It was hard to say how many people had witnessed the heinous scene. They could only pray it wasn't many, because anyone who had done so would undoubtedly be in a world of pure terror. And the gang was far from immune to this.
May and Dawn were both sickened by the sight, nearly puking on the floor beneath them, and the others weren't faring any better. They'd seen it all. The bullet exiting the gun's barrel, Rose's body going limp, the delighted faces of the grunts around her now lifeless body. Anyone would get nauseous just thinking about it.
Misty, Serena, Max, and Tracey, who were also feeling nauseous, couldn't take their gaze away from the scene. It's not that they didn't want to, but what they'd just watched had frozen them.
The woman they had grown to know was alive, breathing, and living just like everyone else. But suddenly she was gone in the blink of an eye. The gang was terrified since the border between life and death was narrower than anyone could have imagined.
Ash's screams and demands for his freedom were ignored. To some because they couldn't take their eyes off the scene outside, and to others because they wouldn't let him march to his untimely death.
James and Meowth were able to pull their gaze away from the picture, and after seeing what the sight had done to the others, they were relieved.
The fact that Paul and Brock had not observed what had occurred was the only thing keeping them calm. They weren't, however, naive enough to believe a miracle had occurred.
They both felt their heads begin to race as they continued to pin the squirming Ash to the floor, unwillingly visualizing the lifeless body of their newest friend; the sound of the gunshot was more than enough to create this picture. They quickly shook the vision away. They wouldn't be able to remain calm if they thought about it for too long.
Jenny was doing no better than Paul and Brock. Despite the fact that she was a police officer and had seen dead bodies before, this was a circumstance she had never imagined herself in.
A woman was recently executed in public. Her sole transgression was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But, like the others, she understood she had to remain calm. Not only was she the oldest person around, with the exception of the blue-haired man, but she was also a police officer, and people turned to her in instances like these.
Despite knowing what she had to do, Jenny felt worry and terror creeping in. Jenny's hold on Ash slipped as her body shivered violently. Her breathing grew laborious and heavy not long after.
Jenny's changed mood was observed by Paul and Brock, but they couldn't help her. With Jenny no longer assisting in keeping Ash down, the task demanded all concentration and effort from the two guys.
A single recollection came to the forefront of her consciousness just as her thinking was nearly fully wrapped in fear. The idea that she could sustain any coherent thought was beyond her comprehension, but she knew better not to question it; it wasn't going to last long.
Her late lieutenant's remarks were as clear as day about what to do when control began to slip from her hands. Jenny closed her eyes and managed to control her breath after recalling each each phrase.
She started counting backwards from five in her brain. During this period, she allowed complete and absolute panic and terror to take over her head. The innocent woman was killed on the street, and the terrible people were right outside her house. The police station was entirely destroyed, with no survivors...
Despite the horrible ideas running through her mind, she appeared calm on the surface.
As her count hit one, her eyelids gently opened, any terror she still felt leaving her for the time being. She sighed with relief and thanked the Lord above for remembering the tip that would allow her to do everything she could to save these children's lives. The words had struck a chord...
Only five seconds.
That was how long she allowed herself to feel terrified. Panic, anguish... any emotion would take over her entire being...but just for five seconds.
There would be no more terror, no more panic, simply calm, reasonable thought and action after that. She had been suspicious of this practice when it was initially given to her, but now that she'd tried it, she was more than willing to confess she'd been wrong.
She was completely capable of assessing the issue for the first time. Her gaze returned to the man she'd been restraining only moments before. Team Rocket's most desired man is Ash Ketchum. Rocket grunts had just killed an innocent woman in the middle of the street in order to entice Ash to leave.
Jenny groaned in disgust; despite the fact that she could clearly see what was going on around her, she had no idea what to do next. She couldn't let another innocent person die, but she also couldn't sell Ash out.
Before she could think of anything else, the now-familiar voice of the man with the megaphone sounded out.
"I really didn't want to do that, Ketchum, but you're forcing my hand. I understand this may come as a surprise, so I'll give you some time to reflect. You have five minutes until another person dies." The man ended abruptly.
Jenny exclaimed, "Shit..." She had five minutes to think out a way to save everyone. She began to wonder if it was even possible...
She quickly brushed the doubt from her head and proceeded to devise a strategy. As she moved her gaze around the room, she realized Ash wasn't straining quite as much as she had been. Brock and Paul were no longer holding him down, but they were both keeping a close eye on him.
Her gaze wandered aimlessly around the room. She hoped that someone would have something to say, a suggestion, but the frightened expressions on everyone's faces told her that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Except for the blue-haired guy and the meowth, everyone was clearly traumatized by what they'd just witnessed.
Jenny cursed silently that these children had to see such horrible evil. Her thoughts went into second gear after seeing these people struggle to deal with what they'd just witnessed. She had to save these children, as well as the hostages outside. There was no space for failure, and now that she was fully driven, she believed there was a genuine possibility to save everyone.
Jenny had no idea who had been trapped in the blast of the police station because Viridian City had the largest police force in Kanto. Not only that, but there were a lot of officers in Viridian Forrest and Pallet Town. Following a call from the renowned Professor Oak regarding a Rocket member in Viridian forest, a slew of Officers were dispatched to Pallet to ascertain what exactly had occurred from Oak himself. She had no idea when the others would arrive, and she couldn't wait. Jenny realized she was on her own; any strategy would have to be carried out by her and her alone.
She'd come up with a crappy plan after about a minute of brainstorming. Granted, it was fraught with peril, and if anything went wrong, there was a significant chance that not just her, but the others, would perish. Regardless, that was the only way she could think of to put an end to this. The only problem was that in order for this to succeed, everyone around her would have to help her, placing them all in risk. Normally, a police officer would never ask a citizen to put their life in danger, but this was an exception. Not only that, but these were Ash Ketchum and his friends, not your typical folks.
Jenny sighed and walked up to the window. She looked outside, taking a deep breath to prepare herself. She tried her hardest to ignore the lifeless body of the old woman on the street, but it was tough. She grimaced at the little glimpse she received before proceeding with her mission.
She counted the amount of grunts lining up outside. She could tell there were five in total from what she could see. There were two women, three men, and two pokemon on either side of the group. A Tyranitar stood on the right, and a powerful-looking Rhyperior stood on the left.
Jenny sighed; when had Team Rocket possessed such powerful pokemon? She closed the window curtains and rose to her feet from her crouching posture, having obtained the information she need.
She then took another look around the room, hoping to find someone who was willing to assist. Some people were doing better than others. Though, as she suspected, nobody was doing very well.
