Matthew wasn't entirely sure who or what woke him up that day in the hospital, but he was suddenly as awake as he had ever been after his surgery. His immediate glance went to his arm, which was in a cast and being suspended in the air by a pulley system that would help the nurses clean it. He tried to make his fingers move, but felt immeasurable pain in doing so.
OW! Well, at least I've got the feeling back.
He looked to his normally functioning side and was in shock. He was expecting his mother to be the one seated by his bedside, napping while waiting for her son to wake up from what was one of the finest nights of sleep he had ever had. If not her, then surely it had to be Jocelyn wanting to make sure her prodigal brother was all cared for.
But neither of them was the one seated beside his bed. It was Annette.
She was snoozing in the chair next to his bed in the hospital wing he was situated for the time being. Any thoughts of his own well being fell by the wayside when he looked at her. His...well...could he exactly call her his girlfriend? She had asked him out on a date, right? And she'd kissed his cheek, right? What made the idea of a couple a thing? He'd have to ask someone.
Either way, any thoughts of his recovery, fears of being one armed for the rest of his life or any of the sort fell away almost immediately when his eyes fell upon her. She was so vibrant and full of life in the few times he had seen her since meeting on the field of battle. But now, she looked so delicate and peaceful. Like a drop of sunlight fallen upon a flower. Even in this state, she was to Matthew what Addison had always been beforehand. Someone he would give the world to if he could. Someone he would gladly lose the use of his arm for. She sat there, all peaceful and quiet, without a care in the world save for likely the feeling she might have for him.
He grunted in pain as he tried to move himself over to make eye contact with her. "Psst. Annette?"
She dozed for a moment before passing back out into the comfort of sleep. He was about to call her again but stopped himself when he saw just what lied in front of him. Dozens of balloons and bouquets of flowers from the people in his life who wished him nothing but the best. The big heart-shaped one had to be from the Augustines, in particular Jasmine. Another balloon had writing all over it, which had to be from Holly and Tommy due to how wonderfully elaborate the cursive writing was on it. Another that had been formed to shape the skull of his Marowak was definitely from Jocelyn. The largest bouquet, which read "Get Well Soon" in roses, was from Michael and Julia.
Matthew knew he would have to get used to this. This was how Ryan recalled he had been treated after trapping Mewtwo. But he had only fought alongside others braver than him, some who had given up everything they had. Why was he being treated like this and not Addison? Had she deflected the truth of what happened between her and Mewtwo to him?
Annette remained snoozing beside him, prompting Matthew to come up with a plan. He would make sure he knew if she cared about him as much as he did her. He was fairly confident, but it couldn't hurt to be sure. He pretended to be asleep as he reached his hand down below his bed. Once his hand fell on top of hers, his eyes closed completely. Annette seemed to stir in her chair but did not immediately react. Before Matthew could chalk it up as a failure, he was surprised to find Annette's hand slowly flip around until she was holding his. He peeked an eye open, but Annette was either doing the same thing he was or had done so completely in her dreams. He found himself blushing at this thought, but rested his head back on his pillow, his life having finally turned around for the better.
He could hear people talking out of range of his sight but made no movements. The feeling of Annette's hand in his own made him so happy to care about anything else but sitting here.
"...anytime soon?" Jocelyn's voice echoed.
The nurse that had brought him into the surgery answered. "Hopefully. The surgery was completely success."
"We need him" his mother concluded. "Just sitting around with him sleeping worries a mother."
A long silence followed as Matthew thought he could hear someone enter the room. The nurse seemed to give his mother and Jocelyn a sly response. "Somehow, I think your little boy will be just fine, Lady Kingston."
"What do you-oh." That was all Jocelyn said but was enough to make Matthew realize he had been caught.
"Awwwwwwww" his mother cooed. "That is so cute! Look at those two holding hands."
This managed to get Annette to wake up. She panicked at the idea of seeing herself holding hands with Lady Alison's son. She tried to get up out of the chair to explain herself, but Matthew held her there. "Uh, Lady Kingston?! I-uh-I can explain and-I know it looks like I'm-it's not-I mean..."
"It's alright" Alison responded gently. "You mean a great deal to my son, Annette. I'm honored to have you here."
