Chapter 30

Pyre sat beside Ivy, the poor snivy was fast asleep, resting from his ordeal.

"How's he doing?" The small pichu stepped in.

"Oh, Max, uh, he's okay I think. Just resting right now." The charmander sighed.

Max took a seat beside him. "Hey, uh thanks, for throwing me out. I know you did it to protect me."

"No problem." He wasn't entirely listening, more focused on Ivy, hoping he'd wake up.

Just a room over, Rai sat up in his bed looking over himself.

The door to Rai's room suddenly bursts open and a Pangoro charged in, a look of deep concern on his face. "Rai! Oh my love, I came as soon as I could!"

"Russ?!" The raichu sat up a bit faster than intended, wincing in pain. "I'm so glad you're here!"

Russ noticed the wince and rushed to Rai's side, gently grabbing his hand and giving it an affectionate squeeze. "Be careful, don't push yourself too hard love. But I wasn't going to stay away when my beloved little chu was injured now, was I?"

"I knew you wouldn't stay away." Rai gave his hands a gentle squeeze in turn, before laying back on the bed. "You're right, I shouldn't push myself."

"That's right, you need to relax and recover! How are you doing? How are you feeling? I've been ever so worried!" The pangoro takes a seat, before reaching out and softly laying his hand on the raichu's head and soothingly rubbing it with his thumb.

"I'm doing much better now that you're here love." The chu nuzzled into his hand happily. "I didn't mean to worry you."

"Oh please, I'll always worry about you sweetie. Especially when you call me and tell me you almost died! What even happened?"

"We were tracking down leads...looking for Ivy, and Shadow got framed for murder." Rai coughed and wheezed. "I ran up and down the building and got a security tape, but the guy who was framing Shadow, Jack of Blades, cornered me. Caught me off guard." He gently rested his hand on his wounded belly. "He stabbed me. And then shot me with a crossbow apparently. Right here." He pointed to his left shoulder.

An expression of blazing anger came upon the pangoro's face. Russ was typically a rather calm and gentle Pokemon who typically wouldn't resort to violence. He always preferred to approach things diplomatically. When a situation concerned the people he loved however, especially if they got hurt, he certainly wasn't afraid to break the claws out. "No one does that to my little chu and gets away with it. I'm gonna find that fucker, and then I'm gonna rip his fucking spine out!"

"NO!" Rai shot up and winced. "It's too dangerous!" The worry on his face said it all. "It's just too dangerous, please. Don't go looking for him…"

"But he hurt you Rai, you almost died! And if you had…" Russ couldn't bear to finish that sentence. "He can't just get away with it! He needs to pay for what he's done!"

"Russ…" Rai pulled his arm gently. "He won't. Just don't go after him alone please, I couldn't take it if something happened to you…"

The pangoro wanted so badly to argue, to just storm out of there right that very moment and hunt this Jack of Blades guy down and show him what happens to people who hurt his precious chu. But he knew that's not where he was needed, he needed to be right there with Rai. So with a sigh, he relented. "Ok love, I won't. I wouldn't want to risk you having to worry about me like I have been with you."

"You know I'll worry anyway." The raichu chuckled weakly. "Thank you. Right now we can't worry about him. We'll need Shadow to take him down." The mouse coughed again. "and I need you, here with me."

Russ smiled warmly at him, his eyes so full of love before leaning forward and planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I'm not going anywhere sweetie. I'm staying right here by your side."

Rai smiled back, leaning forth kissing Russ on his cheek as well. "Thanks love. You're the best!"

"Anything for you, my little chu." The pangoro said, giving Rai's hand another affectionate little squeeze. "Can I get you anything? Do you want some water or some snacks or anything?"

"No, I just want you right here with me, where I can see that handsome face!" Rai smiled and laid back again.

*Elsewhere*

"That must be rather embarrassing for you, after all that effort, a single charmander caused your main facility to finally crumble." The ditto laughed mockingly.

