Once they had evaded the Security Guards hunting them in Alfornada, Addison and Cole raced at their fastest speeds for the cave just outside of the main city. Granted, Cole was a bit slower than she was, but Addison had no trouble waiting for him to catch up to her. Once the two had made it within the dark and gloomy cavern, Addison knew they needed to keep themselves safe as well as on guard from anyone who might be eager to seek them out. If the Security Guards were already being bought off by Fateen, that meant that things were already working against them. They would need to regroup with everyone and formulate a real plan to stop this from happening. She was a bit nervous that both Bridgette and Billy would insist that they couldn't get involved without getting into trouble, but she was keen to help Cole no matter what.

While making their way through the cavern, she noticed a large cliff that seemed to have enough view to see if anyone was still pursuing them. While Cole was still trying to catch his breath, she urged him to follow her as best as he could until the two made it to what might have been the largest ladder she'd ever seen in her life. She took a deep breath to compose herself and leaped up the ladder, scaling it as quickly as possible. Cole struggled along behind her, prompting her to look down worriedly.

"You okay?" she inquired.

"How are you...so..."

She giggled at this. "I'm nimble. Not to mention I've been on adventures like this before."

"I need...uh...I need a...break..."

"Once we get up onto this rock, we'll be able to sit again. Just do what you can."

"Okay. I'll try for..." Addison could not hear what he said as she climbed higher and higher above him. Upon making it to the top of the cliff, she looked around and noticed a few Noibats and Digletts scurrying around, but upon noticing her, they all flew off or burrowed underground to avoid getting captured. Of course, Addison had no intention of intervening with their natural lifestyles. She had other things to worry about. Including her friend who struggled along behind her. She quickly pulled herself over the ledge and looked down to Cole, who was slowly making his way up the ladder.

He glanced up at her and looked ashamed. "Sorry..."

"What for?" she asked.

He frowned deeply. "For being so weak. For not being as good as..."

"We need to work on your self-esteem issues, Cole" Addison said sadly. "You're not weak. You're up against something you can't possibly fathom on your own. You're not weak at all. You're only human. You need help, like all people do."

"Not as much as me" he replied, slowly making his way up to them.

"If someone like me still needs help from people, surely that doesn't mean you're weak or worthless." She knelt down in front of the top of the ladder. "Sometimes, people need a helping hand every now and then. Who's to say there's a limit to how many times someone needs it? Especially since we both need each other's help."

"Why would you need me?"

"You promised to help me find White Island, remember? I can't find it without your help. No one else even believes it exists, Cole. Only you."

As Cole made it about 90% of the way up the ladder, he sighed. "I don't get what you see in me to believe in me, but I thank you for it, Addy."

"I see someone who needs help. Someone who would give his all to someone if he had the capacity to. And someone who I'd be willing to give the world to because of what he's up against. We have more in common than you could ever imagine, Cole. And people like us need to stick together. Our strength comes from the people we care for." She reached down for his hand and caught his wrist as he was about to grab ahold of the ladder. "Come on. I've got you."

"Ye-yeah" he replied.

"Almost there." She pulled him up another rung until he was finally at the final ledge. He finally got his other hand on the ledge and Addison smiled. "See? We look out for each other."

Cole took his first step up onto the cliff they were both on and used her arm to balance him to stand. However, a bad step prompted him to trip forward and the two took a tumble, landing hard on the ground and prompting the last of the curious local Pokémon to scatter in fright.

Addison desperately clung to Cole as the two landed on the ground, tightly wrapping her arms around him initially out of fear that they were going to fall off the cliff. Once that fear became unfounded, she took a moment to take stock of their situation and glanced up at her friend, who now sat on top of her, looking down at her nervously. As if her mind thought now was the time to play tricks on her, she saw in Cole's face similar features to her beloved Ryan. His dark, spiky hair seemed to straighten out. And every time she blinked, she thought she could see that emerald bandanna atop his head, the same color that matched the eyes that pierced her heart. But blinking again would return Cole's normal looks to her.

It was only when she realized neither had spoken for a long moment that Addison finally brought the tension down. "I...uh...are you okay, Cole?"

Cole was staring at her, his eyes wide and his cheeks appearing to be somewhat redder than usual. He nodded nervously after realizing he hadn't replied. "Yeah, I'm okay. Are you?"

"I'm not...I think so?" She glanced nervously to the side. "I think we should...you know...get up from this?"

Cole gasped and rolled off of her. "I'm sorry, I..."

"It's okay" she interjected. "We both got caught off guard there." Addison gently tried to push herself up and sighed to herself, thankful that Cole hadn't noticed how her own cheeks had gone the color of a ruby. She was about to add more to her statement, but Cole shocked her by taking her hands and pulling her to her feet. Once the two were standing, was she finally able to retake control of the situation. "I don't think anyone would be able to find us here, right?"

"Not with the White Mage eyeballing everything" he replied earnestly.

Addison giggled at this. "I suppose so. But I've even missed a few things every now and then." She led Cole over to a few nearby boulders where the two could sit down and compose themselves after running around like crazy and that last tense moment. For whatever reason, she found it hard to let go of Cole's hands, even if they sat down beside one another. She could sense Galatea had something to say about her situation, but she didn't want to be rude and dismiss Cole if he had something to talk about.

Once Cole had sat beside her, he seemed to be able to calm down. "I do feel bad about dragging you down to my level."

"But you're not" she assured him.

"I always do" he lamented. "I do it to everyone. It's probably why everyone I know and care about abandons me after a while."

Addison frowned. "Why do you think so lowly of yourself, Cole?"

He shook his head. "I can't help it. As long as I can remember, I just drag people down. It's probably why Professor Sada sent me back up to the surface in Area Zero." He gestured towards the scar on the side of his face. "You see this? A big monstrous Pokémon did this to me when we were trying to contain the Time Machine a little while back...or forward? All this time travel confuses me."

Addison put her hand to where the scar was, noticing the color return to Cole's face. She studied it closely. Her mind showed a brief picture of a Pokémon that appeared to be some kind of prehistoric Donphan rampaging towards Cole and almost goring him with a pair of massive tusks. Before it managed to make contact with him, Addison thought she could hear several voices screaming Cole's name. One was a girls she could only assume was Paige's. A second was a woman's which had to be Sada's. And then came a third woman, but she couldn't tell who it was. Hers was the most terrified shriek. And yet, nothing came of it. "Well, you're here and that's all that matters."

