shroud covered them all inside. And it was into this desolate and downright shadowy domain that Addison and the rest of her birthday guests, in particular the Augustine Girls, Matthew and her mother had walked right into.
All of the good will and happiness Addison had received for her birthday at the Krabby Klub came crashing to a halt when she opened the doors to reenter the Castle. No one had a face that she could read. Her mind was racing through a series of possibilities and events that might have happened. Did something happen to the Prince or Princess? Was there a splinter cell of Claude's coming back to harass the region? Had Betsy Seissuon and the rest of her religious zealots returned to cause more chaos? All possibilities flooded her mind as she slowly approached the stairs to climb higher towards where everyone was guiding her. All possibilities except for the one she was dreading would be true. And despite the best intentions of her trusted Gardevoir, she was panicking that every word Galatea communicated to her was in fact the truth. And if it was indeed the case, the nightmare was about to become a reality she could not hope to escape from.
Death is in these halls, Galatea's voice echoed in her head. He has come for someone who's time has come.
"I get it" Addison snapped. "I'm just not sure who it is."
You know. You're just afraid it is going to be reality.
She was about to further reprimand her Pokemon for speaking the truth to her, when she noticed the gathering of people who had come to pay their respects for they who were in their last moments. The King and Queen stood in silence, not acknowledging the new arrivals and keeping their heads down. Michael's friend Rui, Mark's friend Greta and so many others now sat in silence, unable to comprehend what this all meant for not just themselves, but the world they lived in. When they realized exactly which room they would be stopping in front of, both Morgan and Jasmine let out audible sounds of grief and despair.
Addison did not join in on this, refusing to believe that this was happening. She walked over towards the door leading into Countess Rosemary's chambers and shook her head. "This is ridiculous. Nothing is going to happen to the Countess."
"She's asked for you" Michael told her.
"Go on, Addy" her mother urged. "This could be the last-"
"IT'S NOT GOING TO BE!" Addison roared, before realizing just how emotional she had let herself become. She composed herself and pushed the doors open.
The room was lit by two candles, though both were nearing the end of their lives. One was barely even lit, with the candle wax and wick down to the point of it being just a glowing gelatinous form. The other hung over the Countess's bedside, as if reflecting the last ounces of life within the sage-like elderly woman who represented the last of a generation of men and women who had helped mold Arcana into what it was today. Rosemary looked so pale that she almost blended in with the pillow her head was resting on. She was whispering to herself as Addison approached her, though the girl could not tell if this was something she was supposed to hear or not. To her, it sounded like she was saying to herself: "One. Just one more." Though Galatea tried to impart what she thought it could mean, Addison dismissed her friend's advice and finally stood at the side of the mentor who had opened her eyes to the world around her. To the other side of the bed sat her Alakazam, who was deep in a meditative trance and floating, though Addison could sense his thoughts were of realizing this would be the final time he would get to see his beloved trainer.
Rosemary's eyes fluttered open and she looked up towards Addison and smiled, coughing weakly. "Ah. Took your time getting here, did you?"
Addison squeezed her eyes shut and looked away. "This...this is...how are you feeling?"
"At peace" Rosemary responded quietly. "Finally. After all these years. I won't be alone, anymore."
"You never were" her pupil insisted. "You have no idea how many people are impacted by your words."
"I've never done anything for anyone in my life" she reflected. "I simply helped people see that what they needed was inside of them or just within reach. Truth be told, as the Matriarch of the White Guardians, I was arguably more selfish about ensuring things come to pass as they were meant to than anyone. I thought it was my duty...to make people understand how the world works. But in the shadows of every person who has come to see me, I see the loved ones they've lost. The things they've suffered through. All of the things I could have prevented...but refused to." She coughed weakly and grunted to herself as she tried to get comfortable on her bed. "The King came to me, not too long ago. And when I spoke to my great nephew..." Addison looked to the Countess and saw that the elderly woman was actually shedding tears. "...all I could see was the shadow of my brother. All I could hear, were the loving words of an angel and the soft mews of Icarus." She winced in pain and shook her head. "I stood by and watched my own brother die. I was idle while a lone Espeon saved it's trainer from horrific torment no one should ever endure. And I did nothing...I did nothing when those thugs killed my master's niece."
"You said so yourself" Addison recalled. "You can't interfere with what will come to pass. Otherwise the future won't-"
"Addison" the Countess interjected, "you...you are the bridge between the two halves of who I am. You see things from two different perspectives. The one I needed to see the world in and the one I see the world as now. And if this is the world I am seeing in my final moments, I curse ever joining the White Guardians. And worst of all, I pity you and envy you simultaneously."
The young maiden cocked her head. "How so?"
"I pity you for having to endure what you have" the elderly Kingston weakly sputtered before again wincing in extreme pain. "To lose your father, to have a mother struggling to maintain her identity, to lose your true love and to still be ready to fight for a cause you're not even completely sure is yours to fight. But I envy you, knowing what you were able to experience in life and what you will experience after this. The world opens up for you, my child. And all you need to do to access it, is face your destiny."
