Chapter Twelve: The State VS, Ash Ketchum

Five years ago, in a peaceful town known as Pallet, somebody crept into Delia Ketchum's home and murdered her. Her youngest son, Ash was arrested for her murder. On the day he was arrested, Misty Waterflower was poisoned in a French restaurant in Cerulean City. Her doctors claimed that it was a miracle that she managed to hang on for so long.

Two crimes in two different cities with a deep connection to each other. Misty claimed that the person that poisoned her is the same person that murdered Delia Ketchum. Misty wanted Ash to be cleared, but yet wouldn't tell May anything yesterday on the day they met in Pallet Town.

It had been ten days since May's job interview with The Wright Anything Agency, and the moment she had been working towards was finally within her reach: Ash Ketchum's aquittal. Her friend and co-counsel for all of her trials, Trucy Wright stood beside her. Ash Ketchum, the defendant followed them both in silence with Pikachu on his shoulder.

"I really hope this isn't your last trial," Trucy told May. "You're a really good lawyer. We need people like you in this courtroom."

"She's right," Ash hissed. He was acting tough and trying to be cruel, but May knew he was just pretending to be mean. "You're wasting your time on me."

May's head twirled to Ash as she slapped him on the shoulder. "Now stop lying to me," May yelled. "I know you didn't kill your mother. And I'm going to find out the truth today."

Ash grinned and said nothing else. He had changed so much, Pikachu was sitting on May's shoulder instead of Ash. "These few days have dropped the most bombshells on me in the 21 years of my life," May admitted. "I never knew I was adopted until now. I mean for instance Trucy," May said with her fingers curled around her chin. "How would you feel if you and Apollo found out you were long lost siblings?"

"It would be a shock," Trucy admitted, "but Apollo is cool. He'd be a fine brother."

Trucy opened the door to the defence lobby and saw that three people had been waiting in the lobby for May; a young boy and a middle-aged couple. There were three other young adults loitering around the corridor with their eyes on Ash. They were three of the most toughest trainers from the Kanto region: Red, Leaf and Silver Ketchum.

The tall lad cried out with his arms in the air. He charged towards her and crashed into her arms. "MAY! YOU'RE FINE!"

"Max..." May mumbled as she looked up at her brother's smile. "What are you talking about? Of course I'm fine."

"Drew messaged me on Facebook," Max explained to her as he took a step back and got his phone out. "He showed me a picture of a grave with your name on it and he said that there was a lawyer going round with your name." The speed of his breath increased as he panted. "I thought you were dead. Then Mom and Dad explained everything."

"Everything..." May said. "Does that include me being adopted."

"So you know all about it?" Norman asked as he lowered his head. "We should have told you all about Mia and Diego a long time ago. Please forgive us."

May said nothing, and hugged Norman.

"This might be the last time I see you," Max told May with his fingers round his eyes. "Please don't forget about us."

May jumped up and wrapped her arms around Max. "Don't be silly," she said to her younger brother. "No matter what happens, you'll always be my little brother... even if you are taller than me now."

"You really need to come and visit us more," Max moaned. "Everybody in Littleroot Town is missing you like crazy."

"So you're May's family?" Trucy asked as she went up to them with Mr. Piplup in her arms. "I'm Trucy Wright."

"So you're the one that's been looking out for my daughter," Caroline said with a warm smile directed at Trucy. "I appreciate it."

Norman stared at Ash who was trying to hide in the corner. Norman marches over to Ash and the rest of the gang follow him. "I don't know what happened that day," Norman admitted. He moved his hand, closed them and pushed it against his heart. "But my daughter believes in your innocence, then so do I!"

"I agree with my husband," Caroline announced as she nodded.

"I believe in you too, Ash!" Trucy admitted as her Pokémon lifted it's hands in the air. "I know things have been tough, but we can't help you unless you let us."

"You were an amazing trainer," Max told Ash. "And you still are. Travelling with you was one of the main reasons why I became a Pokémon trainer in the first place. Don't throw your whole life away because of all this. May didn't, and neither should you."

Silver was the first of Ash's siblings to stand and run towards Ash. His older twin siblings, quickly followed him. "I didn't look out for you like I should have done," Silver admitted. "I let too much get in the way."

