Ash sat in the plain room, staring silently at the wall in front of him. His wrists were chained to the table and had been since he had been left alone, nearly four hours previously. To his left was a mirror that he knew was two-way. There would be a police officer sat on the other side watching him. He suspected it was the Officer Jenny that had arrested him. Ash had initially wondered why she was so aggressive to him but he quickly realised what it most likely was. Somehow Cleffa had gotten to her. The little Pokémon was causing him no end of problems but it didn't mean that he didn't have a counter. Although he had spent a good part of the time inside the room annoyed at himself. Whatever plan Sonia had was clearly longer term than he had realized. Every time they had matched up he had beaten her only to find that she had a counter already prepared for his victory. He did have to admire her for it, even while he tried to think of a way out of his predicament.
He knew that the police must have something on him. The investigation had been going on for some time but he hadn't expected anything to be turned up. He had told Cynthia to go and ensure that the investigation was carried out properly. She had returned at the head of a police force that arrested him. Somewhere there had clearly been a problem. Ash knew that Cleffa and Sonia had the loyalty of a lot of Pokémon but he thought he had taken control of the Pokémon back. Despite that, he was now arrested. It made him wonder what Cleffa was truly capable of. She had clearly somehow managed to find a way to control what move Metronome produced. It turned her into a formidable opponent because while her attacks were not necessarily the strongest, she could use any attack. It was like facing a weaker version of Mew. And while Ash had faced many legendary Pokémon in his time, he had no intention of ever facing off against Mew. The New Species Pokémon was one opponent that Ash did not know the weakness of. He wasn't even sure that Mew had one.
Ash suspected that Cleffa had somehow managed to affect the minds of the police investigating. And with him out of the picture, she would be able to hold onto enough Pokémon to ensure that she still had influence. While Espeon was stronger when it came to Psychic strength, Ash was worried that Cleffa might be able to hold on. And if he was taken to trial with the jury under the same influence, he would be in real trouble. Even if he managed to escape he knew his reputation would be irreparably tarnished. And since he had been left in here, he suspected he knew what would happen today. The police would announce that he was in custody. He would have to clear his name but suspicion would follow him permanently.
The door to his right opened suddenly. Ash didn't react as Officer Jenny strode in, a folder in her hand. She didn't sit down, instead choosing to lean against the wall near where he was staring. Ash continued to stare at the wall, while Jenny watched him. As minutes passed the silence grew until eventually Jenny pushed away from the wall and sat down in front of Ash.
"Mr Ketchum." She said.
Ash tore his gaze away from the wall and looked at her. He inclined his head.
"Officer Jenny."
Jenny reached gestured up to the corner of the room where a camera watched them, its single eye unblinking.
"This is a formal interrogation, meaning that it is being recorded." Jenny said as she put the folder on the desk and opened it, scanning down. "Now, let's start with Miss Rukan."
"Sonia." Ash said.
"Quite." Jenny replied, glancing up. "Where is she?"
"I have absolutely no idea." Ash answered. "Ordinarily I would offer to have my Pokémon track her down for you but under the circumstances I suspect you'd say no."
Jenny met his gaze levelly. "I would."
"Then I am afraid I cannot help you." Ash said.
"Very well. Can you account for your whereabouts two days ago?"
"The day before the match between Lance and Sam?" Ash asked. Jenny nodded. "I was at home throughout the morning and early afternoon. I then travelled to Pewter City where I met Dr Brock Stone at the breeding centre attached to the Pewter City Gym. I carried on to Celadon City where I met Max Maple at a Pokémon Centre. The Nurse Joy is a Pokémon League agent who ensured that the centre was kept empty for me."
"We will check Pewter City and Celadon City." Jenny said. "But I want to focus on the morning. You said you were at home, yet we have no record of where that might be. Care to tell us?"
"I can." Ash said. "But for obvious reasons I hope that you will respect my privacy."
Jenny merely raised an eyebrow and Ash sighed. "Very well. I live on Mystery Island. You cannot access it as my arrest will have caused my Pokémon to seal it to anybody that they do not recognize. As the police officer who arrested me you might get in but you would be unlikely to get out."
