Chapter 19

Both Sides Of The Story

It was late Tuesday night. Giovanni had been taken off to the Olivine City jail, while Silver was exonerated of any charges. Maxie, Archie and Shelly had their identities discovered while trying to escape the courtroom, and they were taken to jail as well, although Tabitha was let go, as he had not been in jail in the first place. Meanwhile, Sabrina was still at Jasmine's house, as she was trying to explain to Silver and his friends what she had learned from questioning Giovanni.

"Silver, it was Giovanni who committed the murder and framed you, as he admitted," Sabrina said. "He had turned himself into a ghost by using a device known as the Anti-Silph Scope, which had been developed by Team Rocket scientists while they were in charge of Silph Company."

"So that's why the register worker never saw anyone else in the store," Silver said.

"That's right," Sabrina said. "Now, there are some other things he told me, or should I say, I told him."

"You told him?" Silver said.

"I read his mind, and then I asked him if what I found out was true," Sabrina said. "For example, he told me that he first used that Anti-Silph Scope to avoid the blast of that large explosion back in Saffron City."

"I guess that's why he set off that explosion," Silver said.

"Moreover, he would occasionally write things down and give them to Blaine and Lt. Surge, in order to keep Team Rocket's operations going," Sabrina said. "His goal was to revive Team Rocket slowly but surely, while invisible, until it was strong enough that he could reveal his identity again. He didn't realize how powerful psychic power is, however."

"Why did he do this to me?" Silver said. "That's what I can't figure out."

"His goal was to have you spend a long time in jail and become a hardened criminal, before he would break you out," Sabrina said. "By then, he figured you would be willing to join Team Rocket."

"How awful," Jasmine said.

"There is more," Sabrina said. "He sent Blaine to kill your mother, Silver, and he nearly succeeded."

"You mean my mother," Gold said.

Sabrina looked down and remained silent for a moment. The others looked at each other in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Silver said.

"I mean to tell you that you and Gold share the same mother, Silver," Sabrina said. "Your mother and Giovanni were in the process of a divorce while she was pregnant, after she found out he was a member of Team Rocket. She divorced from Giovanni very shortly after having you, and Giovanni paid the courts to give you to him only days after your birth, and he was the one who named you Silver. It was Giovanni who then sent you to a foster home at a young age, so you didn't remember him either."

Silver and Gold sat silently, not knowing what to think.

"When Gold's mother became remarried, Giovanni sent someone to kill his father shortly after she had Gold," Sabrina said. "He's been trying to kill off Gold's family ever since, but Gold's mother escaped to small New Bark Town, while Pryce joined Team Rocket, hoping to keep Giovanni's wrath away from Gold's family."

"I can't believe I'm related to him!" Silver said angrily.

"Oh, come on, you don't have the worst of it," Gold said. "I have to have you as a half-brother."

"Stop arguing!" Whitney said. "You find out you're related, and all you can do is begin to hate each other again?"

"Did my father show any sign of remorse?" Silver asked.

"No," Sabrina said. "I could not feel even a hint of remorse on him, no matter how hard I searched his feelings. He only admitted his crime thanks to my threat to turn him into a doll."

Silver looked upset. He wanted so badly for his father to turn his life around, but it just did not seem to be happening.

"I can't thank you enough," Silver said to Sabrina. "I would have been convicted for a crime I didn't commit if not for you."

"My original intent wasn't actually to free you, but to stop the ghost, as I felt its presence," Sabrina said. "So I deserve no credit."

"Oh, but you do," Jasmine said, grabbing Silver's hand. "I couldn't live with Silver in jail."

Sabrina paused. "He would have been given the death penalty," she said.

Whitney, Gold and Jasmine looked at Sabrina in shock. Silver began offering Sabrina money, which she refused.

"Please, I didn't even mean to help you," Sabrina said. "I really don't deserve it."

"Do you know why Lt. Surge and Officer Jenny fell in love?" Whitney asked.

"Giovanni told me Lt. Surge flirted with Officer Jenny before his and Blaine's trial, and as a result, she stuck up for them and got them out of jail time," Sabrina said. "Lt. Surge then started influencing her decisions, including hating Silver."

"It's too bad he still is getting away with this," Gold said.

"Lt. Surge has no fellow Team Rocket members left- the rest will be in jail," Sabrina said. "He may give up altogether on Team Rocket's plans and continue his relationship with Officer Jenny."

"Thank you so much, again," Jasmine said.

"I must go now," Sabrina said. She teleported back to her home of Saffron City. The other four Johto trainers looked at each other.

"I'm so happy for you, Silver!" Jasmine cried, hugging Silver. Tears ran down her face as she squeezed him tight.

"Everything's all right now," Silver said. "It's all going to be okay."

"We're all glad the truth came out," Whitney said to Silver. "Even Gold."

"Yeah, you're not a bad person to have as a half-brother," Gold said to Silver.

"Same with you," Silver said. "Now come on, let's go to Goldenrod City! I have my mother to meet!"