The little boy with the glasses was definitely out. He was clearly the youngest of the group, and it was clear that this was his first serious encounter with death. Jenny cursed quietly; this child couldn't be more than 14 years old, and what he'd just witnessed could cause him major problems in the future.
She shook the thought from her mind and scanned the others. The blue-haired man and the meowth appeared to be doing well, as did the two boys who were holding Ash down. Everyone else, though, was a shambles.
Jenny could tell the four girls were still terrified, but they were doing their best to regain their calm. These girls were wonderfully gorgeous, and Jenny had a feeling they'd be able to help someday; that their fearlessness matched their beauty.
Even though Jenny was meeting these folks for the first time, she could tell they were strong and would be able to push any fear they felt down in order to save innocent lives.
She then returned her gaze to Ash. He sat up, his arms resting on his knees, tears silently streaming down his cheeks. Jenny praised the heavens above for calming Ash down, at least to some measure.
Ash was clearly the head of this bunch. She recognized right away that in order for her plan to work, she needed his cooperation before she could expect for anybody else's.
Knowing that time was of the importance and that he was weary of the stillness, Paul rose to his feet and said, "We must take action. We cannot let anyone else perish!"
Dawn, who was completely emotional at this moment, felt her rage flash. Her old animosity with the purple-haired man seemed to have resurfaced.
"And, Paul, what do you recommend we do? Do you wish to send Ash to his death?" Dawn yelled out in terror and anguish. As she said, tears were still falling from her eyes.
Despite his displeasure with the bluenette, Paul maintained his calm "That is not what I meant, and you are aware of this. All I'm saying is that we must act!"
"He's correct; we can't sit back and watch this happen again." James added as he rose to his feet. Jenny's confidence grew as she witnessed the two men fighting to seize control; they would undoubtedly be of assistance.
"What do we do now?" Misty inquired, not sounding optimistic. Everyone's gaze was drawn to Ash after a few moments of stillness.
It was only natural to turn to Ash for advice because he had always guided them out of similar problems in the past. However, watching him with tears streaming down his cheeks made them understand that they would have to rely on someone else, specifically Jenny, this time.
Fortunately for them, she was prepared to take on this leadership role.
"OK, everyone, pay attention, I have a plan." Jenny began, her confidence growing as she noticed the expectant expressions on everyone's faces. She then, as swiftly as she could, explained the group her plan for ensuring that everyone got out of this alive.
"Officers don't have firearms anymore, do they? You don't have it with you?" Tracey interjected, interrupting Jenny's explanation. As much as he and the others despised the concept, a weapon of some kind would undoubtedly be useful.
Jenny responded, pausing to address the question, "Some cops carry firearms while on duty. Some is the essential word here. I've never even fired a gun, let alone carried one. To be honest, I despise them. It appears like the only individuals who have them in this world are criminals and officers who have no idea how to utilize them. Not long ago, Pokemon seemed to be more than enough. All firearms have done is made it unsafe to use pokemon in situations like this."
Jenny did, in fact, despise firearms. All they seemed to do, at the very least, was generate more issues and introduce a new aspect of risk into the world. She hadn't intended to be so lengthy in her explanation, but at least she knew that everyone now understood why her idea was their only alternative. Jenny began outlining the final pieces of her strategy until she realized she'd addressed the question and then some.
Jenny tried to gauge the reactions of those around her as she spoke. Some, like Paul, Brock, and James, were definitely on board, but she had a difficult time reading the others. She simply hoped that if these folks were Ash's buddies, they would be bold when called upon, just like him. Looking at Ash now, he didn't seem to be taking it well. She was just hoping to witness firsthand the kind of bravery the youngster was known for.
She checked her watch quickly and figured that they only had around 3 and a half minutes to make a move. Jenny needed to know whether or not these folks would comply with the strict constraint of time.
Though she wanted and needed them to help, she couldn't force them to put their lives in danger if they weren't willing.
Jenny addressed this matter, sighing heavily "I understand that you might not want to do this. It will be perilous, and I cannot guarantee-"
Jenny was interrupted mid-sentence by the newly recognizable voice of Ash, who had stood from his seating position "Stop, officer. If you think any of us would just sit around and watch an innocent life be taken away, you are incorrect. If I know my pals as well as I believe I do, then we're all in. That woman out there died as a result of my actions. That will not happen to anyone else."
As he spoke, Ash moved to the center of the room, drawing all eyes to him. His eyes remained red, but the tears had stopped. The steely expression on his face provided some hope and reassurance to his friends.
His teammates couldn't help but be concerned that Ash was blaming himself for Rose's death, but this wasn't the time to tackle that issue; that could be dealt with later.
Jenny sighed inside as she realized she had Ash's full support. Despite the fact that she was a cop, she was positive that Ash had dealt with criminal organizations on more times than she had. Not only that, but his enthusiasm to assist seemed to be accompanied by his companions'. Though she was confident they would have assisted even without Ash's assistance, the boy's words appeared to energize everyone even more.
"We're not going to let Team Rocket get away with it!" Serena yelled, leaping to her feet, her expression filled with purpose. Despite the fact that she was still weak from the Beedrill sting and terrified, she was ready to act. She was no longer going to succumb to fear. She, like the others, had a task to complete.
The others around her rose to their feet in response to the blonde's gesture, all with similar emotions on their faces. Max was also awake and eager to assist. Nonetheless, he appeared genuinely frightened by the incident, and it was clear that he was only concealing the dreadful memories for the time being. But even at the tender age of 14, he realized that something had to be done.
"But I do have one question. Why don't we just use our pokemon to get rid of them?" While standing, Misty inquired.
Jenny was silenced before she could respond as Brock continued saying "She had already responded to that. With firearms introduced into the mix, our pokemon's safety is jeopardized. A bullet has the same effect on people and Pokemon. And I know we'd all prioritize our pokemon's safety before our own. I'm sure they'd be willing, but if it's not absolutely necessary, I'd rather not put them in such risk."
Brock examined Officer Jenny rapidly to determine whether his guess about her logic was right. A swift head nod from the young police officer corroborated his words.
"I agree, but we'll need at least two pokemon to take off that Tyranitar and Rhyperior." Paul reminded everyone, hurriedly looking out the window to make sure they were still there.
Pikachu made himself known once more, putting on a bold grin and sparking his cheeks, "Pika!"
Despite the gravity of the situation, Ash and his friends couldn't help but smile at the pokemon's eagerness to assist.
"Pikachu appears to be in. But we definitely need another Pokemon..." As said by Ash.
