Chapter 122 – Facing your past
It was the moment that made Max question every choice he had made that had led him to this point. To regret almost everything that had happened since he had stopped traveling with Ash. He had been on the Plasma Frigate when it had captured Necrozma and during it's dog fight with the Halberd. What had seemed like a victory was dashed by the devastating revaluation Team Rocket had a second Halberd.
From there things had only gone from bad to worse. Stripped to his underwear and imprisoned with the rest of the Team Plasma grunts and commanders, including Zinzolin of the Seven Sages, in a dungeon in Giovanni's castle. There he had been made to crouch on the balls of his feet with his hands behind his head for the amusement of some sick Team Rocket grunt.
As he had been crouching there, in pain, the muscles in his legs and back on fire, wondering what would become of him, Ashachu and friends had show up and teleported the entire castle into a military base of all places. Now he was locked in another dungeon. The anti-terrorist holding unit in the prison dungeon beneath the castle at Entralink, the capital of the Seven Nations.
Deep underground, a tiny cell he shared with grunts from Team Flare, Cipher and one girl from Team Galactic. She had to sit on the communal toilet in front of the other men in the cell, it was uncomfortable. No daylight, no contact with his family, his only communication with the surface world was his lawyer…The one sitting beside him now. An overweight man with dark hair and a neck beard dressed in a charcoal suit and tie.
The lawyer who had explained the situation to him…A hundred page indictment. Charges for Terrorism, conspiracy destruction of property, insurgency, Pokémon stealing, kidnapping and RICO. Life imprisonment in this cell if he was lucky. The gallows if he was not. His only hope, perhaps of ever seeing sunlight or his family again, were the people on the video screen in front of him.
"Alright Master Masato. Thank-you for agreeing to participate in this record of interview. Which I will note is being recorded. The time is 10:15pm Unova standard time. Now I believe your lawyer has explained the protocols."
Max took a deep breath. "Yes," he replied. His mouth was very dry. A pitcher of water and a glass had been provided (plastic, not glass), but with his hands handcuffed to the table in front of him it was of little use to him.
"And you are participating in this record of interview of your own free will."
"Yes."
"Very good. Let us begin."
The interview was being conducted by Special Counsel Heather Dunbar and one of her investigators, Blake, from an office in a nondescript government building in Castelia City. A world of distance between them.
"I want to talk about a trainer named Ashton Satoshi Ketchum," said Dunbar. "You know him."
Max nodded.
"I need to hear you say it for the recording, master Masato."
Max swallowed and said dryly, "Yes, I know him. We…We travel together a couple years ago. In the Hoenn and then the Kanto regions. He was my friend."
"And when was the last time you had contact with him?"
Max closed his eyes and thought about it. "I don't entirely remember. I think it was on a train. I was doing something for Team Plasma and…" He trailed off and glanced at his lawyer. The man sitting beside him said nothing. Max bit his lip, not wanting to continue and say something that would incriminate him.
"Ashton Ketchum is known to be a Poképhile. Is that correct," Dunbar asked curtly.
Max nodded again, but then remembered and said, "Yeah. He has a sexual relationship with his Pikachu. He's Ash's favourite Pokémon."
"And how do you know this."
"Ash told me. I-I…There was a night, when we were still travelling in Hoenn. It was hot and I couldn't sleep. We were camping somewhere. I think it was near Mount Pyre. I heard noise and followed them and…I found Ash and Pikachu having sex. Ash was on his knees and he had his…had his penis in Pikachu's anus." It felt embarrassing to say this. Wrong. Like he was betraying an intimate part of Ash's life. Something he had no business doing. But if it saved him from hanging then… "Ash stopped when he saw I'd found them. He put his pants back on and then explained that he and Pikachu were more than just friends. He said they loved each other and that they were in a relationship."
"What other Pokémon did Ash train?"
"He's trained lots of different Pokémon." Max coughed. His throat was very dry. "He had a Swellow, and a Corphish, then there was Grovyle."
