I've decided to update my one-shots.
I was thinking of deleting the old one, but I want to keep it up as a way to preserve the original. Plus, it helps me see where, and how, I've improved when it comes to writing. I hope I've done a good job in updating the original. Please let me know what you guys think!
It's a peaceful night here in the Hau'oli Outskirts. From the Alolan Rattata's scrummaging around, to the sleeping denizens of the outskirts, there wasn't much noise that could ever ruin the quietness of the area. In fact, one would be hard pressed to find a single noise that could dare destroy the quaint –
Waaaahhhh
Waaaahhhh
Waaaahhhh
On second thought, never mind that last sentence. Somethings should never have been uttered, lest you want to jinx it all.
With a tired, and guttural, groan Ash wakes up for the umpteenth time. His eyes snap wide open, the sclera of his eyes red from the rude awakening. He stares at the clock beside him on the nightstand and, for a brief second, holds the urge to cry and throw his alarm clock against the wall in pure frustration. It's 3:00 in the morning! Why in the loving Hell does he need to be up at this time?! He shifts to get up from the bed, trying not to wake up the person sleeping right next to him. However, in doing so, he wakes up Pikachu, who too bites back the urge to cry from being awakened. Pikachu has half a mind to just shock whoever woke him, just out of spite!
Waaaahhhh
Waaaahhhh
Oh.
He can't.
"Pikapi..." He scampers over to his trainer, nudging him to get up.
"I'm up. I'm up," Ash murmurs with a hint of annoyance, though he rubs Pikachu's head lightly. With a small grunt, Ash gets up from the bed and stretches widely, stopping himself from yawning obnoxiously loud. He looks over to the baby monitor and lets out a small huff of a chuckle, knowing it was his little brat – the love of his life, his daughter. Despite trying to be quiet and stop himself from waking up the person sleeping next to him, he wound up waking her up just by being himself. His movements are never small and the shifting around woke her up. She lets out a small groan herself, hearing the instigator crying.
"Ash?"
Said man curses himself lightly at the fact his wife just woke up, "Yes, Serena?"
The woman slowly shifts out of bed but gets stopped by Ash. He ushers her back to lay down, which makes her frown in confusion. He just chuckles, "Let me deal with it. It's my turn, ain't it?"
They usually take turns dealing with the crying child they call their daughter. Lately, Serena has been doing more with their child, waking up more and nursing the child back to sleep, all while trying to keep Ash from waking up to help. In some cases, Ash gets rather annoyed with the fact she's been doing that, thus the recent proposal of them taking turns to take care of their child whenever she begins crying at night. Serena begrudgingly accepted, only because she too is getting tired of dealing with their child by herself. Although she begins to wonder: didn't Ash just take the last 'shift'?
It's surprising. No one would have ever expected Ash Ketchum to settle down. But here he is, all settled down, with a wife and child! Ever since he got together with Serena so many years ago, they always prioritized their careers first before taking the plunge into having a family. They always felt like they had much more to accomplish and, after so many years of traveling together and separately, they finally found themselves proud of what they've achieved.
For Serena, prior to settling down, was able to become a Pop Idol just like her partner Lisia. The two took Hoenn by storm, winning almost every Contest Spectacular. The two girls would often rotate their victories, making them the dominant forces. Eventually, they would disband their partnership, not because of creative differences, but to focus on other facets of entertainment. Where Lisia focused on her singing and Pop Idol stardom, Serena kept her focus straight on being a Kalos Queen and Top Coordinator. Eventually, Serena would triumph over Aria, demonstrating her high level of showmanship. It was quite the spectacle! Aria, despite losing her title, was more than happy to relinquish it to Serena of all people, crying for the honey-blonde haired girl when she was awarded the title of Kalos Queen.
Since then, Serena kept the title, holding it for nearly six years, before retiring the title to another person. Some were miffed she would give it up, only because she didn't lose it in the traditional way; rather, she resigned from the title and handed it over to whoever won the Master Class competition. It didn't help that there were rumors being spread that she was already pregnant, hence her early retirement from the title. Despite it all, Serena kept her head high and moved with poise, before ultimately announcing her pregnancy to the world, but stating she had no plans to ever leave Showcases behind, and that being a mother was just another path in her life that she wanted to take. Afterwards, she began to work with Palermo as a producer of the TriPokalon, until Palermo's retirement soon after.