"If I could have defended myself" Cole frowned.

Addison smiled sadly. "No. Your best Pokémon is Jory. Electric Types are useless against Ground Types."

"And because of this, Turo and Sada sent me away. Paige even stopped calling me every day after a while. Professor Sexton was all I had for a while." He turned away from Addison's hand and curled up into himself. "People who are strong and cool and stuff? They don't bother with people like me. I always wonder why Paige and Sexton gave me the time of day. I'm not worth anything to anyone."

"You are to me" she insisted, scooting herself right to his side.

"Why? How am I good to anyone?"

"Do you know what you are to me?" Addison asked him. "You're brave, you're loyal, you're sincere and above all else, you care about others before yourself. Even when you think so lowly of yourself, even if I think you're wrong, you still do anything you can to help other people." She patted his shoulder. "And above all else, I know I could trust you and depend on you for anything, even if it's just as set of ears to listen to me. You actually make me think a lot about Ryan. And how he would always drop whatever he was doing to help a friend."

"I guess if you see a bit of someone you love in me, I can't be completely useless" he replied.

"See? Now you're getting it. Just learn to believe in yourself. Even a little bit." She reached into her pocket to see if she'd gotten any messages from Morgan, only to find that she had no cellular service in the cave. "Oh. I guess we won't be able to contact Professor Sexton or Morgan from here. So we may have to move after we've rested." Upon seeing Cole shudder at the thought of more climbing, she laughed. "Coming downhill is a lot easier than going back up, Cole. But for now, rest your legs. We'll get in contact with the others before nightfall. Besides, we have to figure out how and where we're sleeping tonight. I think the Academy is out so long as Fateen is looking for you."

Cole seemed lost for words for a moment, before looking down at his hands and nodding. "I guess that makes sense. Why does everything you say make so much sense to me?"

"What do you mean?"

The boy sighed, but for the first time, it seemed to be one of content and not personal derision. "I'm not the smartest guy in the world. If I was, I'd have stayed in my dorm room when Jovi came for me initially. It's one of the many things I used to rely on Paige for. She's the smart one, the strong one, the quick one, the clever one. I'm just the guy she used to carry along behind her." He then looked to her. "But you? You're the total package, Addy. Everything Paige is, on top of being so cool with that gift of yours. Not to mention confident and beautiful and-"

"Okay, I get it" Addison interjected, completely caught off guard by Cole's compliment. "Thanks." She looked away, trying all in her power to suppress her bright blushing cheeks.

Cole, blissfully unaware of her shyness, rested on the rock. "At least I can wait a few minutes to rest my feet."

"While we have a few minutes, I'll try meditating with Galatea." She rose to her feet and walked a few feet forward before crossing her legs and sitting in an attempt to clear her mind and contact Galatea telepathically. She began to cleanse her mind of all outside thoughts and welcomed her Gardevoir to join her. After a moment of waiting, her Pokémon did in fact join her in the meditative state. The two began to redevelop their connection as the rest of the world began to slow around them. Even Cole, who was shining like a beacon of hope for her, slowly faded out of thought and mind as she established contact with Galatea.

I hope you know what you're doing, my friend.

"Of course I do."

I'm not sure you know what I mean. Do not forget your intentions for coming to Paldea to begin with.

"Haven't you been listening? Cole has seen Mirage Island. We just have to figure out when it appears next. That cataclysmic event he mentioned caused the worlds anomalies to shift. Which means all we have to figure out is how far into the past he and his friends came, and-"

I am certain now that you did not comprehend my meaning.

Addison frowned. "Very well. Lay it on me. What's your meaning?"

You seek this island in the hopes of reuniting you with your mate. And I am certain this boy can help you do it. But I am not as certain in your ability to differentiate Cole from your mate. Do not forget we see with the same eyes and mind when you've opened yourself. It may be dangerous for you to join forces with someone you're developing feelings for.

Addison was aghast at such an assertion. "Feelings? Oh come on, Galatea. That's just not true."

You blush when he compliments you unknowingly. You see Ryan in his shadow, you've gone from focusing entirely on finding this island to protecting this boy from his enemies and now you're hiding in a cave with him. Addison, if these things are not feelings, then what are they? After a long pause, waiting for an answer that Addison could not give her, Galatea resumed. It is possible that our minds are still not at full power.

"Full power?"

Ever since that metal sound we both heard impacted us, we're not as strongly linked as we used to be. Whatever the source of that sound was or is, it has hindered our progress and development. I could be completely mistaken regarding this situation with your friend Cole, but I can only use my most basic senses in these regards. Our telepathy is weak right now.

"Is there a way we can fix this?"

Prolonged meditation might help, but it will certainly lead those enemies after the two of you. We may need to find an alternative route for reconnecting ourselves. Because the only things I have observed and cannot conclude properly is that the friendship between you two is incredibly strong and growing stronger by the moment. You're dependent on one another for support, both physically and emotionally. Which is why I do not want you to be led astray from our goal.

"I can assure you that Ryan is still at the forefront of my mind" Addison promised. "Cole is just a very good friend who also needs my help. And I intend on helping him so he can help us find Ryan and White Island. Is that a fair look at this situation, Galatea?"

I shall take your word for it. Until our link is fully restored, however, I shall be observing.

Addison opened her eyes and glanced backwards towards her friend. Cole was resting on the rock she'd left him by, his Pokémon all snuggling up to him. His Pawmot wrapped the boy's arm around him and got up close, doing his best not to jolt him with electricity. His Fletchling perched himself atop his trainer's head and settled down, whistling contently to himself. A very small Petilil had danced itself into Cole's free hand until sitting down gently. Despite her desire to prove to Galatea she did not feel anything beyond general apathy for Cole, her heart melted at this sight. A boy whose only worry was about other people, never even thinking about himself outside of self-loathing. His only desires to help her and Paige with little to no regard for himself. No wonder she could see Ryan in him.