"Did he have an Oshawott?" It was Blake who asked the question this time. His voice was dull and commanding.
"I know he caught one. In the Unova Region," explained Max. "I think it was with him the last time I saw Ash, but I can't remember."
Dunbar pursed her lips, clearly exasperated with what she was being told.
Max felt a jolt of fear in his stomach. "Hey, is thing going to…"
"I will ask the questions her Master Masato," said Dunbar.
"Don't worry about a deal now," his lawyer whispered to him. "This is fine, just keep answering their questions honestly."
Max buried his head in his hands, trying to fight back tears.
"As far as you are aware, did Ashton ever produced any offspring with one of his Pokémon," Dunbar asked.
Max nodded then spoke into his hands, "Yup. He and Pikachu had a Pichu. They named him Ashachu."
"And you know this."
"Through Team Plasma. Ashachu was there when we were on the train."
"What about the Oshawott."
Max shook his head. "No."
Dunbar turned to her colleague. "I think we should terminate this interview. He's not going to give us anything."
"No no I can help," cried Max desperately looking up from his hands. They couldn't discard him like this. He had to get out of here. "I-I-I am being honest. Ash…" His eyes were red.
"M'am I don't think he's lying," Blake replied to Dunbar. "Look, he's clearly desperate."
"Nothing he's told us so far is particularly useful," said Dunbar. "We keep hearing two different versions of the same story about Ash. We have witnesses who say he's mated to a Pikachu, which contradicts the Team Skull members who have been prepared to testify who say they were told to steal a pregnant Oshawott from a trainer named Ash. Nothing is consistent and nothing links it with the Aether Foundation or proves the Foundation or Lusamine were trying to steal either a pregnant Oshawott or an Oshawott kit. Given how little recent contact this kid and Ash have had, I'm not convinced he's telling the truth about there being an Oshawott."
"I'm not lying," protested Max loudly.
His lawyer held up a hand to quieten him.
"Let's try a different approach," suggested Blake. "He may still have some useful information we can use to connect the dots." He turned back to Max. "When you were travelling with Ash, did he have any contact with members of any terrorist organisation. Team Rocket for instance."
Max's eyes lit up. "All the time. There were these three creeps that always followed us around, trying to steal his Pikachu. Jessie, James and Meowth. Ash fought with them nearly every day."
For the first time in the interview, Blake seemed interested. He raised his eyebrows and lent forward. "Really."
Dunbar pulled a tablet computer that was sitting on the desk closer to her and started typing something. "It looks like a Jessie and James were arrested in the Mossdeep incident. No record of a Meowth though."
"How long had they been trying to take his Pikachu from him," asked Blake.
"Ash said it was as long as he'd been a trainer. Since the second day of his journey."
"There's a criminal history," Dunbar said to her colleague. "Outstanding arrest warrants in Kanto, Johto, Rhyme City…Almost every region."
"If they'd been following him for that long they may have kept following him after Ash and Max parted ways," suggested Blake. "And if they wanted to steal one Pikachu that badly it might mean they were spying on him. They would know of there was an Oshawott kit."
Dunbar nodded. "And if they're facing this many charges I'm betting at least one of them will be willing to make a deal. Alright." She looked back at Max. "Thank-you Master Masato. I think we will leave things here. Interview terminated at 10:25pm."
"It's over. Wait, what about…" The screen when blank. Max couldn't hold back any longer. He buried his head in his hands and let the tears flow…
"This is still a long shot," Dunbar said, folding her hands together. "And we would need the CDPP's buy in if there's going to be a deal with Jessie or James. Max too for that matter."
"If we can definitively prove that this Ash kid had an Oshawott that gave birth to an aura Oshawott who fused with the energy of a dying Cosmog, we can link the Aether Foundation to the Team Skull attacks which is enough for a RICO indictment for the whole organisation," said Blade. "Then we just need to get the low hanging Exeggcute to flip."
