"Chapter 11: Like Father, Like Son"
Ash stood in front of his father's hotel room. Standing behind him were Brock and Pikachu, both wondering what Ash was going to do. He had been standing there for several minutes now, not doing anything.
"Pikachu, stay with Brock," he finally said. "This is something I need to do alone."
Ash took a deep breath and prepared to knock on the door. He had no idea what he would say to his father. He hadn't heard from him in over 10 years now. Ash had just assumed he was dead all these years. To him, his father was only a distant memory; Ash couldn't even remember what he looked like. But now, he was about to come face to face with him for the first time since before he could even remember. All of a sudden, his dad was thrust back into his life as his final opponent in the most important Pokémon tournament he would ever participate in. Releasing the big breath that he had taken, Ash finally knocked on the door.
"Come in," a voice said from beyond the door. Ash slowly turned the doorknob and entered the darkened room. The only light inside was shining in through cracks in the window blinds and emanating from the PC monitor. Ash could see a chair in front of the PC, the back of it facing him. He could see his father's head just above the top of the chair.
"Have a seat, Ash," he said. "I knew you would come eventually."
Ash walked over to the room's bed and took a seat at the end of it, just a few feet away from the chair where his father was sitting.
"I need to know something," Ash said. "Are you really my father, David Ketchum?"
"Your father I am," he said, spinning around in his chair to reveal himself to Ash. The person Ash saw staring back at him was almost as big a shock as when he found out his father was here at the tournament. The man before him was the same man Ash had run into after first arriving on Master's Island.
"You," Ash said.
"So, you finally recognize me," David said. "I'm surprised you didn't that first time we crossed paths here."
"It has been a long time, Dad," said Ash.
"I know, son. Far too long. Oh, before I forget, I have a little present for you."
David Ketchum grabbed something that was on the desk behind him and tossed it to Ash. Looking down in his hands, Ash could see his father had thrown him a PokéBall.
"It's your Charizard," David said. "I figured you're going to need it when we battle, if you can get it trained, that is."
"Where did you find this?" Ash asked.
"I have my ways," David said. "I look out for my son."
"Well if that's the case, where have you been all these years?"
"It's a long story, Ash. One I'm not always proud of, but you deserve to know. Do you remember when I first set out to become a Pokémon trainer?"
"Sort of. It was so long ago, I don't remember much from when I was that age."
"Well you were five years old. After making sure you and your mother would be taken care of, I decided to start my Pokémon journey. I know most trainers begin when they're children, but I was denied that opportunity. See, when I was 10 years old, I was very sick. The doctors said I was far too weak to live the life of a Pokémon trainer. Instead, I was stuck in Pallet Town until the age of 16. At that time, my sickness was almost gone, and the doctors gave me clearance to begin Pokémon training. However, I chose not to, because at that same time, I met your mother, and Pokémon began to take a back seat in my life. Your mother was all that was important to me. Eventually, we got married and had you, but as time went on, I realized there was still a hole within myself. I still longed to complete my dream of becoming a Pokémon Master and winning this very tournament."
"So that's why you left."
"Yes. I remember calling you and your mother every time I found a phone along my journey. I loved talking to you both, because it brought me great inspiration to achieve my dream. After two long and hard years of training and collecting Gym badges, I was finally able to enter the Pokémon Masters Tournament."
"I remember watching you in that tournament."
"Well then you must also remember me being a disappointment. I lost in the first round to some hotshot trainer named Lance and his Dragonite. He and his Pokémon crushed all three of mine with one hit each. I was devastated."
"You weren't a disappointment in my eyes. You were my hero."
"I'm a pretty lousy hero then. Every since that loss I dedicated my life to winning the Masters Tournament. I traveled all around the world, winning League championships, training to become better and stronger. I became so obsessed with winning and so ashamed of my defeat that I knew I could never return home until I became an Ultimate Master. I began to call you and your mother less and less until I stopped calling all together. My training had become so intense I simply lost touch with you both. I've come closer to winning in each of the last two Masters Tournaments, but each time my dreams were dashed. And now, here I am, in the finals at last. This time, against my own son."
"So winning is really that important to you, huh? More important than your family?"
