Who I Am - Lightning99

Chapter 23:

The Truth

Red didn't know how to express his relief. He was never one to prance in circles around the room, throwing yells out to the world, like Blue. He didn't squeal with joy and hug everything in the vicinity, like Yellow. But Ash was alive, and he felt like doing just that; he had listened to his and Delia's conversation from the background, keeping out of the way because he didn't want his first meeting with Ash to be over the phone. That was no way to introduce himself to his son. Red envisaged a more emotional scene, the whole family coming together.

Delia switched off the monitor after Ash and swivelled to face Red. Her expression mirrored the one she wore the day they got married: lines of cheery tears sparkling on her cheeks, her eyes shimmering with pure happiness. Red couldn't just sit there. Instead of performing like an idiot — no offence to his friends — he slipped onto the settee and pulled her into a tight hug, grinning himself.

"I'm so relieved…" Delia said.

"I know," Red whispered. "Me too."

Several timeless minutes passed between them, neither growing bored with each other's comfort. Red had missed the warmth of her embrace. Sixteen years without being able to hug Delia… He didn't know how he had survived.

Their long-lived hug only ended when Delia lifted her hand and wiped at her cheeks, and Red backed away to make it easier for her.

"I'm so glad," Delia repeated.

"What should we do now?"

Delia straightened out her dress, "I think it's time."

"Are you sure?" Red asked quietly. "You did say to wait until we hear from Ash, but is it too soon?"

"No," Delia said, "not at all. We have to do this, especially now that we know he's safe. Let's go and see Samuel."

It was a decision they and Blue made the day after Brock, Dawn, and Clemont left. Seeing as their son was involved in the case against Oak, it was only natural they were to be questioned. But Red wanted a direct audience with the professor one last time.

Truthfully, Red had wanted to speak with Oak immediately after the arrest, after he had time to think, reflect, and piece together the inconsistencies in the story. To realise the unreliability of it. But the sudden news of Ash being alive had paused that idea. Now, after the confirmation of his son's safety, Oak's hidden agenda was the only thing on his mind. Assuming he had such a secret was presumptuous, but Oak had given them a reason for his actions that didn't match his nature, his logical mind and methodical thinking. He was hiding something. Red knew he was.

"If you're sure, then we'll go. I'll call Officer Jenny to prepare for our arrival. I hope he gives us the answers we're looking for," Red said, adjusting his hat on his head. Red grabbed Delia's coat as they headed out the door.

It was excruciating. A constant ache. Ash's death was the most painful ordeal she had ever experienced. She had cried every day so far, hidden away in a side-room in the bleak lab, to which she returned after Oak was taken away. Without anyone for comfort, no arms to hold her, no words to comfort her,

Alongside the painful sadness and guilt, she was confused. Since Ash's mother arrived to confront them and she learned the truth, Serena Yvonne felt as though a thick layer of mist had cleared from around her heart and her head. As if she had awakened from a dream, a trance, been blasted with a mental Defog. It was something she had felt before, but from where and when, she couldn't remember.

Despite the confusion, she felt like herself again. Except, she held memories of events she didn't commit to, remembered saying words she hadn't wanted to. Yet she committed to and said everything. Why did she say Calem was her boyfriend? Why did she act like he was? Why did she hesitate and decide against siding with Ash? The last conscious memory she truly remembered was her rigidly believing that she would stick by Ash through everything. So why had everything changed? Knowing she did those deeds willingly made her feel even worse, even more confused.

Yesterday, she watched her most recent Poké-Vision for the first time during a period of intense boredom. She remembered making it but watching it now felt wrong. The version of her in the video was a completely different person. She was strong, dealing with the situation, she was coping. But she believed in something fake. Serena wasn't the girl in the video. She wasn't strong, she wasn't 'living life to the fullest' because of 'life's fleeting nature'. She wasn't coping. She was sinking.

