Sam and Lance walked in to the Pokémon League building in Ever Grande City. Lance nodded to the receptionist as he strode past, Sam following. The reached an elevator and took it higher up into the building.

"Probably not how you planned to spend the first few days of your reign." Lance quipped to Sam who shrugged.

"No, but it needs to be done." He said. "We need to do this."

Lance nodded but didn't say anything else. As the elevator came to a stop they strode out, heading straight for a certain office. When they reached it Lance strode straight in, not bothering to knock.

Steven Stone looked up from behind his desk which was covered in newspapers. "Lance, Sam." He said. "Thank you for coming."

"It is our pleasure." Lance said.

"With Cynthia here as well, we all needed to be here." Sam said. "Particularly with Champion being arrested."

"Indeed." Steven said. "And before we go any further, I need to hear you say answer something. I have had reports of some of the accusations levelled at Champion. Are any of them true?"

"What accusations?" Lance asked sharply.

"It has been alleged that he has kidnapped Sonia Rukan, the woman who made certain claims against him. Is that true?"

Sam shook his head. "As far as I'm aware no." Sam hesitated for a moment before glancing at Lance. "Can I trust you both?"

"Of course." Steven said smoothly. "You will learn quickly now that you have joined us, but honesty is paramount among us. In a world of politics we must be able to rely on each other."

Sam glanced at Lance who nodded. "It is true. We trust each other. And Champion trusted us."

"Wrongly in the case of Cynthia." Sam said.

Steven met Lance's gaze for a moment before answering carefully. "I am unsure what has happened there. This is uncharacteristic from Cynthia. But what were you considering telling us?"

"Before the match between myself and Lance, Sonia kidnapped Ash's mother." Sam said, drawing a sharp intake of breath from the two men in the room with him. "The day after he beat you Steven he went to get her back."

"Did he succeed?" Steven asked sharply.

"I unfortunately don't know." Sam said. "I was preparing for my match and then he was arrested immediately afterwards. I can find out from Mellanie though."

"You need to." Lance said. "We need to know if Champion is protecting her by not doing anything."

"I will." Sam said.

"Not yet though." Steven said, interjecting into the conversation. "There is something I need to show you first."

"Does it have something to do with why your desk is covered in newspapers?" Sam asked. "I've seen Lance's enough to know that isn't usual."

"It does." Steven said. He gestured to the newspapers spread out. "It is a rather large public affairs problem."

Lance and Sam approached the desk and Steven started gesturing at it more closely.

"On this side are the papers that support the police." He said. "It includes two national papers along with the majority of the regional papers in Hoenn. There are fewer regional papers from other regions here."

Steven moved along gesturing at the papers piled in the middle of the table, the smallest of the piles.

"These are the papers that are neutral."

"Which must mean that these are those that are pro-Champion." Lance finished up. "I think I can see the problem."

"They are split." Sam said quietly.

"Indeed." Steven said. "Papers typically take the stance of their readers which is why I had them brought here. Once I realised what the Hoenn papers said I brought in copies from all the regions."

"Hang on." Sam said. "If they represent their readers does this mean that the population is split? Some are pro-Champion some are anti-Champion?"

"Yes." Steven said heavily. "That is exactly what it means."

"This is bad." Sam said.

"Indeed." Steven said. "This means that whoever is Pokémon Master at the end of this, either Champion or Cynthia, will have to deal with a population that doesn't want them."

"This investigation is splitting the regions." Lance said quietly. "You said the Hoenn papers are anti-Champion. What about the other regions?"

"Kanto is more in favour of Champion." Steven said, reciting from memory. "Might have something to do with their new leader who the media think is going to be popular. Similar for Johto, they are firmly behind Champion. Sinnoh is almost exclusively behind Cynthia."

"The regions are splitting into two." Lance said. "Completely dividing us."

"It will get worse." Sam said.

"What do you mean?" Lance asked.

"This is just humans." Sam said. "Champion has stronger links with Pokémon. They could be divided as well."

"Unlikely." Steven said. "If Champion has strong links with them they will likely flock behind him. It is what we have done."

