The days flew by like leaves in the wind. Arcana was beginning the slow and painful recovery process from multiple crises over the past few years. It would certainly take a long time before there would be any sense of normality inside this region that had been ripped apart by the inexorable forces of ambitious people and the Pokemon who served them, or in the case of Mewtwo, lorded over them. In just the past few months alone, the evil and dangerous Claude Jacques, Hunter Bastion and Courtney had all met their ends. Mewtwo was gone and for the first time in a very long time, things were starting to look up.

But while the days seemed to be fruitful for others throughout Arcana, they were significantly less so for Addison. Every day was rolling into the next, with little progress made in her personal quest to save Ryan from the dark depths he'd plunged into when Mirage Island vanished from existence. For every discovery she made, another was blocked by developments coming from all directions. All she had to go off on was the lone message left for her by the Queen of Arcana, who was now off with the Grand Vizier and Piper preparing a wedding for Piper and Christopher Kingston. The message was written in Old Paldean, as if Julia thought she was as exceptionally gifted at understanding foreign languages as she was at being the White Mage, which she wasn't even sure she was much good at, either. Apparently, it translated out to: "A Door to the Heart". But that was it. Nothing else positive seemed to last for longer than a few moments.

She had worked non-stop for several days before collapsing in the arms of the Queen. She did so again for several long bursts before passing out on her own in the library. She would have the occasional helper, in Holly and Jeremy, Dawn and Lucas, or even Matthew and Annette. But she would become jealous and bitter over the relationships growing between all three couples that she would eventually go to work by herself again. She would get Julia coming in for welfare checks, more often than she even saw her mother or father. The two were apparently focusing on rekindling their relationship by adding a kid or two to their family. While Addison looked forward to being an older sister, she did feel she needed her mother and father from time to time. Once again, she looked to the King and Queen for parentage. Michael, while usually busy in the reconstruction of Arcana, would also come in to check up on her. She appreciated it, but she was becoming desperate for answers. Every day they were apart was another day they lost out with one another.

"How much longer must I wait?" she asked herself, thumbing through the books Julia left for her.

There was too much riding on her for failure to become an option. She would lose Ryan again, but this time forever.

She paused on a page she must not have noticed in her exhausting days being cooped up in the Library. It was a song or poem, written in Old Paldean. She looked around the library, hoping that the Queen would be present could translate the book for her, but she was not there. This resolved Addison to have to attempt a translation herself. She squinted her fatigued eyes at the paper as focused as she could be. "Issla Blanka?"

The doors opened and Julia came into the Library, her belly growing bigger every day with the future Prince or Princess of Arcana. She moved a step slower than she used to, but she remained eager to help no matter the cost. Upon seeing Addison distressing over the words in her book, she sat beside her former pupil and took the book from her. "Ah. Isla Blanca."

"If you say so" the tired Addison chided sadly.

"This is what we found that day you had your breakdown, honey" Julia explained. "It's the best lead we've had."

Addison rubbed her eyes and slumped into her chair. "How long has it been?"

"Since we started, since I last checked up on you, or..."

"Since we left Mirage Island?"

Julia thought for a moment. "It will be exactly four months tomorrow. Why do you ask?"

Though she was expecting herself to be on the precipice of admitting defeat, Addison rose from her seat and shook her head. "That means it's been almost four months since I last saw Ryan. And I need to keep going until that number becomes zero again."

Julia reached for Addison's hand and pulled her back down gently. "Unfortunately, there isn't anything you can do out there until we know for sure where this island is, or if it exists."

"It has to" she replied nervously. "It just has to."

"I'm sure it will, Addy. Trust me. No one has forgotten him."

"Then why are we the only ones here?"

Julia wrapped her arm around Addison and pulled her into a hug. "Aw, sweetie. I know how you feel. We all do. That's why so many people keep coming in to check up on you. They don't want to lose hope. Some already have. Some are clinging to it with all their strength. But we all have duties we have besides hoping for Ryan." She squeezed Addison as lovingly as she could. "You may find some comfort in doing something else for a bit, yourself."

"Then more time will pass without me having found him" Addison responded sadly.

Julia smiled sadly. "You really do love him. With every fiber of your being."

Addison nodded. "I wouldn't have agreed to his Promise Ring if I didn't." She reminded Julia of the ring Ryan had bought with sizable loans from Michael and Julia before the camping trip to Waypoint Island that had ended in his death. "This is all I have left to cling to."

Julia picked up the book in her one free hand and read the poem in almost flawless Paldean. Addison listened and let her eyes rest for what she prayed would be a moment. When she opened them again, the Queen was still with her, smiling down on her.

