''May! Wake up! Are you okay?'' A voice asked desperately, lightly slapping my face.
I pushed it away. ''I just got hit in the head from a revolver and passed out from it. I'm SURE I'm fine.''
''Eheh...sorry.'' The voice sheepishly said, and pulled me back to my feet. I blinked and let my eyes take in the quiet, abandoned forest with a group of policemen around me and...Vik.
I moaned and rubbed the spot where Ash hit me. It was bruised and sore, and a coppery smell filled my lungs.
''You're bleeding!'' Vik exclaimed. ''Medic! Medic!''
An officer hurriedly ran to us with a med pack and Vik snatched it.
''Here, let me help you.'' He said in a soothing tone, applying some ointment on my head. ''You just lie down, okay?''
''I'll do it myself!'' I quickly said, pushing Vik's hand down and extended my hand out. Vik dropped the ointment and I grabbed it.
''So what's the report?'' I asked, wincing at the sharp pain everytime I rubbed my bruise. ''Anyone care to tell me how a mere 16 year old boy managed to bypass not one, but three. Three divisions of officers.''
''How did you know he was 16?!'' Vik suddenly flared. ''Is there anything else you know?'' He peered at me suspiciously, and I felt my heart begin to race.
Jones piped up, which made me feel extremely relieved. ''I've checked the CCTV records, Officer May. They've all been hijacked. Completely wiped clean of their memory. And what's more, Dalton was using the latest security firewall software. Trojan Wall 329, I believe.''
I gaped at him. The Trojan Wall 329 anti hacking software is the most secure software known to date. The fact that Ash, a 16 year old could break it in like...a few minutes...that was just...so amazing!
I shook my head. I'm not falling for that criminal! ...Am I?
''What about the deceased?'' I asked.
Jones sighed. ''There's not bullet. The assassin used custom ammo that had an extremely fragile shell, and it broke down on impact with the victim's skin, releasing the acid stored inside. He aimed it perfectly. Dalton never even made it past a minute; His heart was completely corroded.''
''That means we have no proof he did it, other than a few scared nobles and us?'' I asked.
''When you put it that way...'' Vik nodded solemnly. I wasn't.
''Thank god...'' I sighed, then noticed everyone was looking at me weirdly. ''I mean, thank god no one else was hurt!''
Jones narrowed his eyes. ''Well, I've got to go back to the crime scene, Officer May. I'll need to do a full interview on everyone at the scene. Which includes you,'' He shrugged apologetically, and walked back to the mansion.
I smiled. Jones was a nice guy when you get to know him. He always makes me smile, no matter what.
''Plan of action?'' Vik prodded me gently, and I smacked his hand. ''Owie!''
''Stop poking me!'' I snapped. ''What we gotta do right now, is interrogate everyone at the scene of the crime! Now!'' I yelled, and the officers all scattered.
When I saw everyone was gone, I absent-mindedly rubbed my cheek where Ash kissed me. Did he really...mean it?
Little did I know of someone watching me in the shadows...
. . .
''Mom.'' That's all I said. There was no need for more words, just an empty void in my heart where my mother used to be. All that changed. And that's because of my father. I gently grabbed the rose hanging from my Pikachu's paw and laid it across the grave. ''You deserve this.''
''Ash,'' Professor Oak's cold hands clamped on my shoulder. ''You gotta be more careful. You almost got caught!''
''I wish I did...'' I thought about May, and everything about her. But all that's just a fantasy. There's no way she likes an assassin.
''Ash...'' Professor Oak gave me a troubled look. ''Do you...have a crush on someone in the police department?''
''N-No! What makes you say that!'' I quickly said, my hand already grabbing on to the handle of my revolver. Habit, I guess. I relaxed and looked at Professor Oak calmly. ''I don't.''
''If you say so...'' He sounded unsure.
''Come on! You didn't sound this unsure when I torched the police department!'' I protested.
''Love is a powerful thing, Ash. Often, battles are fought, wars are waged...because of love.'' Professor Oak tapped his head. ''And you need some right now.''
''I don't.'' I turned away from him.
''You do.'' I could feel his smirk taunting my soul. ''I won't judge against having a girlfriend on the other side of the law.''
''She's not my girlfriend!''
''I was never referring to anyone, Ash.'' Professor Oak's smirk grew into a triumphant grin.
...I hate myself.
''Just don't do whatever you're thinking of doing until you're married.'' Professor Oak winked.
That's it. I grabbed my bag and stormed out of the backyard, my Pikachu following closely behind me. ''Wait!'' I could hear his calls, but I just ignored them.
When I reached the road, I turned to Professor Oak dramatically, raising a finger. ''Hear this, old man! I am not, and will never-'' My voice faltered. ''F-Fall in love with an officer! Ever!''
''Keep talking.'' He crossed his arms. ''And maybe someday I'll believe your delusions.''
I glared at him, and ran off. Somewhere, away from this place. I need some time away from questions. I need some time away from him.
. . .
I sighed, staring at the cold, lifeless skeleton lying on the ground. Not even a grave to its name. That's what happens when your wife is killed by policemen who can't do their job properly and forgot all about Delia.
''Delia...I'm sorry. I know whatever I say, you won't listen. And I know that I can never repay you and Ash. But I want you to know-'' I tugged on the rugged cloak around me as the wind picked up. ''I left because of a reason, I became one of them...for a reason.''