"No." Sam said, dread in his voice. "Some Pokémon attacked Champion's home, kidnapping his mother. Sonia led them. She has the same links that Champion does. They are just as likely to get behind her."

The three regional leaders looked at each other in horror as the realisation dawned on them.

"This is going to leave both worlds divided." Lance said, his voice almost a whisper. "Steven, get the investigating officer down here. This case needs sorting out fast."

Charizard descended through the sky, Mellanie clinging to his neck. He had flown through the night, Mellanie dozing as she clung on but not getting much sleep at all. Charizard craned his neck to look at Mellanie as they continued their descent towards Ever Grande City.

"What?" Mellanie asked before flushing as Charizard looked pityingly at her. "Sorry. He'll be at the police precinct."

Charizard rolled his eyes, his face only just visible by the light of the flame on his tail.

"Which you don't know where it is." Mellanie finished. "And neither do I."

Charizard growled slightly.

"This would be easier if I understood you." Mellanie muttered to herself. "But fine. Bring us down to a Pokémon Centre."

Charizard nodded and tucked his wings, letting himself fall through the sky. They dropped between the clouds, avoiding them as they descended before Charizard flared his wings to slow himself down. He landed gently and Mellanie slid off his back, reaching for her bag.

"I need to grab a couple of hours sleep." She told Charizard who glared down at her. "But I will release Alakazam, Beautifly and Ninetales and let them scout the area. When it is a more reasonable hour, we can try and reach Ash."

Charizard nodded grudgingly as Mellanie pulled his Pokéball out of her bag. Charizard vanished inside before the teenage girl pulled out three more Pokéballs. Opening them, she knelt down next to the Pokémon that had just appeared.

"It is just after 4am." Mellanie said quietly. "I will be leaving the hotel in a few hours. By that time I need to know where the police station is."

Alakazam nodded. He crossed his spoons, vanishing in a flash of light. Mellanie looked around to see that the other two scouts were also gone.

"Good luck." She murmured before turning to the Pokémon Centre. With any luck she would be able to get some sleep in the few hours that remained of the night.

Ash rose from where he had been doing sit-ups before dropping down to a push-up position. He had spent the last half an hour rotating between various exercises to keep himself occupied as he waited. After being left in the interrogation room for so long the previous day he was surprised that the police hadn't attempted a similar approach today. Instead he hadn't seen Jenny all morning, and not a single police officer since they had delivered food to him at 7am, nearly an hour ago. He had eaten quickly and then waited. Without being able to get out of his cell Ash had little way of knowing what was going on in the police station, but he was confident that Jenny was not there. He had guessed that she had been called away for something, it was the only reason he could think of why she hadn't been following up his questioning.

Suddenly Ash froze, mid push-up. Something had probed at the back of his mind, a presence he had been waiting for. Rising from his position on the floor, Ash crossed to his bed and adopted a meditative pose. As his mind relaxed he felt the presence move in more easily.

"Espeon." Ash thought. "It is about time."

"Ash!" Espeon's words were filled with relief. "Where are you?"

"Inside a cell." Ash said. "Where are you?"

"Outside. We are hidden. Mellanie suggested that we not let the police know that we are here."

"Mellanie is here?" Ash asked.

"Yes." Espeon said. "She flew in on Charizard, carrying all of us in Pokéballs."

Ash nodded slowly, before smiling to himself slightly. Espeon couldn't see him, there was no need to be nodding.

"Do you have a plan?" Ash asked.

There was a long silence from Espeon until her voice came again. "No. We were hoping you would."

Ash took a deep breath as he considered. Having his Pokémon on hand would be extremely useful, but forcing them to stay close to him reduced their effectiveness. And if he remained under arrest, nobody would be able to guess that he was still in contact with his Pokémon which mean that they could have free reign. Closing his eyes, he came to a decision.

"I gave you a task before." Ash said. "It has become of greater importance. Find Sonia. Until you do, I will remain under arrest."

Ash could feel the uncertainty down the link with Espeon but she didn't argue. "How would you suggest we find her?"

"However you can." Ash said. "The time for being quiet is gone. You turned the Wilds back to us ad have taken away most of her hiding places. Now run her down."

"Understood." Espeon said. "What about Mellanie?"

