7 Requiem
Hidden in the trees, Jessie, James and Meowth watched the encounter between their boss and their longtime rivals. Even with everything they had done, they were still shaken by Ivan's actions. When they saw the police helicopter arrive shortly after Mewtwo had beaten him, they knew what it meant for them.
"This is the end," James murmured. "Game over."
"I can't believe it's happened," Jessie agreed. "No more Team Rocket, no more evil schemes and no more rich boss who's going to pay us a hundred thousand dollars."
"On the upside," Meowth added, "we won't be needing to pay back all that money we borrowed."
The three of them sighed. While it was true, it didn't provide them with much consolation. After all the hard work they had put into the company, it was gone. All for nothing.
"Let's get out of here," Meowth said.
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again," Jessie moaned.
"But this time," James noted, "it's for good."
Officer Jenny stripped Ivan of his coat and pressed him against the side door of the police helicopter as she searched his clothing for any other weapons. After removing anything potentially dangerous, she put the handcuffs around his wrist.
Ivan turned to Ash, glaring at him with fervent rage. "You've ruined me, boy!" he hissed venomously. "Do you hear me? Thanks to you, I've lost everything. My money, my business, everything. I warn you, there's no prison in the world that can keep me confined. No matter what it takes, I'll make sure you regret this!"
"You have the right to remain silent," Officer Jenny pointed out. "I suggest you use it before you get yourself into a worse situation."
Ivan growled furiously at her. What did she know? He was a broken man now. Everything was gone. His plans destroyed, his money lost and on his way to prison, there was nothing that could be worse for him. He had no doubt that others who had worked for him would testify against him, so that they could take everything he had fought his whole life to achieve. Even if he was ever released from prison, which he doubted he would be, he would have to start over. No one would ever trust him again, not like they had before. He could never get back to where he was. His dreams were lost, blown away with the wind.
"Hold on a minute," Ash said as Officer Jenny began to shove Ivan into the helicopter.
She stopped and allowed Ash to approach.
"I know how angry you are about losing everything," Ash said. "But you have to realize that you brought it on yourself. You gave it all up when you took what no one has the right to take. You took another person's life. Shigure had dedicated his entire life to helping others. He was possibly the greatest man that ever lived and you killed him. You have taken something from this world that is very rare and all you can think about is what you've lost? He had everything he ever wanted because he loved others, while you lost everything because you only cared about yourself. Remember that as you spend your long days in a cold cell."
Ivan glared at Ash with vile hatred. Who was he to talk to him like that? What gave him the right? He was Ivan Zokas, while Ash was just a stupid child.
'It's all his fault,' Ivan fumed silently. 'It's all his fault! He did this! And now he mocks me! How dare he?'
His angry thoughts kept building in his mind until he could no longer take it. As Officer Jenny began to push him into the helicopter again, his rage exploded like a bursting dam and all at once came pouring out of him. With a deranged cry, he snapped the handcuffs that bound him. He shoved Officer Jenny to the ground, grabbed the dagger that she had taken from him and charged for Ash.
"I'll kill you!" he screamed.
Ash saw Ivan charging for him. He stumbled back and fell against a tree.
Ivan's rage was focused only on him. He had lost all control of himself and was no longer able to think rationally. He only knew one thing. Ash had to die! He thrust the dagger forward.
The moment went by so fast that Ash was unsure of what exactly happened until it was over. At the last second, Mewtwo jumped in between the two of them, the knife sinking deeply into his shoulder. The pain hit him with such force that the shock of it paralyzed him.
Even more enraged that he had been interrupted, he smacked Mewtwo with the back of his hand and knocked him to the ground. Turning the dagger over in his hand, he raised it above his head, glaring down at Ash with a maniacal gleam in his eye.
"DIE!"
As the blade began to fall toward his head, Ash heard the sound of a gunshot. The back of Ivan's headband shattered, sending shards of metal shooting into his brainstem. He gave a gargled scream as he slumped forward, his face smacking against the tree and shattering his glasses, then rolled off of it to the ground. His eyes had fixed in a lifeless stare long before he ever hit the ground. Sighing with disappointment, her hand a little shaky from what she had just been forced to do, Officer Jenny returned her gun to its holster.
Ash didn't bother to give any thought to Ivan's death. He stepped over the body, ran to Mewtwo and crouched beside him.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Mewtwo nodded. "It hurts," he said weakly, "but I'll live through it. When I saw him come at you, it was the only thing I could think of to do; to throw myself in the way. I've lost Shigure, I couldn't bear the thought of losing the only other person who ever treated me as a friend."
"Thank you," Ash replied softly.
The death of Maruyama Shigure was seen as a great loss by many around the world. People from almost every nation on the face of the Earth came to pay their respects at his wake. Mewtwo insisted that it be kept simple, but as more and more people showed up, it became difficult to keep it that way. Those who came included every high-ranking official of the Pokemon League, the executives of his company, and even a few representatives of different nations.