A lofty breeze billowed around me, making me hug my cloak tighter. ''Stupid...beggar disguise. They could have made the cloak with wool but no, 'We have to make the disguise look as convincing as possible' blah Blah BLAH.''
I turned my attention to the lifeless corpse in front of me, and I wanted to just walk forward, do something for her for once in my life...but...
What good is life when you can't even bury the ones you love? I grunted and kicked the ground.
Suddenly, a boy ran towards me, his Pikachu following behind. I squinted my eyes; He was so petite and small, I'd have ignored him if we met on the streets.
He stopped in front of me, gasping, and looked at the grave, then at me, then at the grave. ''What are you doing here?'' He asked suspiciously, his Pikachu growling and releasing small charges of electricity.
''Your Pikachu is cute!'' I smiled. ''And I'm just a lonely, wandering traveler. Never had a permanent home, just...went with the wind, I guess.'' I coughed for added effect.
''Uh huh.'' He sounded so convinced. So I pretended to trip and fall, expecting him to help me. Instead, I got a facefull of dirt.
I sputtered, and got back up shakily. ''You didn't help me?!''
''What did you expect?!'' He waved his arms angrily. ''Look how far you are from me!'' He was standing 10 meters away from me, tapping his foot.
''...'' I said nothing as I walked over to him, hunched. ''I'm sorry, I just...I'm really tired.''
His eyes softened, and he helped me sit down. ''Here, uncle, you can have some of this.'' He took out a sandwich and tore it in three pieces, and gave the biggest to me. He took the smallest one, and gave the last piece to his Pikachu.
I chuckled as I munched on the tuna. ''You have some good manners there! Your old man taught you them?''
His gaze hardened. ''He taught me nothing. All he did was give me a broken heart.''
That reminds me...I wonder how well my son is doing? I never even got to know his name...
''So...what's your name?'' I asked, swallowing the last of my sandwich. ''And what's your goal?''
''I'm Ash. And my goal pretty much is to not get arrested,'' He shrugged. ''Cause I did some pretty bad things.''
I killed the leader of Team Rocket, mounted his head on a spear, and patrolled it around the streets of Viridian City. I doubt he was worse than me.
''And yours?''
''Call me Viridian.'' I smiled, and Ash chuckled. ''Seriously?''
''Seriously.''
''Your loss.'' He shrugged, and hugged his knees. ''I did have a dream. But now it seems so far away now.''
''What was it?''
''I once wanted to be the very best Pokemon trainer, and be a Pokemon master. But now, now I just want to keep my head on my neck.'' He sighed.
''Got any starters?'' I sat closer to him.
''I have Pikachu.'' He pointed to the yellow mouse, and I face palmed.
''Ash...that Pikachu's not even caught.'' I groaned from under my hand. ''It can literally escape right now.''
''HUH?!'' He frantically began to search his pockets, for pokeballs, probably. I almost felt sorry from him, and wanted to give him an ultra ball, when the Pikachu just walked up to Ash and hugged his leg.
''Pikachu?'' He said softly. ''You...want to come with me?''
''Pika!'' The Pikachu smiled, and Ash hugged him.
''You have a really close connection with that Pikachu,'' I noted. ''You raised it from young?''
''Yeah, let's go with that.'' Ash said.
''Well, in any case, if you want to be a real Pokemon master, you need to train.'' I stood up, my Pokebelt flashing from beneath the cloak.
''With who? You?!'' He said, amused.
''Yes, me.'' I turned to him. ''What are electric types weak against!''
''H-Huh?''
''Wrong! What is effective against dark types!''
''Light?''
''No! How many legs does Pikachu have!'' I was going to face palm if he doesn't get this right.
''Two?'' He shrugged nervously, and I smothered my face with my hand.
''Ash...'' I pinched my forehead. ''You look at your Pikachu right now, and tell me if it has two legs.''
''I mean four!'' He said, after looking at the Pikachu for...4 minutes. FOUR. MINUTES. I'm going to have a seizure at the end of this...
''You don't even know your Pokemon's anatomy. How can you be a great Pokemon master?'' I sighed.
''I didn't want to be one now. I just want one thing now, kill Renegade, and move on with my life.'' He spat.
Wow, coincidence. He's talking about me! But I'm not interested in being killed right now, so maybe if I distract him...
''I heard that he's taking part in the national Pokemon championship.''
''WHERE?!''
''Not so fast, sport. You'll need to get 9 badges, at least, to qualify in the national Pokemon Championship.'' I sighed. ''At your rate, you're lucky if you can beat a Magikarp.''
Ash's face went so red, he looked like a tomato. Teenagers: Low temperament. ''And you think you're better than me?!''
''I don't think. I know.'' I pulled out a Pokeball from my belt and threw it at him.
It hit his head, and he fell to the ground. ''Ow!''
The ball glowed in mid air, and out popped a-
Done! I'm sorry I was late, been busy trying to draw pencil sketches of Eeveelutions. And a Pikachu. I've changed my profile pic to a Pikachu I hand drew, so hope you can give feedback on it!
Also, I'm not really sure what Pokemon came out of the ball *wink* *wink*. Hope you enjoy, and I'll see you tomorrow! Hopefully.