"I'm surprised you're still here" Addison mentioned, yawning as she spoke.

"It's only been a few minutes. But never forget that just because we have children now, that doesn't mean our obligations to you kids go away. Michael and I still look at you like our daughter." She showed Addison the work she had been jotting down on a piece of paper. "As it happens, while you took your nap, I took the liberty of translating out the song for you. It may not be perfectly accurate, but I think I did a good job. My Abuela would be proud of me for sticking to our roots."

"Your roots?"

Julia nodded. "You see, we weren't always from Alola. I was born there and raised there until my Abuela moved Piper and I here. But our family originated from Paldea. In fact, my Abuela was born there."

"Where is Paldea?"

"It's a land far to the West of here. An island nation. But that's all we know about it. Something's happened there and they've basically isolated themselves for the past 40 years or so. The only person who might know was my Abuela, but she unfortunately passed." She cleared her throat and smiled warmly as Addison remained comfortably resting on her body. "Now let me see here. It goes something like this..."

In a Land Far Away

Where the People all Play

And the Pokemon

Roam as well

There's an Isle of White

That Brings Joys and Great Frights

For Those

Who Have Been There Tell

It's a Gate to the Soul

If that Place is Your Goal

Perhaps you should go and see

For the Light and the Dark

Though they're different and Stark

Can Provide you with all that you'd need

La Isla de Blanc

A land where the dead dwell

Where the peace is long kept

And all evil is swept

At the toll of a bell

La Isla de Blanc

Seven Pillars you must overcome

For you to behold

The tales I have told

And parts become sum

Addison listened intently as Julia sang the mysterious song to her. She heard every word getting stored into the banks of her own mental memory, though they were long deprived of the sleep she truly needed before embarking on such a journey. "Seven pillars...parts become sum...I think I'm starting to understand now."

"You do?" Julia inquired.

"Besides the fact that the Queen has a magnificent singing voice."

The Queen flushed. "Well, I..."

"If the poem is written in Paldean, then the solution to finding out where Ryan is has to be in Paldea" Addison concluded. "Seven pillars...parts become some...there must be several obstacles one must overcome to reach this fabled place. Seven of them, to be precise. If I do succeed, then parts, meaning Ryan and I, can become whole once more." Her hands folded as she spoke of her and Ryan being reunited.

"If that's the case" Julia responded gently before rising from her chair slowly, cradling the growing form inside of her belly, "then I don't think you need to be here, anymore." She collected the books and put them into a pile while Addison eyed her in confusion.

"Don't need to be here? I've still got so much more I need to-"

"And if you do, it can come later" the Queen reiterated. "You've opened the door to what you needed to know. You can take tally of your efforts after you've gotten back into a normal sleeping cycle." She then took Addison's hands and pulled her to her feet. "Come on. You need to get some sleep. And for a while." She held the paper in her hands. "And I promise to leave this beside your bed here at the castle."

Addison tried to argue, but her mind was completely spent. Perhaps a few days of rest would help her. What could be the harm? She had an answer for where Ryan was...she hoped. And if it was in this mysteriously isolated domain in Paldea, she would discover the necessary answers to lead her in the direction of her true love. She rubbed her eyes and walked away to avoid straining the heavily pregnant Julia more than she already had. "Thank you, Julia. For always looking out for me."

Julia smiled down at her. "Now and always."

{}

After a lengthy day of dress shopping for what Chris and Piper were proudly touting as the "most extravagant and spectacular wedding ball to end them all", the soon to be Professor Amanda Fouritz found herself lingering outside of the Iron Colosseum, hoping for her boyfriend to end his day of training for the Master Cup to spend some time with her. He had promised he would, after all. And Billy Kingston was never one to break a promise when he made one.

But Billy was doing more around Iron Village now. With his father having died in battle, he took on the responsibilities of being a leader to the town to the best of his ability. His time was so precious to so many people now. His mother was still long into mourning and Jenna was surrounding herself with work to avoid the feelings of grief. He was the man of the house and, like his older cousins, he was becoming the man of the family. He, Jon, Michael, Chris and Matthew were taking on so many responsibilities for those as young as they were. Being leaders in the community, strong and sturdy men in the household and loving fathers, sons and husbands alike. Her Billy had gone from being hers and hers alone to being everyone's. But deep down, she wouldn't have him any other way. After nearly seeing him down in battle, she was thankful to be in the same dimension as him for once.