Matthew pretended to wake up for the first time. "Ugh. Me too, to whatever was said."
Annette immediately flipped her script and stood right beside him, her hand no longer trying to free itself. "Oh, Matt! You're awake!"
"It's about time" Jocelyn teased. "I was beginning to think they did something to your brain, too."
"The brain seems to be okay, I hope" he replied.
"What about your heart?!" she slyly asked.
Before Annette could panic again, Matthew pulled her closer to him and nodded proudly. "Working perfectly." He saw Annette's face once more shine the color of a ruby. "Have I missed anything?"
"Nope" his mother replied. "Things have been quiet the last few days while you've been resting. Some rumors about a super big tournament being held in Titanio City and something about your cousin getting married, but not much else."
"Which one?"
"Christopher and Piper" Jocelyn answered.
"Aren't they already married?"
"Technically, you are correct" Alison chimed in. "But they haven't had the official ceremony yet. They've wanted people to have time to mourn and grieve before starting something." She smiled to herself. "I'm surprised you two aren't as gung ho about the Tournament that's being rumored."
"I'm more worried about Ma-uh I mean ma-uh-massive amount of work I'll have to get into before I'm tournament ready" Annette replied, unable to look at anyone as her face continued to turn as red as a Cheri Berry. Matthew just gave her hand a gentle squeeze before he too answered his mother's assertion.
"How can I worry about some tournament when I am just starting to get the use of my arm back?"
"Well, it won't be happening for at least five or six months. Depends on if Chris and Piper do get married and the upcoming birth of the next in the Royal Bloodline."
"Michael and Julia are pregnant again?" Jocelyn gasped.
Alison nodded. "This will be their fourth now that they've adopted Olivia's son. But this Tournament is supposed to be the biggest ever held. From what I've heard, of course. Apparently, it's so massive that Michael will be taking part."
"I thought the King was retired" Annette commented.
"This is the kind of thing you come out of retirement for" Matthew responded. "Maybe I'll get to battle him for real, this time."
"Focus now on your recovery, Matty" Jocelyn urged him. "That's what matters." She walked over to Matthew and tussled his hair, just before Alison came over and kissed her son's head. Then, to Matthew's shock, both made it for the exit.
"Where are you guys going?"
"I've got to pick your sister up from Jeremy's Sister" his mother explained. "She's been babysitting for us while we've been at the hospital waiting for word on you, sweetheart."
"And now that you've got it, you're just going?"
Jocelyn rolled her eyes and grinned at the young couple as she departed. "Somehow, I think we would just be intruding at this point. Besides, I have to go and see the King about my first time on the Royal Council. We'll leave you two lovebirds to whatever you want for the time being." She winked and vanished out of the doorway.
Annette sighed. "Oh, thank Arceus. I was beginning to think your mother wouldn't like me."
Matthew winced as he tried to make himself comfortable in his cot. "She's not the one you have to worry about. That would be my little sister." He chuckled to himself. If Kayleigh was close to spitting venom whenever Ryan and Addison would run off together, he could only imagine how spiteful she would be if she found out her favorite 'Broboo' was beginning a relationship with a girl himself. He had to smooth things over for Annette, especially if there was going to be something in their future.
Annette gulped. "I'm not being too pushy, am I? Not too-"
"You're fine" he assured her. "You're perfect the way you are. Don't worry about me."
She took a deep breath to try and calm herself. "I'm sorry. I'm just super nervous. I've...I've never had a real boyfriend before, and I just don't want to mess things up. Especially because I really like you and hope that you really like me and that it could work out and-"
Matthew laughed. "Trust me, you're doing phenomenal."
"How are you so calm during all of this?"
Matthew chuckled to himself. "I get the feeling I liked you long before you liked me, so I'm more used to it." Wanting to change the subject before things got too awkward, he remembered what Jocelyn had mentioned. "So, I take it we're both going to be competing in the Master Cup Tournament, if we're allowed." He looked to his arm still dangling in a cast. "Or if I can actually hold a Poke Ball in the future."
"You will be" Annette promised him. She took his hand in both of hers and held it tenderly. "And I'll help you through every step of the way."
