((Me))

Ash's view stopped focusing on the world in front of him, images flashing across his mind's eye like a bad horror movie. Scenes of violence, horrifically mutilated human corpses, and Pokemon at fault every time. His entire basis of hatred became an internal powerpoint presentation, causing him to shiver in fear.

"If only," Ash whispered, still staring at a point beyond the floor, "if only you could have seen what I have seen." Ash curled up into a ball on the floor, shivering slightly, obviously a lesser psychological attack than the one experienced on live TV.

((Coreworlds))

Jacob softened a bit. "What did happen?"

The two people didn't notice the Pokemon Master at the door, arms crossed. I can tell that this man will be an interesting ally. He experienced horrible things, but time heals all wounds. Hopefully, time will heal his.

((Me))

"I seen..." Ash began, gulping down his torment for a moment, "...Pokemon...kill..."

Ash turned his head slowly to the boy, staring directly into his eyes without blinking, and elaborated.

For the next few minutes, Ash gave the boy only a glimpse, only the tiniest literary speck, of what he had experienced during his time on the police force. Assigned to the Pokemon cases had really drained Ash to the point of breaking, and his short lived vendetta against all Pokemon was proof of the fact.

((Coreworlds))

Jacob felt uncomfortable. No doubt that Pokemon can kill. We see it all the time in the nature documentaries. But that's horrible!

"I...I can't believe that Pokemon would do that. That's not...natural. Almost no Pokemon are naturally evil. Oh, some may be michevious or attack when they need to defend, but I can't believe that they would do something like that."

((Me))

This last statement snapped Ash out of his own little world. "What? Pokemon don't... usually act this way?"

Ash hopped to his feet, determination, and even hope, in his eyes. "Are you sure?"

((Coreworlds))

"Positive." The Pokemon Master then chose to enter. "You see, most of the time when Pokemon attack violently, there's often a Rocket member found nearby, either giving orders or watching with sick pleasure. I suspect Rocket involvement in all cases where Pokemon have killed humans in the recent attacks."

The boy's eyes widened as he recognized the Master.

((Me))

Ash blinked, but didn't recognize the figure standing before him. The boy he had been talking to was obviously as surprised as himself, but the boy showed much more respect.

"Who...?" Ash began to ask.

((Coreworlds))

"Alex Regalo, Pokemon Master, at your service."

((Me))

"THE Pokemon Master?!!" Ash blurted, stunned.

He'd heard of the guy, the greatest pokemon trainer in the known world... and a prominent man in his own right. Hearing Alex Regaldo discredit what he took for granted, that Pokemon were actually not evil at heart, put to much strain on Ash's mind. Ash stumbled to one side, world spinning once again.

"Ahh... er... uh... huh?" Ash managed to mumble before falling to his knees. The concept of loving Pokemon was so foreign, so new, it blew his mind to pieces.

((Coreworlds))

"Don't take it all in at once." Alex advised. "It'll take some getting used to. I know that."

((Me))

Ash nodded dumbly; it was all he could really manage after having the a portion of his reality shift out from under his feet. A moment passed as information stored away in Ash's brain furiously rearanged itself to fit the new point of view.

"I think I need some time to myself..." he mumbled to the Pokemon Master.

((Coreworlds))

"Of course. May we hire a taxi to take you home?"

((Me))

"Yeah... sure..." Ash managed to reply.

-----

He gave directions back to his apartment complex and was off. The ride home was uneventful, unremarkable, and utterly irrelevant, considering Ash wasn't paying any attention to the world around him as it passed by his window. He surprised the occupants of his room by walking right to his room and locking the door, without as much as a single word.

Vivian knocked on the door, trying to get something, anything, out of him, but Ash refused to respond. Giving Seigi a shrug, she returned to recruitment with a concerned look on her face.