Ash Ketchum sat at the foot of the bed as he watched his mother's chest rise and fall with ragged breaths.
The disease had turned her sickly, her skin pale and she had visibly lost weight. Her hair that was normally a vibrant dark brown was now discolored and disheveled.
She looked so miserable and the machines; an oxygen mask and IV hooked up to her almost felt as if she was begging someone to put her out of her misery.
No matter how many times he had offered to use his savings to fund a treatment for her disease, she had refused it every time. It had done irreversible damage and would now only just delay. The doctors had said if she had agreed to it, there was a large chance that she could live for many more years to come. Although it wasn't his favored, he respected his mother's decision and just had to wait for the inevitable.
The fellow Commandos of his former team, Gary, Brock and Trip were waiting with the grim news and had hastily driven him to the hospital in Viridian, since the doctors had said that she could pass away at any hour.
"Ash," His head looked up to see her partially remove the mask. He was surprised the sensor inside hadn't gone off yet.
"Mom."
"You never…never told me about your team and your time in Hoenn."
"Hoenn is wonderful Mom." Ash tried to take her mind off the disease, even when it hung over both of them like a black cloud. "Warm weather, I have a very nice house with a view of the ocean and the people are among the friendliest in the world." Well except for a few certain members of a software corporation.
"I'm glad you found friends…and a team."
"Yeah," He agreed, "I don't know what I'd do without them."
"You've grown too…not just physically." Delia wheezed. "You've grown…emotion."
Ash frowned, was he this easy to read?
"Ash, I've know you…your whole life….nobody knows you better…than me."
"Of course mom, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"Something...something is bothering you."
"Nothing is bothering me mom. The only thing I am concerned about is you right now."
"Not true." She coughed and gazed at him. Through her sickness, one thing that hadn't changed was the eyes. They remained firm and crisp. "Something…maybe someone."
Better to let his secret out now.
"Mom, you're right. I've been seeing someone." He confessed. "You'd like her. We met during one of my ops and we've been spending time together since."
"Good for you…" Delia said, "You need someone to settle."
"Mom!" Ash said in a childish manner, "One step at a time right? It's just that I feel different than around her. We've only known each other for a few weeks, but I feel like she's already a family member. Like my squadmates, but it's different. What's going on?"
"Yes." His mother said with a growing smile on her face, "It's happening."
"What's happening mom?"
"My boy is still becoming a man before my eyes. No need…to explain what's going on…perfectly normal."
"Normal?"
"Yes it is…what's her name?"
"May."
"Whenever you're around May," She reached over and clasped his hand in hers, "Does she make you happy? Flutter your heart?"
"Yeah," Ash looked down.
"Embarrassed even?"
He nodded. "Is that normal for people? I know that I'm capable of feeling emotions and all, but being in the military for more than a third of my life, this is completely new."
"Everyone experiences it at least once in their lives Ash. You're in love."
"In love? How?"
"You've loved people before…right?"
"Of course," Ash relaxed, not sure why he was so nervous and tense at the moment, "You and I love my teams, both here and in Hoenn."
"Yes," Delia had to smile at her son. Even though he was a hardened soldier capable of fighting and destroying things a hundred different ways, he was so naïve and clueless when it came to social things. That and he could just be dense to others. "You're twenty five years old now and the love that I have for you is different…different from love you have for this May. It can be confusing…but it's normal."
"Ah," Ash said, thinking a lot, "Sort of. Now I understand all the things about soldiers talking about their wives and girlfriends when off the battlefield. I knew that it existed, although I never thought I'd experience it so soon or even at all."
"It will happen when you've found the right person." Delia said, "My time on this earth is coming…coming to an end. My heart and soul are with you now in heaven…and my body…is going to follow." She squeezed his hand, "May has to be a pretty and sweet girl to steal the heart of my Ash…so do your best and take it day by day."
"Her father hates me," Ash said, "Thinks I am undeserving of her."
"Ash…not all love stories begin…or end happy…but there will come a time where both of you will experience something with each other that nobody else can replicate. You'll work it out…or neutralize the threat." She chuckled softly at the latter, suddenly coughing.
Ash steadied her back, "I will mom."
"You're very happy with her now…anyone to make my Ash happy will make me happy too. So go soldier…my final order…show May and her father…why you are the right man for her…I know you are."
He gave her a gentle kiss on her wrinkled forehead, "I'll do my best mom."
"Of course you will." Delia wheezed, "And Ash. Love…love can be a very powerful emotion. While it does make lasting memories…it can also cloud one's mind and their judgment…I'm not saying that you will be affected by it…but you need to be careful…sometimes you'll have your love for one another get tested and if you're not careful…it could cost you grave consequences."
"Of course mom." Tears began to surface on his eyes, knowing that this was probably the last night he was going to see her. He wanted to say a million different things, but he couldn't find a good way to say it. "Thank you for taking care of me; raising me and giving me support my whole life." Ash paused, "Tell Arceus to save a spot."