Matthew knew he could not hide his red face this time. "Thanks. I'm gonna need you to help me."
She giggled. "Really?"
"I know a part of making it to adulthood is learning to do things on your own, but I'm still confused about a lot of things. And I don't trust myself when I'm like this. I want to make the right kinds of decisions moving forward. But if you being a part of my life going forward is one of those decisions, maybe I won't have to worry as much as I thought."
Annette closed her eyes, as if contemplating the obvious. "So we're...official? Like, I mean dating and all that?"
"I don't want to overstep myself if I have-"
"I think Holly said she and Jeremy were officially dating when-" Her eyes grew bright and her face flushed the same color as her hair.
"I mean, if you really want me to-." Matthew didn't get to finish his sentence. Annette rose from her chair, stood over him, took his face in her hands and planted a kiss on him. He hadn't kissed anyone like this since he and Addison had that moment of friction in the Iron Caverns. And he was sure he would never kiss another girl like this again. Annette would be his answer to what made him function. The same way Julia was to Michael, Holly was to Jeremy, Addison was to Ryan and his mother was to his father. His arm wrapped around Annette's waist as they continued their moment of passion. One that Matthew was in no hurry to see end, even if his other arm felt like it was on fire.
{}
While it was an ordinary day at the beach for most of the people who frequented Parlor Beach on this day, for Lizzie, it was one of internal reflection. While the boys and girls swam in the sea, built sandcastles and played games, she stood on a sand dune, looking out at the oceans as they moved so peacefully. So tranquil. As if there wasn't a single care in the world. A state of total and complete nirvana.
Her journey was likely at yet another turning point. Arceus knows she'd had plenty of those already. She had begun her life as an introvert who spent all of her time with her grandparents, her parents needing to devote a great deal of time to her younger brother's developmental needs over hers. She had spent so much of her life around Pokémon at her Grandparents Daycare Center outside of Mauville City, that she knew she would become a Pokémon Trainer as soon as she could. Her grandparents imparted so much life lessons onto her, her grandfather even bestowing upon her the honor of one day assuming the duties of tending to the Shrine of Jirachi in Meteor Falls. If this was the path meant for her, she would take it without much hesitation.
But life never moves so rigidly. For the moment she happened to stumble upon two boys driving a group of bikers out of the Mauville City Game Corner, her life changed abruptly. Any thoughts of being a trainer just to help her grandparents or to better understand these wonderful creatures fell by the wayside. Once she met and became friends with Mark Lionel and a strange but friendly boy named Michael, all she wanted was to be like them. Mark, a former Champion. Michael, taking things so easily like the seas she gazed at now. Her days with them were some of the best she'd ever experienced. Which is why she cares so much for both, even now as both are starting families of their own. Those two had changed Lizzie the Lonely into Lizzie the Friend.
Life once more took a sharp turn when her grandfather was murdered. She soon became Lizzie the Guardian. Hunter Bastion had sought the power of the Mythical Pokémon and forced her into becoming a Guardian for Jirachi. In those days of chasing Hunter and doing everything they could to prevent calamity upon the Hoenn Region, she saw things she would never forget. Her family home burning to the ground. Her grandmother being taken to Lilycove Hospital. The unrelenting and horrifying power of the Crimson Fury when Michael unleashed his wrath upon Hunter. To see the world for how ugly it could be, to see how much pain she and her friends were being forced to endure, it made her realize the world wasn't as bright and shiny a place as she thought. These thoughts burdened her more so when Michael abandoned them, fearing they would be put in danger from an outburst of his. She and Mark then vowed to keep training until they might be strong enough to reach or contain Michael if they ever found him. While she remained close to Mark, her anger over Michael's departure caused her a great deal of anxiety and hurt, which she unleashed the darkest parts of when she met Julia, Chris and Cam as they were searching for him. Even now, all these years later, she recalled Julia's horrified face when she repeated the haunting words she had last spoken to him back to her. Once she was sure of herself as a trainer, she made Mark take her around the world in search of him. They reunited in the Orre Region, where she chewed Michael out for leaving.
