Chapter 18
He started his journey before seeing his father, but his destination was determined for him that night.
Seeing his father again is what started him down this path – one filled with questions.
Questions that began to consume him...
Ash stood in shock, reading and re-reading the name listened under the profile of 'Trek.'
A feeling of unease filled his chest as he wrestled with his thoughts.
That couldn't be his father...no, it just couldn't be. Ash hadn't seen him in so long and he had no idea where this man had been.
But, Aaron Ketchum. That was indeed his father's name.
Could it really be him?
-X-X-
Five-year-old Ash Ketchum was as giddy as could be as he stood proudly in the living room of his small home in Pallet Town. His mother was kneeling a few feet away, a camera in her hands as she took multiple snapshots of her son. He wore the widest grin, tipping the visor of the new cap he received from his mother.
It was a red and white cap with an incomplete green triangle on the front it. This cap was hand-made by his mother, Delia. She couldn't help but giggle as her son struck another pose for the camera, calling for her to take another picture.
"Do you like your hat, Ash?" His mother asked him, and he almost threw his head off of his neck nodding to her.
"Mhmmm!" He replied, giving her a peace sign.
There was a knock on the front door, causing Ash to abandon his mother as he dashed over to the door. He knew who was waiting on the other side.
"Dad!" Ash exclaimed as he threw open the door, and he was greeted by the sight of his father beaming at him, a boxed present in his hands. He was accompanied by an older gentleman who Ash paid no mind to.
Aaron greeted Delia with a kiss before setting down Ash's present on the center table of the living room. He took a seat while Ash circled his present, anxious to see what was waiting inside.
"So Ash, are you having fun today?" Aaron asked his song who looked up at him.
"Yeah, mom gave me this awesome hat!" He explained, taking it off for him to examine. Delia did a fine job on it.
"Wow, are you going to let me borrow this from time to time? I need a hat for when I'm traveling after all." Aaron said, shooting Ash a sly grin.
"No way, this one is mine." Ash stated sternly.
"Say what?" Aaron exclaimed playfully. "Can't you share a little bit?"
"It's just for me." Ash declared, looking at his father intently.
"Alright, since your mother made it for you, I won't ask again." Aaron stated as he placed Ash's cap on his head, pulling it down snug on Ash's head. Ash grinned at him, and Aaron could tell what his son was going to ask.
"What did ya bring me?" Ash inquired, looking toward the present that Aaron placed on the table.
"Ash, what I have here for you is a big responsibility." Aaron began with a serious expression. Glancing at his father, Ash quickly realized this was no small matter despite his youth, and that led him to one conclusion.
"Is it a Pokemon?" Ash asked immediately, reaching out to the remove the cover of the box.
"Hold on Ash," Aaron said, forcing his son to pause. "I want you to understand this isn't something you can take lightly. This Pokemon is going to be yours, which means you will have to take care of it, feed it, and maybe one day train it-"
"Pika-" A new voice exclaimed, and everyone looked toward the present to see that the top of the box rose up a smidgen for the small yellow Pokemon to peek out. It couldn't bear to be contained within the box any longer. To the adult's amusement, the cover of the box slowly slid off of Pikachu's head, allowing its ears to stand straight up.
"A PIKACHU!" He screamed, and the Pokemon looked toward him at the call of its name. Grabbing the small Pokemon from the box, Ash pressed it against his face in a crushing hug. The Pikachu, however, seemed irritated as it began to struggle in Ash's grasp, and both Aaron and the man with him recognized the expression on Pikachu's face. In a flash, they put distance between themselves and this new duo, and it was just in the nick of time.
"Pika-CHUUU!" The small Pokemon hollered as electricity surged out of its body, zapping Ash. The small child was left twitching rapidly after he dropped Pikachu, his gaze unfocused.
