Cynthia sat in the chair facing the room. She refused to let any of the conflicting emotion on her face show, but it was difficult. She had known that this was coming, the interview that concluded any impeachment trial. Deep down she had hoped that Ash could somehow stop it from happening, that he could somehow protect her. When she had seen his interview with Zane Zito she had been hopeful that he might be coming to help her. But it had not arrived. And the evening before she had been told that the following morning she would be interviewed. They had finished reviewing evidence, and after her interview, she would either be cleared or removed as Sinnoh Leader. And removal as Sinnoh leader removed her immunity to civil prosecution. She could be prosecuted for what she had done. And with a Pokémon Master like Mellanie Rigger, it wasn't a question of could be. She would be fighting for her freedom within days.

"Miss Shirona, could you please describe why you authorised the arrest of Mr Ketchum," Steven asked, his voice level. Cynthia nodded.

"Yes. At the time I was led to believe that Mr Ketchum was guilty of the crimes we had been investigating him for. They were very serious crimes, including kidnapping and murder. Under the circumstances, the authorisation was the correct legal step."

That was it. Remind them of the legality of her actions based on the evidence. The evidence had been corrupted, but they either knew that already or they were in for a shock when they got that far.

"But the evidence was faulty?"

A smile played at the corner of Cynthia's mouth. "As has since been proven, yes."

"At what point did you realise that the evidence was faulty?"

Cynthia had to admit, Steven was good. He could easily have leant one way or the other, but the questions he was asking were as neutral as he could make them. She suspected they had been written for him by a lawyer.

"After Mr Ketchum had escaped prison."

"Could you be more specific?"

"I cannot remember the exact date."

Steven leaned forwards ever so slightly. "There was a speech you made, effectively condemning Mr Ketchum to exile. Was it before or after this speech that you knew?"

"Yes."

There was a murmur through the room as the gym leaders processed this. Cynthia felt her heart fall even further. It didn't bode well.

"How did you find out that the evidence was faulty?"

"Every officer involved with the investigation had been subjected to an extreme level of influence from a very powerful psychic Pokémon," Cynthia said. "It led us to be able to believe untruths. When the influence was removed, I knew instantly."

Another murmur ran through the room, this one slightly more positive. Hopefully, they hadn't known about the influence.

"The influence was removed by a legendary Psychic Pokémon, Mewtwo. Is that correct?"

Bugger. There went that hope.

"Yes," Cynthia said.

"And what did you do after that?"

"I considered the impact on the stability of the four regions of having a Pokémon Master who had been arrested and then escaped prison. It didn't compare favourably, especially as Mr Ketchum did not return in an attempt to defend himself. To use an old expression, only guilty people run."

"And what would you have done if Mr Ketchum had returned?"

"I would have worked with him to ensure that his name was completely cleared."

Steven drummed his fingers on the desk in front of him before shifting a piece of paper to read the one beneath.

"Did you ever look for Mr Ketchum?"

"No."

"Did you consider having the warrant for his arrest revoked?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you?"

"Without Mr Ketchum, we would have been accused of a cover-up

"Did Mr Ketchum ever contact you?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"The night that I won the World League to become Pokémon Master once again. He came into my office and spoke to me."

"What did he say?"

Cynthia took her time to consider her answer, meeting the patient gaze of what would surely be her former colleague. The legal case laid out was airtight. "He told me that I was doing what was right for me, not for anybody else." The shame of the admission made her face burn.

"Did he say anything else?"

Cynthia looked into Steven's eyes and saw the pity there. He hated what he was having to do, but it was his job.

"He told me that he blamed me for what I did."

Steven nodded and closed a file in front of him. "Thank you, Cynthia. Any further questions?"

This was directed at the Gym Leaders, some of whom immediately nodded.

"Have you seen Mr Ketchum since his name was cleared after the World League?" Falkner asked.

"Yes."

"What did he tell you then?"

Cynthia met the eye of the Violet City Gym Leader, who was looking at her coolly. "He told me that he needed me to trust him."