Even during her pregnancy, Serena found success in smaller, less crowded venues. She made a name for herself as well for lending her voice for cartoons, becoming a voice actress for TV shows and movies. One of her favorite roles was playing a Primarina that wanted to sing but couldn't due to her crippling fear of performing in public.
As for Ash, well... where do we start?
Prior to settling down, Ash was able to finally beat Leon in the Pokémon World Championship Series, becoming the next Monarch. While it took some time, he was able to defeat the so-called 'Undefeated' Champion and take the title. Leon was elated to find someone who could push him to the edge and narrowly beat him. The battle between them was long and arduous, where the battle ultimately came down to Ash relying on all three of his battle items to defeat Leon and the Eternatus that was given to him for safekeeping by Goh. Even then, it wasn't just Eternatus, but the Gigantimax Charizard that gave him so much trouble. From Mega Evolving Lucario, to Gigantimaxing Gengar, and using 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt from Pikachu, Ash barely won the entire battle. However, it didn't matter as the victory was well-deserved and thus gave Ash the title of 'The World's Strongest Trainer'.
Even then, he would travel, region to region, in always finding ways to improve himself. He would end up going to Paldea soon after, finishing a quick tour in Galar, to train against Champion-level trainers in Paldea, and gain more experience as a trainer. For Ash, retiring wasn't an option until he felt like he needed something else in his life. That was until he reunited with Serena, and their relationship would soon grow from there. In the end, Ash decided that his next step in life was to marry the woman he found himself falling in love with. The wedding was quite the show, too. All his friends and former rivals would all show up, even the Champions of various regions, would all come by to shower the newlyweds with best wishes and presents. Alder was the biggest cry-baby of the entire thing, even outcrying Delia, his own mother.
Since their marriage, they have opted to live in the Alola region. While they have homes in Kanto and Kalos, Alola became the 'home away from home' region for the two of them. At first, Serena wasn't so sure, not wanting to stay too far away from either of their mothers, but after spending a good month in Alola, she felt it was perfect to raise a family. It also helps that Professor Kukui and his wife, Professor Burnett, were there too, to help. Lei was more than happy to see his older brother live close by with them. Luckily for them, they are currently on leave for 16 weeks, as per Alola parental laws were concerned, so they can take care of their bundle of joy... who is currently crying up a storm.
"Ash, I think it's my turn, right?" Serena asks, yawning, trying to get back up.
"Nah, it's my turn," Ash dismisses her gently, "now go back to bed. You need it. You have that appointment tomorrow."
Tomorrow, or rather later in the day, is her appointment with her physician to check on her health after giving birth. There were some complications, but nothing that was life-threatening. That didn't stop Ash from worrying and making her set up appointments to check on her health and everything. Serena almost had to chide him for getting so worked up, but she did it anyway, as she too wants to make sure nothing was wrong.
With a small sigh, Serena relents, heading off to bed with a small pout on her lips. Ash grins at her actions but appeases her with a kiss on her head.
"C'mon, Pikachu," Ash mutters, gesturing for his partner to follow him.
"Pika!" Pikachu nods, responding with a quiet chirp. Getting on his trainer's shoulder, he nuzzles his cheek against Ash's with a small coo. Some sparks escape his cheeks and Ash chuckles, feeling the static hit against his cheek. He rubs the rodent's head affectionately in response.
The nursery room, even in the dead of night, was rather brightly colored. Pastel yellow walls, with paintings of baby Pokémon drawn on the wall. Magby, Elekid, Smoochum, Pichu, and so many others littered the walls – each one painted playing with toys, on slides, on swing sets, etc. Ash spent a good month painting every single one of these Pokémon, having Tracy help him out to get the outlines painted on. While Ash was confident in his drawing skills, he knew that Tracy could do wonders with just a single brush.
