Chapter 3: The Burden of Consequence

"NOOOO!"

A scream blared from a room in the Mahogany Town Pokemon Center. The one who cried out thrashed as good as any Tauros in her terror, causing her Jigglypuff to get sent flying off the bed. Despite this rude awakening, the Balloon Pokemon rolled to her feet and hopped up. All she could think about was seeing if her trainer was okay.

Perrine opened her eyes to see her trusted partner just inches from her face. "Baloo..." She clutched the round pink Pokemon close. "I...I just had..."

The nightmare she'd just woke from was so vivid that she could have believed Darkrai was responsible. She recalled it easily. It started innocuously: she was the reigning champion of Johto, going on many years. She often dreamt of this, both asleep and awake. She dreamed of battling her idol Lance Cipris and becoming the successor to his title. She had everything in the dream: adoring fans, great Pokemon, friends who loved her. She'd just finished making a public appearance in a city she didn't recognize. With a wave, she saw her people off. She wasn't sure where she was headed, but received got a call for help on her phone.

She retrieved a Poke Ball and sent out a beautiful light blue bird Pokemon a long sword-like white beak, plumage like a ninja's shawl, a beautiful fan-like tail, and wings that shimmered like a prism. In her dreams she often used exotic Pokemon, some even borne from her imagination. She hopped onto the creature, and it danced off into the sky. She quickly came upon what she had been called for - a pair of thugs attacking someone two on one! Electricity was flying everywhere. On her orders her Pokemon swooped down.

She jumped off her Pokemon before it had fully descended. She landed smoothly on the ground in a crouch, standing to her feet and glaring at the two thugs. "I'll only say this once!" she bellowed as the bird behind her readied a tail slash. "Stand down right this instant or I won't show you any mercy!"

To her surprise, they appeared more relieved than anything. "You got it wrong!" shouted one. "She be tryin' to swipe our Pokes, yo'. Help us!"

"Wha-?" Sure enough, their Pokemon, a Grimer and a Spearow, looked beat-up and exhausted. And that is when she saw her. She was many years older, much like she herself was in the dream. She was also wearing a uniform way out of the norm for her. But that dark-brown hair, those green eyes, that face was still unmistakable. Her once friend and present foe gave her a soulless look. The look of someone who did not want to fall to this point but had no choice. Before her stood an unusually toned, but fearsome-looking Raichu. The uniformed girl silently flicked her wrist, ordering the attack. The orange-haired girl grabbed and violently shook her head, suppressing the remainder.

As Baloo nuzzled into her reassuringly, she managed to regain her senses. "It's okay, it was just a dream. That didn't actually happen..." She cast away the covers and tore off her pajamas, just throwing on whatever fresh clothes she could find. She didn't care how she looked right now. She just had to get out of this room.

The orange-haired girl dashed out into the Pokemon Center's lobby. She was hoping, praying to see what she usually saw. Practically every day since she woke up after starting on this journey, Julia was already awake before her. She would find her friend eating. Reading. Drawing. Looking stuff up on a computer. Playing with her Pokemon. Or any number of other things. Today she did not find her friend doing anything. Because she wasn't here. Today when Julia woke up, she was likely confined to a dark cell somewhere in a police department.

Perrine collapsed in despair. She had been hoping in her heart that yesterday was just a bad dream, a cruel trick, a vision of what could have been. But it wasn't any of those. It had really happened to Julia, to her, to Caiseal, to everyone. This was truth.

A voice murmured to her from behind. "Hey."

"Hey..."

The orange-haired girl slowly picked herself off the ground. It was a struggle to do so, she felt as if she'd put on clothes made of steel. Once Perrine made it to her feet, she pivoted around to face the boy who spoke to her. An uncomfortable silence drew over the two of them.

"How'd you sleep?" she asked Caiseal.

"Not good. You?"

"Same."

The two slumped their shoulders, their sighs harmonious with each other. They had been traveling together with Julia for so long, it was an expectation that she be with them. But the harsh reality collided with them like a meteor impacting the earth. Yesterday afternoon may have been the last time they could see their friend outside of prison for years, if not at all ever again. It was so sudden how it happened.

Julia was still a bit depressed after having to release Geraldine the previous day. Caiseal and Perrine had wanted to try something to lift her spirits, so decided to treat her by going to a restaurant for lunch. They figured maybe doing something special would help. They'd considered a number of places, including a gaudy Unovan-style diner and a ramen place. Ultimately they had settled on an Apple Garden, as Julia preferred the comfort of familiarity.

Julia ended up having a big bowl of her favorite food, spaghetti and meatballs. Perrine too went with pasta, however opting for a lasagna instead. Caiseal by contrast settled for a simple burger and fries. They had surprised Julia by paying for her meal, which she couldn't believe. She really didn't feel she deserved it, but they had insisted. After having their fill, they decided to head a nearby park to relax and let their Pokemon get some fresh air and exercise.

"Feeling better, Jule?" Caiseal asked, as they came to a streetlight.

"A little, yes," came the reply. Having to give up Geraldine per her mother's wishes still stung. But this had helped. "Thanks for doing this for me, guys. It means a lot."

Seeing as how they were still waiting on the light to cross, Perrine pulled her friend into a hug. "I'm just glad you're feeling better now." Julia giggled and returned it, breaking it off as the sound to cross echoed through the air.

It wasn't that far from where they were. They simply needed to make their way over to a nearby crosswalk to get onto the block where the park was. Caiseal had another question for her along the way, "So have you thought about battling Pryce yet?"

Julia shook her head. "Not really. I haven't had the time or been in the mood for it..." That was understandable. She had to focus on recovery while in the hospital. "I should probably start thinking about it now, shouldn't I?"

"He was pretty easy for the two of us, like we said," Perrine laughed. If it had been under normal circumstances she'd almost say it was unsatisfying. But it was probably one of the most satisfying gym battles she had, if only to crush the person who had attacked her friend.

Caiseal smirked, but added, "That's no reason not to do all the planning you can, of course." It never did hurt to be prepared.

"Yeah," Julia agreed. They reached the white lines signifying the last street between them and the park. Perrine pressed a nearby signal, the three friends looking then crossing as a yellow light flashed on either side of the road. After reaching the other side she continued her thought, "I might switch out some Pokemon for it, since he uses Ice-types. But I'll have to do some more research."

