Ash was treating Green now, gently wiping her neck with a disinfecting wipe over the bruise while Clefairy constantly used [Heal Pulse] as he checked her over.
They were back at the remains of the park, where Ash had met up with Nora and the others, and May, Brock, and Max found them after Ash texted them.
When he brought Green and Wally over by carrying them, Green had asked for it. She might have been joking, but after what happened, he didn't even argue. He just picked them up and carried them.
Of course, Professor Lund had left to try and reset the Poké Ball lock mechanisms manually, and based on the fact that Clefairy was out right now, you could tell that it worked. How great that they worked NOW and not 10 minutes ago.
He had already quickly checked Wally over, and while doing so, he explained the basic gist of the situation to May, Brock, and Max. But when Nora asked about Damian, Ash could only look down, clench his fist, and tell her the truth.
It got away.
Even with everything Ash did, he couldn't save everyone.
Green hissed slightly when the wipe passed over a darker spot, then shot him a sideways look.
"Wow...didn't know you were this gentle," she rasped, her voice still rough, though there was a faint smirk there, "Kinda makes me wanna get strangled more often."
Ash didn't even look up, "Don't," he said flatly. He was not in a joking mood right now.
Her smirk faded a little, "…Right. Bad joke."
Nearby, Wally sat on the ground beside a bench, still rubbing the marks on his neck as he tried to breathe normally again while May tended to him, holding a small ice pack against his throat.
Brock was off helping clear debris from the incident with his Pokémon now that everything was over, making sure no one else was hurt in the rubble and helping move injured people to the hospital.
Ash would have helped too, but there was already a hospital in town, so they might as well do their job while he took care of Green and Wally here.
Meanwhile, Nora herself wasn't doing too well after hearing the news. She sat silently on one of the benches, staring down at Damian's Poké Ball belt, specifically one ball in particular, the one holding his Shaymin.
She felt herself wanting to cry out and blame herself. After all, if she had moved, he wouldn't have had to push her out of the way. And if you really thought about it, if she hadn't blamed Damian, he wouldn't have left her and come to LaRousse in the first place.
She stared at Shaymin's ball like it might suddenly open on its own and fix everything. It didn't.
And her Celebi was still a young one, so she couldn't just ask it to go back in time and fix all of this.
"I…" Her voice came out small, barely audible, "I shouldn't have—"
"You're not finishing that sentence."
Ash didn't even look up from Green's throat. He just kept treating her, making sure she would be okay.
He finished pressing the disinfectant pad gently along the last bruise on Green's neck, then nodded once to Clefairy.
"Good. You can ease off a bit."
"Clef…" Clefairy let out a short breath and sat down, but Green let her sit on her lap.
Then Ash continued while going into his bag and pulling out a rag, "You don't get to do that."
As he spoke, he held the rag out to Vee, and Vee blew on it with an [Icy Wind], getting it nice and cold. Then Ash gave it to Green to put on her neck.
Nora shook her head, gripping the belt tighter, "He pushed me out of the way. If I had just moved—"
"If you had moved," Ash cut in, "he would've grabbed someone else. Besides, he's the one who decided to save you."
Wally shifted slightly, still breathing carefully. His voice was weak, but he spoke anyway.
"H-he...made his own decision…" he said, glancing toward Nora, "That's what partners do...r-right?"
May gave him a small nod, keeping the ice pack steady against his neck, "Yeah. Damian chose to protect you. That doesn't mean you're to blame."
Nora looked down again, her grip loosening just slightly, "But...then what do we do now…?"
"I don't know," Ash said honestly. There was no point in pretending. He could put on a smile, but right now, with things as they were, he really did not have the luxury of that. He hadn't smiled once, which frankly was disorienting for everyone since they were so used to seeing Ash with that classic toothy grin.
"So we have some weird Pokémon, a weird guy that kidnapped someone and is doing who knows what, and we just have nothing to go off."
Max shifted closer to May, glancing between everyone, "So...we just...wait?" he asked uncertainly.
Ash shook his head immediately, "No," he said as he rubbed his head, "I've just got to think."
He rubbed his head and closed his eyes, trying to think about what he knew and what he didn't. So he knew that the events of Insurgence were happening, meaning Malde's plan was effectively to "heal" the world.
Now take that however you want. Ash knew where he was going after this, but not where that would be. He'd have to leave that part to D, but maybe he could still think of something.