Addison looked down in worry. "I'm not ready for it."
"All that remains now, my dear, is what I could not see. The future lies beyond even my sight. For it is not mine to wield." She exhaled slowly. "My strength has left me. If I am correct in my assertion, I will be dead within the hour." She saw the deep lines of worry in her apprentice's face and did her best to smile again. "Do not fret. All things have to end, Addison. Every story, every road, every day, every being. And mine is finally here." She moved onto her back, her head on the pillow. "I have been away from my brothers for so long. I want to see them, again."
"You can't...you can't die" Addison pleaded. "We're not finished, yet. I...I still have to master the Bond Phenomenon. There are still things you need to teach me, Countess! You can't say it's the end when there's so much left to do."
"There are some things, my child, that you must come to terms with on your own." Rosemary's breathing was growing weaker. "Addison, the Guardians will follow you now. They will heed your words, offer you guidance and see to your every need if you wish for it. And when your destiny has come and gone, you can continue it on if you wish. Or dismantle it. The course of your life and so many others is now in someone else's plans."
"But the Bond Phenomenon! How can I master it if I haven't even gotten close to it?"
"You now possess all of the wisdom and power you need" Rosemary whispered. "All you need to discover now, is the courage to wield it."
"I'm not ready. I can't be."
"You are. There are burdens on your shoulders that must be overcome. Demons to be fought. Truths to be known." She tried to clear her throat, but it only turned into a cough. "There's...there's nothing else I can teach you."
Addison felt herself becoming lightheaded. She fell to her knees in front of the Countess's bed. "This is all too much for me to take in!"
"If you allow this to burden you so, you will not suffice to face the Demon's Twin or the Black Knight" her mentor warned her gently. "And there are secrets to those two that even I do not fully comprehend. Only with a mind at peace and with endless determination can challenge them. But only you and Galatea can claim victory over them." She pointed towards the side of her bed. Addison turned to see the Countess's scepter now leaned against the frame, it's gemstone now dimmer than even the most opaque pieces of obsidian. "The gem is almost dead. But when you take it in your hands, it will shine like a star billions of miles away. For you have your life in front of you. With endless possibilities and hopes abound."
"But Countess..."
"Take it, my dear. It and Magenta Castle are now yours."
Addison made for the scepter and went to grab at it. She looked back nervously over to the Countess, who simply nodded weakly to her and did her best to try and smile for her. The pupil nervously took up the scepter into her hands. The gemstone became dense and black for a long moment. But suddenly, a rainbow of light spiraled from it until it became content with the color magenta, as if to not only give Addison the idea that it now answered for her, but that it now also allowed her to wield the power of Galatea. She would have smiled, if not for the realization she had when she held the scepter in her hand. She turned around and felt the scepter nearly slide from her fingers. Rosemary was motionless on the bed. The pain she was in had finally ceased, but the pain of everyone outside and especially Rosemary's pupil, was just beginning. To the left of Rosemary, the last candle finally extinguished itself and her Alakazam simply nodded. He used his telekinetic powers to fold Rosemary's blanket over her and then turned towards Addison.
My services are yours, Mage.
Addison was about to reply, when the doors opened behind her. Morgan Augustine walked behind her and her hands flew to her mouth in shock and realization. She knelt before the Countess and let out a few pent up tears. Addison put a comforting hand on her shoulder, but this only prompted Morgan to rise to her feet, turn towards her and bow. "I am at your service, Mage."
Addison backed away. "I...I..."
The procession soon filed in to give their last farewells to the Countess of Magenta Grove. Feeling herself unable to breathe with everything surrounding her, she stumbled her way out of the Countess's chambers. She found Matthew and her mother there waiting for her. She tried to get past them, but Matthew put his hands on her shoulders. "Addy? What's going on?"
She looked him in the eyes, but as Rosemary had said when she saw the King, Matthew's shadow only showed her an image of Ryan smiling back at her and of his former protector, Jocelyn Aced. She took his hands off of her and found herself in a full on sprint, her mother and friend screaming her name from down the hall. She blew past everyone, all of whom were now suddenly shadowy strangers to her. Everyone from guards to servants to friends tried to call out to her, but she found no ability to stop herself from running. She used the scepter to blast open the doorways from the dining hall to the Veranda. She staggered out into the gray skies, trying to make sense of everything that was happening to her.
"Addy, what's happening?" Piper called over to her from the chair.
"Sweetie?" Chris asked.
Addison ignored them and ran down the stairs and into Bonnie Kingston's garden. She finally lost the energy to keep running as she came across the mausoleum containing the dead bodies of James and Bonnie Kingston. With no other recourse, Addison dropped the scepter and fell onto a nearby bench, weeping uncontrollably. The world's burdens were now hers and she was horrified of what it all meant. The Countess was dead and the time to clash with Mewtwo was coming sooner than anyone could have possibly fathomed. The entire world was now hers to do with what she would. If she failed, everyone died with her. Unable to carry the pain of that message, she laid down on the bench and shook violently.