"I wish I was at the last trial," Leaf admitted as she threw her brown locks of hair out of her face. "I would have supported you all the way."

"There's no way you could have done it," Red said with his fists clenched together. "I managed to stop Team Rocket's activities for three years, but I was unable to protect my younger brother. I should have known from the start that you weren't guilty."

"Look Ash," May yelled, clinging onto his hands. "Everybody in this room believes in you. You have to tell the truth about what really happened to your mother five years ago."

"And what if I don't?" Ash muttered with a stern grin on his face.

May smirked back. "Then I'll shake it out of you. You might be my boyfriend, and you are my client, but if you do lie to the court, I will expose them. Because that's my duty as a lawyer."

"I don't..."

Everybody, except for Ash gasped and looked behind them. It was Athena's voice. She had a staring match with Ash, glaring at each other.

"Athena?" May shrieked. "What do you mean you don't believe in him?"

"I'm sorry May," Athena shouted. "But Ash really is guilty."

"Athena..." May mumbled. "What are you talking about?"

"Like you said," Athena responded with a fake smile on her face. "It's a lawyer's duty to seek the truth. That's why I'm acting as Simon's co-counsel for the trial."

"But why, Athena?" Trucy asked in a sad voice.

"Taka had to be taken to the vet," Athena explained. "And because of the new policy that's come to place, he asked me to be his co-counsel."

May gritted her teeth. She felt as if Athena had betrayed her, but instead of showing she was angry, she simply smiled. "Whatever you and your boyfriend have, you better bring it! Cause we're not going down without a fight!" May threw her head and had her eyes on her friend. "Right, Trucy?"

"That's right."

Athena crossed her arms and smiled. "I look forward to it, May. The trial is about to start, I better get going. See ya later!"

"Let's go!" May snapped.

Everybody got into their place. It felt so strange to see Athena standing besides Prosecutor Blackquill. Athena's vibrant clothes contrasted with Simon's black and white clothes. Simon stood as still as a statue.

May had her eyes on Ash. He had a confident look on his face, but she had a feeling that Ash was shattered on the inside. She was able to see cold black locks around his heart as the chains brought him down like the weight of the world. Just like Eiri Uesugi's trial, there was not a single empty room in the courthouse.

Behind May and Trucy on the front row were Ash's siblings sat between Giovanni and Professor Oak. May was also able to spot members of Team Rocket in the crew, including Jessie, James and Meowth. Across the other side of the court, May noticed some very familiar faces. Some of the people who had attended May's previous trials and also familiar faces like Misty, Iris and Serena.

She was pretty confident the guy in the top corner of the room with hair a vibrant shade of green, was Drew. The guy was too far away to distinguish facial details, but she couldn't mistake the hair for anyone else. All she could see from the man was that he was waving, and she waved back.

"Who are you waving to?" Trucy asked.

"Drew!" May replied with a grin. "He's an old friend of mine."

It still felt strange to see Athena Cykes standing next to Prosecutor Simon Blackquill in court. May wondered if it was a sign of Athena wanting to change careers or something much more? Then May stopped caring about what Athena did and decided to focus on clearing Ash's name.

The chattering within the courtroom quietened down as the Judge stomped his feet up the stairs and threw himself onto his throne. He claimed ownership of the lonely gavel on the corner of his desk and slammed it. The talking ceased.

The Judge looked down at Ash's intense face and announced, "Court is now in session for the trial of Ash Ketchum."

"Your Honour," May exclaimed with her left arm in the air. "The defence has been ready for a long time."

"Silence!" Simon spat out. "I've never heard such poppycock in my life."

The Judge gasped as he noticed Athena standing next to Simon. "Oh my," he said, "Miss Cykes, how strange to see you standing on the prosecution's bench. I almost missed you for a moment."

May wondered how the Judge missed Athena, especially when she was standing right next to Simon.

Athena clapped her hands together. "It's not that strange," she responded with a toothy grin. "He helped me out on one of my trials, so I thought it was only fair if I help him out with one of his trials in return."

"Oh," the Judge gasped. "How very nice. Well, Prosecutor Blackquill, I'm assuming that you're ready. May we please have the opening statement."

