Chapter 23: Released

Professor Oak's car sped toward Saffron. It took him several hours to travel along the long freeway, up the mountains and finally too it. Tracey was with him in the passenger side seat. Behind them, Viridian's Officer Jenny drove her motor cycle as well. After a long time, they finally made it to Saffron city. They'd woken up in the morning yesterday and found Ash's home reduced to rubble and Jenny unconscious outside. Then they'd heard an emergency special report saying that there had been attack on Saffron, as well as in several other cities like Celadon and Vermillion. Pallet Town had spared, at least aside from Ash's house. Oak only hoped that everything would be okay back at the lab. He'd had Bulbasaur on high alert as it was now the official pokemon leader at the lab and often settled disputes between grass and water pokemon. Even though it was still in its earliest form, the Professor felt it was strong enough. At least he hoped so.

But he had to try and help Ash. Whatever had been done to the boy and his friends, he was certain that they had not attacked Saffron intentionally, Ash would never do that.

His car moved through Saffron, it broke the old Professor's heart to see the damage to the many buildings. He came to the police station which miraculously hadn't been damaged. He parked outside and got out of the car, heading inside with Tracey by his side. Viridian Jenny lead them inside and found her lookalike cousin at the front desk.

"Oh Jenny! Hey what brings you here all the way from Viridian?" Saffron Jenny asked.

"I need you to release the trainers that were responsible for attacking here Jenny," Viridian Jenny told her cousin.

"What? Cousin, you can't be serious? They have committed high crimes. We can't just let them go!"

"Officer Jenny!" Professor Oak started.

"Yes?" Both of them asked.

"I know Ash Ketchum and all his friends personally! They would never do this willingly!"

"They were all abducted from Ash's house just a couple nights ago! I was there!" Viridian Jenny said.

"I'm sorry but I saw them and so did many other citizens. They were wearing Team Rocket Uniforms and had their pokemon attack the city," Jenny said. "Unless something with real proof comes out, those kids will be put in jail for the rest of their lives."

…

The Saffron Hospital was filled with people who'd suffered wounds during the attack. In one of them was a certain gym leader that had a faithful ghost pokemon standing (or rather, floating by her side) watching over her along with her parents. Her gray eyes opened.

"Haunter!" the ghost pokemon grinned as his companion awakened from her slumber.

"Haunter," Sabrina mumbled and sat up.

"Sabrina! Oh honey you're awake!" her mother said.

"We were worried when Haunter lead us here!" her father said.

"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to make you worry again," Sabrina told her parents.

They had spent the last five years rebuilding their relationship after so long. It felt good to have such loving parents that had never given up on her.

Then she remembered.

"Ash? What happened to Ash?" she asked.

"He and all his accomplices that attacked Saffron were put in jail," her mother said sadly.

"Can't believe they would do something like this," her father added.

Sabrina shook her head. "They didn't. I felt it in them. They were hypnotized."

"What?" Her father exclaimed.

"I need to go and help them!" Sabrina said as she pulled herself out of the hospital bed.

She flinched in pain at her wounds.

"Careful Sabrina, you're still hurt!" her mother said putting her hands on her shoulders.

The psychic Gym leader glared at her, her eyes slightly glowing dangerously.

"Sabrina. Your mother is only trying to help you!" her father said.

Sabrina's gaze softened. "Sorry mother."

Even after these past five years she still occasionally nearly used her psychic powers on them unintentionally when they annoyed her. Sabrina limped forward, she had to get to Ash and help him and his friends out. It had been because of him that she'd been brought out of the darkness she'd trapped herself in by obsessing over her psychic training and refusing to make friends. Now it was her turn to save him now.

…

Back at the police station, Jenny of Saffron still refused to let Ash and his friends go without any real proof that they hadn't done these things of their own free will.

"Jenny, you better leave. This is my station! Come back if you have proof!"

Jenny of Viridian and Professor Oak both gritted their teeth while Tracy had a worried expression.

"Can I at least see my friends?" he asked.

"Sorry but they've been given the highest security orders. No visitors," Saffron Jenny said.

Tracy looked down, what was he going to do? His friends were in a lot of trouble right now. If he didn't figure something out soon they could take the fall for something he knew they wouldn't do.

Suddenly the door to the Police Station opened and a trio of people and a floating Haunter entered, led by a dark haired woman. Tracy recognized her as the local Gym Leader Sabrina. She looked worse for wear.

"Ah Sabrina, I'm glad to see you're-"

"Officer Jenny! Do you have Ash Ketchum and his friends in custody?" Sabrina asked.

"Yes, they're all in a cell right now and will be put on trial for-"

"Release them!" Sabrina ordered. "They were under hypnosis!"

Saffron Jenny was silent. "Are you certain?"

Sabrina nodded. "I'll show you."

Her eyes lit up as her psychic powers activated and she linked her mind with Jenny's. Images from her memories went into Jenny's, the images of the power of hypnosis from the Hypno affecting Ash and his friends. Jenny's eyes widened as she saw it with her own eyes.

"Alright, that's probably proof enough for me. I'll call the DA."

She got on her phone and after about two minutes of explaining hung up.

"Alright, the Attorney is dropping the charges. But I can't promise they'll be welcome by the community. They did cause a lot of destruction here," Saffron Jenny said.

She lead them down the basement where the cells were located. Ash looked up and relief fell on his face at seeing Professor Oak.

"Professor Oak!" he shouted aloud.

"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed.

"Everything's gonna be okay Ash," Professor Oak said before looking around. "Where's your mother?"

"She and May and Max's parents are still being held by Team Rocket!" Brock said.

"Oh dear," Professor Oak said. "We'll have to get them back then!"

"That's what we plan to do!" Ash said.

"Good! I think your spirit would be a great asset on the Pokemon Police Force," Viridian Jenny said.

"I guess with everything that's going on, I'll be taking you up on your offer," Ash said.

She smiled then watched as her cousin unlocked the cells and let her prisoners out.

"Ah good to be out of that cell!" May said.

"I need a bath!" Misty said.

"And I need a change of clothes!" Dawn said as she looked at the Team Rocket uniform she was still wearing.

That went for most of the others as well, and all their clothes had been buried in the rubble of Ash's house. Ash had never really been one to care much about clothes or hair, thinking it a girl thing, but even he didn't want to stay in this outfit forever.

"We'll get new clothes, and then we're gonna go after Team Rocket!" he said.

"Yeah!" his friends raised their fists.

"Look out Team Rocket! We're gonna get you!" Max said.

Well, they're free. But you can expect they will still face some hostility for their sins along the way. It makes me feel a little lazy having two Officer Jennies in this chapter. I guess it makes it easy to remember who the main police person is in Pokemon but it still feels a little lazy than having a few Police people that are different. Ah well, hope you enjoyed this chapter regardless, we're probably near the last quarter or so but we'll see.