"And why is that?"
"Because my Pokémon are very protective." Ash said levelly. "We've been through a lot together and I suspect they would hold my arrest against you."
"Your Pokémon seem to be rather aggressive." Jenny said.
"They are the most powerful Pokémon in the world." Ash said calmly. "You have to expect something a little different from them. You saw their strength six years ago."
"We will discuss your Pokémon in due course." Cynthia said. "And their fight with the legendary Pokémon. But you still haven't given me a way to verify your location on the morning of the kidnapping."
"Mellanie Rigger was there." Ash said. "She lives with me as my tutee."
"As your tutee she has a conflict of interest." Jenny said. "She cannot be your alibi."
Ash tilted his head slightly. "That is not true and you know it. You are required to investigate it as a possible alibi, even if it is not what you would consider a good one."
Jenny shrugged. "Oh we'll look into it. But even if she does say that you were there it doesn't mean that I believe you. I know you did this."
"And how exactly do you know that?" Ash asked. "I had no idea where Sonia was being kept."
"You expect me to believe that?" Jenny asked. She raised a hand to her head and absent-mindedly rubbed at her temple as she spoke. "You just told me that your Pokémon could have found her. And you had an obvious motive, she had revealed your identity along with other secrets."
"You think that is a motive for kidnapping?" Ash said.
"You are the only one with a motive." Jenny snapped. She raised both hands, rubbing furiously as her temples as a headache came on in force. "You had the means. And we have a witness that says that you did it."
"They are lying." Ash said instantly. "I would like to know who they are."
"I can't tell you that."
"Why not? I'm in here, under lock and key. But I will prove my innocence and when I do I am curious to know who is attempting to discredit me. I find it prudent to be aware of threats as soon as possible."
"I am protecting them." Jenny said before groaning as her headache came in increasing strength.
"Are you alright?" Ash asked.
"I'm fine." Jenny growled. "Now, if you excuse me I will go and check your alibis. I'll come back for another discussion when they are confirmed."
Jenny rose and strode out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Ash watched her go, mind racing. His suspicions about Sonia getting to the police had been confirmed by the headache that Jenny clearly had. It was a sign that a Pokémon was interfering with her. Now all Ash had to do was get the information to his own Pokémon. If they could find Cleffa they could break the control that Cleffa had apparently exerted.
"Where are you…" Ash murmured.
Mellanie sat in the car as it rose up to the gates that led to Mystery Island. It had taken her a long time to organize the travel arrangements. Ash had usually handled it but she managed. It did mean that she had been forced to stay in Indigo another night. The car came to a stop in front of the gates and the driver turned to look at Mellanie.
"Are you sure this is where you want me to leave you Miss?" he asked.
Mellanie nodded nervously. "Yes thank you." She opened the door and climbed out. The driver shrugged and turned the car, driving back down the road. As he disappeared around a corner the gates opened slightly, just enough for Mellanie to slip through. As soon as she was, the tall black gates shut behind her with a finality. Mellanie took a deep breath and started striding up the ramp that was just inside. At the top was the bridge that led to Mystery Island. It would take her nearly an hour to hike the distance but she didn't mind. It would give her a chance to think. She had no idea what reception she would receive when she reached Ash's Pokémon. That she had been able to get onto the island was a good sign, but she expected the Pokémon waiting for her to be shaky at best. They would have expected Ash home the night before and when he hadn't arrived it would have worried them.
A growling noise came from the road ahead of Mellanie, causing her to stop in surprise. A car came to a halt next to Mellanie and one of the doors opened. The windows were tinted so she peered in through the open door to find the car empty. It was the car that Ash kept on site for when he had to travel out by road. She climbed in and the car reversed the direction it was coming from, turning swiftly and heading back towards the house. Mellanie's thinking time had been slashed from an hour to mere minutes.
All too soon the car came to a halt outside the house that Mellanie knew so well. The door opened by itself and she summoned up her courage. She climbed out and stepped towards the front door of the house, climbing up the steps. As soon as she touched the handle, the door opened inwards and Mellanie stepped through. She took a deep breath and moved down the hallway, reaching the living room at the back. And she froze in the doorway.