While she sat out on the bench, the cold mountain winds whipping at her, she found herself wondering what the future held in store for her. Yes, being the Pokemon Professor that succeeded both of her mentors in Maria and Julia Pines was obviously in the cards. But what happened after that? Would she stay in her position or be right off and naming her successor as quickly as Julia had been? She had dreamed of being a Professor as soon as she took Professor Maria's class as a twelve year old girl, soon after Giselle's regime had come crumbling down. While other girls her age were focusing on being Queen of Arcana to supplant Deidre Tenton or chasing after the goal of being the Pokemon League Champion, she was following in the footsteps of Julia in aspiring for taking on the role of learning all she could about Pokemon and the world they shared. It was a goal she had done everything to reach...and once she had passed all of her tests, she would become one of the youngest to ever don the mantle. Not the youngest, as Lucas would take that role when Professor Rowan retired. But one of a few was more than enough for her.

But after that? Where did her life go from there? Of course, her friends would be there to help and support her. Julia and Piper were just as much her family as Adrian or her parents were. Michael and Chris? The big brothers she had always wanted. Jenna was that sister she, as an only child, had always dreamed of having. They would be by her side, loving and supporting her throughout any future that might be there for her.

And then there was Billy. Oh, how she loved him.

When Michael had recommended they walk together as a part of the wedding party, she had at first been bemused. To even be a part of the ceremony was honor enough, but she knew so little about Billy that it was like walking with a complete stranger. Within forty eight hours of their first meeting and quasi-date at Michael and Julia's wedding, she was sure she knew everything she would ever need to know about him. They had talked, nonstop, for the entire time they were together at the wedding. He was undoubtedly handsome, a trait shared by most every member of the Kingston Family. But he was surprisingly down to earth. No heroic complexes like Michael, no grand theatrics like Jon and certainly far from the womanizer Chris used to be. Someone who had very simply taste, simple dreams and was more than content to be Iron Mountain's Gym Leader for the rest of his life the same way she was to be Professor. They had a natural chemistry between each other and hopes for a lengthy future between them were as bright as ever.

However, things were changing, and she feared they'd be for the worst. Her time as a hostage on Mirage Island had drained Billy mentally and her in every other way. They had been apart for so long, how could she know for sure if they would last? Had they grown apart? Was she too clingy to him upon returning? Did he find someone else while they were separated? He seemed relieved to see her again, but was that out of general empathy? How could she be sure things would be the same between them on their first date since her abduction almost a year ago?

Her thoughts would be put on hold as the doors to Iron Colosseum opened and a weary and drained Billy sauntered his way out, heaving a sigh of fatigue. Amanda could tell that he had just undergone some of the most rigorous training he'd ever put himself through. He leaned hard against the door as it closed. "If this is the kind of training, I have to do to keep up with those two..."

Amanda shuffled forward. "If you need, we can reschedule for another day, I guess."

Billy's head perked up at the sound of her voice and he suddenly mustered the strength to stand on his own. "You kidding? I've been looking forward to this for a long time." He raced over to her and picked her up into his arms. "And I wouldn't trade it for all the titles and roles the League could offer."

Amanda smiled. "Well that's good to know." She hugged Billy back until he put her back on the ground beside him. "What's made you try to train this hard?"

"The Master Cup" Billy explained.

"Everyone's gushing about that, these days" she remarked playfully. "You really want to win?"

Billy shook his head. "Nah. I don't have a chance in hell against those guys." The two glanced upwards, where banners of the participants of the Master Cup now hung, shining in the sunlight. Cynthia, Leon, Lance, Steven Stone, Michael, Wes and so many others. "When I look at those guys, they're gods compared to me. I know I don't have a shot against them if it came down to it. But, if I do get the chance, I want to show them that we Gym Leaders of Arcana aren't slouches."

"Michael actually is competing?"

"He said he has some unfinished business" her boyfriend explained. "I don't know who he was speaking about or why he said that, but he's going to give it everything he has."

"Maybe he wants to earn the throne he sits on instead of being given it?" she suggested.

"Who knows?" He then wrapped his arm around hers. "But enough about training and the Master Cup and all of that. I think it's time you and I went on that date of ours."

Amanda nodded. "Where did you have in mind?"

Billy paused for a moment but answered with the same gentle and caring voice he always had. "I was figuring we'd get some ice cream. You know, like on that date we had during the meteor shower?"

"Okay."

Arm in arm, the two began walking their way to the Ice Cream Shoppe they always frequented. But the closer they got, the more she realized Billy was holding back on her. He couldn't look her in the eyes or didn't want to. In fact, he was squeezing his eyes shut as if fighting off an urge to do something. Before she could probe him on what might be bothering him, he blurted it out.