"Keep an eye on her. And check in with me regularly. I want updates. I would suggest she stays in Ever Grande City but quietly."

"I'll pass the message on." Espeon said. "Ash…"

"No." Ash said, cutting Espeon off before she could say anything else. "No apologies. I knew that this was a threat the entire time that Sonia was in protective custody. Without something to bring it out, the investigation could have dragged on far longer. It is better this way."

"You knew?" Espeon asked in surprise.

"I suspected." Ash answered. "I didn't know for certain how far Sonia would go to strike at me, but now we do. Whatever she has done to Cynthia and Jenny to make them believe her made up evidence is tricky as well. I believe we will also have to defeat Cleffa to break whatever that is. But if we find one, we will find the other. We have given them few places to hide."

There was a long silence that dragged on for over a minute. Ash did not move a muscle, continuing his meditation to relax his mind to ensure that his connection with his Pokémon was unbroken. Eventually Espeon spoke again.

"We will find her. Mellanie will remain in Ever Grande City to keep an eye on what she can do to help. She will ensure that we have a base to work from."

"Tell her thank you." Ash said. "And to you, good luck."

"I'll reach out to you again soon." Espeon said. "But before I go… What do we do when we find Sonia?"

"Break me out." Ash said. "Do not attempt to take her alone."

"Understood."

Ash opened his eyes as he felt Espeon drift away and leaned back against the bed. All he could do was wait. Sonia had played her final card and he was still standing. And after everything she had done, he would not let her walk away from the fight now.

As the phone rang Sam, Lance and Steven turned to look at the corner of the desk that the phone was on. Each of them were poring over news reports on the desk in Steven's office, although they had had an extra table brought in to give them more space to work. Steven crossed the room and pushed aside the papers that were covering it. He pressed a key and spoke.

"Steven Stone."

"Sir, the head of the Hoenn Police is here to see you."

"Bring her up." Steven said before pressing another button to end the call. He turned to regard his colleagues.

"She has to bring this to court fast." Steven said. "If she isn't ready to do so, we need to get her to drop it. All agree?"

Lance nodded but Sam looked a little uncertain. "Does it have to go to court?" the young man asked.

"She's announced the arrest to the world." Steven said. "Either it goes into court or there is a huge public fall-out. That would make her position hard to maintain. She won't risk her job for Champion."

"Politics." Lance said in disgust. "Champion held himself above it for so long, but politics might be what eventually pull him down."

Sam didn't say anything else, but the look on his face made it clear what he thought of his mentor being pulled down by politics. A moment later there was a knock on the door and Steven took a seat from where he had been tidying papers into more orderly piles. Lance and Sam stood on either side of his desk, creating an intimidating wall of people facing the door.

"Come in." Steven called.

The door swung open and Officer Jenny stepped in, hesitating when she saw the line-up facing her.

"Champion Stone." She said, recovering quickly. "When you requested my attendance at a meeting you didn't say that the leaders of Kanto and Johto would be here as well."

"Is that a problem?" Steven asked as he rose from his chair.

"Not at all." Jenny said moving into the room, approaching the desk and extending her hand to be shaken. Steven took it and gestured to a chair. Jenny took one facing the mountains of paper on his desk with an eyebrow raised at the state of the room.

"I asked you here to discuss an issue that has been raised by your recent actions." Steven started, but Jenny interrupted him.

"As the head of the police force in Hoenn I am constitutionally granted autonomy from yourself." She said, starting to rise from her chair. "A law put through to prevent you from forcing me to allow crimes to go unpunished."

"Please." Steven said, gesturing conciliatorily. "I have no intention of ordering you to drop the case against Champion."

"Ash Ketchum." Jenny said, interrupting again. "His name is Ash Ketchum. And he has broken the law and I will see him punished for it."

"He has done nothing wrong." Sam said quietly from his spot next to Steven. "And if you think he has then something is clouding your judgement."

"I have evidence of wrongdoing." Jenny said, her eyes flashing. "And if you think that he has done nothing wrong then perhaps you should be investigated as well."

"Enough." Lance said, his voice cutting across the room easily. "This argument profits us nothing. Officer Jenny, will you hear Steven out?"