She shook her head. Maybe I do feel something for him. But that's a bridge I'll cross later. For now, we need to rest until nighttime. She then rose to her feet and made to rejoin her friend in resting until later.

{}

Despite the two walking around the region together and exploring some of the sights and sounds of Paldea, Bridgette had allowed Justin to do most of the talking and decision making about their journey. He would film his vlog and talk to his followers about the many sights and sounds they had come across, occasionally asking her for her input, but she in large part remained silent and mostly passive in their interactions. She truthfully didn't have much she could say at this point. The fair maiden was still a torrent of confused emotions regarding her new traveling partner. Justin had truly been something she could not have possibly fathomed upon returning to Arcana after her own self-imposed exile. Someone, besides her deceased Malcolm Tress or the King himself, had somehow worn her inner defenses down and become something to her she could not have possibly imagined anyone would. Someone worth...maybe...potentially...having a relationship with.

And with Lizzie seemingly occupied with her own adventures regarding that peculiar Dragon Pokémon she'd inherited from another student, she had no one truly intervening with any potential pairing between them. No one...except herself.

Sure, she was a single woman with literally no reason not to be in a relationship with a surprisingly humble, earnest and quite dashing man Justin had proven to be. She deserved to be happy. Everyone, including her two closest friends in the world, Michael and Christopher, said as much to her. But a part of her...well, several parts actually, was reserved and downright reluctant to partake in a relationship. For one thing, she had a duty to watch over Addison on behalf of her parents, Warren and Deidre Tenton. She was given the opportunity to make things right by people she had abandoned years earlier for her own selfish desires to clear her head of things at home and she could not wrong them again. For another, she was afraid. Malcolm had answered all she had ever wanted in someone to share her life with. He was smart, brave, loyal to an absolute fault, strong, passionate and not the least handsome. Her Malcolm had a physique that could make an Olympian blush. Michael Kingston was the closest anyone had come to matching Malcolm, but he was long since spoken for by Julia. No one could possibly match her personal criteria for men.

Justin met the first criteria easily enough. He had a surprisingly built look to him for being such an introverted gamer, something she attributed to a healthy diet and calisthenics he must do daily. She had ogled him like a Lycanroc would a rib-eye steak at Titanio Park several months earlier. But unlike Malcolm, he didn't show off much to anyone. He enjoyed a more peaceful and tranquil style to life. She had to admit he was passionate about what he enjoyed, but she had yet to see the same drive in his heart. The rest of the tests could come, but she was in no mood to rush them. Let it come to pass if it would. For now, she would simply watch over one of the four charges she, Amanda, Billy and Lizzie had been sent to look after, all while hoping things remained as peaceful as they had been.

So it caught her completely off guard when Justin approached her with an unanticipated question. "So, Bridgette? Where would you like to go?"

Bridgette eyed him in confusion. "I'm sorry?"

"I've been making all the decisions so far today" he lamented. "And I notice you always show off a smile when asked, but I want to see you genuinely smile for once today."

Bridgette tried in earnest to smile but found little strength to do so. "I...Justin, we need to focus on your vlog, remember?"

"And you're a part of it now" he assured her. He pulled out his Poké Gear and showed her the statistics of the latest video he'd uploaded, of their sampling of the baked goods at Katy's Bakery in Cortondo. He scrolled through some of the comments and showed them off to her. Bridgette was surprised to find multiple people asking to learn about her. One even claimed to have fought her when she was the Gym Leader of Titanio City's Gym years prior.

"I didn't think so many people would be interested in me" she admitted.

"And you see these ones?" he added, pointing towards a few commenters near the top. "You're the one they're calling the mermaid."

"The mermaid?" she gasped. No one had called her the mermaid besides two people in her life: her Aunt Jane and Malcolm. Jane did so because of how she seemed basically born to swim in the ocean. Her beloved aunt would tease her by saying she was swimming before she could walk. Malcolm had called her a mermaid because of how one she seemed to be with both any body of water and the Pokémon that seemed to dwell in it. To have so many others calling her that, however, was a bit unnerving.

"Since you are one of the driving parts of my channel, I think it's fair that you should decide where we'd head next."

Bridgette sighed. "I guess if you're putting me on the spot, how about we visit one of the places known for the water."

Justin looked at the map on his Poké Gear. "Well, we could go to Porto Marinada or Levincia. But the closest one to us is Cascarrafa, the city of water." He then gestured towards the walkway ahead. "Actually, if we continue up this pathway, the city should be just over the horizon."

She shrugged. "Then I guess we'll head to Cascarrafa."

"You don't sound so enthusiastic" he pointed out.

"Honestly, I'm just trying to make sure we don't get into any trouble."

Justin frowned at this. "Surely you and I can't cause too much trouble, can we?"

"Look, I know we're not very likely to get into the kind of trouble you're thinking of but remember what we're representing while we're here. Regional unity and cooperation. This is Julia's ancestral region and with her and Michael counting on us to..." She flashed a look at Justin, who wore a look of surprising confidence on his face. One she had seen all too much of from Malcolm at the peak of their relationship. And it made her heart quiver at the sight of it. "When did you get so good at that confident look?"

Though for a moment, the boy she'd been mentoring flashed back onto his face, Justin regained the swagger he'd had before replying. "It's because of you. You're the one who's helped me break out of my shell. And I can't thank you enough for that, Bridgette."

"You're welcome" she replied.

Without another word, Justin raced up the pathway towards the hill that was said to mask Cascarrafa from their view. Bridgette followed at a slower pace, herself deep in thought. While she was deeply intrigued and potentially smitten with the man whom she'd been asked to teach the ways of nobility to, she didn't want him to lose out on the boyish excitement and optimism she'd heard he exuded. Not everyone needed to grow up too fast. She'd seen far too many who did already. Never enjoying the time to be kids. Not only her cousins or Michael and Julia, but also now Addison and Morgan, on whom the fate of so many lives and future relationships now rested. The longer people got to enjoy the times without responsibilities or worries, the better in her opinion.