"I never thought this day would come again" he choked out.

"What day?"

"The day we'd get to do this again" he whispered. "I was so lost when you weren't here. Every single day you weren't here, I felt like a part of me was dying off with you. I was ready to give my life to protect Arcana until I came to and saw you sitting over me." He gripped her arm tightly. "Sometimes, I may do this. If I hurt you, I'm sorry. But I just need to keep telling myself you're here."

She rested her head on his shoulder as they came to sit on a bench near their destination. "I'm here, Billy. And I'm not going anywhere. Not now and not for a long time."

"Well, that's good to know" he answered sadly. "Because so much has changed already. I don't think I'd be able to handle you going, as well." He looked away, shaking his head in sorrow.

"Where will your mother keep your dad's urn?"

Billy cleared his throat. "She's going to ask Michael and Julia if she could leave it inside the mausoleum with Grandma and Grandpa. I would prefer to have it somewhere close, like the parlor or something, but Mom seems to feel like he was looking down on us, and not in the good way. Jenna gets both our sides but did tell me it is Mom's choice in the long run. I'm sure Michael will accommodate her."

"I know from Shannon that Jeice has been insistent on keeping Cameron's urn in their home in Titanio. And that Tori and Greg are setting up a special shelf above their fireplace in Terra Town just for Big Mike. Madeline and Jon agreed to let Chief Byron's go off into the ocean. I wonder what will become of Olivia's. Her Majesty didn't exactly say anything about it the last time we spoke." She imagined that it would go right beside Icarus's above the fireplace in the Lord's Study. Apparently, the two had become closer since Olivia returned to Arcana, but that was all she knew. Julia didn't seem eager to speak much on the matter and only added that she would love Olivia's son like her own once she and Michael legally adopted him.

Billy squeezed her arm again. "Sorry, I-"

Amanda leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "It's okay, Billy. I'm here. And I love you."

"We need to stop being so mopey" Billy declared, though she was sure it was more of a self-proclamation than one for the both of them. "Come on, let's think of something more positive. Hey, has Piper said anything about you being a part of the Wedding Party?"

Amanda nodded. "She wanted it to be a small wedding, but apparently Chris wants to outdo Michael and Julia's. She asked me to be her Maid in Waiting, the second in line to be the Maid of Honor if Julia is too pregnant to stand for long."

"That's weird" Billy laughed. "Chris asked the same thing of me, to be the second in line in case Michael can't oblige him."

"I can't see why they couldn't" she replied. "But I'll take the honor either way. We're such good friends anyway."

"After the Wedding comes the Master Cup" Billy commented. "Then-"

"Then I think it will be our turn" Amanda brightly replied.

Billy blushed for a moment before nodding. "Sure. Jon, Michael, Kat, Tori and Chris will already be married. We have to go next before someone else steals our thunder."

"We've got plenty of time to plan the nuptials" she replied, tugging at her boyfriend's arm. "Let's go get that Ice Cream. My taste buds have been dying for some."

{}

"And what do you want me to say to the eight hundred people downstairs expecting the ceremony to begin soon?" Erin Kingston cried as her son sprinted upstairs towards where the Wedding Party was supposed to be dressing. The day of the Wedding had come, and the entirety of Kingston Castle was on pins and needles. Everything had gone so smoothly to this point, but suddenly the King found himself in a bind. Apparently, the bride-to be was having a breakdown upstairs and had locked herself in her private bathroom. With more guests expected than even his own mother knew, the last thing he needed was for either the bride or groom to cause a scene. Though he expected Chris to be the one who did so, he was worried when he got word from his sister and Jenna that it was in fact Piper causing problems.

"Stall them for a bit" he replied briskly. "Show them stuff about the family lineage."

"You think I paid attention to all of that?"

"Just do it!" he snapped.

Once Erin had gone into the Castle Chapel to settle down the growing crowd sizes, Michael continued his race towards where Piper was holing herself up. Servants frantically scurried about the halls with things they hoped would settle her, only to be rejected and forced to return with glasses of wine, trays of food, tissues and other things they hoped could appease her. Michael rolled his eyes at the chaos in front of him. Evidently, no one knew Piper as well as he did. Not even her husband, who was only being kept away by guards Julia placed to ensure no one disturbed the Bridesmaids.

Chris, decked out in an all-black tuxedo and dressed up as finely as Michael had ever remembered, was lambasting the guards keeping him from seeing his wife. "You do realize I'm the groom in all this, right?"

"Sorry, Sir" the lead Guard replied. "The Queen's orders."

