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A few months have passed since Jason's return from Japan. A lot has happened during his stay there but he thinks it won't hurt anybody if he doesn't share. His parents were more than happy to see his son's safe return from a modern city, even made a few comments about how Jason might have felt alienated. But what Jason couldn't understand was why it took them a few months to create a homecoming party... but he let that slide.

"Heh... it wasn't all strange." Jason laughed the teasing comment off. "I'm good at adapting to many situations and I'm used to the ultra-modern city of Tokugawa."

"Well, whatever the case, you haven't forgotten about us have you?" Natalie, Jason's mother asked as she held onto Jason's hand.

"Not in my lifetime." Jason answered as he hugged his mother.

Almost the entire district attended the party, all of Jason's friends, his allies, even some of his tormentors in the past who have matured past the bullying stage. The number of people who came to welcome him home was intense if made Jason feel awkward. His parents have left him for some time alone with his buds which made Jason feel even more stressed.

"Jason Alexander," a familiar voice called out from the crowd. "You've got some nerve showing your face here again."

Jason felt a sensation climb up his spine as he felt a presence approach him. "Charlie, Charlie, still trying to prove yourself to... me..." Jason's sentence was interrupted by awe as he stared at his frienemy.

"You look surprised to see me." Charlie chuckled with pride. "Is it that I'm taller, or maybe I'm much more handsome now?"

Last time Jason saw Charlie, the brute was just a mean and irrational Charizard who somehow managed to become Jason's friend. Now, he's a mega Charizard Y. "How... how did you become a mega?" Jason's jaw dropped as he stared at his friend's new form.

"What can I say?" the charizard spread his arms to give Jason a view of his body. "You're not the only who's gone travelling. I found a mega stone in my stay in England. You don't have to worry about me being a rude brute anymore, I have English etiquette."

Jason let out a small laugh of amusement. "I find that hard to believe."

"Honest, I'm not that rude bully you met back at school anymore. I'm a changed dragon." Charlie placed his hands on Jason's shoulder and held them tight. "I've changed, Jason."

Jason felt really awkward about this and moved Charlie's hands away. "Okay, fine, you don't have to get all emotional on me now..."

Charlie laughed and wrapped his arm around Jason's shoulder. "It's been almost two years since we last saw each other." He proceeded to walk for the streets forcing Jason to come along. "Do you mind if we walked together, just the two of us?"

"Like I have a choice." Jason answered sarcastically. "You better not be setting me up for a prank 'cause I'm not afraid to fight back."

"What part of 'I have English etiquette' did you not understand?" Charlie asked as he dragged Jason along with him. "I just want to talk, catch up with what you've been doing in Japan and I'll share with you what I did in England."

"But what about the party thrown for ME?" Jason asked. "They'll start looking for me if I've gone."

"Fine, then I'll wait 'till the party's over." Charlie sighed and loosened his hold on Jason.

"Why are you so close to me now anyway?" Jason chuckled and patted the mega Charizard's back.

"It's just that I see you more as a friend now." Charlie chuckled as he took a sip of his drink. "All those years that I bullied you and you always stood your ground, not backing down an inch no matter how the odds were against you." he placed his cup down on a table and sat down. "I guess you could say I admire your determination."

"Aw, that's so sweet." Jason teasingly chuckled, nudging the mega Charizard playfully. "Well, keep up what you doing... your 'English etiquette'... and maybe I'll start looking up to you."

"What's there to see in me?" Charlie asked with pessimism.

"Dude, your charming, brave, an excellent leader if you weren't making a fool of yourself," Jason replied. "You're almost everything I'm not."

"Hey, you're brave." Charlie added giving Jason a small smile of embarrassment.

"Not always." Jason blushed. "The only time I become brave is when someone I care about is being threatened. That or when someone's threatening me."

"You're a good leader." Charlie pointed out once more.

"Dude, just accept my compliment of you being a role model." Jason answered with a slightly irritated tone.

Charlie let out a hefty laugh and patted Jason's back. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Sheesh, why do you have to be so serious?"

Jason pouted and made an annoyed moaning sound. "You started it."

"Heh, same old Jason from before." Charlie sighed. "Welp, see you later then."

The party went on for hours, much longer than Jason had hoped being a socially awkward person. Most of it was filled with idle chit chat about how Jason was, some were about how they were while Jason was in Japan. There were also some adults, very drunk ones, who tried to convince Jason to come drink with them, only to be saved by Aiden, his father. "Alright guys, you'll have to wait a few more months when my boy's eighteen."

"Aw..." they all moaned in unison. "but my boy'z had hish firsht drink when he wuz fif... fifteen." One of them complained.

"Not my son." Aiden said as he pulled Jason to his side and the two walked away, leaving the drunken people to have fun on their own. "Sorry 'bout that Jason, I knew I shouldn't have brought that much booze for the guys."

