Summary: Based off of my headcanon for the Ketchum family.
~oOo~
A Pokemon Fanfiction
"Welcome Home, Ash"
Chapter One
~oOo~
The horn of the ship roared from the harbour. The platform was lowered and its passengers began to leave the ship one by one.
Ash had just arrived back in his home Region, Kanto, with Pikachu at his side.
"I can't wait to go home to mom and Mr. Mime." Said Ash.
"Pi! Pika, pika!" His Pikachu cried out in happiness.
Ash walked off of the ship and looked at his surrounding. The only major harbour that existed in Kanto was in Vermillion City. The city where he achieved his third gym badge from Lt. Surge. He could remember the troubles that happened on that day. Brock and Misty showed him the reality of Pokemon battles and gym battles all together. No gym leaders in their right minds would shamelessly give away their badges – save for Misty's sister, Daisy.
"Pika, pi, pikachu."
They looked out and realized the sun was about to set. Ash sighed and looked at his best friend who rested on his shoulder. "You're right. We should stay here for the night. I kind of want to call up Professor Oak and my mom."
The trainer and Pokemon made their way towards the Pokemon Center that stood tall and proud in the city of Vermillion. The glass doors slid open and he walked in, taking in every nostalgic memory from his travels in Kanto.
"Welco – oh! I remember you!"
"Hey there, Nurse Joy." Ash smiled.
Nurse Joy returned the gesture. "How have you and Pikachu been?"
He and Pikachu looked at one another before Ash replied the nurse. "We've been doing great!"
She cocked her head to the side. "That's very good to hear. So," she paused and folded her hands in front of her as Chansey waddled over to the front desk. "What can I help you with?"
"We were sort of thinking of staying over here for the night. Do you have any rooms available, Nurse Joy?" He asked.
She nodded and grabbed a book out. Ash and Pikachu heard the pages being turned endlessly before Nurse Joy stopped. Her finger landed somewhere on the page and they waited for her reply.
"Yes. We have one single bed room available."
"Awesome! You hear that, Pikachu?"
"Pika pi!" Pikachu wagged his tail and did a little fist pump.
"Oh yeah." Pikachu hopped onto the counter as Ash rummaged around. He took out five worn out pokeballs and handed them over to Nurse Joy. "Do you think you can heal my Pokemon as well?"
She took the pokeballs and assured that they will be taken care of.
"Thanks a lot, Nurse Joy." He said before he and Pikachu left to their room.
Once in their room, Ash dumped his jacket and backpack onto the bed while Pikachu landed softly on the bed. He sat down next to him and petted him gently. "You stay here, buddy. I'm going to go make a call, alright?" He felt Pikachu nod his head.
Ash let out a sigh and got up from the comfy bed. He checked the time on the wall of the orange-lit wall. "Eight thirty... I think I'll give mom a call first." With that, he left the room and headed back to the lobby of the Pokemon Center.
The line of video phones on the walls were almost empty. He made his way over to one of the empty ones and sat down. He picked up the phone and dialed his house. He couldn't help but smile like a goof as he heard it rung. His hands clenched tightly on his pants and his leg continued to bounce up and down.
"Ye – Ash!"
"Hey mom." He said calmly. His eyes stung and his vision started to blur.
Delia Ketchum heaved. A small smile flashed across her face. "Oh. My baby boy. How was your trip back?"
Ash wiped his eyes. Hearing his mothers voice was the most soothing thing ever. "It was really great, mom." He replied – he heard his voice crack.
"Ash... Don't you cry now. You're going to make me cry too." She teased.
He bit his lower lip and breathed in deep through his nose to keep it from running down. "I miss you, mom."
His mother looked at her son with solemn eyes. "I miss you too, Ash." She paused. "I assume you'll be leaving..."
"Vermillion."
She nodded. "Vermillion... You'll be leaving there tomorrow morning, yes?"
"Yeah... I would have made my way to the next city today, but the sun had started to set. I didn't want to take the chance of having to camp outside. Especially since it's cold out."
"That's my boy."
They talked for hours and hours before it was got very late. Ash covered his mouth as he emitted a yawn.
"You should go to bed, honey." His mother told him.
He shook his head and dismissed it with the wave of his hand. "I'm fine. I'm almost seventeen, mom. I'm practically a grown up!" His eyes shone brightly despite it being ten thirty.
"Ash. Please. You're still always going to be my baby boy, no matter how old you get." She said. Her eyes grew warm and cast out a sense of safety and belonging to the teenage trainer. It was odd seeing how they were talking through the video phone.
"I know..." He chortled. "I guess I can never win an argument against you, huh mom?"