"Please stand aside" the second added, though he froze at the sight of his King approaching.

"I am going to see my wife! She needs me!"

"The Groom isn't supposed to see the bride before her wedding" Michael called over. "Bad luck and all that."

Chris folded his arms. "Get these goons to move!"

"You're getting yourself worked up over nothing" Michael told his best friend. "Go downstairs and talk to your father. I'm sure he can soothe your nerves for the moment."

"My nerves are already shot, Mike!" Chris turned away, his face pale. "What if she's...what if she's having doubts?"

Michael shook his head and put his arm around his cousin. "Bud, Piper adores you. She loves you. She's been crushing on you for years. There's no way in all of the Realm of Arceus that she's losing faith that you were the one for her." He patted Chris on the back. "Go on. Go see your Dad and make sure his ceremony speeches are ready. We'll handle your wife." He then turned his cousin aside and walked past the guards, who did not dare to prevent him from passing alone.

One could hear a pin drop the closer he got to the Bride's dressing room. No one was uttering a word, perhaps horrified of what Piper might say or do that could torpedo the entire event. He knocked on the door in the coded signal that his cousin had given him. After Jenna quickly pulled him inside, he saw that the entire Bridal Party had been locked out of the bathroom. While Julia attempted to calm her cousin down, Victoria, Deidre, Amanda, Jenna and Katrina all fidgeted nervously.

"What the heck is going on here?" Michael demanded. "We've got hundreds of people downstairs."

"Ask her" Katrina replied curtly, pointing towards the bathroom door. "She won't talk to anyone. Even your wife can't get anything from her."

"What do we do if she refuses to come out at all?" Deidre worried.

"I'm guessing that's why we called him in, right?" Jenna asked, pointing to Michael.

"You expect she'll talk to me?"

"Who else can we ask at this point?" Amanda somberly spoke. "She's already refused to see Chris or any of us."

Michael sighed. "I'll do what I can. But she can be stubborn."

"Oh trust me" his wife chimed in, "we know!"

"Stop making fun of me!" Piper cried from the other side of the locked door.

"Piper, Michael is coming" Victoria called. "Please say something to him."

There was a long moment of silence, until Piper answered. "Michael? Are you really there?"

"Of course I am" Michael answered her gently. "Sweetie, is everything okay?"

"Will you come out and speak to us?" Jenna pleaded. "Come on, Piper."

"Michael only!" she barked.

All of the women's eyes fell on Michael, who brushed past his pregnant wife and rapped on the door. Before he could even say it was him, the door opened with just enough room for Piper's arm to grab Michael and drag him inside. He was thrust against the wall as Piper shut the door behind her and locked it tight. Michael was astonished with Piper's attire. She was hardly prepared at all. She was wearing her underclothing as well as her crinoline she would wear to special occasions during the Contest Season, but nothing else. No gown, no makeup and she looked as if she were about to get sick.

"Pipe, what's going on with you?"

Piper fell onto the sink and wept. "I can't do it! I can't get married!"

Michael felt a lump in his throat. "Of course you can, honey."

"No, I can't! I can't do anything! The wedding is ruined!"

"Chris will marry you if you look like a princess or not" he assured her. "Don't you love him?!"

Piper leaped up and started driving on him with slaps. "HOW DARE YOU TELL ME I DON'T LOVE HIM?! HE IS THE GREATEST-!"

"Okay, I get it!" he snapped before catching her hand. "So Chris isn't the issue. Then what is?"

The bride sighed and pulled him over towards the toilet, gently pushing him to sit down while she nervously fluttered about the room. "I can't marry, because my father is dead."

Michael raised an eyebrow at this. "Your father? Piper, you never knew your father."

"Way to rub it in! Why would I get to know my father when you got a father and a father figure in yours?!"

"How does your father not being here in any way impact your marriage?"

"Because a Bride cannot walk herself down the aisle!" she exclaimed. "That's how! I can't even ask Jeice to do it because he's going to be officiating it." She pointed a finger at a book near the bathtub. "See for yourself in that damn book! A bride must be walked down the aisle by a father or guardian standing for him! My father is dead and Big Mike is gone too, even though he didn't take care of me as much as he did Julia. I don't have a father figure I can depend on, and that's why I can't get married." She put her hands to her face and let out a whimper. "Chris, I'm so sorry."

Michael sat beside Piper and shook his head. She wouldn't face him and only let her tears fall to indicate answers to any questions or comments he may have. He was beginning to think this couldn't be possible, until he realized the part she had missed. A part even he forgot was still relevant despite all signs pointing elsewhere. "Piper. Do you remember when I came back to Arcana and beat Giselle?"