"Let's get ready to rumble!" cried out an electronic voice. It came from the widget around Athena's neck.

"A young man killed this mother," Simon hissed with his arms folded. "She was shot in the head. Nothing more and nothing less. Now let's make this a quick one. I'm a very busy man and I have got plans tonight."

"We're all busy people here, Prosecutor Blackquill," May snapped.

"What kind of plans?" the Judge asked with widened eyes.

"That is strictly between Athena and I," Simon hissed, waving his finger in the air.

"I think they're having plenty," May whispered to Trucy as quietly as possible.

"Plenty indeed," Athena yelled loudly.

"WHAT!" May shrieked. She covered her mouth. She couldn't believe that Athena actually hear her.

"Plenty of what?" the Judge demanded to know.

"Lemons, Your Baldness," Simon responded.

"That's right," Athena said, slamming her desk. "To...make...LEMONADE!"

"Oh," the Judge whined. "I must try some of your lemonade at some point."

"The Judge is as naïve as ever," Trucy said, resisting the urge to giggle.

"I don't think he wants to know what it really means," May said.

"Let's bring the first witness to come forward," Simon requested.

"The Prosecution would like to call Detective Gary Oak to the stand," Athena announced, slamming the desk again. As Gary marched up to the stand, May thought if she had a penny for whenever a prosecutor or a lawyer slammed their desk, she would have easily been a millionaire by now. Athena stared at Gary with her arms crossed by her side. "Please confirm your name and occupation."

"Detective Gary Oak," Gary announced. "I'm the detective in charge of the investigation."

"Detective Oak, please describe the events five years ago in more detail," the Judge ordered.

"Right," Gary said, nodding. "4th August, five years ago, Delia Ketchum was gunned down in her home. Ash Ketchum was arrested and forced to confess to a crime he didn't commit."

Simon stomped his food as a samurai sword swung out of his pocket. May gasped and threw herself against the wall, thinking the sword was going to slice Athena in half. "OI!" Simon yelled, pointing the sword to Gary. "Stick to the facts. Don't add any fictional nonsense in this court."

"OBJECTION!" May yelled. "Detective Oak is telling his version of the events. Let him finish."

"Order!" the Judge yelled. "Order in the court. Detective Oak, you may continue."

"Unlike the prosecution," Gary announced. "I thoroughly believe that the defendant is innocent. He's been covering for somebody, and I know who."

"Detective Oak," May called out to him. "When we spoke yesterday, you told us you had a firm belief that Kai Hiwatari was the one that murdered Delia Ketchum."

"Of course he did!" Gary yelled. "He wanted to keep Grandpa's estate to himself."

"BLASPHEMY!" Professor Oak screeched. May covered her ears, but it was too late. It was a scream that would burn her ears for a very long time.

"That's a very bold statement there," the Judge confessed. His lips shivered. "What does the prosecution think of all this."

"No comment," Simon hissed as Athena slapped her palm against her forehead.

"Do you have any evidence to link Mr. Hiwatari to this crime?" May asked Gary.

Gary got some documents out from his pocket. "These are copies of Grandpa's will." Gary handed one copy each to the Judge, May and Simon. All three of them read the document carefully as Athena peered under Simon's shoulder to have a look.

After reading the document, May waved the paper around. "Is this all the evidence you against Kai Hiwatari?"

"It is," Gary admitted. "It's concrete evidence that Kai Hiwatari murdered-"

"HOLD IT!" Athena interrupted, stretching her voice cords. "This doesn't prove anything."

"I'm afraid I'll have to agree," May admitted. She knew that Kai Hiwatari was innocent anyway. "Your theory has more holes than a Diglett's cave.

"I heard in the last trial," Athena recalled, flicking through the screen that beamed through her widget. "That they were unable to find Mr. Ketchum's motives for killing his mother."

The Judge got out a piece of paper in the middle of his desk and took a quick skim through the words. He placed the paper down and nodded. "Indeed."

"Well Professor Oak's will explains Ash Ketchum's motive for murdering his mother. Professor Oak wanted his estate to be split between three people: Kai Hiwatari, his favourite grandson; Delia Ketchum, his close friend, and her son Ash Ketchum. With Delia dead, Ash gets half the estate."