But it was in Michael's reunion with her that her life became largely what it was to this day: Lizzie the Fighter. Michael and Julia both asked for their help in coming to Arcana to overthrow a tyrant that had been behind Michael's dark past and to save his home. She left without another word and assisted him in crushing Giselle, took up on honorary role in her friend's Elite Four and helped him hunt down the rest of his enemies, all while keeping Arcana as peaceful a place as possible. She had thought her journey done when Michael was married and relieved of his duties as Champion when Ryan bested him in battle, only to be dragged back into it when Hunter resurfaced and stole Jirachi from her. She and Mark would come back to Arcana to finish the job, never wanting to leave the world in such a state again. She would fight Mewtwo and the Syndicate for the rest of her days if that was what it took. She loved her friends enough to be willing to risk it all, including her own life. Even as she felt somewhat slighted by the changes growing for her. Mark was finding himself unable to resist the wiles of Greta and was soon wrapped around her little finger. Michael was being dragged and torn in so many directions as a leader, as a King, as a father, a friend, a husband and a diplomat that she worried he might lose sight of what made him so special. Even Chris and Cameron were changing, with Chris putting aside his bachelor days to settle down with Piper and Cameron growing from a young seedling into a beautiful and dangerous woman that was poised to do anything she could set her mind to.
The last few months had changed her once more. But now, she felt different. Directionless. Pulled in so many ways, she could not tell what the path forward was. Cameron was dead, as were so many others she had known and come to care for. Michael needed to rebuild Arcana, again, after years of war and darkness. Mark...who knew what he was planning? It all depended on Greta and her mood swings. Chris and Piper were preparing for a wedding. Where did that leave her?
It left her with a million questions and no real answers.
Could her right step forward be to go back to Hoenn? Help her brother restore the Shrine of Jirachi to what it once was? Help her grandmother run the family business? Enjoy her time with her family while she could? All of it sounded ideal for Lizzie the Introvert, but was that who she was anymore? She had accomplished so much since her childhood that it seemed almost comical to think about those days as if it were a part of the same life. If she left Arcana, she could always come back if she wanted to. After all, Michael cared for her like a sister. He'd always have room for her. Even as his family grew larger and larger. Mark would be off to start a family of his own. Could she find herself able to be in several families at once?
And then there was the ultimate wild card: Justin Jacques. The awkward boy she had met in Titanio City what felt like a lifetime ago. The one who had, somehow, penetrated the layers she built around her heart and touched her in ways she'd never felt before. The boy who had willfully passed up being with someone as fair as Madeline Kingston just to spend quiet days with her reading books in the library or going to have fun at the Galaxy Lounge. The one who had saved her life from falling to her death while battling Hunter. The one who had comforted her after the battle and had helped save the day with Lucas and the others when they initially lost. The boy...she might...kinda...one day...feel like she may...
She shook her head. Justin can't come to Hoenn with me. He's got to stay in Arcana. The Jacques Family Fortune and all that. He's going to be busy taking care to fix what Claude destroyed. If I go...then he might not like me as much. But if I don't go and I stay with him...oh, what could someone like that see in me? She wasn't a talented thespian like Katrina, a skilled diplomat like Annie, clever and witty like Julia, vivacious like Piper or even as determined as Addison. She was...for lack of a better term...Lizzie. Would things remain as they are now? Would they improve? Would they worsen? How could she know what path lied ahead for her, when the waters of the world were so dark for her.
It was times like this when the waters of Slateport City used to calm her down. Or the waters around Mossdeep would prevent her from going too far into her fantasies or dreams. But of all the beaches she'd frequented, Parlor Beach was often always the most calm and elegant place of all. The waters were gentle, not too hot or cold and always showed signs of things that may come and things that already are. Now, she stood overlooking dozens of other beach goers, her thoughts nowhere near as clear as the waters were.
"Any particular reason you chose to come here alone and not with us?" a voice called from behind her.
Lizzie spun around and noticed Mark making his way up the dune to stand with her. She turned her attention back to the seas. "I thought you'd be packing your bags, already."
"Nah. Greta's found a place here." Mark chuckled to himself sadly. "But it means I'm going to have to take a favor from Michael just to be able to afford it. No, if my future family is coming, I won't be raising them in Pallet Town, that's for sure." He stood beside her as the gentle breeze floated around them, dancing and playing like the Flying Pokemon that would soar overhead. "Why aren't you packing? I thought you'd be headed back to Hoenn the first chance you got."
