Disclaimer: Um, I own nothing except for Lily.
Hey, everybody! I'm very, very sorry I've taken so long to update. I have been visiting my sister since the end of May, in New Mexico, and I haven't had a chance to write lately. I hope you will accept my heartfelt apologies for the delay.
Thanks again to everyone who reviewed! About the birth not taking very long, it was much longer in the original draft, but I found it tedious and pointless, and I thought others might as well. Besides, one of my brothers was born very quickly, so I thought it wasn't a very big deal. And there's so much more to write, I wanted to move the plot along more quickly. Sorry if this bothers anyone. I'm trying to do this right but I know it's not perfect and I do appreciate friendly advice any time. Thanks!
This chapter is dedicated to all my reviewers:
Briememory
Pikados
Rosemary the Rubix Cube
And my two readers who each reviewed five times (you guys rule!):
Rachel
Scarred Dragonia
Thank you so much, everyone! You're the reason I keep going even when I hate my stories and think no one could ever like them! You're all so sweet!
Chapter Seven: Shadows of the Past
The days went by, and Lily grew rapidly. Before Ash knew it, his baby sister was a month old.
"Smile!" Delia said, holding her camera. Ash was sitting with Lily on his lap, ready for his mom to take the picture.
"Pika!" Pikachu raced into the room and hopped up onto Ash's shoulder.
Ash's mom laughed. "It looks like Pikachu wants to be in the picture too. Okay, say 'cheese', everyone!"
Once she'd taken the picture, Ash relaxed. "Mom, when you get the film developed, can I have a copy of the picture?"
"Sure, honey."
"Lily's getting so big. She's a month old today, isn't she?"
"That's right, Ash."
"Let's have a party for her!" Ash said. "We can have cake!"
His mom laughed. "I don't think Lily could eat cake."
"Well, I could eat hers for her," Ash suggested helpfully.
"That doesn't sound like such a bad idea," said Professor Oak, walking into the room. "The party, I mean. It would be nice to have a little celebration, not just for Lily, but for everyone. You kids have all been so helpful. You deserve a treat."
"Okay, then," Delia said. "I guess we're going to have a party!"
They decided to have the party the next day. Daisy baked a cake, and Brock made cookies. Ash was putting up streamers when he heard the phone ring. His mom went to answer it.
"Hello, Oak and Ketchum residence."
Ash listened in case it was something interesting. He was a little bit surprised. The phone call was on the non-video phone, so he couldn't see who was calling.
"No," his mom was saying. "It used to be, but I was recently remarried." She paused. "Yes, I do have a ten-year-old son. Who is this?" She listened for a few moments, and then suddenly went pale.
"What?!?" She suddenly looked in Ash's direction. Ash pretended to work so she wouldn't know he was listening. She sounded upset. What had he done?
His mom lowered her voice. "No! You can't do that! He's my son! He doesn't even know you. How did you find out, anyway?" She paused. "Oh, you do, do you? Yeah, I can just imagine what they are!" she said angrily. There was a pause. "No, you don't! You were never even there for him all these years!" She listened again. "I had to! You know how you were acting! You'd changed, become dangerous. I was afraid! I didn't know what you'd do!" Delia paused again. "Well, you're not going to! I'll fight you! I won't let you have him, and neither will they!" She waited. "Well, we'll just see about that!" She slammed down the phone.
Ash worked vigorously on the streamers as his mom stormed through the room. He had a sick feeling in his stomach. His mother went to the foot of the stairs.
"Samuel!" she called. "I need to talk to you right away. It's an emergency!"
Within moments Professor Oak was beside her with Lily in his arms. When he saw the look on his wife's face, he handed the baby to Ash and followed Delia into the other room. Ash's mom closed the door.
Ash held Lily tightly, grateful for the warmth of her little body. He was really scared now. Whatever was happening, it was bad. And it was about him.
They finally came back into the room. Ash's mom looked at him. Her eyes were red from crying. Ash panicked. "Mom, what's wrong? What happened?"
"Ash, honey, sit down. I have something important to tell you."
Ash obeyed. His mom and stepfather sat, too.
"Ash," his mom said, "I'm afraid I didn't tell you the truth before. Your father is not dead. He's alive, and he just found out about you."
"My dad never knew I existed? I guess that would explain why I don't remember him."
"Yes, that would be why. You see, when I married your father, he was very charming, and I was madly in love with him. Then he started to become cruel and power-hungry. I was pregnant with you then, but he didn't know yet. I was scared that he would hurt me or you, so I left him. I sent him divorce papers to sign. I never understood exactly why he signed them, but I suspected he'd found another woman. Whatever the reason, he did sign the papers, and I never saw him again. I never wanted to, either."