Her period of dejection subsided a short while later. Serena, clad in her baggy pyjamas, entered the bathroom to clean herself up. She looked at herself in the mirror, not even flinching at her red forlorn eyes, watery cheeks, nor her dishevelled bedhead that had grown out some more, tied together with the blue-ribbon Ash had given her – her memento. Up until a few weeks ago, she would have panicked and rapidly plundered her bag for her hairbrush whilst running the tap or the shower, but it didn't matter anymore.

She only wiped her eyes dry before wandering back into her room. She didn't need to care about being seen. The rest of the people temporarily lodging in the lab, cramping it, had finally left for home, returning to their daily lives as if nothing had happened. She couldn't bring herself to do as they had. It wasn't comfortable, but something was keeping her tethered to the place, preventing her from leaving.

Luckily, the small wing in which she had been staying remained intact, and construction hadn't continued since Oak's departure. She felt like she was intruding, but Oak had given them all permission to stay there, so she wasn't too worried.

Nibbling on some macarons leftover from her attempt to distract herself a few days before, Serena worked a brush in her other hand, combing her Braixen's silky fur. Absently, but stylishly.

"What should I do, Braixen?" Serena asked, straightening the last frayed hair on her sleek tail, moving to brush behind her ears. "Everything's so confusing. I feel like I've been living a lie… I'm sure you've been very confused too." Braixen purred in probable agreement. "…I really don't know what happened."

Sighing, Serena stopped combing. Braixen looked at her, her fiery eyes brimming with concern. Serena shook her head, glancing out the window across from her into Pallet Town, where the construction work was swiftly progressing on the decimated village. Voices barking orders and the laughter in the fresh morning air were distant echoes. She found herself watching the scene a lot the past few days. The friendliness between the people was everything she had lost because of the incident. She hadn't interacted with anyone else since either. She had lost more than Ash.

Today, two people were walking her way. More specifically, heading towards the forest by a route near the lab. Serena realised in a panic that it was Delia and Red Ketchum. She ducked below the window, startling her Fire-Type partner. There was no possible way that they would see her, but she wasn't ready to face them. She desperately wanted to. To try and explain, to try and make up for everything, but she didn't have the courage nor the whole story. It was as if everything Ash had instilled in her had been drained. She didn't have that powerful resolve anymore, the one that allowed her to kiss him despite her heart beating fast enough for a heart attack.

Serena was hiding because she didn't think she could face them. After all, she could hardly face herself. But she wanted to face herself. So, she got up from beneath the windowsill, resolved to do something more productive with her day. She had to. That was the only way she was going to get better.

Officer Jenny met them outside Viridian Police Station, nodding dutifully. She led them inside after confirming they were who they said. The only reason they had been allowed the meeting was Red's status. Being a previous Champion of the region granted him special privileges. All they had to do was explain who Red was, and why he wasn't as dead as they believed.

Jenny stopped outside a room with a black door and no external windows. A cell without bars. "Sorry, but we can only let one of you go in," she said.

"You go," Delia said, looking only at Red. "I will wait by the entrance."

Red nodded. He glanced at Jenny, nodding again. He wished he could get some words out, say something in thanks, but he couldn't. Jenny returned the gesture, passed him a notebook and pen from her jacket, and unlocked the door.

"Just so you know, we haven't gotten anything new out of him. Nothing at all. He sticks to the same story you said he told you. The thing about research. Something about a Phenomenon. I don't understand it, but I'm sure it makes sense to you. You don't have long, either, in case anybody else comes in. Oh, and I've disabled the cameras and microphones as you asked, but I'm taking a big risk doing this. If you weren't a previous Champion, I would never do so. Are you sure it'll convince him to talk?"

Red nodded only once and stepped through the door.

On the other side, the room was as pale and plain as a cinder block, with one camera pointing at the centre of the room. A metal table and two metal chairs, all bolted to the floor, was the only decoration. Therein sat Samuel Oak, looking uneasy. His eyes lifted from the floor and rested on Red after the door clanged behind him with the metallic ring of a jail cell door. His expression softened to mild contentment. Almost relief.

"Red…" Oak muttered. Red took the seat opposite and fixed him with a stare. He broke it, only to scribble a few words into his notebook.

