Cerise Institute

One short bus ride later

Professor Cerise leaned closer to the hologram screen as he compared the files, highlighting and dragging bits around to compare them as Goh explained what he read and his conclusions.

"Team Rocket," he murmured, lips pulling down into a frown.

"What would Marco Cosmos be doing with Team Rocket files?" Ren asked worriedly.

Chrysa tapped her chin. "They might be researching to stop whatever Team Rocket is exposing these Pokémon to. Or we could hope so at least."

Professor Cerise shook his head. "But then why attack Goh? Even breaking in to the facility, Ash knows that Goh isn't working with Team Rocket."

Goh tries the fight the sick feeling coiling in his chest as he glanced around the room. His coworkers seemed to reach the same conclusion as him, but no one was willing to actually voice them.

"Unless Macro Cosmos is working with Team Rocket," Goh sighed. "And since Ash is working for Macro Cosmos then he's part of Team Rocket too."

"Let's no be too hasty." Professor Cerise swiped through the files again thoughtfully. "Ash is one of Marco Cosmos sponsored trainers. He might not even be aware of everything that's happening within the company. If he's focusing on battling he might not have even met a majority of the Macro Cosmos staff."

Chrysa nodded. "So we assume he's innocent for now."

Chloe scoffed from her spot near the back of the room. All eyes turned to her, but she didn't glance up from her phone when she spoke. "Innocent people don't push people down stairs."

Goh turned back to Professor Cerise who had a conflicted expression. "Technically," he started casting a look on Goh's direction. "We don't know for sure that Ash did anything. Goh, you admitted that you don't remember what happened."

"Cinderace saw it!" Goh protested.

Professor Cerise sighed. "Pokémon can't testify or legally be a witness because no one knows exactly what they're saying. She might have been there but she can't prove anything any more that your own memory can. It might not be fair but that's the way it is."

Goh bit his cheek to keep in his outrage. He knew the professor was right, but it didn't help with the helpless feeling swimming in his gut.

"What about asking him?" Ren offered. At some point during the conversation he had pulled up the exhibition match schedule on his computer and was pointing to the screen. "The Mater class is touring different regions and the Kanto match is next week. It's a double battle and Leader Giovanni offered his gym space for it."

Chrysa started nodding, already understanding Ren's point. "Fans ask the hotels to deliver things all the time. You could right a note. "

Goh wiped his good hand across his face. "And say what?" Looking between the three of them the helplessness cemented itself. "Do I just ask if he's working for Team Rocket?"

Chloe stood from her spot and wrapped an arm around Goh, carefully avoiding his sling. "Ash was never one for subtlety."

Goh nodded. "True."

Professor Cerise turned his attention back to the files as he and his assistants continued to analyze the patterns of exposure between them and theorize what it could mean. Goh left the lab, Chloe close on his heels, and headed to the Pokémon park. Cinderace had disappeared into the park as soon as they had gotten to the lab and Goh hoped that she prepped the rest of his Pokémon so he didn't get mobbed with an over zealous hug pile that might actually hurt him. Cinderace had made herself the unofficial leader and she loved taking charge to keep the peace in the park. Pulling on the metal door between the park and the lab Goh breathed in the warm air and the sweet smell of the berry trees that had been planted from Skowvet's forgotten stashes. Goh heard the cries of pika pika before he even made it to the railing but Cinderace materialized at his side to catch the yellow ball of fluff before he could land on Goh's shoulder. Loathe Goh was to admit it but he hoped that Ash was part of Team Rocket when he looked into Pikachu's eyes and gave him a one armed hug. Pikachu rubbed his cheek against Goh's, sending small shocks down his body.

Ash's words the day he left Pikachu in Goh's care echoed in his mind every time the mouse muzzled him or perched on his shoulder.

"Maybe you should just keep him! I don't need a weak Pokémon like that slowing me down!"

Ash had tossed Pikachu at him after losing a battle in Kalos. Goh didn't know if it was good or bad luck that the loss came just after they had met up for lunch but seeing him quietly berate his pikachu made Goh's blood boil. He confronted Ash and the argument that followed made him the new owner of a very depressed Pikachu. It had taken months to get him to eat and even longer to get him back to any semblance of himself.

Goh ended up sitting is a clearing for over an hour as his Pokémon wandered over to check on him and wander away again. Everyone had gotten treats and cuddles under Cinderace's watchful eye and save for the numbness in his rear from sitting on the ground for so long Goh felt fine. He missed moments like this. When it would be him and Ash in the park training or relaxing or planning their next research trip. Pulling out his phone, Goh started to mentally compose the letter he wanted to send to Ash. Should he mention the files or just that he knew about Marco Cosmos and Team Rocket? How should he even start?

Rubbing his head in frustration Goh let out a sigh and flopped dramatically o to his back and started at the sky though the glass dome. He could see some clouds half hidden by the glare of the sun reflecting off the glass.

At some point Chloe pulled him back into the lab and slid the blank page under his fingers. She didn't say anything at first, but at his hesitation she grabbed his hand and grabbed the paper back to read it.

Why did you leave Cerise Lab?

Erase erase erase.

Are you working with Team Rocket?

Marco Cosmos has connections to them and I know you aren't like that but you have to know what's going on right?

Are you trying to stop them from the inside?

