The celebrations of the newly anointed Arcana Pokémon League Champion lasted long and late into the night after Annette Fiveroux's triumphant victory over Christopher Kingston in the Master Cup Championship Finals. The party would certainly be one that would be spoken of in the record books, as over five thousand people had come to celebrate not only the total and complete return to normalcy for the region following months of war and darkness coming from Mirage Island, but the dawn of a whole new era in the world. The Age of Heroes in Arcana had come to a triumphant end. The era of stalwart Pokémon League contenders such as Mark Lionel, Lizzie West, Christopher Kingston and his best friend and cousin King Michael Kingston had also ended, as the new Champion was set to lay her own footprint down and usher in a different kind of era Arcana had not seen since it's legendary Champion James Kingston last reigned.
Even now, as the hours drew later and later and more and more people finally caved into their exhaustion and left for bedtime, some still kept the party going. Some couples were still out on the dance floor, while others were simply enjoying each other's company and reminiscing about the good times and those that would be made. Annette herself was surrounded by many of her friends still eager to ingratiate themselves to the newest Pokémon League Champion.
High above it all, on a bridge that overlooked the party, Addison Tenton stood longing to join in, but finding herself in no mood to want to. Even now, as the time of the White Mage and her victory over Mewtwo was drawing into the background, she was not quite in the celebratory mood. How could she be? If she was to congratulate and be happy for Annette, she needed to be able to put the emotional effort into it. And she could not hurt Annette by not giving it her all. Her mind would be in it, but her heart wouldn't be. It longed for something else. Something that it felt incomplete without.
It had been nearly seven months since she had parted ways with her beloved Ryan Kingston in the Realm of Dreams after defeating Mewtwo. Nearly seven months since they had last held each other. Nearly seven months since after being torn apart by the machinations of their enemies, they had found each other and declared their love. Seven long and agonizing months since she had vowed to him that she would bring him back from whatever abyss he and Avery Frost had disappeared into after Mirage Island disappeared forever. Seven months since their last kiss. And while her heart would never waver or falter from her love for Ryan, time was making it harder to believe that one day, they would be reunited.
She was as oblivious of how to get to him as she was when she had to leave him. The only clues she had were of a mysterious White Island off the coast of the forbidden region of Paldea. A region no outsiders had been allowed in for nearly fifty years. A region that held all of her answers and hopes for the future. Her friends and loved ones had promised to help find a way for her to get in, but of course life got in the way. The King and Queen endured horrific experiences, with Queen Julia suffering through a painful infection while giving birth to the couple's twin children in Prince Sora and Princess Celina and the King suffering a heart attack during the Master Cup Semi-Finals after succumbing to the power of the Crimson Fury during his match with Christopher Kingston. All she felt she had in her corner now was her faithful attendant Morgan (whom Addison felt increasingly guilty about keeping from advancing herself) and the assurances of the mysterious yet lovely Bridgette Duon, who had promised to help her get to Paldea as well. But with every day going by that she failed to get an answer, the less hope she had in uncovering the truth.
She was ashamed of herself for putting her own desires before helping or enjoying the company of her friends but knew that she could not join in feeling as mopey and down as she was. Annette deserved a night all to herself. And many seemed to agree with her, as few had approached Addison as the night drew on. Even her parents allowed her to be on her own, simply telling her to be careful and return home safely. Now, she just stood up on the bridge and admired her friends and loved ones as best as she could.
Though her White Mage gifts were not needed as much as they used to be, she could still sense as if the presence of someone was coming. Thanks to her intellect being expanded by Countess Rosemary in her training, she could sense someone's thoughts or plans before they came to her. And it was precisely why she knew Tommy Queensbury was being convinced to come up and talk to her. The boy had very little he could offer and they both knew it. Nevertheless, it made Addison feel a bit better knowing Tommy was still willing to cheer her up. So as the boy slowly made his way up the stairs to talk to her, she allowed it without startling him with her enhanced gift.
"Addy, you okay?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah" she replied sadly. "Just trying to enjoy the party."
"You'd probably enjoy it more below" he explained.
Addison shook her head. "No, I think I would bring the mood down. But don't worry about me. You guys should celebrate too." She could sense the others were still worried about her. Holly, Jeremy, even Annette and Matthew were. She loved them more than she could say at the moment. Even if they didn't want her to be alone.
"We want you to join us, Addy" he insisted. "It would mean a lot to us if you came down and joined us. Before it gets too late."
Addison sighed. "If it eases your hearts, I will come down."
The boy gulped nervously. "Uh. My sister also wants me to...ugh...well, I don't know-" He glanced back down at the table but received no reinforcement and continued. "She wants me to ask you to dance." The boy sheepishly held out his hand. "I know I can't be Ryan for you, but-"
Addison giggled. "Oh Tommy." She walked over to the boy and patted his head. "You're sweet. But you don't have to do this just because Holly said to. Like I said, I just don't want to bring the mood of the party down. But if you want, I will. But only if you want to dance with me." The boy sputtered nervously like a busted car engine, prompting her to laugh again. "I thought you said I wasn't one of the girls who has cooties."
"You are, but-I don't know-" he fumbled.
Realizing the situation was not going to change anytime soon, she took the boy's hand. "Come on. I'll teach you how to dance with a Contest Queen." The boy's face went red as soon as she walked past him, leading him down onto the relatively sparse dance floor. Even though fewer people were on the floor than had been previously, the DJ kept playing music for those who had not left. As Addison led Tommy onto the floor, it seemed only Billy Kingston and Amanda Fouritz, Mr. and Mrs. Queensbury and the King and Bridgette Duon were the only ones left on the floor. The groupings looked at the newcomers and then resumed their dancing.
