New Beginnings - Chapter 169 (Patreon)

Three hours of fast trekking later, mostly in complete silence as nobody had wanted to speak of what had just transpired, Ethan, Rachel, and Gideon burst through the treeline and onto Berry Falls. Immediately, Ethan noticed the happenings going on around his ranch. Joyce’s Pokemon Center was visible as soon as you reached his clearing, and outside of it several Rangers and two Officer Jennies spoke at length with several of their pokemon partners standing around, alert and ready. Around them Snorlax sat upright, an enormous angry frown plastered across his face as he folded his arms in an angry pouty stance. Up atop the red-roofed building, Chatot sat perched and looked down on the humans speaking. 

Off across the cobblestone path, at the camp grounds, several tents and a handful of other adults—rangers and some others in more casual wear—stood about chatting. Stalking around the outskirts of the camp, Ethan spotted Ursaring keeping an eye on their movements. It seemed that the Rangers either didn’t have much to do and sent everyone who was bored, or that something else was happening or happened while he was gone. Those same rangers also had pokemon out and about, most of them warily watching Ursaring as she slowly paced back and forth in the distance. 

Ethan strode down the path like he owned the place, which he did. Raising his hands, he stuck two fingers in his mouth and let loose a whistle as loud as he could. As the shrill sound grabbed the attention of everyone around, Ethan turned to Snorlax, whose frown had transitioned into an excited happy smile. Ethan held out his arms for a hug, kicking Snorlax into gear. 

Snorlax was massive, easily standing eight or nine feet tall and weighing what must be well over a thousand pounds of blobby goodness. To everyone but Ethan’s surprise (and their partner’s alarm), the massive furry lump of weight stood tall and immediately began to sprint towards Ethan’s welcoming embrace, ignoring everything else in the world.

Ethan assumed people thought that Snorlax were slow and slothful, and perhaps others were, he didn’t know… but what he did know is that his Snorlax wasn’t. Snorlax could out sprint Ethan any day of the week if he had a goal in mind, and Ethan had given him a goal with his outstretched arms. 

“SNOOOOOOOOOORE!” Snorlax bellowed as he sprinted forward, the grassy ground flattening as his massive feet slammed into the earth and held his immense weight. 

Ethan simply stood there with a smile, arms still held out and waiting. Rachel and Gideon had screamed and ran off toward the tents, the Rangers nearby waving them over as they watched Snorlax move. When Snorlax arrived, he barely slowed down. He zoomed right to the side of Ethan, using one of his massive paws to scoop up his trainer and spin him in a circle, then into a crushing loving hug. 

Ethan stuffed his face into Snorlax’s overly warm fur, feeling some of the anger he had during his walk fade away. Not all of it, of course… just some.  “Any trouble while I’ve been gone? How are you doing big guy?” 

“Sno-Snorlax.” Snorlax harumphed, which seemed like something Ralts would do, then straight up lifted Ethan up and onto his shoulder. 

The sudden transition threw him for a loop, having never rode on Snorlax before, but he quickly found his balance. His first thought was that everyone looked so small from over ten feet in the air. Is this what Chatot and Pachirisu felt when they rose on his? No wonder they always did it. 

“Mr. Reed, I presume?” A Jenny called out, one who wasn’t Jennifer. This one had been speaking to a Ranger by the Pokemon Center. By her feet, a Growlithe that most definitely wasn’t Growlie stood close as a guard dog, eyes warily watching Snorlax as he trudged toward them.

“Okay, let me down. Can’t really talk down to an officer like this.” Ethan spoke softly, “but I will definitely be riding your shoulder again in the future.” 

Snorlax let out a droning ‘Snooooor’ before grabbing Ethan with one of his massive paws directly around his waist, bringing him down to the Earth once more. “That’d be me. Thank you for coming, but there seems to be more people than I expected hanging about my ranch. Did something else happen in the last few hours? Any news about the three torturers?” 

The Jenny took his questions in, but stayed professional. “First off, I am Officer Jemma Jennings of the Eterna City Police Department, beside me is Officer Jane Jenny of the Floaroma Police Department.” 

Ethan gave them both a nod while trying to tell them apart. Other than maybe a year or two of age, they were as close to clones as he’d ever seen. Some of the Joys he’d met looked very subtly different, but these two were pretty much identical. 

“Before we reveal any information about the investigation regarding the Slakoth, I’d like to hear what happened from your point of view and what transpired. If you look over towards the tents, you can see one of my other compatriots speaking to the two trainers who were also involved. We’re just trying to get all the information and details so we have a good understanding of what happened.” Jemma explained. 

It made sense to Ethan—cross reference the stories to pick out the lies and what not. It was a good thing Ethan had nothing to hide. With a quick five minute explanation, with Jemma and occasionally Jane asking clarifying questions, he detailed the entire encounter to them. He even gracefully included the slap, which he knew wasn’t something that you should tell a police officer. 

“Thank you for the honesty. That lines up pretty well with what one of the others stated.” Jemma didn’t comment on the slap, which Ethan mistakenly took as approval. “While we confer with my compatriot over there once he’s done speaking with Gideon and Rachel, we’ll come speak with you again to go over what happens next.” 

“That sounds reasonable.” Ethan gestured to the Pokemon Center. “Can you tell me where Trent, Wade, and Calvin are now and how the Slakoth is doing? Also, why are there so many people here?”

Jemma paused, thinking on what she could and couldn’t say. Ethan helpfully added, “If they’re on my land, then I have the right to know.” And, he did. While he wasn’t super knowledgeable about the laws of Sinnoh in their entirety, he did in fact know that he was entitled to that at least. 