"Anything about the last three years?" Falkner asked, ignoring the angry look that Cynthia directed at him.

"He told me that although I kept the four regions together, I eventually threw them into disarray."

Falkner nodded and signalled that he had no further questions. As Steven looked at the remaining Gym Leaders, not a single one had another question. They had made up their minds.

"Thank you, Cynthia," Steven said. "You will be escorted out while we come to a decision,


May Maple walked down the street in Sunnyshore City, carefully stepping over detritus from the riots two days previously. She couldn't believe the amount of damage that had been done. She was in a part of the city that had been subjected to some of the greatest problems. Lucian himself had stepped in here to quell the rioting, but some of the rioters had used their own Pokémon to try and fight back. The result had been six buildings deemed unsafe until repaired, and one that plans were being drawn up to replace entirely. In a residential area, the costs wouldn't be too bad for Sinnoh, but it did highlight the danger.

May stopped as she reached a crossing in the road as she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. She pulled it out, holding it to her ear.

"Hello?"

"May?"

"Dawn."

"Where are you?"

May looked around. "I'm not entirely sure. There are four street signs in a pile, one of them slightly melted."

There was a slight pause. "Are you making some kind of joke?"

"No," May said. "I'm sorry if it sounded like that, I genuinely don't know where I am."

"Can you get to the Gym?" Dawn asked.

"Yes, I think so. I'll get there as soon as I can."

"Good. They have set up rooms there for those who have lost their houses. We can start there."

Dawn hung up, leaving May looking around. She knew roughly where she wanted to go, so she picked what she thought was the right direction and started walking.

Nearly half an hour later she reached the Sunnyshore Gym and found Dawn waiting by the door. Dawn raised an eyebrow as May walked up.

"You got lost?"

"Yes."

Dawn looked blankly at May for a moment before turning towards the gym. "Shall we?"

May nodded. "It's what we're here for."

May hesitated for a moment as Dawn headed towards the doors, before stopping. She turned around to see her friend behind her. "Are you coming?"

"Why are you here Dawn?" May asked. "You don't usually do favours for people."

Dawn stepped forward, her blue hair bouncing behind her as she stopped right in front of May, glaring at the Hoenn coordinator.

"This region is my home." Dawn hissed. "And I'm not here as a favour to Misty. I'm here because it is the right thing to do. I don't want my region to be subjected to any more of this, ever."

May swayed backwards, slightly intimidated by the bluenettes fury. "Okay. I'm sure it won't happen again. No need to worry right?"

Dawn's expression didn't change. "I can't believe that I'm having to be the mature one here. May, this is serious. Misty wouldn't have asked us to come here if it wasn't. It takes a lot to get her worried. Behind that door is a whole group of photographers who want to see us coming together to show support for the victims who have suffered from these riots. So, start acting seriously, or I'm going in alone."

"Sure…" May said, but it was pointless. She was talking to Dawn's back as the Sinnoh coordinator had stalked off towards the door. May hurried after her, catching up just before they went inside.


Sam strode into the room, his face utterly expressionless. His Elite Four were sat in their usual seats, waiting for him.

"I assume that this truly is important?" Sam asked as he took his seat. "The verdict on Cynthia is nearly ready to be returned."

"Please sit Sam," Misty said. "This is incredibly important."

"Fine," Sam said, taking his chair. "Show me."

Misty pointed to the screen at the end of the wall that lit up. The faces of May Maple and Dawn Berlitz appeared, a news broadcast with the Sunnyshore City Gym behind them.

"Having seen those directly affected by recent events in Sinnoh, is there anything that you want to say?"

"Stop," Dawn said simply. "Seeing people who have had to leave their homes because they are no longer safe to live in is a tragedy."

"Miss Maple?"

"I can only echo Dawn," May said. "I grew up in a family that was heavily involved in the Pokémon League with my father being a Gym Leader. I am from Hoenn, Dawn is from Sinnoh. We are rivals in contests, but we can put aside our differences on a day like today. Please, there can be no more fighting."

