Chapter 18

We Wait And We Wonder

It was now Monday, the day of Blaine's trial. Trials in Kanto and Johto often lasted only one day, as did Lt. Surge and Blaine's trial in Saffron City a few weeks before. They had gotten off with little punishment for their deeds with Team Rocket thanks to a supposed lack of evidence.

Jasmine, Whitney and Gold were all at the trial as witnesses. They all testified against Blaine. It was clear to nearly everyone in the room that Blaine had been the one who dropped the bombs on Mahogany Town. It became even clearer when Sabrina appeared in the room, teleporting there from Saffron City. She told the jury about what she had seen when she was at the scene. Sabrina was very trusted by everyone, as they knew she was psychic. Blaine found himself completely nervous by the end of Sabrina's testimony, as there was clear evidence to convict him on the crimes.

The jury walked out to decide on Blaine's innocence or guilt. It did not take them long at all, as they were back within a half hour. Blaine looked depressed in his seat as the verdict was read: "Guilty."

Sabrina teleported away, seeing Blaine give her a dirty look just before she went back to Saffron City. Jasmine, Whitney and Gold went back to Jasmine's house, where Silver was waiting for them.

"I got a call while you guys were out," Silver said.

"Who was it for?" Gold said.

"You," Silver said. "Apparently someone's looking for you."

"You know what, I don't want to hear it," Gold said. "That Blaine guy was looking for me, and boy, he got what he wanted, didn't he?"

"Okay…" Silver said. "I wrote down the number just in case you want to call her back."

"Her?" Gold said.

"Her?!" Whitney said. "Who's this girl? Is she another one you flirted with? I should have known you were a flirt, Gold!"

"Oh, it gets better," Silver said. "She loves you, Gold."

Whitney turned bright red, furious at Gold. She was about to punch him, but Gold rushed over to the phone, calling the number Silver had written down.

"Silver, I hope this isn't a joke," Jasmine said. "This isn't a good time for jokes, anyway- you know what tomorrow is."

"Don't worry, it's no joke," Silver said.

"Hello?" Gold said.

"Oh, it's so good to hear your voice, Gold," the voice said. "I haven't seen you since last Tuesday."

"Mom!" Gold said. "Is that really you? I thought you were killed in the bombing!"

"No, remember the Sandshrew you caught?" she said. "It dug a hole under your house, and it heard something, getting scared, so it jumped into the hole. I followed it deep underground, and we were safe down there during the bombing. The next day, we walked to a hotel in Goldenrod City. I'm sorry I couldn't call you… it took me so long to find Jasmine's number."

"I'm just so happy you're alive!" Gold said. "I knew that Sandshrew would come in handy."

"I should tell you- when those blasts went off, it grew a bunch of quills on its back and claws on its paws," Gold's mother said. "I think it evolved."

"It became a Sandslash," Gold said. "Do you want us to come meet you?"

"No, stay where you are," Gold's mother said. "I saw a television here at my hotel at Goldenrod City, and it says Silver is on trial tomorrow in Olivine City for murder, and I know that's one of your friends."

"Yes, and we know he didn't do it," Gold said. "We just can't figure out how to prove it."

"You come visit me the day after," Gold's mother said.

"We will," Gold said.

Gold hung up, with Whitney embracing him warmly as he did.

"I'm so happy for you," Whitney said. "And you know I trust you."

"That's such good news," Jasmine said.

"See? I wasn't joking," Silver said. "But it was fun to make Gold and Whitney a little uneasy."

"Thanks, Silver," Gold said. "I'm glad you didn't hang up on her."

"Hey, I had nothing else to do," Silver said.

"We're going to prove your innocence," Gold said.

Silver sighed. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do," he said. "I'll tell you exactly what happened, though."

"Please tell us," Jasmine said.

"I was trying to purchase some items for you, Jasmine," Silver said. "They were out of Antidote, but the guy who got killed had some Antidotes. He wouldn't give up what he had, so I became angry."

Jasmine, Whitney and Gold looked at each other nervously.

"Don't worry, I didn't kill him," Silver said. "After I left the Pokémon Mart, I went over to the Pokémon Center. I must have left my backpack behind, because when I came back, there it was. That's when Officer Jenny accused me of committing the crime, and she found that knife in my backpack. If I had only kept my backpack with me, this may not have happened."

"And he was killed while you were gone," Jasmine said.