In front of her, Ash's Pokémon waited. Meganium, Espeon and Pikachu were all inside but through the doors that led to the outside waited the rest of them. Every single one was staring at her.
"Where is Ash?" Espeon asked, her voice surprisingly calm. Mellanie gulped.
"I don't know." She said.
There was a hiss from outside. Mellanie's eyes snapped to where Sceptile was stood, twirling a twig in his hands. He met her gaze with a look of fierce disapproval.
"What happened?" Espeon asked.
"Sam won his fight." Mellanie answered. "Ash ran the ceremony where he was crowned leader of Kanto. But in the aftermath Ash was arrested."
There was a roar from outside. Mellanie looked up to see Charizard glaring at her, the flame on his tail racing up into the sky. She looked along the rest of the Pokémon and saw Charizard's expression mirrored on the faces on all of them.
"How was he arrested?" Espeon said, her voice shaking.
"I… what?" Mellanie asked.
Espeon took an involuntary step forwards. "How did he let himself get arrested? Why didn't he fight?"
"Because he wouldn't." Mellanie said. "Ash isn't the kind to fight somebody like that is he?"
Charizard roared again as he lowered his head to glare at her.
"You don't know what he is like." Charizard growled, his anger laced in his voice.
"I don't understand…" Mellanie said, backing away slightly.
Charizard withdrew his head and turned, storming away. Mellanie started shaking as she heard the roar from Ash's powerhouse. Charizard slammed a fist into a tree as he vanished into the treeline. The tree he hit was uprooted cleanly, flying through the air. There was another echoing crash as the tree came to earth somewhere out of sight.
"I'm sorry…" Mellanie started before Meganium stepped forwards. She extended her vines and wrapped them around the shaking teenager. Meganium turned to glare at Espeon.
"Stand down. She doesn't know anything."
"She has to." Espeon retorted. "She was there."
"Look at her!" Meganium hissed. "She is petrified!"
"She needs to help us." Espeon argued. Meganium released Mellanie for a moment and moved towards Espeon, towering over the Sun Pokémon.
"No." Meganium said firmly. "Ash would not want us to do this."
Espeon backed away slightly, before nodding slowly.
"Very well. We need to find him soon though." Espeon said, before turning to Mellanie and speaking directly to her. "I apologise. Ash going has been… difficult."
Mellanie nodded, still shaking as Meganium wrapped her vines around the teenager once more. Espeon turned and stalked out of the room, followed by all of Ashs Pokémon. Mellanie watched them go in silence before she collapsed to the floor, tears running down her face as the shock finally hit home.
Officer Jenny walked into the packed press conference room attached to the Ever Grande City constabulary. She looked around at the reporters assembled and took a deep breath. In her, admittedly limited, years inside the police force she had never seen such a concentration of media. Every seat in front of the podium was taken, and more reporters were lined up along the walls down the side. A further mass of them were assembled at the back of the room. She reached the podium and looked up, a neutral expression on her face.
"Thank you for coming." She started. "This press conference was called to reveal details about a high profile case that has developed in the last twenty-four hours. For some time the Hoenn Police Force has been running an investigation into high level members of the Pokémon League. This investigation has revealed much that I cannot divulge yet for legal reasons. However, I can say that late yesterday afternoon we made an arrest at Indigo Plateau of a senior member of the Pokémon League."
Jenny stopped speaking for a moment before taking another deep breath.
"I can reveal that the person arrested is Ash Ketchum, the Pokémon Master."
There was instant uproar in the room. Reporters were shouting questions at Jenny who waited patiently with a hand raised to ask for silence. After a long minute she raised her voice.
"Please, I will answer what I can if you ask questions one at a time." She called, her voice being picked up by the microphones in front of her and being played over the reporters by speakers. Slowly the room started to become quieter and Jenny pointed to a reporter with an arm raised.
"Yes?" she asked.
"On what charges has the Pokémon Master been arrested?"
""Without going into details of the case I cannot give too much away." Jenny said. "But they are crimes serious enough to cause us to have to act." She pointed to a different reporter.
"Will Mr Ketchum have to step down as Pokémon Master?" the reporter asked.