Her mind played for her the voices and thoughts of everyone she had passed on her way here. Voices she only knew from one off words and some she had heard all of her life. All wondering what had come over her. How could she explain to any of them what was now on her plate? How could she deal with the pressure of having everything in existence now hang on her shoulders?
A shadow fell over her, but Addison turned away and hid her face. "Please. Go away!"
"What's happening to you, Addy?" the gentle voice of her hero asked her.
Addison, knowing this could be the only person in the world who could understand the burdens that now lay squarely with her, threw herself at his legs and wept. "I can't do it, Michael! I just can't! We never finished the training! I'm not ready, yet!"
The King knelt down to her side and patted her on the back. "You've got to be strong, Addy."
"For what?!" she lashed out indiscriminately. "For people I can't even keep safe?!"
"Who says you can't do it?"
"Everyone! I'm no White Mage! I'm just a stupid girl who wants to be a Contest Queen!"
"That's not the Addy I know" he encouraged her. "The Addy who saved my life on Mirage Island? The Addy who crushed those religious freaks in Charizark Town? The Addy who predicted the deaths of Archer and Claude? The Addy who Ryan fell in love with?" When Addison tried to squirm away from him, he held her in place. "You are that same girl, Addison. A fine, young woman who can do anything she sets her mind to."
"And how can I set my mind to destroying the most powerful being on earth?" she exclaimed, tears stinging her eyes.
Michael could not give her an answer and simply shook his head. "I wish I had an answer for you. But the only thing I can tell you is that you won't be alone in this fight. We're all going to be right behind you. Me, Chris, Cam, Matthew, the entirety of Arcana. We're all going to be rooting for you and helping you along the way. That is my vow as a King to the White Mage."
Addison scowled and finally wrenched herself free. "NO! WHY DON'T ANY OF YOU UNDERSTAND?! I'M NOT A WHITE MAGE! I'M NOT A HERO! ALL I AM IS ADDISON MICHELE TENTON! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BEAT SOMETHING LIKE MEWTWO WHEN I CAN'T EVEN ACCESS THE DEEPEST LEVELS OF MY POWER?!" She looked at the scepter by her side and nearly kicked it away. "Ugh! Even Countess Rosemary knew I couldn't figure it out. If I can't get to understand what my inner power is, how can I hope to stop Mewtwo, let alone his little black-armored minion?!" When she realized Michael was allowing her to vent, she found herself crumbling again. "Why can't any of you see it? I've never been this. This was supposed to be what Ryan did or Matt. Or you! How does this fall on me and not you guys?"
Michael sighed. "Addy, what did we tell you when you first learned you were the White Mage? You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. I know you're ready for this, sweetheart. Because if anyone can do the impossible, dive into the darkest abyss the world has seen in thousands of years, it would be you. The girl who learned from two Contest Queens, trained with two Pokemon Champions and studied under the wisest mind in all of Arcana. You can do this, Addison. I believe in you. I always have, from the moment I first laid eyes on the baby two of my best friends in the world had."
Finding more tears falling from her eyes, Addison buried herself into Michael's arms. "I can't do this. I can't. I'm nothing!"
"You're not nothing. You're afraid."
"Aren't you?"
"Of course I am. I'm petrified of what Mewtwo, Courtney and all of them can do to us. No one goes into anything without fear. Fear of failure, fear of the dark and fear of the unknown. I'm scared of all of these things. But I also realize that a world where I don't face my fears is far scarier than one where I do."
Addison looked up to her hero. "But I'm not like you. I'm so sorry, Michael. But I'm not like you. I'm not you, or Chris or Cam. I'm just-"
"You're just what?"
"I'M NOT RYAN, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WANT ME TO BE, SO STOP TRYING TO BE MY DAD!" she roared, before covering her mouth in utter horror of the words she had just spoken. Did I really just say that?
Michael closed his eyes. "I know. And I never thought you were. You can't be him anymore than I can't be your father."
Addison shook her head. "I didn't mean it like that."
"But that's how we're both interpreting it" he replied, as coldly as he had ever spoken to her. "But if that's the way you want it, then fine. Go." He rose to his feet and walked away from her. Addison rushed over to him and grasped at his hand.
"Please, Michael!"
"I'm sorry, but I have a Kingdom to fight for and loved ones to protect" Michael replied. "If you want to run away and bury your head in the sand, Addison, then I won't stop you. I just want you to know that there are people out there who thought you were made of stronger stuff than this." He pulled away from her and kept walking back towards the Castle.
"MICHAEL, DON'T GO!" she begged, but the King did not return a look to her and vanished from her sight. "I'm sorry..." Addison curled up into a fetal position and wept. She did not notice or react to the appearance of Rosemary's Alakazam. She only spoke to it after a minute of self-loathing and pity. "What do you want?"
