The Mask of Thorrgad by Storm Parakaitz
Chapter 4: Chasing Savage

Note: Notes from chapter 1 apply to the entire story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Ace Attorney, Pokémon, or any related characters and likewise used in this piece of writing. Well, obviously. What, you expected a comment here? Bah, go away.
Also, Panther X is like a super awesome beta reader.

Savage rounded the corner and found Pichie and Gale talking. "Ah, there you are."

Gale's green eye fixated on Savage. "What is it?" came his deep voice.

Savage scratched one of his gigantic ears with his hind paw. "Human."

"Oh, you mean Diego!" Pichie corrected. "Gale was curious about him too! Want me to-"

"No," Gale interrupted, shaking his head, "my brother... dislikes humans."

Pichie put her hand over her mouth and glanced over at Savage before looking down at her feet in guilt.

"Now, you're free to explain where you found him." Gale said, his voice gaining a more calm, father-like quality.

Pichie nodded. "Pichips and I crashed on the North Side while flying. Diego was there, and he was injured, I think. And really confused. He woke up and he was blind."

"Blind, you say..." Gale repeated.

"Yeah." She replied as Gale let out a hum in thought.

"What were you squirts doing on the North Side, anyway?" asked Savage.

Pichie tapped a foot. "Pichips wanted to go exploring... for real this time. He talked me into it since he knows I'm curious too."

"While we cannot stop you, we would like to think our efforts to persuade you aren't wasted." Gale commented sharply.

"No no, we won't leave." Pichie assured. "We're just curious."

"Curiosity killed the cat," Savage snapped.

Gale lowered his head to gaze at his brother. "Ignorance killed the cat. Curiosity was framed."

Savage sneered, "Why do you look at me when you say that?"

Gale didn't reply and turned to face Pichie, clearing his throat. "I have a knowledge of humans. I've met many before. Perhaps I can speak with him."

"I don't think he would mind if you did," Pichie stated.

Savage growled.

"Savage," Gale commanded, "keep quiet. There will be none of that. Diego holds no grudge – he doesn't even know what you look like."

Savage didn't reply.

"That's a first..." Pichie thought. She watched Gale as he briskly walked back toward Pichips and Diego. She looked back at Gale's brother – the spiky hair on his back was sticking straight up.

"Are you OK, Savage?" Pichie asked, concerned.

"Hmph. I'm fine." Savage assured. "I think I'm going to head home. Gale would want me to anyway, my temper's getting the better of me."

Pichie nodded in acknowledgment, "That's a good idea, but something tells me Gale would like it if you stayed and tried to overcome it..."

Savage growled, "Oh what do you know?! You're just a squirt." He spat as he stormed off. Pichie shook her head.

"I didn't mean it like that..." she said aloud.

The Mask of Thorrgad

Diego tilted his head back on the couch. His head wasn't pounding anymore, so that was a plus, but he still felt odd, as if he was sick or something. He then heard something run past him very quickly. Pichips made a confused sound, but didn't say anything about it.

"Hi Gale," he addressed another approaching body.

"Oh, Pichips, where is Savage?" came the aged-sounding voice.

"Oh he left."

"Hm. Why am I not surprised..." he muttered before clearing his throat. "Now then," Diego heard his voice closer that time. "Diego, your name was? I am sorry for the rudeness earlier. My brother and I have most likely caused you much confusion."

"Not a problem."

"Pichie tells me you're blind and in a tough spot right now. May I offer my assistance as well? You can't see it, but I'm incapable of sight in one eye myself."

"Hah, trust me, half the sight's all the difference."

"Oh, I'm quite sure. I wasn't implying that they were similar. However, I believe I could be of great assistance."

"Probably," Diego admitted, "the little princess told me they live alone, but you sound like a parent of some sort."

Gale chuckled. "Ahh, I am not; it is as she says. But I am a sort of older, father-like figure to them, as is my brother, Savage."

"That punk's your bother huh..."

"Yes," Gale replied, his voice tapering off to a concerned tone. "However, he's much younger and hasn't quite grown up yet."

"Ha. I know how that is. I haven't quite grown up myself." Diego noted.

"Really?" Gale sounded a little surprised. "For human standards, you look a bit older."

"Never heard that one before. What's next? Senior discounts?" Diego cracked.

"Well, it is to my knowledge, a human's hair turns white with age, am I not mistaken?"

Diego twisted his features in disgust. "My hair isn't white."

Pichips sat on Diego's shoulder and messed with the man's messy hair. "Looks pretty white to me."