"Silence yourself. It's a minor setback. I have a plan to collect the child of dark and light. I know exactly where he'll be. After all, this is my city, and I've expedited his boyfriend's incarceration."

"Oh? You've managed to get him a court date already."

"Tomorrow in fact. And since those idiotic teenagers are out of commission, there is nothing they can do. He'll be locked away, and our greatest obstacle will be gone." Jack chuckled. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a show to prepare for."

*The Next Day*

Blade looked visibly worried, sitting beside Codsworth and just behind Shadow. He nudged the lucario. "Where's, ya know the lawyer?"

"I'm not sure, they should've arrived by now."

"All rise for the honorable Judge Chillaxer." A voice called out and everyone stood to their feet. An alakazam stepped into the room, dressed as a judge with a rather comical powdered wig and sunglasses. He took a seat looking over the courtroom. "Be seated."

"I will now hear your opening…where is the defendant's attorney?" The judge noticeably frowned.

"Unknown your honor, he didn't show." The bailiff, a poliwrath pointed out.

"Then, the court will…"

"No need your honor!" The courtroom doors burst open and a blaziken entered, dark glasses on his face, and a stick held in front of him, along with a briefcase in his free hand. The blaziken made his way beside Shadow and took a seat. "Don't worry kid, I've got this." He seemed to face forward without turning to address Shadow.

"Mr Murdock, you are aware you were late correct?"

"Sorry your honor, my watch is broken." The blaziken joked.

"So be it. I will now hear your opening statements."

The prosecutor, a gothitelle, stood up. "Your Honor, in the case before you, I will demonstrate that the defendant, Shadow Nightshade, was the perpetrator of the murder of Espeo Volution, heir of the Volution family, who's support has kept our beloved city up and running for years. I will present evidence including witness testimony, the defendant's dna at the scene, and autopsy data that reveals the defendant attempted to alter the victims mind in their dying moments."

"Thank you Ms Thot. Mr Murdock, your opening statement."

The blaziken sat his case on the table before him and stood. "Your honor, in this case, I intend to prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that my client, is not only innocent but being framed for this crime. The evidence I will provide includes witness testimony, documents detailing the victim was paranoid of danger, but had no relation to my client, and evidence of a similarly carried out crime that my client could not have performed while he was in police custody."

"Thank you Mr Mudock. Ms Thot, you may present your evidence." The judge spoke calmly.

"Your Honor, I offer you, exhibit one as evidence," She stepped up and held out a document to the bailiff, who passed it along to the judge. "Forensics reports show that the blood found on the defendants claws match that of the victim, as well as the wound inflicted matching the distinct shape of a darkrai's claws."

The judge looked over the document, then to the blaziken. But he made no objection. "This is rather damning evidence, does the defense have a rebuttal?"

"None that can be proven, at least before my evidence is brought forth your honor."

"Ms Thot, you may continue."

"Then I would turn your attention to exhibit two," she passed off three documents. "The first of the two documents is a record of Mr Volution's last physical, only a week before his murder. The scans of his brain show no abnormalities. The second document is from the autopsy report, as you will notice, the victims mind was tampered with leaving it rather scrambled. Within the third document you will find the scrambling of the brain matches exactly what other victims of darkrai attacks experienced."

Again the blaziken did not object.

"If it please, the court, I would like to call my witness to the stand now." The gothitelle smirked at Shadow.

"Call your witness Ms Thot."

"I call Officer Gambit to the stand."

The bisharp approached, taking a seat at the stand.

"Mr Gambit," the bailiff stood beside him. "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

"I swear." Gambit replied.

"The witness is yours."

"Mr Gambit, you were the arresting officer correct?"

"Yes ma'am."

"When you made the arrest, you found the defendant on top of the victim, correct?"

"He was beside the victim, not on top, but yes."

"And was the defendant probing the victims mind?"

"I couldn't say for sure, but he seemed in a trance before I cuffed him."

"Prosecution rests your honor."

"Mr Murdock, the witness is yours."

The blaziken approached the stand. "Mr Gambit, when you made the arrest, did you have any suspicion that my client was innocent?"