A funeral pyre was erected in the town by the farmers and laced with flowers by the children. The Elite Four carefully laid the cleaned body to rest upon it and bowed to it with respect. As a soft flute played its solemn requiem, Mewtwo approached the pyre, Shigure's sword held gently in both hands. He placed the heirloom on Shigure's breast and laid the lifeless hands over it. Tears rolled freely down his cheeks as he lowered his head mournfully.
"People can speak of love," he said, projecting his mental voice as far as was possible. "But no one knew what that word meant better Maruyama Shigure. Everyone here today can attest to the compassion that he had for the people of the world. Now that he is gone, we're left to wonder why. Why him? Why must someone who never did anything but show kindness to others have to die?
"Shigure died just as he had lived. He died to save the life a boy whom he had only known for a few days. Even as he lay fatally shot and bleeding to death, the first thing he wanted to know was if the boy had been hurt. He didn't hesitate to step in front of his murderer, knowing it would mean his death. He would never have wanted it any other way.
"I never understood what a family was before I met him," Mewtwo continued, turning to the crowd. "He showed me what it meant to love someone with the whole heart, without asking for anything in return. At last I know who I am and I am complete. I will never forget what he did for me, nor will I forget his last request of me, to be happy. When the grief has passed, I will find a way to honor his wishes.
"Shigure often spoke of a path of honor. He spent his life following that path and, even though it was difficult at times, he never regretted it. He has reached the end of his path. We must say farewell to him now, but the honor of his spirit will never depart this world as long as we remember."
Turning back to the pyre, Mewtwo laid his head on Shigure's shoulder. "Farewell, my friend, rest in peace."
Mewtwo stepped back, nodding to Ash. Holding back his sobs, the young boy extended the lit torch toward the pyre and the oil soaked wood came to life. As night descended over the ceremony, flames danced hungrily into the sky. The orange light glittered in Mewtwo's moistened eyes, but his face was strong with determination. He knew that it would not be easy, but he was prepared to live on, just as his friend had asked of him.
The fire consumed more than a body that night. With Shigure's death, a part of Ash's life was also cast into the fire. From that day, Ash realized, he could never be the same person as before. He had a new responsibility, to honor the sacrifice that Shigure had made for him. Shigure's final words, "I did my best," remained with him. He would see to it that when his own life came to its end, he would be able to claim the same thing.
Hidden in the trees, Jessie, James and Meowth watched the encounter between their boss and their longtime rivals. Even with everything they had done, they were still shaken by Ivan's actions. When they saw the police helicopter arrive shortly after Mewtwo had beaten him, they knew what it meant for them.
"This is the end," James murmured. "Game over."
"I can't believe it's happened," Jessie agreed. "No more Team Rocket, no more evil schemes and no more rich boss who's going to pay us a hundred thousand dollars."
"On the upside," Meowth added, "we won't be needing to pay back all that money we borrowed."
The three of them sighed. While it was true, it didn't provide them with much consolation. After all the hard work they had put into the company, it was gone. All for nothing.
"Let's get out of here," Meowth said.
"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again," Jessie moaned.
"But this time," James noted, "it's for good."
Officer Jenny stripped Ivan of his coat and pressed him against the side door of the police helicopter as she searched his clothing for any other weapons. After removing anything potentially dangerous, she put the handcuffs around his wrist.
Ivan turned to Ash, glaring at him with fervent rage. "You've ruined me, boy!" he hissed venomously. "Do you hear me? Thanks to you, I've lost everything. My money, my business, everything. I warn you, there's no prison in the world that can keep me confined. No matter what it takes, I'll make sure you regret this!"
"You have the right to remain silent," Officer Jenny pointed out. "I suggest you use it before you get yourself into a worse situation."
Ivan growled furiously at her. What did she know? He was a broken man now. Everything was gone. His plans destroyed, his money lost and on his way to prison, there was nothing that could be worse for him. He had no doubt that others who had worked for him would testify against him, so that they could take everything he had fought his whole life to achieve. Even if he was ever released from prison, which he doubted he would be, he would have to start over. No one would ever trust him again, not like they had before. He could never get back to where he was. His dreams were lost, blown away with the wind.
"Hold on a minute," Ash said as Officer Jenny began to shove Ivan into the helicopter.
She stopped and allowed Ash to approach.
"I know how angry you are about losing everything," Ash said. "But you have to realize that you brought it on yourself. You gave it all up when you took what no one has the right to take. You took another person's life. Shigure had dedicated his entire life to helping others. He was possibly the greatest man that ever lived and you killed him. You have taken something from this world that is very rare and all you can think about is what you've lost? He had everything he ever wanted because he loved others, while you lost everything because you only cared about yourself. Remember that as you spend your long days in a cold cell."
