(Guest
Good chapter too bad that military school doesn't have Security cameras.)
That's an oversight on my part and now that I think about it they probably would in real life. Oh well, even if they did I'm sure Professor Oak would do something to ensure the footage is never seen.
(Guest
I hope the truth about professor oak gets exposed when they find out that he was framing ash all this time ashs friends and his campaigns need to realize there mistakes and return to his side and make up for everything they said or done to him all this happened is because of professor oak everyone definitely needs to know the truth so ash can finally be set free and put professor oak in his place and gets punished for everything he did I just want to see ashs friends and campaigns to rejoin his side and be friends again like before).
Unfortunately, reconciliation may be a bit difficult considering everything that's happened.
(Guest
But overall that was a great chapter I also wonder how you're going to expose professor oak for his lies.)
Well I've already got something planned, but that could change overtime. I'll see what happens.
Welcome back to Escape to a Far Away Land. As I said in the last chapter, this was originally going to be a part of chapter ten, but it ended up being so long that I decided to split it in two. I hope I made the right decision. I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Officer Jenny escorted them to Professor Gidyea's lab. Officer Jenny agreed to wait outside so they could speak to Professor Gidyea in private. He wasn't in his office, so they decided to look for him in the habitat. They found him lying on his stomach attempting to lower a large piece of meat over a nearby bush via a piece of rope.
"Come on you stupid mongrel eat it," said Professor Gidyea. He sounded terrified.
"Um Professor Gidyea?" asked Ash.
The professor jumped in fright.
"Ok look, I let it slide the first time, but ya can't just keep coming in 'ere without permission. There are some really dangerous creatures in 'ere and I don't want you kids getting hurt," stated Professor Gidyea.
"Sorry but we need to talk to you, it's urgent," claimed Ash.
"Alright, just let me feed this bloody Taipot," said Professor Gidyea.
"Taipot?" asked Dawn.
"They're snake like pokémon which are extremely dangerous. If they bite ya pokémon with Poison Fang, it's almost guaranteed that they'll be badly poisoned. I've yet to see a battle where they haven't managed to infect their opponent," stated Professor Gidyea.
"Wow they must be very venomous," state Brock.
"Venomous is an understatement. If you see one of these in the wild, I recommended getting out of there straight away. And not just because I'm deathly terrified of them," said Professor Gidyea.
They all looked at him like this was a strange thing for him to say.
"Yeah, I know that's not ideal given my line of work, but I'm sure most Pokémon Professors have a few pokémon they're afraid of. Mine are the snake like ones, which again isn't ideal considering the sheer number of them in this region," stated Professor Gidyea.
"Are there a lot of snake like pokemon in this region?" asked Clemont.
"Oh yeah mate heaps in fact…" Professor Gidyea trailed off as a yellow and black snake like pokémon chomped onto the piece of meat he was lowering.
"Hey you can have the meat but give me the rope back," demanded Professor Gidyea pulling on the rope.
The Taipot took a large chomp and disconnected the rope from the meat. Professor Gidyea fell to the ground with a thump.
"Thank you," said Professor Gidyea getting to his feet. "Anyway, as I was sayin' there are plenty of snake like pokemon in this region and most of 'em are highly venomous. We have Ekans, Arbok and Seviper like the other regions, but they're the least of your problems. What you've really got to look out for are Copperfangs, Dugstrikes and Taipots among others."
"Wow you really have to stay alert if you want to survive in this region," stated Gary folding his arms.
"Believe me kid you don't know the half of it. Anyway, I could keep tellen ya about which poison types to avoid in this region, but that'd take all day and ya said ya had somethin' urgent to tell me," said Professor Gidyea, coiling up the rope.
"Oh right," said Ash gesturing towards Max. "Professor Gidyea this is Max Maple, the one who had been sent to military school for defending me."
Professor Gidyea was a little shocked by what he'd heard, but upon taking a good look at Max he could see that this was the same kid who had been broadcasted as one of the 'criminals' who had supported Ash.
