The world was changing all the time, but Mt. Silver and the Silver Cave would always remain the chilly atmospheric stadium for the bloodiest of fights. The King of Hoenn received shivers with every step that he was closer to the top. King Ash wanted it to be his final resting place, next to his beloved Queen May. He knew that King Lance would soon show up.

He just had to be patient.

He didn't care how long he had to wait on the summit. The mountain kept Kanto and Johto together and he heard that this was King Lance's favourite place to train. King Ash laughed as he picked up Pikachu and placed him on his shoulder.

"What kind of brother am I?" Ask asked Pikachu. "I'm the older one. I was suppose to protect him." He threw his fist and made a hole in the thick snow. He bounced to his feet and clenched onto the handle of his sword. "WHY DON'T YOU SHOW YOURSELF YOU STUPID TRAITOR?" Ash had his sword above his head whilst Pikachu's cheeks sparked electric currents furious enough to cause an avalanche. It was past the point of no return, if Lance wasn't beheaded by law, then he would do it himself. "YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY WITH THIS AND I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!"

"Pika?"

"Your Majesty?"

Ash twirled his sword towards the the direction of where he heard the voice. He turned behind him and as soon as he saw the shape of the man who looked very similar to him, he withdrew his sword. "Master Ritchie?" He forced a smile upon his swollen face. "I'm sorry I thought you were someone else."

Master Ritchie was Ash's half-brother and the bastard son of Queen Delia and Spencer Hale. Master Ritchie was The Royal Family Of Kanto's worst kept secret. And even though Master Ritchie and King Ash often wrote to each other, they had only met each other four times in their lifetime. Master Ritchie and King Ash were born a mere nine months apart. Giovanni was left furious and wanted nothing to do with the child. Scared of the child's welfare, Delia sent Ritchie Hale to Greenfield where he lived with Spencer Hale and his wife. Spencer and his wife would go on to have a daughter named Molly.

"Who did you think it was? Master Ritchie asked.

The King scratched his head and looked away from his half-brother as he held onto his sleeves for warmth. "King Lance," Ash responded. "He's been trying to kill my family."

Master Ritchie opened his mouth wide as he spoke. He marched closer to Ash as his tripped on his green cape. "The King of Johto?" Master Ritchie stumbled as he shook his half-brother's iceberg hands. "That can't be? Why would he something like that?"

"For Iris," Ash replied. "He would do anything to get her back." Pikachu and Ritchie's Sparky hugged Ash in unison as he continued to spoke. "He plotted to kill Cilan, he got Gary and Kamon killed and tried to get Misty executed. He even tried to stop my mother becoming Queen. My father was trying to save us. He was trying to make sure we all got what was rightfully ours. And I turned him away. He was only trying to stop Lance from succeeding."

"Poor Kamon didn't know about me did he?" Ritchie asked as he patted Ash's back.

Ash shook his head. "They were going to tell him on his thirtieth birthday."

"I heard he died trying to save Lance," Ritchie said. "He was only 27 when he died. He was so close to it. And he had a daughter as well. Poor child."

"Lance will corrupt my niece," Ash vowed. "Just as he betrayed Kamon. Lance and Iris should never get back together. I don't care how many of his dragons I have to electrocute. I'll make a world war to stop him from winning."

"I don't think will ever happen," Ritchie admitted, thinking that Ash was going too far. "Cilan Dento is still alive isn't he? Queen Iris will go straight to him."

"Do you how how many husbands Iris has had?" Ash asked. "She's married my brother and my cousin. And she might still be bewitched."

"Four," Ritchie replied to Ash's question. "My father told me all about it. I think your mother and my father are waiting for the chance to eventually marry."

"I know my father has done a lot of bad things," said Ash as gazed into the sky."But I still must honour him. Now that my mother is Queen she can do whatever she wants. Which will be good. I get to see you more."

"But you'll be out in Hoenn."

"You should come to Hoenn at some point," Ash announced in pride with his hands by his side. "I have the most awesome wife!"