Addison kept her focus on Tommy's intentions, allowing her mind to delve into his own. The boy certainly seemed to have developed a crush on her, though she could not tell immediately how long it had been lingering. She could sense it inside of him, but she did not need her gifts to see it, given his nerves, the way he acted around her and especially how much his face reminded her of a tomato when she first took his hand. A boy's first crush tended to linger with him longer than others might, and this was why he might be considering trying to be something to her they both knew deep down he could never be. She would love Tommy like a brother for all of her life. Nothing less, nothing more. He genuinely seemed eager to try and help her cheer up, which she greatly appreciated. She gently placed his hand on her waist and grasped the other as softly. "How much dancing have you done, Tommy?"
"Not much since Jon and Annie's wedding" he admitted. "That Sara girl had me dancing all night!"
"Then I guess we don't need to go with the basics" she responded happily.
"I mean, I could use a refresher" he gulped.
"Then let me lead. We take our feet and move side to side like this." She led him through one of the most rudimentary dancing lessons her mother had shown her as a little girl. His focus was entirely on her, the young boy's eyes growing wide the more they moved together. "One two three, one two three, one two three. You see?"
"I...uh...I don't think I can-" he said softly.
"If you put even a small part of training into this as you did into raising your Pokémon" she assured him, "you could become that perfect little son and heir for your family."
Tommy shuddered at the idea. "Ugh. No thank you. Pokémon Training is in my blood!" He looked nervously down to his feet, doing his best to ensure he didn't step on her feet at any point. "I just want to...uh...make sure...um...that we..."
Addison shook her head playfully and took her hand off his shoulder, placing it over his mouth to stop him. "When you dance, your feet need to move as much as your mouth has so far. Let your feet do the talking. They can lead you to many great places if you let them." She then put her arm back on his as they resumed their awkward yet meaningful dance. Tommy even seemed to be slowly gaining some form of confidence in himself the more they moved in their three-step repetition, though on occasion Addison could hear him whispering to himself to remember which step they were on. As the tempo of the song finally died down and signaled its coming end, the two stopped dancing and stood facing one another.
"I think I can keep going" Tommy sputtered out. "Only if you want to, I mean."
Addison glanced over at their table of friends and found Dawn and Holly snickering to one another about the dancing duo. She shook her head. "No, I think we've given your sister and our friends more than enough entertainment for one evening."
"Okay, good. NO! No that's not what I meant, I-"
"Tommy? Is everything okay?"
The young boy looked as if he were about to melt like warm butter. "I mean...it's not like I...no, that's not...what I mean is that...I didn't think...you know..." Addison pitied him as he tried his hardest to explain himself. The boy had two feet in separate ponds. The first was latched into the "girls have cooties" camp still while the other was curious to see just what girls and women in general were capable of. He needed a subtle push from one pond to the other. While he continued to try and put his words into concise sentences, Addison knew she would have to be the one who helped him make that choice, if only for himself.
"Tommy..."
"...never could have thought someone could look so..."
Addison took the boy's hands in her own. "I want you to promise me something, Tommy." As the boy's face resumed its red shade it had held previously, she pressed onwards. "Back on Mirage Island, we promised we'd have each other's back in moments of crisis, right? I think we've both held up our ends. You definitely did a lot to help me against Mewtwo's army." She gestured towards the scar on his face. "And suffered because of it."
The boy brushed it off. "It wasn't much. I just-"
"I want you to promise me you won't change" she asked softly. "This Tommy is the one and only one I ever want to know. Just keep being yourself and everything will come easier to you." She spotted out of the corner of her eye another dancing couple in Michael and Bridgette eyeing them curiously before returning to enjoying each other's company. She bent down and kissed Tommy's cheek, prompting the boy to sputter and stutter even more than ever before. Knowing he wouldn't be able to walk on his own after that, she took him with her back to the table where all of her friends were situated.
"I think the Cootie Train is eager to consume its ultimate foe" Holly teased her brother as both came closer to the table.
"Oh, leave the poor kid alone" Lucas admonished. "It's tough trying to express yourself as a guy."
"And how would you know?" Dawn giggled.
"I had the same issues talking to you" he reminded her. "Don't you forget that."
"Tommy is the last holdout until the young princes get ready to experience the cootie terror" Matthew joked. "Gotta say, it's an intoxicating disease."
Annette blushed as she laughed at her boyfriend. "Okay, you."
Addison pulled up a chair for Tommy and sat him down between Jeremy and Lucas while she took her own provided for her by Holly and sat between her and Matthew. All of them, Matthew, Annette, Dawn, Lucas, Jeremy, Holly and Morgan had gathered to truly send off Annette's mastery of the Arcana Pokémon League with a bang. And with most of the others who had celebrated leaving to go to their homes or hotels to prepare for the long journeys back to their home regions, these friends seemed eager to keep the magic going as long as possible.
"I have to learn how your Hawlucha was able to just catch Ryo's attack like that" Dawn exclaimed. "It's almost like it had a sixth sense about it."
Annette shrugged. "What can I say? I guess battling runs in my blood. But I never in my wildest dreams before this would have imagined I'd make it past the people I did." Annette had triumphed in the Master Cup over some of the greatest Pokémon Trainers in the world. Hau from Alola, Diantha of Kalos, Lance of Kanto/Johto, Leon of Galar and finally Christopher Kingston in the Title Match. She had proven she was not just one of the best trainers in the world. But the best. Until the next time the Pokémon League reopened in several months, she would be the uncontested Champion of Arcana and when the Master Cup took place in a few years once more, would get to defend her role. Addison was proud of her friend to make it as far as she did, but she knew deep down that the end of the Master Cup would mean that things would go back to normal. Or whatever normal had been before all of this.
"How much things have changed in the span of two years" Addison remarked. "We didn't know Dawn or Lucas at that point, Matthew was in Johto with Jocelyn, so many things won't be the same from that point on." She was planning a lament to Ryan to add to the list, but she promised herself she wouldn't bring down the mood of her group anymore than she felt she already was.