"I couldn't consider it at the time, protocol dictated I detain him for the safety of everyone around him."

"Then I ask you, is it possible that the reason my client was covered in the victim's blood is because he was attempting to keep pressure on the wound and help the victim?"

"Objection, this line of questioning is founded on inadmissible character evidence." Ms Thot called out, standing up.

"Sustained."

"Mr Gambit, was there anyone else present in the building at the time of the incident?"

"Yes, along with the defendant his friends were also present."

The blaziken shook his head, a small smirk on his face. "That will be all your honor."

"The witness may now leave the stand." The judge spoke again. "Mr Murdock, your evidence?"

"Your honor I offer exhibt A." He opened his case and pulled out a document holding it out for the bailiff to pass along. "This document contains emails shared between the victim and one of their friends, detailing a need to speak, a mass of paranoia following a separate recent murder. It says, and I quote 'Stein, he killed hypno, please I can't be alone what if I'm next?' As well as weeks of emails showing not a single mention of Shadow Nightshade. This proves not only did the victim not know my client, but my client had no motive to commit the crime."

The gothitelle sat silent.

And the blaziken continued. "To submit further evidence, exhibit B." He produced three documents. "Within these documents is autopsy reports on three separate murders, first a Hypno, killed in police custody. Second the victim, Espeo Volution. Third, an Alakazam. The autopsies detail three distinct and identical similarities. Each victim suffered the same brain scrambling effect as any darkrai victim, however my client was only present for one such occurrence. Witnesses place Shadow Nightshade in the home of Officer Gambit the night of Hypno's murder and in police custody at the time of Alakazam's murder."

"Objection, relevance?"

"Overruled."

"These autopsy prove that there is clearly someone else at large who either is a darkrai, or has found a way to mimic their effect on the mind." Murdock stepped back toward Shadow. "If I may, your honor, I'd like to call my witnesses to the stand."

"Call your first witness Mr Murdock."

"I call Blade Iceson to the stand."

Blade shot to his feet and nervously approached the stand.

"Um, I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!" His voice cracked as he spoke.

"The witness is yours Mr Murdock."

"Mr Iceson, you were present the day of the incident, could you tell us why?"

"We were working with Officer Gambit, we came to Icekey City to find our friend Ivy. He had been kidnapped, and the espe…the victim, was one of the leaders of the group that took him."

"And are you aware of any other leaders of this group?"

"Hypno, and Alakazam…"

"How did you come to find this information?"

"Officer Gambit allowed Shadow to interrogate Hypno before he was taken to the police station."

"You say Officer Gambit allowed it, so you were working with him closely?"

"Not very. It was mostly Shadow who did the talking."

"No further questions."

"Prosecution, the witness is yours."

"Mr Iceson," Ms Thot approached. "Could you tell the court your relation to the defendant?"

"I'm his boyfriend? Why does that matter?"

"So you'd do anything to help him, correct?"

"I, well yes I lov…"

"Even lie to the court?"

"What no i.."

"You lie, because you know if he's convicted you'll never see him again."

"Obje.."

"Shut up! I'd never lie to the court! You're just a bitch!"

"Mr Iceson!" The judge glared down.

Blade shrank into himself, ashamed.

"Prosecution rests your honor." She sat down.

"Mr Iceson, please leave the stand." The judge spoke again.

Blade stood up and returned to his seat beside Codsworth struggling not to cry.

"I'd like to call my next witness your honor."

"Call your witness."

"I call Rai Bolzen to the stand, but as he was hospitalized in the incident, in question, we have a video call prepared."

A screen at the side of the court turned on, showing the raichu.

"Mr Bolzen, I won't keep you from your recovery for long. You were present during the incident at Volution Manor. I have only a few questions for you. Who else was present?"

Rai coughed and focused on the screen. "It was me, my friends, Pyre, Blade, and Shadow, Officer Gambit, and a masked person called Jack of Blades."

"How did you sustain your injuries?"