"There are stories of further protests across the Sinnoh region about the heavy-handed actions of the Pokémon League under Mellanie Rigger. Surely they are allowed to protest?"

Dawn stepped forwards, an expression on her face that few had ever seen. Over the years she had become famous for the way that she had always seemed cheerful and easy going. Now just to look at her would cause many people to run in fear. Dawn jutted out her hand and pointed a thumb at the building behind her.

"Protesting is a right that everybody is entitled to. They must be allowed to continue. But try telling those people who have lost their homes that more people want to inflict their misery on others."

"I just spoke to Jayne, an 83-year-old woman," May said. "She had lived in her house for more than fifty years. She has a broken wrist, and her home is currently uninhabitable. This must stop."

"And to the Pokémon League?"

"We must have peace." Dawn and May said together before Dawn spoke alone. "Talk to the people, find out about their problems. But do not turn Pokémon on your own people again. I am from Sinnoh, and I am just like those who are behind me, in the Gym here. And Sinnoh will stand against you if you attack her people again."

The screen went black and Sam turned slowly to look at Misty.

"Where did this come from?"

"May and Dawn both went to Sinnoh last night. They wanted to visit the victims."

Sam looked into Misty's eye and shook his head. "This can only have broken very recently. You knew that it was coming."

"I did," Misty said, not looking away. "I sent them."

Sam had never lost his temper in a meeting of his Elites, but this was the closest he had come. He closed his eyes for a long second and gently placed his clenched fists on the table in front of him.

"Please tell me you had a good reason."

"She did."

Sam turned to see Rose looking directly at him.

"Oh?" Sam asked, tight-lipped.

"You left me in charge of the Kanto region whilst you were away on Pokémon League business," Misty said. "Politically, we have a huge amount of manoeuvrability. We can position the region to support the victims or the Pokémon League. There will be a report coming from May and Dawn about the actual state of Sunnyshore City. They walked the city, went places that the cameras won't. They are speaking to people in the city. They will help us make a decision."

Sam threw his hands up into the air in exasperation. "I give up. What do you need from me?"

"We need you to give us orders," Rose said flatly. "It is your job as our leader. There are several options. Choose one."

"Very well. What are they?"

Jack slid a file across the table and Sam stopped it, flicking it open. He raised an eyebrow.

"Really Alicia?"

"Yes," Alicia said without any trace of her usual humour. "It is an option worth considering."

"You lead a team of trainers to Sinnoh to support the police?"

"It would need to come from the Pokémon League," Jack said. "But if they signed off on it or Lucian were to request it, Kanto could provide significant assistance. We have some of the strongest trainers around at our disposal."

Sam shook his head, hardly believing what he was hearing.

"You'd want to lead an invasion of Sinnoh?"

"Not an invasion," Alicia said stubbornly. "Valuable assistance to help the authorities in Sinnoh."

"And if we were to choose not to help Lucian in Sinnoh?"

"Then we can come on the side of the Sinnoh people," Jack said. "Statements condemning the actions of the police, promises of economic aid, the level of our involvement can be determined. It is likely it will incur the opposition of the Pokémon Master. But with the way that May Maple and Dawn Berlitz phrased their comments, we could portray it as acting in support of them. They are both hugely popular figures, both in Sinnoh and Kanto."

Sam sighed. "Very well." He gestured to the folder. "I assume all the details on the varied proposals are in here?"

"Yes," Alicia said.

"Then I will look at it as soon as I can," Sam said. "Regardless of the outcome of the trial, we will have some time to react. I'll try to have an answer for you before the outcome is announced."

"And what will it be?"

Sam sighed again. "Cynthia will not survive this. She will lose her title."


Ash sat quietly on the roof of the Pokémon League, hidden in the shadow. At his side, Pikachu waited while Espeon and Alakazam tried to gauge the mood in the room twelve stories down. Eventually, Espeon opened her eyes and padded forwards.

"Cynthia will be impeached."

"Hardly surprising," Ash said quietly. "She is plainly guilty."

"But you didn't want her to lose her title?" Espeon asked.

