Author's Notes: I actually began writing this in 2011 and only rediscovered it this evening. I've decided to make it into a short little fic, and I anticipate that I'll write another chapter for it. I hope that you enjoy this fic, and that you find the time once finished reading it to leave me a review. Thank you for checking this fic out, and enjoy the story.
"Alright, class, settle down, now!" Miss McKenzie called above the babble of the classroom. Silence fell, the children took their seats, and their teacher beamed at her young class. She taught mostly six and seven-year-old children, though there weren't many kids who lived in Pallet Town. She placed a large Perspex box on her desk. Immediately a ripple of excitement swept across the children in the room, and Miss McKenzie's smile only widened. It was arts and crafts day, one of the children's favourite lessons of the week. It was a chance to get both messy and creative – something her young class liked a lot.
"Today is St Valentine's day," she announced. She allowed just a few seconds for the boys to make retching noises, and for the girls to whisper and giggle excitedly. "So what we are going to do today is make each other some Valentine's cards!" Miss McKenzie opened the box and began fishing out supplies. "So class, get out your glue sticks, pencil crayons and scissors. I have a few spare crayons or felt-tip pens if anyone needs them, and of course-" She produced a thick wad of brightly coloured card, "-Some card. I will give you each..."
'Valentine's day?' Ash Ketchum thought to himself, confused as he looked around at the excited girls around him. A couple of them looked at him and giggled, whispering behind their hands to their partners. Just what was everyone getting so worked up about? It's not like they would be painting Pokémon portraits this week, Ash realised dully. Maybe he could convince Gary to do that with him later. Maybe. Unless Gary said that that was stupid, because something always was stupid if Gary said so.
Ash had been musing for so long, that Miss McKenzie had finally made it around to his table and was handing out the brightly coloured card. Before she could ask him which colour he preferred, Ash blurted, "Miss, what's Valentine's Day?"
Those in the immediate vicinity started laughing at him, and Ash flushed bright red. It wasn't his fault if he didn't know, Ash thought to himself stubbornly. Besides, teachers were there to tell you when you didn't know about something.
Miss McKenzie snapped at the laughing children nearby to stop doing so, and turned back to Ash with a kind expression. She felt guilty for having not explained the holiday to Ash. It was unlikely he would have ever been told, as his mother was divorced and never received any Valentine's presents because of it. She knelt down beside him.
"Valentine's day is a very special day," she explained, her bright smile everlasting. "It's when you have to make people feel very special and loved, so people give cards, or chocolates, or flowers to the people they love."
"Oh! So I should give a card to my Mom?" Ash asked. The listeners-in giggled again. Miss McKenzie barked them a quick warning that anyone caught being nasty would be sent to the Headmaster's office, and they immediately bent over their work, faces serious again. Ash kicked his legs against his chair. He wasn't terribly confident in front of the other children, and this was only worsening his anxiety. It wouldn't be a problem if his best friend, Gary, was in the same class. But he wasn't. He was with the older boys and girls, probably learning about cool stuff, or probably doing drawings of his favourite Pokémon, like Blastoise and Charizard.
"Well... Yes, I suppose you could make your Mom a card, yes, Ash. Very good." Miss McKenzie conceded, thinking that Delia Ketchum would actually very much appreciate some attention on Valentine's Day. "But normally you give Valentine's presents to people who you are in love with, Ash. Maybe you could make two cards? So that you could give one to your Mom and one to someone else you love?"
At that suggestion, Ash perked up. He knew exactly who he would give his second card to. He thanked the teacher enthusiastically, grabbed his colouring pencils from inside his pencil case, and began to draw.
In what seemed like no time at all to six-year-old Ash Ketchum, the bell rang to signify that it was the end of the school day. Ash had just put the final touches onto his cards, and he carefully placed one in his schoolbag, and the other he clutched tightly in his hands.
He raced out of the school building, eyes scanning the playground for his mother. He found her chatting away to Professor Oak, who was minding a very bored looking Gary. Ash's face brightened when he saw his best friend, and he ran across as fast as his little legs could carry him.
"Hello Ash!" Delia beamed at her son. He panted out a reply, and turned to his best friend in the whole wide world. They immediately started chatting about Pokémon, and would have started playing together – their favourite game, where Gary pretended he was a Blastoise, and Ash pretended he was a Charizard – when Professor Oak mentioned how he had to get back to the lab. Ash was disappointed.
"Professor Oak! Can Gary come over and play tonight?" Ash asked excitedly, happy at the prospect of 'being a Charizard' later.
"Ash, what do we say when we want something?" His mother chided.
"Oh! Professor, can Gary please come over and play tonight?" Ash asked again, emphasising the new word. The Pokémon expert smiled, clutching Gary's hand as he was walked out of the school gates.
