(happy guest
Thank you For listening to the Feedback. I can't wait to read how you clear Ash's name. When he does get it cleared and all of his Pokémon back I hope his new ones have at least Evolved once if they can at all.)
I don't want to spoil anything, but I'll do my best to not disappoint.
Back in the Hoenn Region things weren't going well for Max. Every morning he woke up to the sound of a loud bugle before the sun was out. He then had to do morning exercises regardless of if it was raining or not, then do normal school lessons. The teachers were also extra hard on him when they had been informed, he had been supportive of a trainer that abused and drugged his pokémon. What made this experience even worse however, was that no other student was willing to help Max through this tough time. When they'd heard that Max was the boy that had defended Ash Ketchum, they decided to go out of their way to make Max's time there extra miserable. No one would sit with him at meals, talk to him, and they made sure to trip him every chance they got.
Max had been at the military academy for about a month, and he was looking a lot different to how he usually did. His hair had been shaved, his glasses had been replaced with sports goggles that didn't fully match his prescription and he was now a lot thinner due to the exercise and the fact that he wasn't given as much food as the other students due to the severity of his 'crimes'. Needless to say, it was the hardest and most miserable time of Max's life.
Max was currently outside for afternoon exercises and was doing a multitude of push ups with the other students. Most of the other students only had to do twenty push ups. Max on the other hand had to do forty. Their reasoning for this was that due to Max's 'crimes' being more significant his punishment had to be more significant. All the other students had finished their push ups while Max was approaching thirty. The kids had been dismissed, but they all got some twisted joy out of seeing Max suffer, so they watched him with mean smiles on their faces as they thought this was exactly what he deserved.
"MOVE IT MAPLE MOVE IT," demanded the drill sergeant in charge of the session.
"Thirty-one, thirty-two," said Max weakly.
"YOU'RE NOT LEAVING UNTIL I HEAR FORTY," yelled the drill sergeant.
"Thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty…" Max trailed off as he collapsed to the ground exhausted.
"What, is little Max Maple tired?" asked the drill sergeant meanly causing the other students to laugh.
"Well we better make sure he sleeps soundly tonight and the only way to do that is with more exercise," stated the drill sergeant.
Max looked up horrified.
"NOW GIVE ME FIFTY LAPS AROUND THE SCHOOL," he demanded.
Max got up weakly and started moving.
"MOVE IT MAPLE I DON'T SEE YOU RUNNING," he yelled.
Despite being exhausted, Max knew he'd only make his situation worse if he retaliated so he started jogging. Max was so exhausted that he found it difficult to keep track of the laps he had done around the school. Thankfully the drill sergeant was there to remind him, unfortunately he also gave Max a hard time every time he started slacking.
After running twenty-five laps around the school Max was starting to feel a little better. Sure, he was even more tired, but he took some happiness in the fact that he was halfway done. Unfortunately, this happiness was short lived. Some of the other students felt Max was getting off a little too easily, especially when considering the severity of his crimes, so when they saw Max approaching a specific corner, they decided to put him in his place. They put a foot out just as Max was turning the corner tripping him and causing him to fall to the ground.
"What'd you do that for?" asked Max angrily.
"We just wanted to make sure you didn't cheat by cutting corners," said one of the students meanly.
"Yeah, and considering you supported that dirty cheater Ash Ketchum that seems like something you would do," said another student meanly.
"Ash didn't cheat. He was a good and honest trainer," stated Max getting to his feet.
"Right so then the great Professor Oak, one of the most respected Pokémon Researchers in the entire world is a liar?" asked another student. "That's another reason you're likely to cheat, you're clearly a moron."
"I find it more believable that Professor Oak would lie then Ash would do something to endanger his pokémon's health. He loved and cared for his pokémon more than any trainer I'd ever seen," said Max proudly.
The other students looked at each other.
"Well boys it looks like this kid is still wanting to support a dirty cheater," said the first student. "I think we should teach him a lesson!"
The other students smiled evilly, as they all cracked their knuckles. Max didn't like this, he was outnumbered, and they were all bigger than he was. Unfortunately, that was the least of his problems.