"Lucky you! Oh, and while I'm here, Cardinal Drew has a message for you: the warranty for King Lance's arrest has been finished and he has given me a copy it to give to you."

Ash accepted the scroll Ritchie gave him. "Thanks," he said with a massive smirk. The two brothers and their pikachus withdrew to the cave and read the scroll together. "I believe that Cardinal Drew will have King Lance arrested by the time I come back."

WARRANT FOR THE ARREST OF KING LANCE DEN

Titles: King Of Johto, Head Of Kanto's Elite Four, Price Of Unova, Defender Of The Dragon Empire

Previous Titles: Crown Prince Of Johto and King Of Unova

Charge: High Treason

Warrant Issued: 10th February 1600

Details Of Crime: King Lance Den has been charged with high treason for abusing his power as king. He is charged with numerous accounts of attempted murder and being also being a mastermind to several murders. His crimes include; adultery, incest, blackmail, heresy, rape, framing Caroline for theft which led to her untimely execution, arranging the murders of Kamon Ketchum, Norman Maple and his son Max Maple and the attempted murder of Giovanni Ketchum.

Nearly five years ago, King Lance signed both a death and an arrest warrant for his once trusted servant, Lord Xemnas. To whom we now believe was one of King Lance's accomplices. Xemnas was charged for the attempted murder of Cilan Dento; sexual assault against the Duchess Of Blackthorn; blasphemy against Pope Mickey; and plotting to overthrow Her Majesty. Xemnas was stripped of his titles, found guilty and was beheaded.

On top of the following charges, King Lance is also to be charged with Xenmas' offences.

Monarch's Signature: May, Hoenn's Queen

Approved by: His Holiness, Pope Mickey

This warrant is to be presented to The King Of Johto by Cardinal Drew, who shall also arrange the trail.

"Come on Lord Koga," Cardinal Drew snapped. He tried to remain as elegant and talk as smoothly as he did in prayer, but he was losing his patience with Lord Koga, a member of Johto's Elite Four. Koga's face was cold, but firm. His anger was carefully contained within the lines of his cheek and the clenching of hands. He shook his head and refused to give Cardinal Drew the words that he wanted to hear. "I'm a very busy man and I need to pray tonight."

"I have nothing more to say to you," Lord Koga announced with his shoulders more raised. "The King only spoke to my daughter."

"Speaking leads to many things my good lord," Cardinal Drew roared as he slammed his palms firmly on his desk. "What were they speaking about?"

"How should I know?" Koga asked cooley. "They said it was private matter, I wasn't listening into it at all."

"Then how would you know that they were only talking?"

Koga bit his lip. He lowered his head as if he was in defeat.

"We've been here for hours," Drew pleaded to Koga. "I know that Lance and Janine were up to something. And I promise that your family honour will not be stained for as long as testify against The King?"

"So if I told you everything," Koga asked as he lifted his head at the enraged cardinal, "Will you let my daughter go unharmed and free?"

Cardinal Drew slowly nodded.

"The King visits my household once a month," Koga whispered. "He comes to see my daughter. They've had carnal knowledge of each other for many years against her will."

Cardinal Drew opened his eyes and held his hand to his heart. "Are you trying to say that The King raped your daughter?"

"Indeed," Koga said with a grin. "He gave my family a generous estate for our silence. He promised that he would marry my daughter once the Queen had died."

Cardinal Drew turned to the window and opened it fully. He allowed the wind to blow leaves into the office as they blew out all the candles. The only light in the room was the starry sky and the crescent moon. "Tell me did The King mention this promise after The Queen divorced him?"

"No," Koga shook his head. "He never saw us again." He sighed. "Is my daughter free now?"

"Yes," Cardinal Drew confessed. "I knew I could shake the truth out of you somehow."

Koga glared at the cardinal as he shook his cape and stomped out of the room. Cardinal Drew's roserade passed him a quill for him to dip the ink in and write down the notes of his interview with Koga. It was a struggle, but Lord Koga finally told me that The King would visit his household once a month to rape his daughter and paid him generously for his silence."