She nodded but kept her face down.

"I didn't want to stay. I beat Giselle, redeemed myself in the eyes of all of these socialites and I avenged my Aunt Jane. But Arcana held too many painful memories for me. Icarus died here, my family turned their backs on me and all I wanted to do was leave this place behind me and move on with my life. At that point, not even Julia was going to convince me to stay."

"Lady Bonnie did" Piper chimed in. "Everyone knows she tricked-"

"Only partially true" Michael admitted. "Yes, my Grandmother did have a way of twisting things to get what she wanted. She was a master politician. But she wasn't the reason I chose to stay." He sighed as the events of a deeply emotional day he refused to acknowledge before came crawling back to him. "I was starting to get fed up with everyone trying to pretend that my four years of exile didn't happen. I wanted to lash out at everyone from my family who came up to me and never so much as apologized for what they put me through. I was hellbent on leaving Arcana behind and never setting foot in this nightmare pit again. until I realized there was one person in the world who never did give up on me. One person who I needed to see before I left. And I found that person, hiding in the hidden bedroom in my uncle's home in Parlor Town."

Piper perked her head up at this. "Me."

"When you saw me" Michael recalled sadly, "you started crying immediately. You latched onto me like a baby to their parent and I don't think you stopped crying for hours. All of that anger inside of me melted away as we just sat there, and you hugged me. Half of what you were saying was incomprehensible, but one thing always stuck out to me. You blamed yourself for why I left and I was just so floored, I couldn't answer you. How could it ever have been a five-year old's fault that all those things happened? But then I realized the truth. We lived in a world where horrific things happened to children, only for them to be blamed or take blame for things out of their power. I just sat there and told you I was here, holding you while I realized there truly was no way for me to leave. Especially...especially when I heard you say those words over and over."

"What words?"

"Please don't leave me again" Michael repeated sadly. "And I did my best not to, Piper. My hardest, in fact. Not until I knew you were a grown woman who could take care of herself." Piper, her eyes leaking more tears than Michael was sure makeup could cover, raced over to him and hugged him. Michael did as he had done before and held her there. "All your life, I've been there for you. All your life, I've been the shoulder for you to cry on, the ears that listened, the heart the welcomed, the hands that held." He chuckled to himself. "Julia and I may like to think of Addy and the twins as our kids, but you were my first real parenting experience in life."

"I was?"

"Who got your kite out of the tree? Who encouraged you to become a Queen of Arcana? Who taught you all he knew about sophisticated culture? Who danced with you at the ball? Who saved your life in Taghwan Hall?"

Piper nodded as she let tears fall on Michael's tuxedo. "You."

Michael picked her back up and helped her back to her feet. "Piper, whether you like it or not, I've been your father-figure your entire life. A brother, a mentor, a friend. Someone who is always there for you when you needed me. And I've always loved you." He bowed respectfully. "It would be my honor to walk you down the aisle to your wedding, if you'll have me."

The King hardly had enough time to react as Piper rushed at him and hugged him excitedly. "Thank you, Michael! Thank you so much!" She planted a kiss on his cheek before realizing she was not even remotely prepared for her wedding. "Omigosh! I have to get ready! Chris needs me to be the Fairy Tale bride walking down there!" She quickly opened the door and playfully shoved the King out into the dressing room.

"Glad to help" he replied teasingly.

"Did you get through to her?" his sister asked.

Michael corralled the women into a huddle. "Okay, we have a very limited amount of time. Who is taking care of her makeup?"

Katrina, Victoria and Deidre raised their hands. "That would be us."

"We're in charge of making sure the flower petals are thrown down properly" Amanda added, gesturing to herself and Jenna.

Michael laughed at this. "Arya is going to be dumping them all over the walkway, so good luck with that." He looked to the women in charge of Piper's makeup. "We've only got a few minutes. I need you three to use every trick of the trade you know about makeup to turn her into the perfect bride. That's what she wants. And that's what she'll get."

"Leave this to the professional" Katrina grinned. "I could turn a Jynx into the most beautiful thing in existence if given the chance."

"It's not like I wasn't a Contest Queen before" Deidre rolled her eyes. "We'll all help. Kat."

"Jenna and Amanda" Michael went on, "Arya is yours to look after. Make sure she does as you tell her."

"Good luck" Julia added. "She has a hard time listening to us, let alone two aunts."

"Oh goodie" Amanda groaned as she and Jenna headed out into the halls.

"Honey, I need you to help Little Michael down the aisle today."

