By the end of the day, word of what happened to Norman, was spread all over the Hoenn Region, and by the next day, the entire world got the news that a gym leader was viciously attacked, and then killed in his own home, with his Pokémon badly beaten, but still alive.
People were enraged, which was natural. Everyone who knew Norman, knew that he was a good man, and that he didn't have any enemies. He was also loved by many people, as he was a great Pokémon trainer, who in a very short time has made the Petalburg Gym, become one of the stronger ones in the Hoenn Region. His love for the Normal Type Pokémon, has also inspired many other trainers to try and train Normal Type, more than they did, as they weren't very popular, compared to the other types.
The fact that he was killed in the way he was, made many think that this was personal, just as Ash thought, and it made them all wonder, what the hell has Norman done, that made some people torture him in such a way, before they finally took mercy on him, and killed him.
Killing him was definitely a mercy, when taken into an account the amount of damage done to him during the torture. It was stated in the news that Norman was tortured, heavily, and then killed. It was also said that even if he wasn't killed by whoever attacked him, he would have died in a few hours, from the injuries he got from the torture. Because of the amount of damage done to him, there was no way to save him.
While it was stated in the news that he was tortured, what exactly happened to him, wasn't shared, because the police and medics, along with the Nurse Joy, who was in a relationship with Norman, didn't think that it would be a wise decision to share all of Norman's injuries, with the wide masses. His injuries were just so bad, that the simple thought of them, would made people want to vomit.
Nurse Joy, was distraught. She was the one who found Norman, and when she did, and saw the state he was in, she nearly had a heart attack. She called the police, and the doctors, who came quickly, and then she was pulled out of the house. For the rest of the day, she was kept in the Pokémon Center, with one of the police officers, being there to guard her, in the event that someone decides to target her, for her relationship with Norman.
At the time of the attack, Max was paying a visit to some friends, as he wanted to spend some time with them, before he goes back to his journey with Ash, Serena and May. As such, he was lucky not to be in the house, during the attack, as he would have undoubtedly been tortured and killed, just like Norman. He was informed that something happened to his father, by a police officer, who came to his friend's house, that same night, not long after Nurse Joy found Norman, and later informed the Officer Jenny about where Max is. Max wasn't told exactly what happened to his father, or that he's dead. He was just told that someone has attacked the gym, and his father, and that for his safety, he will be kept in the Pokémon Center, along with the Nurse Joy.
Max was sent to bed that night, not knowing what happened, but promised to be told the next day. When that day came, and when he was informed that Norman is dead, Max screamed, started to cry for a moment, and then passed out.
When Ash informed May of what happened, she cried to high heavens, right there in front of the gym. She didn't care about the people around her, who could see and hear her crying. She didn't care when they recognized her, and started to talk about her, and about what happened. All she could do was cry.
Serena was there for her, as she has hugged the younger girl, and kept her close, while May was crying her heart out.
Ash was also there, but comforting people is one of the rare things he can't do. He simply isn't the type to do something like that. Still, he did go and hug May, just like Serena, and gave her as much comfort as he could. He, unlike Serena who was quiet, and wasn't saying anything - though she was crying just like May, as she felt sorry for her friend – has promised to May that no matter what, and no matter how long it took him, he will find the ones who killed her father and he will make them pay for it, with their own lives. His eyes flashed red for a moment when he said that, but it was missed by both May and Serena, as they weren't looking at him.
May couldn't calm down for a while, which was normal because of what happened. Still, Ash didn't want her to cry like that in the middle of the street, with all those people around them, so he took her in his arms, bridal style, and took her from there.
As he was walking away, Serena following after him, Officer Jenny came in front of him, and told him that Nurse Joy and Max are in the Pokémon Center, being kept safe by some officers, and that they should go there as well, if they want to have a place to stay, and to be kept safe, just like the other two.
In the Pokémon Center, May and Max reunited, and both hugged each other, and cried together. The two were together, with Serena with them, while Ash talked with Nurse Joy, as he wanted to know if she knows something about the attack, and who could do it.
Joy didn't know anything. She wasn't really interested in speaking, but she did answer Ash's question, just to be polite, if nothing else. Unlike the others, she doesn't know Ash, as she has never met him, and as such, isn't sure if he is trustable.
Ash saw that Nurse Joy isn't really willing to speak with him, which is not surprising, considering she just lost a person she loves. On top of that, she doesn't know him, so she doesn't trust him that much. Ash was fine with that. He didn't really expect much, because if the Nurse Joy knew something, she would have told the police, and Officer Jenny, would have told Ash about it.