"Professor Oak's estate is worth a gob-smacking forty-five-million yen."

"OBJECTION!" May cried out. It was the first word that came to her mind as Athena painted Ash as a money grabbing murderer. Ash Ketchum and matricide didn't go together in May's books. She felt so sad that Athena didn't believe May any more, like she believed in her at the interview.

"SILENCE!" Simon yelled back at May. "What exactly are you objecting over? You know that Athena is right."

"She's wrong," May murmured. "You're both wrong. Ash loved his mother. He had no reason to kill her!"

"Detective Oak's statement makes no sense," Athena announced as she pointed at Gary. "He's a fraud."

"And a terrible one at best," Simon hissed. "He wanted to frame his cousin because he was jealous that he wasn't getting a penny out of his grandpa."

The Judge glared at Gary. "Detective Oak, please leave the court."

"Hold it!" May said. "I haven't cross-examined the witness yet."

"It's not necessary," Athena said. "He had no right to accuse Mr. Hiwatari of murder."

"You can cross-examine the next witness," the Judge promised.

"The defence would like to call Davis Motomiya to the stand," May demanded.

Trucy gasped as she pulled May's head over towards her. "May, are you sure calling Davis on the stand is a good idea?"

The Judge nodded. "Very well. Mr. Motomiya, please step forward."

"Davis Motomiya," he introduced himself as soon as got in the witness box. "I'm a Digimon tamer and an entrepreneur."

"An entrepreneur, eh?" said the Judge in disbelief. "What kind of business do you run?"

"It's in catering," Davis responded with a smile on his face. "I own several Noodle restaurants around the world."

"I see." The Judge's sincere face quickly turned to one of a serious nature. "What is your relationship between the victim and the defendant, may I ask? I'm curious to how a Digimon tamer is connected to all of this."

"Delia Ketchum is my aunt," Davis replied.

"That would make the defendant your cousin," the Judge confirmed.

"The victim and the witness were very close," May confirmed.

"INCEST?" cried the Judge.

May shook her head. "No, of course not. I mean Mrs. Ketchum really helped her nephew out a lot."

Davis nodded. "She helped me get Kari and I on a proper date, and she also helped me with my business."

"That's nice," Athena said with a smile on her face. "What's it got to do with the case?"

"You'll see," May replied, smiling.

"Aunt Delia was my mother's younger sister. My grandparents were happy to hear that Aunt Delia was going to marry businessman, Giovanni Ketchum. Mom wasn't: she was furious. They fell out after Red was born. But they both looked out for me and Ash."

"Can you explain why your mother and aunt fell out in more detail?" May requested. "I think it would benefit our case."

"Two of my mom's Pokémon were murdered by some my uncle's employees," Davis explained.

"So your uncle is the leader of Team Rocket?" Athena asked Davis. "I can sense that you're still angry with him, even though Team Rocket are no longer a criminal organisation any more."

"An honourable tribute," Simon said,"but it's meaningless."

"How is Mr. Motomiya's testimony meaningless?" May asked. "We got to know more about the victim through somebody that knew her."

Athena slammed the desk as her eyes pierced at May. "It doesn't tell us anything about Delia Ketchum's death."

"Davis," Trucy said. "What were you doing on the day your aunt died?"

"I was at Silver's sixteenth birthday party," Davis responded.

"I thought you didn't like Silver?" Trucy asked.

"Well I thought it would have been great to see Ash again," Davis admitted. "So I went to it to see if he was there."

"Mr. Motomiya," the Judge said, he appeared to be looking right through Davis as if he wasn't there. "Please testify about the party."

"Aunt Delia organised a surprise birthday bash for Silver. She asked everyone to help out. Ash and Misty took Serena into the house, but only Misty came back."

"HOLD IT!" Athena cried out. She jumped over her bench and leaned over towards Davis. "Was the body found before or after they went in the house?"

"Objection!" May yelled. Her hands stretched out against the desk. "It's my job to cross-examine the witness."

"Sorry," Athena giggled, scratching the back of her head. "Old habits die hard."