"We'll see, Ash!" He called back. Ash smiled as Gary turned back to him and pulled a face. Gary would convince his Grandfather to let him come over, he just knew he would. He always did. Gary was good at talking to grownups.
Delia smiled, going to hold Ash's hand, when she saw the card he was holding. "What's that you're holding, Ash? Is that some work you've done today?"
Ash, remembering the card, nodded furiously and handed it to her. "Happy Valentine's day, Mom!" He said in a sing-song voice. Delia accepted it and her eyes welled up with tears. On the front of the card was a large red heart, made of felt and glued down roughly, bit of hardened glue leaking out of the sides. In big glittery and wonky letters, Ash had written 'Mom'. Delia opened the card. On the inside, in his best handwriting, Ash had written:
'Deer Mom,
Hav a good Valentine's Day!
Luv, Ash.'
Big kisses went underneath Ash's name. Delia smiled, and wiped at her eyes. "This is a beautiful card, honey," she said, trying to contain herself. She leaned down and kissed her son on the cheek, squeezing him tightly. "Thank you very much, sweetie," she said. Ash didn't mind much now Gary was gone, and he couldn't call him a girl for letting his Mom hug and kiss him in public. "You're such a good boy..." she whispered, wiping her eyes one final time before letting her son go, holding him at arms' length. "This is the best Valentine's card in the world," Delia announced, holding it tightly in one hand, and holding Ash's small hand in another as they started to walk home. "As soon as we get home, this is going straight on the mantelpiece so that everyone can see what a lucky lady I am!"
Ash beamed with happiness. He hoped that Gary would have the same reaction when he gave him his card later!
Eventually, the two Ketchum's had made it home, and as promised Delia put up her valentine's day card on the mantelpiece, admiring it proudly. It had been the first card she'd received in many years. She made a mental note to send a thank you card to Ash's teacher, who had likely been the thoughtful person to suggest Ash gives a card to her.
Delia was just making Ash a snack when a little knock came at the front door. Before she could stop him, Ash ran as fast as he could to the door, face beaming as he opened it and saw Gary standing there.
"Gramps said its okay for me to come over," Gary said to Delia. She nodded and simply made an extra portion for him, then made both boys wash their hands before they tucked in. Ash bounced in his chair, legs swinging enthusiastically under the table as he chewed.
"D'you wanna play Blastoise and Charizard again?" He asked when he was done, and Gary nodded.
"Sure! But this time I'm gonna win the Pokemon League!" His friend said with confidence.
"No you're not!" Ash retorted, jumping off his chair and racing to the door.
"Be back by six for dinner, honey!" Delia called from the other room. Gary politely thanked her for the snack before following his friend, chasing him to their usual hangout spot.
After a couple of battles with each other, Gary decided that the evil group, Team Rocket, had invaded the Pokémon League Tournament stadium and Blastoise and Charizard had to settle their differences to beat them. Him and Ash fought so hard that they were breathless, and eventually they sat on the grass to catch their breath. It wasn't until then that Ash remembered the card he'd made for Gary earlier. He jumped to his feet and told his friend to wait there whilst he got the card from his schoolbag. Gary gave him a murmured, "Fine," and lay back on the grass.
A couple of minutes passed before Ash returned, face flushed and panting heavily. It took him a few moments before he handed the card over to his friend, who took it confusedly.
"What's this?"
Ash took in a few big gulps of air before giving his friend an incredulous look. "It's a Valentine's Day card, stupid. Happy Valentine's Day!"
Gary sat up slowly. He turned the card over in his hands. The card was pink. On the front was a huge red heart cut out of felt. Much like on Delia's card, a bit of glue pooled at the edges where it had been stuck down. He flicked it open. On the inside was a drawing of a Charizard giving a Blastoise some flowers. Underneath Ash had written,
'To Gary my best frend,
I luv you lots and lots.
Happy Valentine's Day.
Luv, Ash x'
Gary turned the card over in his little hands, a big smile on his face. This sweet little gesture meant so much to him, but he couldn't quite put into words exactly what it meant. All he knew was that he had a warm and happy feeling in his tummy, and a feeling akin to pride bursting in his chest.
Ash sat himself down next to his friend. "Do you like it?" The younger of the two asked. Gary nodded quickly and gave his friend a little kiss on the cheek. Ash looked at him, surprised.
"That's what people do on Valentine's Day," Gary said knowledgably. "Thank you for my card. It's so cool!"
Ash beamed at him. He opened his mouth to say something, but then his mom called for them both to get inside to eat their dinner.
As they walked back together, Gary held Ash's hand, because he'd seen on the TV that that's what people do on Valentine's Day, that proud and happy feeling still in his tummy.