My mistress and I, in our darkest moments, would often retreat to places where we could meditate and cleanse our thoughts. I thought you would like to do the same in a place no one will bother you.
"Where can I go where I can be alone?"
The Alakzam gave her a knowing look. A place only you and the man you just spoke with know. A place where you can be alone with your thoughts and figure things out. The Iron Cavern.
Addison wiped away her tears and a bit of snot with a handkerchief. "You think that will help?"
I see much of my mistress in you. It cannot hinder you, but perhaps it will help you to see the light. The Pokemon stood at attention and waited for Addison to join him in teleporting away from Kingston Castle. Addison slowly made her way over to the Alakazam and touched his arm, before they vanished off the castle grounds.
{}
One of the few things that Christopher Kingston was most proud of was how quickly he could flip the switch inside of him from lackadaisical and carefree to the determined lieutenant and right hand that Michael could look to for literally anything. When he saw the fierce anger and determination on the King's face when he returned from their Grandmother's gardens without Addison, he simply looked to the girl of his dreams and gave her a knowing look. Piper, being the stubborn second half of who he was, insisted on being allowed in on this meeting and equally as determined to fight. He relented and let her accompany him into the Throne Room.
Upon strolling inside, he had to admit he was surprised at the speed with which people were turning the ballroom into a war planning room. An entire map of Arcana was drawn up and showed potential sites for where Mewtwo and his cronies would strike their blow. Surrounding the map on all sides was nearly thirty additional chairs for people who were going to take up the battle or in it's preparation.
"Michael's taking this seriously" Chris thought aloud.
"I would be too" Piper added. "This is fate of the world stuff."
Chris seemed to understand what this meant going forward, but he lamented the fun-loving best friend he'd known as a child. "I wonder if he'll ever get to lay around and have fun again." He would have gone further into misery, had Piper not put a loving hand on his shoulder.
"Let's make sure he has a world to lay around in first" she winked, before taking his hand and leading them to what they hoped would be their seats beside the large chair they had to assume was his.
Chris recognized the first man entering the room besides them and rose to greet him. "Jack! How you doing, bud?!"
Jack Duon simply smiled at his much younger cousin. "I heard you were back. Didn't bother to ring your old cousin Jack, could you?"
"I would have, but I was otherwise occupied."
Jack glanced back behind Chris at Piper and laughed. "So I see. Good to know we've got Arcana's finest here for this battle. Even the King can agree to that."
"Well, the King will be battling, but don't take me for a slouch, Jack. I'm a good trainer too."
"Who did you think I was talking about?" his cousin grinned before sitting down several chairs away. Soon, dozens of others were filing in and Chris had a hard time keeping track over who was where and when. Jon, adorned in a similar getup to his knight's armor he would wear during the Faire in Cauldro City, strode in and sat to the left of where Chris had to think Julia would be sitting during this whole meeting. Chris leaned over. "Yo, Jon? How do you think this whole thing is gonna go?"
"Relax" Jon replied, folding his arms and grinning. "I highly doubt I'll be put in charge over you. Mike may be a great guy, but he's not immune from playing favoritism."
Chris shrugged jokingly. "I figured that's why you and Annie were schmoozing and polishing boots."
Jon rolled his eyes. "It's a good thing that smarm comes with a strong Pokemon Trainer. How do you put up with it, Piper?"
Piper leaned up to Chris and kissed his cheek. "The same way Annie puts up with you."
This got Jon to laugh. "Haha. Alright, I concede." Annie made her way past her husband's side and stroked his back lovingly before sitting next to him. She was soon joined by Elmont Queensbury, Garret Fiveroux, Adrian Fouritz and dozens of others Chris could only think he knew in passing.
One he did know from passing was the only member of his family, extended or otherwise (now that he had spoken with Jack) that he had yet to speak to. And even he had to admit that the years had only done his cousin almost immaculate justice. If he wasn't so enamored with his beloved Piper, he might have thought twice about making a move on this red haired vixen right in front of him. He rose to his feet when they made eye contact. "Well, well. Olivia Novren."
Olivia flashed him a grin. "Well, well. The other Kingston."
Chris laughed as the two came into an embrace. "After all these years, I'm still that kid who was with Michael, right?"
"Well, you do look a lot better without the beard I kept seeing in pictures" she winked as they came apart.
"I keep telling him that" Piper chimed in. "But he keeps talking about growing it back!"
"My beard was my wing man when the good, righteous King wouldn't go to places with me!" Chris insisted.
Olivia shook her head, pointing towards Piper. "Trust me, Chris. With a girl like that at your side, you don't need to look like a Mareep." She then made herself comfortable in a seat almost opposite of where Chris and Piper were, speaking with a woman who Chris had to think was Rebecca Eighern. Chris sat back down beside Piper, who wrapped her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder.