Julia seemed surprised by this. "Me? But aren't we supposed to-"

"I'm the one taking the bride down the aisle" Michael informed his wife. "I need you to make sure the rings get there. James will be with Anthony and my mother, so there's no need to worry about him." I hope. "Piper needs me to step up for this. And I guess now I'm going to have to expand on my Best Man speech and add some nice things for the bride."

Julia gave him a loving smile. "How did we ever get someone like you in our lives?"

"Luck of the draw, I guess?"

She giggled. "You can say that a hundred times over." She looked down at her growing belly and then took her husband's hand. "Soon, very soon, our family will be complete."

"For a few months at your rate."

Julia leaned up and pecked him on the cheek. "Okay, you stay here and make sure Piper is ready to go soon. I'll help Amanda and Jenna corral the kids."

"Can someone let Chris know everything will be going down on time?"

"I'll let him know" she added before leaving him behind.

{}

The Castle Chapel was filled from top to bottom with more people than had ever been assembled there before. So much so that the upper galleries, which were usually reserved for those with sight impairments were also filled to the brim with wedding guests. Hundreds of them, from rich to poor, Arcana to Orre, young and old had all gathered for what Chris was promising would be the Wedding of the Millenium. If only he could keep himself calm about all of this.

His father, who was taking up his brother Byron's role as an officiator for weddings, stood by his side encouraging his eldest child to remain calm. "Relax, son. It's going to be fine."

"I'll believe that when I see her walking down that aisle" Chris replied.

"Julia assured us she'll be here on time" Jeice added. "Just keep calm and focus on the future. That Master Cup Tournament starts soon, right?"

Chris nodded. "Two days. Piper and I can't honeymoon until after the Tournament ends."

Jeice put his hand on his son's shoulder. "If only she were here to see you off."

"Cam hated weddings, you know that."

His father chuckled. "I meant your mother, Chris."

"Oh."

"It was her dream to see you both reach adulthood. You, Cam and even Michael. I just hope she's up there smiling down at you."

Recalling what his sister had said long ago about their encounter with Arceus in the Celestial Plains, the groom nodded. "I'm sure she is. Cam is too." He glanced out into the crowds and his eyes found Cynthia. She was seated alongside the other Regional Champions in a pew of their own. She seemed somber and silently studied the people around her. Upon making eye contact with him, Sinnoh's Champion gave him her best smile and waved before lowering her head once more. This could have been her and Cameron's wedding too. If only.

The rest of the chapel had faces both very familiar and unfamiliar to him. Mark and Lizzie sat in a pew alongside their dates in Greta and Justin Jacques respectively. Beside them sat his stepmother, his stepsister Renee (who elected not to take part in the wedding out of respect for Cameron) his Aunt Erin, her husband Anthony, Prince James fussing in his grandparent's arms, his Uncle Doug and Aunt Janine. Rounding out the first row were Jon and Annie, with Jon in a wheelchair and giving him a thumbs up and a heavily pregnant Annie waving towards him. The second row contained his Aunt Joy, his Aunt Alison, Kayleigh, his Aunt Lauren as well as the Queensbury family, Matthew and Annette. Jocelyn and Garret were in the third row, alongside the Lockhart Family, a fatigued Addison, Morgan Augustine, and a few others he had to assume were the dates of those in the wedding party.

He would not have time to properly identify them, though. The doors to the chapel opened and Chris could feel his heart tense up. Especially when he saw how the order was being messed up. With Jon and Annie unable to participate physically as part of the Wedding Party and Madeline taking on security duties until the ceremony ended, it was supposed to be the King and Queen leading the way. But Julia was walking up the aisle with a different Michael, one hand at her side and the other leading her adopted son with her. Little Michael was carrying the wedding rings, which had been carefully tied to the pillow to ensure no runaway jewelry would happen. The boy stumbled a bit as he tried to keep pace with his mother before they stopped in front of the altar. Julia whispered something to her son and the boy raced over to his side and stood in front of him.

Chris reached over and caught the Maid of Honor's hand. "What's going on?" he whispered nervously. "Where's Mike?"

"Don't worry" she assured him, squeezing his hand before letting go and standing at her own assigned place.

"I have the rings, mister Uncle Chris" the boy chimed.

Doing his best to distract himself from the events unfolding, Chris tussled the boy's hair. "And I appreciate that, champ. Keep an eye on them for me, would ya?"