Meowth almost took a step forward. He was desperate to lend a helping hand. He came to a halt, though, as the thought of not being able to handle such a massive pokemon crossed his mind. He genuinely wanted to assist, but he reasoned that another, more powerful pokemon would be more appropriate in this situation.
When no one moved, Paul took a step forward and silently released his Froslass. He promptly informed his pokemon of the issue. After hearing everything, Froslass confidently bowed her head, ready to assist in any way she could.
"Froslass is of the ice kind. She'll be invaluable against Rhyperior." As Froslass floated to Pikachu's side, Paul stated.
The two pokemon had a great deal of respect for one another due to the numerous battles they had had. Both were confident in the other and trusted that the other would do their part.
"Okay, we know which pokemon we're employing. So, what's next?" May was questioned.
Jenny discovered herself smiling. Knowing she had the support of these people increased her confidence that they would succeed.
"We're off to work..."
"Ketchum, you have one minute left. One minute before another individual is shot in the head." The Rocket grunt spoke in a strangely calm tone. No normal person should be able to say something like that with such little feeling.
Jenny, peering out the window from behind the curtains, saw that they needed to act quickly. She returned her attention to the worried crowd and said, "It's finally time. We must act immediately."
Everyone took several long breaths, their adrenaline making it difficult for them to relax. Ash's heart was pounding extra hard. He was supposed to be the distraction, and identifying himself was the only way to ensure that another innocent person was not killed as soon as the countdown reached zero. This wasn't Jenny's initial idea, but Ash argued that it was the only way, and as much as she despised it, he was correct.
Despite his fear, he was willing to put his life on the line to save these people. He couldn't be sure that the troops wouldn't just shoot him on the spot, but he had to hope that he was worth more to them alive than dead...
...or that Giovanni would want to look after him...
In this time, the others' concern for Ash's safety outweighed his own. Before leaving, Ash refused to say goodbye.
"There's no need because I won't be gone long. This will be over in a flash."
Ash stared downward when he finished speaking, mentally prepared himself for what was about to happen. It was at this point that he noticed Jenny standing in front of him. When Ash met the shorter women's gazes, he noticed Jenny was smiling.
"I can see why everyone admires you; you're just as brave as they claim." Jenny stated with a smile, attempting to alleviate the boy's nerves just a little bit. "Are you ready to do this right now?"
Ash took one last look around the room at his pals, who were all staring at him. Everyone had their own task to complete, but everything rested on his distraction.
The yellow rat's determination shone through his beady black eyes as Ash locked eyes with his pokemon. He had faith in his trainer and thought everything would be fine.
Ash took a big breath and nodded, supported by everyone surrounding him "I'm prepared. Take care, you guys."
Without giving himself a chance to lose his cool, Ash exited the house via the back door.
The most terrible part of the event was watching Ash depart. There was no guarantee that everything would work out and that they would see him again. But everyone understood they didn't have time to worry about their friend; they all had jobs to do, and if any of them failed, the mission at hand would fail as well.
The gang moved to the windows and looked out the windows for any sign of Ash. They had to wait until the grunts were completely distracted before making a move.
Ash paused for a time at the side of the house, still out of the way of the grunts.
"There are only 10 seconds left... I never thought of you as the type of guy who would let innocent people die, Ketchum. I guess I was mistaken." The grunt commander shook his head.
Ash was currently doing his best to cling on to the courage that was swiftly evaporating from his body. The reminder of the time limitation, on the other hand, appeared to shut whatever hole was allowing his fortitude to escape. He marched out from his hiding position and into the middle of the street, taking one last big breath.
He didn't glance up from the ground, but he could feel the Rockets' eyes on him, following every move he made. Ash didn't stop his stride and peek up until around 20 feet separated the two sides.
The grunts' rifles had been trained on the youngster since the moment he made himself known, and that didn't change when he came to a halt.
As he peered into the eyes of his adversaries, Ash felt a wave of terror wash over him. Ash could tell they were looking for an excuse to pull the trigger.
They were prepared to murder him, and they desired to kill him. The terrifying terror was spreading faster now.
When the leader lifted his arm and gestured for his troops to lower their weapons, the terror subsided.
"Don't shoot, he's worth more to us alive than dead," the leader said, his gaze never leaving Ash.
The grunts dropped their rifles and waited for additional commands, reluctantly.
Although Ash felt relieved when he heard the leader mention what he'd hoped for, the nasty sneer on the man's face made him apprehensive.
"So, Mr. Ketchum, I'm happy you've decided to join us. It's a joy to finally meet you. But it's a shame you didn't come out sooner." As he approached Rose's motionless body, he began to grunt. He then poked the woman with the toe of his boot. "That's a big shame."
Ash clenched his teeth and tried to suppress the rage that was swelling within of him. He'd be killed if he snapped. He had to bide his time while remaining as cautious and quiet as possible.
Surprisingly, Ash's confidence began to build as a result of his rage. He was more valuable to them alive, just as he had planned. And, while he was certain that these people sincerely despised him, their major motivation was financial gain. He had some influence over the situation as long as he didn't do anything dumb.
The other members of the group made their way out of the home and stealthily made their move while Ash and the leader engaged in a brief staring contest. Pikachu, Froslass, Meowth, James, Paul, Brock, Tracey, Jenny, May, Dawn, and Misty moved softly from backyard to backyard, attempting to position themselves behind the grunts without being seen.
Almost every member was assigned a grunt that needed to be recorded. The few who didn't have a specific responsibility were there to help out if things went wrong.
They couldn't tell if Ash was still keeping the grunts entertained now that they were out of earshot. All they could do was trust their pal. They continued on, their hearts full of hope.
"Where have your little companions gone?" The leader inquired. Every Rocket agent had heard about Ash's travels by this point, and it was common knowledge that he was traveling with others. The only uncertainty was the number of companions he had.
Ash nodded to the house from which he had come without saying anything. His eyes followed the sounds and he observed two persons peeking through the window. The only two people seen were a girl with honey blonde hair and a boy with glasses.
The grunts accepted the scenario after deducing that the rest of his pals, if there were any others, just didn't want to witness their friend surrender himself up.
"Don't even think of grabbing a pokemon since we won't hesitate to take you out." Fredrick, the largest grunt, threatened.
Ash didn't even flinch, despite his dark tone "I didn't bring my pokemon because I'm here to stop this, not to battle you. I can't let innocent people suffer as a result of my actions. That is why I am surrendering myself to you."
Ash kept his head down, not letting the grunts peer into his eyes.