Hello, Professor.

"Why are you here?"

Need you ask? Red wrote. Then, Why did you do it?

"Did I not tell you the last time we met?"

I don't believe you, Red wrote.

"And why is that?" Oak asked.

You're more thoughtful than that. It wasn't just for research, was it?

"I will admit I am still curious about the phenomenon," Oak said. Red raised his brows questioningly, asking for Oak to be serious without words. Oak sighed. "If there was another reason, why would I keep it a secret?"

Red fell back into his chair, staring at his opponent, whose expression denoted nothing. Red scribbled in his notebook again.

Because you wanted to hide the truth and protect yourself. You've done things that can't be uncovered without reliable evidence. Evidence that we don't have.

"I had forgotten how sharp you were. You're just as logical as I am." Oak sighed again, leaning forwards to rest against the table. "It has been too long. How are you alive?"

It doesn't matter. Red flipped the page. Oak, the cameras and mics are turned off. It's just the two of us here.

Oak's expression shifted as he read the message, from stoic to something Red had never before seen on the man: stressed.

"…How did you pull that off?" Oak asked in a voice that was not his. But it sounded more compliant.

I have a few perks.

Oak chuckled weakly. "Of course, you do. You're the undefeated Champion after all." He sighed, resting his forehead on his hands.

The room remained silent for a moment.

Well? Red wrote.

"Did you ever believe my original story?" Red shrugged. "I see. Yes, I don't suppose you would have when you had time to think. And what makes you believe I will tell you when I have kept quiet this whole time?"

Because it's me.

Oak chuckled again, more heartily this time. "I suppose so. You are right, of course. I had no plans of telling anybody about this. You are the only person I would have told, but I thought you were dead. Seeing as you are alive, I have somebody I can trust." Oak paused.

Why didn't you say anything before?

"I had circumstances to consider. I will explain later. Now, I don't know if you will believe anything that I have to say, but I will tell you the truth. This ties back to you, as well. I have no reason to lie," Oak said.

Red sat forwards, the steel of the chair creaking. He flexed his fingers around the pen, concentrating on Oak's every word.

"I am by no means a good person," Oak began, his voice cracking, "but the reason I previously gave – using Ash for research – is a lie. Honestly, I made it up by looking back on our history together. As they say, we as humans are doomed to repeat our mistakes. I assume that likeness to our past is what tipped you off about it being a lie?"

Red nodded. As Oak said the day of his explanation, he too had the same ability as Ash. Had he not, his selective mutism would have made his Pokémon training significantly more difficult. Many years ago, unlike his methods towards Ash, Oak had asked Red directly to be a research subject for him. Only, Red decided to turn Oak down in the past because he was having too much fun adventuring. He hadn't wanted to be tied down. Then, as an adult, Oak requested again, but Delia was pregnant with Ash, so he had turned him down again to commit to his family. Even so, Oak asked. There was no way his ethos would have changed in Ash's case.

"So, you did notice."

Only after I calmed down after punching you. I was too angry at the time, but it was obvious when I thought about it. I'm sure I'm not the only one to realise the reason was fake.

Oak sighed again. "I see. Well, believe whatever you will, but the reason I decided to try and ruin Ash's desire to be a Pokémon Master – no, a trainer itself, is because… I wanted to keep him at home. No, I needed to keep him at home, under my surveillance. I… tried to get Ash to stop being a trainer because I wanted to protect him."

All Red did was frown. He felt surprised, confused, but he strangely believed what Oak said immediately. He took a moment to think. Protect Ash from what? As far as he knew, the only threat Ash had been under recently was the crisis in Kalos which had long since concluded and the Team Rocket trio endlessly stalking him, which was trivial at best. They weren't issues worthy of immediate protection.

But then what is Oak talking about? Red wondered, twiddling the pen in his fingers. He said a moment ago that it was linked to him as well, which only complicated the issue. How was it linked to him? He had been away from Ash his entire life. The only incident that could somewhat link to Ash was when he was forced to disappear.