She breathed out. "No, not really. Remember. I'm your mother, Ash."
He bobbed his head. "I know... But anyways. How's Mr. Mime doing?" He asked curiously.
She flashed a grin at her son and clapped her hands together. "Oh! He's doing exceptionally fine! He and I started a cleaning business!"
His brows rose up as his pupils shrunk. "A what business?"
"Cleaning business!" She shrilled with happiness.
"Why would you do that, mom?" He frowned.
Delia giggled. "Well... With you gone on your adventures. I don't really have much to do. Mr. Mime and I both. It always gets lonely here without you. Not to mention less work for us to do since you're not here and everything. I can't even remember the last time I picked up your dirty underwear..." She beamed up at her son as he turned bright red at the mention of his underwear. "And it's very hard to earn some income here. So Mr. Mime and I decided to start up our own cleaning business! I handle the paper works and Mr. Mime does the cleaning!"
Ash pursed his lips and furrowed his brows. "Are you sure that's a good idea? What if Mr. Mime gets fed up with it?"
"Ash. Don't you think I wouldn't have come up with a solution for that?" She left the view and all he heard was rummaging of papers. He peered over to see if he could get better view of where his mother was. Soon, she came back and held up a piece of paper with colourful drawings everywhere.
"Uh... What's that?" He asked, pointing to the paper.
"It's a contract Mr. Mime and I created. If one of us was ever fed up with the business, there would be a penalty." She explained with ease. However, that didn't convince Ash at all.
"Ash. Just trust your dear mother, okay?" She begged.
He moistened his lips and crinkled his nose. He thought for a moment about the things his mother had told him about this silly cleaning business. But he figured this was something she really enjoys and wanted. And what she said was right. He's been away from home for such a long time, she must have been bored out of her mind. And with his father out on his own journey, it was rather difficult to earn some money to keep the house and everything.
"Fine." He said finally. "I guess I can't stop what you want to do."
"Thank you, Ash."
He shook his head. "It's no problem. I'm glad that you found something you want to do!"
She nodded.
"Any trainers still out here should get to bed. It's almost half past ten." Nurse Joy announced to the remaining people that sat around in the lobby.
"I should go. I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early, mom!"
She laughed. "Don't you be cocky. Remember, you have to cross Mt. Silver and Viridian Forest to get back."
"I know. Which is why tomorrow, I'll call up Professor Oak and ask if he can send one of my flying type Pokemon to pick me up and fly back home!" He said enthusiastically.
She breathed out. "Oh Ash. Alright. I'll see you tomorrow. Sweet dreams."
His voice then became soft and vulnerable. As if he reverted back to being ten. "Goodnight mom..."
The screen went black and he hung up the phone back on it's post. He got up from his seat and headed back to his room where he saw Pikachu already sound asleep.
~oOo~
Morning arise and the sunlight leaked into Ash and Pikachu's room through the gaps from the curtains. Pidgeys and Spearows crowed out loudly from outside. Young hopeful trainers ran around and battles could be heard from the next town over. Ash however, slept through it all. It was until his partner poked him continuously with his tail.
"Mm..." Ash rolled over to his side, facing the wall.
"Pika..." The electric mouse Pokemon let out an exasperated sigh. With his tail still on his trainer, he let out a gentle thundershock on him.
Ash jumped out of bed after being electrocuted and fell flat on his face. Pikachu rushed over to his side with worry.
"Pi! Pika pi! Pikachu pika pi pi!"
"I-I'll be – I'll be fine..." He said with coughs in between words.
Once Ash recovered from minor injuries, he quickly got dressed and grabbed his belongings. Pikachu ran up his back and landed on his shoulders.
"You ready to go, buddy?" He asked.
"Pika!"
"Alright. I just need to make a quick call to Professor Oak first." He said. He exited the room and down the hall until he reached the Pokemon Center's lobby. Ash headed straight to the video phones and sat down at the booth. He and Pikachu waited for the other line to pick up. His dark amber eyes glanced over at the large pokeball clock that hung dangerously on the insulated wall that was technically the ground for the upper floor. It read ten past nine.
"He should be up already..." Ash said, concerned that the ringing has gone on for so long. Finally, a click was heard and the screen showed a young looking man with hair that shone a dark hue green under the light.
"Tracey!" He cried out.
"Whoa! Ash!?" Tracey leaned forward with squinted eyes before he stood back up properly. "Hey there Pikachu! How's it going you guys?" He asked.
Ash laughed. "It's going great! I'm in Vermillion City right now."
"You came back!? When!?"
"Yesterday evening."
"Oh man! Dude, we all miss you over here! All of your Pokemon from all over misses you as well!" Tracey exclaimed.