It was still just a bit further to go to reach the entrance of the park, chain-link fences obstructing entry from the side they were on. They had just rounded the corner and were making their way over when a police vehicle abruptly pulled over beside them. A woman wearing a hair-covering hat and thick sunglasses stepped out of the passenger side.

"We've found the perp," came a male voice from inside as the woman marched up to them.

"Julia Parisa? I'm going to have to ask you to come with us."

"Huh? What's going on?!" the confused Julia asked. Like it were clockwork, the male got out and opened the backdoor as the female shuttled her inside. "Where are you taking me? No! Let go!" On instinct she tried to squirm free, but the woman's grasp was too firm.

"To the station. You are in a lot of trouble, young lady."

What was going on? Julia being arrested?! Perrine was too shell-shocked by this to do anything, but Caiseal leaped into action. "Hey! What gives?!" He ran over to the woman and demanded answers.

The man was sternly speaking but neither of them could make out what he was saying. The woman slammed the door and gave a terse reply, "Your friend is under arrest," before walking around the boy and getting back inside.

In a panic, Julia attempted to open the door and flee, only to find it locked. As the police car drove off, she banged on the windows and screamed so hard her throat hurt.

"Perrine! Caiseal! HELP!"

Hearing her name snapped the orange-haired girl from her stupor, and she dashed off in pursuit of the police car. "Julia!" she yelled back, but it was just too fast for her to keep up with. For a few moments, she watched as it drove off into the distance. She whirled around. "Caiseal, we're headed to the police station!"

He was already moving. "Of course!"

They had remembered where the station was from when they had been brought there to protect them from Team Rocket. They ran over there as fast as their legs could carry them. As soon as they made it inside they descended on the first officer they saw, a tall teal-haired fellow with a small beard. An older one from how his hair was a shade of gray.

Caiseal got to him first. "Hey, do you know where our friend is?"

Taking the sudden question from two young kids in-stride, he replied, "You'll have to be more specific than that."

"Our friend Julia was just brought in here," Perrine immediately followed up. "Julia Parisa. We don't even know why!"

He arched an eyebrow at the kids. "That girl? Haven't you heard the reports?" he inquired as if it were a rhetorical question. "That Gyarados your friend released went on a rampage this morning."

"What?" Caiseal gasped. "We hadn't! No one told us that!"

"No...!" Perrine took a step back. She didn't want to believe it. She refused to believe it. "No, no, no! It wasn't her fault! It can't have been her fault!" She grabbed the officer by the front of his uniform, shaking it violently. "Tell me this isn't real! Tell me she's going to be okay!"

The officer's eyes went wide with shock. He was never good at dealing with children, not even his own. He put a hand on her shoulder to attempt to reassure her. "Look," he told her, kneeling down to their level. "I understand how you're feeling right now. I myself had to arrest my best friend's son when we found him working for Team Rocket here, regardless of the circumstance."

"That doesn't help at all!" Perrine cried, "My best friend just got arrested and you're saying it doesn't matter why?!" Her phrasing came out somewhat mangled in her distress.

The policeman sighed. He had just made things worse. There was only one thing he figured he might be able to do. "Here, come with me." He twitched his finger and led them down a hallway. A couple doors later and they came to a lounge-type area. There were vending machines and several comfortable-looking green sofas to sit on. This surprised the more coherent Caiseal. Why couldn't they have been here last time instead of sitting on those awful metal chairs? "You can wait in here. I'll let you know when she's out of questioning and you can come see her. Will that help?"

"I...I guess...maybe," the orange-haired girl hyperventilated, collapsing onto an entire couch.

Caiseal nodded. "For now. Thank you, sir." The officer gave them a salute and left the two friends there. It pained them both to have to wait like this, but they couldn't do anything else at this point.

(End flashback)

It felt like an eternity waiting, mostly them talking and killing time. That's not to say it wasn't eventful, as a few people showed up. Notably the champion Lance Cipris had stopped by and reassured them, which gave Perrine a lot of hope. They'd gone out and got a bit of fresh air after that, before being informed by the officer they could finally go see Julia. It was a brief talk because of circumstances, but they both promised they were going to do whatever they could to help her. She had mentioned someone else was doing that too, but only gave a name.

"I still can't believe that happened..." Caiseal said. Of all the people to get arrested, why her? It just wasn't fair.

Perrine nodded in agreement, sauntering out into the main area of the Center alongside Baloo when something caught her eye. "Hey look, they have a report of what happened on TV." She directed Caiseal towards the Pokemon Center's television. A panning shot of the Lake of Rage was being shown, a huge red banner at the bottom stated 6 DEAD, 22 INJURED IN GYARADOS LAKE RAMPAGE.

Soon after they turned their eyes to it, the scene switched to a shot of Mahogany's uptown sector. "Detective Frederick Holle of juvenile investigative services issued this statement this morning on behalf of the Mahogany Town Police Department," said the female newscaster.

The harsh visage of a dark-coated man appeared, standing in front of the police station near its black sign, MTPD written in big red letters with its motto, Seiginotameni, below it. The trees and station's flag were billowing in the autumn wind behind him. The two friends instantly recognized the man. "Not him..." Caiseal groaned. They had been waiting in the lounge, hoping to get a chance to see Julia, when this detective had suddenly shown up. After he introduced himself, he started asking them all sorts of questions.

"You're Julia Parisa's friends, aren't you?"

"What do you think of your friend's actions today?"

"What happened after she released the Gyarados?"

"Is it true that your friend's mother asked her to release the Gyarados?"

They were initially too stunned by his sudden appearance and barrage of questions to reply. They'd asked if they could see Julia, and his answer was another question. It was Caiseal's idea that they refuse to say anything to him. After all, they weren't being held in questioning. The detective went on about how it was their civic duty to help the police with their investigation in any way they can, and how they had a moral obligation to do so as well. However their stance remained the same. No matter what, their loyalty to their friend came first. After a while of this, he gave up and left, much to their relief.

Detective Holle spoke loudly but formally, "What happened yesterday at the Lake of Rage was a travesty beyond words. While we in Mahogany have always been prepared to deal with a Gyarados attack on the town, no one expected an incident of this magnitude to happen at the lake itself. This is something that never should have happened. My prayers and condolences go out to all the victims of yesterday's incident." He closed his eyes clasped the necklace he was wearing as he said this last statement. When they opened again, they were cold as ice. "But we have the one responsible in custody. Rest assured that I and the department will be seeking to prosecute her to the fullest extent of the law."