"Not quite," Ash said. "She made this rod for her back years ago."

"I'm confused," Espeon said. "Why did you say what you did in the interview if this is what you think?"

Ash chuckled. "You really are curious, aren't you?"

"I want to know your plan," Espeon said. "I want to help and I can't do that if I don't know what you are doing."

"And when I need your direct assistance, trust me, you'll know," Ash said. "Anyway, I'm sure you and Pikachu have come up with some theories."

"I stopped trying to guess what you are doing a while back," Pikachu admitted. "I just trust that it will always work out for the best."

Ash laughed, only stopping when Espeon glared at him. "Very well. The interview as done to try to prevent what we are seeing in Sinnoh now."

"But you defended Cynthia," Espeon said. "Surely that would encourage the rioters?"

"I said that she was guilty," Ash said. "The headlines the following day said that. They said that while I sympathised with her, I felt Cynthia was plainly guilty."

Espeon's tail swished back and forth as she processed Ash's words. He smiled down at his companion and scratched her behind the ears.

"Suffice it to say, that was the outcome I was hoping for," Ash said. "Somebody who had been heavily involved gave the biggest indicator possible that she was guilty, whilst conceding that I felt for her? It should have been perfect. Sinnoh would have accepted her guilt, especially when the guilty verdict comes back, but if Mellanie could have been persuaded to let Cynthia take responsibilities in the Sinnoh community, it would have worked out well for everybody. Cynthia would not have held a high office, she could never hold onto that. But at the very least, she would escape with something, her reputation not destroyed. And Sinnoh wouldn't have endured the protests because it wouldn't have been a dictatorial Pokémon League that removed her. It would have been a Pokémon League doing its job."

"So, what went wrong?" Pikachu asked.

"I'm not sure," Ash admitted. "It is why I went to see Misty. Something is not right."

"The scouts will determine the origin of this problem."

Ash turned to look at Alakazam and smiled at his Pokémon. "At some point, yes you will. But at the moment you have no idea where to search."

"If we scour Sinnoh, the culprit will be revealed."

"Sinnoh is a big place," Ash said quietly. "And at the speed that things are moving now, you don't have time to search the entire region. Once we can narrow it down, you will most certainly be sent out. But not until then."

"So what do we do?"

"Misty is good at her job. She'll protect Kanto." Ash said. "I cannot reach Steven and Lance at the moment, Mellanie is watching them very closely. But once she gets her verdict, they'll return to Hoenn and Johto respectively. I'll speak to them there. Isolate the trouble to Sinnoh and we are well underway."

"So what do you need from us?" Espeon asked.

Ash's lip curled into a smile. "I was wondering when you would ask that."


Sam sat across the table from Lance and Steven, not touching his food. He was buried in the file he had been given by his Elites, weighing up options even as the Gym Leaders debated the verdict on Cynthia.

"You know, I don't think I've ever seen you so focused on the written word."

Sam looked up to see Lance gazing at him with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"I can only assume that it is something critical." Lance continued. "Care to share?"

Sam shrugged before closing the file. He gazed at Lance with a dubious look on his face.

"What have you done to prepare Johto for the fallout of this? In fact, for that matter, what have you done to protect Hoenn?"

This second comment was directed at Steven who smiled slightly.

"We have stockpiled food and medical supplies, ready for humanitarian aid if it gets any worse. Furthermore, having one of our most prestigious citizens on television across the four regions visiting the victims does wondrous things for our public view. Thank Misty for sending her for me."

Lance looked at the two of them before sighing. "I've not done much," he admitted. "Johto is a long way from Hoenn and the Pokémon Master is one of our own. We are aligned firmly behind her."

"We understand," Steven said. "And it shouldn't bring us into conflict. Hoenn is perfectly positioned to remain neutral no matter what happens. Our aid will be for all."

"And Kanto?" Lance asked.

"We are currently undecided," Sam said. "We are weighing up our options. But I do not want to see the Pokémon League using Pokémon against civilians."

"Hear, hear," Lance said. "What was Lucian thinking?"