Mark, Lizzie, Billy, Jenna and several of their Uncles and Aunts filed inside and all took their seats, Billy and Jenna closer to where Jon and Annie were and Mark and Lizzie seated with one spot open for the interim Pokemon League Champion to sit. To Chris's surprise, Mark whispered something to Lizzie and they moved one seat down. Chris rolled his eyes at this. "We don't bite, I swear."
"That's not why we moved" Lizzie explained innocently.
"It's the worst kept secret in the region that Michael is going to name his two generals after your sister and Cynthia" Mark explained. "I figured you two would want to sit together when they kick you out of those spots."
"Cameron wishes she could try" Chris declared.
"MOVE IT!" his sister's voice roared from behind him. Chris immediately leaped up, pulling Piper up with him as Cameron sat where her brother once did. Cameron then made sure the last chair was saved for Cynthia whenever she chose to file in. She then winked up at her older brother as he and his girlfriend relocated. "Thank you, Chris. You're the best big brother ever!"
"Bite me" Chris grumbled.
"Oh lighten up" Piper replied.
Madeline, Byron, Matthew, Holly, Dawn and Tommy strode inside and made themselves comfortable in the chairs assigned to them. When all but the King and Queen had arrived, Cynthia finally decided to make her presence known and slowly walked her way towards Chris and Cam, sitting in-between them. She eyed Chris and grinned. "Glad to see you're taking things seriously, now."
"Gotta leave some room for the fun stuff" Chris replied.
"The last time we met, you spent half the time flirting with me and the other half trying to battle me" Cynthia recalled. "Tell me again, how did they both end up?"
"You steamrolled me in both camps" he laughed, but remained happy to Piper's delight. "Eh, it's all for the best. I don't think it would have worked out between us anyway, Cee."
"How so?"
"Our girlfriends might have some say on it!"
"CHRIS!" Cameron roared, while Cynthia laughed more brightly than Chris had ever remembered her doing.
All side conversations died the moment Michael and Julia entered. All eyes fell upon the Royal Couple as they made their way to their chairs. Chris noticed his sister give the Queen an icy look, recalling what he and Julia had talked about some time ago regarding the feud between the two. But Julia paid it little heed, as she made it to her chair beside the King and Michael finally sat down. When everyone was seated, Michael looked to his younger cousin Madeline.
"Lieutenant, give us the update."
Madeline stepped up and pointed to the map of Arcana. "We'll be frank and say we don't know where Mewtwo will come. But rest assured that with the coming of this envoy from Johto and the death of Countess Rosemary, that Mewtwo and his flunkies will be coming. With just what kind of strength, we don't know fully. We can only make assumptions." She eyed Chris. "Chris, you mind filling us in on what you know?"
Chris, not expecting to speak himself yet, rose to his feet to address the entire war room. "Mewtwo has at least five hundred foot soldiers and their hordes of Pokemon at his disposal. On top of that, we also know that he had kidnapped an expert on cloning from the Kanto Region named Professor Helen Wong. We can only assume the reason for this was to create a genetically enhanced army of super Pokemon to overpower us with. For all the wins we've gotten against Claude and in taking out Hunter, I'd say our situation is not much different to when it was when Claude controlled half of Arcana. The peons should be easy to deal with, the clones much more challenging. Even more so, I'd say, would be Mewtwo himself and his little lackey Courtney." He noticed Julia recoil at the mentioning of the former Team Magma admin, but he pressed on. "Mewtwo will not stop his onslaught until we're all dead. He doesn't and will not care one way or another about casualties on his side. From his perspective, he could keep pumping out more and more clones if needed. And we can't win a war of attrition."
"So" Cynthia acknowledged, "our hopes need to be with a plan to annihilate Mewtwo?"
"Or to contain him" Jon replied, rising to his feet. "I've been thinking a lot recently. Maybe this whole battle can be avoided. Perhaps we could rush Mewtwo at once and all lob Poke Balls at him. There's no way he could stop us all."
"Not unless he kills us" Billy commented.
"That's basically what the plan would be" Cameron responded, prompting both to shrink. "This isn't going to be like fighting Claude. There won't be any prisoners taken, no chances to surrender. Mewtwo won't give us that luxury. We'll either be enslaved or destroyed, whatever he and that little bitch Courtney see fit for us."
"All of our hopes reside with the White Mage" Jack Duon thought aloud. "But I don't see her anywhere here. Is she training?"
Michael shook his head. "Addison is gone."
"Gone?!" Matthew cried out. "What do you mean gone?"
"She ran off" Piper explained sadly. "I don't think she feels ready to be the White Mage."
"She mentioned some nonsense about not having completed her training" Michael grumbled, but ended it at that. "We can't depend on Addison or the Countess's prophecies to protect us now. If she chooses to battle, it will be her own choice. Without that, it looks like there's only one way this ends." He looked to his arm and frowned. "I'll have to challenge Mewtwo in her place."
Howls of protest shot up from the group. Jenna in particular was deeply worried about this. "And how do you propose you're going to stop him?"
"He has access to your mind" Mark reminded the King. "You can't just combat him the way Addison could have."