"Heh..." Jason laughed uncomfortably. "Not a problem dad... I'm sorta used to... uncomfortable situations now."

Aiden stared at Jason in confusion. "This doesn't have to do with your stay in Japan does it?"

Jason sensed his father's thoughts and saw something incredibly disturbing. "No, dad! That's not what I meant by uncomfortable!" Jason exclaimed. "I was talking about that prison in the southern district when I was captured."

"The slimy, smelly one with the cannibalistic inmates?" Aiden asked. "Yeah... I guess that would be uncomfortable. Sorry I made such an assumption."

"So, why'd you pull me out of the party?" Jason asked. "Those drunkards aren't the reason why you pulled me out."

"I wanted to talk to you about that rogue, Lucius." Aiden answered with a serious tone, as if the party mood had faded away. The mention of the name made Jason's hand ignite in flames causing Aiden to slap some sense into Jason... literally. "There have been several sightings of his group and we've also received letter addressed to you." he handed Jason an envelope. "He knows of your activities, even your trip to Japan."

Jason's eyes grew wide in surprise at the news. "He knows what I did in Japan?" he asked quite flustered.

"No, but he knew the exact time of you departure to Japan and your return here." Aiden answered staring at the envelope in Jason's hands with concern. "He's been spying on your every move, Jason."

"What does he want with me?" Jason asked.

"We think it's all in that letter." Aiden answered pointing at the envelope.

Jason slowly and nervously opened the envelope and viewed the letter inside. "It brings me much pride to see you grow up into a strong man, but you're just not strong enough. I will give you another test then I will see just how much you've matured since our last encounter." Jason said as he read the letter aloud. "Wha... I'm confused. He's PROUD of me?"

"It's possible that he's still holding on to such a petty bet." Aiden mumbled. "You see, back when we were children, Lucius would go to many lengths just to prove he'd better than me. In one occasion, he bet that he can raise a child better than I could. Of course he and his wife were never able to get a child of their own... so maybe he hates me for this..."

"That's it?" Jason asked as rage began boiling up inside him. "He's predating on me JUST because he doesn't have a son? That's got to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

"Lucius has many motives, not just that petty bet." Aiden replied. "He desires many things and he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. He used to be the top in our class, the best in everything. But his heart grew dark, he saw that Avalon couldn't get him what he wanted so he went rogue."

"But why can't he just torment some other person?" Jason asked. "Why me?"

"Don't be selfish, Jason!" Aiden scolded. "You're not the only person who lost a loved one in Lucius' attacks, don't think that he's predating on you and ONLY you!"

"S... sorry, dad." Jason's ear twitched in surprise at his father's sudden rage.

"Anyway, I suggest you rest up after the party." His father said with a sigh. "You'll need all the energy you can muster if you're to face Lucius again."

"You're certain he's going to attack again?" Jason asked.

"He already attacked," his father replied. "Arkha was his target though."

"What happened?" Jason asked.

"It was horrible, several people died in the onslaught." His father answered. "Even with Arkha's superior tactical warfare, their forces were reduced to ashes in mere minutes."

Jason gasped in astonishment. "How's that even possible... Arkha has never been defeated before. Only Avalon has managed to go on par against Arkha's tactics."

"Well, it happened, whether we like it or not, Arkha has fallen to the rogues." Aiden replied quite bitterly. "Avalon won't have any allies to back it up against the attack. In all honesty, I don't think many of us will survive this."

"Then let's pray we fair better than Arkha did." Jason added. "What of the citizens?"

"Of Arkha?" Aiden asked to confirm. "Well, some are roaming in the woods, some are here in Avalon being treated at the hospital while most are dead." The two fell silent for a while but Jason left the room without another word.

Soon, Aiden had dismissed the party and everyone had left. Charlie was hoping that he could finally have his chat with Jason but Jason was in too much of a bad mood to even think. The day ended with moods low and morale all but depleted as Jason just slumped onto his bed and stared into the ceiling.

"Sarah... you there?" Jason asked, calling out in the empty room.

A cold breeze blew into the room as if to respond.

"Look around... I think someone's spying on me." Jason asked as he placed a pillow over his head.

Sarah, Jason's Gardevoir girlfriend, was the second person Lucius took from Jason's life. For some reason, Sarah did not leave this earth but stayed with Jason. Jason just lay in his bed in anticipation, waiting for a response from Sarah. The moonlit room was silent, an uncomfortable silence that never failed to unnerve Jason.

As the night passed, Jason's eyelids felt heavier and heavier with each passing second until he could no longer stay conscious. Soon, he found himself sleeping and snoring with his defences completely down, but he felt at peace. He knew the final battle would have to happen soon, he knew he had to end it there and now.