"Probably that he didn't have a choice," Steven said. "He was wrong, he should have let the police deal with it. Their Pokémon are trained to deal with riots, his are not."

"He did quell the crowds though."

"Yes, he did," Steven said patiently to Lance. "But right now there is a lot of resentment against the Pokémon League in Sinnoh. Lucian has made it difficult for him to step into the hole left by Cynthia. This might require central intervention. If Sinnoh is managed by the Pokémon League until the next Sinnoh League, the winner can then battle Lucian for the title. Alternatively, the Elite Four can enter and then the winner of the tournament leads Sinnoh. Lucian will need to prove he is up to the fight, otherwise, he will never lead the region."

"Can that happen?" Sam asked in surprise.

"It can, and it will," Steven said. "Mellanie will have no choice if the situation there gets much worse. I'd even support her on a central governance of Sinnoh if it gets much worse. People are getting hurt."

"That they are."

The quiet voice, spoken at a level just above a whisper made them all freeze. Whilst they were the only ones in the room, they had been speaking frankly. Had somebody heard about it, it could be damaging to any public figure, let alone ones as famous as them.

"Ash," Sam said, recovering quickest. "Do you have some kind of aversion to doors?"

Ash chuckled as he took a chair next to Sam and faced Lance and Steven. "They prevent the dramatic flair that I am becoming fond of."

Sam rolled his eyes as Ash leaned forwards to focus on Steven and Lance. "I don't have long here. It would not be good for Mellanie to discover that we talked."

"You're estranged from her?" Steven asked eyebrow raised.

"Yes," Ash said. "Our last meeting ended particularly badly. I'm now completely unable to influence her."

"I'm not sure anybody can," Lance said. "My political advisors are petrified of what she will do next."

"There is that," Ash said, speaking quickly. "But I do need a favour from you all."

"Anything," Sam said instantly. "I'm pretty sure I owe you plenty."

"As do we," Steven said, eyes focused on Lance before the Dragon Master could say anything. "What do you need Champion?"

"There is something going on in Sinnoh," Ash said. "Something moving behind the scenes, influencing the situation there, making it more volatile."

"Like Cleffa?" Sam asked.

"Cleffa?" Lance asked instantly.

"Not relevant right now Lance," Ash said. "And no, not quite like Cleffa. That was a Pokémon influencing the world and was detectable. This is human."

"Some kind of criminal group?" Steven guessed.

"I'm not certain," Ash said. "My scouts haven't had a chance to search, everything is becoming time critical. When Mellanie announces that Cynthia has lost her title this evening, I'm expecting hell to break loose in Sinnoh."

"So, what do you need from us?"

"Search your own regions. Begin a police crack-down on any criminals that you know of. Whatever is going on in Sinnoh cannot be allowed to spread. This is the prime time for them to move, with the Gym Leaders away."

Lance sighed. "Another criminal group? I thought we were done after Team Rocket."

"That was nearly ten years ago," Ash said. "It is not inconceivable that another group could rise in that time. If they have anything in your regions, you need to find them."

The three regional leaders looked at each other for a moment. "If they are in our regions, we'll find them," Steven promised.


Misty looked up when the computer beeped. An email arrived, flagged as SECRET SENSITIVE. She frowned at her conflicting emotions. Secret Sensitive was only one step short of one of the highest classifications that Sam could use, but he was at least taking the threat seriously. She skimmed the email before marking it as read. It promptly deleted itself, removing any chance of it being read by somebody else.

So, he wanted the police to begin a sweep of the region, under the pretence of training exercises. It was unusual but understandable. Especially when you factored in the second part of the message. There was a suspicion of a criminal fraternity behind the riots in Sinnoh, and Sam wanted to make sure that hadn't moved into Kanto yet. Misty would have been suspicious, but it tied in with what Ash had told her. It was starting to make sense. She wondered if this is what Sam felt when he led the region. Things fell into place as more information was revealed and decisions had to be adapted. Although sending extra police out onto the streets seemed extreme. Misty wasn't sure how that plan could be adapted if it needed to be. She just hoped it didn't need adjusting.