"In some ways they will and some ways they won't" Holly pointed out. "So long as we're all still in this together, we can keep these friendships forever, right?"
Dawn frowned. "But...this is the end, isn't it?"
"Huh?" Tommy finally spoke up, having been freed from the spell of his own muddled emotions if just for a moment.
"We're all going our own ways now, right? Think about it. I'm going to the Battle Frontier to learn from people like Marley, Riley and Buck. Lucas has to go back to Sinnoh to work on his Doctorate. How can we keep things the same when we're all going our own ways?"
"We keep true to each other and remain in contact" Jeremy assured her. "We've been friends for so long. We need to keep it going. Look at the King and Cynthia. They've known each other for almost twenty years and are still close. We should strive to have what they do. Even if thousands of miles separate us, we should let our friendships traverse the distance. And think of it from our perspective. We'll be heading out to Kalos tomorrow so Holly and Serena can compete together in the Contests there."
"I don't think I approved of any off time" Annette teased. When he tried to explain himself, Annette waved him off. "Enjoy yourself, Jeremy. I know Kalos has a ton of Pokémon to see. Matty and I can handle things. We have Giselle to look out for us too, just in case we bite off more than we can chew."
"Don't forget Jasmine is going with you guys too" Morgan added. "It's going to be so quiet around here without you guys."
"Quiet can be a good thing" Matthew pointed out. "We can finally go back to something better than worrying about the enemy lurking over our shoulders." Addison could tell Matthew was honestly looking forward to peace. It had been the first real peace he'd seen since the three of them had set off from Parlor Town together three years earlier. He had changed so much since them, but the young man who sat beside her now was the best version of Matthew Kingston she had ever seen. And she would not have been half the White Mage or woman she was today if she didn't have him in her life. "Though I will say it's gonna be weird not having you all around as much as you've been."
"We'll be coming back" Lucas assured him. "Any free time I get after I take over for Professor Rowan will be spent here. You know, assuming Dawn gets that time off too."
"I have to come here and challenge Annette to a battle the same way I did Ryan" Dawn proclaimed. "So you can bet I'll be coming back soon. But not until this lady has become an even stronger Pokémon Trainer. Somehow, I get the feeling that if we battled now, I'd not last very long. Annette is in just a different class than me. But not for long."
Annette smiled at this. "I welcome the challenge, Dawn. And I look forward to when we battle again."
Dawn's attention then turned towards Addison. "So Addy? What will you guys be up to while we're gone?"
Jeremy sighed. "I have a hunch."
Addison winced. "Your hunch would be right if we're on the same page. I need to find out some way to get into Paldea. That White Door will continue to haunt my dreams until I can find it. Beyond that, I think I'll be helping my parents out at home. I know the baby won't be here for a few months, but I still want my Mom to have as easy of a time as possible until she has my baby brother or sister."
"And I'll be helping you anyway you need" Morgan assured her.
"You know you don't have to, right?" Addison asked. "The White Guardians aren't needed anymore. Mewtwo's gone."
"Not because I'm a White Guardian" her friend assured her. "But because we're friends, Addy."
"Considering how barren Arcana is going to be soon" Holly theorized, "I think you could use as many friends as possible, Addy. I wish we could stay here and help, but-"
Addison smiled. "I know you guys can't. Life has to go on. And I don't blame any of you for needing to move on. I just know I can't. Not until I know for sure if I'll find Ryan out there." She looked back at Morgan and smiled. "I appreciate it, Morgan. Thank you."
Holly looked to her brother. "And this one won't be around either. Mom and Dad have him going to some fancy prep school soon, or at least that's what I overheard."
"I hate school!" Tommy grumbled. "Why can't I learn from Amanda or Professor Julia?!"
"They can only teach you so much" Jeremy told the angry boy. "I think the school your parents have in mind is more in line with taking up the family name after your parents retire, if you know what I mean. Business, trade, economics, stuff like that."
"I don't see any of you having to learn that!"
"If my family had the money, they'd be sending me too."
Matthew shrugged. "I'm the man of the house, now. Got three ladies to look after, four if you count the Champion, but I doubt she has any need for me getting in her way."
Annette leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I will always need my right hand. But rest assured that if your Mom or Kayleigh need you, I think Giselle and I have things covered. That's why Jeremy gets to go to Kalos with Holly and Jasmine and Chris gets to go on his honeymoon with Piper. Arcana is finally going to have some peace and I intend on keeping it that way."
"I already studied all I could under Professor Rowan" Lucas added. "Tommy, if my parents had the opportunity, I'm sure I'd be sent to the school you're going to instead of following up after Professor Rowan." He gave the boy an affectionate smile. "Cheer up, Tommy. School isn't terrible. You get to learn new things and meet new people. Heck, I wish I had gone. Dawn and Barry were my first real friends outside of my little sister."
"And speaking of school" Elmont Queensbury spoke up as he approached the group. "I think it's high time we brought you to bed, Tommy. You've got a big day coming up tomorrow. We've got to go shopping for your outfits. I won't have my son dressed like a schlep at this kind of school." He pulled his son out of his chair, much to Tommy's embarrassment. "Come on. Let's go!"
"Come on, Dad! I don't wanna go!" But Tommy had little choice but to go as his father hauled him away and off towards the future that lied ahead for him.
Holly laughed. "So much for him outgrowing his childishness."
"Oh, I think he has grown" Addison responded. "It's just going to take some time for him to show it. Maybe going to school will help him. But I hope he keeps being the same boy we've grown so attached to."
"Attached wouldn't be the word I'd use" Matthew joked. "But sure. Let's hope that no matter what barriers separate us, we don't fall apart anytime soon." He raised his glass of Soda Pop, compelling everyone else to do the same. Addison, who did not have a glass of her own, simply raised her hand in salute. She was ready for whatever the future had in store, so long as she had her friends in her heart. And no barriers would keep them apart. Not them, not her family, and not Ryan.