He mentally punched himself, which was what he wanted to say in the light of an impending death?
"Don't worry Ash…" Delia said, "I'll…see you again…and I'll be watching over you with Arceus…at my side. Can't wait…to meet May."
"Get some rest." Ash said as he kissed her forehead one last time. His mother's eyes slid shut. "Love you mom."
He turned and walked out of the room.
Delia passed away the next morning.
Ash had honored her wish to be cremated and laid her to rest in a cemetery just outside Viridian. The following funeral was short, uneventful and attended by a dozen people, mostly neighbors who lived close by.
Before he was headed off to the Federation, he headed to Vermillion in a debrief with Surge.
The Commander was presently in the operations center and he felt a bit foreign having entered in basic civilian clothes and only his rank insignia to display his clearance. It was hard to believe that the multiple large screens and officers at the stations were a regular sight to him months ago.
"Lieutenant," Surge outstretched a hand, "I'm so sorry about your mother."
Ash nodded and shook it. "Just wanted to swing by and catch up," He avoided the subject of his mother.
Surge had gotten the hint, "Well Lieutenant Ethan and Colossus teams are in Sinnoh, cooperating with their special forces in the counterinsurgency operations. The war over there is a stalemate, neither side seems to be gaining any ground. Other than that, we're just doing daily drills and whatever intelligence or top brass."
"I've missed a lot I take it."
"Why don't we take a walk outside?" The Commander suggested, "I need some air."
"Sure, lead the way."
Surge and Ash walked side by side through the halls out to the observation deck. Personnel going about on their jobs stood aside and snapped salutes. Most nodded a casual greeting and some uttered words of sympathy to Ash as they passed by.
"Good afternoon sir."
"I miss here." Ash said as the doors to the balcony slid open and they leaned over the railing. Across the bay was Vermillion Harbor, where it offered a breathtaking view. The sun reflected off the crystal blue waters as boats of all shapes and sizes moved about. In the distance to their left was the skyline of the metropolitan area. Further out to sea was the silhouette of a Navy destroyer.
"Great place to unwind from all the shit that happens down in Ops." Surge took off his sunglasses, "Also nice to see all them kids getting their asses whooped at the Navy boot camp."
"I remember that very well."
"That's where I first laid eyes on you and Gary. The way both of ya lasted longer than the other trainees immediately brought my attention."
He turned to look over at Ash, "Lieutenant, I've been recently informed by the Premier of Hoenn on your time over there and I must say you've opened quite the can. Starting a new specialist team and getting yourself caught up in an Ariados' web of love." He leaned closer, "Now I am fully aware that you are more than capable of taking care of yourself. You've demonstrated it on and off the field. It is not my place to dictate your personal life."
Ash nodded.
"But my advice is the same as her father had suggested to me. Do not return to his daughter. Remember, his contract with us will be instrumental in keeping a technological advantage over our enemies. It can be devastating if it doesn't go through and the company's made it clear that further interactions between you and her could delay or even terminate the deal."
"I love May." Ash said quietly, "I really do. Believe me that I didn't go to Hoenn to seek out a mate, but when I did rescue her from that sinking ship, something connecting had formed when we swam to safety."
"You were looking out for her." Surge countered, "People get that attachment to who they're saving or getting saved by."
"It runs deeper than that."
"You're right. I myself am not going to deny that it's happened to me too."
"Like in Kalos."
"Like in Kalos. You came very close to compromising the integrity and security of the Commandos by a simple sentence."
"Goes to show how sensitive our line of work is."
"Yes, it also involves a lot in our personal lives too."
"I'm still going back." Ash declared, "I have a team and a family to run."
"If that is what you wish," Surge shook his hand, "Then I will not stop it. But know this; I hear any further interference from you with his daughter can be grounds for discharge in service in this matter. Understood?"
"Yes sir."
"Alright. Good luck. Cedo Nulli." The Commander saluted.
"You too sir. Cedo Nulli." Ash turned to leave, but suddenly stopped as if a eureka moment had just occurred to him. "Hold on one moment,"
"What is it?"
"During a discussion with the Premier, he mentioned that Norman Maple's dislike of me was towards my Commando uniform, not the JETS."
Surge seemed confused, but gestured for him to elaborate.
"My guess is that he hates the Commandos in general. So why would he extend a big multimillion dollar deal with a group of people he despises?"
My uncle was diagnosed with the same disease that Delia had in the story. He passed away some time ago, but a lot of his influence stays with me today. I probably wouldn't be working in my dream industry if it wasn't for him.
Lots of Ash's history with the Commandos is also brought out and a lot more is going to be mentioned.
Cedo Nulli is a rough latin translation that means: I yield to none. It is one of the Commando's unit mottos along with: In defense of the weak.
Thanks for reading and reviewing, you give my writing purpose.