"MAPLE, I DIDN'T SAY YOU COULD REST. NOW GET MOVING AND I EXPECT YOU TO RUN AN ADDITIONAL TEN LAPS TO THE ONES YOU ALREADY OWE," yelled the drill sergeant.
"You heard him Maple get running," said the first student as Max glared at him. "We'll let you off easy this time, but if you cross us again, we'll be happy to show you how we feel about people who support cheaters."
"We're also glad you'll never get to be a Pokémon Trainer, you'll probably resort to the same dirty cheating methods Ketchum did," stated another student.
Max wanted to retaliate, but he was quickly reminded of his current obligations.
"DON'T MAKE ME MAKE IT TWENTY MAPLE," threatened the drill sergeant.
Max got back to running laps, because he knew the sooner he finished the better. By the time Max had finished night had fallen. He hadn't missed dinner, but barely had any time to eat before it was time to head to bed. As they all had to get up very early in the morning they were also expected to go to sleep at an early hour.
Max fell onto his bed. He was sore and absolutely exhausted from his day. To make matters worse he knew he'd be sorer come morning, something he had already experienced many times before. Despite this, bedtime was the only time Max was able to have some peace. Knowing that they had to get up early the next day the other students generally left him alone, giving Max the time he needed to be alone with his thoughts. He spent this time wishing that what he was experiencing was merely a bad dream, or that the next day Ash would've found the proof he needed to clear his name so he could be freed from this horrible place. Sadly, those wishes never came true and his hardships would always continue. Another thing Max wished for was that he could simply find a way to leave this place and go to where Ash was. He had a feeling that wish would never come true. Even if he could escape, he had no idea where Ash was, and he had no where else to go as his family had essentially disowned him. He was trapped and there was nothing he could do to escape. Nevertheless, Max's greatest wish was that he could go to wherever Ash was hiding from the traitors. Max knew it was impossible, but it was the only thing that gave him hope.
"Arceus please, help me be free of this place. Help me find Ash. Help me clear his name," prayed Max quietly to the Pokémon God. "Please just help me get out of here."
Little did Max know his prayers would soon be answered. Or rather his wish would be granted.
Suddenly a bright light appeared in Max's dorm room waking up everyone within. Max was almost blinded by this light as it appeared right in front of him.
"Max," called a voice.
It had been a while, but Max recognised the voice immediately, but he wanted to see if he was right. The light died down revealing a creamy yellow and white pokémon with small black eyes with light green V-shaped markings under them. Its head was shaped like a star, which had green bands hanging from each point. Max had to be sure what he saw was real. This would require his properly prescribed glasses, which he still had a spare pare of. He put them on but still couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Jirachi?" asked Max.
"Yes, Max it's good to see you again," said Jirachi telepathically.
"But how are you here? The Millennium Comet won't be passing by for another thousand years," stated Max.
"I don't know how exactly, but I felt a higher power pull me out of my slumber. As soon as they did, I started hearing your voice and your wishes. I could tell you have a desire that you really need fulfilled. I want to fulfill your desire Max not just because you really need it, but because you are my friend," stated Jirachi.
Max smiled and without thinking he knew what to ask for. While he still wasn't one hundred percent sure if Jirachi could grant wishes, he knew he had to try, it was his only chance.
"I wish to get out of this region. I wish to go to where Ash is, wherever that could be," wished Max.
"Go to Ash?" asked Jirachi.
"Yeah, you remember Ash, right?" asked Max.
"Ash? Yes! I'll take you too Ash," said Jirachi.
In an instant Max and Jirachi disappeared, leaving the rest of the room's inhabitants stunned by what had happened. Where had Max gone and more importantly why was a legendary pokémon helping someone like him?
It felt like less then a second had past when Max found himself in new surroundings. Max looked around. He was in a city of sorts, but not one he was familiar with. Despite it being night-time, it was also weirdly hot.
"Jirachi where are we?" asked Max.
"We are where Ash is," answered Jirachi.
"Which is?" asked Max, but Jirachi appeared to be falling asleep.
"Tired, must return home and sleep," said Jirachi.
"Jirachi wait don't go," pleaded Max.