I will find him. And I will bring him home. And I will never lose him again.
{}
Though two couples were still on the dance floor, only one of them was a real couple. While Billy Kingston and his longtime girlfriend Amanda Fouritz enjoyed the evening dance as the moon climbed higher into the sky, the other dancing duo was not romantically inclined towards one another. They loved each other to be sure. About as strong a love as any man could love a woman besides his wife or a woman her husband. But there was no need to muddle up emotions between people who had known each other as long as Bridgette Duon and Michael Kingston had known each other. Their love went on longer than anyone might have guessed, unless you knew all about them.
Bridgette Duon, aged thirty, remained to this day the youngest person to bear the Duon last name. She was born the youngest, when her older brother Jack was already twelve years old, as what her parents called a "surprise baby" of sorts. Her parents were well into their forties and didn't exactly have the energy to raise another child from such a young age, though they tried constantly. Bridgette would find herself spending a great deal of time with relatives, especially her favorite Aunt, Jane Duon. Jane doted on her like a daughter and she was always welcome in her home, especially when she married her husband, Jeice Kingston. Bridgette would adore her cousins Christopher and Cameron, though neither would share her last name. And they loved her. She would always volunteer to babysit for them, mentor them on all she knew and inspire them to follow their dreams to be whatever they wanted to be,
When Bridgette first crossed paths with Michael Kingston, he was a little boy in as complicated a situation as she had been growing up, only slightly different. While her parents were simply older, Michael's had grown apart, divorcing when he was only six and thus forcing some difficult decisions to be made about his upbringing. While his sister Victoria was taken in for a lengthy period by her grandparents James and Bonnie Kingston, James had requested for some unclear reason that Michael grow up under Jane's watchful eye. And Jane took to him as any mother should, showering the boy with as much love, attention and affection as she did her own children. Bridgette had not been sure what to make of the boy, until they began to bond more during her times babysitting. She found him to be a surprisingly pure boy. Showing no malice or hate to anyone, only wanting to be friends and protect his loved ones when he got older. Though only two years his senior, she became something of an older sister and mentor to the boy, giving him as much if not slightly more affection than she gave her cousins. When asked why this was, she simply believed he needed it more than they did.
Their friendship only blossomed more as time passed and he began to grow. She was not blind to the crush the boy had on her and even playfully entertained the idea by giving him her own private surfing lessons and mentoring him on how to properly care for Pokémon. She welcomed the boy's affection, as she had plenty to go around despite being herself in a relationship with her own crush, Malcolm Tress. She maintained her strong connection to Michael, never wavering from her support or showing him the kind of love he needed...until that fateful day she heard of what transpired in Titanio City. When Michael was said to do those terrible things. She didn't want to believe it, but Giselle had sounded so compelling and thus few remained to support Michael in his hour of need. No one but Jane. Jane fought with all she could to protect Michael, only to fail and watch as one of her own children left into exile. The longer they were apart, the more Bridgette began to realize how wrong they were about him. The only two people she knew who never believed he was capable of such things without an external force were Malcolm and Jane. And when Jane disappeared, Bridgette realized there was something to what her Aunt was trying to prove.
When Michael returned with Julia and his friends in tow, Bridgette broke down upon seeing the broken and tormented young man that had become of the boy she adored. The one she had cast out was not the same as the one that she saw in front of her then and there. But while he might never be that optimistic and sweet boy he had been before, she was one of the few who was spared his wrath and loathing upon dethroning Giselle and saving the region from the Syndicate. Though Michael strode to have the same kind of relationship they once did, Bridgette never felt comfortable trying to impose one on him. She accepted all roles he gave her and did her best to support him from a distance, until her relationship with Malcolm began to suffer. The two drifted apart with differing views of the future. Bridgette wanted a family built in Arcana and Malcolm wanted to pursue his dream of being an astronaut. She wanted to be married, he wanted to wait until they were financially stable. Their feelings forced them both to resign from their positions as Gym Leaders, forcing Michael to rely on Billy and Renee to fill in slots and again making Bridgette realize some time later how badly she'd messed up with him again.
While Malcolm went to work on becoming an astronaut, she went surfing around the world, failing to keep up contact with anyone. She did not speak to anyone for a long time and simply enjoyed the only place she ever truly felt at home: the sea. It wasn't until things began happening in Arcana did Bridgette finally realize her mistakes. Malcolm contacted her out of the blue before his trip into space and asked her to meet him when he returned, as he had realized how much he wanted her in his life. Bridgette remained skeptical, but that skepticism only prompted more pain to befall her as it was not long after that when the Syndicate resurfaced and her beloved Malcolm was taken from her, not to mention Michael, Chris, Cam and the others were all believed killed in a fire in Taghwan Hall. Bridgette felt her heart shatter inside of her and she again went into her own self-imposed exile. She finally made it to her brother Jack in Lilycove sometime later and the two grieved. She did not last long and thus went out into the water again, finding herself in Kalos.
And in Kalos, her life took another turn. Not only had the Syndicate been crushed once more, but Michael and the others had survived. Michael was even in Kalos, having gotten married to his sweetheart Julia. Bridgette was even in the same town as them in Coumarine City. Unable to face him, she went out sailing and found herself in countless other places. Alola, Sinnoh, Unova and if Julia could be believed about her Finizen, even Paldea. She would not have returned to Arcana at all had she not been in Kanto when she got word from Katrina about a tiff between Chris and his father regarding his affair during his marriage with Jane. Bridgette, knowing she could not bear to see the family tear themselves apart over this, raced to Arcana and found her cousin and dearest friend crumbling right before her eyes. She did her best to cheer them up and steer them in the right direction, coming to the conclusion that Michael and Chris needed her now more than ever, especially with Cameron's death during the conflict with Mewtwo.