As Ash stated these words, the evil man's smirk turned into a twisted smile. Hearing the boy's scorn and anguish in his voice gave him a terrible kind of joy.
"That's a wise decision, Ash. We won't injure anyone else if you come with us." The trainer was reassured by the man. "So why don't you come over here and-"
"I knew her, you know," Ash said, still with his head down and his hat covering his eyes. The woman you murdered. She was extremely helpful when I needed it the most."
As he talked, Ash's attention drifted to the deceased woman. The sight of a pool of blood forming beneath her motionless corpse should have made him nauseous, but it just made him angrier...
more tenacious
His gaze was drawn to the other hostages. They still wore sacks on their heads, but he could tell by their clothing that two of them were cops, which was both stunning and expected.
The grunts all cocked their heads in perplexity at Ash's comments; why was he telling them this? They didn't seem to care.
To entertain the youngster, the commander said, "Well, I'm sincerely sorry, but you didn't offer us much of a choice." We had no notion you knew this woman, if that makes you feel any better. She was simply a victim of her circumstances."
"Circumstance, huh?" mocked Ash. It's odd you say that... because you were the one who created these circumstances in the first place." Ash's head shot up, revealing his muscular face to the grunts. "That woman had never done anything wrong in her life, and yet here she is, dead on the street," he continued, keeping his voice steady and calm. "I just don't get it..."
The grunts were perplexed as to what the youngster was saying and why he was saying it.
"I don't know what you're blabbing about, but if you don't mind, I'd like to take you back to HQ and earn my prize," the commander said again, growing irritated. Put your hands on your head and come over here."
Ash put his hands behind his head, giving himself one more glance at Rose. He then began advancing slowly toward the members of Team Rocket, his face just low enough that the brim of his hat formed a shadow over his eyes and mouth.
His low eyes flashed passed the grunts, where his friends were currently stationed, finally in position as he walked haltingly forward. He thanked the gods that all eyes, including the pokemon's, were on him at that precise moment. There was just one thing he could do...
Ash came to a halt with about five feet to go.
The leader's brow furrowed in irritation and displeasure. All he wanted was to get this idiot child to his boss and reap the benefits of his capture. But this youngster was really putting his patience to the test, and he wasn't above killing him and accepting a lower prize.
"Come on, kid, I don't want to be here any longer than I have to!" The leader spoke fiercely, allowing his anger and dissatisfaction to come through his tone for the first time.
However, Ash did not take another step. Instead, he slowly raised his head, exposing the smirk he'd been sporting since seeing his friends take their places.
The grunts were attacked before they could even consider what that grin could mean.
So far, everything had gone just as planned. The group made their move as soon as they saw the trainer raise his head. They all moved in unison, arriving at their opponents' spots simultaneously.
Pikachu flew in with an Iron Tail, striking the Tyranitar at the back of the head, severely injuring it. Pikachu was certain that after this initial attack, he wouldn't need many more to totally knock down the Tyranitar. Meanwhile, Froslass unleashed her most powerful ice beam attack, nearly killing the Rhyperior with a single strike. This was going to be a lot easier than the two pokemon had anticipated...
Jenny and Misty had wrapped their arms around the two female grunts' necks, shutting off all blood and oxygen flow to their brains. The two eventually collapsed on the ground, unconscious.
Paul and James pursued the two other male grunts, with Paul taking care of the larger of the two. James had little issue knocking his adversary out, while Paul battled a little. He had the grip firmly in place, but not tightly. The man was tall, at least 6' 7", making it difficult for Paul to obtain a firm grip on the man's massive neck.
But Paul was not only powerful, but also intelligent. He quickly formulated a strategy. Paul left his feet and pounced onto the man's back, tightening his grip around the man's neck. During the scuffle, the enormous man ended up discharging his gun indiscriminately into the air, causing Paul's ears to ring. He did not, however, falter, and the man soon dropped to his knees and then onto his face, fully unconscious.
While this was going on, Brock had his arms around the leader's neck. The leader was an exceptionally thin man who no one thought would be difficult to knock out with a sneak attack. The only difficulty was that, despite he didn't appear to be powerful, he was...
...more powerful than Brock.
The man hurled Brock over his shoulders in one seamless motion, causing him to crash brutally on the unforgiving ground. Brock had just finished grunting in pain when the leader drew his rifle on him. Brock's expression darkened as he peered down the barrel.
He couldn't close his eyes and waited for death to take him.
…
…
…
Fortunately, it never did.
It barely took a fraction of a second for the gun to strike the ground, followed by the leader's faltering footsteps. Brock praised his fortunate stars that May had completed her task successfully.
May raced in as soon as she saw the danger, immobilizing the leader's arm and caused the weapon to fall to the ground. She immediately wasted no time in delivering an incredibly powerful open-handed punch to the man's jaw, causing him to stagger; it appeared that all of those times punching her brother had finally paid off.
Just a second behind May, Ash was on the leader. He stood there, awed by May's ability to disable this man. Despite his satisfaction with May's handling of the man, a spark of resentment and rage burned within him. Even though he knew it was wicked and twisted, he wanted to be the one inflicting the suffering. He wanted this man to suffer for killing Rose with his own hands.
With vengeance on his mind, he finally acted, his moves signaling to May that he would take control from here. The male was dazed by the girl's surprisingly forceful strike, leaving him unable to fight back.
Within seconds, Ash had one arm around the leader's neck and the other behind his head, tightening the grip. He used every ounce of strength he had to apply pressure exactly where Jenny had told him to. It didn't take long for him to notice the leader's body becoming limp in his grasp.
Regardless, something inside Ash shouted that this wasn't enough, that this man deserved worse than being choked senseless.
...
As a result, he refused to let go.
Ash tightened his grip even further, the sheer fury pouring inside him dominating his body. The sole evidence that the leader was still alive were sounds of unconscious gurgling.
Despite being aware of what was going on, no one moved. They just stood there and watched as Ash slowly choked the man to death. Their minds kept returning to when he'd attacked James...to how he'd lost control.
Jenny hurried over to the trainer and, with considerable difficulty, wrenched his arms off the man's neck, forcing him to collapse to the ground. It was unclear if he was simply unconscious or had died.
This move appeared to jolt the others out of their slumber. Brock quickly rose from the ground and dashed to the side of the man who had a pistol on him only seconds earlier. He looked for a pulse right away, and a small part of him couldn't help but feel sad when he found one. But he was glad as well, but for a completely different reason...
He hadn't been murdered by Ash.
Ash, in particular, had not killed anyone.