A photo of their friend flashed on the screen, what seemed to be a mugshot. Tears streaming from her wide eyes were reflecting a camera's flash. "Police arrested 11-year-old Julia Carol Parisa of New Bark Town at about 1:50pm yesterday for releasing the Gyarados into the lake. She's expected to be charged with criminal negligence, as well as mishandling of a Pokemon leading to injuries, death, and property damage."

"I can't believe this!" Perrine complained as the newscaster continued to speak. "It's like they're trying to make Julia look like a common criminal!"

"I know. This is bad..." Caiseal watched on, dreading what horrible things could be said about her next.

"The Red Gyarados is believed to have been originally linked to Team Rocket before being captured by the suspect. Its rampage is considered unusual by ecologists, the first at the lake in nearly three decades. Reporter Nadia Schrader was able to reach out with a Pokemon rehabilitator last night, who gave his insight as to the cause of the incident."

It was the other guy from yesterday. The one who showed up several minutes after the detective and tried to ask them about Julia. They figured it was someone else the detective had sent in, but they were prepared that time. The two gasped as his name appeared on the screen. Julia had told them a Nori was going to help her. They didn't think she was talking about him, however. He was near a gaudy building of many colors, standing in a well lit portion of its parking lot.

"Mr. Carino, it's well known that Gyarados living in the Lake of Rage traditionally do not go on rampage. Do you have any idea what could've caused this one to do so?"

The young man tapped his chin and shrugged. "I mean, it's hard to say. Even given history, Gyarados can be set off by the smallest things. It's no secret that Team Rocket was involved with this Pokemon, so any number of things could've been going through her mind."

"What are some of the things that could've been going through its mind?

"Being scared and confused. From what I know, she had a lot of experiments performed on her. Girl by the way, you can tell by the whiskers." The reporter gave a faint acknowledgement. "She'd just been released by a trainer who cared about her. Then some guy started attacking her-"

Perrine suddenly recalled Baloo, then turned and gestured wildly. "Come on, Caiseal. We have to get going!"

"What?" He took a step forward to follow the orange-haired girl, who was marching out of the Center with purpose, caught off-guard by her sudden burst of energy. "Wait, where are we going?"

"We have to go see that Nori guy!" she reiterated, waving him forward. "Now come on!"

She was nearly out the door by the time he reacted. "Perrine!" Caiseal called out, causing her to halt and twist aroud. "We don't even know where that Nori lives!"

"Yeah, but didn't you see where he was?"

Come to think of it, it did seem familiar. It hit him. "That diner we were thinking about going to? What was it called...Colton's?"

Perrine flashed a thumbs-up. "Right. But it's actually called Connor's. Even if he isn't there, people there might be able to tell us where he went!"

"Well, Jule did say he's trying to help. I guess we should have a look. It's only a few blocks away."

"Right. Let's get going!"

Connor's was a homely place in Mahogany Town whose exterior was draped in blue and white stripes and red spheres. A huge sign was posted outside the place, taller than the building itself. Detractors would say it stuck out like a sore thumb, yet it enjoyed steady popularity throughout its existence. It took inspiration from retro diners from the eponymous owner's native Unova, with stools and a checkerboard floor. It was decorated with all sorts of memorabilia from his days as a Graytown Bomber, and more relevantly to the region it was in, when he later played as a Kogane Tiger. The man himself, a dark-skinned fellow who even in his golden years looked not a day over 30 and more fit than most 30-year-olds as well, stood behind the counter wiping it with a white rag.

Nori had found this place when he first arrived in Mahogany before this whole mess started. Due to getting involved he was practically becoming a regular. A reporter had happened to be there last night doing a feature on the diner, and overhearing his venting, had asked him for an interview. The very same interview was playing on the tiny box suspended above the counter.

"So who do you think is to blame for all this?" the reporter asked.

"If anyone is to blame, it's..." He paused. "Actually, it's Team Rocket. They were the ones who made her this way. The Gyarados, that is. We can't really fault Miss Parisa. She caught the Gyarados for all the right reasons. She was ready to raise her and everything, even called her Geraldine. And when she figured she couldn't handle a Gyarados with her experience, tried to do the right thing and release her. It's really unfortunate what happened from there, especially with what she could now face because of this."

"Are you saying we need better education?"

"I guess that would be one way." He shrugged his shoulders. "I just hope she gets a chance to learn from what happened. We could all stand to learn from this."

As Nori's portion of the report came to an end, the owner flashed him an approving smile. "Ya knocked it outta the park, son," he congratulated, compounded by a hard pat on the back that made the young official grunt. He was dressed in a fine black and white suit with a bow tie.

"I don't think so." Nori was cursing himself. He had a lucky break that allowed him the opportunity to get the message out, and that was the best he could do? "All I really did was state the obvious, some buzz phrases, and a bunch of stuff that doesn't matter." He wouldn't go as far to outright admit he was panicking on the inside and winging it all. He didn't even know the name of the guy who tried to capture Geraldine afterwards. The first time he heard it was on this very report.

Connor shook his head. "Sure it mattered. You reminded'em folks that lass's a person same as any of us."

That made some sense. He did remember to point out Julia as a kid who'd made a mistake, and that she could suffer for the rest of her life for it. But then again, some wanted to see exactly that happen to her. "Yeah, well. I'm pretty sure there's a lot of people out there who still think she's sentient trash or whatever."

"Heh. Now sentient trash ain't that bad. If folks think that I just introduce them to Garbles here." A huge mass of brown gunk with red and blue specks formed. It had two long arms with pumps on the end, a torn green shroud of some kind over top, and what looked like fluffy ears, except made of gunk. The Pokemon dopily waved an arm in greeting. "Finest janitor I ever had, an' super friendly too."

Nori stared blankly. "That's a Pokemon, though. Julia's a person." He peered down into at his empty glass. He saw a young man with curled lips, uncombed hair, and half-shut red eyes reflected in it. "A really, really good person in real trouble."

Connor frowned. "Only thought a bit'a jokin' might make ya feel better." The finely-dressed man snatched the glass from under his patron. He turned around towards his drink barrels, getting Nori some ginger ale like he'd ordered before. "Here ya go, on the house. Chin up, now." He slid the full glass below the Pokemon rehabilitator. "How ya gonna get that lass outta there actin' like that?"