Ivan glared at Ash with vile hatred. Who was he to talk to him like that? What gave him the right? He was Ivan Zokas, while Ash was just a stupid child.
'It's all his fault,' Ivan fumed silently. 'It's all his fault! He did this! And now he mocks me! How dare he?'
His angry thoughts kept building in his mind until he could no longer take it. As Officer Jenny began to push him into the helicopter again, his rage exploded like a bursting dam and all at once came pouring out of him. With a deranged cry, he snapped the handcuffs that bound him. He shoved Officer Jenny to the ground, grabbed the dagger that she had taken from him and charged for Ash.
"I'll kill you!" he screamed.
Ash saw Ivan charging for him. He stumbled back and fell against a tree.
Ivan's rage was focused only on him. He had lost all control of himself and was no longer able to think rationally. He only knew one thing. Ash had to die! He thrust the dagger forward.
The moment went by so fast that Ash was unsure of what exactly happened until it was over. At the last second, Mewtwo jumped in between the two of them, the knife sinking deeply into his shoulder. The pain hit him with such force that the shock of it paralyzed him.
Even more enraged that he had been interrupted, he smacked Mewtwo with the back of his hand and knocked him to the ground. Turning the dagger over in his hand, he raised it above his head, glaring down at Ash with a maniacal gleam in his eye.
"DIE!"
As the blade began to fall toward his head, Ash heard the sound of a gunshot. The back of Ivan's headband shattered, sending shards of metal shooting into his brainstem. He gave a gargled scream as he slumped forward, his face smacking against the tree and shattering his glasses, then rolled off of it to the ground. His eyes had fixed in a lifeless stare long before he ever hit the ground. Sighing with disappointment, her hand a little shaky from what she had just been forced to do, Officer Jenny returned her gun to its holster.
Ash didn't bother to give any thought to Ivan's death. He stepped over the body, ran to Mewtwo and crouched beside him.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Mewtwo nodded. "It hurts," he said weakly, "but I'll live through it. When I saw him come at you, it was the only thing I could think of to do; to throw myself in the way. I've lost Shigure, I couldn't bear the thought of losing the only other person who ever treated me as a friend."
"Thank you," Ash replied softly.
The death of Maruyama Shigure was seen as a great loss by many around the world. People from almost every nation on the face of the Earth came to pay their respects at his wake. Mewtwo insisted that it be kept simple, but as more and more people showed up, it became difficult to keep it that way. Those who came included every high-ranking official of the Pokemon League, the executives of his company, and even a few representatives of different nations.
A funeral pyre was erected in the town by the farmers and laced with flowers by the children. The Elite Four carefully laid the cleaned body to rest upon it and bowed to it with respect. As a soft flute played its solemn requiem, Mewtwo approached the pyre, Shigure's sword held gently in both hands. He placed the heirloom on Shigure's breast and laid the lifeless hands over it. Tears rolled freely down his cheeks as he lowered his head mournfully.
"People can speak of love," he said, projecting his mental voice as far as was possible. "But no one knew what that word meant better Maruyama Shigure. Everyone here today can attest to the compassion that he had for the people of the world. Now that he is gone, we're left to wonder why. Why him? Why must someone who never did anything but show kindness to others have to die?
"Shigure died just as he had lived. He died to save the life a boy whom he had only known for a few days. Even as he lay fatally shot and bleeding to death, the first thing he wanted to know was if the boy had been hurt. He didn't hesitate to step in front of his murderer, knowing it would mean his death. He would never have wanted it any other way.
"I never understood what a family was before I met him," Mewtwo continued, turning to the crowd. "He showed me what it meant to love someone with the whole heart, without asking for anything in return. At last I know who I am and I am complete. I will never forget what he did for me, nor will I forget his last request of me, to be happy. When the grief has passed, I will find a way to honor his wishes.
"Shigure often spoke of a path of honor. He spent his life following that path and, even though it was difficult at times, he never regretted it. He has reached the end of his path. We must say farewell to him now, but the honor of his spirit will never depart this world as long as we remember."
Turning back to the pyre, Mewtwo laid his head on Shigure's shoulder. "Farewell, my friend, rest in peace."
Mewtwo stepped back, nodding to Ash. Holding back his sobs, the young boy extended the lit torch toward the pyre and the oil soaked wood came to life. As night descended over the ceremony, flames danced hungrily into the sky. The orange light glittered in Mewtwo's moistened eyes, but his face was strong with determination. He knew that it would not be easy, but he was prepared to live on, just as his friend had asked of him.
The fire consumed more than a body that night. With Shigure's death, a part of Ash's life was also cast into the fire. From that day, Ash realized, he could never be the same person as before. He had a new responsibility, to honor the sacrifice that Shigure had made for him. Shigure's final words, "I did my best," remained with him. He would see to it that when his own life came to its end, he would be able to claim the same thing.