The act of taking another person's life would almost certainly result in unforeseen consequences and feelings from everyone in the group, and Brock didn't want to cope with that on top of everything else. The longer they could avoid having to take a life, the better for everyone.
Jenny was surprised when Ash stopped struggling once she had his arms free of the leader's neck. Despite the fact that he wasn't struggling to finish what he'd started, Jenny held on to the youngster for a few more moments just to make sure.
Jenny let out an audible sigh as she knew the worst was gone. Her thoughts was still racing, with Ash's actions being the core cause.
Ash would have perished if he had kept the grunt any longer. Not that Jenny would have minded wiping the jerk from existence; she simply didn't want Ash to have to deal with the psychological pain that came with taking another person's life, as Brock had speculated.
She could, however, comprehend his behavior to some extent. These people were part of a group that had kidnapped his mother and was out to kill him. Jenny wasn't sure whether she'd acted any differently if she'd been in Ash's shoes.
As Jenny half-dragged the trainer away from the leader, Ash's resolve to kill the man faded. He broke free of Jenny's clutches and collapsed to his knees, panting profusely.
As he got his breath, he turned to face the unconscious man in front of him. He could feel his wrath rising again, but he was able to keep it under control.
This man was a member of Team Rocket, the same individuals who had kidnapped his mother and were now trying to kill him. This individual had no regard for human life. Instead, he was captivated by greed, allowing his behavior to be dictated by the potential of success and money.
This man had attempted to murder Brock.
Rose had been murdered by this man...
The wicked yearning returned as that final thought raced through his thoughts. He was, however, in command enough not to try to kill the man again. Instead, he spit in his face silently. He wouldn't notice because the man was unconscious, but it sure made Ash feel better.
Finally, Ash allowed himself to take his sight away from the man and glance around him. He'd been on the ground for a lot longer than he anticipated, for May, Dawn, and Misty had already managed to free the captives.
They were clearly rattled up by the experience, yet relief was visible on their faces, most likely from the understanding that they were safe.
Three captives were typical people, two male and one female, while the other two appeared to be on-duty police officers, as Ash suspected.
It was evident that being held captive had traumatized all of them, including the cops. It was difficult to fathom sitting in the dark, tied up, and not knowing how long they would live. That's why when Dawn, Misty, or May burst into tears, they were met with nothing but pity.
The three girls were delighted to provide a helping hand to the survivors. They had played no part in this, yet they had been dragged along regardless. It seems to be a recurring motif.
As he watched the former prisoners find safety, Ash felt some of his rage fade. The fact that the two officers were still alive made him extra delighted. With the police station demolished and so many people most likely murdered in the blast, he realized the Jenny family was in for a difficult time. So seeing two more officers alive was a good sight.
Ash regained his footing after calming down, figuring it would be best if he offered his assistance where it was needed. The grunts still needed to be addressed, and the sooner the better because they wouldn't stay unconscious for long.
At this moment, Serena and Max had made their way out to the gathering. Serena was holding what appeared to be a package of zip ties, Ash noticed. She appeared to be thinking the same thing he was.
With only three officers there, and most likely only two wearing handcuffs, they would need to detain the grunts until they could notify another police station in another city to come pick them up.
Jenny and her two relatives, who had recovered since their release, grabbed Serena's ties and proceeded to entrap both the wrists and feet of each Rocket member.
Ash stood there idly watching the officers go about their business. He was only jolted out of his trance by the touch of a hand on his shoulder. Ash startled slightly before turning around; he was still a little jittery because the adrenaline high he was riding had not yet worn off.
When he saw Brock's familiar face in front of him, he relaxed.
"Many thanks for assisting me back there." Brock stated sincerity.
Ash smiled and shook his head "Thank you, May. She was the one who did all of the heavy lifting."
"Trust me, I was delighted to do it." May announced herself as she approached the couple. Serena appeared to have taken her place in assisting the former hostages for the time being. It made sense because there was still a lot to be done.
Brock smiled at the girl and said, "Regardless, I'll thank you anyway. May, you truly saved my life back then."
May returned the smile, relieved that she could now offer more than just moral support.
"Seriously, May, you saved him back there. You were incredible. But I must ask, where did you learn to do that?" Ash inquired. May's method of disarming the man appeared deliberate, as if she knew exactly what she was doing.
May responded, ignoring the heat that rose to her face as a result of the flattery, "In Johto, I took a few self-defense classes. I had my pokemon with me, but going alone made me understand that I should be prepared to protect myself if the need arose. In retrospect, that was the best money I've ever spent."
Despite what had just happened, the foursome managed a tiny laugh. It was as if a small bubble of serenity had encircled the three, giving them a brief moment to relax. This had been a scary day for everyone, and they were relieved that the worst was over.
Pikachu made his presence known by rubbing up against his trainer's leg. Nothing seemed incorrect at the time. Everything was in order.
"You'll have to teach me something someday. I believe that understanding how to defend myself will be quite useful." Ash gave the brunette a sly grin.
May returned the smirk with a teasing response, "I'm not sure, Ash. I doubt I can teach you anything. You've proven to be a natural with all you've done."
May's remark made Ash's grin vanish. And so did May's and Brock's; even Pikachu's much-appreciated happiness vanished. What was supposed to be a casual remark had unwittingly reminded them of everything that had previously occurred. What they had already been forced to do. What they had already saw...
The bubble of tranquillity burst as fast as it created, jolting the group back to reality.
May spoke up, feeling bad for triggering the mood shift "I'm sorry, Ash. I didn't intend-"
With a faint, sorrowful smile, Ash came to a halt in front of the brunette "It's all right, May. There is nothing to apologize for."
May could tell Ash was earnest despite the hollowness of his smile. He didn't hold anything against her; they had to return to reality at some point. And the truth was that he had shown to be pretty brutal in combat, which he was not particularly proud of.
May moved away, gratefully smiling, in search of something she could assist with. This time it was just Ash, Brock, and Pikachu.
Because none of the two guys knew what to say or do next, their gazes began to wander. Ash's gaze was drawn to Rose's lifeless body almost immediately. Ash groaned and nearly wailed at the sight, his adrenaline no longer holding him together. Brock did the same after following his gaze.
To say the least, it was a distressing sight. The pool of blood beneath her began to deepen, and her limp body sent chills up and down the spines of those who happened to look her way.
Ash knew they had to do something, but he was hoping that one of the officers would have taken care of it. However, the few who were present appeared to be preoccupied with the former hostages and grunts.
"We must take action. We can't abandon her like this." Brock stated, as if he could read Ash's mind.