She made it to the top of the tall hill and saw Cascarrafa for herself. It was an oasis surrounded by mountains on one side and an expansive desert on the other. How one would think to build a city with a passion for Water and Aquatic Pokémon surrounded by mountains, crags and an ocean of sand was beyond her, but it shined like a sapphire that stood out from its environment. She had to admit the city was a sight to behold. It was a multi-tiered city, with large elevators transferring people, vehicles and Pokémon from one floor to the next. Restaurants catering no doubt to seafood connoisseurs, massive sparkling water fountains, shops for all needs one could have from clothing, accessories, Pokémon Items, collecting items and food shopping. High above it all was the Gym, whom she could only imagine utilized Water Pokémon in ways similar to her.

But she would have to observe the city more later. With Justin far ahead of her, she knew she needed to keep up with him before he became overstimulated. She broke out into a jog until she spotted him speaking with a large man wearing a white shirt covered by a deep, cerulean-shaded apron. He also had one massive unibrow that seemed to have been combed and perfected into the shape of waves on the open water.

"So, you're one of the kids visiting from Paldea?" the man inquired.

"I am. I was just wondering if I could talk to you about what makes this city so wonderful for people who've never been here before." He cleared his throat. "You see, I run a vlog and I've been showing people who've never been to Paldea the wondrous sights and sounds of the region. My partner and I wanted to come here next so we could see just how wonderful your city is."

The man slapped his belly playfully. "Well, Vaultin' Veluza! You've come to the right place, then. I've been to so many of Paldea's cities throughout my life. And though I may be a bit biased in saying so, I've always loved Cascarrafa. The sights, the sounds, the atmosphere." He glanced behind him at Bridgette. "I take it this here lady is your partner, son?"

"Well, I wouldn't go that far" Bridgette began, before Justin grabbed her arm and pulled her beside him.

"Of course she is. And where we come from, Bridgette is a Gym Leader herself. A Water Type expert as well."

The man chuckled. "Ah, a fellow lover of the big, briny blue. Well, anyone who loves Water Pokémon is a friend of mine. They call me Kofu, this region's Gym Leader."

Bridgette nodded politely. "Bridgette Duon of Titanio City."

"The Mermaid of Arcana" Justin gushed, prompting Bridgette to blush brightly.

"Then I say your first stop ought to be the Battle Arena here in town" Kofu insisted. "It's more than just a place where I battle curious trainers. As you will see soon enough." He looked to Bridgette. "As a Master of Water Pokémon, I could use your help for a demonstration for the locals. Whaddya say, my dear?"

"Oh gee. I don't know, sir." Bridgette was not there to make a spectacle of herself, but it didn't seem that either the Gym Leader or Justin was willing to take that as an answer. Once both sets of eyes as well as those of a few other curious onlookers fell on her, she capitulated. "Oh, alright. But I'm more of a substance Gym Leader than a show one."

"Our Pokémon can do all the show stuff" Kofu assured her. "Now come along. The Battle Arena is just ahead."

As Kofu walked further ahead of them, Bridgette and Justin walked behind, with the surfer eyeing him worriedly. "I hope you know what you're getting me into, Justin. I'm not the best when it comes to performing in front of crowds. That's why I wasn't the contest star my parents wanted me to be."

Justin shook his head as he led Bridgette forward. "You're better at doing something like this than I am."

She anchored herself down to get him to listen to her. "No, Justin. I'm not. Just because I'm more confident in myself doesn't mean that I'm comfortable-" She paused when Justin stepped in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders. "What are you doing?"

Her friend took a deep breath as if finding his own inner voice to coach her. "You are the single most incredible person I've come to know since I left for Arcana a year ago. You're passionate, you're strong, you care about everyone regardless of who they are or what they come from. You've got some kind of...I don't know...something that makes you stand out from everyone else. That something I've always wanted to have, Bridgette. That something that makes you more than just someone special. It makes you...it makes you...well...you. And if you think that...well...you're not up to this, then remember all the things you've accomplished in life."

She remained unconvinced. "I really haven't done much."

"You're a master Water Pokémon trainer" he reminded her. "You've fought the forces of evil, surfed your way around the world, safeguarded the King's Pokémon League from unworthy Pokémon Trainers and are helping others reunite a fractured world."

"Justin, I know what you're saying, but-"

"And surely doing all the things you've done on top of being so wonderful must mean you can accomplish anything, even performing alongside Kofu."

"Wonderful?" Bridgette asked, her eyes widening.

Justin gulped nervously. "You are...um...well...at least in my opinion...the...uh...the most...well, you are just like a mermaid, aren't you?"

If Bridgette wore glasses, she knew at this point they'd have fogged up despite no real heat coming from the air around them. Even if he didn't mean to intentionally do so, Justin had complimented her in ways no man had done so since Malcolm. Or at least had that she'd noticed. And rather than completely melt into putty in the boys hands, she decided she had to take the initiative and prevent herself from becoming all wobbly kneed and nervous. She leaned up and pecked the boy on the cheek. "Fine. I'll do it." She then took the boy's arm and led him after Kofu.

Upon arriving at the Battle Arena, she playfully pushed the boy towards the crowded area so he could film. Once he was situated, Bridgette walked up onto the Battle Arena floor to stand side by side with Kofu. He waved over as many people as possible to witness what he and Bridgette would do.

"Everyone come on over" he called. "I've got a surprise for you all. A Water Type Master from a faraway region has come to demonstrate her skills for us."

Dozens of curious onlookers flocked their way towards the Battle Arena, with Justin doing his best to voice an intro to the video that he was about to shoot with his Poké Gear. Bridgette began to feel Butterfrees in her stomach, but the words Justin had spoken to her were echoing in her head and kept those bad thoughts out of her mind. She stood beside Kofu as he tried to hype the crowd up more. As she tried to brace herself for whatever role she'd be asked to do, she glanced towards Kofu as he turned his attention to her.

"Do any of your Pokémon know Aurora Beam?" he asked. "Or Sparkling Aria?"

Bridgette nodded. "My Primarina knows Sparkling Aria and my Dewgong knows Aurora Beam. Why?"

"Just call out your Pokémon when the mist comes in. Then let them have fun." He then reached onto his belt and pulled out a Poké Ball containing a Cloyster. Upon initial release, the Cloyster let out a strange screech, which then prompted a sudden sting of music to play around them. The crowds began to grow excited as the Cloyster used Mist to shroud the entire area in Mist.