She sighed as she reached for the keyboard. This promised a lot of work for her before she could go home.


"The verdict of the Kanto Gym leaders is guilty, eight votes to none."

Cynthia felt a coldness seep into her. She knew she was in for a fight, but for the first region to declare against her so totally was disturbing. She watched Jonathan close the envelope and sit back down before the attention was shifted to Clair, the Blackthorn City Gym Leader. She rose from her chair and opened the envelope in her hands, quickly scanning down.

"The verdict of the Johto Gym Leaders is guilty, eight votes to none."

Cynthia closed her eyes in surrender. She was finished. Whatever chance she had left was all in the hands of Ash Ketchum, but she hadn't heard from him at all. He had abandoned her. She opened her eyes again to see Juan standing, a sheet of paper in his hands. The Sootopolis City Gym Leader had an expression of pity on his face.

"The verdict of the Hoenn Gym Leaders is guilty, eight votes to none."

All attention turned to Volkner as he rose to his feet, moves slow and deliberate. He opened the envelope in front of him and scanned down the page, before looking squarely at Cynthia.

"The verdict of the Sinnoh Gym Leaders is guilty, eight votes to none."

Steven rose to his feet as Volkner sat down. The Sinnoh Gym Leaders turned their attention to the Hoenn Champion, grateful for the chance to look away from Cynthia.

"Cynthia Shirona, the Gym Leaders have found you guilty of all charges laid against you, thirty-two votes to none. Your impeachment is upheld. Effectively immediately, you are removed from your position as Sinnoh Champion, and banned from holding public office at any time in the future."

Cynthia's voice was barely a whisper. "I understand."

Steven looked around at the room, all silently waiting on his next words. All with the exception of Sam Fernandez. The Kanto Champion was gazing at Mellanie, his expression somehow combining both happiness and pity.

"I declare this impeachment trial to be concluded."


Lance caught up with Steven outside as they left Mellanie and Sam behind. Steven turned to Lance with a sad look on his face.

"That was brutal."

"Thirty-two to zero. I didn't expect it to be so bad."

"Even from her own region."

Lance shook his head in disbelief. "I'd like to think my own Gym Leaders wouldn't do that to me."

"They will have looked at what she has done to their region," Steven said sagely. "She jeopardised Sinnoh's reputation and I suspect they blame her for the riots. That is a strong swing. Falkner wouldn't have helped either."

Lance looked at Steven who was watching him with a canny eye. "What?"

"Did you tell him to ask that question?"

Lance looked baffled. "Why?"

"Because that question was most likely the moment that swung Sinnoh against her."

Lance shook his head. "You should know me better than that. I'm not politically smart enough for such a move."

Steven watched Lance walk away. He couldn't be sure if Lance was being honest with him. The Dragon Master was right, he was not known for his political savviness, but he had been in his job for a long time. There was no way of knowing for sure.


"Congratulations Mellanie."

She looked up to see Sam watching her, the only other person left in the room. She smiled slightly at him.

"Thank you."

"Three years of hard work, and you're vindicated. A unanimous vote."

"I know," Mellanie said before hesitating. "I…"

"What?" Sam asked.

"I wish that Ash could appreciate it the way you do," Mellanie admitted.

Sam reached out and put a hand on her arm, ready to snatch it away if she reacted. She looked down at it before looking back into his eyes.

"You did what you believe is right," Sam said softly. "And I'm sorry that I didn't stand with you before."

Mellanie blinked in surprise. "You mean that?"

Sam shrugged. "I think I do." He almost sounded as if he was surprising himself. "When we fell out and you left to train, I should have reached out to you. I guess I was hurt by the way it fell apart. I never thought that could happen to us."

Mellanie looked down at his hand as he withdrew it, holding it awkwardly by his side. She wanted to take it, but it would require a leap of faith beyond what she had in her.

"And then when you came back, you'd improved so much." Sam continued. "I couldn't believe it. You've become this incredible trainer, the Pokémon Master. But I worried about what might have happened to you in getting that far. I thought you might no longer be the friend that I knew, the kind and caring person who would do anything for those she cared about."