If only he didn't also have the dumb Battle Frontier that Professor Oak was asking him to go to, and he didn't even tell him why. The only reason Ash could think of was something ridiculous like-Wait a minute.
Ash quickly started looking through the notes D got when he captured Sird and noticed something.
There was nothing about any armor in her secret storage. Wait, if that was the case, then that might mean…
Ash's eyes opened, "I think I have an idea where he's going."
Everyone's eyes turned to him as he said that, and Nora was the first to react, lifting her head, "Where?"
Ash rubbed his chin, "I'm not 100% sure," he said, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder, "but if we're going to try this lead, then we need to go now and go back to our original plan of going to the Battle Frontier."
"Eh?" Everyone immediately blinked owlishly, wondering what the heck that had to do with anything.
Ash saw their confusion and clarified, "I need to confirm something, and if I'm right, then I know for certain that he's going to show up at the Battle Frontier."
That immediately got a reaction out of them.
"Wait, why? What's going on at the Battle Frontier?" Brock asked, crossing his arms. I mean, he knew they were asked to go there, but that was about it.
"That's what I want to find out," Ash said, looking at his watch, "Looks like the first boat leaves in an hour, and the next one doesn't leave until tomorrow, so we need to get to the ship now."
Ash picked up Pikachu, Vee, and Clefairy and started walking while the group followed him.
"Wait, Ash, you've barely explained anything," May pointed out.
"I can explain it when there aren't as many people around," Ash said, gesturing with his eyes toward the people gathering around the city after everything that happened.
"Okay, no, hold on!" Green called, her voice still rough but louder now, "You don't just drop 'I figured it out' and then speed-walk away like that. That's illegal."
Ash didn't stop, "I said I'll explain when we're clear."
"Yeah, and I said that's annoying," she shot back, quickening her pace anyway. She winced slightly as the cold rag shifted against her neck but ignored it, "So explain faster."
Wally hurried along beside May, still a little unsteady but determined not to fall behind, "I-I think...we should listen to him…" he said between breaths, "Ash wouldn't say that unless he was sure…"
"I'm not sure," Ash corrected immediately, "I'm guessing."
"That's not better!" Max blurted.
"It is when it's the only lead we have," Ash reminded them, and that shut them up.
They passed the edge of the park, moving into the more open streets leading toward the harbor. The crowd was thicker here, people gathering, talking, panicking, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Ash guided them to the dock where fewer people were gathered as he found the ship that Professor Oak had prepared for them in advance after sending Ash and Green here before they headed to the Battle Frontier.
When they got onto the smaller ship, which didn't have its captain yet, since he would arrive when it was time to leave in a little less than an hour, Ash finally looked at them.
"Okay, do you wanna fill us in on what this plan is?" Green asked.
"Yeah, Ash, this isn't like you," May frowned.
"Fine, you want to hear it? I think he's after Jirachi," Ash revealed, crossing his arms.
That made everyone stare at him in shock, especially Nora. She looked like she nearly sputtered since that was another one of the Mythicals.
"What? Jirachi...like the wish-granting Jirachi?" Brock asked.
"Yeah," Ash nodded.
Green tilted her head, studying him carefully now, worried that the stress might be making him delusional, "…Okay," she said slowly, "I'm listening. But right now, that sounds like a massive leap."
"It is," Ash said bluntly, "And I'm not going to say it's perfect, but it's what I've got. But look—"
Ash rubbed his head because he knew this was kind of hard to believe without revealing things he did not want to reveal, but he had to try.
"I don't know much about this topic, but I do know that the Battle Frontier is located close to something called the Artisan Cave."
Green tapped her cheek thoughtfully, "I think I remember Professor Oak talking about that."
"Yeah, I think he said something about…" May continued as she pressed a finger against her head, trying to remember, "Ah, it's been so long…"
"It's basically where researchers theorize a sleeping Pokémon from space is, and we already know the stories," Ash finished, since most Mythicals had stories surrounding them that were treated like fairy tales...except for the fact that they knew they were real. They'd met some of them.
"Right, the fact that Jirachi sleeps for a thousand years," Wally added.
"So you think that Jirachi is gonna conveniently wake up soon?" Nora asked, especially with all the prophecies happening that she still couldn't make sense of.
