"Where are the skeletons?"
"Well before I was so rudely interrupted," Sketchit gives a sideways glance at Ketchum before turning a beatific smile to the crowd. " I have always said that there is no one creature in all the isles of Asia than a Pokémon."
The crowd roars to life. Completely mesmerized by the young man Charizard is forced to bellow an order to stop. Yet, the enthralled creatures are powerless to heed his command even though they realize they risk their lives. Uncharacteristically Charizard does not respond with anger.
In fact he is filled with pleasure by the obvious discomfort Sketchit has caused Team Ketchum. The thought of being such a bias moderator makes him laugh at load- at the humans and at the thousands of Pokémon before him. He closes his mighty jaws a moment too late however. The genuine comfort of the giant fire beast was enough to draw everyone into a sudden silence. In the place of the roar there was the polite hiss of many bodies trembling at once.
Damn. Sketchit thought. He almost had them but it was okay because he would get them again. With the spread of his smile, the trembling ended and he began his response anew.
"Thank you my friends. Thank you. Pokémon mean so much to me. I feel in my heart that you know this. Even our surely friend Charizard could not be blind to your incredible enthusiasm."
"I protest!" screams an agitated Ash Ketchum. Besides him Pikachu lowers his square head and Squirtle goes into his shell. "This is a mockery of the political system. A system that is supposed to be fair and just and … good…. and…."
As Ketchum predictably loses steam, Charizard stands. Ketchum is doing such a good job of shooting himself in the mouth, the fire Pokémon almost wants to say something to help his former "trainer". Almost.
"Candidate Ketchum, you are out of order. One more time and you shall be ejected from this debate. Do I make myself clear?" Charizard ends with a menacing glare directed at the young man and his faithful yellow Pokémon. For extra good measure he turns it to the crowd and Sketchit. Satisfied, he sits.
But Ketchum can not let it go. By the blood of Professor Oak he was right. And when you are in a situation where you are right you had to make people understand that you were right. And if they thought that you were wrong you had to force them to see the errors of their ways and accept your superiority. It was the rule Ash Ketchum lived by. Sure some people, those he might even call friends, had a problem with it. But he beat (figuratively speaking of course) their resentment out of them. It took a lot of time and energy. But what else could you do when you were always right and everyone else was so heinously wrong.
Ash takes a deep breath. He can feel the tension of his crew around him. They know from years of being with him in just these occasions that their words were meaningless. He did not get to be a Pokémon Master by keeping his mouth shut and sitting on his hands.
"Look. My name is Ash Ketchum and I'm from Palette Town." Ketchum pauses here for applause but what he gets sounds more like a single beast releasing one long sigh. He continues anyway. "I have known Charizard longer than anyone in this assembly. He is stubborn and has own bizarre code of ethics but he is loyal to Pokémon. I understand why you have chosen him as your moderator. But he does not make a secret of his hatred for me. The weird format, questions, and behavior exhibited today are proof of this. I will not stand for it. I will-"
"- Then for pity- sake- have one of your Pokémon or human slaves get you a seat," Charizard says while attempting to stay seated. "Sit down and then we can all finally finish listen to the other candidate whose reply you have rudely inhibited." He is almost jumping out of his seat but that was giddiness not anger.
Ketchum stands with his mandible on the floor. The sight of a large red Pokémon fidgeting is not something that one sees on a daily bias. It makes the Pokémon Master angry.
"See! This is exactly what I'm talking about. There can be no justice here. I am leaving. Sketchit I used to think that you were a man of integrity but if you are willing to go on with this charade, I guess I was wrong. If you are serious about real debates have Misty contact Gary to set up a more appropriate meeting." Ketchum does not wait for a reply before storming out though the crowd and into his campaign limo. Gary and his secretaries are already there.
"Well I knew that was a screw- up waiting to happen," Gary proclaims as Ketchum sat down almost steam cleaning the interior with his anger.
Lying in bed, Ketchum could do no more than reluctantly agree. Somewhat.