Jenny lowered herself back into her seat slowly. "Very well."

Steven gestured at the piles of papers around the room. "These are here for a reason. I have been researching the public opinion on your move to arrest Champion. The reaction has been… mixed shall we say."

"Public reaction to an arrest is less relevant." Jenny said. "Ultimately the police exists to enforce the law, regardless of public opinion."

"And throwing the four regions into anarchy is maintaining the law?" Steven asked gently.

Jenny froze. "What do you mean?"

"Read up on the news." Steven said. "The four regions are splitting into sides. Hoenn is mostly split, but Kanto and Johto are firmly behind Champion. They do not believe that he could have done the crimes he has been accused of. Sinnoh is the opposite; they are fully supportive of the investigation and Cynthia."

"How does the news…" Jenny started before she realised what they were saying.

"Yes." Steven said. "The newspapers represent their readers. If they don't print the news the way their readers want they quickly lose readers. As a way of gauging public opinion it is a very efficient method."

"So what are you saying you want me to do?" Jenny asked, rubbing at her temples. "Drop the investigation?"

"Yes." Sam said.

"No." Steven said, glancing at the teenager.

"I won't drop it." Jenny warned. "I can't."

"Indeed." Steven said trying to placate the police officer. "Politically it would make your position untenable to drop such a high profile case. However this case cannot be allowed to drag on."

Jenny nodded slowly. "You want me to rush it through. That could cause Champion to get away with it."

"Then it is your job to ensure that you lay out your case sufficiently well." Steven said, his voice taking on a harder turn. "We shall keep the regions together and bring our respective regions in line with whoever is the Pokémon Master at the end but you cannot let this drag on much longer. Is that clear?"

Jenny nodded slowly. "Yes. I will push for an expedited trial."

"Within the next few days." Steven warned. "You will be granted it, but you will need to ask. Otherwise I will be questioning the appointment of a police chief who fails to put the interests and safety of the populace first."

Jenny bowed her head. "I understand."

"In that case, I am sure you have lots of work to be getting on with." Steven said. "Thank you for taking the time to come and see me."

"My pleasure." Jenny said, no hint of anger on her face as she rose and shook Steven's hand, before turning for the door and exiting. As the door shut behind her, Steven exhaled.

"That was harder than it should have been." He said. "I appointed her because she is highly competent, politically savvy and reasonable. She should have accepted the logic behind this, not tried to oppose it."

Lance shrugged as he headed back to a pile of paper. "Just another mystery. I'm beginning to think I'm the only one not hiding something."

Steven laughed as he started typing at the keyboard half-peering out from yet another newspaper. "You should get some secrets or you'll feel left out."

Sam looked at the two of them before something occurred to him.

"Do you need me here?" he asked.

"Technically no." Steven said. "But your assistance is useful. Where are you planning on going?"

"To talk to the one person who might have an idea what Champion is planning to do in response to this." Sam said. "I need to find Mellanie. And I think I know where she is."

When the phone rang Brock knew exactly who it would be. He put the Caterpie that he had been looking at back down in its pen and watched it crawl away for a moment before he turned and crossed the room to the phone set against the wall. He pulled a chair up and pressed the accept call button.

"Misty." Brock said as the face of the red-head appeared. "So you've heard."

"Heard that our friend has been arrested?" Misty snapped. "Yes, I know."

"As do I." Brock said heavily. "What do you think?"

"Ash arrested as Pokémon Master would mean that he did something quite serious." Gary's voice came from off-screen. Misty whirled on her fiancé.

"There is no way Ash did anything serious enough to be arrested like that." Misty hissed. "Ash could barely get out of bed by himself."

"This isn't the same Ash." Gary said, taking the anger of Misty in his stride. "He has led the world for years. He could have done almost anything."

"He is innocent." Brock said without thinking. The silence from the phone was deathly. Misty turned back to face the screen as Brock backed away slowly.

"What did you say?" Misty said, the calm in her voice making Brock cringe.

"I don't think he is guilty." Brock said.

"You sounded more certain than that." Misty hissed. "What do you know?"