Nori continue to stare at himself, this time in the beverage. He eventually exhaled, breath causing his reflection to distort in the ripples. "You're right," he passively acknowledged, sitting up and taking a light sip. He ran his fingers through his hair to help straighten it out. "I just need to figure out what to do." Sitting around wasn't going to help. But doing the wrong things wouldn't either. He had to get it right.

"That's the spirit." There was an abrupt ringing beneath the counter. "Hold up, gotta take this. Garbles, start doin' your thing." He gestured to his Pokemon before answering. "Hello, this is Connor's." Nori took a sip of his drink, and when he lowered his glass found the telephone being passed to him. "Phone's for you."

"For me?" he stated aloud, unsure what to make of it. Who could be calling a Unovan style diner looking for him? He tentatively accepted the receiver. "He...llo?"

"Hello, sir!" Nori recoiled as a jolly voice boomed from the other end. It was so loud he heard, "It's me!" even though his ear wasn't close to the phone.

"Is this on speaker?!" Nori rasped, the owner shaking his head in response. "Bunston! The whole resturaunt can hear you!" He was exaggerating, but only barely.

"Well, turn off the speakerphone, sir!"

"It's not on speaker!"

"Oh. Sorry, sir!" The chestnut-haired boy sighed, slapping his forehead. At least his enthusiasm seemed a sign of good news. "Anyhoo, it's a good thing you did that interview, 'cause I wouldn't have known how to find you if you hadn't! You really should have a Pokegear, sir!"

"They're not manufactured where I live, and I don't feel the need for a phone anyway." He didn't have anyone who he would regularly call, and his position as an official didn't necessitate a mobile phone - just regular reports. Besides, he figured if he really needed to make a call while traveling, he could use a Pokemon Center's phone.

"Oh." The disappointment within Bunston was palpable from just one word.

Ignoring it, Nori continued on. "I was going to swing by the station later. But since you're here, have any news for me ahead of time?"

"You bet I do, sir!" declared the stout officer. "I went out and did what I said I would!"

"And?"

There was a pause from the other end. "Uh, I didn't have much luck, sir." Nori grumbled and shook his head, exasperated. All that buildup just for that? "Not because I didn't try, sir! I tried, sir, but uh. Not a lot of people wanted to talk about it. You know, in the good way not the bad way. And the two that did had a negative opinion."

"So you mean it's like they don't know what to think of it?" That was some news. He had his doubts as to whether the whole department had the same mindset, but confirming their uncertainty reassured him.

"That is a possibility, sir. I'm not fully sure myself. But they also might not want to be a part of it!" the officer continued. Nori brought the phone closer to his ear. Could there really be something more to this? "I mean, anyone would be afraid of getting a huge tongue-lashing, being punished with overtime, and having his salary cut, sir!" Bunston laughed nervously.

The young official felt the urge to fall onto the back of the seat, though the swivel chair he was on lacking a back prevented that. "I think that was just you going too far and getting punished for it, Bunston."

The stout officer let out a high-pitched yelp. "How did you know, sir?!"

"You just told me, that's how." That confirmed it. He'd told Bunston to be careful, but at least it seemed the only damage he did was to himself. "Thanks for the update in any case. You're uh...not skipping work to tell me this, are you?"

"No no, it's my lunch break, sir!" Nori looked up at the clock. It was a little after noon. How time flies. "Anyways, I must confess. I didn't see what you meant about this all at first, but now I do. It is a good thing you are here to help this girl, sir!"

Even given the severity of this situation, Nori couldn't help but chuckle at that statement. "You know, it's funny."

"What is, sir?"

"I didn't even want to be here."

Bunston let out a strange noise. "You didn't?"

"Apparently officials have to take mandatory vacations." There were many things about being an official that surprised him, but this was by far the strangest. His superior said it was so people don't overwork, but he still didn't get it. "Shortly after I finished the training I had to go through, I thought it would finally be time to get down to business. But nope, short time later I get a call and am told I have to take time off before I even begin. Expenses paid and everything, within reason."

"You're real lucky, sir. Most would kill for a free vacation!" He laid his envy clear to Nori, but quickly added some more. "Not that I've...ever thought of that. So maybe it was fate that brought you here?"

Nori shook his head. "It was just me being in the right place at the right time." He sighed, mumbling an addendum. "Maybe the wrong place."

Not hearing the last part, Bunston asked, "So why'd you come here of all places?"

The young official shrugged. "Johto's the closest I could get to home, I guess." He looked over at the clock. He'd been talking with Bunston for about five minutes. He figured he should probably get moving if he wanted to get things done today. "Anyway, I should go. Like I said, I'm probably going to stop by there in a couple hours. If not, sooner." The sooner he could get it done and out of the way, the sooner he could move onto whatever step was next. "Update me more then, but don't do anything to get yourself in more trouble. All right?"

"Yes, sir!"

"All right. Bye."

Nori passed the receiver back to Connor. The owner had occupied himself with other matters during the conversation. "So who was that?"

"That was my contact in the station," Nori explained. "Least it seems not all the force is against her."

"Good to hear. Not fightin' the whole department gives ya a shot at least."

"No kidding." He would still be willing to fight the whole department, considering things he had been through in the past. But not having to definitely made life easier.

"This is the place," came a young girl's voice from behind him. Nori briefly glanced over his shoulder to see two small figures stepping into the diner. The childrens' eyes were quickly drawn to Garbles, who was absorbing the remains of a spilled drink.

"Wow, is that a Pokemon from Unova?" the boy asked.

"Sure is," confirmed Connor. "He's kinda our mascot up in here." The Garbodor raised its arms, posing with a goofy expression. With a chuckle, the owner continued, "An' before you say, I know. Kinda ironic for somethin' like him to be representin' a food establishment." But the patrons always enjoyed his presence, so that's how it came to be.

"Hang on, I gotta check this out!" Perrine said, took out her Pokedex gave Garbles a scan. Garbodor, the Trash Heap Pokemon. This Pokemon's body consists almost entirely of garbage. They are capable of absorbing any kind of compost and making it a part of themselves. Doing so also produces various odors and poisonous gases within them. Garbodor often attacks by grabbing their opponents with their left hand and either belching gas them or dousing them with liquid from their right hand. Even a small amount of latter can cause the victim to experience the effects of the toxin. Oddly enough, it actually smelled fairly pleasant.

