Ash's Father: Red Ketchum 15th Anniversary Special
By: Lotty
*Author's note- This is my first fanfiction I ever wrote I am currently thirteen years old and I will appreciate any review you post weather it be a compliment or constructive criticism thank you. I will try to stay as in character as possible to do so I've kept the characters in the same age they are throughout the show ex.-Ash is ten and Misty's twelve. I'll also try to make it flow with the series too. It is set between the episodes Memories are Pearls and Friendship is a Diamond and To the Isshu region Zekrom's Shadow, when Ash returns home after challenging the Sinnoh League. They never did show what happens when he arrived home. So please enjoy my fanfiction that is based off of my popular fan made trailer Ash's Father: Red Ketchum 15th Anniversary Special!*
Prologue
Twelve years ago a young Delia was studying as a student of Professor Oak alongside Spencer Hale in Pallet Town. "Professor, do you think this is some evidence of a new species of Pokemon! "Said an enthusiastic Delia as she showed her teacher a specimen.
"Hmm, I don't know, Delia, I'll have to further investigate it. An interesting finding though perhaps- "Oak began, abruptly interrupted by the ring of the doorbell. Spencer went up to answer the door.
"Hello, my name's Red, Red Ketchum. May I speak to Professor Oak please? Said the stranger subtlety and meekly. Delia spied on the boy standing in the doorway who was in his mid to late teens, the same age as she.
"Yes, how can I assist you, lad?" asked Professor Oak to the strange, attractive, young man.
"I don't quite know how to say this… I know I'm no ten year old beginning trainer but… may I have a starter Pokemon, please, Professor Oak." Pleaded Red, the young man, who by now had stolen Delia's heart.
"Oh, sure, we've got plenty! Take your pick!" Delia interrupted showing Red the three poke'balls containing; Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle.
"Delia, those Pokemon are for the new trainer." Oak said sharply to his student.
"I know but he's so… let's make an exception, just this once." She persisted.
"Why, thank you, miss, and you would be…" Red said blushing at Delia.
"I'm Delia, I'm studying here at Professor Oak's Lab, you can stop by anytime." Said Delia in a flirty voice.
"Oh, I'll be sure to." Red replied in the same tone.
"Excuse me! Nobody got permission from me! First tell me why you want me to bend the rules then I'll decide if I'm willing to make an exception. Like a noble slowking I will make my judgment." Professor Oak said with his classic poetry twist. As Red began his story Delia gazed into his deep brown eyes and listened intently.
"Well, you see it all started when I was around ten years old…" he began
*Flashback*
"Mom, I'm ten years old now why can't I become a Pokemon trainer! Everyone else is allowed to be one but me. Dad was…" Red pleaded. Red's mother just paused for a minute in deep thought then she took a deep breath and began her excuse.
"Ever since your father…went away he doesn't want anything bad to happen to you." Mrs. Ketchum stated calmly.
"You always say Dad went away, what does that even mean!" Red demanded an answer.
"He died. There, I said it, I hate reliving that day, you were only six weeks old. I know you want to be a Pokemon Master just like him but…Team Rocket and Snagem don't take kindly to them." She said as Red all the painful, heartbreaking news in at once. He dashed up the stairs and buried his little face into a pillow and sobbed softly.
" I know it hurts, and I'm sorry I lied I just hate facing the facts so in my denial I hid them from you to prevent myself from hurting I made up lies, I'm sorry, dear." Mrs. Ketchum explained.
*Flashback end*
"So ever since then my mother's been afraid to lose me too but, now that I'm eighteen I make my own decision and I promised her I'd be all right." Red finished his tragic tale.
"That's awful." Delia murmured.
"Well I suppose…under special circumstances, we could permit you to have one." Oak said sympathetically.
"Thank you, sir and to you too, miss!" Said the mysterious boy as he selected Charmander and left the Laboratory. A year later Red won the Pokemon League and went on to challenge the Elite 4 and he was victorious earning himself the title of Pokemon Master. Pokemon Master, Red Ketchum made his homecoming tour to Pallet Town and met up with the girl from Oak's Lab and they spent more and more time together. Before they knew it young Delia and Red fell in love and were getting married. Soon after the wedding Delia discovered she was pregnant. When the baby boy was born Red came to the hospital room and held the perfect little baby with the adorable zig-zags beneath his eyes the same as he had.
"He's perfect and his hair is black as ash." Red said affectionately about his newborn son, to his wife.
"Red, I know what we should name our child, I want to call him Ash." Delia declared joyfully.
"Ash, Ash Ketchum, It's perfect for him." Said Red as he tickled Ash's stomach.
Five happy years passed for the Ketchum's Ash was growing up happy and healthy until one rainy morning. Red was intently watching the news on his father as a thunderstorm howled outside.
"Red, dear it's absolutely freezing in here, could you go put a coat on Ash, I'm busy cooking." Delia asked as Ash sat shivering in his high chair waiting for breakfast patiently.
"Please, daddy, it's so cold! Brrr Ash is cold, daddy!" Ash pleaded.
"No, later." Red said, brusquely as he turned up the volume on the TV.
"Red, are you just going to allow, your son to freeze?" Delia scolded her husband as the news report continued on about the TR raid that occurred several years ago to the previous Pokemon Master, Green Ketchum.
"Red!" Delia called, sharply becoming irritated.
"Shut up, Delia this is important, you wouldn't understand." Red snapped as he stormed out the door into the thunderstorm some thinking done.
"Red wait I didn't-"Delia began, she wanted to go after him but, she couldn't leave Ash unattended. A few hours later when Red came back in he was bitter and cold, literally and figuratively.
"I'm leaving." Red said, coldly.
"What!" Delia exclaimed in shock.
"It has nothing to do with you, Delia I just gotta get outta here as fast as I can. Take good care of our Ash, raise him well. I won't be back, probably ever. I have to be the best. I love Pokemon I can't just sit around here wasting my life away, raising a child I want to train Pokemon." He claimed
"Red, you're all ready a master what else do you want? I gave up my researching dream for you! How could you do this, Red, please, don't do this to me. Think about Ash he needs a father! Red, listen to me whatever, I said before I'm sorry please, don't go, Red, I love you!" Delia cried, heartbroken.
"It isn't you, that has nothing to do with why I have to leave, at least not the way you would think, I swear, don't feel this is your fault. I love both of you more than anything in the world but, I have to do this, I owe it to him. Besides I all ready gave 6 years of my life for you two it's time I hit the road again." Red explained he leaned forward and kissed Ash and Delia a fond farewell. Red picked up a bag and went off as little Ash chased after him.
"Don't go, please! What about mom! Traitor! … I'll be a Pokemon Master; too one day and then you'll have to face me!" Ash cried out the door as his father left never to be seen again. The only trace Ash ever saw of his father again was a note left in his bedroom that read:
Dear Son,
Never let anything get in the way of your dreams.
-Your Father