Taking this as her cue, Bridgette called out her Dewgong, a bulky yet playful seafaring Pokémon with a sharp horn at the top of its head, followed swiftly by her Primarina, which was similar to her Dewgong but thinner and flowing with an aura of Fairy power. Both Pokémon playfully bounced around in the Mist. Bridgette was about to tell them to make their moves, when five nearby water pumps began to spout water. This only further made her two Pokémon more playful and excited. As the music sounded all around them and Kofu's own Swanna flew around the arena gracefully with the jets blasting behind her in rhythm, Bridgette knew this was the time for them to shine.

"Dewgong! Aurora Beam into the air!"

Her Dewgong more than delivered, spitting out a rainbow hued beam into the air. The shining lights prompted the onlookers to erupt in applause. The Swanna turned around at this and began to circle the Aurora Beam until spitting out one of her own. This prompted the Dewgong to spit out another. Both beams collided with one another, shining with a bright light reminiscent of the Aurora Borealis.

"Now's your turn, Primarina!" the surfer exclaimed. "Sparkling Aria!"

Her Primarina, though a touch more nervous than the Dewgong, nodded and opened her mouth, emitting an almost endless wave of bubbles into the sky. The Dewgong playfully barked and spat another Aurora Beam out in response. The Swanna, upon seeing the rising bubbles in the air, surprised everyone by soaring right into the bubbles and popping them, prompting large aquatic explosions to glisten all around them and water to drench the Pokemon and trainers beneath the performance. Bridgette didn't mind, having spent most of her life in the water or dreaming about the water. This was second nature to her. Kofu also seemed to be enjoying himself.

The music continued to play as if a fireworks show was playing, with fans screaming and applauding as the Primarina created more bubbles with the Sparkling Aria, the Dewgong and Cloyster spat out Aurora Beams and the Swanna soared through all of the bubbles, popping them to the delight of the spectators.

"Keep going, Primarina!" Bridgette cheered.

Her Pokémon obliged, spitting out bubbles like a machine and watching them pop thanks to Kofu's star Flying Pokémon. As the music appeared to be reaching its climax and the water cannons fired more pulses of water into the sky, Bridgette knew the time was right for the finale. Kofu's Swanna and Cloyster gathered around the center of the arena alongside Bridgette's Dewgong and Primarina. Cloyster and Dewgong spat out more Aurora Beams to clash in the skies above, while the Primarina created what had to be largest Sparkling Aria bubble she'd ever seen. So large in fact, that it engulfed the Aurora Beams into one massive mass of frozen light energy.

"Finish it off, Swanna!" Kofu called. "Aerial Ace!"

The Swanna soared throughout the air, using every acrobatic trick it could muster before stopping behind the massive bubble so as not to obstruct the view of the audience below them. With one swift swing of its wing, the bubble exploded and showered the entirety of the central portion of Cascarrafa in a veil of rainbow-colored rainfall.

The applause Bridgette heard was almost euphoric. Everyone was shouting, screaming and clapping wildly for her and Kofu's performance. She wore a big and bright smile as her Pokémon barked approvingly at all of the spectators.

Kofu pointed towards her. "Please, save your applause for our guest. None of this would be possible without our guest from Arcana. Give it up for Bridgette Duon of Titanio City!"

Bridgette took a moment to soak in all of the praise she got from the locals. People clamoring for seeing more of her in the future, some for wanting to see how good of a battler she was and others wondering just why the borders weren't fully open to Arcanans already. Bridgette recalled her Pokémon and waved to her new adoring fans. She glanced down towards Justin, who was scrambling his way up and onto the arena to congratulate her on his own. Once he'd done so, Justin raced forward and hugged her. While her face was steaming red, she didn't care and simply accepted the hug as others gushed on about them.

"You were incredible, Bridgette!" Justin proclaimed. "That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"

"You don't have to exaggerate" Bridgette replied earnestly.

"The boy didn't exactly exaggerate" Kofu explained as he made it to their side. "You helped my Pokémon entertain to levels I've never even seen. Usually, we do a bit of a light show. But with you, Miss Duon...I mean...Vaultin' Veluza! I think you brought out the best in all of our Pokémon and in Cascarrafa herself." He wiped water from his thick unibrow and laughed. "While Pokémon are my passion, cooking is also something I'm particularly good at. It would be my honor to prepare dinner for a couple of talented, exceptional individuals as yourselves, not to mention continuing on with that tour of the city you'd asked for. Whaddya say, kids?"

Justin looked to Bridgette sheepishly. "Your call, Milady."

Bridgette smiled. "Why not? I'd love to see more of the city."

Kofu laughed happily. "Then we're off!"

As Kofu led them away from the now endless run of adoring fans Bridgette had acquired, Bridgette wrapped her arm around Justin's and smiled. "I wouldn't have had the courage to do that without you, Justin. So...thank you." She leaned up and pecked him on the cheek, dragging him along behind her as Kofu began his detailed tour of the rest of Cascarrafa.

{}

Julia was not too pleased to be called away from an important meeting with Annie to deal with her mother-in law's arrival in the castle, but her trusted butler Gerard had insisted that either her or her husband's presence was required almost immediately. And with Michael currently in one of his rehab stints with Jenna, it fell upon her to deal with whatever commotion Lady Erin was causing in the foyer of Kingston Castle. She had even left Annie behind in the King's Study to address this issue as soon as possible. She needed all the time she could to address the issues of the Kingdom while her husband was unavailable. Which in turn would give her more time to spend with him and their children.

She did not make it into the foyer before she realized that Lady Erin was only half of the commotion she had been told of. Erin was in the middle of a heated argument with some newcomer, with a few exasperated servants and guards keeping the two apart. Julia approached the situation with a calm and level demeanor, but was quickly frustrated by two grown women acting like immature toddlers in their dispute.

"I warned my brother that going after someone like you was asking for trouble" the second woman snarled. "He should have never given you the time of day, Erin!"

"Your brother loved me" Erin angrily replied.

"Arceus only knows why!"