"Uh, Perrine?" Caiseal tapped her on the shoulder. "Didn't we come here to find that guy?"

"Oh!" She'd been caught up in seeing this exotic Pokemon that she'd momentarily forgotten her reason for being here. "That's right, we have to ask about Nori."

On hearing his name, the young man swiveled his seat to face the two. "Well, my name is Nori." So it was them? He noted that it seemed their fashion senses swapped: the boy was dressed sharply despite the simplicity of his outfit, and the girl had on a sky blue shirt with a cloud motif that clashed with her ankle-length brown skirt.

"Oh, it is you! We came here to find you!" said the orange haired girl. So they really were looking for him and not someone with the same first name. The two kids approached. "Sorry about yesterday. We didn't know you were on our side until Julia told us."

Nori shrugged. "No big deal. You didn't know who I was, and...well," He ruffled his hair. "We really shouldn't have been talking about anything in there anyway."

"Yeah. Jule told us how that detective was listening in on you two," the blonde boy explained. "When we got to see her, we didn't talk much because she said he might be listening to us too, and trying to use stuff against her."

"Sounds like something he'd do all right," Nori chuckled, although there was clear disgust in his tone as well. If it wasn't for Detective Holle, this would be so much easier. But about these two. "Um, who are you anyway?"

"I'm Perrine!"

"Caiseal's the name."

"Nice to meet you both. I...guess you already know my name." They must have heard it from Julia, if not seen it on TV. They non-verbally confirmed this. "So what'd you come and find me for?"

"Well, we heard from Jule that you're planning on helping her," Caiseal explained, hopping up and sitting two seats to his left.

Perrine continued, "And we want to help her too! So we figured we should work together!" Nori nodded in agreement. There were potential disadvantages, sure. But given the situation, the advantages outweighed them. And maybe they had ideas of their own. He certainly didn't have any. The girl placed her hands together and cheerfully inquired, "So what're you planning on doing?"

Not what he was hoping to hear. "I'm still figuring that out," Nori freely admitted, yet put on as confident a facade as he could. He casually grabbed his drink and took a sip. "I got on TV, so that's a start. Besides that, I was thinking of going down to the station. My contact's already given me an update, so I guess it'd just be to visit Julia and get an update from her."

Perrine had to push herself up, but managed to sit between Caiseal and Nori. "Uh-huh. What else?"

Put on the spot. "Well, I guess she might want a lawyer just in case everything goes to crap." Actually, the thought of this had only crossed his mind at that moment. Maybe talking was helping after all, since it was giving him these ideas. "But I don't know any, let alone any in this region."

Perrine considered this. "I don't know much about legal stuff, but my parents would. I think." Her father did work at the Radio Tower, so maybe he would know some lawyers.

"Well, there's price to consider as well." It hit Nori, that's probably why he didn't think about it. "Lawyers aren't cheap, and we don't want to throw a bunch of fees at her she or her family can't pay." On his response, the orange haired girl put her arms down on the counter, almost lying down on it. Feeling a bit bad, he added, "But it is worth a try."

"Okay!" she picked herself up. The young official could tell she just wanted to do something to help Julia. "I'll call them as soon as I get back to the Pokemon Center!"

Nori smiled, leaning forward to look beyond her. "What about you? You got any ideas?"

Caiseal had been sitting down, listening intently. "Oh, I uhh...don't know exactly what I can do. Maybe I'll check around for more information, or read up on it." That might be enough, Nori thought. Understanding the situation might help him think of something. "By the way, if you don't mind, I'm wondering something."

"What's that?" Nori asked, finishing off his drink.

"What's a Pokemon rehabilitator anyway? I've never heard of it before."

The eternal question. Nori had been asked it so many times that it was reflexive to explain. "You haven't heard because it's so new. What I do is take Pokemon who have troublesome personalities and help them improve." He took out his Nidorina's Poke Ball. "Compared to an 'expert', my approach is more hands-on in how I train them."

"That sounds kinda dangerous," Perrine mused. "What if one of your Pokemon does something bad? Like, Ge...you know."

"Simple," he declared with a grin. "Recall it before it can!" In an instant he whipped out a laser pointer and pointed it at a glass on a distant table to demonstrate his aim. The patron the glass belonged to actually clapped, as did Perrine and Caiseal grin in surprised approval. Nori ruffled his hair and quickly put it away. "Umm...anyway," he hastily changed the subject. "What about you two? What's your story? Stories?"

Perrine got into it, "I've always dreamed of being a Pokemon trainer, just like my Aunt Mao. To get out and explore the world! I want to fight my idol Lance and become champion!"

"Me too," Caiseal agreed. "Minus the parts related to her."

Of course they were. That's how it usually is with travelers. He chucked at Perrine. "You gotta destroy what you love for your dream, huh?"

"Guess so," she shrugged with a small giggle. She never thought of it like that. It was a funny way of putting it.

"What about each other?" Nori asked. That was always something that he'd thought about, when it came to a hypothetical journey. Sure there were alternative goals, but when traveling companions have shared ones, it gives way to eventual competition. "There can be only one, after all. If you have to fight each other, will you let it get in the way of your friendship?"

The two exchanged glances. They hadn't really thought about that before, but Nori had raised a point. "Well, how I see it anyway," Caiseal began, "We have our whole lives ahead of us. Even if we lose to each other, there's always next time."

Perrine nodded in agreement. "Yeah. It won't be the end of the world if I lose to Caiseal or Julia. Once you get Julia out, that is!" Nori smiled warmly. It seemed she had complete confidence in him. "The three of us will still always be friends!"

"Was just wondering." He was a bit envious they could have that point of view. It was always a worry with him. If he were to hypothetically travel on a journey across a region, he would want to do so alone or with people with other goals. Even though they could put stuff aside for the championship and not let it affect anything, others might not. And he wouldn't want to lose any friends over having to compete against each other.

"Anyway-" Perrine's thoughts were cut short as her stomach started to rumble. "Oh. Sorry..." She was in such a rush to get out the door that both she and Caiseal had forgotten to eat. Thankfully they were in the right place for sustenance. She was about to ask what they served for breakfast, only to spot a clock on the back wall. Perrine actually gasped when she saw the time was around twenty to one. "No way! Did we really get up that late?!"