"Who else is going to be considered a worthy opponent to Mewtwo?" Michael demanded.
"Honey..." Julia began, but she quieted herself.
"What about me?" Matthew asked. "One Kingston's beaten him before, who's to say I can't?"
"With all due respect, Matt" Annie spoke up, "I don't think we can rely on trickery to beat him. This is going to take pure strength."
"Good, because Ryan was the smart one. I'm the strong one."
"And Ryan's gone" Mark reminded the boy. "Do you really think you'll fare better?"
"I think it has to be you, Michael" Byron finally added. "You are the best we have. The only one who might be able to pose a threat to him."
"Not if Courtney is going to be gunning for him" Chris argued. "He can't take them on two on one!"
"That won't be a problem" Cynthia grinned. "I have a score to settle with her and so does Cameron. Leave her to us and the rest will come to pass." Chris noticed his sister openly blushing for the first time he could remember, but chose not to make light of it. Now was not the time for it.
Michael looked down at the map. "We have to get this battle to an advantageous ground" he insisted. "Somewhere away from high population areas and most importantly, not somewhere where the people of Arcana might need to run and hide in should we fail." He looked around at the areas in Arcana that might suffice, before pointing at the long northern route that connected Pocus Town to Terra Town. "There. It's mostly forests and fields there. If we can draw them away from the cities, we'll be able to fight on more equitable terms."
"Equitable for who?" Lizzie asked. "This battle could destroy the entire area."
"We can rebuild landscapes and homes" Julia chimed in. "But people cannot be so easily replaced."
"We'll have three separate battle formations" Michael continued. "One in the center and two flanking it on each side. I don't expect much maneuvering from their part, but we could need to help prop up each formation if needed. I want there to be as few casualties as possible, though I'm beginning to see that this is a pipe dream." He looked down towards Annie and Jon. "Jon, you gave Claude his biggest defeat in the Battle of Terra Town. I think it should be you leading my left wing."
"Me?" Jon asked, eyeing Chris nervously.
Chris smiled sadly. "You heard the King. You filled the void I left behind. It's only natural for you to get this over me."
"Chris will be backing you up" the King went on. "Piper, Billy and Uncle Byron as well." Michael eyed his Uncle. "How many of the Arcana Police Force will answer the call?"
"We've got 500 men" his Uncle replied sadly. "We lost too many during the war with Claude."
"So be it. You'll take in 175 Police Cadets on this side. Any of the Gym Leaders who are in Military Group Gamma will be here as well. I think that's just Aunt Shannon and Uncle Doug." He then glanced down at Cynthia. "Cee, Cameron. Whichever one of you wants to lead, I'll give them the command."
"It should be you" Cynthia admitted. "I may have done well against Claude, but most of our success was because of Billy." Chris grinned as Billy's face went red at the compliment. "You're the Champion of Arcana's Pokemon League and have served with Michael far longer than me, Cameron. I'd be a fool to put myself before you."
Cameron could only nod until locking eyes with the King. "I'll lead the charge, Your Grace."
"You'll also have Maddy and her 175 Police Cadets, on top of any trainers in Military Group Beta. That would be Garret Fiveroux, Jack Duon, Adrian Fouritz, Kevin Tress and Dawn. And Renee will also serve as the Gym Leader aiding in this sector."
Dawn looked to Cynthia with excitement. "Cool! I get to fight side by side with Cynthia!"
Chris could tell the thought of this made Cynthia's worry grow, but she didn't respond immediately, simply nodding in response to Dawn's assertion.
"Anyone who I haven't named is in Military Group Alpha" Michael declared. "I'll be leading this group myself. Mark and Lizzie will be at my side, as will Elmont Queensbury and his children, Lady Olivia, Matthew and 150 members of the Arcana Police Force. Alpha will also be where Greg, Victoria and Lady Erin will be fighting, balancing the strength as best as possible while also giving opportunities to help one another in case of danger. We can't be too reliant on skill like we were on Mt. Heatmor. This won't be an enemy we can out think. We have to outlast them."
"I'm not sure I'm comfortable letting Holly and Tommy battle in this" Elmont cautioned.
"If we weren't so low on trainers at the moment" Cynthia pointed out, "I'd be keeping Dawn back as well. But we're too short. We need all the help we can get."
"I can battle with anyone" Holly declared.
"Me too! Tommy boasted. "Jeremy and Ryan taught me everything I know!" These words seemed to placate Lord Queensbury, who sat down and reluctantly accepted his children's participation in this awful affair.
"For those of you I haven't mentioned" Michael went on. "We're going to need help manning our infirmaries. Jenna Kingston has the command, here. She and everyone else not taking part in the fighting will be asked to take care of mending the wounded in battle. I expect there will be a lot. Jenna, Lady Rebecca Eighern, the Augustine Girls, Rui and anyone else who wants to will be there. Those who do not feel able to participate in either will remain here at Kingston Castle. The Queen and my Grand Vizier will be here to give us any updates we might need."