Diego turned his head sharply, the twin falling off his head and then the couch with a pained "oof". How long was he out for? Did he sleep through his days? Is that why he felt weak? Did he somehow age while he was asleep? This was the worst possible news. He lowered his head, wishing he could look at himself now.

"Oh dear," Pichie's concerned voice rang.

"...I seem to have made a grave mistake..." Gale regretted. "Would you mind telling me how old you are?"

Diego looked back up into nothingness. "Last time I checked, I was 27."

"Well. You're much younger than I suspected... I always did have a tough time telling how old a human was."

This comment made Diego realise something. "You're speaking to me like you're not human."

"Of course he isn't!" Pichips squealed, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Diego heard a fist hit plastic, and the twin groaned in pain.

"Be quiet!" Pichie whispered.

Gale swallowed. "I'm a Manectric of 44."

A... Manectric? Diego scratched his head, a little curious. "...And that is?"

Gale cleared his throat, "I'm not sure to which you refer?"

"A Manac– whatever you are."

"Oh. A Manectric is a Pokémon."

"Ah," Diego ran a hand through his hair, "I guess that explains why I haven't heard of your species. There are a lot of those critters running around nowadays and it's hard to keep track of them all." he said as he remembered the wide variety of species he'd encountered in the past. "...How old did you say you were?"

"44."

"You're not incredibly old yourself, then." Diego commented.

Gale sighed. "For a human, perhaps not. For a Manectric, yes. Quite past my prime."

"So you're the Pokémon equivalent of an old man, eh? Guess that explains why I only heard several footsteps when you walk."

"I suppose. My brother, Savage, will live longer than I, as he's a Jolteon."

"Talk about putting things into perspective..."

Diego then heard someone jump onto the couch next to him. "Maybe you should tell Gale about what happened to you," it was Pichie, "if you can remember."

"Nothing new has come to light about that." Diego admitted. "But, hearing about Crimson Island does trigger some kinda deja vu. I remember talking about it with someone, but that's all I know, really."

"Hm," Gale wondered, "where do you come from?"

"California," Diego replied.

"Hey Gale, Pichips interrupted. It sounded like it was from a few feet away. "Where-"

"is California?" Pichie finished.

"Also, he told me he was from somewheres else." Pichips added.

Diego shook his head. "LA is in California, kid."

Gale let out a sigh. "I see. I lived in LA for a short amount of time myself, when Savage and I were looking for a place to live."

"Wait, does that know you might possibly know where I am?"

"Ah!" he heard both twins utter simultaneously.

Gale nodded. "You're quite the distance from home. Do you not remember taking a long trip?"

Diego thought about that for a moment. Maybe... "I think I remember something... yeah. I took a trip here."

The Pokémon released a satisfied grunt. "Well. I don't exactly know how far away you are, but I can tell you this island is regarded as isolated. You probably came here for a good reason, likely research involved as to find the place to begin with," he explained.

"I guess that's why I haven't heard of it."

"But wait," Pichips butted in, "there's a problem, Gale..."

This surprised the group. "Come again?" Gale asked.

"Well, you say Diego Armando came here for a good reason, because the place is isolated and stuff. But... you did the same thing, Gale. You came here. But why'd you do that?"

Silence fell upon the room, sans the electronic music. Diego guessed they were all staring – he would be, too.

Pichips cut the silence short. "What?"

"I am sorry," replied Gale, "I was having problems processing that question." he cleared his throat. "I came here because of some problems that arose..."

"How long ago was that?" asked Pichie.

"When you were still in liquid form." came the answer.

"Eww."

Diego nodded, "Suppose you wanted to get away from it."

"Yes," replied Gale, "it was hurting Savage gravely. You see, you can drench a fire and it will die – if the water simply splashes it, you still have a fire, but it won't burn as brightly."

"But..." Pichips squeaked, "I didn't ask about a fire... you never even started one!"

A drooping sound was heard. "Pichips," addressed his twin, "he's not being direct."

Diego nodded. "Think of it as a cup of coffee: black and pure. While milk and sugar may give it flavour, you're stuck with a corrupt awakening."

"B-b-b-b-b-but..."

Gale chuckled. "Not bad Diego, but you didn't quite hit the nail on the head."

"There is no nail!"

"No," the Manectric continued, "so let me explain: you have a rabbit, and its free and loving. Then it runs into a snare. If you get it out quickly, then it won't die, but the scars from the snare may never heal."

"I am so, so confused..."

"Poor Savage," Pichie commented.

"But Savage isn't a rabbit!" Pichips wept in confusion.

Pichie sighed.

"Don't sigh at me!"

"Then do you want me to explain?"

"...Nah, I don't care anymore."

Diego mentally rolled his eyes.