"Struth, how on earth did you get here?" asked Professor Gidyea.
Max rolled his eyes as it was now the second time in the span of an hour he'd had to tell his story. He told Professor Gidyea everything. How he'd been secretly wishing to escape military school. How Jirachi had appeared before him to grant that wish and how he had found himself in the Stralia Region. He even told Professor Gidyea about how Jirachi believed that a higher power had brought him out of his millennium long slumber.
"Crikey, I guess that little guy really can grant wishes," said Professor Gidyea scratching his head.
"We're more confused by how he appeared considering he's not supposed to appear again for another thousand years," stated Clemont.
"Actually, it's not that hard to believe if you understand the legend well enough," stated Professor Gidyea.
"What do you mean?" asked Ash.
"I've read about Jirachi. While it's true that the legend says it's known for Jirachi to only be awake for about a week every thousand years, the legend also states that it can fulfill the desire to people who really need it and will appear when one least expects it. I guess Max really needed a desire fulfilled," stated Professor Gidyea.
"But what about the higher power that pulled Jirachi out of his sleep. Who or what could be powerful enough to do that?" asked Dawn.
"That I can't answer," stated Professor Gidyea. "But I think we all need to take this as a sign."
"What'd you mean?" asked Brock.
"While I can't give an answer to who pulled Jirachi out of his slumber, what I can say is that a higher power out there believes Ash is innocent and wants him to prove it. Why else would they bring Jirachi out of his sleep just to help Max escape?" asked Professor Gidyea.
"You know Professor, I had the exact same thought when Max told me how he got here. I'm now more determined than ever to prove my innocence to the world," stated Ash.
"Just one problem, how are we supposed to do that?" asked Gary.
"I don't know," admitted Ash.
"Well I've come up with a few ideas. Let's go to me office to discuss them," stated Professor Gidyea.
Professor Gidyea headed towards his office, but then Ash remembered why they'd come to see him in the first place.
"Professor wait," stated Ash. "We actually came to see if you'd be able to get asylum for Max like you did for us."
"Yeah, sure mate shouldn't be a problem," said Professor Gidyea. "Actually, it might be a problem because Max is underage to become a trainer. For him to get asylum we'd have to get him a guardian. We didn't have the same issue with Bonnie because she has her older brother. Brock would you be willing to become Max's legal guardian until he turns ten and can become a trainer?"
"Yeah, no problem. I have many younger siblings back home I've had to take care of, so I'd be happy to be Max's guardian," said Brock.
"Good, now we have that out of the way, let's discuss what we're going to do about them traitors," said Professor Gidyea.
They went to Professor Gidyea's office.
"So Professor how do you think we should deal with the traitors?" asked Ash as they sat down in front of the professor's desk.
"Glad you asked Ash," said Professor Gidyea taking the seat behind the desk. "Tell me, what did the traitors accuse you of that forced you to flee from your home and come to this region?"
"You already know that," said Ash.
"Just humour me," requested Professor Gidyea.
"Well first they tried to tell me that I should give up on my dreams to become a Pokémon Master because I had just lost my sixth attempt to win a Pokémon League. Then they accused me of drugging my pokémon as they believe it's the only explanation for my achievements in Pokémon Leagues given that they view my performances in Gym Battles to be fairly abysmal," stated Ash.
"Exactly, so I think the best way to get back at them is by beating them on the battlefield. Show them just how strong you are through good and honest training," suggested Professor Gidyea.
"But won't they just accuse me of drugging my pokémon if I win?" asked Ash.
"Even if they do, we can ensure they don't have a leg to stand on," stated Professor Gidyea.
"How would we do that?" asked Gary.
"Well, if it's alright with Ash, I'd like him to agree to have his pokémon randomly tested for performance enhancing drugs. This way we can prove that at no time during his stay in this region did he drug his pokémon to make them stronger or use a drugged pokémon to give him an advantage in battle," stated Professor Gidyea. "And since I'm holding onto his drugged pokémon until they get clean this'll ensure the traitors have absolutely no leverage to accuse Ash of cheating if he beats them in battle."