"That's just it, though. Hoenn was my home for half my life. But...I don't think it is my home anymore."
"Your family's there."
"Family is what you make of it" she explained. "My grandmother, my mother and my brother are still there, and they will always be in my heart. But you guys are also my family. You taught me all I know about being a true Pokémon Trainer, not just the breeding and communication stuff. Michael? He's been as good a friend to me as anyone has ever been. Julia, Chris, Piper, I love all of them. It'd be hard to say goodbye to them."
"What about Justin?"
She frowned. "He's the hardest one to nail down. All I want is for him to be my friend. But that's just at this moment. What if I want more in the future? What if-"
"You need to stop worrying about what happens and worry more about what's going on as we speak" he advised her. "You can't control what will happen. For either of you."
"But what if I don't know what I want?"
"You think all of us have all the answers to everything we want? I've always wanted to retire and see kids off the same way my parents sent me off from home. I found that life doesn't always go the way we plan. But I'm making the most of it. I may never retire, but I love Greta. And I want to provide for her the best life possible, as well as for any kids that may come from this. Then, you've got Michael. The only thing he's ever wanted was to help people and protect them. But look where that's gotten him? All of these responsibilities flung at him from multiple directions. I doubt he ever wanted any of them. Even to be Champion. Losing Icarus and being banished changed him. But he took those changes and forged the life of a man we both admire. He may have those burdens on his shoulders, but Julia is beside him at every step. So are we. So is Chris. So is Piper. So are their children. Whatever the future holds for him, he's willing to face it as long as we're all together." He patted Lizzie on the shoulder. "I've learned something from all of the things we've done. We don't get to choose what is dealt to us, but we do get to choose how we use what we're dealt."
"Will you be competing? In the Master Cup, I mean?"
Mark shrugged. "Who knows? I may. Michael is competing after all. I want to compete with him."
"I've been thinking about it" she admitted. "But I'm going to need some serious training if I do."
"Why sit around here wondering about what's in the far-off future, then?" he teased. "We've got to whip ourselves back into shape."
Lizzie grinned. "Okay, I guess."
Mark called out his Charizard. "I'm going to go and catch some Pokémon out at the Safari Zone. Need to replace the kind of chaotic power Mew gave me."
"I should find a Pokémon that can help replace Jirachi, too" she replied. She turned away, realizing a thought that just occurred to her and blushed slightly. "Though I did promise Justin we'd go to see that new movie Katrina is starring in tonight."
"It can start tomorrow" Mark joked. "You lovebirds need all the time you can get."
Before Lizzie could reply, Mark took off. Despite her willingness to punch him, she smiled and shook her head. "The dork." She then took out her Poke Gear and called Justin to ensure he'd be ready.
"Hello?"
"Did you guys finish up yet?"
"Yup. We're almost done picking out the paint I'm going to use for my new recreational room. I didn't think my Uncle Claude could be more macabre, but his taste in architecture and colors was downright gloomy."
Lizzie laughed. "Don't forget about our plans for tonight. You wanted to catch Katrina's new movie when it opens, right?"
"Of course I do" he replied excitedly. "I hope it doesn't intrude on your plans or anything, Lizzie. I'd hate to-"
Lizzie shook her head. "I wouldn't have offered to take you there if it did."
"I guess it's a date, then?"
Lizzie felt her face turning red and nodded. "So it is. See you at seven for our date-ugh I mean dinner date-NO! I meant Dinner!" She then quickly hung up and sighed. This whole thing would be tougher than she thought. High above her, she could hear some flying Rookidees making chirping noises mocking her shouting. Though she was eager to prove herself against them, she shook her head. "Another time."
{}
"Words cannot begin to describe what this means to me, Michael" Warren Tenton told his old friend as he met him for the first time since being freed from the stone prison Mewtwo had placed him in. Michael could tell his friend was shaken by what Deidre had no doubt told him. Of all the things he'd done, be it looking out for Addison while he was incapacitated or even paying off the debts that his wife had accrued while he was gone. He was confused about why he seemed surprised. He and Warren had known each other since they were young. He and Deidre had grown up together and even been betrothed. Why would he fall in any different category.
