Hello there good readers. I'm back with another one of Red's letter chapter. It's interesting really. I found a source online a few years back detailing Ash's childhood before he became a trainer. In it, was Ash's father. While they never show him, they do mention him and Ash's grandfather a lot. Anyway, I'm getting way off topic. Please enjoy this short chapter.

Failure

When did this all go wrong? I was there when your mother gave birth to you. I clearly remember the day you decided to ride Rapidash on your own. To say the least, your mother wasn't too happy with me that day. Then there was the time you attended Professor Oak's summer camp. It's no lie when I say this is a small world. I remember the time when Grace came over to visit for the first time. Your mother and I had no idea what to expect to say the least. Then we heard about how you helped Serena. Who knew you two would be friends all over again.

Sadly, this isn't a reality I can face. Despite being happy with having a family, I simply wanted to become a trainer. I remember meeting your mother long ago. We fell in love and soon after you came into this world. I clearly remember the joy you brought into our lives. Even my father was happy to meet his grandson. Life was perfect or would be if not for one problem. I had an insatiable desire to become a strong trainer.

One day, that desire became too strong leading up to my departure. Even my father decided to join me. Despite your mother's protest, we figured the next time we met, I would become a force like the world has never seen. Like my relationship with Delia, it all went south, failure after failure. I ruined what could've been a great relationship between us, simply for the pursuit of glory. I can't believe how naïve I was then. I gave up everything when I decided to pursue my own career without my family by my side.

Here I am today, with Pokémon any trainer would love to have as partners, and yet, I am a failure. The truth is, I never became as great as I had hoped to become. I still don't know how your mother handled the situation after I left, but she seems to have done an amazing job. Every tournament you participate in, win or lose, you walk away smiling brighter than ever.

Setting his pen down, Red looks to the wall next to him. He has kept track of Ash's league participations. Like himself, none of the participations has resulted in anything meaningful. Sure, he has won the Orange League and defeat all of the Frontier Brains at the battle frontier, but he had yet to win an actual Pokémon League. The most recent notable feat he has accomplished was defeating a Darkrai at the Sinnoh League.

"We're about the same, and yet, different" Red begins to wonder. Having some more thoughts, he begins to write once more.

I will be lying if I said I don't envy your positive attitude. It certainly has been the one of the driving forces in helping you advance. Either way, I myself am actually looking forward to the future. Even though I have no right to be a proud father, I'm hopeful you will achieve what me or your grandfather ever could. To help, I decided long ago to avoid you at all costs. I would hate to see your bright smile disappear, simply because of me.

When I read the Ash's past before he began his journey a while back, I was surprised to learn it was much darker than anyone could've guessed. I'm not going to spoil anything right now since all of his past before becoming a trainer is what is helping me write these Red's letter chapters. But I do want to write them in a way that once pieced together, they will give a rather broad sense of what Ash was dealing with in his younger days.

I do apologize, but I won't be answering reviews in this update. It's been a while since I release a Red chapter, so I decided now was a great time. That and I'm having trouble finding the time to write the next chapter. But with regards to the next chapter, there are two shippings I hope to push. There is another one, but that I will leave up to the readers to decided if they wish to see it continue. I won't give any spoilers so you'll just have to wait till then lol.

Thanks again for your support. Until next time.