"Oh my poor baby, are you okay!?" Delia yammered as she rushed to Ash, placing her hands on each of his cheeks. He let out of a small cough as Pikachu climbed up onto the center table, voicing its concerns for him. Then, of all the things Ash could do, he began to laugh.
"No, I'm sorry Pikachu. I shoulda asked before squeezing you." Ash apologized to the Pokemon, breaking away from his mother to look directly at it. Standing on its hind legs, Pikachu began to scratch the back of its neck with a small chuckle. "No hard feelings?"
Everyone raised their eyebrows at the sight of them bumping fists. This small gesture would start a lifelong relationship as Pikachu beamed at Ash, and he returned its bright expression.
"My name is Ash." Ash began, introducing himself to the Pokemon. "Do you like the name Pikachu?"
"Pi-ka." It replied with a nod and the two of them soon became absorbed in their own discussion.
"Well then, it looks like that got sorted out quickly." Aaron noted with a laugh.
"I told you already Aaron, Ash is just like you. When he comes up to the ranch he treats all the Pokemon just like that, right Delia?" The gentleman pointed out receiving a nod from Delia.
"Yup, that's right professor." She replied as they watched Ash offer his arm to Pikachu. It hesitated for just a moment before it climbed onto him, mounting itself onto his shoulder where it nuzzled its cheek against Ash's.
"How about a picture?" The professor suggested, motioning for Delia and Aaron to join Ash and his new partner.
"Sounds great." Aaron said as he approached his son and grabbed him in one arm, hoisting him up into the air. His remaining arm wrapped around Delia's waist and pulled her close as the professor retrieved the camera.
The family of three...now four, smiled together for the camera as the professor gave a shout of 'say cheese!'
-X-X-
"Ash? Ash!" Brock hollered, waving his hands in front of his friend's face. Ash blinked rapidly for a few moments, his vision focusing on Brock. "Are you okay?"
"Uhh, yeah man. I'm good." Ash replied as he rubbed one of his eyes.
"Are you sure?" Brock added skeptically, but Ash gave him a narrow stare.
"I'm good." He repeated. Brock made a face, causing Ash to apologize for his tone. Deciding it was best to drop the subject, Brock gestured to the entrance to the open stadium. The area outside of the stadium was a ghost town. The audience had proceeded to enter once the doors were opened for general admission, leaving Ash and Brock outside.
Brock took the lead, guiding Ash into the Hidden Cove Stadium. He had been to the Hidden Cove on one other occasion to see professional matches, and Brock could safely say that it was an experience like no other.
This stadium was a beacon for trainers around the world. A place all of them dreamed of battling within one day. A stage where everyone would see your battle.
Every battle that took place in the Hidden Cove was broadcast through the PokeHub. This made it easy for those with access to track their favorite trainers and observe their battles if they couldn't attend the actual battle.
Within the main lobby, there were numerous posters showing some of the most memorable battles to be seen at the Hidden Cove. Observing some of these posters, Brock found himself looking up dreamily at the prospect of these battles. Recordings of these battles were stored on the PokeHub, but seeing a legendary matchup in person was an entirely different experience.
Traveling through the lobby, Brock and Ash entered the long corridor that traveled around the stadium, connecting to the stands around the battlefield. The stadium was nothing large, seating just a few thousand people, but it took a great deal of effort to maintain everything, including the battlefield. Entering a short stairwell, Ash looked up as they stepped out onto the stands. The stadium was open above them within this dimly lit area, but their primary light source was several large spotlights aimed down at the battlefield.
Ash felt his chest become tight at the sight of the field. This was the field. Taking part in battles out on the streets was nothing to take lightly, but to take part in a battle on this field meant that you were the real deal. This was the first time he was seeing it in person, and one day soon he hoped to be standing on it himself.
"Come on Ash, this way." Brock said, calling for Ash to follow to their seats.
The tickets they received from Darach were excellent, placing them very close to the front. Ash and Brock felt a little out of place. These seats toward the front were occupied by some very well-dressed people, all of which must have paid a great deal of money to get them.