"My father's last name is Ketchum, right?" Ash asked. "That must be how he found me."
"No. Ketchum is a false name I gave to you, and to myself as well, to protect us."
"What? Then what is my father's name?" Ash wanted to know.
Delia hesitated. "I'd rather not speak his name right now. I'm sure you'll be hearing it soon enough. Too soon is what I'm afraid of."
The next day, Ash, Misty, Brock and Gary were feeding all the Pokemon and making sure they were all okay.
Ash was depressed. Their party the day before hadn't been much fun for anybody after his mom's terrible news. Why didn't she tell me before? He wondered. She should have told me!
He was carrying some buckets of water for his Tauros. Pikachu followed, holding a small pail with water sloshing over the sides. Ash didn't notice. His mind was far away at the moment.
Just as they were about to reach the fence, the ground dropped out from under Ash and Pikachu.
"Oh, no!" Ash cried. "What happened, Pikachu?"
"Pika, pi pika chu?"
"Now what are we gonna do?" Ash said. "Oh, wait! I'll call for help. Brock! Misty! Gary!"
"Pikaaa! Pikachuuu!"
There was no answer. Those guys must be somewhere else, Ash thought.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Ash's head shot up toward the laughter. He could only see the silhouettes of two figures against the glare of the sun.
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!"
Ash groaned. Not them again! He listened impatiently as Jessie and James finished their motto. Meowth jumped into view.
"Meowth! That's right!"
"Team Rocket!" Ash cried.
"That's right, little twerp, and this time we've got you for good!" Jessie said.
"I suppose you're going to tell me to hand over Pikachu now," Ash said angrily. "Well, you can forget it!"
"Not this time, twerp," said James. "We want you and Pikachu."
"Why?" Ash demanded.
"None of your business. We just do. And now the Boss will finally give us a raise and a vacation!" Jessie cried.
"Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Ash yelled. Pikachu tried to attack, but it missed the trio. The little yellow Pokemon sprang up out of the pit at Team Rocket, but they quickly caught it in an electric-proof sack. Pikachu was trapped.
"No! Let Pikachu go!" Ash cried. He tried to climb up out of the hole. Jessie reached down and helped him up. Ash saw their hot-air balloon hovering low to the ground. Meowth stood in the basket, the bag with Pikachu held in one paw.
"Give Pikachu back!" Ash yelled.
"On one condition," Jessie said.
"You come with us, and Pikachu can go free," James added.
"Why? What do you want with me?" Ash asked. He wished his friends were around!
Jessie and James ignored the question. "Well, what do you say? You or Pikachu?"
Ash lowered his head. "I'll go with you. I'll do whatever you want. Just let Pikachu go."
Team Rocket looked shocked. "I don't believe it," said Jessie. "We won!"
Meowth threw the bag to the ground. Pikachu tumbled out, the villainous trio having forgotten to tie the sack closed. The yellow Pokemon raced back to Ash and Team Rocket, sparks flying from its cheeks.
"No, Pikachu!" Ash cried. Pikachu skidded to a stop.
"Pi?" it asked.
Ash knelt next to Pikachu. "Pikachu, I'll be all right. I don't know what they want, but I want to find out. Just stay here."
Pikachu looked confused. "Chu?" it asked sadly.
Ash was a little confused himself. He wasn't sure why he was doing this, but he really did want to know what Team Rocket was planning. It couldn't be anything too bad; they were much too stupid to think up any good ideas, so it couldn't hurt to go with them, at least for a little while. But Pikachu just couldn't understand these things. Ash looked at his friend. "Please," he begged.
Pikachu stared at Ash for a minute; then turned and ran back toward the house.
"Let's go," Ash said. "Whatever we're doing, let's get it over with." He climbed into the basket with Team Rocket, and they lifted off.
Well, that's it for now. I hope you don't hate it too much! There is one thing I'd like to mention. Well, maybe more than one. First, I wasn't sure how to spell the name of Team Rocket's female member. I am aware of the fact that the names come from the outlaw Jesse James, but I also know Jesse is usually the male spelling, so I had been writing "Jessie" in this story. But if it is indeed supposed to be "Jesse", let me know and I'll change it. I've read it both ways in various Pokemon media, so I don't know which is correct. Thanks for any help!
Also, I realize it's stupid that Ash would go with Team Rocket, but then Ash is a very stupid character. No offense to Ash-lovers, but it's a fact he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Other plot holes are the work of my wizard who takes the blame for everything.
Well, that's about it. I will leave you with the following two questions: One: Was this chapter worth waiting for? And two: Is this chapter worth reviewing? See you next time and I'll update faster from now on!