"You don't understand, Ash. This is my life-long dream. I have to chase it until it's complete. I am sorry that I neglected my family, though."
"No you're not. All you care about is winning."
"I could say the same about you, son."
"I am nothing like you!"
"Are you? Are you really? I've watched you ever since you first arrived here. I've seen the way you've acted. You've become just like me, son. This tournament has taken you over. The urge to win it all has consumed your life, driving away those you care about, like your little red-headed girlfriend. That's right, I saw your fight with her last night. She's gone, isn't she? You drove her away like I drove my family away."
"That's...that's not true!"
"Look deep inside you, Ash. You know it's true. It's all true. You've started down the same path that I have, and now you're destined to follow it."
"No!" Ash shouted, rising up from the red in anger. "You may have failed those you care about, but I'm not going to let that happen to me. My life is my own, and I can determine my own path. I'm not going to let what happened to you ruin my life."
Ash turned and headed for the door, not wanting to hear anything else from his father. He now wished he had never met him, because his entire image of the great man that he thought his father as was shattered. His hero image of him forever gone.
"You're going down, Ash," David said, his intimidating words halting Ash in his tracks before he could leave the room. "Tomorrow night, the championship will belong to me. I know all your tricks, I've studied up on all your Pokémon, and I'm ready for you. And, as insurance, I've crashed the Masters Tournament database, so there's no way you can study up on me. This tournament is as good as mine."
"So, you're a lousy father and a cheat," Ash said, shaking his head. "I don't care whether or not I win or lose. There are more important things in my life than a stupid tournament. Somewhere I lost sight of that and became like you, but that ends now. I'm going to get my life back."
Ash opened the hotel room door quickly, running out as fast as he could, zipping right by Brock and Pikachu who had stood there waiting for him the whole time.
"Whoa, Ash, where are you going?" Brock called out to Ash as he was speeding away.
"I've got to talk to Misty!" he shouted back. "There might still be time!"
*****
"Misty!" Ash yelled, banging on her hotel room door. "Misty, please open up!"
"Go away!" Misty shouted back from inside the door. She had not left her room at all since her fight with Ash the previous night.
"I need to talk to you, Misty," Ash continued to plead. "Please!"
Ash waited for a response but there was none. It was completely quiet inside the room. All he could do was lean up against the door and feel sorry for himself, feel horrible for what he had done and the things he had said to Misty during the whole tournament. He felt even worse knowing that this was probably it, and he would most likely never even see her again. Ash sulked back to his room, knowing he had really messed things up this time, and they would probably get worse by the time he met his father in battle.
*****
The next morning, Ash sat alone on a bench overlooking the vast ocean before him on one of Master's Island's shorelines. Still feeling sorry for himself, he picked up a rock and skipped it across the water. His silent thinking was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps behind him. He looked up to see his mother. She took a seat next to him on the bench.
"Are you okay, honey?" she asked.
"Far from it, Mom," Ash answered. "I guess you heard that Dad is here?"
"Yes, I've known for quite some time."
"You have?"
"Yes. I ran into him several days ago, but he made me promise not to tell you he was here. He wanted you to discover that on your own."
"Why did he have to change, Mom?"
"That's just what happens to people over time, Ash. He's changed far too much for my liking as well. I wish as much as you do he was the man we shared a family with. But that David Ketchum is gone forever, I'm afraid. It's just the way life works. People change and there isn't really much you can do about it. You've changed a lot yourself too, you know."
"Yeah, into him."
"No, Ash. You've become a much stronger person. I can see that in you, and once you do as well, nothing will ever hold you back from becoming the man you were destined to be."
"Well it's a little too late now. I've already driven Misty away for good."
"Don't worry, she'll come around. She sees the same good things in you that I do. You two have been through too much to let a little fight like this tear you apart. You'll find a way to show her what's in your heart."
"I hope so."
"Ash, I know a lot has been happening over the last couple of days, and I know it's not going to be easy to battle against your father later today, but please find the strength somewhere to give it your best. You've worked so hard to get here. You can't quit now. Everything will work out, I promise. Just promise me you won't give up."
"I promise, Mom."