She vowed she would never leave Arcana again without good reason. Especially after Michael's heart attack and the strenuous birth of his twin children by Julia. They needed her, as did her godson Prince James. But above all, he needed her. It broke her heart to see how hurt he was by her departure. How much pain he had shouldered on his own. How he was suffering through things no man his age ever should. She never wanted to see a pained look on his face again. She did love him. Probably more than she had anyone besides her Aunt and Malcolm. But she would never be in love with him. That was not her duty.
Now, as the evening grew late, Bridgette stayed with him. They had to have been dancing together for at least an hour, just the two of them, going side to side like the tides of the sea. He had his arms around her waist and she her arms around his neck and her head on his chest. She wanted to somehow will the pain out of him, but he was still doing things for others. She looked up at him in confusion.
"How are you not tired?"
"Oh, I'm exhausted" he chuckled.
"Then why haven't you stopped?"
"I didn't want to upset you. You seem to be enjoying this."
She felt herself getting emotional again. "I still will never understand what it is about you that makes you such a good man."
"If you have to ask, did you really know her?"
"I suppose not."
"I will admit the only reason I'm standing is because we're here together, but that's beside the point."
She sighed and the two kept dancing, even if their legs were barking. But she knew deep down how much pain he was in and thus decided to end their evening together. "Well, let's sit down for a minute. We're not the young kids we used to be." As they came apart, she could see how weak he was. He had not quite fully recovered from his heart attack, yet when he should be back home resting, here he was keeping her spirits up. He seemed eager to fall over and would have had she not caught him. "Whoa. Careful there."
His breathing was weak. "I'm okay, Bridge."
"No you aren't" she replied sadly. "And you haven't been in a long time. And for not being there for you, I'm sorry."
"Bridgette, you are the last person on my list of people I need apologies from" he responded. She could tell he was holding back on her. "I...I missed you."
"And I missed you" she admitted. "More than words can ever admit. I have a lot to make up for."
"If I did something to not get your trust, I-"
She hugged him tightly. "Oh no. You didn't. Don't ever think you did, Mikey. I trust you with my life. It's just that I needed a lot to sort out. I wish I had stayed in hindsight. Knowing what you were going through, what would happen to Malcolm, and all the rest...I wish I was here with you guys through all of it. And I can never take that time lost back, no matter how much I wish I could." She felt him shaking in grief and she brought him down to a table to sit. Once he was seated, she pulled up a chair and sat beside him.
"Walking this path alone has been...the hardest path I've walked since exile" he admitted. "There were some things I could never confide in anyone but you, Bridge. When you and Malcolm left, I just kept loading up on work to cope, I guess. It's why I fell so hard when I did." He laid back in his chair, as if letting out the first true exhale he'd had in years. "I can't carry it anymore, Bridge. I just can't. I've been doing it for too long. My heart can't take it anymore."
"Then don't" she soothed. "You don't need to. Annette can run the Pokémon League. We've seen she's tough enough. Piper or whoever wins the Queen of Arcana Contests next year can help run things and Annie can run the state as your adviser." She smiled and cupped his cheeks in her hands. "You, Michael, were born to be a family man. And you have six wonderful reasons to keep going when you get home." Her smile faded at this. "I wish I had that, Michael. If we had talked things through instead of arguing, Malcolm and I might have still been here when everything happened."
"You two were the best gym leaders we've had in Iron Mountain and Titanio's Gym" he answered.
Bridgette took a long breath before continuing. "I will never forgive myself for abandoning you when you needed me. You may, but I won't. As far as I'm concerned, I don't deserve to be in your life. But you've welcomed me back in with open arms. You, Julia and Chris. All when you should have shown me the door. The only way I know I can even the score is if you let me help you, Michael. Let me take those burdens from you. I want to see that little guy I used to adore, again. The one with the smile that made girls his age swoon. The one who had that big heart. The one who had no responsibilities."
Michael eyed her sadly. "I don't think he's ever coming back. Not after all that's happened." Bridgette was about to add more, but Michael took her hands off his cheeks and held them. "Bridge, if you stood by Jane when she helped me, you may have ended up sharing in her fate. And that would be something I could never forgive myself for. Losing my Mom was enough. You too would have destroyed me. Seeing you here gives me hope that even with Cam gone, we can carry on her memory between the three of us."
"You never have to doubt that" she assured him. "Michael, you boys are my whole world. Jack doesn't say it, but I know he'll always be miffed with how things ended up between him and I over Malcolm. You and Chris are really all I have left in this world."
"You have Julia and the kids" he reminded her.
"I can't be who I truly am in front of them" she spoke softly. "Just with you two. The last two remnants of my Aunt in this whole world. My family." Bridgette moved her chair over to his side and put her arm around him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She seemed eager to say more or simply enjoy the company of her and a man whom she would treasure forever, but their time together was cut short by a stumbling and exhausted Justin Jacques making his way back towards the area. Bridgette was caught off guard by his sudden arrival and leaped out of her chair as Justin finally landed on the ground in front of her. "Oh. Justin!"
"Forgive me for interrupting" he replied as he tried to push himself up to his feet. "Lady Duon. Your Majesty." He gave a quick bow to Michael before making it to his feet.
"Justin" Michael nodded. "Is everything alright?"
"Just exhausted" he chuckled, dusting himself off. "Lizzie was showing me all that the Park had to offer. I didn't take her for a ride person, yet she tried almost everything with me."
Bridgette watched curiously as Justin finished cleaning his outfit. She had never met someone quite like him before. She had heard from Billy that when he first arrived in Arcana, Madeline Kingston couldn't keep her hands off of him. But as long as Bridgette had known him, he was not the kind of guy she expected the hotheaded and tough daughter of Byron would be into. He was awkward and clumsy, very introverted and only saw the world as far as his usual tunnel vision allowed him to. She would have chalked him up to simply being one of those friends that happens to find their way into the group on occasion, had they simply not found some common ground before.