Carson and Katrina came up the aisle next, with his jolly brother in-law shaking his hand firmly and Katrina doing her best to make her stepbrother look presentable before wrapping her arms around him and kissing his cheek. Once they had parted, Katrina took up her position next to Julia and Carson next to him. Daniel was once again paired with a cousin as he led Jenna up to the altar next. Jenna and Daniel each took their turn to hug the groom and offer congratulations before taking their positions. Victoria and Greg came next and followed suit, followed by Deidre and Warren. Chris had wanted to include more in their wedding party, such as Matthew, Addison, Jocelyn and more, but had to be limited by those who could and couldn't participate. Even Mark and Lizzie turned down offers, content to dress more casually in the audience while the others were all, in Lizzie's words, "dolled up".

Chris was even more confused when he noticed Amanda and Billy walking together, with Princess Arya in her uncle's arms sprinkling flower petals down behind them. If Michael was not with his daughter, where the heck was his Best Man when he needed him? Arya, upon dropping the final petals she had in her basket, squirmed out of Billy's arms and raced for her mother. Julia held her daughter beside her as Amanda and Billy both came to him and offered their happiness.

"I'd be happier if I knew where my wife or Michael were" he admitted to Amanda.

"Trust me" Amanda winked, "I'm sure the Bride will be in soon enough." She then took up her position beside Deidre Tenton.

"You seem tense, Chris" Billy commented.

"You have no idea. I just-"

"You have no reason to be" his cousin assured him. "At least about today. The Tournament is a whole other deal."

From out of nowhere, the Royal Trumpeters blared their horns in salute. All eyes fell on the entrance to the Chapel. Two Male Unfezants, who's feathers acted as a makeshift doorway, parted ways. Chris's heart nearly leaped out of his chest at the sight of his bride. He recalled a Fairy Tale that his mother used to read them when they were children. Piper looked just like the Princess who was getting married. As cheesy as it sounds for him to think now, he always dreamed the girl he loved would be dressed just like her when they were married. Piper had spared no detail. She wore the tiara Julia wore at her own wedding, a long and elegant white wedding gown with streaks of almost heavenly blue throughout. Though the veil was supposed to hide her face, Chris saw right through it and recalled, not for the first time, just how beautiful his bride truly was.

And the final exhale came when he realized who was leading his wife to the altar to be with him. Michael, who's arm Piper was tightly wrapped around, escorted her in place of her father or whoever would have done so as a male member of her family. Then again, considering how long Michael and Julia had been together, it made sense when you thought about it. After all, Michael was the father and older brother Piper had always had in her life. It only seemed fitting for him to lead her to the next portion of her life. To be led down by one Kingston, only to spend the rest of her life with one. A fitting Fairy Tale Wedding for the two of them, he hoped.

Jeice seemed surprised by this but spoke up politely as he realized Chris was too dazed to say anything. "Ah, so His Majesty is the one leading the Bride down the altar?"

"So it would be" Michael replied respectfully.

Piper squeezed his arm once more. "Thank you, Michael. Not just for this. But for everything."

He bowed respectfully before stepping aside and making his way towards where his son and Chris now stood. Little Michael reached up and was scooped into his father's arms while the King patted the groom on the back. "Sorry. Piper needed someone to-"

"No, I get it" Chris replied earnestly. "Thanks."

The next few moments were a blur to him. His father led the procession with prayers, acknowledgments and explaining the concepts of marriage, following more in line with how Jon and Annie had married than how Michael and Julia had been. He talked about commitments, respect, the struggles of life and how important it was for there to be a balance for marriage to work. As he and Piper had exchanged their own written vows previously when they had filed the paperwork at the Courthouse, he wasn't expected to say much and simply stared at the woman he would be sharing the rest of his life with. He hadn't noticed his nephew stumbling up and presenting the rings to the couple, nor did he even acknowledge how he had robotically accepted his ring and placed his wife's on her own finger. He could not hear what his father said next, but he read the lips of his bride and knew that she would be his until the end of all days. He did not shake himself out of his stupor until his father spoke the words directly to him.

"Lord Christopher James Kingston, son of Jeice and Jane Kingston, member of the Arcana Pokémon League and protector of Arcana, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and health and forsaking all others until time itself ceases to be?"

Chris nodded. "I do, from this day, until the end of days."

Jeice teared up at his son's words. "Oh man. Then by the power vested in me by the Region of Arcana and the Royal House of King Michael I, i now pronounce you both as Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Kingston. You may now kiss your bride."

Christopher removed the veil around his wife's face. She was just as beaming as she was when they had first confessed their feelings to one another. And now, it would just be them. Now and forever. As her cousin had some time prior, Piper flung herself at him and the couple kissed, to the delight and applause of all those present.