The Lord's Study had only three people in it, yet it felt as if it were full of life. Michael sat in his chair, with most of his paperwork for the day completed. Julia stood behind him, with one hand on his chair and the other gently caressing his shoulder. Warren had come initially to speak about the upcoming Tournament, but was now floored by what his wife and daughter had likely told him about his life being kept in the same state despite his lengthy absence. Perhaps even better than it had been? Michael kept a grin on his face as Warren tried to come up with the words of gratification he could.
"I did what I could" Michael told him. "You guys are family to me."
"But Michael! To pay off our debts, to help Dee when she needed-"
"I think sometimes we both forget just how close Dee and I were back then" the King remarked. "Do you honestly think I would have let them live in the streets or have to leave Arcana?"
"There has to be some way I can repay you" Warren begged. "Some kind of money thing or a favor or-"
"You honestly think he'll give you an answer?" Julia giggled.
"I have to try, Jules. Michael, just name anything. Please!"
Michael shook his head. "Warren, how long have we been friends?"
"Twenty years, at least? That's when I met Tori."
"And in all of those twenty years, when have I ever asked you for favors or anything?"
"Not once" Warren glumly replied. "I know I could help you if-"
Michael rose from his chair and offered a handshake to his old friend. "Your friendship means more to me than anything you could possibly give. If you really want to earn something back, even though I think you don't have to, just keep up with this friendship and we're squared. Maybe keep being a great husband and father your wife and Addy."
His old friend shook his hand vigorously. "You can count on it."
"We look forward to you taking on a seat for the King's Council" Julia answered politely. "At least until after the Master Cup is completed."
"Or if this rumored coupling of Garret and Jocelyn happens" Michael dryly added, earning a playful slap from his wife.
"I will serve as the King wishes" Warren bowed. "And the Queen, of course."
"Addy's still lurking about the library, I'd suspect" Michael offered. "If you came to also see her, that is."
"While I was waiting, I went to go and see her. But she's resting right now." Addison's father shrugged. "But it is what it is. She's into her thing about this mission to find Ryan that it's been actually pretty quiet back in Parlor Town. So much so that Dee's been asking me for another kid. We're gonna see what happens." He bowed before the two once more before exiting the chamber.
"A true baby boom" Julia laughed. "Me, Annie, Tori...if Dee and Piper get in on it soon, this is going to get crazy. Greta will want in too, I'm sure."
Michael chuckled in awe as he looked up at his wife. "Are you sure? I mean, April has to have been wrong once in her life. She could be mistaken about this."
Julia looked down at him and kissed his forehead. "You're just saying that because you don't want there to be twins."
"Two of either James or Little Michael, I can handle. Two Aryas on the other hand..."
"Well, Arya two and Arya three will have plenty of space to romp and play and cause immeasurable amounts of chaos" she pointed out. "It's not like how Arya used to cause trouble in Kalos. Besides, I think both of our families are due for twins that aren't both boys. My father and his brother were twins. Ryan and Matty. Wouldn't you love to have a son and daughter? Or two daughters?"
Michael teased her. "Let's see. One is a Hurricane. The second is a Typhoon. What would the third be? A monsoon? A tsunami? Tornado?" He was about to rattle off more forces of nature when he heard a knock on the door. "Yes?"
"Pardons for the Intrusions, Your Grace. It's Eusine."
"Come on in" Julia replied.
Eusine entered the Study with a strange book in his hands, though he seemed as if he were going to be headed home by the looks of how he dressed. "Before I return to Johto, I would just like to thank you for allowing me the honor of being your guest, as well as to study and learn as much as I can about Celebi. I am truly indebted to Your Majesties for your kindnesses."
"We're the ones who should be thanking you" his wife interjected. "After all, none of us would be here if it weren't for your knowledge about the Time Flute and it's power."