"Well, Professor Oak asked for me, Green, and Gary to go specifically," Ash revealed, "As much as we like to joke, he doesn't do random things like this for no reason, so there has to be something he's not telling us either."
And that wasn't a lie. Ash had been suspecting Oak was withholding some important information.
"I see...well, it makes sense," Brock muttered, "And it's not like we have any other great ideas besides waiting around."
Ash leaned back slightly against the railing of the ship, arms crossed, eyes scanning each of them to make sure they were actually following.
"Look," he said, quieter now but still firm, "if I'm right, and yeah, that's still an if, then this isn't just about Damian anymore."
That immediately got Nora's attention again. Her fingers tightened slightly around the Poké Ball belt.
Ash shook his head, "We don't know what he would use the wish for if he got it, and frankly, I don't want to find out. But we're gonna have to be careful here."
"Okay, so what's the plan?" Brock finally asked.
"I guess our best bet is to enter the tournament like normal and keep our eyes open," Ash admitted, "And if he does show up, all we can do is try to protect people and beat him before he gets to Jirachi, and hopefully get Damian back that way."
"That's...certainly a plan," Green admitted. Maybe she would've made a joke normally, but nearly dying really takes the humor out of life for a bit, "But okay, I'm in. If you think it's worth a shot, I'm here with you, Ashy~"
May looked at Green, then quickly shook her head, snapping herself out of her thoughts as she raised her hand, "Yeah, count me in too!"
Brock raised one hand while the other was still crossed over his chest, "You already know that you can count on me."
"And I can try to help too…" Wally added.
Max didn't really count in the vote since he was too young. He didn't even have his Trainer License yet, so entering was out of the question for him.
But that left Nora.
Ash looked at her, "There's one more thing," he said.
Nora straightened slightly without meaning to.
But Ash shook his head, "You don't have to come with us."
That made her blink, "What?"
Green glanced at him out of the corner of her eye but didn't interrupt.
Ash continued, calm but firm, "Where we're going...if I'm right, it's going to get dangerous again. Probably worse than what just happened."
Nora's grip tightened again on the Poké Ball belt.
"So if you want to stay here," Ash said, "no one's going to blame you for that."
Nora looked down at the Poké Balls in her hand, especially Shaymin's. Then she took a deep breath and looked at everyone.
"I want to go."
"I'm not sitting around while Damian's out there because of me," Nora said, raising a fist, "So if I have to fight, then I'll do my best too!"
"Alright," Ash nodded, looking out to where Malde went.
To be honest, that wasn't the only reason. In fact, he thought he had a way to guarantee that Malde would come to him, but he'd rather save that as a last resort because he still didn't know if what he thought was happening was actually happening right now.
"Our best bet is gonna be to find Gary when we get there and fill him in," Ash said, rubbing his cheek. Then he pulled out his phone, "I'm going to make some calls. Give me a bit. Hopefully I get more answers."
Ash walked off to a corner of the boat, leaving the group where they were to process everything that had happened.
Meanwhile, Ash looked at his phone and took a breath. Then he pressed the call button and pulled the phone to his ear.
—
{Meanwhile with Ashtwo}
Sird sat in the center of the holding cell, her posture straight despite the restraints locking her wrists and ankles. The dim lighting cast long shadows across the walls.
Across from her, mounted into the reinforced wall, a large screen flickered faintly.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Giovanni said through the screen as he sat in his office all the way in Kanto, observing the situation.
Yeah, thankfully Matori had taken care of all the other stuff for him, so D didn't have to worry about explaining things, and plus D had already handed the "package" over to Matori to make them think that was all he got.
For a moment, Sird said nothing.
Then she laughed.
"…I was wondering how long it would take you to figure it out," she said, tilting her head slightly, "Though I suppose I should be impressed. You finally acted on it."
Giovanni's expression didn't change, "You betrayed Team Rocket," he said simply.
Sird's eyes narrowed slightly, "Don't insult me."
Then she leaned forward as much as the restraints allowed, her voice lowering.
"I was never part of Team Rocket."
Giovanni's fingers tapped once against the desk, "And yet," he replied evenly, "you spent years within my organization."
Sird's lips curled faintly, "And you used me just as much. Let's not pretend this was ever anything but convenience on both sides."
"I suppose I'll give you that," Giovanni said, resting his head on his fist.