He grew up near oceans in both Kalos and Hoenn and was constantly swimming, yet he hardly ever thought of it as more than a part of his youth. He had filmed locals who surfers and uploaded their feats to his blog online, which was surprisingly popular. They had discovered that he even managed to catch her while she was in Kalos, likely after learning about the fall of the Syndicate and Michael and Julia's wedding. He was, in some ways, similar to the Michael she had dreamed would return some day. Sure, he wasn't as outgoing as Michael was, but he was one of the most wholesome and genuine people she had come to know since returning to Arcana only a short time earlier.
She could not quite put her finger on what made him so appealing to someone like Madeline or for Lizzie. For some reason, Lizzie seemed to feel threatened by her presence, when all she had done is have a few pleasant conversations with him. She knew Lizzie had gone through many things since they had last crossed paths, but to be so apprehensive to a friend for being friendly? It did cross her mind that Lizzie, in her own way, definitely felt something for Justin that she likely never had before, but this day at the Colosseum and now at Titanio Park was the first and only time she had even seen her be around the boy.
"Tell me something, Justin" Bridgette remarked plainly. "What is it that made you and Lizzie such good friends? I don't remember her ever socializing with anyone outside of the Elite Four or Michael."
Justin had no real answer for her. "I can only guess for you, Lady Duon."
"You can just call me Bridgette" she laughed. "Mrs. Duon was my mother."
"Forgive me, Bridgette. But as I said, I can only guess what it was that allowed us to become such good friends. She is a very interesting person. I feel like I can be myself around her. Not trying too hard to impress or be polite. But I have to be those things, because of kind of trouble my Uncle caused for you all. I thought I had Lizzie pegged down until today, when she made me take on all of those rides with her." He went into a squatting position and folded his hands. "I won't lie. I haven't felt the best since that Sky Drop Scorcher."
Michael pointed at his back. "I think your back is leaking, ha ha. You sweat through your shirt."
Bridgette put a finger to her cheeks as she thought. "Lizzie makes sense to me. But to have Maddy caring for you-"
Justin went white at the mentioning of her name. "Oh no."
"Relax" Michael laughed. "She's not here. As far as I know."
"What happened?" Bridgette asked.
"Let's just say Maddy was a bit obsessed with Justin when he first came. And then, it all just stopped."
"I don't know if I'll ever get used to being around her" the young man admitted. "Don't get me wrong, she's a wonderful, brave and passionate woman. But I don't think I could handle that much attention from someone." He looked at his shirt and sighed. "Guess Lizzie really did do a number on me. Oh well, so much for this shirt being usable."
To Bridgette's surprise, the nephew of one of Arcana's most dastardly villains removed his shirt to examine the sweat on his shirt. To her even greater surprise, the shy and unassuming Justin was hiding the kind of body she had only seen twice before in her life. For someone who was into hobbies like filming, reviewing and vlogging online, he looked extremely athletic. His body was extremely well toned, his chest clean shaven and sturdy, the young man was even nursing a "six pack" of abdominal muscles as if he did almost as much exercising as he did work on his computer. Bridgette could not possibly connect the idea of an introvert like him carrying around a body like his. He looked...incredible. She might even use the word robust.
She could see Justin speaking to her and Michael as courteously and respectfully as he always did, but she didn't hear a word he spoke. She could not help but keep her eyes on him. He was just sitting there, examining his shirt and conversing with Michael as if it were any other day, but she could not stop staring. It took her longer than she would admit comprehending that she was ogling him. She shook herself out of it and cleared her throat, rising to her feet.
"Well, boys" she spoke quickly, "it's been a wonderful night, but I think we need to get ready for bed."
"Bridge?" Michael inquired curiously. "What's the hurry? Everything okay?"
Justin rose from his seat to try and speak to her, which only caused the color to flash in her cheeks more than she was ready to show. "I must have done something wrong." He looked at himself and gasped. "Oh no! I'm not supposed to take my shirt off in public."
"We have lives to get back to" Bridgette responded briskly. "And I know I have some-"
"You haven't forgotten about tomorrow, right?" Michael asked. "The Royal Council meeting?"
She stared at Michael as if he had spoken a foreign language. "Um, what?"
"The Royal Council" Michael repeated. "Annie and your first one back? The one where we talk about the whole Paldea thing?"
Bridgette gasped. "Oh, right. Addy, Addy. Of course. I'll be there. Tomorrow morning? Well, I'd better get to Jack's apartment before I miss out on a good night's sleep." She raced over to her old friend and kissed him on the cheek. She then turned towards Justin, freezing as she realized she had no idea what to do in this situation. She made to first shake his hand before giving him a quick and awkward hug. It would have been longer had she not thought she could feel his heart beating when they made contact. She quickly let go and sprinted as far away from the two men as she could. She didn't stop running until she ran out of breath near the Isle of Food stands that had already closed for the night. She looked at a mirror that was perched to prevent theft and saw just how red her face had gotten.
She slapped her face until she realized it was likely with all the running she'd done. She took a deep breath and sat on an empty bench to ponder what had just unfolded for her.
"What the hell did I just do?" she asked herself. It had been obvious. She had ogled a young man and surprised even herself by flinging herself at him in a hug. She wiped her face in shame and sighed. We talked about this, Bridgette. We aren't doing this again. No one is worth the kind of aggravation we went through those last few months with Malcolm. No more love for you! Let Jack be the one who has to marry and have kids. The only family I need are those boys and my Pokémon. But she could not deny her own actions. She had not expected herself to be in the presence of a shirtless and strikingly handsome Justin Jacques. Surely this was all her being flustered by his surprising action of removing his sweat drenched shirt? Yeah, that had to be it. The other outcome could not even be thought of.