As such, in the end, Ash decided to do what he was planning to do, in order to find out who attacked and killed, Norman. Before he had a chance to do it, though, Caroline showed up in the Pokémon Center.
She immediately run to May and Max, and hugged them, while crying with them. She may have divorced from Norman, and didn't love him anymore, but she has spent years with him, and they have children together, as such, she doesn't love him, but she did care about him. At least enough to not wish anything bad to happen to him.
While Caroline, Max and May were crying and comforting each other, Ash approached Serena, and he told her that he was going to go to the room, where it was peace and quiet, so that he can think.
Serena was surprised by what Ash said, but figured that he needs to relax a little, as she has noticed that he was quite tense ever since they learned of Norman's death. She was as well, and she also needs rest, but she has decided to be there for the grieving family, in case they need something. She just nodded at Ash, but didn't say anything.
XXX
Ash wasn't seen at all after that, and none knew what happened to him. The one strange thing that happened, is that there was an unbelievable pressure which has suddenly descended on the Pokémon Center, and the surrounding area. It was so bad, that many have fallen to the ground, as if the gravity was pulling them down, while some even had trouble breathing.
The only ones who knew what that was, and who was the cause of it, were Serena, May, Caroline and Max. They knew who it was that caused it, but they didn't know what it was that made Ash react like that. They weren't able to find out either, as Ash wasn't found in his Pokémon Center room, when Serena went to check him and see what happened.
Ash wasn't seen for several days after that, and no one knew what happened and where he went.
XXX
Two days after Ash disappeared from his room in the Pokémon Center, and three days after Norman was killed, a funeral was held in the Petalburg City.
Many people from the Hoenn Region, along with some other people from other regions have come.
All gym leaders from the Hoenn Region were there. The Champion, Steven Stone was there along with his father. Many regular people have also come to pay their respect to Norman. Then there was Mr. Charles Goodshow, who has also came, along with Professor Birch, who had to come, as he was very good friends with Norman and cares a lot for his family.
Surprisingly, Red and Riley have also came, along with Urahara. They have heard what happened, and immediately dropped everything they were doing, to come to the Petalburg City. None of them really knew Norman, but Ash did, and Red, Riley and Urahara, had a bad feeling that what happened to Norman, had something to do with Ash, so they decided to investigate and find out for themselves.
The three of them arrived the day after Ash disappeared, and have heard from Serena about what happened, and that he has disappeared, and no one has heard anything from him since yesterday. Red tried to call Ash on his Pokedex, but Ash wasn't picking it up. He has simply disappeared, and there wasn't a single clue on where he went, or if someone took him with them.
To make matters worse, Serena mentioned that she has been trying to reach her mother since the night before they arrived in the Petalburg City, when they were still in the North Petalburg. She has called Grace, several times, but the older woman, wasn't answering on the phone, and she hasn't called back at all. As such, on top of everything that happened in the Petalburg City, Serena now has to worry about her own mother, and Ash.
Red on the other hand, immediately became suspicious, and wondered if what happened to Norman; the fact that Ash simply disappeared right after, AND on top of that, the apparent disappearance of Grace, has some connection to each other, and if it does, what connection?
He knew that he has to investigate it as soon as possible, before even more time passes, and if there was any trail left, by then, it could be gone.
As soon as the funeral was finished, the first thing that Red did, was call Delia, and ask if she has heard from Ash. When she said that she hasn't in a few days, he asked if there was anything new happening in the Pallet Town. Again, Delia said that there wasn't anything new happening, and it hasn't in a while… well, there was one thing. Apparently, there was a new resident in the Pallet Town. It was a woman who came from the Hoenn Region, and she decided to settle in the Pallet Town. She was apparently a nurse, but she can be a doctor as well, and from what Delia has heard, she plans to open a clinic in the Pallet Town, as it doesn't have one, and all the sick people go to Viridian City, when they get sick or injured.
Delia said that her name is Jane, and that she is a very beautiful woman, just a few years younger than Delia. The two have met each other, and have become fast friends.
Now normally, Red wouldn't care about someone moving to live in the Pallet Town, especially if that someone is a doctor, who plans to open a clinic. He knows very well that that place needs one, so he would be happy that it finally has a place where people can be cured and healed if necessary, and won't have to go to the Viridian City. Now though, with everything that happened, Red is worried, and wonders if Jane, has some connections with Ash, and what's been happening lately.