Dunbar pursed her lips as she stood up and gathered her things. "That would be a circumstantial case. Personally, I still believe unless we can get testimony from either Faba or Guzma it will be hard to link the Aether Foundation to either the P2 conspiracy, or a broader conspiracy to experiment on Cosmog. Unfortunately, both of them have seem to have disappeared off the face of the earth. And I don't yet see a clear link to the government… Even so, I will reach out to Jessie and James's lawyers and offer the opportunity to be interviewed. In the meantime, I want you to pull their paperwork. All warrants and charges from every jurisdiction they've committed crimes in. See if that corroborates Max's statements."
Blake nodded once, rising to his feet. "Understood M'am."
The door to the room suddenly opened and a bespectacled man entered holding a set of papers. He held them out to Dunbar and said, "Umm Miss Dunbar, we just received this."
Dunbar took the papers from him and raised her eyebrows. "Well. Isn't that interesting…" She handed it back to him and added, "tell Kate to contact her solicitors and arrange a meeting with one of our agents. As soon as possible. We want to get on top of this fast…"
[Pokémon]
Pallet Town…
"What's going on here…" Ash surveyed the area with a frown on his face. He looked from Geyser and Charizard, who were looking daggers at each other, to Dragonite rubbing his head with claw, to Charichu and Ryu near their parents and Ashachu with his… "Ashachu why is your." He stopped himself before saying the word cock out.
Ashachu blushed and dropped back to his all fours so as to hide his shame.
"We were just," Geyser started, but then like Ash stopped himself. "Playing…" He mumbled.
"Pikachu." Pikachu made a mental note to find out what had been going on later, in case it was something he needed to intervene in later. His sharp eyes were drawn beyond the immediate screen to the dark outline of a certain Sneasel was fleeing across the grass. He frowned wondering if he should say something. His trainer hadn't noticed.
"Osha osha," Oshawott called out to Geyer, who growled back.
"Like I said, we were just playing. We got interrupted by a Gyarados who was chasing Charichu and Ryu. Luckily Charizard and Dragonite showed up, and Charizard scared it off."
"Zar." Charizard raised his brow Geyser, unsure why he had left out the part about Blade and the near fight.
Ash didn't seem to notice this, too preoccupied by his missing kit. "Has anybody seen Thunderbolt," he asked.
As if on que, the little Pichu popped out from on top of Charizard's head. "Pich pi Pichu."
Ash and Pikachu both breathed heavy sighs of relief. They both felt knots of stress untie in their chests.
"Thank Arceus."
"Pikachu."
"Zard." Charizard raised his claw, scooped Thunderbolt off his head and held him out to Ash.
Ash reached out and picked the little Pichu out of Charizard's claws with both hands. He held the tiny mouse up above his head, as Charizard had done with Charichu, and said happily, "Are you okay Thunderbolt."
"Pika pikachu!"
Like Charizard, he then scolded his kit. "You shouldn't have wandered off like that. It was really dangerous."
"Pika pikachu." Pikachu's voice dropped to a growled as he too scowled at their kit.
Thunderbolts ears dropped and he mumbled sadly, "Pichu pi," in apology.
The hard expression on Ash's face softened. "Still. I'm glad your safe." He lowered the Pichu down and turned back to Charizard. "And thank-you Charizard for finding him."
"Char." Charizard nodded.
"Char Charmander!"
Ash felt a small set of claws grip his legs and warm scales against his skin. He looked down to see Charichu hugging his leg. His heart skipped a beat…so this at last was his grand kit.
"Heh…So you're Charichu." He knelt down so he was at the Charmander's level, and stroked the little lizard on the top of his head. "You're sweet."
"Char." Charichu lifted his head so he appeared to be looking at Ash and took a deep sniff.
Pikachu stretched out on shoulder to take a better look, as Thunderbolt crawled up his arm and onto Ash's head.