"I…" Brock contemplated lying but then he met Misty's gaze and realized that such an action was likely to end badly. "Ash came to see me the night before he was arrested." Brock admitted. "He asked me to remember him as the person he once was. And that he has only ever acted for a good cause."

"Then what?" Gary asked, his face finally appearing on the camera next to Misty who was getting closer to the screen every second.

"I asked him if what he did whatever he was going to be accused of." Brock said, slightly sadly. "He told me that he didn't but it wouldn't matter."

"No kidding." Gary muttered before recoiling as Misty glared at him. "Well it is true." He said, slightly apologetically. "The police wouldn't move without solid evidence."

"But if Brock is right…" Misty said, the energy almost drained from her. "If he's right then Ash is falsely accused. And he'll lose everything."

"He will." Gary admitted. "If he is found guilty he will lose everything. They might take his Pokémon away, ban him from competing…" Gary broke off as Misty looked at him. "What?" he asked.

"Ash's Pokémon." Misty said. "They'll never get them away from him. They are too loyal."

"You don't know that." Gary said.

Misty snorted. "Remember Goldenrod City? They nearly destroyed the building for him. That loyalty cannot be bought or taken away."

"Then they will fight for him." Brock said. "And he will truly lose everything."

There was silence for a long minute before Misty spoke again. "Is there anything we can do to help?" she asked.

"I don't see how." Brock said sadly. "Whatever has come for him, he will face it like he lives his life these days. Alone."

Mellanie pushed open the door to the small house and slipped in, pushing it shut again behind her. She looked around, and moved across the living room into the kitchen. There was a small amount of food inside the fridge, enough to keep her going for at least a few days. Mellanie turned and moved back towards the living room and sat down in a chair thinking. When she had said she would stay in the area and provide Ash's Pokémon a place to work out of, it had been Sceptile who had suggested using Ash's house in Ever Grande City. It had been a perfect suggestion, staying somewhere that most people didn't even know exist.

She reached down to her belt and pulled out a Pokéball, releasing Spoink who bounced around happily.

"Spoink, I need you to arrange the stuff we have here." Mellanie said. Spoink nodded before bouncing away. Mellanie released the rest of the Pokémon on her belt, looking around at them.

"Guys, I need you to defend this area." Mellanie said to them. "Nobody should come here but just in case, you need to make sure that it is properly defended."

Her Pokémon were nodding vigorously, making it clear that they understood her. As they moved around the house, Mellanie sat down once again. There was a flash behind her and she spun in her chair to see Espeon and Alakazam behind her.

"You found the house." Espeon said.

Mellanie nodded. "Ash showed me the place during the Hoenn League. Sam and Dawn know about it but that is it."

"Will Sam come looking for you?"

Mellanie considered the question. "I'm not sure. He is leader of Kanto now. If he does, does Ash want me to ask him anything?"

"I will ask him next time I talk to him." Espeon said. She flicked her tail and glanced at Alakazam.

"Why are you here?" Mellanie asked after a long moment of silence.

"We have narrowed down where Sonia could be." Espeon said. "I wanted to update Ash."

"Can you reach him from here?" Mellanie asked. Espeon nodded as she shut her eyes. A few moments later she opened them again and fixed her gaze upon Mellanie.

"Ash doesn't want Sam to help him." She said slightly sadly. "He says as a public figure Sam cannot risk it."

Mellanie nodded slowly. "I won't tell him then. Is there anything else?"

Espeon blinked before she vanished in a flash of light, Alakazam also disappearing. Mellanie smiled slightly. "I guess not then."

She looked around the room and saw a bookcase in the corner. Crossing the room she chose a book and curled up in an arm chair to read. She had nothing else to do but wait.

Ash was sat back in the interrogation room waiting. Jenny opened the door with a bang, striding in. Ash broke off the conversation with Espeon to meet the police officers eyes.

"I was wondering when you would come." Ash said calmly. Jenny glared at him as she used a foot to pull a chair out and sat down on it. She placed both of her hands on the table and leaned forwards. Unblinkingly she met Ash's gaze, staring into his black eyes.

"Interesting." Jenny said. "Cynthia mentioned something seemed wrong when she interviewed you. Your eyes have changed colour."