"I like the sound of that," said Ash. "And I'll happily agree to have my pokémon tested whenever a request is made."
"Good that'll make proving your innocence much easier," said Professor Gidyea.
"So how do you plan on beating them on the battlefield?" asked Brock.
"Glad you asked," said Professor Gidyea. "As I'm sure you know this region has yet to establish a Pokémon League, a Grand Festival or even a full set of gyms. I want to invite the traitors here for a joint event. The Stralia Regions first official Pokémon League and its first ever Grand Festival."
"How will that help us deal with the traitors?" asked Dawn.
"It's quite simple actually," said Professor Gidyea. "Despite this region's large size its population is quite small, meaning that even if we did have a Pokémon League or Grand Festival, we probably wouldn't have many people competing. So, I plan to make this region's first Pokémon League and Grand Festival a semi open invite. You don't have to necessarily earn the eight gym badges or six ribbons from this region. You can qualify if you can qualify for another Pokémon League or hold a position of a Gym Leader or higher, because this competition will be determining not just the Stralia Region's Pokémon Champion, but also its Elite Four. As for the Grand Festival, you can qualify for that if you have earnt six ribbons from a single region. It doesn't matter which region, but the ribbons must be from the same region. The winner of the Grand Festival will become this region's first Top Coordinator."
"But how does this deal with the traitors?" asked Clemont.
"I think I have an answer for that," stated Brock. "Misty and Cilan were both Gym Leaders before they went on their journey with Ash and Iris has since become a Gym Leader. Meaning those three will qualify for the league. Not only that both Kenny and May have competed in Grand Festivals, meaning they'll be able to qualify for the Grand Festival of this region."
"Exactly and I have a feeling they won't be able to resist a challenge like this to raise their positions as trainers and coordinators," said Professor Gidyea.
"But that doesn't allow all the traitors to qualify. Serena's a Pokémon Performer and Tracy's a Pokémon Watcher. Neither of them can qualify," stated Ash.
"Perhaps, but you'll still be able to humiliate most of 'em by becoming stronger than 'em through good and honest hard work. Which at the end of the day is the best way to prove that Oak was lyin'. They can accuse Ash of cheating all they want, but we'll have all the proof we need to prove that he didn't," said Professor Gidyea. "Not only that, but I'm sure you've met other people on your journey that'll qualify for this competition and many of them have probably believed the lies of Professor Oak. I have a feeling they'll also be unable to resist competing in this competition."
"No, they won't," said Ash. "Not only that but if they see that the pokémon I'm using are completely clean, they'll probably think they'll have an easy victory, because in their eyes I've only gotten to where I am through cheating. This will make defeating them way more satisfying for us and way more humiliating for them."
"Looks like I don't need ta explain the rest of the plan, as you've got it all figured out," stated Professor Gidyea.
"Actually there's a problem with your plan," stated Gary.
"Yeah, what's that?" asked Professor Gidyea.
"How can you establish a Pokémon League when this region doesn't have a full set of gyms? Also, this region hasn't started contests yet, so how can you have a Grand Festival?" asked Gary.
"That's already been resolved," stated Professor Gidyea.
"How?" asked Clemont.
"Well, I've already said I'll try to establish the first Grand Festival of this region. Hopefully I can get enough cities to agree to hold contests if I can convince enough locals to consider becoming Coordinators," said Dawn. "This'll allow us to hold the first Grand Festival at the same time as the first Pokémon League."
"Yeah, but without a full set of gyms we can't have a Pokémon League," stated Gary.
"A problem I feel has been resolved with your arrival," stated Professor Gidyea.
"What do you mean?" asked Ash.
"At the moment we have eight major cities. Five of these have established gyms and Gym Leaders. We're in the process of building gyms in the other three cities, problem is we've yet to find suitable Gym Leaders to represent those gyms. But I think I've found them," said Professor Gidyea.