Ash didn't respond verbally, but he did nod in agreement.
"I'm going back into the house to get a sheet. I don't want any more people to witness this." Brock added, sprinting away before Ash could answer. Pikachu followed Brock, understanding Ash's need to be alone at the time.
Ash ignored what Brock said, his gaze never leaving the woman who had given them so much assistance when they needed it the most. Ash's feet began to move toward the body unconsciously. He didn't even bother trying to avoid stepping in the blood that surrounding her; he merely approached, eventually halting inches from her.
He just stood there staring for a long. Ash had an overpowering need to see her face after only a few seconds. The face that gave him hope when everything was piling up on him and things were looking dark.
Ash picked up the body and spun her over in his arms, cradling her bridal style, while being at least semi-conscious of the blood. He simply walked a few steps to get out of the red pool before placing her face-up on the ground. He finally got a good look at her face at that point.
More than anything, it was odd. She would have appeared to be sleeping if it hadn't been for the little wound on her temple and the reddening of her typically ghostly white hair. Ash wasn't sure if this made him feel better or worse.
What struck Ash the most was how calm she appeared, despite the fear she must have been feeling right before her demise. Even serene. She had clearly come to terms with her death before it occurred.
Rose's comments echoed out in Ash's head with that in mind.
"...I've lived a full life, and I'm alone! I'll be able to see my family once more! Please stay inside! You must live! Reclaim what has been taken from you!"
Ash could hear her words so clearly in his head that it made him shudder. He remembered her expression, how the only thing that made her appear uneasy were the tears silently flowing down her cheeks.
Ash tried to find solace in the fact that she was back with her family and happy. But he couldn't seem to accomplish it. Rose had only known him for a day, yet she refused to let him come out of hiding, even if it meant dying herself. She was similar to him in many ways, always generous and prepared to put the life of another ahead of her own.
Ash's mind, being the confused mess that it was, strayed to how he could have avoided this. But the only thing he could think of that may have spared her life was not coming to Viridian at all, which was never going to happen.
Despite this, Ash felt a wave of remorse wash over him. Whatever transpired or who did what, it all came down to Ash and Team Rocket's ultimate aim of capturing and killing him. In Ash's opinion, Rose's death was his responsibility, and any future deaths would be his fault as well.
Ash felt his lip tremble and a tear slip from his eye as his mind raced forward.
"I'm really sorry... I'm really sorry." As anguish seized him, Ash whispered quietly, his voice breaking. He knelt and drew the woman's body close, hanging on as if she'd slip away at any moment, as if she hadn't already... He sobbed while holding the woman, initially quietly but gradually becoming louder.
His volume didn't matter because he had the attention of almost everyone around him. The cops had totally taken control of the situation, even locating the jamming device that had been blocking their communications on one of the grunts, allowing them to contact for backup from the Pewter City department, who were currently flying over the vast Viridian Forest.
With everything taken care of, the group of pals could only stand about and wait for the seriousness of the situation to set in. They observed Ash's final encounter with Rose with heavy hearts.
Serena, like the others, want to get to Ash and assist him. She could only stop crying when she felt hot tears on her cheeks. With this realization, she realized she was in no position to assist Ash; she was just as distressed as he was, despite not knowing the woman nearly as well.
Serena allowed her own melancholy to take hold as she reluctantly accepted that she would be of little use to the raven-haired trainer. However, she managed a short glimpse at her friends before doing so. That brief peak was all she needed to know that they all felt the same way she did; they wanted to assist but couldn't.
Even Paul, who was not known for displaying emotion, was clearly moved. Nobody was fooled by his lack of tears; his eyes revealed what everyone suspected; he was just as hurt as the next person.
Brock, like the others, had long before fetched a sheet from inside the house, but had come to a standstill as he watched the tableau in front of him. Pikachu was the only one who approached his trainer, halting only when he was by his trainer's side, where he belonged. Pikachu felt better knowing he was there, even though Ash didn't appear to see him.
Pikachu had been feeling the feelings rising up inside him, the deep tie between trainer and pokemon becoming clear. It wasn't long before the electronic rodent, like his trainer, was overtaken with grief over the death of this woman.
No one had noticed, but the erstwhile captives had been relocated, most likely to a hospital, with the two unfamiliar Jennys plainly to blame. They'd overcome their emotions and completed their mission, removing these innocent folks from the scene.
Jenny, the recently acquainted authority figure, was the only one left, and she would remain so until the others from Pewter arrived. Fortunately, she didn't have anything to be concerned about. The groans were firmly confined, their mouths muffled to prevent them from making too much noise.
Surprisingly, none of them appeared to be resisting their constraints. Instead, they all sat awkwardly, looking depressed. None of them were paying attention to the scenario between Ash and his companions. Instead, they sat facing the other way, staring absentmindedly at the ground. Most people would find this unusual, but Jenny understood. And if any of the others were aware of the Rockets, they would have done the same.
They'd failed, and they were well aware of it.
They'd tried to cash in by capturing Team Rocket's number one foe, Ash Ketchum, but had fallen short. In the end, they realized that fighting any longer was futile. All they had in store for them in the future was a prison cell. They weren't naive enough to believe Giovanni would hesitate to help them; they simply weren't important enough to Team Rocket as a whole.
Jenny, like the others, had nothing to do but wait. It wasn't long until her gaze was drawn to the individuals who'd assisted her in capturing the Rockets, only to be stopped by the famous 18-year-old lad cradling the deceased woman in his arms.
Jenny knew the group had to have known the woman since they wouldn't have reacted so violently if they hadn't, but she didn't know to what extent. But that didn't matter, at least not right now. These people, these children, had to go through and witness awful things, things Jenny never imagined she would have to go through in her work.
Jenny scolded herself mentally for not acting sooner, for not taking the body out of sight until competent help arrived. Maybe, just maybe, she could have avoided at least some of the suffering. Considering the group, that seemed unlikely. It might have been too late to keep these kids from seeing the body as it was now, but Jenny understood the remains had to be cared for. Jenny called the Viridian City Pokemon Center and Hospital quietly from her home.
Jenny's gaze returned to Ash once she had exhausted all possibilities. Others had joined him in his loud cries, adding to the pain in the air.
It took some time for the sobbing to stop, but the sounds soon became softer and quieter. Despite this, Ash had not released Rose's body. He cradled the elderly woman in his arms, almost frightened to let go.
It wasn't long until two hospital staff, one guy and one woman, arrived in an ambulance at the scene. The two EMTs understood they had to step carefully after noticing the gloomy tone of those around them. The person whose body they'd been summoned to recover was obviously important to these people.