Red's writing hand froze. The realisation punched him with the power of a Dynamic Punch. It all made sense.

"What are you thinking?" Oak asked, hesitantly.

Red took his notebook, his hand shaking, and held it up. I believe you.

"I see," Oak said, exhaling. "From the look on your face, it shows that you've thought of something."

Red glared. He slapped the notebook onto the desk and quickly wrote another message. How did they find him?

"…It was a matter of circumstance. No, perhaps history repeating itself. Your son is so much more like you than you realise. Heck, for years he had Team Rocket grunts following him around to every region. I am sure Delia told you of this?" Oak said.

Red nodded. What do you mean by circumstance? Red wrote, shoving the notebook in Oak's face.

"Just as you travelled every region throughout your travels, taking out criminal groups along the way, Ash has done the very same, albeit less intentionally than yourself. As I said, history repeating itself. The same thing that happened to you would have happened to Ash had he not stayed at the lab or 'died'. As for how they found him…" Oak looked down. "The same way they found you."

Red fell back into his chair. Oak finally confirmed it, the one answer Red had so vehemently denied the last few years. He had told himself there was no way that would be the case. There was no way that Oak had been the one. But he was only lying, trying to believe a fantasy. He shakily reached for his pen and put one more message on the paper.

It was you.

Oak nodded, his expression tightening, anguished. "I am the reason that you had to spend sixteen years away from Delia. I am the reason you have never met your son. I am the reason… Ash grew up never having his father with him. I ruined your family's lives… So, I-I tried my best to act as his father figure in your place. But, of course, it never fit," Oak said. He smiled sadly and huffed a tiny, weak chuckle.

"When I found out they discovered he was your son in addition to everything else that was motivating them, I had to act. But, remember, I am not a good person. I've made mistakes. I ruined your family even though I feel you are as much my family as Blue and Gary. I framed my cousin simply because he uncovered everything I did and was going to expose me. I don't understand how you learned of that, but I'm assuming that was what Blue threatened me with the other day, the thing you told him and Delia. I've done awful things, Red. As such, I tried to play the villain to save Ash. Even if that meant being hated by him…"

Red believed him, but he couldn't believe the situation. But then he couldn't believe himself either. The very reason for his recent life being one endless heartache sat directly in front of him. He should have been angry, frustrated, he should have hated Oak. But he felt nothing. No anger. No frustration. No hatred. Nothing but curiosity because Oak was silently crying.

You took over the news channel and presented that article on Ash's death to send them a message, didn't you? It was to tell them that he was gone, that there was no need for whatever they were planning. It was to throw them off.

"…Two times they contacted me. The first caused your situation, along with my own selfish anger. This time when they found out Ash was related to you, I had to do all I could to convince them against their plans for Ash. I was stumped. I thought that by making Ash stop being a trainer, they would be satisfied enough and just go back to their lives. But the attack on Pallet gave me the perfect opportunity, so in the mix-up, I made that article. I took advantage of the situation. I know Ash is probably alive somewhere – that's why I haven't acted sad – but I had to do it. I was lucky he disappeared. That was probably in response to my earlier plan…"

So, by manipulating the girl he loved, and threatening his best friends and his Pokémon, you tried to make him give up in order to protect him, to hide him from them. To prevent history from repeating itself…

Oak read the message slowly as if comprehending his actions for the first time. "Yes," he said. "Some of his Pokémon agreed, and some I threatened to release if they didn't. I mean, I assume. Nobody would truly know but you… or Ash. I cannot say why some of his friends agreed, but please do not think ill of some of them, at least."

Why?

"Because two of them are not at fault, and two of them knew the truth," Oak said.

Who?

"First, Clemont. And his sister I should say, so five people I suppose. You already know of that situation. I must reiterate that I did not harm his sister. It was them."

Makes sense.

"The second – or third because of Bonnie – is Serena, the girl in love with Ash. It is true what I said: I had Calem act like Ash in the hopes of manipulating her feelings."

But how did you manipulate her feelings? Just acting like somebody else shouldn't be enough to make someone betray the person they're in love with."

