I didn't attend Archie's trial.

As soon as the water had receded from most of the mainland, I was put in hospital in Rustboro City. They kept me in the psych ward – something about psychological trauma inflicted during my "captivity" on the sub. My psychiatrist was convinced I had Stockholm Syndrome, and recommended that I not be allowed to attend the trial or defend Archie.

I heard the trial's results from a somewhat sympathetic nurse. Archie had been sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole.

I spent my days being "treated" by that hack of a psychiatrist, and sitting on my bed staring at the wall. I wasn't allowed visitors, not even my Pokemon – due to my "fragile mental state" and newfound hero status, they didn't think it would be a good idea for me to be seen by the general public. I also wasn't allowed access to a TV, out of fear that the news coverage of the destruction and the rebuilding efforts would further damage my psyche.

So I stared at the wall as time passed.

After about three months, the psychiatrist finally figured out that I wasn't going to tell him anything more than what I'd told him on the first day about what had happened on the sub and the Aqua base, and allowed my release. I returned to the rebuilt Littleroot Town to a hero's welcome.

I didn't fit in there, could barely walk in the house without remembering the sight of my parents' bloated bodies on the floor, so I left two days later, walking south out of town into the woods that had mostly survived the flooding.

I wandered for two days, not eating or drinking anything, and finally arrived on the edge of a cliff looking off into the sea. I sat on the edge, looking down at the water and contemplating jumping off.

I closed my eyes and let my body sway with the wind for a while, enjoying the spray of the sea. When I opened my eyes, Rayquaza was before me.

Child, what are you thinking?

"I was thinking of jumping." I glanced down at the water far below. "There's nothing for me here anymore. I can't... my parents are gone, and I'll never see Archie again... not much point in hanging around."

What of your Pokemon?

"Someone will take care of them. Brendan, probably."

I see. They snorted. Humans. You're so willing to give up when things don't go your way.

A flicker of anger lit in my stomach. "What does that mean?"

You can see your mate again. There are options open to you. Just because things aren't going the way you want them to doesn't mean all hope should be lost.

"What options? He's in prison! They're sure as hell not going to let me visit him! He's the most hated man on the planet!"

You are correct in saying that you won't be able to visit him. But... Rayquaza came towards me, offering his back. I can help you release him.

My mouth dropped open. "You'd... Why?"

You need him. He needs you. And... I'm rather fond of the two of you. You're the rare kind of humans that admit to their mistakes and fix them.

I stood. I was ready to leap onto Rayquaza's back... but I stopped.

"There has to be some other way to get him out. A legal way. I should... I don't want to spend the rest of my life on the run. I've gotta try this first."

Rayquaza snorted again. As you wish. I will follow you – you've impressed me greatly, and I wish to travel with you.

"I'm honored." I turned back towards the trees, the wind pushing me forward. "Let's go."

I collected my Pokemon and my things from Littleroot in the middle of the night, not stopping to talk to anyone – not even Brendan, who was probably worried sick about me by now.

I felt a little guilty at that – and boy, it was nice to feel things again – but I decided to deal with Brendan later. He'd been smothering over the days I'd been in Littleroot, and getting shot of him kind of felt nice.

When I had all my stuff and looked like the hero I was being lauded as, I climbed onto Rayquaza's back, and we sped off towards Ever Grande. We touched down in front of the Pokemon League building, and I dashed inside.

"I need to see Steven Stone!" I yelled, waking the guards, who'd been dozing at their posts. They started, but upon seeing me, they saluted and let me pass. One pointed down a shadowed corridor to the left.

I ran through the League building offices, Rayquaza flying behind – miraculously, he fit through the admittedly-wide doors – until I reached a suite with a simple gold nameplate bearing Steven's name. I knocked hard on the doors until they opened, revealing Steven, looking like he'd just woken up but no less Champion-like for it.

"May. To what do I owe the -" He stopped and stared at Rayquaza, who was floating lesiurely behind me as though they hadn't a care in the world.

"I want you to let Archie out of prison."

"What?"

"I want Archie to be let out of prison. I want a retrial, something – it's not fair, because I wasn't there to defend him."

"May," Steven began gently, "the psychiatrist said you're suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Aogiri is a dangerous criminal, and -"

"And I wasn't being held captive!"

"You -"

"I was on that sub of my own free will! You saw me, on the mountaintop that day – if I was a captive, do you think he'd have let me out of the sub? No. I was in it with Archie as a partner."