Ash gave his mom a hug. She let him go and began to leave, as she could tell Ash wanted to be alone to do some more thinking. She watched as her son gazed out towards the horizon at the early morning sunrise. She smiled and walked away.
*****
Ash sat alone in the locker room held within Legends Stadium, the site of the final match in each and every Masters Tournament. Gathered around him were Pikachu, Feraligatr, Sceptile, Snorlax, and Mew. Charizard sat by itself a few feet away, its back facing its trainer.
"Listen guys," Ash said. "I know I've been a real jerk this entire tournament. I should have been focussing on having fun and enjoying the experience of the Masters Tournament, but instead all I cared about was winning, and because of that I pushed you guys too hard. For that, I'm really sorry. I hope you can forgive me."
All of his Pokémon let out shouts of joy and encouragement for their trainer, letting him know they forgave him and wanted to be at his side for this final battle. All of his Pokémon, that is, except Charizard, who continued to face away from Ash.
"Charizard, I don't blame you for not wanting to forgive me," said Ash. "You were the one who stood up and tried to show me the error of my ways by not listening to me. I should have realized what you were trying to tell me, but once again I was too hard-headed to see that. I really need your help for this match, and I want to battle side-by-side with you, but if you don't want to go out there, I won't force you."
Charizard turned around to face Ash, staring him straight in the eye, trying to determine if Ash's words were genuine or not. Slowly the large Fire-type Pokémon walked forward and stood before its trainer. It put forth its claw, wanting to shake hands with him. Ash took Charizard's hand and shook it.
"Thanks, Charizard," Ash said. "I won't fail you again. I won't fail any of you. You have my word."
Ash looked up to see Brock standing in the doorway of the locker room.
"It's time," he said.
"Right," Ash said, rising to his feet. "Are you guys ready for the toughest battle we've ever had?"
All his Pokémon let out cries signaling they were indeed ready to go out there and take on whatever would come their way.
"Good," Ash said. "Then let's do this."
Ash took out all his PokéBalls and recalled his Pokémon into them.
"Pika!" Pikachu said, jumping up on Ash's shoulder.
"It's time to show the world what we're made of," Ash said. "It's time to meet our destiny."
Ash stood in front of his father's hotel room. Standing behind him were Brock and Pikachu, both wondering what Ash was going to do. He had been standing there for several minutes now, not doing anything.
"Pikachu, stay with Brock," he finally said. "This is something I need to do alone."
Ash took a deep breath and prepared to knock on the door. He had no idea what he would say to his father. He hadn't heard from him in over 10 years now. Ash had just assumed he was dead all these years. To him, his father was only a distant memory; Ash couldn't even remember what he looked like. But now, he was about to come face to face with him for the first time since before he could even remember. All of a sudden, his dad was thrust back into his life as his final opponent in the most important Pokémon tournament he would ever participate in. Releasing the big breath that he had taken, Ash finally knocked on the door.
"Come in," a voice said from beyond the door. Ash slowly turned the doorknob and entered the darkened room. The only light inside was shining in through cracks in the window blinds and emanating from the PC monitor. Ash could see a chair in front of the PC, the back of it facing him. He could see his father's head just above the top of the chair.
"Have a seat, Ash," he said. "I knew you would come eventually."
Ash walked over to the room's bed and took a seat at the end of it, just a few feet away from the chair where his father was sitting.
"I need to know something," Ash said. "Are you really my father, David Ketchum?"
"Your father I am," he said, spinning around in his chair to reveal himself to Ash. The person Ash saw staring back at him was almost as big a shock as when he found out his father was here at the tournament. The man before him was the same man Ash had run into after first arriving on Master's Island.
"You," Ash said.
"So, you finally recognize me," David said. "I'm surprised you didn't that first time we crossed paths here."
"It has been a long time, Dad," said Ash.
"I know, son. Far too long. Oh, before I forget, I have a little present for you."
David Ketchum grabbed something that was on the desk behind him and tossed it to Ash. Looking down in his hands, Ash could see his father had thrown him a PokéBall.
"It's your Charizard," David said. "I figured you're going to need it when we battle, if you can get it trained, that is."
"Where did you find this?" Ash asked.
"I have my ways," David said. "I look out for my son."