Julia finally made it to the debating women and stopped their quarreling. "That is enough! And no way to act in the halls of this castle!" She looked to Erin, who seemed ashamed of herself and stepped backwards and then to the other woman. She recognized her all too well. After all, this aged woman had all but called her trash when they spoke on a video call several weeks earlier. She sighed a bitter sigh at the newcomer. "What are you doing here, Bleu?"

"You two know one another?" Erin asked, surprise in her voice.

"We've spoken once before" Bleu Skye replied bitterly. "But I won't be here for long. The demonic energy in these halls is sickening." The elderly woman was leaning heavily on her cane, but addressed Julia with such confidence that it was a bit unnerving. "I am seeking compensation for the decimation of my family here in Arcana. My brother, his wicked strumpet of an ex-wife polluting his children, as well as my nephew Leonard and his son Simon."

"Why do you deserve compensation?" Erin growled.

"These pure souls were tainted by Arcanan corruption. Surely the strumpet who corrupted my brother and the one who corrupted his son would know as much?"

"Corrupted?" Julia asked coldly. "You come into our home and accuse me of-"

"Accuse? You are guilty. You, like all outsiders, steered men from our tribe from their righteous paths and make them seek things other than serving our family and our tribe. My brothers were corrupted, my nephews and I suspect their children as well, not to mention my nieces. Someone needs to preserve the family and keep the sinful from tainting the Hakoda Tribe any further. Which is why I have come for my compensation."

"My husband is not corrupted by anything. And you accusing him as such will not endear him to you, Bleu."

"And you and I both know the real reason Mike had to leave Lentimas Town" Erin reminded Bleu. "Or did you forget-"

"I know what happened" Bleu snapped. "And I know what our family has suffered because of outsiders preying on them. Outsiders that also include you, Erin. As well as your daughter in-law here."

"Your family has suffered only because of your refusal to adapt" Julia scolded. "Michael said as much."

"Hold on a sec" a voice chimed in from behind the group. Julia recoiled at the sound of her voice, still untrusting of the woman who had terrorized Arcana for years and almost killed her Abuela. But she had to hope that at least in this situation, Giselle was going to be on her side and thus did not immediately address Arcana's former Tyrant and another fellow Unovan. "Whining and complaining incessantly while being a complete hypocrite? Man, the stereotypes of people from Lentimas Town know no bounds, do they?" Giselle strutted her way to the conversation and stood in between Erin and Julia.

"And what would you know of this?" Bleu hissed.

"As a Unovan myself, I should" Giselle smirked. "Do yourself a favor and leave here before you agitate the King anymore than you already have."

"You must be Giselle. The woman that should have married my nephew."

"Now hold on a second!" Julia interjected.

"Fairly certain Her Majesty here is the one who got Michael in the end, you old bat" Giselle added. "And I should warn you, lady. Julia is the one you should be more afraid of than the King. She holds grudges for eternity." Though caught off guard by the compliment, Julia and Giselle exchanged a glance between one another, with the former rival for her husband's heart winking at her.

"I do not need a warning, Miss Odelia" Bleu grumbled. "You betrayed your own Unovan Origins by coming here and therefore are as tainted and corrupted as the rest."

"Well, I won't argue with that" the former tyrant mocked. "But we in Arcana find other things are more tainting and corrupting than just leaving a slum town like Lentimas Town to find better lives for ourselves."

"Why are you here, Bleu?" Julia demanded.

"For compensation. I require a family treasure to repay me for my losses. A simple heirloom that might turn our fortunes around in Lentimas Town. Once I have what I came here for, I shall be on my way." She gestured towards the stairwell that led to the upper levels of the castle. "I've taken the liberty of sending my escort there. He will acquire what I seek."

Erin shook her head. "What are you after?"

"None of your concern, hussy!"

"Do not speak to her like that, Bleu!" Julia angrily said. "Now answer the question!"

Bleu grunted bitterly. "An heirloom. One that was passed down from my father to my brother and from my brother to one of his children. I cannot be sure if it is Victoria or Michael, so I've come here first." She waved off any further replies. "The heirloom is not something you would understand, you spoiled tart. It is more sentimental than it is financially worthwhile. Once we have it, we'll be as far from this miserable pit as possible."

Giselle leaned close to Julia, whispering in her ear. "She's after something bigger than an heirloom."

"Tell me something I don't know" Julia added in a hushed tone. She glanced back at the stairwell to see a man with similar clothing to Bleu's coming down the stairs with a large sack containing something Julia suspected was more than just an 'heirloom'. The man did not say a word to her, nor did he even make eye contact with her while passing. On his left arm, Julia noted a strange tattoo of a Hydreigon with it's three heads being different colors: one red, one blue and one yellow. After rudely brushing past Julia and Giselle, the man nodded to Bleu.

"Then I guess that's that" Bleu concluded.

"What's in the bag?" Giselle insisted.

"As I said, an heirloom. Michael had it and now I am going to bring it back to Lentimas Town and save our future."

Julia was about to reply, when she heard a savage growl from above. She and Giselle were nearly bowled over by Mufasa the Arcanine, who lunged in front of the doorway out of Kingston Castle and growled maliciously at Bleu and her escort. This alarmed Julia. Mufasa was never this ferocious outside of battle. He was usually as gentle as any Pokémon her husband had raised. Why was he now growling with pure hate at Bleu? She noticed the Arcanine's eyes never once left the bag that Bleu's escort was holding. "Mufasa? What's gotten into you?"

"Pokémon are more in tune with things than we are" Giselle warned. The Elite Four member stepped forward. "What's in the bag?"

"It does not concern you!" Bleu replied haughtily, though there was a twinge of fear in her voice.

Julia stepped right next to Giselle. "What is in the bag?" Mufasa let out a savage snarl at both Bleu and her escort, prompting both to step backwards. Julia stared the two of them down. "Don't make me ask again!"

"Ask as many times as you-" Bleu began coldly.

Without warning, Giselle made her move. The man seemed to realize what she was up to and tried to fight back, but the two immediately began to grapple over the bag. The man attempted to overpower her, but Giselle was quicker and leaped out of his grasp, grabbing the arm that grasped the bag in it and pulling it behind his back. With one quick movement, the former tyrant sharply twisted the man's wrist so sharply Julia suspected that the wrist was broken. Sure enough, there was a snap and the man dropped the sack. Giselle let go of him and leaped down to catch it. Once she did and jumped back to her feet, she opened up the bag and inspected the contents. Her eyes widened and her skin paled.