"We have taken legal advice in this regard." Jenny said. "Should he be proven to be guilty in a court of law, he will be forced to abdicate his role."
"Who becomes Pokémon Master then?" the reporter asked.
"It reverts to Cynthia Shirona." Jenny said. "She will also act as the interim Pokémon Master." Jenny pointed to somebody else.
"There have been rumours that Cynthia had a hand in the investigation that led to the Pokémon Masters arrest." The reporter said. "Is that not a conflict of interest?"
"Miss Shirona is professional enough to put aside such a conflict." Jenny said.
"But you admit there is a conflict?" the reporter pressed. "And if so, is permitting her to remain part of the investigation not negligent behaviour?"
Jenny glared at the reporter. "Using every available resource to complete an investigation efficiently is not negligence." She turned away from the reporter to point to another at the back of the room.
"When can we expect more information to be released regarding his crimes?" the reporter asked.
"Soon." Jenny said. "Given the high profile nature of the case, we will be pushing for an expedited trial." She raised both her hands. "No more questions for now. Thank you very much."
She turned and strode away. As she exited the room Cynthia came up towards her.
"Cynthia." Jenny said as she moved down the corridor, the Sinnoh Leader falling into step beside her. "What can I do for you?"
"I need to go to Indigo." Cynthia said. "As acting Pokémon Master I can keep Steven off you but you need to get on with this. The quicker this can be done the better."
Jenny nodded. "I appreciate the political cover. Now I need to get back to the Mr Ketchum."
"You are interrogating him?" Cynthia asked.
"I'm trying." Jenny said. "He hasn't asked for a lawyer but he is proving difficult to break through to."
"Let me talk to him." Cynthia said.
"You aren't a police officer." Jenny argued. "It is a risk allowing you to interview a suspect."
"Yes, but I know him better than any other person in the world. If anybody can reach him it will be me."
Jenny considered it for a moment before eventually nodding. "Very well."
Ash didn't react when the door to the room opened. He was sat quietly, contemplating the wall once again. As he heard the footsteps he shifted slightly.
"Cynthia." He said. "This is a surprise."
Cynthia took a seat opposite him. "How did you know it was me?"
Ash shrugged. "Lucky guess."
Cynthia leaned back in her chair slightly, regarding the man in front of her. He met her gaze levelly, not speaking. Eventually Cynthia leaned forwards again.
"Ash, why won't you talk to the police?" she asked.
Ash raised his hands until they clinked, the chains that bound him to the table straining to hold him in place. "I am sat here in handcuffs, chained to a table. I would say that is a pretty good reason." He lowered his hands and leaned forwards. "Why are you here?"
"I'm not sure that is relevant." Cynthia said.
Ash leaned back again. "You don't answer my questions and yet you expect me to answer yours."
Cynthia blinked as the headache that was almost permanently with her came on strong once again. "I'm not the one who has been arrested."
"Yes, about that." Ash said quietly. "I sent you to Hoenn to lead this investigation after I gave you information that would have damaged a lot of the evidence that Sonia gave. What happened?"
"You didn't give me any information." Cynthia said. "You sent me to Hoenn to assist in the investigation. That is what I did."
Ash didn't answer for a moment, rocking his chair back so he could get a better look at Cynthia. The chain attaching him to the table was fully extended when he stopped before Ash nodded slowly, rocking forwards again on his chair.
"How is your head Cynthia?" he asked.
"I… what?" Cynthia said in surprise.
"Your head." Ash said. "I assume that you have a headache?"
"I don't need to answer your questions." Cynthia said. "Especially since you refuse to answer mine."
"Very well." Ash said, a slight smile playing at his lips. "What do you want to know?"
"Why did the Pokémon attack the Kanto region?"
Ash took a moment to consider before answering. "In truth, I'm not actually sure."
"You faced them down." Cynthia said. "You seemed to know them."
"Those particular Pokémon, no." Ash said. "I did not know them. But I know how Pokémon work, particularly in the wild. I know their power hierarchies. I asked to see the leader to face him. He then attacked me."
"And you do not know why?" Cynthia asked.