They were also briefed on what to expect at the site. Before the EMTs/coroners were dispatched, the former hostages were warned by their superiors that the scene they would soon arrive at was a murder, a discovery confirmed by two present cops who had evidently been captives themselves.
The ear-splitting roar of the earlier explosion echoed throughout Viridian, paralyzing the hospital personnel and everyone else in the city. The only thing that made the EMTs and coroners feel safe enough to leave the hospital was confirmation that the event had ended and that they were no longer in danger. As a result, the majority of employees were dispatched to the site of the explosion to await police, while two were dispatched to the scene of the murder.
After speaking with Jenny and confirming the information supplied to them before leaving the hospital, the two workers approached the raven-haired man, who was holding the item they had come to acquire. Ash didn't notice the two hospital personnel directly behind him since his gaze was fixed on the woman.
The Pikachu by the boy's side, on the other hand, acknowledged their existence. They were concerned at first that the little pokemon would grow defensive about who they supposed to be his master and the person in his arms. However, there was no malice or scorn in the pokemon's small, black eyes. All that was visible was sadness and concern.
Pikachu realized these two were not here to harm him, so he let them do their thing while returning his gaze to his master.
The sad scene found its way into their hearts, effectively breaking them, despite the fact that they were not in danger from the small but powerful pokemon. They'd always been trained to keep their emotions in check while on the job, to dehumanize the victim in order to make things easier, but the small pokemon's concern for his trainer was nearly too much to take.
"Sir, we're here to take care of the-" the woman said, sighing sadly and sympathetically at the emotive sight.
The woman froze mid-sentence after finally seeing the face of the body they had come to fetch. Her partner's face lit up with recognition as well, as he got sight of her. They hadn't met in a long time, but they both knew the woman as a coworker at the hospital.
Despite the fact that they had only had little interaction, seeing someone they theoretically knew seemed to strike a chord with the EMTs. Neither could recall her name, but they knew she was well-liked by her coworkers and patients at the hospital.
The two workmen exchanged a short glance, the shock still visible on their features. They were aware, however, that they had a task ahead of them. Their colleagues, the other EMTs, were already at the Police Department, witnessing unimaginable carnage. With this in mind, the hospital personnel were motivated to complete their tasks.
"Sir, we're come to take the... remains," the woman said softly, regaining her composure. The woman cursed privately her inability to find a better word.
When she saw no reaction from the man to her comments, she reached out a hand and placed it on his shoulder. Even yet, the boy had either not yet noticed her or had chosen to ignore her.
When the man noticed his partner struggling, he reached out in an attempt to get the boy's attention. However, he was stopped by his partner's hand.
The woman realized that this boy had to be in a bad place right now, and she couldn't help but think that a woman's voice, a maternal attitude, would be better equipped to handle the problem.
When she noticed her companion had backed off, she knelt near the boy. The woman recognized him as Ash Ketchum, the World Coronation Series victor just days ago, now that she'd seen his face. Even if she was taken aback by the revelation, she kept it to herself.
"Ash... Mr. Ketchum...
We're here to assist you. We'll make sure this woman gets to where she needs to go." The lady stated quietly.
Ash remained silent at first. But, just as the woman was about to speak again, the trainer slowly moved his attention toward her, eventually taking his focus away from the deceased woman.
"We're going to take her to the Center and then we'll figure out what to do next, okay?" the woman said, ignoring the anguish in her heart she felt when she saw the emptiness in the boy's eyes.
Ash, who was finally thinking logically again after being distracted by intense melancholy, returned his gaze to Rose before gently nodding.
Ash was left to his thoughts once more as the woman nodded appreciatively and motioned for her mate to get a gurney of some type to house the dead. This time, all he could think about was what was going to happen.
What should I do next?
Not just about Rose, but about the whole issue. With everything that had occurred, the game had entirely transformed. Someone had perished, which no one could have predicted would happen on this expedition, even with the understanding of the danger. It was one thing to hear about killings on the news, but witnessing one rocked the group hard.
This was true.
This was the situation they had to cope with.
Before Ash could get too far into his thoughts, he was drawn out by the awareness that Rose was still in his arms. There was a lot to cope with right now. He could only take things one step at a time, and when the time came to continue, he and his pals would come up with something.
The female employee tapped Ash on the shoulder faster than he would have wanted. Despite the fact that death was already a part of her life, Ash couldn't help but feel that giving up the body was what would completely cut Rose off from his and everyone else's lives.
But, regardless of how he felt, this had to happen. Her moment had arrived. So he stood, Rose in his arms, and loaded the receptionist's lifeless body onto the gurney.
The male EMT lost no time in covering the woman from the neck down with a sheet. He was ready to hide her face, as is customary in these situation, when his wrist was forcibly gripped.
He wasn't surprised to realize the boy who'd been holding the lifeless woman was the offender when he looked up. The man knew the boy's expression and gave him one more glance of the woman he so desperately needed.
He thought he'd accepted it, but the prospect of this being his final image of Rose made him want one more glance. Ash's thoughts returned to what Rose had done for him and his companions. It didn't seem like much, but after what had happened before their meeting, meeting someone like Rose was a miracle.
It blew Ash's head that someone he'd just known for a short time could have had such an influence. With a faint, sad smile on his lips, he took one final glance and released the man's wrist, allowing him to completely cover Rose.
Ash and those surrounding him watched as the sweet old lady was pushed into the ambulance and the doors were closed behind her.
"I've seen her around the hospital, but I'm not sure what her name is." The female hospital staff announced her presence close to Ash.
Ash knew she was expecting him to say something, to call her by name, but he didn't. His gaze was once again drawn to the ambulance. It wasn't until Pikachu ran up his shoulder that he seemed to notice what was stated to him.
"Rose." Ash spoke quietly. The woman, who had begun to walk away after not receiving an answer, had hardly heard what the youngster had said. She came to a halt, turned, and faced the lad once more.
Ash observed a flash of recognition on the woman's face as she nodded her head. After a few moments, the woman turned and began her walk to the emergency vehicle's passenger seat.
Not long after, the ambulance raced away, leaving a tidal wave of feeling in its wake.
Despite the fact that he was once again coherent, Ash was left staring into space for what seemed like the millionth time that day. He was tired of having time to contemplate, of dwelling on matters over which he had no control. His expression was tough, yet his demeanor conveyed his actual feelings.
This entire interaction felt far longer than it was. The group of pals stood motionless, recovering from their own personal anguish, as the world flowed on in front of them.