"Well if that's the case, where have you been all these years?"
"It's a long story, Ash. One I'm not always proud of, but you deserve to know. Do you remember when I first set out to become a Pokémon trainer?"
"Sort of. It was so long ago, I don't remember much from when I was that age."
"Well you were five years old. After making sure you and your mother would be taken care of, I decided to start my Pokémon journey. I know most trainers begin when they're children, but I was denied that opportunity. See, when I was 10 years old, I was very sick. The doctors said I was far too weak to live the life of a Pokémon trainer. Instead, I was stuck in Pallet Town until the age of 16. At that time, my sickness was almost gone, and the doctors gave me clearance to begin Pokémon training. However, I chose not to, because at that same time, I met your mother, and Pokémon began to take a back seat in my life. Your mother was all that was important to me. Eventually, we got married and had you, but as time went on, I realized there was still a hole within myself. I still longed to complete my dream of becoming a Pokémon Master and winning this very tournament."
"So that's why you left."
"Yes. I remember calling you and your mother every time I found a phone along my journey. I loved talking to you both, because it brought me great inspiration to achieve my dream. After two long and hard years of training and collecting Gym badges, I was finally able to enter the Pokémon Masters Tournament."
"I remember watching you in that tournament."
"Well then you must also remember me being a disappointment. I lost in the first round to some hotshot trainer named Lance and his Dragonite. He and his Pokémon crushed all three of mine with one hit each. I was devastated."
"You weren't a disappointment in my eyes. You were my hero."
"I'm a pretty lousy hero then. Every since that loss I dedicated my life to winning the Masters Tournament. I traveled all around the world, winning League championships, training to become better and stronger. I became so obsessed with winning and so ashamed of my defeat that I knew I could never return home until I became an Ultimate Master. I began to call you and your mother less and less until I stopped calling all together. My training had become so intense I simply lost touch with you both. I've come closer to winning in each of the last two Masters Tournaments, but each time my dreams were dashed. And now, here I am, in the finals at last. This time, against my own son."
"So winning is really that important to you, huh? More important than your family?"
"You don't understand, Ash. This is my life-long dream. I have to chase it until it's complete. I am sorry that I neglected my family, though."
"No you're not. All you care about is winning."
"I could say the same about you, son."
"I am nothing like you!"
"Are you? Are you really? I've watched you ever since you first arrived here. I've seen the way you've acted. You've become just like me, son. This tournament has taken you over. The urge to win it all has consumed your life, driving away those you care about, like your little red-headed girlfriend. That's right, I saw your fight with her last night. She's gone, isn't she? You drove her away like I drove my family away."
"That's...that's not true!"
"Look deep inside you, Ash. You know it's true. It's all true. You've started down the same path that I have, and now you're destined to follow it."
"No!" Ash shouted, rising up from the red in anger. "You may have failed those you care about, but I'm not going to let that happen to me. My life is my own, and I can determine my own path. I'm not going to let what happened to you ruin my life."
Ash turned and headed for the door, not wanting to hear anything else from his father. He now wished he had never met him, because his entire image of the great man that he thought his father as was shattered. His hero image of him forever gone.
"You're going down, Ash," David said, his intimidating words halting Ash in his tracks before he could leave the room. "Tomorrow night, the championship will belong to me. I know all your tricks, I've studied up on all your Pokémon, and I'm ready for you. And, as insurance, I've crashed the Masters Tournament database, so there's no way you can study up on me. This tournament is as good as mine."
"So, you're a lousy father and a cheat," Ash said, shaking his head. "I don't care whether or not I win or lose. There are more important things in my life than a stupid tournament. Somewhere I lost sight of that and became like you, but that ends now. I'm going to get my life back."
Ash opened the hotel room door quickly, running out as fast as he could, zipping right by Brock and Pikachu who had stood there waiting for him the whole time.
"Whoa, Ash, where are you going?" Brock called out to Ash as he was speeding away.
"I've got to talk to Misty!" he shouted back. "There might still be time!"
*****
"Misty!" Ash yelled, banging on her hotel room door. "Misty, please open up!"
"Go away!" Misty shouted back from inside the door. She had not left her room at all since her fight with Ash the previous night.