On the ceiling, hovering over the crib, is a small ceiling fan. It was spinning slowly, with each blade having one of the four Tapus hanging on the edge, with them holding wind chimes. As the blades spin slowly, the Tapus holding the wind chimes would have it chime gently.
Next to the baby crib was the baby camera. The changing station was nearby, but he didn't smell anything foul in the room. However, that doesn't mean anything when it comes to babies. Internally, he hopes there's no need to use the changing station. Passing it, he notices the Rotom Pad in sleep mode – the white noise player stopped. The poor Rotom inside it must have tired itself out. With an amused sigh, he shuts off the Rotom Pad, to let the Rotom inside it sleep peacefully for now. It seems he'll just have to buy a normal tablet from now on.
Looking over the crib, Ash smiles slowly.
"Why, hello there," Ash greets his baby girl happily.
Waaaahhhh
He chuckles, watching as she lets out another small wail. She stretches her arms around, forcing herself out of the blanket she was wrapped in. From what Serena told him, babies need to be wrapped up like a burrito to not wake themselves up when they sleep. It seems the little brat, as he so calls her affectionately, undid the wrapping. He picks her up and holds her in his arms, rocking her gently.
"Shh, shh. There's no need to cry, Brie..." Ash comforts his daughter warmly. Brie, or Brielle, for short, is much like her father: loud, always hungry, and full of energy. But that just makes Ash and Serena love her even more.
Pikachu pats the baby's cheek gently, "Pika-pika!" He chirps cheerfully, but the baby keeps whimpering, pushing her head away from Pikachu's paw. Pikachu's ears droop a little, "Pika..." He was hoping she'd let him grab her attention...
Ash smiles at his buddy's attempt, "It's okay, bud. She'll be your best friend in no time."
Trying to escape her dad's clutches, Brie stretches her arms around. Pikachu, thinking about it, uses his tail to play with the little baby. He uses his tail as a fishing hook, to entice the baby to grab it. Turning her attention to the tail, she shakily reaches out for the tail, but Pikachu pulls it away playfully, before lowering his tail back down. Brie gives a small, toothless smile in response, making Ash and Pikachu gush internally.
"See, buddy? She's going to be your best friend in no time flat." Ash comments happily.
Bracing himself, Ash lifts Brie and pats her diaper. "Okay... she didn't pee, so that's good." He sniffs around her and sighs in relief, "Oh, thank God. She didn't poop either." He looks over to her and gives her a kiss on the head, "You're such a needy little thing, huh? You're such a princess!" He teases her, kissing her head again.
"Pikapi! Pikachu..." Pikachu points to the empty bottle in the room. Ash glances over and gives the two of them an amused smile. That must be it...
"You must be hungry, right?"
A small gurgle can be heard in her stomach and Brielle begins to cry, confirming Ash's question. He let's out a small laugh, taking the bottle and inspects it. It's a clean one in case she needed to be fed. Pikachu scampers off, heading straight to the kitchen, with Ash in tow. He walks slowly into the kitchen with his daughter in his arms. As he gets into the kitchen, Ash carefully raises the slider to turn on the lights. He makes sure it's dimmed to not surprise his daughter, plus it's beneficial for him to not damage his own eyes with a sudden burst of light.
"Crud, how am I going to do this?" He asks himself rhetorically. He carefully holds his newborn in one arm, while slowly pops the cap off the bottle and begins to mix the formula together, before pouring it carefully into the baby bottle. He twists the cap on, before shaking the bottle to get everything mixed properly. He then puts the bottle in the microwave for 30 seconds, wincing at the atrociously loud beeps that come from the microwave.
Beep
Beep
Beeeeeep
"Why couldn't there a stupid microwave that isn't loud? It's not impossible to make one," he complains to himself as he makes sure the temperature in the formula is right. He puts the tip of the bottle against his arm. Okay, so it's not cold. Perfect. It's not too hot either. Even better!
Brie tries to reach for the bottle, opening her mouth greedily wanting the milk. Ash almost chokes a laugh at her, "You really are my child, huh? Geez, you're a mess." He jokingly says, while feeding her. She chugs the milk down, not caring about anything else but the milk.