"Objection!" Simon hissed back. "Athena was asking an important question. How rude of you to interrupt her."

"Yes!" The Judge nodded and banged his gavel with an evil stare that pierced May' soul. "Miss Maple, you must not be rude to Miss Cykes." The way the Judge spoke, he sounded as if he was reading a script. "Mr. Motomiya, please answer the question."

"I heard a gun go off after Misty left the house."

"Before I begin my cross-examination," May announced, shaking off her nerves. "I want to ask all the witnesses what they were doing and where they were when the gun went off."

"I was serving food," Davis responded.

"I was dancing with Blue," Leaf responded with a small smile on her face.

"I was battling Silver," Red replied. "It was such an intense battle, it swept the two lovers off their feet."

"Under different circumstances," Silver hissed with his arms folded, "I would have won that match."

Others were able to put their hand up and back up what Ash's siblings were saying. They also complimented Davis and his food.

"That makes a few things perfectly clear to me," May said. "Ash's siblings and Davis were not the true culprits." Athena and Simon stared at May, as if she was talking in a different language. May proceeded to look at Dawn who had been silent. "Dawn, what were you doing?"

"I can't remember," Dawn quickly hesitated. "It happened ages ago. I just remember being scared."

"Same with me!" Serena squealed.

"Mr. Ketchum," May pointed at Giovanni. "Did you attend the birthday party?"

Giovanni shook his head. "No I was not."

"Why not?"

"Work."

"Where you at the party?" Athena asked May.

"No."

"Then were where you the day the victim was killed?"

"I was at home in Hoenn."

"Fair enough," Simon added. "We can't consider you a suspect then."

"It's pretty obvious, I'm not the killer," May said with her arms crossed. She squinted at both Athena and Simon.

"Just how it's obvious that Ash is the killer," Athena responded.

"Miss May, please begin your cross-examination," the Judge requested.

"So Davis, where did the party take place?"

"It took place in town," Davis replied.

May raised her eyebrow. "Can you be more specific?"

"It was in the centre of Pallet Town," Davis explained. "In-between Professor Oak's lab and Aunt Delia's house."

"You also said that Ash and Misty took Serena into the house," May confirmed. "Who's house did they go to? And why did they not stay at the party?"

"I don't know," Davis responded. "I remember Serena being really drunk. I remember Misty coming out, after the gun went off."

"Who was the first one to find the body?" May asked.

"I'm assuming it was Ash and Serena," Davis responded. "They were at the house when the crime took place. But Dawn and Misty were pretty close to the house too."

"Is there any chance somebody else uninvited could have crept in?" May asked.

Davis vigorously nodded. "All the doors and windows were open because it was so hot. Anyone could have come in and gunned her down while Ash was with Serena."

"And that, Your Honour concludes Mr. Motomiya's cross-examination," May announced. "I'd like to call Misty Waterflower to the stand."

"Witness, please state your name and occupation," Blackquill ordered.

"Misty Waterflower: Pokémon trainer."

"Didn't you used to to be a gym leader?" asked the Judge.

"I was," Misty replied. "But not any more."

"For somebody who's lost five years of their life," Athena told Misty. "You seem very delighted. I wonder why, could it be because you didn't want to be a gym leader in the first place, but you took over anyway because you hated the way your sisters used the gym."

Misty nodded. "They didn't like battling. They would give away badges for me. It made me mad."

"That just makes Misty suspicious," May yelled at Athena.

Athena shook her head. "How? Do you have any evidence that makes Misty suspicious."

"I just know..."

"That's not good enough, Miss Maple," the Judge snapped. "Miss Waterflower, please begin your testimony immediately."

"Serena had been drinking pretty heavily. She looked like she was about to faint, so I helped Ash take her back to her house. Mrs. Ketchum was still alive when I left."

"See, Your Honour," Athena squealed. "Misty Waterflower is innocent!"

"100% innocent," her widget cried out.

"Miss Maple, you may proceed with your cross-examination," the Judge said.

"How old was Serena at the time this all happened?" May asked Misty curiously.

Misty shrugged her shoulders and lowered her head. "I'm assuming she's the same age as Ash or maybe a bit younger."