Some were managing things better than others, but it appeared that everyone was starting to settle down, if only somewhat. The blank gaze that had been so typical on Ash's face had extended to the others as well, leaving everyone stunned.
Brock was the first to realize what was going on. His gaze was drawn to the cloth in his hand, which was no longer useful now that the body had been cared for. Brock tossed it aside and looked around. Jenny remained authoritative, just in case any of the Rockets tried to make a move, unlikely that they'd go very far given how constrained they were.
As his gaze roamed, he confirmed his suspicions. The others will continue to take it hard. Only a few others appeared to be sentient. He riveted his gaze on Paul first, then Tracey. Dawn... James... Each was in a similar position to Brock's: poised to act but unsure how.
Dawn took a few moments to make a move, gently edging towards Ash. Brock marched forward as well, inspired by the act. Except for Ash, who hadn't moved since the ambulance left, everyone was very close together.
The actions of their pals caused the majority of the others to abandon their vacant expressions. Each set of eyes was now following the bluenette and the doctor, who had already arrived at Ash's side.
When Ash didn't recognize their presence, neither Dawn nor Brock were startled. They had all been affected by Rose's death, but it was clear that Ash had been the most affected. It was understood; his obvious guilt made this occasion far more difficult than it should have been.
Although they would never agree with it, Dawn, Brock, and the others could understand it. Because Team Rocket was out to kill him, it appeared that anyone caught in the middle became an unlucky victim of Ash's adventure.
Pikachu, who was still perched on his trainer's shoulder, observed the two approaching right away. He hadn't been able to shake his trainer out of this trance-like state, so he pleaded with the bluenette and the doctor, which was noted.
Dawn was adamant about assisting. She wanted to be the strong one for once. She preferred to assist Ash rather than the other way around. Dawn replied softly and calmly, despite the fact that tears still ringed her eyes "Ash...? Are you all right?"
For a few moments, Ash didn't answer, causing Dawn to believe that he hadn't even registered what she'd said.
When Brock noticed this, he took a step forward and prepared to speak. However, Ash responded with a slow shake of the head at this point "No. No, I do not. It will be a long time before I can genuinely claim I'm okay..."
The gang was taken aback by Ash's statements. Even while everyone knew Ash was feeling this way, no one expected him to express it. These were not the words of the child they knew, who was always upbeat. He sounded completely defeated...
...like if he'd given up.
Everyone, however, knew better.
Ash would never give up, especially when there was so much at stake. With this in mind, Brock couldn't help but allow a slight smile to appear on his face. Ash had grown up a lot over the years, but Brock knew he'd truly matured when he felt comfortable enough to communicate his actual sentiments with his pals.
The gang didn't have to wait long for Ash to do what they expected him to do: put the darkness behind him and inspire everyone to keep going.
"But that doesn't matter because we're going to keep going. We have to, or Rose's death will have been in vain."
Ash then turned to face Dawn and his friends, his eyes still red and puffy from tears, and smiled sadly "It's my fault she died, and I'll have to live with it for the rest of my life. But, in a manner, she sacrificed her life so that I may live. That cannot be squandered."
Dawn and Brock wanted to argue with him that it wasn't his fault, but the timing was off, so they restrained their tongues.
Most of the group, including Officer Jenny, who had been with them since the beginning of this awful day, had gathered around the young trainer who had brought them all together. Ash was supported by everyone. Despite the fact that everyone was ready to go, the assembly was afflicted by unmoving bodies and stillness. The silence seemed to last for hours, although it could have only been a few minutes.
Jenny, while not knowing the woman directly, couldn't help but feel the same gloomy attitude as those around her. Not only that, but she had no idea who had died in the station explosion...
She tried her hardest to dismiss the thought, but it was more difficult than she had anticipated.
Jenny turned in time to witness several additional cops, some Jennys and some not, from the Pewter Police Department fall from the skies on the backs of Ferrow, Pidgeotto, and Pigeot alike.
Jenny received a gaze and a head nod from the newcomers, indicating that they would manage the problem from then on. Of course, they'd have to discuss everything, professional and personal, at some time.
She returned her attention to the youthful bunch and realized she needed to do something. She had no idea what it was. The deafening quiet and the unhappy expressions on the young adults and youngsters surrounding her finally compelled her to open her mouth.
"I'll look into Rose as soon as I can, see if she had a will or something." Jenny began. "You should all go relax for a time. Feel free to go back to the house we were in earlier and rest. And, well, maybe do some laundry..."
Officer Jenny's gaze was fixed on Ash's physique as she concluded her sentence. The rest of the group recognized why she said what she said after following her gaze.
Ash was entirely drenched in blood, none of it his. He hadn't even realized it until that moment, but when he did, he felt ill to his stomach. Those around him shared his sentiment.
Ash ripped off his jacket and T-shirt, desperate to rid himself not only of the blood but of the entire scenario. Despite the fact that his pants were also stained red, he kept them on for the time being.
The others had torn their gaze away from Ash by this point, the sight being too much for them.
"Officer Jenny, thank you," Tracey said as she took a step forward.
"Nora. Please contact Nora. After what happened tonight, I believe we should be on first names terms." Officer Jenny, Nora, cut in.
"You didn't suppose we all had the same first name, did you?" Nora explained, seeing the puzzled expressions on a few of the group members' faces.
Tracey nodded his head after taking in what should have been plain information "All right, Nora. I was about to say thank you. For letting us utilize your home...and, well, everything else."
Nora scoffed and half-heartedly chuckled "Please accept my gratitude. We would not have been able to apprehend those criminals without your assistance. Without your presence, many more innocent people would have died."
Despite her best efforts, Nora's statements merely served to unnerve everyone. Most of all, since they knew what was going on in Ash's head. Her words hit Ash hard, as predicted. They had managed to assist, but it was almost as if they were clearing up a mess he had made. If he hadn't been there at all, no one would have died. Thoughts like these weren't new, but the shame of it all was becoming overwhelming.
However, Ash chose not to express his feelings. He knew his buddies wouldn't believe what he did, and he didn't want to quarrel with them right now. After all, they were still on the most crucial and risky adventure of their lives; there would be plenty of time to wallow in guilt after everyone was safely back home.
Ash decided then that he would just go along with everyone else for the remainder of the day. He sorely needed a break from the role of "leader" for a spell.
With nothing else to do and no one else moving, Paul took the initiative and began walking toward the home, an action quickly followed by everyone around him. It didn't take long for the large group of pals to vanish inside the house and out of Nora's sight.