The last person to be interviewed was Lord Xigbar, commander of Her Majesty's Army in Unova. Cardinal Drew was looking forward to this interview. He was hoping that Lord Xigbar would give him the most juiciest gossip out of all of the people he interviewed. He was one of the fourteen traitors, but Cardinal Drew promised Xigbar, Axel, Roxas and Xion freedom if one of them could think of a conviction against King Lance. Only Lord Xigbar was willing to do it, so they were all let off lightly again.

Lord Xigbar came into the room with a bottle of wine. "Good evening Cardinal Drew," he said. "I thought I'd give you something to cool yourself down."

"Thank you," Cardinal Drew said as he took the bottle and placed it on the table. "Please have a seat." Lord Xigbar sat down as Cardinal Drew opened a draw behind him and took out two goblets.

"It seems you have a solid conviction against The King," Lord Xigbar said as he looked at the notes that Cardinal Drew wrote.

"Yes," Cardinal Drew said as he poured wine into both goblets. Holding onto one, he passed one to Roserade and told him to send it to Lord Xigbar. The lord accepted the drink and made no hesitation to take the first sip. "Koga's says Lance raped his daughter once a month. Will Itsuki proclaimed his everlasting love for him and says that he is the guilty one. Lord Bruno said he saw Lance drag Norman and Max Maple in a well."

"How sneaky," Lord Xigbar remarked. "I also hear that King Lance is trying to kill The Royal House Of Ketchum."

"It is true," Cardinal Drew said. "Ash Ketchum is furious and I fear that if I fail to bring Lance to his death, then Asia would break out into a civil war."

"Doesn't surprise me," Lord Xigbar admitted. "King Lance has been plotting for Giovanni's downfall for years."

"And the Xemnas' plots," Cardinal Drew mentioned as he poured more wine into Lord Xigbar's goblet. "Was The King involved in them?"

"Not directly," Lord Xigbar confessed. "But Xemnas wouldn't have gone as far as he did had it have been for Lance's help. And I believe that if Lance hadn't have signed the warrants for Xemnas' fall, then Cilan would not have been here."

"I see."

The door burst open and Lord Xigbar and Cardinal Drew bowed as King Ash entered the room with Master Ritchie, his half-brother.

"My lords," Ash Ketchum shouted. "Has King Lance been arrested yet?"

"Not yet," Cardinal Drew replied. "I'm afraid that some of the witnesses have been stubborn, thus delaying the arrest." Cardinal Drew felt his heart leap as King Ash lowered his head and sighed. "However, we have very strong testimonies Your Majesty."

"Spit it all out," Ash demanded. "Oh and my lords, this is my half-brother: Master Ritchie Hale."

"Lords," Master Ritchie said as he bowed his head.

"Master Ritchie," Lord Xigbar and Cardinal Drew said as they bowed in unison.

"We have enough evidence to suggest the following," Cardinal Drew began as he told The King Of Hoenn what they were about to charge The King Of Johto. "Adultery with various men and women. We're also going to charge him for the murders of Kamon Ketchum, Lord Saïx, Lady Caroline Maple, Max Maple, Norman Maple and of course the attempted murder of your parents, The Queen of Unova and Cilan Dento. And also..."

"Please no more," King Ash requested as he slouched his back against the wall. "We'll be forever. He rubbed his stomach. "How about he all go and dine in the main hall?"

"Great idea," Lord Xigbar thought. "This wine surely gives you an appetite."

"I think you've got enough evidence to arrest King Lance with Treason," said The King of Hoenn.

"I do," Drew grinned as he spoke slyly. "I shall make my way down there tonight, the arrest should be carried out by morning."

"Take Charizard," Ash demanded with a higher pitch of voice. "Then you can have a sleep-in for the morning."

"Yes Your Majesty," Drew shouted. Drew gathered all his paperwork and placed it in a green chest. He carried the chest with him, and it fit nicely in between his arm and side. While he rode to Johto to carry out the arrest he thought of Queen May and how she was looking after the enchanted rose he gave her. It was a long, cold and windy night, but Cardinal Drew finally managed to reach Blackthorn by sunrise.