"You have? Who?" asked Ash.
"I'm looking at 'em," stated Professor Gidyea.
The gang looked at each other.
"You want three of us to represent gyms in this region?" asked Brock.
"Why not?" said Professor Gidyea, pointing at Clemont. "We've got the former leader of the Lumiose Gym." He pointed at Brock. "The former leader of the Pewter City Gym." He pointed at Ash. "And finally, a Trainer who has qualified for six different Pokémon Leagues. I think you'd all be great candidates for the remaining three gyms."
"Are you sure the rest of the region will be ok with that?" asked Ash.
"They will if you earn it," said Professor Gidyea.
"What does that mean?" asked Clemont.
"Well, I'm not just gonna give ya the title of Gym Leaders. You'll have ta earn it," stated Professor Gidyea. "Once each gym opens, a small tournament will be held at each gym with the winner of those tournaments becoming the leader of that gym. The new leader will then get to determine what type of gym it'll be, and they'll even get to design the badge that victors will be awarded should they complete the challenge. To cut a long story short, if you can win these tournaments the region will gladly accept ya as Gym Leaders and it'll ensure you automatically qualify when we have our first Pokémon League."
"Well not all of us. Only Dawn, Ash, Clemont and I will qualify," said Brock.
"Perhaps, but It'll still take us a few more years before we can properly establish our Pokémon League, and a lot can happen in that time," stated Professor Gidyea. He gestured to Bonnie and Max. "For example a few youngsters may decide to become Trainers themselves and they might want to try and qualify for the Pokémon League." He then pointed to Gary. "Or a certain Pokémon Researcher may decide to give pokémon training another go. Anything's possible."
It didn't take them long to figure out the opportunity Professor Gidyea was providing them with.
"We'll do our best Professor. We'll make this region proud and prove to the world that Professor Oak was lying about me," declared Ash.
"Good on ya mate. I look forward to ya demonstrating ya skill in the Stralia Region's first official Pokémon League," stated Professor Gidyea.
"And Grand Festival," interjected Dawn.
"Yes, yes and the first Grand Festival," said Professor Gidyea.
"I just hope the seven of us are enough to defeat the traitors," said Ash.
"It might not just be the seven of you," stated Professor Gidyea.
"What do you mean?" asked Brock.
"Ash, I know the entire world seems to be believing the words of Professor Oak, but maybe, just maybe there are others out there who believe you're innocent and want to prove it," stated Professor Gidyea. "In all your travels do you honestly believe that only six other people are willing to believe you over Professor Oak?"
This was a difficult question for Ash to answer. Only a few others had been present when he was first accused and aside from his mother, everyone else appeared to believe the accusations. Johanna also believed Ash was innocent, as did Professor Sycamore, creating a total of nine people they knew who believed Ash was innocent. But then Ash remembered something that happened the night they had started their journey to the Stralia Region. Paul had caught them and confronted them when they had tried to escape. He could've easily stalled Ash long enough to be captured by the traitors, but he didn't. Not only had he let them escape, but he had encouraged them to. Furthermore, Paul had been one of Ash's fiercest rivals and the two had greatly disliked each other. This gave Paul little to no incentive to believe Ash over Professor Oak and yet he'd let Ash and everyone else escape when he could've just as easily turned them in. The only logical reason for this was he believed Ash was innocent. If someone like Paul was willing to believe him over Professor Oak, then surely there had to be others out there who believed he was innocent. Ash just hoped they would be willing to come and support him when it was time to enact his revenge on the traitors.
Thanks for reading. Please let me know what you think, all feedback is greatly appreciated. It might take a while for me to write the next chapter, as I have a few things I need to deal with at the moment. Next chapter will head back to the mainland and look at what others think of this whole situation. I'll also revealing a group of people who believe Ash is innocent. While I already have a few characters in mind, please feel free to suggest others you'd like to see as supporters of Ash and I'll do my best to include them in the story. Thanks for reading.