Oshawott made a scoffing sound, frowning at Charichu. "Osh!" A second later he caught Charizard's eye and his face turned red. He slipped a little further down Ash's back, as though to hide himself from the Flame Pokémon.
"Char." Charizard chuckled at the firhgtened Oshawott. He moved closer to Ash and put a claw on his hatchlings back.
Ash glanced upwards at Charizard for a second, before bowing his head and placing a small kiss on the top of Charichu's warm scaly head. A second later, he felt something else bump against his legs, nearly causing him to loose his balance. Turning his head he found Ryu nuzzling him in the side of the ribs.
"Heh…Hello to you too." Ash rubbed the Dratini's head with his free hand. "You must be Dragonite's…hang on." He had noticed a tiny birthmark on Ryu's chest. Shaped like a Z. Not unlike one on a certain other Pokémon.
Ash turned his attention back to Charichu, as he felt the Charmander's claws exploring his body. It was then that he noticed the Charmander's eyes. Pale and milky, and seemingly out of focus. Not looking directly in front of the lizard. "Umm Charizard. Ashachu," he asked. "Is he…Can he not."
"Zard," Charizard grumbled. It was confirmation enough.
"He's blind," Ash whispered to Pikachu, who nodded and cooed sorely, 'Chu."
A blind Charmander…That would pose challenges. Ash was starting to understand why Charizard had been so initially protective of the hatchling.
[Pokémon]
A few hours later…
A proper wake up, a meal, and then it was time for training…
Training was split into two groups. The hatchlings with Charizard and the adult and older kit Pokémon with Ash and the others. By now it was mid-morning and the sun was high in the sky overhead.
"The match is between Goodra and Dragonite. On your marks.."
It was a typical mock battle between Ash and Cameron, while Pikachu, Oshawott, Lucario, Hunter, Growlithe, Geyser and Sniveon watched on. Jimmy acting as referee with Typhlosion beside him.
"Get ready!"
"Nite."
"Goodra!"
The two dragon types assumed battle ready stances; Goodra spread his legs apart with his tail low to the ground. Dragonite similarly spread his legs, but keep his tail high and his wings spread apart. He bent his knees slightly, so he could take flight quickly.
"GO!"
"TYYYY."
Jimmy pumped his fist into the air as Typhlosion let out a loud roar.
Ash launched straight into action. "Dragon rush," he bellowed.
Dragonite sprang from the ground, launching himself at Goodra like a scaly torpedo. His body became enveloped in a blue aura. Goodra braced himself for impact, bending his knees and crossing his arms across his chest. There was a loud SMACKing sound as Dragonite crashed into him. Goodra drug his feet into the grass. He was sent reeling backwards through the grass, but managed to remain on his feet.
"Yeah, that's the way Goodra," Cameron cheer, pumping his arm into the air.
Lucario, Hunter and Growlithe all roared their support, their cries filling their air along with Camerons. Well, Hunter had actually called out, "kick his arse, Dragonite," though not loudly enough for his parents to hear him.
"Gooo-DRAAAA!" Goodra raised his arms and flexed his muscles letting out a loud roar, as Dragonite straighten up. From the burises and dirt on Goodra's body he had taken damage, but not enough to render him out.
"Now use Dragonbreath."
"Goo-DRA!" Goodra fired a jet of green and orange flames, which engulfed Dragonite. It caused the opposite dragon type to grunt and grit his teeth in pain, but he likewise managed to remain standing.
"Yeah, you fight back and kick his arse Dragonite," mumbled Hunter, rubbing his paws together. "Big snotball deserves to be taken down a peg."
Growlithe cocked his head, frowning at the Riolu. "Come on. Can't we all just get along."
Hunter snorted. "Don't ask me. He was the one who started it, acting all snooty."
The flames disappeared, leaving Dragonite breathing heavily and in pain, but still with a determined look in his eyes. It was Ash and his Pokémon's turn to cheer.