"I had trouble getting to sleep..." Caiseal admitted.

"Yeah, me too." But still, she never imagined this. She had slept in before, but never late enough so that it was too late for breakfast. So lunch it was. She nudged Nori. "Hey, want to have lunch with us?" she invited.

Nori shook his head. "Thanks, but I just had breakfast a little while ago." A simple ham and cheese omelette with some toasted brown bread. The rehabilitator hopped off the stool and stretched his legs. He'd been sitting there for a good hour and a half at least. "And I figure I should get over to the station soon. Want to get over there before it gets too late."

This made sense, Caiseal figured. "Okay. We're counting on you. Tell Jule we'll try to visit later."

He was continuing to stretch and warm up his legs, also stretching his arms a bit. "Gotcha." Relaying a message was simple enough. When his muscles were sufficiently roused, he started to head out. "See you later! And thanks again for the food and drinks, Connor."

"Anytime. Keep at it, ya hear?"

He was nearly out the door when Perrine called out to him. "Hey, how should we keep in contact?" the orange haired girl asked, that just occurring to her at that moment. "Do you have a Pokegear?"

He halted. Keeping in contact was important. "Nope, not from Johto. But meeting up here works. If not that, I'll meet you at the Pokemon Center." Either place to meet up with them again worked. Nori waved to Perrine and Caiseal before exiting the diner. He quickly assembled his skateboard and hopped on, heading off towards the police headquarters.

Nori was making excellent time as he zoomed through the roads in Mahogany Town. It really was an efficient tool, and a purchase he was glad he had made. After all, the less time spent traveling, the more time spent being able to do things. The sooner he could speak to Julia and find out anything new, the sooner he could get to figuring out what his next move would be.

The young official was planning his route as he skated. Having gotten to know the city reasonably well, he figured out which roads to take to avoid pedestrian traffic while still making good time. He was making his way down one such road, coming to an intersection. He stopped to look both ways, and that's when he spotted someone on his right. This dark-uniformed man stepped out in front of him, obstructing his path. He was wearing his overcoat over his uniform due to the cold, but his ragged hair, harsh folds on his face, and his necklace made him unmistakable.

All sorts of alarms went off in the young official's mind. Where did Holle come from? Being here can't be a coincidence. He huffed. "What are you doing here?" Nori asked, barely maintaining his cool. "And how did you find me?"

The detective smirked. "Mr. Carino, I've been doing this for years. People have habits and desires. Therefore, it's easy to track and predict the movements of a person. You simply need to be there when they are. In your case, I figured you would visit the station sometime today. This intersection being one you were likely to take." The smirk mutated into a full-on grin. "This is the same way I've managed to capture countless delinquents."

A chill ran down Nori's spine. Did he do something wrong? Yes, he actually kind of did. How he got that interview. And here he was having walked right into this. He considered being more careful or erratic next time. If there was a next time. He was filled with dread as he asked, "Wait, you're not here to bring me in, are you?"

The detective shook his head. "No, I just wanted to talk to you about a few things." Nori arched an eyebrow, but Holle gave no further explanation. He simply checked for vehicles then gestured for Nori to follow. "We'll walk as we go. Come on, off that piece of wood. It makes you look like a punk."

The young official stood there dumbfounded. This came out of nowhere. Even though this wasn't about arresting him, he still had a very bad feeling about this detective. He hoped that just doing nothing and continuing to stand there would make the problem go away, but Holle waited expectantly. Nori deflated with a sigh, resigned that he had no say in this matter. He put his transportation away, the detective smiling wide at this. Holle started walking, Nori uncomfortably following along.

"So I have a question for you, Mr. Carino," Detective Holle said to the young rehabilitator without looking back. "All you know about this girl is what she's told you. You don't even live in the same region. Yet in spite of this you're very determined to help her. Why do that?"

Here it was. Exactly what he figured was coming. So he explained himself clearly and calmly, "Because I think this situation is screwed up. Julia didn't know she could be held accountable for a released Pokemon's actions. And even so, she couldn't predict that Geraldine would do this."

Detective Holle peered over his shoulder. "Ignorance is no excuse."

"Yes it is!" Nori insisted. "No ment. Um, mens..." What was that term? Whatever, he knew what it meant. "No intent!"

"For someone who had to study the law for his position, you don't seem to know much about it," Detective Holle shook his head. "Not knowing is no excuse. She can and will still be punished for it."

Okay, that was a long shot. "Still!" Nori protested. "Considering things...I mean, I promised I'd help! And it's feel it's the right thing to do!"

The detective paused. He gave two simple words. "Is it?"

Nori took a deep breath, nodding emphatically. "I think it is. Julia has her whole life ahead of her. I feel it's wrong to deny her that when she's so young. Maybe on paper she did mess up, but it's not completely her fault. And we all make mistakes. So the way I see it, she deserves another chance. It'd be a shame if she doesn't get it." He wasn't sure where that came from, but punctuated it by restating his goal with resolution. "That's why I want to help her get that chance."

Quiet. Nori wondered managed to convince him. It would be a miracle if he did. The detective gave no clues as to this. All he did was slow his pace so that he was walking beside Nori. "Let me give you a piece of advice, Mr. Carino," he eventually spoke. "Far too many times I've seen a criminal get out of their punishment. Sometimes it's been on technicalities. Sometimes it's because they've weaseled out of it. Other times it's because they only got a slap on the wrist." Holle gesticulated during this speech, waving his hand and twirling his finger. Finally, he crossed his arms. "Almost all of those times, they have gone on to reoffend." He stepped out in front of Nori and paused. "And the same goes for this girl, too. If she's allowed, she'll just go on to repeat the same mistake again at some point in the future."

"I know she won't!" Nori argued. That logic was ridiculous to him. How could someone even come to a conclusion like that? "People can learn from their mistakes!"

Detective Holle firmly shook his head. "No. They often don't. With Arceus as my witness, I can say that if that girl somehow does go free, she will cause another incident the same way as she did here." He pointed to the heavens as he initially spoke, turning it towards the Lake of Rage when talking about it. "Whatever happens then, in a way, it will be on you." He leveled the finger accusingly in Nori's face. He scowled at the Pokemon rehabiliator, who passively returned the expression. "If she is freed and she goes on to make another poor decision that claims further lives, will you be able to live with yourself? Will you be able to live with the consequences?"