Seemingly agreeing after a little prod, Jemma spoke. “They’re secured in one of the few rooms the Pokemon Center has and are currently with another officer. I would ask that you not interact with them at this time.” Then, she steeled herself. In the one second it took for her to do so, Ethan’s heart felt heavy. “I am sorry to tell you that the Slakoth you defended passed away from its injuries not thirty minutes ago. The reason for the many Rangers present is due to finding out where exactly this Slakoth was found and if they had any siblings, parents, or guardians who will seek retribution. Slakings are extremely rare in Eterna Forest, but they do exist. Vigaroth is what they’re expecting, but this Slakoth may have been on its own. The rangers are coordinating with separate groups once they narrow down a location.”

Ethan took in the loss of the Slakoth along with several deep breaths. Quickly, he’d understood that he’d done everything that he could to save it. It wasn’t his fault that it passed away. It was Trents. Snorlax began to growl, which Ethan didn’t even know was possible, when his anger bubbled up. The Growlithe by Jane’s side also began to let out a low rumble of hate. “And what would the crimes for torturing a Slakoth to death be?”

Before she could respond, Ethan spoke again, cutting her off. “Before you answer, I am just going to be honest with you. If they are not severe, then I will have to call in favors to make them severe. I will call Champion Cynthia herself or Interpol.”

Normally, Ethan wouldn’t throw his metaphorical weight around, but Trent’s and Wade’s actions were unforgivable. Was he borrowing their power? Yes. Was he going to be ashamed of it? Absolutely not.

“I am afraid I cannot tell you the punishment for the crimes themselves, as they are on a case by case basis and outside my purview as an officer.” Jemma started, earning a resolute nod from Jane by her side. “But, it’s looking as if they’re going to be charged with aggravated pokemon cruelly resulting in death. Once we speak to everyone and clarify what happened some more, more charges will likely be issued, such as conspiracy to commit pokemon cruelty.”

“I’m going to go ahead and ask now for them to never come to my ranch. Whether that be through a restraining order or something else.” Ethan added.

Jemma gave a resolute nod. “That can be arranged at a later date, once everything here is wrapped up.” 

Jemma and Jane strode across the cobblestone path, making a large curve to avoid getting close to Snorlax. Ethan took the time to release all his pokemon, even including Meloetta, who turned invisible the instant she materialized. Once they were out and about, they looked at him for orders on what to do. They were not simply happy to be home, they saw through their pokeballs what had happened and what he felt. As stated, Ethan wasn’t very happy at the moment, and they knew.

“I’m going to go speak with Joyce and make some calls. Please go tell everyone else that we’re home. One of you, please find Smeargle and have him come talk to me.” His pokemon nodded. “Meloetta, you can show yourself if you want. Chatot is on the roof.” 

His pokemon scattered, with only Shuckle staying close. His rocky bug asked for uppies with his noodly limbs, which Ethan happily obliged. Shuckle was not happy. Shuckle, who had grown up in a world of bullies where he’d been picked on for being a Shuckle, knew full well what those teens were doing and why to that poor Slakoth. His berry bud wasn’t a poor defenseless pokemon any longer either, and Ethan could see the spark of fire lit within his normally peaceful pokemon. 

Shuckle was going to be a defender of the weak, that was for sure. 

Inside the Pokemon Center was quiet, the kind of quiet that calmed down tumultuous emotions. Knowing where the rooms were and knowing that Joyce wouldn’t mind him walking in the back, Ethan walked through to find her. One of the rooms was lit, letting him know where she was. He peered inside, finding Joyce filling out paper forms while looking at a tablet. Ethan knocked gently on the doorframe, grabbing her attention as he put on a tired smile. “How are you doing?” 

Joyce sighed heavily as she slumped her shoulder, eyes closed as she let loose. “It’s not the first time a pokemon in my care passed away. As bad as it is to say, you get used to it. I should be asking you the same thing. Also, welcome back.” 

Ethan took a seat opposite the desk Joyce sat at and put Shuckle onto it. Shuckle gave Joyce a little wave of greeting, but his berry bud was still pretty upset. “The whole trip went well right until the very end. It’s almost as if whenever I leave, something bad has to happen. Makes a person want to never leave again.” Ethan shrugged, a little downtrodden. “I did hit the kid pretty hard in the face though. He deserved it.”

Joyce gave him an unimpressed look. “He did, but you shouldn’t stoop to their level.”

Ethan understood Joyce’s point, but he’d do it again. So, he said as much. Joyce at least didn’t die on the moral hill. She shook her head in exasperation. 

“Do you think unconscious pokemon can feel my emotions?” Ethan suddenly asked, gaze squarely on the far wall. 

Joyce, who had returned to her paperwork, slowly turned her gaze upward to look at him. “I don’t know, but I think that Slakoth would have felt better knowing someone was there for him and on his side at the end. So, I am choosing to believe that they do.” 

They returned to a comfortable silence, with Shuckle joining Ethan in his thoughts. His noodly friend looked down at the table, brows furrowed. After a minute, Joyce spoke again. “By the way, you’re going to have to take Skiddo with you if you leave for a long time. She very much did not like anyone else milking her. James got kicked in the chest when he tried. Jessie wouldn’t stop telling me about it.”

The slight upturn on his lips caused Joyce to smile as well. She waved him out of her office soon after. “You probably want to go to their cottage. The Rangers came when they were in their outfit terrorizing the kids. It wasn’t a good look and I’m sure they’re not actually calm about it since I said they weren’t a part of Team Rocket anymore.” She snorted as she giggled. “I should have probably left out that very choice word.” 

Yeah… he’d probably need to calm things down over there. Jessie and James didn’t typically do things on a small scale. For all he knew, they were bunkered down in a siege. 

When Ethan left the pokemon center and walked to the Rocket’s cottage…

A miniature siege was well underway.