"Uhh hey Hunter," Growlithe asked. "I heard something about you and Blade. Is it true that." He cut off mid-sentence at the first shock, then aggravated look on Hunter's face.
The Riolu's eyes snapped back to Goodra, suddenly blazing with anger. "What. Who told you. Was it the snotball. I'll kill him….And no it's nto true."
Growlite started at him, wide eyed. "Err I only heard something about a fight, and you being…"
"It's not true," Hunter reiterated, blushing slightly. "For the record, I kicked Blade's arse."
Ash and Cameron called their next attacks simultaneously.
"Dragonite, use Dragon claw."
"Breaking swipe."
As the two Pokémon attacked each other and odd thing happened. A small, black furry creature fell from the sky, and came crashing into the small of Dragonite's back between his wings. Dragonite fell forward into Goodra, and the three of them ended up in a massive pile. Ash, Cameron and Jimmy rushed over to see what had happened, and the rest of the Pokémon present gathered around in a circle.
"Dragonite!"
"Is everyone okay?"
"Urgh…Get off me. You're pressing my face into the dirt. What the hell," groaned Goodra. "Ack, don't push you claws in my back."
"Sorry, sorry," said Dragonite hurriedly, as pushed himself off Goodra and back to his feet. He reached around him, and pulled the blue furry creature off his back.
"Hey," he protested. "Claws off the merchandise."
Cameron let out a heavy sigh. "There you are Blade."
"Where in the distorition world have you been," added Lucario.
"I found him for you," came Flygon's voice from above.
"Yeah, but you didn't have to drop him on us," grumbled Dragonite, as he dropped Blade back onto the grass.
"Hey you try holding onto him when he doesn't want to," Flygon retorted.
Dragonite pulled a face. "I have."
"Ahh." Blade got back to his feet and dusted himself off. He then looked around at all of the Pokémon and their trainers gathered around him. "So I've got a welcoming party. How thoughtful of you all."
"Quit goofing around Blade," said Cameron. "Where have you been. I thought I told you not to go wandering off."
Blade shrugged. "Heh. Come on, you gonna blame a guy for wanting to be alone with his thoughts. Isn't this dumb ranch for allowing Pokémon to roam freely. You know, so they don't realise they're in cpativelty."
Cameron folded his arms and frowned at the Sneasel. "Seriously, it you can't behave, you're going back in you Pokéball."
"Wait a minute. I know that voice." Goodra climbed back onto his all fours. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of Blade. "I thought I recognised you earlier, when we were back in Alola. It really is you isn't it," he said idnigenlty.
Blade frowned and coxed. "Ummm….Do I know you."
Goodra got back to his full height. He towered over Blade and put his paws on his hips. "After what you did, you sly Sneasel, you've got a lot of nerve giving me that perplexed look."
Blade frowned a bit harder. He opened his mouth to speak, but only managed to produce, "errrr."
Everybody else was looking from one Pokémon to another, equally confused. Cameron blurted out, "Huh, Goodra what are you on about. You've both been on our team for a while now. How can you…"
Goodra continued, ignoring his trainer. "Using me as you did to get your boyfriend jealous, then leaving me cold and alone as you did."
Comprension slowly dawned on Blade's face. "Oh…Oh yeah. It's you."
"Now he remembers."
Cameron scratched his head. "Wait. So you do know each other….Blade, what did you do?" He asked suspiciously.
A wide grin crossed Blade's muzzle. "Hehehe. Don't pretend you didn't enjoy. Screaming my name as you did."
The murmuring from other the Pokémon became a defeaning plea for further information.
"Wait, what's he talking about, Blade."
"Goodra, did you and Blade…"
"Ooooh ex-lovers tiff!"
Goodra's eyes narrowed to slits. He glanced around, then folded his arms and said smugly, "Oh yeah, I remember Blade from before I was caught, he acts all tough and assertive, but he's such a bottom, you should've heard how he moaned when I fucked him."