"No." Ash said. "They were extremely angry about something but I don't know what." He leaned forwards. "My turn. How is your headache?"
"Tolerable." Cynthia said.
"So you do have one." Ash said.
"Yes." Cynthia answered. "But it does not interfere with my ability to do my job."
Ash sighed. "If only you knew how wrong you were." He thought for a moment before coming to a decision. "I won't answer any more questions. And Cynthia, consider this a fair warning. I once forgave a huge mistake of yours. I will not do it again. Permitting yourself to be duped is a failure on your part."
"What do you mean, duped?" Cynthia snapped. "I considered the evidence. Something that it would appear that you need to do at some point."
Ash ignored her, lowering his head onto his arms on the table. Cynthia rose from her chair in anger, towering over him.
"You will answer me!" she shouted at him.
Ash raised his head and met Cynthia's eyes, his cold, calm gaze meeting her fury.
"No." he said. "I won't."
"I am the Pokémon Master." Cynthia said.
Ash rose from his chair slightly, the chains attaching his wrists to the table straining. He leaned forwards so his face was close to Cynthia's, who recoiled from him.
"If you think that, you are more deluded than I realised." Ash said, his voice a quiet hiss. "You may take my title through false claims but you will never be the Pokémon Master like I was. And as I warned you, one day you will realise what a mistake you have made."
He sat back down again, looking past Cynthia towards the wall behind her. Cynthia waited a few more moments to compose herself before heading for the door. As soon as she was outside she leant against the wall, her entire body shaking.
Mellanie stood, silently gazing out of the door towards Ash's Pokémon. They were training with a frenzy she wasn't sure she had ever seen. Meganium stood next to her, a vine on her shoulder. Mellanie glanced at the Pokémon next to her who smiled encouragingly.
Mellanie stepped out through the door. As she did so, Espeon stopped training and looked at her. Mellanie stopped a few feet into the garden, Meganium by her side.
"Come together please." She said, the nervousness in her voice obvious. Slowly the Pokémon stopped their training and stood in front of her with the exception of Charizard who refused to move, looking away from her. "I am sorry." Mellanie said. "I'm sorry that Ash was arrested. I'm sorry that I don't have any more information for you. But I want to help get him back."
Espeon stepped forwards slightly. "How?" she asked.
Mellanie took a sigh of relief. "I'm not sure." She said. "But I think I know where he will have been taken. We should start looking for him there."
"Where?"
Mellanie's looked around to see Charizard. He had joined the group, moving surprisingly quietly for such a large Pokémon. His eyes were drilling into her, staring straight through into her soul.
"He was arrested by the Hoenn Police." Mellanie said. "He'll be in the capital there, Ever Grande City. If we go there we will be able to find him to break him out."
"No." Espeon said. "We won't break him out, not without him saying we should."
"Well how do we ask?" Mellanie asked.
"Get my close enough to him." Espeon said. "I can reach him."
Mellanie nodded slowly. "I can get to Hoenn but it will take some time. I'll bring Espeon, although you'll have to travel in a Pokéball otherwise people will ask where she came from. If I book a plane for tomorrow I can be there tomorrow night."
Charizard growled slightly. Mellanie looked at him before glancing for Espeon to translate.
"Too slow." Charizard said. "I can get you there quicker."
"You mean…" Mellanie asked, surprise stopping her finishing the sentence.
"Yes." Charizard said. "I will fly you there."
"And you should not just take Espeon." Sceptile added with Espeon still translating. "We all want to help and you may need us. Take us all."
"You'd all have to travel in Pokéballs." Mellanie said uncertainly. "Is that a problem?"
"No." Snorlax rumbled. "We will travel with you to help Ash."
"What about Delia?" Mellanie asked.
"I will stay." Pikachu said.
"Why?" Mellanie asked in shock. "Don't you want to help Ash?"
"I will be helping Ash." Pikachu said. "He needs his mother protected. And I will be able to do that better than anybody else you can afford to leave behind." Pikachu shrugged. "Besides, I hate Pokéballs"
Mellanie smiled slightly. "Then let us go. Espeon, collect the Pokéballs and get everybody into them. I'll collect some food to bring with us. We will leave as soon as we can."