It was no secret to Brock that some of the people were present because they placed bets on these battles. While the underground circuit built a solid foundation for itself, it had been a struggle to establish this. Finding sponsors to help maintain the Hidden Cove, PokeHub and the trainers proved to be a real challenge. As an incentive, the underground circuit became a big gambling site, attracting some people with deep pockets to support its infrastructure.
Getting comfortable in their seats, there was a chime over the speakers to inform everyone that tonight's event was about to begin. An older gentleman, perhaps in his late fifties, stepped out in the spotlights on the battlefield with a microphone in hand. He wore a thick beard that was beginning to gain a few gray hairs due to age.
"That's him, Ash," Brock said as he pointed at the man on the field. "The commissioner of the circuit."
"That's him?" Ash exclaimed as he did a double take. Ash expected to see someone of great stature and prominence, not a short man wearing a backward cap!
"Yup, Charles Goodshow." Brock replied as Charles began to tap the microphone he held, commanding everyone's attention.
"It's good to see a full house tonight." He began, welcoming the audience warmly. "We have a special treat as the main event tonight, which I'm certain all of you are looking forward to. So, we'll skip straight to what everyone is here for, our first of eleven battles tonight!"
Charles motioned to the referee that stepped into the spotlight. He had a microphone attached to the collar of his shirt as he announced the participants of the battle.
"For our first match tonight, we have 'Outlaw' vs 'Blitz!'" The referee declared causing a roar from the audience. As the first two trainers took their place in each box, Charles quickly left the field to get to his own seat in the stands. "Trainers, are you ready?"
Both trainers gave the referee a short nod, eyeing their opponent with a Pokeball in hand.
"Then let the battle begin!" The ref shouted as he threw up his arms. That was the signal, and both trainers hurled their Pokeball up into the air. Each device split, releasing a white flash that jumped down to the field. The audience roared as Outlaw's Pidgeotto and Blitz's Ledian formed on the field, both of them taking flight upon spotting their opponent.
"This should be easy Pidgeotto, take it down with your Aerial Ace!" Outlaw ordered immediately, pointing up at Ledian. This was a tremendous advantage in their favor, and they were going to take full advantage of it. Pidgeotto gave a squawk before it ascended high into the air, performing a large loop to gain momentum.
"Ledian, use your Agility!" Blitz barked in return. Ledian's wings began to reverberate faster than the eye could see, and it became a blur in the air as Pidgeotto went on the attack. Even with its increased speed, Pidgeotto's keen eyesight allowed it to track the movements of Ledian as it darted around the air. Locking onto its target, Pidgeotto dove in, accurately striking Ledian on its side.
"Follow up with Whirlwind!" Outlaw added since Ledian was free falling from the blow. Pidgeotto began to flap is wings rapidly, unleashing several powerful gusts of wind onto Ledian. Outlaw's intention was to throw it down to the field where he and Pidgeotto would deliver the finishing blow, but the winds revitalized Ledian. Catching itself on the gusts, Ledian began to ride them in order to stabilize itself in the air, much to the delight of its trainer.
"Nice Ledian, let's give them a taste of your Mach Punch!" Blitz called out quickly seeing that this was there chance to attack. Riding the gusts of wind, Ledian used it as a slingshot to launch itself back up at Pidgeotto, reeling back one of its small fists. The crowd roared at the sight of Ledian delivering a punch to Pidgeotto's abdomen, stunning the bird which caused it to plummet down to the field. "Show em' who's boss with your Comet Punch!"
Ledian was quick to follow up, all four of its small hands beginning to glow as it attacked Pidgeotto with a barrage of punches.
"Pidgeotto you gotta do something!" Outlaw cried out, but Ledian delivered blow after blow to Pidgeotto's head leaving it dazed. It crashed down onto the field with a hard thud, Ledian hovering over the bird Pokemon with a prideful smile.