May gasped and jammed her hands against her desk. "I'd like to know who gave a minor alcohol?"

"It doesn't matter," Simon replied with his sword pointing at May. "Just typical kids fooling around."

"What room did Serena sleep in?" May asked Misty. "Did she sleep on the couch or somebody's room."

Misty looked behind her and saw Ash lifting his finger. May carefully watched them both exchange body language to each other. "Upstairs in Ash's room."

"You also said that Mrs. Ketchum was still alive when you left the room." May saw Misty and Ash exchange nods. "What was she doing?"

"She looked like she was washing up dishes."

"Other than yourself, Serena, the victim and the defendant," May pleaded, "was there ANYONE ELSE in the house?"

Misty shook her head in unison with Ash.

"What did you do when you heard the gunshot?"

"I ran back to the house and saw Mrs. Ketchum dead in the kitchen, Serena slouched on the sofa and Ash holding the gun."

"OBJECTION!" May cried out. "Misty... that's not what you told me yesterday."

"I hardly said anything to you yesterday," Misty replied with her arms folded.

"You told us the person who killed Mrs. Ketchum is the same person that poisoned you," Trucy reminded Misty. "Either Serena killed Mrs. Ketchum and she poisoned you or you killed Mrs. Ketchum and poisoned yourself to avoid suspicion."

"That's just...crazy!" Misty muttered under breath.

May presented a photo of the crime scene and rested the tip of her finger on the red sofa she sat on yesterday. "This is where you and Ash left Serena," May announced. "Ash and Serena wouldn't have arrived so quickly to the crime scene if they were upstairs. The murder happened seconds after you left. That was all the time the killer needed."

"Maple-Dono..." Prosecutor Blackquill sighed as he lowered his back against the bench with his heart around his head. "You're out of this world: you're barking mad!"

"MAY, STOP!" Athena screamed reaching her arm out over the prosecutor's bench. "YOU'RE MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE! SERENA IS NOT THE KILLER!"

May shook her head vigorously. "No I'm not!" She looked around and noticed all of Ash's family nodding, including Giovanni. May's heartbeat began to accelerate. "Mr. Ketchum, are you absolutely sure that you didn't attend the party?"

"Quite sure," Giovanni snapped.

"Then why are you nodding so much?"

"Perhaps Mr. Ketchum would like to step forward and testify?" the Judge suggested.

Giovanni shook his head. "I don't think that is necessary. I was at a conference in Saffron City."

"Then who's this man in the picture?" May asked as she presented a photo of a Pokémon battle. Silver and Red were easily visible. On the bottom left corner was a man wearing an orange tuxedo. Similar to the one that Giovanni was wearing in the courtroom.

"That would be me," Giovanni said, lowering his head.

"Why couldn't you have just been honest before?" Trucy asked.

"I'm one of the most richest men in Kanto," Giovanni announced as he removed his hat. "But as a husband and a father, I have failed...miserably."

"Yes, you have!" Professor Oak scolded him as he pointed his fingers at Giovanni. "If you had treated Delia better, she would still be here today. You had the power to stop it, but you stood still and watched." Professor Oak's fingers crumbled into his fist as he shook his arms in the air. "I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"

The Judge banged his gavel. "This has certainly been a lot to take in. After the break, I order Serena Yvonne to testify. The court shall now take a thirty minute recess."

"Give it up," Ash hissed at May.

"I'm not giving up," May snapped back. "You're covering for Serena, and I'm going to prove it."

"Serena has no motive," Ash sighed. "I have a motive."

May shook her head. "Don't lying to me Ash," she roared, "you didn't have a clue about that will until today." The moment she saw Ash look away and stare at the wall, the moment an idea popped into her head. She thought about her aunt Maya being the master of a clan of spirit mediums.

"I've got an idea," May told Trucy.

"What's that?"

"I wonder if I have any spiritual powers?" May asked herself. "If I do, maybe I could channel Delia Ketchum's spirit. She might know who killed her."

"You have some spiritual powers," Trucy informed May, patting her back. "You can detect psyche-locks without a magatama, I'm sure you channel Mrs. Ketchum's spirit, only for a few moments."

May scurried to a corner and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from her pocket.