Ash raised an eyebrow. "You never even saw my face before I was arrested. How do you know that the eyes have changed colour?"

"Cynthia told me."

"Perhaps she was mistaken?"

Jenny laughed, a hollow sound. "She told me that your eyes used to have one dark and one electric blue. I think that the difference is quite pronounced."

"Well perhaps you could tell me how my eyes have allegedly changed colour?" Ash said.

"I'm sure it is just one of many secrets that you hold." Jenny said. "Like how you were able to defeat a Nidoking and Nidoqueen single-handedly."

"I regularly train with myPokémon." Ash said. "They hit far harder than the two Nido's did."

Jenny slammed her hand onto the table, before wincing slightly at the noise. A hand involuntarily came up to her head before she could stop herself, finishing with her glaring at it in frustration.

"Shall I tell you what I think?" Jenny said, her voice a low hiss. "I think that you are hiding things. The fact that you can defeat powerful Pokémon as a human leaves me with no doubt that you would be able to kidnap or kill Sonia Rukan with or without your Pokémon's assistance."

Ash didn't answer as Jenny's eyes bored into his once again.

"No answer Mr Ketchum? Very well. When this case comes to court, which it will and soon, that will be the line that the prosecution takes. You are too dangerous to be allowed to continue to run the world unchecked."

Ash sighed. "You have forsaken the search for the truth in favour of a persecution of me, and then are surprised when I do not wish to answer your questions. Perhaps you should consider why it is that I am choosing not to do so."

"This is not a persecution of you Mr Ketchum." Jenny said. "It is bringing you to justice for the crimes that you have committed."

Ash leaned forwards. "Does it not concern you how vested in this case you now are? You have made it public, you have pinned everything on this. What would you do, I wonder, if it transpired that I was innocent?"

Jenny blinked. "That won't happen."

"Won't it?" Ash asked, suddenly animated. "How do you know that? To back out now would end your career. You would be lucky to stay on the force and you would be demoted all the way back down to the bottom. It would be the end of any hopes of yours of being a big name, any hope for a successful career. I know that you will never back out, no matter what evidence comes up. You are committed. So don't try to get me to talk by suggesting what could happen if I don't. You won't make any changes. And I am done humouring you."

Ash leaned back again, closing his eyes. Jenny rose from her chair shaking with fury.

"You are done answering questions when I say you are done answering questions."

Ash opened one eye a fraction. "He who gets angry first loses. I'd like to return to my cell as I won't be answering anything else."

Jenny growled in frustration before turning on her heel and storming out, leaving Ash alone in the interrogation room.

Mellanie heard a knock at the door which caused her to look up from her book. She hadn't expected anybody to be able to find her here; nobody knew about the house. There was only one person who she thought it could be. Marking her space in the book she placed it down on a table and got up from her chair. Instinctively, Totodile appeared by her side, ready to fight if needed. Mellanie glanced at her starter and smiled down at him, getting a determined grin in response. As she reached the front door, Totodile braced himself. Mellanie reached out and opened it, pulling it inwards to reveal the grinning face of her oldest friend.

"Sam." Mellanie said.

"I knew you would be here." Sam said, the grin sliding off his face as he stepped past her. "We need to talk."

"Ash has already told me that you shouldn't be helping him." Mellanie warned as she followed Sam into the house. "You cannot risk the damage it could do to your reputation."

"And I'm not here just to help him." Sam said. "There are bigger problems and Ash needs to help us solve them. I'm here because I need to know what he intends to do."

A/N

Firstly, this is late. I apologise to you readers for taking far longer on this chapter than normal (it has been a tricky one, it hasn't flowed as much as some of the others) and I especially apologise to the couple of you who messaged me asking about it and I told you last Friday. Oops. I will try to keep going at one every couple of weeks but I can't guarantee it. What I will say is that it is unlikely that I will be going on any long-term hiatus' this time around. We aren't that far from the end of this one and if I've avoided it thus far I should be able to manage it till the end.

Anyway, people have typically stopped asking so many questions in the reviews (Dunno what to make of that to be honest!) so I will end this here. Until next time.

Iama2p