"Uh, Your Grace?" Giselle spoke nervously. "I think this one belongs to you."

Julia took the sack from Giselle and looked inside. Her face quickly imitated Giselle's, only the horror in her face was genuine with what she saw. She could hear little, save for Bleu trying to accuse Giselle of assaulting her escort and Erin and Giselle firing back. She could also hear someone mentioning something about a guard being knocked out in the halls. But none of it mattered to her. Because when she reached into the sack and pulled out the sleeping form of her son, her maternal instincts kicked in and she cradled her precious baby to her. Fortunately, James seemed to still be asleep, but began to fuss as Julia clutched him tightly to her body as she stepped behind Giselle and her mother in-law.

If she was thinking clearly, she would have struck Bleu so hard, she'd actually need the cane to walk with. But fortunately for her, she didn't need to. Upon seeing how close her grandson was to being abducted, Erin Kingston struck Bleu with such force that the woman fell to the ground and began to howl in pain. The Arcanine growled viciously until the tattooed escort sent out a Stoutland to oppose Mufasa. But the two quickly got into a battle, with Mufasa and his fellow canine Pokémon tearing at one another ruthlessly.

"Explain yourself!" Julia demanded to the escort. "WHAT DID YOU INTEND TO DO TO MY SON?!" This woke James up and the baby began to cry as Julia tried to soothe him.

The escort made to grab at the boy again. but Giselle stood in front of Julia. "Not on your life, loser. Want your other wrist broken?" The man made no moves to speak, prompting Julia and Giselle to both realize he had been silent the entire time. "Too stunned to speak, eh?"

"HE'S MUTE, YOU DUMB BITCH!" Bleu shrieked, acting as if the smack she'd gotten from Erin was a deathblow as she desperately tried to recover. "I am going to sue this region for all it's worth! For harming me and then for harming-"

"You have some nerve to say that after-"

"YOU TRIED TO KIDNAP MY GRANDSON!" Erin bellowed. "YOU'RE LUCKY I DON'T KILL YOU HERE. BLEU!"

Bleu struggled to her feet and leaned heavily on her cane. "I'll have every last penny of yours, Erin! But not until our tribe is repaid with that boy. Give him to me, Julia. You do not want this to get any uglier!" She looked to her escort, who was still trying to fix his broken wrist. "Kelvim. Get the boy!"

"You really don't want to try that again" Giselle warned.

Bleu scoffed at this. "Care to wager, Giselle?"

Giselle and Julia looked down at Kelvim's side, where a machete was hanging. With his non-broken hand, he made to grab the weapon. Giselle remained firmly in front of Julia and simply stared at the man who had tried to abduct a baby. She folded her arms and laughed derisively at Bleu and her escort's show of force. "I'm confident you won't get the opportunity to. Either of you."

"You got lucky once" Bleu insisted. "It won't happen again." She nodded to Kelvim. Kelvim drew the weapon and brandished it at Giselle and Julia. "Give us the boy!"

Giselle would have said something had Mufasa not hurled the broken and beaten body of Kelvim's Stoutland back at him. Kelvim's distraction at this allowed Giselle and Erin to regroup and stand firmly in front of the Queen and her son. Mufasa soon joined them and huffed flames of warning down at both the feet of Kelvim and Bleu. Julia held her son close to her and did her best to remain calm enough to console her crying son before she broke out into a panic attack at the thought of losing him. She knew she would have to give her husband's Pokémon as many treats as he wanted for this.

Kelvim's eyes became dangerous as he saw what Mufasa had done to his Pokémon. His face twisted in pure hatred as he made to swing the machete at them. Mufasa spat an Ember down at his feet, forcing him to fall backwards. Julia's eyes darted in all directions. Guards were falling into place, preventing an escape from all directions. Giselle put her arm around Julia and made to guide her to safety away from this situation, but Bleu would have none of it.

"NOBODY GOES ANYWHERE UNTIL WE HAVE THE BOY!" Bleu demanded.

"And you're not getting him" Giselle hissed. "Do you need a reminder of that fact?"

"You won't beat him a second time, foolish strumpet!"

Giselle's eyes found a sight behind Kelvim and she smiled. "It's not me you have to worry about. It's him."

The next few seconds happened so quickly for Julia she could not tell fully what was going on. But the screams and shrieks from Bleu could only confirm that from out of thin air, her beloved had come back and taken down the man who had threatened their son. Giselle and Erin shielded her and James from seeing it, but the melee that ensued ended quickly. When Julia was allowed to see, she saw her husband standing over Kelvim, his foot on the throat of the mute man and his eyes glaring daggers at Bleu Skye. His chest heaved violently from his outburst, but he showed no signs of fatigue or wear. Kelvim had been beaten badly, his face covered in blood and sweat and his body mangled by the wrath of the King of Arcana. He may have been strong for a member of the same tribe, but her husband had been through far more than this man ever could conceive. And the contest between the two in terms of strength and experience ended as quickly as it began. Her Michael was far too much for an already wounded warrior to endure. Now, his fury was angled directly at his aunt. The utter rage that filled her husband at that moment was terrifying, but she was thankful it was on her side and fully intent on protecting her and their son.

Any bravado and control of the situation that Bleu had feigned to have was all gone and the look of utter horror on her face all but confirmed to Julia that her plan had been completely and irrevocably foiled.

"Was this his plan?!" Michael demanded of his aunt. "Or yours?"

"Let him go so we can discuss-"

"WAS THIS HIS PLAN?! OR YOURS?!" He began to press his foot down on Kelvim's throat, the mute man beginning to choke.

"It was mine!" Bleu admitted. "Let him go."

Michael lifted his boot and allowed Kelvim to recall his injured Pokémon. But no sooner had he done that, then the guards grabbed him and secured him, ripping the machete from his hands. The King stared down the man who had tried to kidnap his son, but Kelvim simply spat in his face and made an indiscernible grunt. Michael wiped the spit out of his face, his expression not changing a single time. Without warning, Michael slugged him one last time for good measure, prompting the guards that held him in place to have to keep him from falling to the ground. "If this man sets foot within these walls again, he loses his foot. Understood?!"