He has decided to investigate that as well. As such, right now, Ash was in the Pokémon Center, in the Petalburg City. Riley and Urahara were there as well, along with Serena, May, Max, Caroline, as well as the Nurse Joy, as she was in the relationship with Norman, and had the right to be there, so she can find out, what's going on. It was a day after the funeral, and Red has decided (even though he knew that Caroline and her children are not exactly ready to speak and would have preferred to be alone), to speak with them, and finally find out about everything that's happened since Ash and Serena came to the Hoenn Region.
"Ok," Red spoke, "now that we are all here, let's start with you telling me, what the hell is going on here? Ever since Ash and you, Serena, came to the Hoenn Region, it's been one bad thing after the other, and honestly, I have no idea what's going on any more. So please, tell me."
Serena was surprised by Red's question, and words, but she really shouldn't be. She knew that he was right, and that ever since she and Ash came to the Hoenn Region, and had the first run-in with the Members of Team Aqua and Magma, many bad things have happened, starting with Swampy's death, and ending with Norman's death, followed by the disappearance of Ash, and most likely her mother. Serena wondered if all that happened since she and Ash arrived in the Hoenn Region, was just a coincidence, or did it all happen because they were there.
"Look, Mr. Ketchum," Serena spoke. "I really don't know what is going on. Yes, many things have happened since we arrived in the Hoenn Region, and I do actually wonder if everything that happened has something to do with Ash and me being here, but as much as I think about it, I honestly don't see how this could all have happened because of us. It's not our fault that there are crime organizations in the Hoenn Region, who are set on releasing Groudon and Kyogre from wherever they are locked up. It's not our fault that someone attacked a place where Mudkip are raised by some old man. You can't blame us for what happened to Swampy. It's also not our fault that somewhere out there, there is an organization which does all sorts of jobs and deals to earn money, even if it's human and Pokémon trafficking's.
"As for what happened to Norman… I honestly don't see how that could have been our fault. Ash and I have only met him once, and didn't have any connection to him besides being friends with May and Max."
Once Serena said this, she went quiet, meaning that she has finished her speech, and was now waiting to hear the reactions from those around her.
"Serena," Red spoke, while raising his hands in the air, "I never said that it was your or Ash's fault, for everything that happened, but I just don't understand how it all started happening right after you two came here."
"I doubt that it started happening right after we came here," Serena said. "Those criminal organizations were here long before us. They did whatever they wanted, and I'm sure that there were deaths and disappearances even before we came, but no one has made a connections between them. Ash, May, Max and I were simply unlucky to be at specific places at specific times, which is why we were dragged into the mess which happened. None of us has ever gone after any member of those organizations, before they showed up. We only did what we could to stop them.
"Besides, after what Ash did on Mt. Chimney, I doubt that any member of Team Aqua or Magma, would want to mess with him."
Red shock his head. "I'm not worried about them," he said. "They are a problem, but not that big of a problem. The Shadow Legion, though. They are a big problem, and while I don't have any proof, I'm sure that they are the ones behind Norman's death." At Red's words, Caroline, Max and May's eyes widened.
"But why," May asked, with a small voice? She still hasn't gotten over her father's death, and she doubts she will anytime soon. She has spent a lot of time, crying, and because of that, he eyes were all red and puffy. Max was in the same situation, while Caroline is better, but that's only because she was an adult person, and she didn't care that much about Norman, ever since he cheated on her. "Why go after my father? Why him? He had nothing to do with this."
"I don't think it was about him," It was Riley who spoke. "From what little we know of the Shadow Legion, we could guess that some members are really vengeful. I think that they targeted Norman because you four interfered in their business. Not only did you interfere with their business, but you also had two members arrested, and one disappeared without anyone knowing what happened to him, and that was all because of your actions. As such, I have a feeling that they will go after those close to you, because they can't go after you personally."
"Why can't they come after us?" Serena asked.
"Because of Ash," Red answered the question, and it dawned on Serena, Caroline, May and Max. They knew what Ash can do, and knew that no one would go after him, head-on, and come out alive. Nurse Joy didn't know Ash, so she didn't know what's special about him, to make criminal organizations not want to mess with him personally. "They also can't come after me and Riley, as in some ways, we are even harder to deal with then, Ash, which leaves others. People like Norman, Caroline, Max, Nurse Joy, Delia, Grace. You are all in danger, because Ash, Riley and I are not around you all the time, and that makes you vulnerable."