The question caused Nori to briefly hesitate. Could he? Holle smirked at first, it fading as the young official's visage turn to one of steely determination. "Yes," he concluded. Holle had brought up a point, but it didn't take long for him to process it. "Because she deserves the chance to do that in the first place. There's a risk, there always is. But I believe in Julia. I haven't known her for long, but I know she'll make sure she doesn't let this happen again."

The detective scoffed at his answer. "You are naive."

"And you are..." Nori started to fired back, but he couldn't think of a retort. He was keeping his frustration in check, but it finally reached a boiling point. All these questions and all this insane logic. With a growl he yelled, "What are you trying to do?! Dissuade me from this?"

"I'm only telling you all this for your sake!" he ruthlessly admonished. "This is the real world, Nori Carino. Not your idealistic fantasy one! Facts are facts. And the fact is that girl is accountable for what happened at the lake. Nothing is going to change that fact." Nori grumbled, but Holle did not care and continued reprimanding the young man like he was one of his subordinates. "That news interview you did completely disgusted not just me, but several other members of the force as well. Who were you trying to convince by doing that? The fact that you posed as an expert to get that interview speaks volumes about your character. That's a step away from corruption, and I'd strongly advise you do not walk a path of deception. You'll only regret it later."

Nori winced. Called out on that point. He had gotten the idea after talking with Bunston, just using the idea to try to secure the interview. At the very least, it seemed calling him on it was all Holle was going to do. But this just raised questions. "What are you trying to do?" he once again asked the detective.

"I'm trying to guide you down the right path." This time the detective gave a calmer reply, almost an amiable one and decisively filled with consideration. "We have some things in common. You have said in the past you want to make the world a better place, haven't you?"

And now Nori was genuinely stunned. He went white as a sheet, frozen in place. That wasn't his exact words, but it was very close to why he did not want to become a Pokemon trainer like everyone else his age. That was ultimately why he worked with Pokemon, to help out a little bit at a time. Holle was aware of his background, he knew that much from yesterday. But did he really look that far into it?!

Unlike before, Holle didn't show any signs of arrogance. He simply continued, "It's something I can relate to. I do my part by shutting down those who may threaten the world before they can do so."

Nori couldn't say anything or reply. He didn't think that Holle would go to these lengths. But he couldn't say Holle was necessarily wrong in what he was doing, either. Was he in the wrong? Was the detective just trying to stop him before he got too invested? Or stop him before he made a huge mistake?

Seeing the young official's expression, the detective decided that was enough. He gave Nori one last thing before he walked away, "Think about what you're really doing, Mr. Carino. That's all I ask."

After that incident, Nori continued towards the station at a methodical pace. It took him longer, much longer than he expected. But he needed the time to process things. He couldn't deny any of what the detective had said to him. It was true he had stretched things to get the word out. He still felt it justified, but it made him look bad. Especially in his position. It was experimental. He was the only Pokemon rehabilitator. He would set the standard, and the position's success or discontinuation leaned solely on him.

Connor had said that his interview had helped. Holle had said that it did nothing. Who was right? Had he really made a difference with it? Did he really get the word out that a young girl was suffering for a simple mistake and obscure law? Or did he really only manage to get more people upset with her, like Holle implied? Was Julia being released really the best thing for society? And would they even accept her?

Maybe he was in the wrong. But then again, that was nothing new for him. Being in the wrong and challenging otherwise was how he became a Pokemon rehabilitator in the first place. If it wasn't for him doing that, he wouldn't be here now. Most of all, the pleas of the three friends also weighed heavily on him.

"Once you get Julia out, that is!"

"We're counting on you."

"So...what's going to happen to me, Nori?"

And in his heart, he felt that things were not right. Doing nothing, especially after hearing that, after hearing their fears and confidence in him, just wasn't right. Even if the letter of the law said he was wrong. The law said his Nidorina should have been put down for her aggressive tendencies. But he stepped up and challenged that. In spite of threats, he stood up to give her a chance. And so he would here too.

Even if he had some doubts, he couldn't be afraid. He couldn't falter. For now, he couldn't mind what Holle had said. There were people counting on him, and he was going to see it through. It was wrong to let them down. That's why he was at the Mahogany Police Headquarters on a balmy September day at just past two. He'd gone by a number of school-going children on their way home on his way here. Each of them reminding him of Julia. Not following the same path in life as her, but in a way, they'd just been freed. And she needed to be free too.

"I'd like to see Julia Parisa," he announced to the receptionist. He was there and he was ready. At this moment he was going to take the next step towards helping her out of prison. Nothing else mattered at that point to him.

"Sorry, she's in questioning right now."

"Wha-?"

"Come back in about two hours and she'll be available, okay?"

"Oh...kay." Well, so much for that. Talk about a buzzkill he had no say in. Still, his drive was renewed. He would just have to come back later. Maybe he'd be able to visit with her friends too. He supposed his next course of action would be to see if they'd made progress. He pulled out his skateboard and assembled it as he was walking out of the station. As soon as he made it down the staircase he jumped on it and sped off in the direction of the Pokemon Center.

Not even five seconds after, he nearly collided face-first into someone, swiftly reacting by flipping the board up and skidding to a stop. "Sorry, didn't see you there!"

"It's all right, but you should be more careful." The woman was wearing a black jacket over top a long sleeved purple shirt, simple blue jeans, and black shoes. She examined the person who'd nearly crashed into her. Perhaps it was her parental instincts momentarily taking over that caused her to advise him, "Might I suggest you wear a helmet?"

"Well I don't have to," Nori shrugged as he placed the board down. "Part of why I use it, don't need to lug a helmet around." By contrast he'd have to wear one if it were a bicycle. Besides, there's only so much room in a bag, and it'd look ridiculous to wear a helmet all the time.

"I just don't want you to get into an accident and split your head open..." she continued.

"It's fine, I'm careful." He knew how to break his fall if that happened, and wouldn't do anything silly to get into a dangerous situation in the first place, like try to perform stunts like all the kids he's seen with skateboards. Come to think of it, that's all he ever saw kids do with a skateboard. He briefly glanced at the station. "Visiting?"

"Yes, I came all the way up here because of my daughter," the woman sadly confirmed.