"So what now? Are you planning to lock me up? Maybe turn me over to the League to raise your own credibility? You already know I won't be able to reveal anything important. After all, why would they ever believe any word I say over yours?" Sird said.
"No. I think I'll keep you right there until you give us the information we want."
Giovanni had already deduced, thanks to D's information, that Sird wasn't exactly loyal to Team Galactic either. Seemingly, her main concern was saving her own skin first, and everything else came after.
"But even if you don't," Giovanni continued as the cell door opened.
Then, when Sird saw who it was, her eyes widened.
It was something she didn't expect.
Io, B-2, and all the grunts were shoved inside, all handcuffed and stripped of their Poké Balls.
Io stumbled first, catching herself against the wall before glaring up immediately.
"You've got to be kidding me."
B-2 looked significantly less composed. The usually smug admin looked furious, bruised, and humiliated all at once as two Rocket grunts shoved him forward hard enough to nearly make him trip over Io.
One of the Rocket grunts sneered, "Move."
B-2 whipped around instantly, "Do you have any idea who I—"
The grunt slammed the door closed, and the metal bars hit him in the butt, making B-2 jump and nearly fall over.
Sird's eyes narrowed sharply, "You lost," she said flatly.
Io immediately glared at her, "Oh, shut up." Sure, seeing her captured confirmed that Sird didn't betray them, but Io still hated Sird because they were a little too alike.
Giovanni watched the entire thing silently from the screen.
Then he spoke again.
"You see," he said calmly, folding his hands together, "your situation is actually rather fortunate."
Sird's expression didn't change, "Fortunate."
"Yes." Giovanni's tone remained perfectly even, "Because if D's report is accurate, then Team Galactic has already marked all of you as traitors."
That made several of the grunts tense immediately.
Io's face darkened, "What."
Giovanni did not elaborate, "I'll leave you all there. We'll see how long your resistance lasts."
Then the screen went dark, leaving all of them there in the dimly lit cell with two grunts standing guard outside and watching.
Meanwhile, outside, D was sitting with Matori while she handled the paperwork. D sat slouched back in a chair near the wall, one leg crossed over the other while his gloved fingers lazily spun a pen.
Matori glanced up briefly from the paperwork.
"You caused quite a mess."
D shrugged lightly, "That was kinda the point."
Matori sighed and picked up one of the papers before speaking again.
"Giovanni also approved your request."
That got D's attention, "Oh?"
"You'll have expanded operational freedom moving forward."
Matori continued, "You'll still report major actions, but your success rate has earned you...flexibility."
D slowly stood from the chair, stretching slightly.
"Well then," he said lightly, shoving his hands into his pockets, "sounds like things worked out."
Matori watched him for a moment before speaking again.
"…D."
He paused near the doorway.
"You're still injured." Her tone became firmer, "Don't immediately throw yourself into another reckless operation."
D put his hands on the door, "I'm fine. I don't plan on throwing away my life just yet. I've got more to do."
Then he opened the door before looking back, "Are Sayoko and the others back yet?"
Matori let out a tired sigh, "Yes. They also asked to see you, and Orm is back as well. We're going to have to handle the Carr situation too."
D hummed, "Well, I did my part with Sird. You can figure out what to do with Carr. He may be an irresponsible idiot, a narcissist, and probably praying you wake up with back problems, but he isn't a traitor, if that's what you're asking me."
"I see," Matori sighed. To be honest, she was hoping that D would tell her Carr was a traitor. It would have made what he did make sense, but no, he's just an idiot.
"Well," D put his hands behind his head, acting casual, "you can deal with him. I'll go meet with everyone, I guess. Take care. Also, you should put your hair down more often, you look better like that," he said as he walked out.
Matori blinked at that and scoffed, looking away from the door and muttering something. But she quickly went back to work, trying not to let what he said affect her.
Meanwhile, D walked and pulled out his phone. Based on what he had, he estimated he had today and tomorrow if he wanted to catch Malde's plan and get what he needed. But with people watching him, that was a problem. So he was going to have to socialize here, but it wasn't the worst.
As he walked to the cafeteria, he saw his group at a table, and strangely enough, a wild Orm had been adopted into the center as he showed them his new baby Shuckles. D had to admit, Orm looked much happier.
D smiled under the mask and walked over, waving his hand, "Yo, you guys starting without me? And I thought we were friends."