"That's right, and I don't know how or why," Silver said. "I was angry with the guy, but what a shame for him to be killed. I can only hope they find whoever did this. I think it was the person working behind the register, to be honest with you. He was the only other person around at the time."

"Blaine proved that you don't need to be visible to cause trouble," Whitney said. "Maybe it was a person who used that device to make them into a ghost that committed this crime."

"If we could only figure out who really used that knife…" Gold said.

That night, the four of them nervously went to bed, with Silver having a very difficult time even trying to fall asleep. He was of course worrying about the trial, which he knew he shouldn't even have to go to. Yet here he was, accused of murder, when he was completely innocent. He could not figure out how to prove his own innocence, however, given that it seemed that the police wanted to convict him.

The next day, a Tuesday, the four trainers went to the trial. Jasmine and Silver walked in somberly, hand in hand. All the people at the trial sat down in their places, and the trial began with Silver taking the stand and giving his defense.

"I was at the Pokémon Mart that day," Silver said. "I purchased some products, but there were none of the one I wanted. The guy known as Super Nerd had the product I wanted, but I did not harm him. Instead, I purchased the products, then went to the Pokémon Center, accidentally leaving my backpack behind. When I came back, the bloody knife was in my backpack, obviously put there by the murderer. I do not know who that was, but I know it was not me."

Silver sat down, watching as police brought forward all sorts of information on what they found. Officer Jenny showed the knife that was found in Silver's backpack.

"This is what was used to kill Super Nerd," Officer Jenny said. "It was found in the backpack belonging to Silver. From what we have been told by the worker at the Pokémon Mart, the only two shoppers at the Pokémon Mart that day were Super Nerd and Silver."

The trial went on for several hours, before a final witness came to testify.

"Oh no!" Silver said, seeing it was Janine.

"That's the murderer, right there!" Janine said. "He's the one who committed this murder! I couldn't mistake it!"

"Excuse me, but how would you know?" Whitney said, standing up.

"I was standing outside the building watching through a window," Janine said. "I saw the horrible crime, then ran away for fear that this horrible killer would come after me."

"I knew there would be a witness who saw it," Officer Jenny said. "This should make it clear that Silver is the murderer."

Maxie smirked in the back of the room. He and the other Rockets were paying Janine to tell this lie, and as they had hoped, Officer Jenny ran with it. While Silver and his friends were stunned, the police officers all started blaming Silver for the crime.

Meanwhile, back in Saffron City, Sabrina started having painful feelings in her mind. Liza saw Sabrina lose focus while levitating, falling to the ground in pain.

"What's the matter, Sabrina?" Liza asked.

"I feel… something…" Sabrina said. "It's the presence of a ghost back in Olivine City."

"Go there now," Liza said.

Sabrina began to focus her mind on the ghostly presence. She ended up teleporting to the courtroom of Olivine City, where the jury was preparing to make a decision on Silver's fate.

"What is this girl doing here?" Officer Jenny asked.

I know you're here, Sabrina said psychically. Her eyes turned bright blue as she focused her mind. No one in the room could figure out what she was doing.

"What's going on?" Silver said. "First that Janine lies, then this?"

"Calm down, Silver," Jasmine said softly.

Silver and Jasmine then looked in horror as they saw a person begin to materialize in front of Sabrina.

"I don't believe it," Silver said.

"Giovanni," Sabrina said, putting a psychic hold on the newly-materialized Team Rocket boss. "This is the man you're looking for. He's the murderer."

"How do you know?" Officer Jenny asked. "You could just be lying."

"Tell the truth," Sabrina said, "or else I'll turn you into a doll."

"It was me," Giovanni said. "I committed the murder."

Everyone in the room looked at each other in astonishment.

"This case is adjourned," the judge said.

"May I question him at your house?" Sabrina asked Jasmine.

"Go ahead," Jasmine said nervously.

The entire room was still in shock as Sabrina psychically lifted Giovanni out of the room with her. Officer Jenny and Janine were furious, while Silver's friends were relieved and thrilled. She took him to Jasmine's house, where she began asking Giovanni all sorts of questions. Giovanni had no choice but to tell the truth, knowing that Sabrina knew if he was lying.

Meanwhile, Silver left the courtroom with his friends, relieved and shocked at the same time. His father was still alive, which was shocking enough, but for his father to be the killer who framed him? He still couldn't believe it. At least one thing was for sure- the truth was out, at long last.