"He sexually assaulted you."

"I started it. I – I wanted it. I love him, Steven. He's not a bad person. He did stupid things – we both did – but he fixed them. We fixed them."

"May -"

"I don't care if you have to throw us out of Hoenn! I just - it's not fair that he was imprisoned for a crime he fixed. That he made reparations for, by saving the world. It's not fair."

Steven studied me for a long time. Finally, he let out a sigh.

"I can arrange for your testimony to be heard. But it's up to my colleagues whether he should be released."

I bowed my head. "Thank you."

Steven stared at me for another long moment, then shook his head. "Don't thank me until I know whether or not to regret this."

And with that fateful statement, he shut his door, and I began the long walk out of the League, Rayquaza following behind.

Steven stared down at me from the judge's bench. "May Maple, you are called to provide your testimony to this court."

The courtroom was empty besides Steven and the four members of the Elite Four. Not even Archie was in attendance.

I stood and walked to the witness stand, glancing out the window, where my Pokemon and Rayquaza were looking in. Jace nodded at me.

I steeled myself and began.

During the telling of my story, I stared at the floor. I didn't have the courage to look at the jury, but I'm sure they were staring at me.

When I was done, the room was silent. Then, one of the jurors stood.

"We need time to deliberate on this."

Steven nodded. "This court will reconvene after however much time the jury feels is necessary to deliberate." He banged his gavel once, then left the stand.

Three days. It took three days for the jury to make a decision.

I was seated again at the witness stand as the jurors gave their decision.

"After hearing the testimony of May Maple, this court has changed its decision. Archibald Aogiri is innocent of the charges of rape and kidnapping. He is guilty of the crime of ecoterrorism."

"Very well," Steven said. "Two of the three charges against Archibald Aogiri are dropped. The remaining charge is still worthy of prison time; ten years, with the possibility of early release due to behaviour."

I wanted to collapse to the floor in relief. I kept hold of my dignity, however, and waited for the jurors to file out before I, too, stood to leave.

Steven came over to me before I left the witness stand. "As it stands, Aogiri isn't allowed visitors, but I think the Champion's backing should allow you in to see him… if you want to."

I looked into his eyes. Seeing that he was serious, I smiled.

"Of course!"

Steven brought me to the prison. I had to restrain myself from running ahead as the guards led me through the halls – if only so that I wouldn't get lost.

Finally, finally, we arrived at Archie's cell. The guards had told me he was in solitary confinement, not because he was breaking any rules, but for his own protection – the other prisoners had tried to attack him in the common areas.

The guard unlocked the door, and I pushed him out of the way and threw it open. It slammed against the wall with a clang I didn't hear.

He was there. Archie was there.

He turned at the noise of the door opening, and on seeing me, he froze. I didn't; I leapt for him, landing securely in his firm arms.

"May."

"Archie!"

I wasn't sure who started the kiss, but neither of us wanted to end it. Finally, we had to break away, gasping for air.

He stared at me, eyes wide, looking like a man dying of thirst happening upon an oasis. I pressed my forehead to his, drinking him in, his presence and being. Finally, I was back with him, and the world ceased crumbling under my feet.

"What... how are you in here?"

"Steven... I asked him for a retrial. He let me, and the jurors dropped some of your charges. You've only got ten years, with the possibility of early release."

He gaped. "How the hell did you persuade him? He hates me!"

I laughed. "So does the rest of the country. The media's gonna have a field day with this shit. But the presence of a Legendary Pokemon can help a lot with that."

"You let out -"

"No! No. Rayquaza said they want to travel with me."

He shook his head helplessly. "You are the most impossible person."

"I try, love. I try."

The guard cleared his throat. "Not that I'm not enjoying this reunion, but it's time to go."

I rolled my eyes and glanced back at Archie. "I'll see you again soon, love. And when you get let out of here, I'll be the first person you see."

Archie grinned. "I'll be lookin' forward to it." He pressed a kiss to my lips. "I love you."

"I love you too."

True to my word, two years later, when Archie was released for good behaviour, I was waiting for him. As he stepped out of the prison, I ran and leapt into his arms again.

The next thing I did was release Rayquaza from their ball, and climb on their back, offering a hand up to Archie, who could only shake his head and laugh as he climbed up.

We sped off into the horizon, and up there, high above the world, everything felt right.