Sam laughed bitterly.

"I guess I know what Ash's friends went through when they found out who he was. I remember you as a kid, all the crazy things we used to get up to. And then all anybody is talking about is how you beat Cynthia, how you were the Pokémon Master. The strategies that you used, the intensity that you fought with. And all I could think about was how when you were six you managed to get stuck in a tree because you couldn't remember the way you had climbed up."

Mellanie felt a laugh rising in her throat but she quashed it down, letting Sam continue.

"I couldn't believe that this stern public figure could be the same girl I loved. I thought the public figure had become the private person beneath it. But I was wrong. When we were dating and it all fell apart, I was wrong. When you became Pokémon Master, I was wrong. I should have been there to congratulate you."

"I didn't make it easy for you," Mellanie admitted. "I refused to talk to you."

"It doesn't matter," Sam said. "I deserved that. All I can say is that I'm so sorry Mellanie. I thought that Ash was right, that you were being too aggressive. That you'd lost focus, and you were only driven by revenge. But now I'm not sure."

"You were right for a while," Mellanie said, her voice quiet. "When I faced Cynthia… All I could think about was thrashing her. And when I beat her, I wanted to bring Ash back, to punish those who drove him away." She laughed, a hollow, mirthless sound. "It hasn't quite gone the way I expected."

"But you did it," Sam said. "I'm proud of you Mellanie."

She let a smile play at the corner of her mouth. "Thanks, Sam. That means a lot."

Sam nodded and turned away, leaving her in the room behind him. She watched him go, a smile on her face. An apology was not what she had been expecting from Sam, especially not one so heartfelt. He had been right though. She had been too aggressive in her moves when she became Pokémon Master. She had managed to get what she wanted done, but she had thrown an entire region into chaos. And she had to decide what to do about Cynthia.

She could formally charge her, now that her immunity in court was gone. It was tempting, but not as much as it had been a few weeks previously. She had won, she could afford to be magnanimous. She could let Cynthia disappear into irrelevance. It would be risky, but doable. If Cynthia understood that her best chance of avoiding prison was to quietly accept the decision and move on, Mellanie might just be able to pull it off. She groaned as she realized what she was doing. Exactly what Ash had told her she needed to do. Or tried to tell her at least, but she hadn't listened particularly well.

"Why is he always right?" she asked out loud.

And then there was Sam. She wasn't sure if he had even realised that he had said that he loved her. Once the Sinnoh region was brought back under control, there was a future for her that she couldn't have envisaged a year previously. Feeling better than she had in days, Mellanie strode out of the room. She had an announcement to make.


Lucian stood at his office window, looking down at the crowd at the centre of the city. More than two thousand people were stood, completely filling the square below him. They were all staring at the big screen in front of them, waiting. The whole world knew that the decision had been made. The Gym Leaders had returned to their cities, the trial was over. They were just waiting for the announcement. Lucian was flanked by the three other members of the Sinnoh Elite Four. His Elite Four.

Mellanie's face appeared, huge on the screen as she looked at the camera in Indigo Plateau. The crowd quieted, leaving an expectant hush.

"The impeachment trial of Cynthia Shirona, Sinnoh Champion has been completed." Mellanie started. "Miss Shirona was accused of conspiracy to remove a public figure, and of using her position as Sinnoh Champion to instigate a cover-up of her actions. At the trial, the evidence was considered by the thirty-two Gym Leaders from the four regions. I thank them for their objectivity, in difficult circumstances. At the conclusion of the trial, Miss Shirona was found guilty and as such has been removed from her position as Sinnoh Champion. Lucian Goyo will take her place, effective immediately. I wish him luck in returning Sinnoh to the glory that the region deserves."

Mellanie's face vanished from the screen and Lucian turned his attention to the crowd below him. He waited with bated breath to see how they would take the news. He knew he had lost credibility in the way he had used his own Pokémon to quell the riots, and he couldn't afford to do so again.