"I was trying to recover a security tape to prove Shadow was innocent, but Jack caught me and stabbed me, during my escape he shot me through the shoulder with a crossbow." Rai coughed again.

"And you escaped single handedly, with your injuries?"

"No, Officer Gambit came and distracted Jack, giving me the chance to escape but he was knocked out just before I escaped."

"My last question." He reached into his briefcase and pulled out the tape. "Is this the tape you recovered?"

"Yes sir, that's the one."

"Your honor, on this tape is indisputable evidence of my client's innocence. But I would be remiss if I did not point out, when asked about the others present during the incident Officer Gambit lied by omission, he neglected to tell the court about this Jack of Blades who attacked Mr Bolzen."

"Mr Bolzen thank you for your time." The judge declared as the screen shut off. "This tape, let us see it."

The blaziken handed the tape to the bailiff. Upon playing the tape, the court watched as Jack executed Espeo, and Shadow teleported in trying to stop him then Shadow checking the espeon. And finally his arrest.

"This evidence is undeniable."

"Objection! This could be a fabrication." Ms Thot declared.

"Ms Thot unless you have some evidence to prove that, I have no choice but to dismiss and close this case." The gothitelle remained silent. "In the case of Icekey v Nightshade, I find the defendant, Shadow Nightshade, innocent."

Gambit stepped back into the middle of the court. "Your honor, if Shadow Nightshade is not guilty, then someone else is behind these murders."

Shadow looked at Gambit as he discreetly took the keys from the bailiff. What was he doing.

"Your point, Mr Gambit, I have other cases to attend to."

"Who could be behind it? Some kind of m mastermind, a mind behind the plan. Some villains grand design, to weaken our land." He stepped around the courtroom, as if in a dance of sorts. "So he must be roaming free, scheming more mastermindery. Where's he at? Who knows what he could unleash."

"What are you on about, if they're still out their the police will find them." Ms Thot spoke up.

"Oh its more than I can bear! I must make all of you awaaaare! Fuck it!" He raised his hand over his head swept it over his face, revealing a pale mask with gold accents, as a red cloak draped his head and golden armor coated his arms and legs. "I AM THE MASTERMIND! The one to hold the strings! No simple mon could comprehend the disaster!" he spun in place as Shadow began to slam his hands on the table before him. "Oh it stings, that you thought, you caught the schemer of my schemes! You're wrong! I confess, it was me and I have no regrets!" Gambit, or rather, Jack of Blades pulled the crossbow from his cloak firing it at the judge, then lunging for Blade.

Shadow in an instant kicked the table blocking the bolt and leaping between Jack and Blade.

The cloaked being let out a sharp claw stabbing it into Shadow. The darkrai grabbed him slamming his cuffed hands into the masked bisharp. They locked eyes and found themselves within Shadow's mind.

"Soon enough, you and the rest of your kind will die out."

"When I get free of these cuffs, I'm going to tear your limbs off one by one."

"When you do, I'll be happy to see you here again."

They returned to the real world and Shadow cut the cuffs from his wrists on the sharp edges of the bisharp's body.

Suddenly the masked being vanished, teleporting away.

"Bastard." Shadow sighed, he could feel it now, the tug, he'd laid an anchor down, and Jack didn't notice. "You cannot escape any longer." He turned back to face Blade. "Are you alright my dear?"

The sneasel was in tears as he jumped into Shadow's arms. "I was so scared Shadow!"

"You have nothing to fear. I will scare off any nightmare that dares intrude on your mind." Shadow hugged him back.

"You've got some good friends, young man." The blind Blaziken stepped up to them. "Without that tape, you might have been convicted."

"And I must apologize." The gothitelle approached. "I had no idea my key witness was manipulating us."

Shadow ignored her, focusing on Blade. But then he turned to the blaziken. "Thank you, Mr Murdock, I hope my father has given you fair compensation."

"Justice is its own compensation, young man, but the money is a bonus."

"Come along master Shadow, young master Blade." Codsworth beckoned them toward the door.

"Yes, let us go." Shadow lifted Blade bridal style and carried him to the door.