Nori huffed. "It's a shame when a kid gets put in here. Especially since it can be life-ruining." Not just with Julia, but with many others as well. It just wasn't right. He imagine it must be especially hard on a parent like her to see her child condemned like this.

"I know. It's especially hard because my other daughter...no, never mind." Nori got the message, and his thoughts were confirmed from her tone and drooping visage. He shuddered, hoping that if he had kids that he would never have to go through this. Her disheveled light brown hair made Nori wonder if she'd cast aside appearance just to get up here as soon as possible.

And made him blink. "Wait, you look like..." If it were combed, it might look like hers. And those green eyes. The same shade, with the same appearance. And she said she came all the way up here? He hazarded a guess, "Your daughter wouldn't happen to be Julia Parisa, would it?"

The woman's eyes went wide. She almost covered her face in shame but restrained herself. "Yes...yes she is..." Mrs. Parisa sniveled, wiping a tear from her eye. "It's all over the news. I shouldn't be surprised..." The resemblance was apparent.

"I've actually met Julia." Nori supposed she hadn't seen the recent news with his interview. He didn't think he'd actually meet this person, but now that he had, the urge to say what he wanted overtook him. "And it's your fault she's in there!" he suddenly accused, causing Mrs. Parisa to recoil in shock. "You're the one who told her to release the Gyarados. What were you thinking? You wanted a Pokemon that clearly needs professional help to go back to the wild. And on top of it you put all those bad ideas about facilities in her head by saying they euthanize Pokemon there."

Mrs. Parisa was staring downward. Nori failed to notice her trembling as he continued to rant. "You made Julia, no, you threatened your own daughter into releasing Geraldine. And six people and Geraldine died because of it! What were you thinking?! None of this would've happened it wasn't for you!"

"Do you think I haven't realized all that?!" Mrs. Parisa snapped, tears in her eyes. She didn't know how this young man knew all this, but didn't care. "Yes, I know I shouldn't have forced Julia to release that Gyarados. I used to work with Pokemon extensively, so I should have known this could have happened. I wasn't thinking, all I wanted to do was make sure it didn't do any damage under her care." She turned a hateful scowl his way, leveling a finger in his face. "And just who do you think you are, anyway? You come up to me and throw out all these accusations. What makes you think you have the right to patronize me or my family? I didn't drive all this way for nearly a day to get yelled at by some random brat I don't even know!"

Nori was speechless. He couldn't deny any of what she said. He even realized she might have been stressed and still went ahead with it. "I...I'm sorry..."

"You should be sorry! This is none of your business!"

"It is! It really is!" He yanked out and fumbled around with his wallet for a while, eventually presenting his ID card. "I'm sorry, I was out of line. I'm only trying to help, and-"

"Well, you're not helping," she cut off his apology. "I don't know who you are, but if that official's card isn't fake, you're incompetent at your job at best!"

He involuntarily clenched a fist. "Gah, whatever," he flippantly handwaved, putting his card away. He'd already messed up and made the poor impression, and there was no going back. May as well keep riding it, especially in lieu of that comment. "So you're here to see Julia, right?"

And there he was just changing the subject. Yet she admitted she had gotten off-track, so she let it slide with only a look of disapproval. "Not just that," she informed, strictly as a courtesy. She honestly wasn't sure herself why she was telling him this. He hardly deserved to know, but perhaps she just needed to tell someone. She'd made the decision along the way, and hadn't even told her husband. It had come to this. Mrs. Parisa took a deep breath before stating her intentions, "I'm going to go in and take full responsibility for everything."

"You're going to what?!" A terrifying thought instantly popped into the young official's mind.

"I'm the one who made Julia release that Gyarados. It's not her fault this happened." A resigned sigh escaped her, although one that might have been sadder if not for him riling her up. "I feel like I've let both of my daughters down. I can't do much to help Amara at this point, but I don't want Julia to suffer." With this said, she again started towards the station.

Even after their sour conversation, Nori was not going to let that happen. He couldn't. "Mrs. Parisa, please. Don't do this," he beseeched. "You're making a mistake. I mean...please! Listen to me!" He had to run in front of her and physically obstruct her path to get her attention. She attempted to go around him, but Nori kept blocking her. She absolutely had to hear this, and he was going to make sure of it. "There's this detective who works for juvenile services." Mrs. Parisa finally gave up and stopped, intently if impatiently listening to what he had to say. "A real piece of work. He wants Julia severely punished for what she did, and all trying to take the blame yourself is going to do is get you thrown in there as well." Despite briefly thinking that she could do so, after his chat with Holle he knew that it was out of the question. "It's not going to work. There has to be another way!"

Julia's mother closed her eyes and folded her hands. Despite his attitude, this young man did seem genuinely invested in this. Perhaps his warnings were to be heeded. Still, her mind was made up. "I'm sorry. This is the only thing I can do for Julia. If there's any chance I can help her by doing this, I have to take it."

"Mrs. Parisa!" he shouted while raising an arm, but she ignored his further pleas. The woman headed towards the station with haste and disappeared through its doors. Nori's arm slowly fell to his side.

The shock wearing off, he on instinct took some steps forward to follow. Yet he thought better of it. He knew what was likely to happen, and yet all the same it was not a scene he wanted to personally see play out.

The young official suddenly felt physically ill. "You need to get out of here for now!" Nori rasped to himself, skating away as fast as he could. "Go back and reassess!" He knew this was all he could do. And just when he was starting to get some ideas what to do, this happened. The situation had changed, and gotten that much worse.

The question hung in his mind: now what?

Some of the ways this chapter came together are interesting. The interview was something I was going to show as it happened, but when I decided I wanted to show Holle being interviewed too, decided that the best way was to have people watching the report. So Perrine and Caiseal. And as I sat down to start it I realized I could do a MarJour style flashback - marking it as one and all - to show Julia's arrest.

Connor was another character born of necessity. I wanted to have a place where Nori could go to vent and serve as a home base of sorts, and figured a restaurant a good place to do so. I also wanted a character who could encourage Nori along while indirectly supporting him (compared to Bunston's active role). I thought Lance at first, but decided why not the restaurant owner himself?

Nori's party:

Nidorina (Female, Sassy Nature)
Ability: Hustle
Attacks: Take Down, Double Kick, Crunch, Poison Jab

Pawniard (Male, Naughty Nature)
Ability: Defiant
Attacks: Fury Cutter, Metal Claw, Slash, Psycho Cut