"B-But if they are pretty much gunning after all of us, what are we going to do?" Caroline asked. She was now scared. Not so much for herself, though she would admit that she definitely wouldn't want to go through what Norman went through; she was more worried about her children, then herself.
"You're definitely not staying here," Red said, getting confused looks from everyone, except Riley and Urahara. "This is no longer safe place for any of you, which means that there are two options. One option is that you move to the Pallet Town. My wife is there, and Professor Oak is also there, so it should be easier to protect you there, then here. Another option would be the Rota Kingdom. No one will ever get to you there, trust me on that."
"Then why not go to the Rota," Serena asked? "There was no need to mention Pallet Town. I'm assuming that since Rota is safer than the Pallet Town, you will tell Miss. Delia to move there as well."
"I would," Red said. "But Delia is very stubborn. She was born and grew up in Pallet Town. As such, I doubt she would leave the place. There is also the fact that if we leave that place all alone, it would be unprotected from all the poachers who would go after the PPA, Ash and I built there. That place is special for Ash, and he wouldn't want it abandoned. Also, building a new one in Rota Kingdom, will be a long and hard work, which will be unnecessary.
"I also believe that if you go to the Pallet Town, and with Delia and Professor Oak there, along with Grace moving there, when we find her, you would all be living close to each other, and would be able to protect each other. Not to mention that there is an Officer Jenny there as well, because of the PPA, and there are some of the Pokémon Rangers, for that same reason. As such, I do believe that the Pallet Town, would be the second best place to live. Rota would be safer, but it's also quite far from anything else, and technically speaking, it's barely considered to be a part of the Kanto Region, as it has its own ruler, its own laws, and a set of rules, which the Kanto Region, doesn't have."
When Red finished talking, he looked at everyone, to see what they would decide. None spoke for a while. Not even with each other, to see what the others were thinking. They were all thinking to themselves, thinking on what the best decision would be.
"Who did you think should be moving to the Pallet Town," Serena asked? "I don't feel like abandoning my journey, and I doubt Ash will abandon his. I can't say anything for May, after all she's been though in the last few months, but Ash and I, are not putting a stop on our journey."
Red smiled at Serena. "I wasn't expecting Ash to quit his journey for anything in the world," he said, "he's not the kind of person who quits anything. As for you, well I wasn't expecting you to stop traveling either. I don't think you would have abandoned Ash to travel by himself.
"May, Max," Red looked at the two younger kids. "It's up to the two of you to decide if you will travel or not. As for the rest, which means, Caroline and Nurse Joy, the two of you will have to move to the Pallet Town. Grace will have to do the same thing. We just have to come into contact with her."
"I've been trying to do that for days," Serena said, with downward look, and some tears in her eyes. "But she doesn't answer the call, nor is she calling back. I have no idea if something happened to her, but I doubt she wouldn't have answered or called me, if she was fine, and could do it."
"I am going to call some people in the Kalos Region, and tell them to check on her, and see what's going on," Red said, making Serena perk-up. "If she's in her house, they will find her. If not…" Red left unsaid what will happen if Grace is not at her home.
"Thanks' Mr. Ketchum," Serena thanked Red, for his offer to help her find her mother.
"No need," Red said with a smile. "You are my son's girlfriends, and as such, you are practically family. With Grace being your mother, she is also a family. Besides, I knew Grace from a long time ago, and she is a friend, so I want to help find her in any way I can."
After that, Nurse Joy asked why she has to move to the Pallet Town. She thought that even though she was in a relationship with Norman, she didn't have a very big connection to his children, or Ash, and as such, she shouldn't be in any danger.
Red agreed that it's possible that no one would target her, but he also told her that they can't take chances, and it's better she is safe than sorry. He also reminded her that it's not confirmed that those who went after Norman, did so because of what Ash, May, Max and Serena, did. It could be something completely unrelated, and they could have specifically targeted Norman for something he has done. With her being his girlfriend, she could potentially be a target as well.
In the end, Nurse Joy agreed to move to the Pallet Town. It was easier for her to agree, when Red told her that there is now a Pokémon Center in the Pallet Town, and that there is already a Nurse Joy there, but because of the PPA, one more Nurse Joy, is more than necessary, so that they can handle all of those Pokémon in the PPA.