Blade raised his brows. "Wait…You fucked me," he said incredulously. But before he could say anything else, he noticed the way Lucario was looking at him, and decided to keep his mouth shut. He folded his arms and turned his head sideways, with his eyes to the ground. "I'll get you for saying that, Goomy brain," he mumbled under his breath. Luckily nobody else heard him.
"Alright, alright everybody," said an exasperated Cameron, holding up his arm to quieten everybody. "We don't all need to know the details. Goodra, Blade. Whatever you've had in the past, I expect you to work together now you're on the same team. No fighting."
"Oh, it's not fighting you need to worry about," exclaimed a smug Goodra. "It's…"
"Enough," Lucario barked. He added "both of you," as Blade opened his mouth to retort.
The two Pokémon fell silent as Lucario gave them each a glare. Neither wanted to piss him of all Pokémon off. Blade did manage to shoot Goodra a certain look…And he was pleased with the look Goodra gave him in response, even though it was fleeting.
"Can we get back to training," Cameron pleaded. "Please…"
….And so they did. The rest of the fight wasn't particularly spectacular. Goodra was able to withstand many direct hit from supereffective dragon type moves, but ultimately proved not to be a match for Dragonite's speed, agility and strength. The fight ended with him lying unconscious on his back with a triumphant Dragonite standing over him. Ash's Pokémon (and Hunter) all cheered, Ash and Cameron shook hands, and Flygon even gave Dragonite a lick on the cheek, making him blush.
"Good job Goodra," said Cameron as he returned the dragon type to it's Pokéball. "Take a long rest… Okay Jimmy you're turn!" The agreement had been for Jimmy to battle the winner, while the loser became the referee.
He and Cameron switched places and Ash recalled Dragonite, who went back to stand with the rest of Ash's Pokémon.
[Pokémon]
Back in a non-descript government building in Castelia City…
"Your lawyer has explained the protocols. Is that correct?"
"They have, yes."
"And you are participating in this record of interview of your own free will?"
"I am."
"Now. I must inform you that, while your cooperation today may be considered by prosecutors or the court for a plea agreement or sentencing, you are not currently being offered any such arrangement. You participate in this record of interview without expectation of any benefit to yourself."
"I. I understand, yes!"
"Then let us begin."
The man on the television screen being broadcast from the dungeon beneath Entralink was James of (or formally of) Team Rocket. Even the short period of time he had been held in the anti-terrorist holding cells beneath the capital had changed him. His face appeared gaunt, and there were dark shadow under his eyes. His usually confident demenour had vanished and his voice, normally slightly effeminate, had turned dry and hoarse.
"I'll…I'll tell you everything you want to know," he said.
"Do you know a trainer called Ash Ketchum?" Asked Dunbar.
James nodded. "Yes. I know him well."
"I won't ask you anything that could inculpate you in the current charges before the court. I only need to know one thing. Does he have either an Oshawott or Pichu kit on his team."
"Yes, he had both," said James.
Dunbar and Blake exchanged looks. Now they were getting somewhere.
"Both."
"Yes both," James confirmed.
A small smile crossed Dunbar's mouth. "Are either the Oshawott or the Pichu kits his progeny."
"Yes they are," said James. "Oh and they're not a Pichu and Oshawott anymore. They both evolved into a Raichu and a Samurott respectively. They're names are Ashachu and Geyser."
Dunbar nodded slowly. "Good. And are either or both of them aura powered."
"Yes, they both are," said James.
"And, again without inculpating yourself," added Blake. "Are you aware of any attempts to steal or Pokébnap either Ashachu or Geyser. By an criminal organisation other than Team Rocket."
"W-well yes. Umm take your pick. Team Flare, Team Skull, Cipher…. The Aether Foundation."
Dunbar and Blake looked at each other again. This time the prosecutor was unable to hide her smile.
"Tell us everything you know!"