The guards nodded before dragging the bedraggled and beaten man from the foyer and out the door. Bleu made to exit alongside him, but two more guards stood at the door and blocked her exit.

"Let me leave" she commanded, but the guards did not move.

"You honestly think I'd let you leave after you tried to kidnap my son?!" Michael roared. "You're not going anywhere!"

"You cannot detain me!" she insisted. "I am a Unovan Citizen and you will-"

"You want to make an appeal to Iris?! Go on! I implore you to. Call Iris and explain what you were doing in Arcana! I'm sure my friend would be glad to hear about how you tried to kidnap my son. My father may have screwed up a lot of things, but he was smart to leave you out of his life, hag!" Michael looked to Giselle. "Did Maddy give you the report of Klefki Prison's completion?"

Giselle, who had been stunned into silence by Michael's onslaught, shook herself out of it and nodded. "She did. It won't be ready to hold prisoners for about eight more months. But that small island off the coast is still holding a few of Claude's thugs and the remnants of the Syndicate."

"I will not be held prisoner like some beast!" Bleu screamed.

"And if you ever come near my son again, you'll be begging that the place I send you is a prison!" The complete finality of Michael's tone had shaken all four women in the foyer to the core. Julia could see how he was just barely holding it together at that moment. He was just as horrified as she was of losing their son at this moment. As James cooed in her arms, she gently propped him up in her arms as Michael took in a deep breath to give his verdict.

"Tomorrow morning" Michael told his guards, "we send this woman to that island to rot. Tonight, she can spend time in the same cell I did seventeen years ago. Take her away!" The guards each grabbed one of Bleu's arms and dragged the bitter and screaming old woman away, leaving her cane behind. Michael spoke to some of the men as they passed and then walked over to Mufasa. It was only when he was sure his son was safe that the King finally broke down and pet his beloved Arcanine. "Thank you. Thank you, buddy." The Mufasa buried his snout into Michael's face and licked him playfully, his trainer's tears falling into his fur.

"Honey..." Erin remarked, moved by her son's vulnerability.

"You did a number on him" Giselle insisted. "Gotta say, I'm impressed."

Michael turned to face Giselle. "Thank you for this, Giselle. I cannot express how much I-"

Giselle waved him off. "No need to thank me. Just keep an eye on that little one, and we're even. My progress report is done, so I'm back to work." She made to leave, but Julia caught her hand.

"Thank you, Giselle. I wouldn't have my son if it weren't for you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you." Giselle nodded and squeezed her hand before releasing her grip and departing after the guards. Once Giselle had gone, Julia brought their still crying son over to Michael. Michael took his wife in one arm and looked down on his son. James opened his eyes and upon seeing both of his parents, stopped crying and instead tried to formulate a smile.

"Oh my baby boy" Julia wept. "I thought-"

"We've always got you, buddy" Michael assured his son. "Until the end of time." Michael kissed his hand and placed it on his son's tiny head before kissing Julia on her cheek. "Do what you need to do, honey. I'll finish up the paperwork with Annie. And I'll see you tonight." He gave both of them a hug, doing a poor job of containing how petrified he was when he'd heard what was going on, and then departed towards the King's Study to work with Annie with Mufasa tagging along behind him.

Erin stepped up to Julia's side. "I...I didn't know he could just turn it on and off like that."

Julia took a deep breath and cradled her son in her arms. "For us, he'd move the stars and the moon if he could." She nuzzled her son playfully and exhaled. "And that's all I've ever needed to know about him."

{}

"Fortunately, this stupid little exercise in futility didn't hamper our plans much in Arcana" Brick reported to Natalya later that day. Since her failure to acquire Cole's Tera Crystal, she'd been spending the bulk of her time trying to accelerate and alter her plans as needed for Uva Academy and those who stood in her way of unleashing the Paradox Pokémon upon the world. She needed her pawns in place to complete her goals, which included sowing discord in Arcana. Brick had been keeping an eye out for anything going on in Arcana on her behalf on top of keeping tabs of the targets she'd been planning to take as hostages. So now, after having done enough to keep Uva Academy under her thumb for the time being, she needed to hear a progress report. She was not expecting to learn that one of her trusted men in the Tri Drago had attempted to kidnap the son of Michael and Julia.

"I don't need anyone doing anything stupid" Natalya hissed into the Rotom Phone. "We've got too much riding on this, Brick."

"Fortunately, the old hag he came to Arcana with is taking most of the heat" Brick insisted. "Let her rot in a prison cell. Simon picked up Kelvim after he was dumped in a river. And besides a broken wrist, he seems to be in shape. He'll be ready for tonight. I guarantee it."

"He'd better be" Natalya insisted. "It's imperative that these things all happen at once."

"I understand what's at stake, Mistress Natalya. The Tri Drago has never broken a contract. We always follow through on our promises."

"What about our three Arcanan targets?!"

"Amanda Fouritz spends most of her time in the Academy Library, so taking her shouldn't be too hard. Queensbury could be a bit of a problem. Those two kidnappers I hired from Arcana claim they have it taken care of, but I have my doubts. The kid is a good trainer. One of us may need to intervene, especially if he and Miss Augustine are going to be working together for the foreseeable future."

"Leave Miss Augustine to me. I can lure her away from the others. But we need the three of them under our power before the night ends, Brick. Cole cannot have anyone to depend on in this miserable region if we're going to get his Tera Crystal!"

"That girl with him is pretty dangerous, though. That 'Mage' girl?"

"Addison Tenton won't be a problem for much longer. I have a plan to deal with her. Were those Black Tera Dens planted around Arcana like I wanted?"

"Affirmative."

"Then Miss Tenton shouldn't be a problem after she triggers one. She'll drag Cole into the abyss with her and I can get rid of the both of them on top of getting that Tera Crystal. Two problems taken care of with one solution. My father would be proud." She glared at the Poké Gear as if she could see Brick through it. "Tonight is imperative, Brick. We need those hostages down in Area Zero before anyone's the wiser."

"What about this Primera chick? Will she be a problem?"

Natalya smirked a knowingly wicked smile. "I have a feeling she'll be a great asset to us going forward."