"Michael" Garret Fiveroux asked. "Forgive me if I'm speaking out of turn, but there's something I feel I need to know."
"Ask away" Michael responded.
"What are our chances of actually winning?"
Chris could tell his best friend had a million things on his mind at this question, but knew he would give him the most vocally honest answer he could. "Honestly, Garret, I don't know. I liked our odds better when Addison was going to be helping turn the tide of battle. But without the White Mage...there's a very good possibility that none of us get to return home." Before an uproar from the people could sound, Michael rose from his throne to address all of those present. "I know that's not the answer you want from me and it's probably giving you second thoughts about this battle. But let me give a warning to that: there isn't a place on this planet you can run where Mewtwo won't find you if we do lose. He wants to wipe out all mankind, not just us. Ask yourselves if it's better to fight for your home or fight on your own for your own life?" When no one dared to voice another word in debate, Michael sighed. "We meet at the Crag Hills at midnight, tomorrow night. Do whatever you want in-between then. Get your affairs in order, take care of last minute business, train. Do whatever comes naturally to you. Just be ready by midnight tomorrow night."
When Michael and Julia left, the others rose to disperse. Chris knew he would never forget the haunting looks in the eyes of those who would be fighting with them. The realization of their crisis sinking in. No miracles from Ryan to save them this time. Chris even felt nervous himself, but looked to Piper and felt his nerves melt away. "Looks like you and I get to fight together again, milady."
Piper lacked confidence and gulped. "Yeah. I hope I don't trouble you."
Chris, realizing this might indeed be a moment he never gets to relive, took Piper by the hand and led her out of the Throne Room. "Come on."
"Where are we going" Piper asked.
Chris pulled her aside and showed his nervousness to her. "Pipe, I don't have a clue how this will go. But I want to know one thing before all this ends. And that is that I get to fight side by side, not with just the love of my life, but with my wife."
"Your wife?!" Piper squeaked, blushing profusely.
"We're going to Taghwan Town Hall to sign the papers" he declared. "The wedding will come later." He pulled Piper close to him and couple passionately kissed.
{}
"I really hope I haven't stepped on too many toes" Eusine responded as he looked back up at the guarded elevator. Lucas had welcomed Eusine into their group on trying to figure out just how potent the Time Flute could be, but was now worried that his fears of upsetting the King would disrupt their workflow. He already had Justin Jacques afraid of his own shadow and Dylan and Amber were always a powder keg waiting to happen. The last thing he needed was more unsure members of their team. He came to empathize with the eccentric newcomer.
"You haven't" Lucas assured him. "You just got played by that psychopath Courtney. The King and Queen have had too many run ins with her."
"If I had known I was being used in such a manner-"
"Don't worry about it" Lucas reiterated. "The King and Queen don't suspect you. It isn't in Michael Kingston's nature to mistrust before trusting. But I'll bet you can get his favor forever if you help us by getting the Time Flute to work to perfection."
Eusine nodded and went back to jotting down notes regarding the flower the Time Flute had played to. It had receded back to being pre-bloom, but it was looking eager to bloom again. Lucas knew they were on the right track, but a few questions hampered further experimentation. How long would the effects of the reversal of time last and more importantly, how vast would it's consequences be? Though he was eager to have Eusine play the flute again, he had to make sure all of his points were checked before he could set out to prove the Scientific Method again.
While Amber and Dylan filmed a promo about the upcoming Battle of Arcana that would determine basically the fate of the entire world and Corey diligently worked on making sure the Pokemon that had been stolen onto the external hard drive were being brought into the Kingston's Main Computer, Justin was also taking notes to the best of his ability. Lucas could tell that Justin's passions laid outside of the fields of science, but also that unlike Dawn's, his were in video making. Realizing the two could help each other in this regard, Lucas came over to the shy yet helpful nephew of Claude. "So Justin. I've been thinking. Maybe we could use a bit of a video journal for this instead of multiple written ones. Do you think you could help with that?"
Justin nodded. "Yeah. I'm great at filming." He rose to his feet. "Let me go grab my camera."
The elevator doors burst open and to Lucas's shock, Lizzie West finally came down to confront Justin. Lucas was about to intervene, but Justin nervously tried to sit back down and pretend nothing was happening. Lizzie had a nervous look on her face and Lucas could tell that she had just come out of the meeting the King was having about their strategies for the Battle of Arcana.
"Lizzie?" Lucas asked. "Are you okay?"
"I didn't send the flowers" Justin pleaded. "I swear on my-"
"Enough of that" Lizzie snapped as she approached Justin's chair. "We need to go, now."
"Go?" Justin gulped, tucking his chair into the table. "But I'm not-"
Lizzie pulled his chair out from the table and spun him around. "We may not be able to get another chance like this, Justin. So we're going to take it now." She held out her hand to the young man. "Give me your hand."
"Uh, Lizzie? What for?"