With that, the meeting should have ended, but then Red remember something. "By the way," he spoke again, drawing the attention of everyone around him. He was looking at Serena when he spoke. "During the journey here in Hoenn, have you ever met one of the Nurse Jane's?"
As soon as they heard that name, Serena bristled and got red from anger, while May and Caroline also got red, but not from anger, instead from embarrassment.
"Why do you ask," Serena growled, surprising Red, Riley and Urahara? "And what do you mean by, 'one of the Nurse Jane's'? Shouldn't there be only one of them?"
"Ahhm, to answer the second question first…" Red spoke. "Nurse Jane's are like Nurse Joy's. There is a whole bunch of them all over the world, and they are all cousins. The difference between the Nurse Jane and Nurse Joy, is that Joy, work with Pokémon, while Jane work with humans, in normal hospitals."
"I didn't know that," May said with a surprise in her voice and on her face. Serena and Max agreed with her, though the adults didn't look surprised.
"Probably because neither of you ever went to the hospital, until that day in Lavaridge Town," Caroline said to her children. "You two never had a chance to meet her before. I can't say anything for Serena, though. I don't know if you've ever been in a hospital before."
"I have," Serena said. "But until that hospital in the Lavaridge Town, I've never met any Nurse Jane before."
"Ok," Red spoke again. "I guess that means that you did meet a Nurse Jane. As for why I ask. It's because a Nurse Jane showed up in Pallet Town," Serena's, May's and Caroline's eyes widened. They had a feeling they knew where this is going. "She said that she has moved there from the Hoenn Region, and that she plans to live there from now on. She even plans to open a clinic, as she isn't just a regular nurse, but a full doctor, so she can take on patients, like other doctors, and not just take care of some simply stuff, like the other nurses."
"Damn that woman!" Serena was practically steaming with rage, which surprise everyone there, as they have never seen her that angry, and none, especially Red, thought that a sweat girl like Serena, can have a side like this. Red will have no problem to admit that the look on Serena's face, scared the crap out of him, especially since he knows perfectly well who Serena's mother is, and knows how Grace is when she gets angry. Remembering about Grace, made Red shudder for a moment. Thankfully for him, no one noticed, as they were all looking at Serena. "I bet she went there for Ash! Well, she won't get him if I have any say in it! I'd sooner strangle her with her own intestines before I let her have him!"
Serena's eyes were literally glowing red, just like Ash's when he is ready, and there were wisps of smoke coming from her eyes. It made Caroline, May, Max and Nurse Joy, back away from her, while Red, Riley and Urahara, looked at her with surprise on their faces.
"You really shouldn't do that," Red said to Serena, only to receive a glare, which would have scared the life out of almost any other person. It was a look of hatred, which promised severe punishment and pain.
"Why shouldn't I," Serena asked? "That woman, along with Caroline, here, went to Ash's room in the hospital, and had sex with him!"
As soon as she said that, Red's, Riley's and Urahara's eyes widened for a few moments, before Red's and Riley's jaws dropped, while Urahara gained a smirk on his face, though he quickly covered it with his fan. He knew better then to show that smirk to Serena. She scared him even more than his former wife did, and that's saying a lot, considering that woman was insane.
"Two, adult woman, had sex with… Ash," Red managed to say in a small voice, while his eyes were unfocused, and looking in the distance. "B-But how? Why?" He somehow managed to ask.
"You should ask Caroline," Serena growled, while glaring at the woman, who did everything she could to appear as small as she could. She really didn't want to stay there, and face Serena's death glare. "She's the one who started it all!"
Red, his brother and Urahara, all looked at Caroline, and waited to hear the answer.
Caroline's face was beat-red, and she looked away from Red and Riley. She didn't dare to look them in the face, and admit that she has pretty much raped Red's, 13-year-old son. In the end though, she knew that she has to say what she has done, how Jane joined in and how it all ended. When Caroline finished explaining what happened, she looked at everyone's faces, to see their reaction.
Serena was basically looking at her with murder in her eyes. Caroline guessed that the only thing that stopped the girl from killing her, is the fact that May is Caroline's daughter, and May and Serena are friends.
May wasn't as angry as Serena, but she was still angry at her mother for having sex with a kid. Caroline was sure that May's problem wasn't the fact that she has slept with another man. She was already divorced from Norman, so she was free to do what she wanted. Caroline thinks that May actually likes Ash, and the fact that Ash fucked her own mother, is what was infuriating May. Caroline isn't sure, but she thinks that May thinks that because Caroline has had sex with Ash, she now doesn't stand a chance to be with Ash. She's probably asking herself, why Ash would want a little girl, when he can have a fully grown woman, who was willing to do anything he wishes.