I just need to know Scribble erase.

"You don't have to do this."

Goh leaned back, staring at the ceiling as he bit his lip. "But what about after he leaves? And I can't get a note to him. Or what if he says yes? Or..."

With a sigh he thumped his head onto the table.

Chloe nodded sympathetically. "I get it. He used to be your friend."

"What if he still is?" Goh mumbled against the wood. "If your dad is right and Ash really isn't involved then I'm accusing him out of nowhere. What kind of friend does that make me?"

Chloe shrugged and crossed her arms. "So what would you write to Ash your friend?"

Too many scribbled drafts were tossed before he ended up with the one he was going to send, panic editing it as he stuffed it into an envelope that Chloe plucked from his grasp to keep him from obsessing over more that he already had. He didn't mention the nightmares to her. The fuzzy mix of fear and memory of Ash attacking him in Rose Tower. He wasn't even sure what was true and what was his own anxiety.

He asked Chloe to deliver the note for him though. He kept it short and sweet.

Ash

Good luck with your battle.

Goh

The next two days were a blur, waiting for the Kanto exhibition matches to start. Goh and the research assistants were making progress on understanding the Rose files as they had all taken to calling them. The files detailed sizes and behaviors of each Pokémon both before and after the "treatments" and from these details they could theorize that one of the earliest Pokémon might have been a rattatta and it had evolved during the process while the file mentioned was a good thing. It was more aggressive than a regular raticate and had the longest exposure times of the six files. Professor Cerise wanted to use this one as the control for the rest as they built a timeline for when these experiments started and stopped. The night of the match saw them barely halfway through the data.

Chloe had to drag him from his apartment to her family's house and toss him onto the couch to watch the exhibition. Parker chatted eagerly with Goh about battle strategy and which Pokémon each trainer might use.

"It just makes sense," he was saying as Goh nodded half listening. "Double battles are different and none of the trainers have done them for a competition before so their styles might not mesh."

"Not like yours and Ash's," Professor Cerise added as he carried some bowls of popcorn from the kitchen. "You two are really something when you were battling together."

Goh blushed and ducked his head, trying to hide his embarrassment by petting Pikachu as a distraction. Cinderace had settled against his legs munching on poké snacks and feeding Sobble who was curled on her own lap. Goh pet her ears when she flicked one around to check on him without turning her attention from the screen as the announcers for the match came on.

"It's a beautiful night here in Viridian city gym..." the first announcer introduced before launching into his spiel about the Master class exhibitions as he and the second announcer, a woman that Goh vaguely recognized, bantered back and forth.

Goh tuned out the tv in favor of his phone as he checked the world coronation fan forums for any topics about the battle tonight. Most of the fans were gushing over Ash as the hometown favorite even though his partner for the match was current Kanto champ Lance. Most of the comments he read were from people who claimed to have met or travelled with him in various regions.

Chloe nudged his arm and gestured to the tv with her head. The announcer was introducing the trainers.

"First up is the Kalos region champ Diantha and her partner Gardevior! Joining her tonight is the Sinnoh champ Cynthia and her partner Garchomp! On the other side of the field we have Champion Lance from Kanto with Gyarados and Rookie to the Master class Ask Ketchum with his Lucario."

The other announcer nodded as she turned to face the camera. "Now this is Ash's first match in the Mater class so he might be a little overwhelmed going against these heavy hitters without even a championship match under his belt but if his previous battles are anything to go by he's going to give these champs a run for their money."

Goh smirked despite himself. "I guess since the Manalo Cup isn't official yet those two years don't count." he snarked at Chloe.

Parker gasped from his spot on her other side and leaned around to see Goh. "So no one but us knows that Ash is a champion too?"

"Don't forget everyone in Alola," Professor Cerise added.

"Though he hasn't been the champ for almost three years." Chloe met his eyes as the thought struck him. Hindsight made it obvious that Ash wasn't himself. Forfeit due to no show. Maybe he really was working with Team Rocket now.

Goh watched the match with that idea in mind and all he could focus on was how out of sync he was with his Pokémon and his battle partner. Garchomp sent Lucario flying into Gyarados and the two Pokémon sprawled across the field. Goh couldn't tell what Ash and Lance were saying to each other but even from a distance their body language screamed hostile. Even the announcers thought so as they added their own commentary about the match. Goh tightened his grip on Pikachu who tugged on his fingers to get him to losses up again. A lucky hit by Gyarados knocked out Gardevoir and left Garchomp to Lucario. Goh tried to root for Ash but he kept remembering what Chloe said. Ash had been his friend. Maybe the fight at Rose tower wasn't as black and white as Goh had wanted to believe. But he remembered Ash pinning him to the wall, yanking his arm back until the pain burned deep in his shoulder. A friend wouldn't do that.

On screen it looked like Lance and Ash were arguing. Gyarados had hit Lucario with its last attack on Garchomp. Goh didn't think he blinked the rest of the match as Gyarados fainted and it was just Lucario and Garchomp left. Then in an explosion of smoke it was over and Lucario won. Ash won. They shook hands in the middle of the field but Ash left before he could be interviewed until his fellow trainers. He watched Lance try to laugh it off with the excuse of nerves but Goh could tell that he was still mad. What was going on in Ash's head.