Mrs. Ketchum,

I need your help. I need to know who killed you. I'm representing Ash in his trial. He's been accused of murdering you. I have to save Ash, otherwise he will be executed. Please... I just need a name.

Yours Sincerely,

May Maple

The letter fell to the floor like a floating feather. She pinned the pen on top of the paper, then clapped her hands together and closed her eyes. She didn't know if it was going to work, but she knew that she had to try it. Within a few minutes of meditating, her whole became shrouded in darkness.

May opened her eyes as if she had been in a deep sleep, but there were no dreams to tell. She looked around the lobby, and everything seemed to be in place. The clock had only gone two minutes ahead, since the last time she tried to channel Delia.

"May!" Trucy screamed. "Are you okay?"

May shook her head. "I think so. Did it work?"

"I think it did," Trucy admitted. "Your whole body changed. As soon as Mrs. Ketchum wrote a name down, she left your body."

May picked up the letter and saw Serena's name was plastered in bold capital letters. Her heart accelerated as she glared at Ash. "SO YOU WERE COVERING FOR SOMEBODY!" May yelled. "I will use this letter as evidence. I'll clear your name for good."

Everybody returned to their posts in the courtroom as the Judge banged his gavel again. "The court is now back in session. The trial of Ash Ketchum shall continue."

"The defence is all prepared, Your Honour," May beamed.

"Prepared for what?" Athena asked. "Prepared for the truth?"

May gazed over at the Judge's throne. "Your Honour, you once asked me if I was related to Mia Fey."

The Judge nodded. "I did indeed."

"Well, you see... she's my biological mother."

"I thought you said your family lived in Hoenn," the Judge said, scratching his long beard.

"I was adopted. And Diego Armando was my father..."

"I knew it!" the Judge cried out. May didn't believe in him. "That explains the coffee addiction."

"What does this have to do with today's trial?" Athena asked.

"The Fey clan are known for their spiritual powers, and during recess, I tried to channel Mrs. Ketchum. She was able to give me a name."

"Really?" the Judge widened his eyes. "I never thought you have spiritual powers, Miss Maple. Who did Mrs. Ketchum give as a name."

May presented the letter that she wrote to Delia with Serena's name on it. A baliff passed it over to the Judge. "Does the prosecution agree with this?" the Judge asked.

"OBJECTION!" Simon roared. He slammed both his fists against his desk. "I certainly do not. I've never heard such absolute rubbish. It is all rubbish. It's absolute and utter rubbish. Not only that Your Baldness, it is neo-rubbish and crypto-rubbish."

"Okay!" Athena squealed, patting Simon's back. "Calm down, We'll bring Miss Yvonne to the stand, and everything will be alright."

"Yes, please come to the stand Miss Yvonne."

When asked for her name and occupation, Serena spoke so quietly that May couldn't hear her. She looked like a fragile woman as she clung onto her Pokémon for support. Delphox was the same height as her, and the Pokémon shrouded his trainer with his furry arms. The stick in his arm burned fiercely but waved away to prevent Serena from getting burned.

"Could you say that again, Serena?" May requested.

"She said she's a Pokémon trainer," Athena announced.

"How were you able to hear that Miss Cykes," the Judge asked curiously.

"Because she was paying attention," Simon hissed.

"Miss Yvonne," the Judge said, frowning upon her. "The defence is accusing you of murder. You do understand that this is a very serious accusation."

"Yes, Your Honour."

When May saw how sad she looked, she didn't want Serena to be the murderer. She shook her head and scream. But she felt that the only way to prove Ash's innocence was to prove Serena's guilt.

"Very well," the Judge said with a firm nod. "Please begin your testimony."

"I went to Silver's birthday party. I didn't have anything at the party, I mainly went there to see my friends again. I don't remember going into Ash's house."

"So you hardly remember anything?" Athena asked Serena.

Serena's head bopped up and down. "I'm really trying."

"Don't worry Serena," Athena called out to her with a toothy smile. "Simon and I have both got your back."

"Miss Maple," the Judge stared at May as he spoke. "You may begin your cross-examination."

"Serena," May left her bench as she marched over to the witness. "When you said you didn't have anything at the party, what do you mean?"