Caroline saw the confused look on Max's face, and sighed in relief, that he was still too young, at the age of 8, and still doesn't know what going on, and what it all means.
She wasn't exactly happy with the look that the Nurse Joy was giving her. She could see it in the eyes of the woman. She thinks that Caroline is a pedophile, and that she has used the young boy. As such, she should be sent to jail. Caroline know that Nurse Joy, won't say anything to anyone, though. She might despise Caroline, but she knows that if Caroline goes to jail, May and Max would be left all alone, now that Norman is dead. As such, Nurse Joy will keep her mouth shut, and won't say anything to anyone.
Caroline then looked at Urahara. She didn't know the man. She never met him, and as such, she doesn't know what kind of person he is, but on the first glance, he seems a bit eccentric. Regardless of what kind of person he is, though… he at least doesn't seem to be angry at Caroline, and is more amused than anything else. At least that's what Caroline could guess from the smirk the men was trying to hide with his fan.
Riley and Red didn't seem to be mad at her. They seemed mostly confused, as they most likely didn't understand why two adult woman would be so interested in Ash, that they would have sex with him. Another thing that Caroline noticed with Red and Riley, is that, while they were confused, there was also a hint of pride in their eyes. Caroline would guess that they are proud of what Ash has done, especially since it was unintentional. To fuck two woman who are old enough to be his mothers, and that at the age of 13, is something no one else in the world can boost to have done. Ash is unique in that department, and will stay unique for a long time. As such, Red and Riley are proud of Ash.
Finished with the evaluation of everyone's opinions on her, Caroline sighed, and said. "I know that some of you are angry at me because of what I did, but I'm not regretting it, and I never will. Technically speaking, I didn't hurt anyone, and it can't even be seen as a rape, because Ash was more than willing to go with it."
No one had anything to say at that. They knew that with Caroline not regretting anything, nothing they say, would change anything, and even guilt tripping her, won't mean anything, as what she says, is the truth. No one has suffered because of what she and Jane have done… well, except maybe Serena, but even she isn't exactly suffering because her boyfriend cheated on her. Everyone there was sure that she will get back to him one way or another. Red only hopes that she won't pay him back the same way Grace would, if he was her boyfriend and ended up cheating on her. Red pitied Ash, if Serena ends up being just like her mother.
Red decided to continue the talk, and find out, why was Jane in the Pallet Town, and not still working in the hospital in the Lavaridge Town.
"What happened in Lavaridge Town, that would make Jane move to the Pallet Town," Red asked? "I just don't understand why she would abandon her job in a hospital, and move to the Pallet Town, just to open a clinic."
Serena and May didn't have an answer to that. They haven't seen Jane since they caught Ash with her and Caroline in the compromising position, so they don't know what happened to her afterwards, and what made her move to the Pallet Town.
Caroline did know what happened though. She sighed and spoke. "The night after Serena and May caught me and Jane with Ash… well, we did it again," Caroline said, and then flinched as she saw an Aura of death surrounding Serena. She gulped in fear, but continued to speak anyway. "Ash left the room earlier that day, before he was even released from the hospital, so when I went there, I couldn't find him. The same goes for Jane. She came to look for him, but since he wasn't there, we ended up waiting for him. When he came back, we decided to punish him for leaving the hospital after he was in a coma for a few days, and before he was truly released by the doctors.
"The punishment didn't end like Jane and I planned, though, and in the end, the two of us were left in Ash's hospital room, on his bed, completely naked and unconscious, while Ash up and left. In the morning, we were found by some cleaning lady, and then the other doctors. This led to Jane being fired from the hospital. That was the last time I saw her. She left the room after she dressed, and I haven't seen or heard from her ever since. I have no idea what she was doing, or why she decided to move to Pallet Town, but she didn't leave that hospital because she wanted to. She left as she was fired."
"I see," Red said, as he was in deep though. He could understand that since she was fired, Jane would want to move to some other place, as she would need to work, but he still didn't understand why the Pallet Town. Red could think of two possible reasons. One is that she is obsessed with Ash, and wants to be at a place where she can get to him any time she wants to. The other reason is that Jane, is a member of the Shadow Legion, and was sent to Pallet Town, to be close to Delia and Ash, in case she needs to get to them.