"That's what I've been saying," he turns his head to see his lovely wife watching. She has her arms crossed, but she's staring at them with a warm smile. She walks over and kisses his cheek, "You realize it was my turn, right? I mean, the extra bit of rest was greatly appreciated."
"I know, I know," Ash glances at her, "but what kind of husband and father would I be if I couldn't take care of my own daughter? I mean, let's be real, you've done so much for her, and I feel like it's my turn to take care of her. I just wanted to show my appreciation to you by doing this. It's the least I can do."
"Ash, I love you, but I'm her mother," Serena gives him a loving smile, "as tiring as it can be, I'm fine taking care of our child. Don't ever demean yourself into thinking that you're not taking care of her or me. I appreciate what you've been doing, but it's a team effort. You're doing a great job being a father and husband, my love."
Ash hesitates, "I mean, are you sure? I get it, but... what if I want to do it all?"
Serena raises an eyebrow, "What do you mean? Are you wanting to be a stay-at-home dad?"
Shrugging, Ash turns to her, "I mean, maybe? I don't know. I just feel like I need to do everything for you and her. You both are very important to me, and I just... I don't know – I guess I just want to make sure I'm there for you both." He sighs, "Unlike how my father was for me, I suppose."
Realizing what he was meaning, Serena gets closer and hugs his unoccupied arm. She leans close to him and rests her head against his shoulder, "Oh! You, goof. You're not your father, Ash. Look at you, you've been there for us, every step of the way. You were there, holding my hand as I pushed Brie out. You were there in every parenting lesson. You made sure I was properly taken care of! In fact, I still think you owe Brock an apology! Baby, you're an incredible father and we've only been parents for two months!"
Ash kisses Serena's head, and when Brie pulls away from the bottle, Serena offers to burp their baby. Handing her over to Serena, the mother in question begins patting her baby's back. Brie whimpers, trying to let those burps out. Serena sighs contently, "It's incredible, you know? Here we are... we're parents to a beautiful baby girl... It feels like it's a dream to me still. If it is and I end up waking up, I'd be so devastated. I don't think I'd ever want to wake up from this if it was a dream."
Ash listens in silence.
"Just a few years ago, we got married. We finished what we set out to accomplish and then some." Serena continues to pat Brie. "While I still think I can do so much more, I'm happy with what we have, and what the next chapter in our lives will be. You, Brie, our Pokémon, and whatever happens in the future... I'm excited to see what happens next."
Ash smiles, "It's incredible... you're incredible, Serena... Only you can make things seem so bright and clear."
Serena lets out a small laugh, blushing at her husband's words, "Only because I had you to teach me this all. Don't sell yourself short, Ash. You're just as incredible..."
Brie finally burps a loud burp, making her two parents and Pikachu laugh.
"Wow! Who would have thought she could burp a big one like that," Ash exclaims, wiping a tear from his eye.
Serena giggles, kissing her daughter's cheek, "Such a big eater! Just like daddy!"
"Pipikachu," Pikachu giggles.
Brie yawns and sleeps in her mother's arms.
Taking their child to the nursery room, Serena places her in her crib, wrapping the baby with the blanket. She glances over to Pikachu and rubs his head, "Why don't you sleep with Brie tonight, Pikachu? I feel as though she would love having you there."
Pikachu salutes the two of them, jumping into the crib and curls up, positioning himself against the baby. He gives the baby his tail to lay her cheek against. Serena bites back the urge to cry from watching the cute scene unfold before her. Ash, knowing how emotional his wife is, drags her to their bed. When the two finally lay down, he turns to his wife, "Thank you."
"Anything for you," she whispers, "I've meant everything I said."
"I know, and I appreciate you for everything you've said," he responds, before turning his body to face the ceiling. "I was afraid... I was afraid that I'd end up like the bastard that abandoned my mom and me. I was scared that whatever happiness I had, I'd end up screwing it up and be left alone." Serena listens on in rapt attention.
"He pisses me off, ya know? That man that claims to be my father... if I ever find him, I may as well punch him. Punch him for leaving. However, I'd also thank him, because... at the end of the day, I promised to never be like him. I promised myself to never abandon my family. I want to be better than him and I sometimes wonder if I am."