But it was not the first time someone's physical appearance had caught her off guard. As she recalled to herself, she had been in this situation twice before. Once, as a thirteen-year-old girl training at Parlor Beach and she saw Malcolm Tress without a shirt for the first time and couldn't speak in coherent sentences for several hours. The second time was after the confrontation with Giselle that ended her regime, when she went in search of the boy who had thwarted the tyrant and she saw just how "grown" and "toned" Michael had become in exile after his fight with Giselle had resulted in his shirt being ripped. She had to be practically pried off his exhausted body by Chris and Cam, chalking it up to how shameful she felt for abandoning him in an hour of need. But she and only she knew the truth. If Julia was not the reason he had returned, she could not have predicted what would have happened.
She swore to herself that she would never find herself in such a predicament again, and yet here she was thirteen years later as if nothing had changed. Okay. We're going to keep our distance from Justin for a while. I didn't try with Malcolm and it did work with Michael. So long as I stay away from that nerdy, dweeby...gentle...sweet...chiseled...DAMNIT! STOP IT!
{}
While so many of their friends and loved ones had departed home already, Billy Kingston and Amanda Fouritz found themselves lagging behind and enjoying the evening as long as they physically could. And they knew the crew working in Titanio Park would want to head home themselves soon, so it couldn't last forever. Or could it?
Addison and her friends remained talking long into the night, not only celebrating Annette's victory over Chris, but also their friendships that would soon be put to the test of distance as they all departed. Michael was entertaining a sickly yet surprisingly ripped Justin Jacques at his own table after Bridgette must have ran off to get some rest. The only other table that had any patrons left was his own as he and his girlfriend enjoyed each other's company.
Normalcy was going to be truly awkward to try and endure after all they had been through. He hadn't had a state of it since Amanda vanished in a mysterious storm that ravaged Parlor Beach almost two years before. It was soon all about finding her after the Syndicate had abducted her, only to be engaged in total warfare with Claude Jacques and his minions who wanted to dominate Arcana. Followed by relentless training to prevent Mewtwo's upcoming apocalypse and finally the reunion he had dreamed of and the training for the Master Cup. Now that all of that was done, things could go back to what they were before.
Well...not everything.
While Amanda was in a Poke Gear call with her parents about when her own personal lab was going to be built in Parlor Town (which should be in the coming weeks), Billy's fingers touched something in his pocket. Something he had been meaning to give to Amanda since they reunited and resumed their loving relationship as if nothing at all had happened.
Though there was thankfully no Lady Bonnie to try and force relationships between her grandchildren anymore, he found himself in a very uncomfortable position. His sister was just getting into a slightly steadier relationship with her boyfriend Joshua. Madeline was focusing on succeeding her father as the Chief of Police in Arcana, something that was almost guaranteed with her cousin as the monarch and another in the Elite Four. Her brother Jon was married and spending all his free time with his wife and newborn son Teddy. Victoria was married with a child of her own to care for. Michael had been married for three years with a cavalcade of offspring he and Julia could shower love and affection on. And with Chris's marriage to Piper only making them grow stronger, this left Billy as the one up next to be married. Though he teased Amanda constantly about them "adding to the lineage", he was a bit unnerved by the idea of matrimony.
Not that he wanted to be a bachelor like Chris had been before Piper. He actually subscribed fully to the idea of Michael's that a heart and soul are never fully formed until they meet their "mate". After all, Michael and Julia had been together for thirteen years and found very little but bliss in their relationship. There would be times he would be sitting with Michael talking about things and he would see his cousin stare longingly at his wife and have him admit that he was more in love with her now than he had been when they reunited in Orre after four long years of being separated.
But there was a part of him that was petrified of the idea of fully ascending into manhood. He was still feeling pain from the death of his father months earlier. He had gone from being the youngest who could devote all his time to Amanda, to suddenly being the man of the house. The shoulder for his mother and sister to lean on. The back to carry not only his family, but all of Iron Village on as his father had. To see his free days snatched away fully by the jaws of adulthood was a fear he'd had since becoming a young adult who was unexpectedly but delighted to be named a replacement Gym Leader for Malcolm when he departed to finish his schooling to become an Astronaut. He didn't mind the extra responsibility, as both Michael and his father warned him of the grand task he had before him. But then, he still had his father to lean on in moments of doubt. Now, he was alone.
No...no he wasn't.
Because he had her.
And when he was in his moments of greatest doubt, all he had to do was look at the face he'd been adoring since his cousin's wedding and his confidence would return to him in droves. To see the way her eyes sparkled, the engaging smile she always wore, all the way down to just how "buttony" her nose was. He would lose his fear and doubt as if he never had it the moment he got to hold her, speak to her, kiss her. Because in her, he saw the promise of a future ten times better than the past they both had endured.
Amanda was recovering from her wounds suffered while a victim of the sociopathic Courtney on Mirage Island. She would act on the surface as if the moments did not impact her, but Billy would hold her late at night after she suffered through terrors he knew he wouldn't have had the fortitude to endure. But tonight, for the first time fully since they had reunited, she was back to being the fully bubbly and excited girl who had been the custodian of his heart for ages now. The woman who made him almost completely forget the first twenty-two years of his life before knowing her. Amanda Fouritz was the reason he got up every morning. But Amanda Kingston would be the one he would continue to do so for the rest of eternity if he had to. Just to be sure he had no one else but her by his side.
Amanda finished her call as Billy's fingers clasped the ring box in his pocket. He had spent all night waiting for just the right moment so as not to upstage Annette on her big day. He'd waited long enough.
"Mom sends her best" Amanda said excitedly. "She and Dad are enjoying that cruise they'd been putting off for so long."
