The Hero among the Heretics

"On the account of child abuse the jury finds the defendants not guilty. However, on the accounts of "theft, theft of pokémon, destruction of property, and misuse of pokémon the jury finds the defendants guilty as charged. It is the decision of this court that the defendants be sentenced to 20 years of time in prison, parole will be considered after 15 years. Court adjourned."

The guards escorted James out of the court room. From all around came sneering faces and snide comments that cut into him unmercifully. Although he had officially been acquitted of the charge of child abuse the crowd did not believe it for one second.

As the guards lead James towards the awaiting prison van cameras and microphones came in from all sides. Reporters were asking a plethora of questions trying to get at least a statement out of the convicted felon.

James didn't even realize what was going on around him. All his thoughts were on the trial and the horrors that awaited him and Jessie. He couldn't believe that Ash hadn't stood up for him in the courtroom. Logic said that the boy's sickness might have caused a lapse in memory, but he was in no mood to reason things out. An anger began to take root in his heart. An anger towards a system that would treat a hero as a criminal. Resent towards the boy whose testimony had seemingly tipped the scales of Justice against Jessie and him.

James wondered if this was the last time he would see the light. He was being shoved into a darkness. It was consuming him, he had to find a way out. With a loud slam every thing became dark. Light, hope, they had all vanished. He sat in the drab carriage of steel awaiting his arrival at his new home.

Mrs. Ketchum drove the group back to the hospital. The group sat in the back discussing the trial. Brock and Misty felt that Team Rocket deserved time for all the things they had done. Ash sat there frantically raking his brain trying to remember anything of what had happened after he had rescued Pikachu. It was as if there were a heavy layer of fog in his head blocking access to those memories.

"Well what do you think of the sentence Ash?" asked Brock.

"What?"

"What do you think of the sentence that the judge placed on Team Rocket? I personally think it was a bit harsh."

"Sorry I was a bit out of it. I just can't get my mind off of what they said about Team Rocket helping me. I just wish I could remember anything of what happened."

"Well I admit that they weren't totally bad, but in spite of the uncertainty as to whether they helped you or not I still think they deserve what they got," stated Misty adamantly.

"I suppose," Ash replied.

"I'm feeling a bit light headed."

"Don't worry Ash we'll be back soon," said Misty soothingly as she placed her arm on his shoulders.

Jessie sat in the van bitterly. She couldn't believe that Ash had forgotten what they had done for him. She couldn't believe that she had actually taken pity on such an ungrateful little whelp. She felt a dark bitterness consuming her. There was a small chance that they could win the trial, but between James and the incompetent attorney she had little hope. The doors of the van were flung open letting light into the darkness of the van. Maybe they had pulled it off Jessie thought to herself, but the cruel truth hit her like a slap to the face when she saw the look on James' face as the guards shoved him into the van. There was no need to ask abot the verdict, the only question was how long.