Serena gets closer to her husband, resting her head on his chest. She puts her hand on his chest and nods, "I get it. But like I said, you're not your father, Ash. In fact, I'll even say you've been a better person than he can ever be. When he left, you took care of your mom as much as she took care of you. While you traveled, you still came back to see her, and spend time with her. You've been there for me. You're already there for Brielle. Even now, you're not just a wonderful husband and father, but a wonderful friend. The stuff you've done for everyone, from Misty to Goh and many others, you've gone above and beyond for everyone. Don't ever compare yourself to your father, because I know for sure he can't ever be half the man you are."
Silence envelopes the room, but no one is sleeping. Serena feels Ash's hands reach hers and the two hold each other tightly.
"Serena," Ash calls for her.
"Hm?"
"I love you."
She blushes, smiling at him. She leans her head up and kisses her husband gently. She then pulls away to whisper to him, "I love you too, Ash."
Seven Months Ago
"Finally, we're finished!"
Ash wipes the sweat off his brow, examining the room before him with pride. His Pokémon cheer, happy to have contributed to the project that was laid out before them. Ash laughs, collapsing onto the floor.
Bulbasaur nuzzles his head against his legs, wondering if his trainer is okay. Ash just pats Bulbasaur on the head, letting him know he's fine.
They all just spent the entire day sprucing up the room. Ash had just finished painting the room, filling out the space with the colors Serena wanted for the room. He needs to call Tracy and thank him for drawing the outlines. The end result is just spectacular! Serena is going to love it!
"Thank you, everyone! Without your help, I would never have finished this by today!"
All of Ash's Pokémon that came to assist him cheer, all of them collapsing by their trainer.
Bulbasaur was the second-in-command, leading the Pokémon around and making sure nothing was damaged, lost, or messed up. While it was a tiring, and messy, endeavor, Bulbasaur proved why he was the leader of Professor Oak's corral.
Lucario and Infernape were the ones that helped build the crib. There were some heart wrenching moments, such as the thought that one of them broke a piece of the crib, but luckily everything went smoothly! As Dawn would say, there was 'no need to worry!' Even then, there were times where Ash had to worry.
Despite being only 2 months pregnant, Ash had opted to build the entire nursery. Some asked if it was even necessary, considering the baby was still baking in the oven, but Ash told them that he wanted to give their baby a great first impression of him! Luckily for him, Grace agreed and took Serena with her to shop around, giving Ash ample time to get things done. Ash had to reject so many offers from his friends and family to help with the nursery, as they too are all excited for the new member of the Ketchum family. He wanted to do it all, and he was able to get it done!
"Hey, you..." hearing his wife, he smiles and gets up. Turning around, she hugs him, and he hugs back, careful to not hurt her or the small baby bump already present.
"Hey, Serena! Right on time!" He spreads his arms out widely, presenting the entire room to her. All his Pokémon all brag about what they've done, showing off the cribs, the changing stations, and the walls. Serena laughs at how braggadocious they all are, loving the fact they're all excited to see the baby be born. She kisses Ash on the cheek, thoroughly impressed. She then goes to hug his Pokémon, thanking them all for the help. They all respond with a hug of their own, even Lucario who tried to hold back a blush.
"It's amazing! I think our baby is going to love it! Thanks, guys!" She clasps her hands, admiring at everything and appreciating the work done.
Slowly, she walks over to the crib and rubs her hand over the wooden frame of the crib. She begins to tear up. Her emotions are running wild, but she doesn't care. She immediately turns around to hug her husband, "We're going to be parents, Ash! Oh my God! Oh my God!" She cries happily. Ash holds her tightly, still processing everything himself.
"Yes, we are! I'm going to be a dad, Serena!" He grins, kissing her gently.
"Thank you, Serena..."
"No. Thank you, Ash."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
They hug tightly once again. They happily laugh as Ash's Pokémon jump in for the hugs, with everyone hugging each other at the happy moment. The Ketchum family is going to get another member sometime soon, and they all can't wait!