Jirachi disappeared as quickly as he'd appeared. Now Max felt even more alone. He was a young child all alone in a foreign region. But then Max thought about what Jirachi said. This city was where Ash was supposed to be. If that was true, then this was exactly where Max wanted to be.
Max walked around for a while trying to find someone who could help him. To his luck he quickly came upon a police station, which he felt was just what he needed. When Max walked in, he couldn't believe his eyes. The woman at the front desk looked exactly like the Officer Jenny's of the Hoenn region. She even had the same dark teal hair. The only difference was that she was a little more tanned.
"Officer Jenny?" asked Max cautiously.
"Yeah, can I help you?" asked the woman. She spoke with an odd accent which Max found difficult to understand.
"Is this the region Ash Ketchum escaped to?" asked Max.
This caused Jenny to frown.
"Why do you wanna know about Ash Ketchum?" asked Jenny.
"Well, um, my name's Max Maple and…" Max trailed off as Jenny recognised his name.
"Max Maple?" asked Officer Jenny studying the boy. "Wait a minute, I heard of you. Aren't you that kid who defended Ash Ketchum when he got accused?"
"Um yes," said Max nervously.
"Your photo looked different on the news," stated Officer Jenny noticing the change in Max's appearance.
"Yeah, I've had a bit of a tough time lately," admitted Max.
"I'll bet, last I heard you'd been sent to a military school," said Officer Jenny before realising something. "Which begs the question. How on Earth did you get here? You're over three thousand miles away from the Hoenn Region."
"Wow, I didn't think Jirachi was that powerful," said Max quietly.
"Sorry what was that?" asked Jenny curiously.
"Nothing, look it's kinda hard to explain. I just need to know, is Ash Ketchum in this region?" asked Max.
"Yeah, he and his friends who escaped got here a few days ago. Probably took those poor kids about three weeks to get here," stated Officer Jenny.
"Could I see him please?" begged Max.
"Sorry kid it's a little late, the Pokémon Centre will have closed by now," said Officer Jenny. Max looked down sadly. "Look I know its not ideal, but you'll have to wait till morning before you can see them. Not only that, but you've technically entered this region illegally so I'm gonna have to arrest you."
Max looked up horrified.
"Kid calm down. If you are who you say you are we should have everything sorted out over the next few days. Ash and his friends have already been granted asylum so it should be easy for you to get it as well. You'll just need to stay in holding for tonight and we'll sort everything out in the morning. Do you think you can do that?" asked Officer Jenny.
"Yeah, that actually sounds great," said Max calming down. Anything sounded better than being sent back to the Hoenn region right now.
"Alright come with me please," said Officer Jenny.
Jenny got up from her desk and the two went to have Max processed. After getting all of Max's details, they set him up in a free holding sell for the night.
"Now look, a guard will be here all night. If there's anything you need just let him know," stated Officer Jenny.
"Thankyou," said Max. "Um, before you go is there any chance I could get something to eat. I'm a little hungry."
Max looked a little starved, so Officer Jenny felt asking for food was a reasonable request.
"Yeah, I'll go get you something. I'll be back soon," stated Jenny closing the cell behind her.
Max lay down on the bed in the cell. He honestly felt more relaxed than he had in ages. Despite being in jail he honestly felt freer than he had during his whole time in military school. Furthermore, Jirachi appeared to have made his wish come true. If what Officer Jenny said was true, then Ash and the others were likely at the nearest Pokémon Centre. If this was the case, then not only could Max become a Pokémon Trainer when he reached the age of ten, but he could also help Ash get back at the traitors for what they did. In particular Max wanted to find a way to enact revenge on his sister May, because he felt that not only had she betrayed Ash, but she had betrayed her own brother. In fact, she had been the one to suggest that Max be sent to military school to learn a lesson. Max hoped that one day May would see that siding with Professor Oak was the biggest mistake she ever made.
I know this seems a little convenient, but I honestly couldn't think of a better way for Max to escape and join the others in the Stralia Region. Feel free to suggest other ways Max could've escaped. I also know this chapter was shorter then some others, but after two chapters that were nearly four thousand words long, I wanted to do a nice short chapter. Please let me know what you think, all feedback is appreciated.