"Speaking of things put off-" Billy began, opening up the box in his pocket. He froze. The ring wasn't there. He felt around for it. Surely it had just fallen out and into his pocket. Until he found the hole in his jacket. He glanced down onto the ground and saw the diamond ring tumbling along and back onto the dance floor.
"What's up, Billy Bear?"
Billy, doing his best to not lose sight of the ring or ruin the surprise for Amanda, tried to keep hold of his resolve. "Honey, would you...would you excuse me for a sec?" Billy slipped out of his chair and did his best not to look conspicuous as he darted after the ring. Amanda could only eye him in confusion as he bolted along after the ring, which seemed to be rolling endlessly, as if Arceus was playing a sick trick on him or something. It finally managed to stop rolling right behind the chair Dawn was sitting in. He glanced back at Amanda and gave her a nervous laugh. "Sorry, give me just one minute."
"What's going on?" she called over to him, slightly concerned.
"Nothing you need concern yourself with" he assured her. He walked over to pick up the ring, only for Dawn to move back in her chair and spot him coming, the ring vanishing from his sight.
"Oh, Billy!" she exclaimed. "Come to hang out with the cool kids?"
"Hey guys" Billy spoke up. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I accidentally-"
"I'm so happy you agreed to stay on as Iron Mountain's Gym Leader" Annette proclaimed. "I felt bad about moving Matt and Jeremy up without them having much experience and was afraid I'd snub you."
Billy laughed at that. "I'm definitely not holding a grudge. But if you'll excuse me-"
"What's going on?" Dawn inquired. "You look like you're panicking about something."
"I haven't seen you with a look like that since Grandma's birthday party five years ago" Matthew joked. "Wasn't that the time-"
"Guys!" Addison thankfully interjected before his cousin revealed an embarrassing story about a moment he was deeply regretful of. "Billy looks like he lost something."
"You have no idea" Billy gulped. "It's just under-"
"Hold on" Addison winked, closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath. To Billy's astonishment, the ring floated in the air right in front of him. When Billy took it in his hand and heaved a sigh of relief, Addison reopened her eyes and giggled. "Can't have you losing that, can we?"
"I will never understand how you do that" Billy joked, "but I am eternally grateful for you, Addy!" He bowed respectfully to the girl who had singlehandedly allowed him to reunite with Amanda and then turned with ring in hand back towards his table. To his confusion, now Michael was over there, having slowly made his way to speak to his girlfriend about something. As he slowly made his way back to his table, he saw Amanda's face go from curious to downright ecstatic.
"YOU MEAN IT?!" she cried out.
"If all goes as I expect it will tomorrow" the King informed her, "I think we'll have a confirmation tomorrow. I'll give you more of an update after the Council meets."
Amanda leaped out of her chair and nearly bowled Michael over while hugging him. His cousin had only managed to remain standing by leaning heavily on a chair. "OH THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO MUCH! THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO!" She spied Billy finally making it back to the table and raced for him, hugging him and peppering his cheek with excited kisses. "Oh there's so much stuff to do, Billy! I need to get all my research books out and-OOOOOH THIS IS AMAZING!" To his shock, Amanda rushed over to the table, grabbed her bag and sprinted away.
"AMANDA?!" he called. "WAIT!"
She glanced back and waved at him. "Come on, Billy! We've got so much work to do! I'll explain it tomorrow morning!" Without another word, she vanished without a trace.
Billy looked over at his cousin in defeat. "You really had to pick now to do that?"
"She needed to know this" Michael answered. "You both do. It's pretty important"
"Come on" Billy moaned. "I had this all planned out and-"
"Had all-oh. OH! Oh crap." To Michael's credit, he did look like he regretted everything that had just happened. "I thought you'd already done it. I'm sorry, bud"
Billy sighed and sat down at the table next to his cousin, knowing he couldn't be mad at him for making a genuine mistake. "Nah. I should have, though. Now, I won't get her to sit down and listen enough to even entertain me. So much for getting engaged this week." He took out the ring box and made sure to fasten the ring inside before closing it and returning it to his pocket.
"It's not the end of the world" his cousin assured him. "Amanda is still gaga for you. You'll have plenty of time. It's not like you won't both be going."
Billy blinked in confusion. "Huh? What?"
"Did Julia not tell you?"
He had been so upset over the situation of his proposal that he, for a brief moment, completely forgot about the conversation he had been in with Julia a few days earlier. "Oh, no. No I haven't. I just didn't think-"
"Well, let's just say Elmont and I found a backdoor" Michael grinned. "Hopefully, everything will pan out so everyone can be happy. It's about time everyone got a taste of a happy ending for once." He glanced back up towards where Amanda had vanished and frowned slightly. "I guess I should have mentioned I needed a ride home after Bridgette ran off." He winced in pain as he tried to walk after her, only to fall onto the ground. Billy rushed out of his chair and tried to help him up.
"MIKE!"
Michael did his best to wave him off. "No...no, I got...I got this." He made a valiant attempt to stand on his own but would have fallen again had Billy not grabbed his arm. "You shouldn't have to see me like this."
Billy shook his head. "I'd rather have you another forty years like this than have to bury you, man." He waved off the panicked looks at the Champion's table, who all eyed Michael as if he had another heart attack. Billy kept Michael propped up on his arm as he reassured his cousin. "I already lost my Dad, Mike. Don't ask me to lose you, too."
"What kind of a King am I if I can't even walk on my own?!" he spat out in frustration.
"You'll get better" Billy promised. "Maybe next time you won't use all of your will to dance with Bridgette and go spend time with your wife." As Michael began to lean, he picked them both up and the men stood firm. "Just because you're not the hero anymore doesn't mean we don't need you, man." As Michael seemed resigned to his current state, Billy slowly helped him up the stairs, his thoughts on when he'd get another chance to ask Amanda to become his wife.