"I owe you a bit of an apology, Eusine" Michael admitted. "When you arrived, I thought you did so entirely because of Courtney's scheming. Because of this, I didn't trust you." Though Eusine seemed eager to rebuff this, Michael rose from his seat and stood over the fireplace, his thoughts swirling around in his head like a vortex. "You don't understand. That witch had been tormenting me and my family for years. I almost lost my wife because of her plots. And that is not a loss I am or ever will be ready to endure."
"I understand entirely, Your Majesty" Eusine spoke up shyly. "You see, I felt embarrassed when I found out she tricked me with those stories about being fascinated by the stories of my ancestors."
"She was certainly obsessed with them. That can't be denied. She tricked you into thinking her plans for that knowledge were entirely innocent." He felt himself tensing up in anger at all of the damage Courtney's rage had left behind. His back would likely never fully recover from the lashes she gave him almost a year earlier on Mirage Island. It had also deprived Arcana of several upstanding people, not the least of which was Cameron. Hers was a death no one would likely recover from soon, if at all. "But she's gone. And her obsessions died with her."
"Is she truly gone?" Julia asked, a twinge of nervousness in her voice.
"Mirage Island disappeared when Addison beat Mewtwo and we left. Ryan and Avery were still there. As was the statue of Elezar and Courtney's mindless husk. I don't think even Courtney could muster a comeback from the depths in which Mewtwo buried her mind." He nodded slowly and methodically to assure his wife. "No. She's gone. With that is likely any chance we'd have to see Ryan again, but that's life."
"Obsession can lead to disastrous consequences" Eusine reasoned. "But I also believe it can lead to beautiful things when it isn't overdone."
"How so?"
"Was it not obsession that you sought to seek out a cure for the Crimson Fury?"
Michael mulled it over. "It's possible. I don't try to think too much about those dark times, to be frank."
"I'll say it was obsession when it came to us looking for you" Julia replied, making her way over to her husband's side. "Me especially. Those four years here without you were a nightmare." She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his back. "Once I had you, I wasn't going to let go for anyone or anything."
"And I'm sure it was obsession when it came to doing right by the people of Arcana that you waged war against the forces of evil, yes?" Eusine went on. "There are plenty of instances where obsession, when mixed with practicality and realism, can help make the world a truly remarkable place." He looked down at the book in his hands. "This book answered so many questions for me. I've been reading it since a friend of mine from Cianwood City sent it here. But I think you should read it too, if you think there was a bit of truth to what Courtney said."
"What is this book?"
"This is the diary kept by Celina, the daughter of Artemis the Seeker, my ancestor. It details the many events of her life, including her relationship with the boy known as Sora." He looked at the cover and smiled sadly. "It's a shame what happened to them. If they had been able to spread their love, perhaps the world wouldn't be as dreary a place as it can be."
"The world is beautiful when we make it so" Julia answered, tenderly hugging her husband as he remained by the fireplace.
Michael's eyes fell upon the urn containing the ashes of Icarus. A Pokémon who's death had sent his life on an unimaginable turn of events. His Espeon, born to the same litter as his wife's Sylveon Bella. One of the few beings in his world that he loved unconditionally. One who's life was stolen from him because of the cruel and twisted machinations of wicked people. Giselle had already paid her penance for her role and he suspected that Giratina would not be too merciful to the souls of Elezar and Cassius when he got them in his grasp. His fingers gently touched the last remains of his best friend and he felt tears falling from his eyes. I do everything because of the faith you placed in me, Icarus. I will never forget you, buddy.
"We make it beautiful for the people we love" Michael replied earnestly. "I'm certain Sora and Celina did the same for each other."
Eusine nodded. "I agree as well. Which is why I believe this book was meant to remain here in your grandfather's library."
Julia took the book from Eusine and curtsied politely. "Thank you for your contribution, Eusine. Must you be going so soon? We thought you might stay for the Master Cup in a few months."
"Sadly, Your Grace, I need to continue my research in the Ilex Forest. But I thank you again for helping me reach new levels I never thought I would before. I trust we shall meet again" He bowed politely before seeing himself out the door. Michael gently patted the urn containing his dead friend, before making it back to his desk to process the last few moments of his life.
"Sora and Celina, huh?" Julia giggled. "I like those names. I like them a lot."
"Well, we're expecting twins" he teased. "Who knows, you may get lucky."