"Of course, it wasn't. You can't change a person's feelings for somebody simply by acting like them. It can't be changed so easily; the human mind isn't that fickle. But, of course, she was too emotional to realise that." Oak stopped speaking. It looked like he was having a difficult time getting his words out. "You should know this, but Pokémon can be detained too if the law has been broken, much like we humans can be arrested."

Naturally, Red wrote. He knew that.

"And what crime is the most common reason for a Pokémon to be arrested?"

You didn't…. Red could see where his explanation was heading.

Oak nodded slowly. "Indeed. This is the part I am least proud of. I ordered Calem to use Psychic-Type moves on her. Wild Psychic-Type Pokémon are the most commonly detained type of Pokémon because they manipulate human minds for fun. It is their nature… Especially Drowzee and Hypno."

For the first time since his entrance, Red was angry. He was furious. He had to clench his fists against the desk to stop himself leaping for Oak again. He had experienced Psychic-Type manipulation in the past – it was a lot more common than people thought, albeit in less intense cases – but it was a heinous crime if prompted by a human. To use such a thing on a sixteen-year-old girl…

"She grew acquainted with Calem over in Hoenn by my order. It wasn't difficult to convince him. I told him to introduce himself as an old friend of Ash's to make sure she trusted him. Then, he delivered the news about 'surprising Ash' and they flew over. I tried having him make advances on her, but, naturally, they all failed. So, when she disagreed with my plan, I had her come to my study. During our conversation I had Calem use a Hypno's powers. By doing so, all I did was make her believe two things: she loved Calem and that betraying Ash was the only way to save him. That was all I needed to do. I hypnotised her. As a result, everything Calem said was gospel to her. I am quite surprised, though. It didn't work completely. She was able to resist."

Red glared at Oak. Hypnosis is a serious crime, he wrote.

"I am well aware. As much as it is a large part of our society in Pokémon battling, hypnosis used on trainers is taboo. Why do you think I didn't mention this previously? Also, why do you think I did not tell Jenny this story? As much as I know I should be, I cannot be convicted knowing Ash is still in danger. But please don't involve Calem. It was my fault. I took advantage of him. Moreover, don't worry about Serena. As I'm sure you know, awareness is the weakness of Psychic-Type manipulation, so the fact that she knows she was manipulated – even without knowing it was via such methods – means she is free."

What prompted that idea, of all things?

"Desperation, for one thing. Then, I suppose you could say the past. Delia has been a victim of similar actions once when she was forced to believe she was another girls' mother. Ash as well, on many of his journeys. Heck, even I have had my mind tampered with. It is more common than people realise, and it is a very real issue. I have witnessed it many times, and it was the only thing I could think of."

…Who were the last two? Who knew the truth? Red asked, feeling sick of hearing about it.

"When you came to question me, there were two people who said nothing, correct? Drew and May? May knew the truth the entire time, hence why she never truly acted sad at Ash's 'death'."

That would explain why Clemont saw them making out as if nothing happened… He wasn't too happy with that.

Oak laughed. "I wouldn't think so. Anyway, May, undecided at first but leaning towards disagreeing with me, happened upon… a certain scene. I had to tell her the truth, which is why she and Drew said nothing. I urged May to, so she must have done the same with Drew. That pairing was the second instigators of the 'betrayal'. After that, everyone got involved too, led by their words. That was on purpose."

What scene? Who was the last person?

"May saw Ritchie being attacked. It wasn't me, but them. Hence, Ritchie and Bonnie's injuries. At least they had the decency to keep Bonnie's minor…"

What the hell has been going on in my absence?

"Indeed. The last person in-the-know was Misty, the one who said she wanted Ash to come home. She and Serena were the most difficult to convince, and of course, I could not use the same methods as with Serena. I did think she harboured similar feelings for Ash, but it turned out she has moved past her crush; thus, I couldn't do the same."