"Because you and I are going on a date" Lizzie declared. When Justin was slow to respond, Lizzie grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the chair before flashing a look back at Lucas. "I'll bring him back before long." She then pulled Justin along with her into the elevator before finally letting go of him as the doors closed.
Eusine chuckled nervously. "Poor kid. Love can be a dangerous mistress."
Lucas, thinking he could expect Dawn to come down and do the same any minute from now, smiled distantly. "Yup. It sure can."
{}
In all of their war room, after he had given his speech to those who didn't know what the outcome of the battle would be, there was one look Michael knew he would never forget. He had meant to speak with Olivia immediately after the speech, but she had left Kingston Castle with such speed that it had even caught the Police Force off guard. Michael took Rhaegar with him on a flight to Terra Town, where his father and Atticus had housed Olivia and her son, determined to make sure she didn't make a choice she might regret.
Knowing which apartment was hers thanks to his father's top foreman, Michael walked inside without knocking. Two huge suitcases were on the small futon couch in the living room she slept on while Little Michael had his own tiny bedroom. Knowing what they were packed for, Michael looked desperately for Olivia. He found Little Michael playing with his Eevee in his bedroom. The boy waved happily to him, but then resumed playing. Michael was about to leave the boy aside, when he heard a loud thump coming from the room.
"OW!" Olivia screamed.
The King hurried inside and found Olivia rubbing her head. "Stupid small closets!"
"Next time, don't pack anything in them" Michael responded bluntly.
Olivia spun around and grimaced. "You're not changing my mind, Michael!"
"Did you not listen to what I said?"
"Did you not listen to what you said?" she countered, coming up to him, her eyes red with tears. "Without Addison, you don't stand a chance against them. Why you would even think to still fight this battle is beyond me!" She grabbed the clothing of her son and walked outside the boy's room, stuffing it in one of the suitcases. "I'm going back to Kalos with my son. I don't care if it reminds me of Georges, but I have to look out for our son!"
"And you think looking out for him means letting Arcana burn?"
Olivia spun on her heel and made to slap him, but restrained herself. "My son is all that matters to me now! Not Donnie, not the family, not Julia, not any of our cousins! I have twenty four hours to get my son as far away from the slaughter that will come from this!" She shook her head in anguish. "Why do you always have to be a hero, Michael? For once, think about yourself and your kids!"
"I am thinking about them" he insisted. "My son and daughter can't grow up in a world where Mewtwo would have them be meat puppets! And neither can your son!"
"We'll get to live!" she declared. "As long as my son is safe, I don't care what happens!"
"You don't believe that, Liv" Michael argued. "I know you don't."
Olivia turned and went back into her son's room to pack up the rest of his small closet of clothing. "You don't know what I believe in. For all you know, I could have been the one who poisoned Julia."
"You aren't that kind of person. There's more to Olivia Novren than being like Betsy. Even more to her than someone who's going to run away from a battle!"
Olivia paused when she saw Little Michael listening in on their conversation. She leaned down to her son and kissed him on the cheek. "It's time for sleep, sweetheart. We've got to get up early tomorrow morning." She fluffed up her son's pillow and gently pushed him down onto it.
"Can I say goodbye to Princess Arry?"
Olivia froze at this. "We'll see if we have the time." She turned off the small lamp that illuminated the room and then dragged Michael out of the room and shut the door as her son wrapped himself up in his blankets.
"Even your son knows this is a mistake, Liv" Michael told her. "I'm just as scared as you, but I'm not going to let those fears dictate my life."
"Maybe you can" Olivia hissed, "but I'm not going to die and leave my son defenseless in this world!"
"He wouldn't be" Michael reminded her. "Julia and I will take care of him. Remember our deal?"
Olivia frowned deeply. "What did any of us do to deserve you in our lives?" She leaned down on the suitcase, her back to Michael. "None of us deserved to know you or get you back. Not after how you were treated. You should have stayed away. Live your life. I don't know what Julia did to make you come back, but it better have been worth it!"
"She gave up her life here for me" he told Olivia. "She was the only one who did."
"I would have" Olivia pleaded. She turned back to face him and came up to him. "We could have done it all, too. I left this dump before you came back. And now here we are, stuck in the same nightmare pit we were when we were kids." She fought back tears as she pressed on. "You of all of us should be here the least. After what Aunt Bonnie did to you. After what Julia and all the others said about you. But you came back here...just to die!"
"We don't know that's the case" Michael answered.
Olivia came up to him, putting her hands on his chest. "Come with us. Save yourself. Please! Think about yourself for once and live a long and healthy life. None of these people deserve you. You've given everything for them and they'll all spit at you regardless. Some will hate you. Some will curse you. But why do you keep trying to break our hearts and die?!"
"Because my family is here" Michael responded. "Because my future is here. And because that's what heroes do." He took her hands off of his chest and leaned forward, kissing Olivia. "And deep down, you know the same is true about you." The two then came apart as Michael left Olivia and her son in the small apartment to mull their thoughts over.