"I don't think I had anything to drink or anything to eat," Serena whispered.

"That in itself is a huge contradiction," May yelled. "Mr. Motomiya and Miss Waterflower both testified that you were drinking. You were only fifteen at the time, who gave you the alcohol?"

"No one did," Serena mumbled. "Someone was going round with drinks though."

"You'll have to try harder than that!" May screamed. "You really can't remember the day that Ash's mom got killed, or are you suppressing the memories."

Delphox glared at May, as the flame on it's stick grew rapidly and tried to surround itself around May. She screamed as she heard Trucy's voice, and then she found herself drenched in cold water. She looked up at Trucy and stuck her left thumb up at her as a way to thank her for saving her life.

Trucy winked back as her way of saying, you're welcome.

Serena gasped as she clung tighter onto Delphox.

May remembered Misty's black psyche locks from yesterday. She looked over at Misty and could see the black lock around Misty's heart beginning to shake. "Misty... when you went back to the house you saw Serena with the gun. And on the day, Ash was arrested, Serena was the one that spiked your drink."

"I'm sorry Ash," Misty muttered as all of the locks shattered into pieces.

"Did I really kill Mrs. Ketchum?" Serena asked herself. "I want to remember what happened, but I really can't."

"The I can't remember gag isn't believable any more," May yelled. "Just admit it, you killed Ash's mother, and he's been covering up for you."

"Ash was imprisoned because of me?" Serena threw herself on the floor and burst into tears. "Ash tell me it isn't true. Tell me that it was an accident."

Ash shook his head. "No, I did it."

"That's enough guys," Athena yelled as she covered her ears tightly. "May, you were right about Ash. He never killed his mother. But I don't believe that Serena is the killer either."

"Do you have any proof that Serena is innocent?" May asked.

Athena shook her head with tears flowing in her eyes. "I don't, but if Serena does have to go on trial, then I will gladly defend her."

For the past half hour, May started to believe that Serena was the one that murdered Delia Ketchum, but as she was being dragged away by the police, she was beginning to wonder if she really did solve the case.

The judge banged his gavel. "Bailiff, please arrest Miss Yvonne, immediately." Serena had to be dragged away by three bailiffs as their Pokémon tried to fight Delphox's resistance. "What a tragic turnabout, I truly hope we can all understand the dangers of overdosing on alcohol. I urge that further investigation is taken place. Does the defendant have anything to say before I deliver my verdict?"

"I want to say something to May!" Ash spat out in a cold and hardened voice.

"What's that?" May asked.

"You suck as a lawyer!"

"And why is that?" May asked.

"Do you really think that demon you summoned was my mother?" Ash roared. "That ghost tried to strangle your friend. My mom would never do a thing like that!"

"For somebody who's about to be acquitted you sound furious," Athena mentioned. "The discord in your voice is traumatic. You've been trying to protect Serena all this time."

"It was all for nothing," Ash muttered in a bitter voice. "Thanks to that stupid lawyer."

"Silence!" Simon hissed at Ash. "Maple-Dono may be a psychopath, but she battled hard for your freedom. You should be thanking her on bended knee."

"What are you talking about Blackquill?" Ash sighed.

"You don't need to worry about your friend," Simon approached Ash and patted his shoulder. "Athena will take good care of her, old chap."

"Ash, why are you being so rude to May?" Trucy asked. "Are you forgetting that she's your girlfriend?"

"Of course I haven't," Ash snapped back. "It pains me to see her mess up like this."

"I am ready to deliver my verdict," the Judge announced. "The court finds Ash Ketchum..."

May let out a chilling high-pitched scream as she hurled herself around Trucy. Pinning an innocent person for murder was the worst thing a defence attorney could ever do. And May knew, that was what she had done. Her body imploded on the floor as her hands clung unto her chest, feeling a truckload of weight pushing against her. She maintained consciousness until her hit hit the floor.


This was a tough chapter to write. Originally I was going to have Miles Edgeworth as the prosecutor, but a guest, CJ suggested Simon Blackquill as the prosecutor. On tumblr, I made a post, and I wrote Cykesquill instead of Blackquill, so in the end I had Athena help him in the trial.