So, Gary and Brock were wrong before…

"Oh? They thought the same, did they? It seems we all believe Ash is some sort of unconscious ladies' man," Oak said, chuckling to himself. It was odd to hear a joke in that situation. "Anyhow, the fact that she no longer held such feelings, alongside the attack on Ritchie, made me panic. I couldn't let that happen again, not to kids, so I told her the truth one night. She was the last that needed convincing. As such, the testimony she gave of wanting Ash to stay home was true. She was completely devoted to the idea, hence why she was the first person to start slandering Ash when we put our plan in motion. Again, it was on purpose."

You planned this out way too thoroughly. Why didn't you tell everyone this instead of concocting some stupid plan? Hell, why didn't you tell Ash? Red wrote. He showed it to Oak, then realised why. He pulled his hand back and started writing. They were there weren't—

"Indeed, they were present the whole time," Oak said, eying the page while Red wrote. "How do you think they were so quick to act with Ritchie and to threaten Clemont into submission with Bonnie? Spies were there the whole time, in the background, making sure I was keeping in line. They thought I was doing it to present Ash to them, so when somebody stepped out of line, they acted."

Red paused once again to consider everything. Manipulation, blackmail, threats, violence… How was his son in the centre of such a situation?

That is the truth, isn't it? Red wrote, only to confirm it once more.

"That is the whole truth. I couldn't say this around the lab in case they were watching. I even had to pretend to be furious as I was dragged away by the police to convince them. Your punch did a very good job of that, I must say. But please, do not tell anybody but Delia, and do not revoke the message of Ash's death. If you do, they will try to find him, all to get revenge on the one person who thwarted all of their plans," Oak said. "Well, the second person. They believe you are dead, after all."

Red nodded, but it was fake. He had to tell one other person beside Delia.

Red prepared his pen to write. Tell me everything.

For the next ten minutes, Oak recounted the entire situation in as much detail as he could. Much of it, Red had already heard but he copied it down anyway. A new piece of information was that some of Ash's friends – Brock, Gary, and Dawn mainly – knew when Ash was returning so questioned why Oak wanted them there so early. Due to their scepticism, Oak had had to pitch his plan to them earlier than the others. More new information came when he explained the people in the background, watching, acting in Oak's 'aid'. He explained that they all backed off after the attack, following Oak's fictitious article, leaving a few to linger and watch Oak a bit longer.

Then, finally, he explained the past, the one thing Red desired to know most of all. The more he explained it, the more answers Red gained, the more he could connect everything in his head. Finally, he knew everything.

A knock sounding on the door ended Oak's explanation abruptly, but Red knew enough to finish his notes. He nodded his head once more and scribbled a final message on the notebook. He showed it to Oak before tapping on the door.

Officer Jenny let him out. When the door clanged shut, Jenny tried to ask questions, but he wrote on a blank page that Oak kept to the same story as he had told her. Jenny cursed and allowed him to find Delia at the entrance.

Red didn't return the notebook.

Red finally had the answers he had been searching for, both for himself and his son. He didn't hate Oak for what he had done in the past. He didn't despise him as someone might have done, as much as he did when he punched the man for calling him a disgrace. Red didn't hate Oak, but he was conflicted.

As they were on their way back home, Red showed the notebook to Delia. She read through it by the time they were half-way through Viridian Forest.

"I can't believe it…" Delia muttered.

Red nodded and took back the notebook. He flipped the page and messily started scribbling a makeshift to-do list. He added two essential notes: visit Serena to explain everything and message the other person he had to tell.

"I'll take on the first one," Delia said.

"Are you sure?" Red asked.

"Yes. I feel awful now that I know the truth, and I have also experienced being influenced by Psychic-Type Pokémon. She's probably very confused right now. I think she needs me. In any case, I'll contact her mother somehow. I can't imagine Serena has stayed in Pallet."

"I'll leave it to you, then," Red said. He was glad Delia said that because his job was contacting the other person he had to tell. She wouldn't have been able to do his job because she didn't know who he was planning to message.

As they stepped into Pallet Town, Red wondered how Oak reacted to his final message.

Ash is alive, and I know where he is. I'll make sure he's safe.