"I need to talk to you, Misty," Ash continued to plead. "Please!"
Ash waited for a response but there was none. It was completely quiet inside the room. All he could do was lean up against the door and feel sorry for himself, feel horrible for what he had done and the things he had said to Misty during the whole tournament. He felt even worse knowing that this was probably it, and he would most likely never even see her again. Ash sulked back to his room, knowing he had really messed things up this time, and they would probably get worse by the time he met his father in battle.
*****
The next morning, Ash sat alone on a bench overlooking the vast ocean before him on one of Master's Island's shorelines. Still feeling sorry for himself, he picked up a rock and skipped it across the water. His silent thinking was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps behind him. He looked up to see his mother. She took a seat next to him on the bench.
"Are you okay, honey?" she asked.
"Far from it, Mom," Ash answered. "I guess you heard that Dad is here?"
"Yes, I've known for quite some time."
"You have?"
"Yes. I ran into him several days ago, but he made me promise not to tell you he was here. He wanted you to discover that on your own."
"Why did he have to change, Mom?"
"That's just what happens to people over time, Ash. He's changed far too much for my liking as well. I wish as much as you do he was the man we shared a family with. But that David Ketchum is gone forever, I'm afraid. It's just the way life works. People change and there isn't really much you can do about it. You've changed a lot yourself too, you know."
"Yeah, into him."
"No, Ash. You've become a much stronger person. I can see that in you, and once you do as well, nothing will ever hold you back from becoming the man you were destined to be."
"Well it's a little too late now. I've already driven Misty away for good."
"Don't worry, she'll come around. She sees the same good things in you that I do. You two have been through too much to let a little fight like this tear you apart. You'll find a way to show her what's in your heart."
"I hope so."
"Ash, I know a lot has been happening over the last couple of days, and I know it's not going to be easy to battle against your father later today, but please find the strength somewhere to give it your best. You've worked so hard to get here. You can't quit now. Everything will work out, I promise. Just promise me you won't give up."
"I promise, Mom."
Ash gave his mom a hug. She let him go and began to leave, as she could tell Ash wanted to be alone to do some more thinking. She watched as her son gazed out towards the horizon at the early morning sunrise. She smiled and walked away.
*****
Ash sat alone in the locker room held within Legends Stadium, the site of the final match in each and every Masters Tournament. Gathered around him were Pikachu, Feraligatr, Sceptile, Snorlax, and Mew. Charizard sat by itself a few feet away, its back facing its trainer.
"Listen guys," Ash said. "I know I've been a real jerk this entire tournament. I should have been focussing on having fun and enjoying the experience of the Masters Tournament, but instead all I cared about was winning, and because of that I pushed you guys too hard. For that, I'm really sorry. I hope you can forgive me."
All of his Pokémon let out shouts of joy and encouragement for their trainer, letting him know they forgave him and wanted to be at his side for this final battle. All of his Pokémon, that is, except Charizard, who continued to face away from Ash.
"Charizard, I don't blame you for not wanting to forgive me," said Ash. "You were the one who stood up and tried to show me the error of my ways by not listening to me. I should have realized what you were trying to tell me, but once again I was too hard-headed to see that. I really need your help for this match, and I want to battle side-by-side with you, but if you don't want to go out there, I won't force you."
Charizard turned around to face Ash, staring him straight in the eye, trying to determine if Ash's words were genuine or not. Slowly the large Fire-type Pokémon walked forward and stood before its trainer. It put forth its claw, wanting to shake hands with him. Ash took Charizard's hand and shook it.
"Thanks, Charizard," Ash said. "I won't fail you again. I won't fail any of you. You have my word."
Ash looked up to see Brock standing in the doorway of the locker room.
"It's time," he said.
"Right," Ash said, rising to his feet. "Are you guys ready for the toughest battle we've ever had?"
All his Pokémon let out cries signaling they were indeed ready to go out there and take on whatever would come their way.
"Good," Ash said. "Then let's do this."
Ash took out all his PokéBalls and recalled his Pokémon into them.
"Pika!" Pikachu said, jumping up on Ash's shoulder.
"It's time to show the world what we're made of," Ash said. "It's time to meet our destiny."