Regardless of what the reason is, Red is sure that Jane, can't be trusted, and he will not trust her, until he is certain that she isn't a member of the Shadow Legion, and is not in Pallet Town, to hurt Delia, or anyone else.
Few others, like Riley, Urahara and May, felt sorry for the Nurse Jane, as she was basically screwed over by Ash, and then fired. May knew that she shouldn't feel sorry for the older woman, but she couldn't help it.
Max still didn't know what was going on, so he didn't have any opinion in the matter.
Nurse Joy and Serena, though. They were happy that Jane was fired for what she has done. In Serena's eyes, the woman should suffer for having sex with Ash, while in the eyes of Nurse Joy, Jane should be sent in jail for basically raping Ash. Nurse Joy even though of ousting Jane to the police, so that they can arrest her. Unlike Caroline, Jane doesn't have kids, so she doesn't have to be worried about leaving some children, orphaned. The problem though is that, if Joy ousts Jane, then the police would find out about Caroline as well. On top of that, Joy can't bring herself to send Jane to jail, but not Caroline as well. In her eyes, they should both go, but since that's impossible, then Joy decided to simply stay quiet, and not oust either Jane or Caroline. She will simply pretend that the two woman never had sex with a 13-year-old kid, and let them stay free.
"I don't trust Jane," Red suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention. "I've never met her, so I don't know what she is like, but her suddenly moving to the Pallet Town, at the same time Norman is attacked and killed, along with Grace seemingly disappearing, doesn't sit well with me. As such, I want you, Caroline and Nurse Joy, to keep an eye on her, while in Pallet Town. I can't stay there all the time, and I can't just accuse her of anything without proof, so you will be my spies on her. The two of you, Delia, and Professor Oak, along with Grace, when we find her, should be more than enough protections for all of you. But still, be careful around Jane. Until we find out the true reason for her relocation to the Pallet Town, she can't be trusted. Is that understood?"
Caroline and Nurse Joy nodded in understanding, thought while Nurse Joy was happy with Red's decision, as she doesn't trust Jane, either, Caroline isn't sure what to think. She will admit that she doesn't know Jane very well, yet at the same time, she knows every inch of her body. It was confusing, and Caroline doesn't know what to think. She wished that she can defend Jane, as they really did have a good time with each other and Ash, but she also knows that with everything that's happened lately, Red is right and Jane can't be trusted. In the end, Caroline decided to trust in Red's decision, and be careful around Jane… at least until they find out if she can be trusted. If she can't be trusted, and ends up being an enemy… Caroline wasn't sure what she would do.
Caroline then asked, how are they going to proceed from then on, and Red said that he has to leave as he has a job to do. The same goes for Urahara, who has to go back to the Mauvile City. Riley though, will stay in Petalburg City, and watch over them all, for a few days.
May and Max still have to decide on, if they will continue their journey, or if they'll go with Caroline in the Pallet Town.
Caroline will have to be the one to sell Norman's house, as well as the gym. While they were divorced, and normally Caroline shouldn't have any right to sell Norman's property, but with Norman's death, his children are his heirs, but since they are still kids, it's up to Caroline to take care of all the business related to her children.
Nurse Joy was in a relationship with Norman, at the time of his death, but they weren't married, or even engaged, so she has no right to anything that belonged to him. She knew that, and she was fine with it. She wasn't with Norman because of his money or properties, but because she loved him, and as such, now that Norman is dead, she isn't going to argue with anyone, or ask to be given anything that belonged to Norman. She knows that it all belongs to May and Max, and she will not stand in their way, or make them any problems.
It was agreed upon, though, that Caroline, Nurse Joy, and Grace, along with May, Max and Serena, will all leave together, and as such, Red has said that he will be the one to finance the construction of the house, so that they will all be together. As such, neither Caroline, Nurse Joy, nor Grace, will have to spend their money to buy or rent a place to live in.
Red also said that during the few days that all the others are to stay in the Petalburg City, he will search for Ash and Grace. Grace would have to be found, otherwise, Serena would have no peace, and Grace will also have to be informed about the relocation to the Pallet Town.
As for Ash, his disappearance scares everyone there, as they don't know if someone was able to get to him, which should be next to impossible, or if for some reason, he left by himself. No matter what of those two things is, Ash has to be found, as soon as possible.