"I can't wait to see them!"
"Who's that on the video phone?" Came an old friendly voice. The man stepped into view and Ash gleamed with happiness.
"Professor Oak!" Ash shouted.
"Pika, pi!"
"Ash!?" Professor Oak looked into the monitor with widen eyes. After he got over the initial shock, he grinned brightly. "Ash! Pikachu! It's so good to see you two!"
"Same here, Professor." Ash snickered.
"Is there anything we can help you with, Ash?" Asked the Professor.
Ash jerked his head up and down. "Actually. Could you possibly send in whichever one of my flying type Pokemon to pick us up from Vermillion to Pallet Town?"
"One of your... Oh! I believe Pidgeot might be of some use."
"Uh... Professor..." Ash grimaced at the mention of his former Pokemon. "You do remember that I released Pidgeot to protect the other wild Pidgeys from the Fearow and Spearows, right?"
Pikachu cowered down onto the table from the sad memory from having to see a good friend leave their team.
Professor Oak burst into a fit of laughter. "Oh my. My memory must not be so well now that I'm all old and smelly, ha ha. Well then. You just stay there Ash. Don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll be quite pleased at who I'm sending to pick you up. Until then, wait outside the Pokemon Center. See you soon!"
The visuals no longer appeared. Professor Oak had hung up on the two of them. Ash couldn't help but scowled out of annoyance. But not personally to Professor Oak. Just the mention of having to release one of his favourite Pokemon from back then.
He sighed and picked up Pikachu. He had to collect his Pokemon that he had caught on-hand with him from Unova. He scuffled his way towards the counter and rang the little bell that sat quietly on the table.
"Yes?" Nurse Joy asked as she turned around.
"Are my Pokemon healed up?"
She acknowledged his question and handed him a tray with mini pokeballs. "Here you go. They're all healed up properly."
He sent her a forced smile and grabbed the pokeballs, putting them onto his belt before he bid Nurse Joy goodbye.
"Come again anytime!" She called out.
~oOo~
"I wonder how long it's going to take for whoever is going to pick us up..." Ash stated as he threw a couple blades of grass into the lifeless wind.
"Pi..."
Ash laid down on the grass and looked up into the cold skies. His mind went back to the conversation with Professor Oak about Pidgeot. He withdrew his lips into his mouth and bit on them. His heart pounded guiltily – especially after remembering that he had told Pidgeot he'd find him again after he completed his journey in the Orange Island. But he never did.
"Ugh. I hate this feeling..." He muttered.
"Pi! Pika pi! Pika pika!"
He turned his head towards his yellow Pokemon and eyed his strange behaviour. "What's going on Pikachu?"
"Pika! Pika pika!" Pikachu jumped up and down restlessly. Ash narrowed his eyes towards his friend and sat up. Pikachu continued to reach up into the air with a glaring smile. That was when Ash decided to see what Pikachu saw.
Just then, Ash had also wore a sentimental grin that could rival a couple at the alter. He shot up, plucked Pikachu off from the ground and waved his arms.
"Pidgeot!" He screamed. Tears flooded his eyes and had ran down his tanned cheeks, but he didn't care. Ash called out the Pokemon's name over and over again. Pidgeot encircled the area he and Pikachu were and noticed his once-upon-a-time trainer. Pidgeot dive bombed towards them with a beautiful crash landing.
"Pidgeot! Pid! Pidgeot pidgeot!" Pidgeot flapped his wings which caused a slight dust storm around them.
"It's so great to see you, Pidgeot!"
"Pidgeot! Pi pidgeot ot!" The large bird Pokemon embraced his former trainer and companion in a feathery hug.
"Pi-pika pi! Pikachu pika pi pi!"
The other two Pokemon had started to shed some tears while Ash was trying to dry his tear-stained face.
"Oh! It's so good to see you, Pidgeot! I missed you so much!" He sobbed into Pidgeot's wings. "I'm so sorry for not keeping my promise about finding you again after the Orange Island adventures. I'm really, really sorry..."
The tip of his wings patted Ash's back and consoled him. Indicating that he forgave his childish and forgetful trainer. "Pi. Pidgeot, pidgeot."
He sniffed and looked at Pidgeot straight in his eyes. "T-thanks."
oOoOoOoOoOo
A/N: Ya know... This was originally going to be a one-shot. But clearly my mind isn't allowing that. But that's a'right. I kinda like separating this into chapters.
Also, the bit 'bout Pidgeot being released is from "Pallet Party Panic". It was pretty sad... Though it's probably not as sad as Butterfree leaving. Oh man. So much nostalgia...
-EPRika-