The crowd seemed to calm down before a new surge of energy went through them. Lucian who had been about to turn away wrenched his attention back. A woman had been lifted up by a Hariyama, the Arm Thrust Pokémon easily holding her above the crowd.

"They knew!" The woman roared. "The whole Pokémon League knew!"

"Uh oh," Aaron said from somewhere behind Lucian.

"They all covered it up!" the woman continued, each of her words being greeted by nods from the crowd in front of her. "The Pokémon League left us with a criminal in charge! A fraud!"

Lucian wanted to back away from the window as the crowd cheered every word, whipping themselves up into a fervour. Suddenly the woman raised her hand, finger extended. She was pointing directly at him.

"The Pokémon League still watch us." Her voice was lower now, quieter. More dangerous. "They will turn their Pokémon on us again and again until we fall into place. They left a fraud and a criminal in charge of us, spending our money, making the laws that we had to follow. Laws that they themselves ignore. They do not permit dissent from us. They do not permit anything from us. Battlers hold the power and the rest of us have to follow."

She lowered her arm and turned her gaze onto the crowd in front of her.

"Well, I say no more. I say that I am tired of living under their heel. I am tired of being subject to their whims. I say enough. What say you?"

"Enough!" the crowd roared back at her. She raised her arm, emotion on her face.

"Down with the Pokémon League!"

The crowd took up the chant as Lucian finally backed away from the window, now thoroughly alarmed. The edges of the crowd were turning towards his office, beginning to advance, the police around them looking nervous at the numbers.

"Do not harm the people!" the woman screamed, her voice somehow carrying over the volume of the crowd. "But bring our oppressors down! Down with the Pokémon League! And down with any who would defend them!"

The police officers around the crowd looked at each other uncertainly. The Hariyama moved forwards, still lifting the woman high above the crowd. The crowd stopped just short of the police, waiting for her word.

"Step aside," she told the lines of police officers. "We do not wish to harm you."

A police captain stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "We are charged with preventing a repeat of the violence from two days ago. If we let you past, we will have failed."

Behind him, the police officers were releasing Pokémon, ready for another round of crowd dispersal.

"We will act towards those who deserve it," the woman answered. "Now step aside."

"I'm sorry," the captain said, stepping back into the lines and taking his place at the very centre. "But we can't do that."

The crowd looked around uncertainly as the police stared them down. The frenzy that they had been whipped into was beginning to calm itself.

"Very well," the woman said with a shrug. "Break them."

Pokémon erupted from the crowd, smashing into the police line immediately straining it. Some of the crowd charged forwards, to be met by police officers swinging truncheons. As curses and shouts of pain broke from the lines, the woman turned back to the crowd.

"See the extent they will go to? They want to bring us low! They will continue to oppress us! Down with the Pokémon League!"

The chant was taken up again and the crowd surged forwards, causing the already stretched police line to break apart. Officers went down shouting as the crowd stampeded over them, and reached the front doors to the building that Lucian was watching from.

Lucian almost dived into his chair in front of his desk as he brought up security footage from downstairs. The front doors had been smashed off their hinges and the crowds were tearing into the building, destroying as they went. He looked up at the three Elites stood in front of him, shock written on their faces.

"We need to get downstairs," Lucian said. "We can stop this."

"No," Bertha said. "If we do that, we'll only prove them right. We can't use our Pokémon against them."

"But we have to do something!" Lucian said desperately. "We can't just…"

The crash hid the rest of his words as something large and heavy smashed through the office window. The last thing Lucian saw was a dark shadow reaching for him.

A/N

I have to admit, watching this story split opinions in the reviews has been highly amusing. It is almost like most people are irritated about something to do with it, but they can't work out exactly what. The other part of a few reviews that have been entertaining is the frustration with Ash (and others) for not doing the "right" thing. And of course, from knowing everything that is going on without emotions clouding judgement, it is easy to see. For those involved? Not so much!

Anyway, I will endeavour to get the next chapter out next Friday/Saturday. No promises, but I should have time. Until then!

Iama2p