"Nice Ledian!" Blitz called out to his partner.
The audience was cheering wildly for Ledian's combination which effectively took down Pidgeotto. Ash, however, struggled to keep his attention on the battle. All of this commotion was muffled in his ears and his mind continued to drift back to thoughts of his father.
There was a laundry list of questions Ash had for his father, all of which were unanswered for more than ten years now.
Where had he been? What was he doing?
What happened on...that day?
-X-X-
"WHOA!" Ash bellowed as he stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding a stray bolt of electricity let loose from Pikachu. He laughed as he fell back onto his bottom, the grass of his backyard cushioning his fall. Ash brushed aside the momentary pain, his focus now firmly placed on how impressed he was with Pikachu's ability to channel electricity.
His father explained it a few times for him, that as Pikachu grew it would gain a measure of control of the electricity it could generate. Ash could distinctly remember the first time they had met two years ago how Pikachu greeted him with a shock to his system. He surprised Pikachu back then in its early stages, causing a discharge that not even it would have expected.
Since then, Pikachu came a long way. Ash may have grown somewhat now that he was the age of seven, but it was Pikachu's growth that was noteworthy. It had filled out considerably, now attaining the natural size and weight of its kind which marked the beginning of the exploration of its abilities.
"Pikapi?" Pikachu asked him as it ran to his side, but Ash assured it that he was alright. Pikachu's ears perked up as it heard something approaching in the distance.
It was a few moments before Ash could hear it as well. The roar of several car mufflers racing toward them. Suddenly the back door of his home was thrown open by his mother, who called for him frantically. Upon reaching the back porch, Delia grabbed him by the hand and yanked him into the house. Briefly, they made eye contact and Ash saw how distraught his mother was. His mother was such a cheerful woman that seeing this grim expression on her face was…uncanny.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Ash asked her as he heard the car engines stopping outside of their home. His mother glanced at the front door, biting down on her lower lip. "Mom?"
"Come on, upstairs now." She said sharply, ushering Ash and Pikachu up the staircase to their room. Reaching their room, Delia opened up Ash's closet and gently steered the two of them into.
"What's happening, mom?" Ash asked her again, and she winced upon hearing someone pounding their front door.
"Ash, I want you to promise me that you'll stay here." Delia stated as she sat him down in the corner of the closet. Ash opened his mouth to question her, but she quickly placed Pikachu in his arms and looked into his eyes. It was rather dark in his closet, but Ash could clearly see that she was resolute despite the panic she was experiencing.
He nodded to her, and she smiled faintly. She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his forehead, doing the same for Pikachu.
"Pi-ka..." It squeaked, lowering its ears in dismay. Realizing Pikachu must have detected her resolve, she placed a hand the top of its head, scratching it softly to provide the Pokemon some reassurance.
"Check around the back!" A burly voice commanded, and the trio within Ash's room heard a pair of footsteps circling their house. Delia straightened up and spared her son one last glance, remembering his face for what might be the final time.
Shutting the closet, Ash felt an overwhelming sense of dread as his mother returned downstairs. He could hear their back door get thrown open, earning a shout from Delia as they entered her home. The wooden floor creaked beneath their steps as they rushed at Delia. She was restrained by one of these men while the other opened the front door for the remaining person outside to join them.
The conversation was difficult for Ash to follow from upstairs. He managed to pick out a few phrases from their discussion, but not enough to understand what they were talking about.
"...Malcolm doesn't want you talking. This is your last chance." One of the men stated.
"...you all will be exposed one day." Delia spat in return, receiving a backhand for her boldness.
"...you and Aaron are the last of our loose ends..."
"...it dies with you..."
Pikachu's ears rose as it faintly heard a click, followed by a gasp from Delia.
"...it's your call, what are you going to do?"
Delia began to sob. Ash couldn't make out a word she said, and suddenly everything grew silent.
A gunshot...followed by a thud.
Pikachu grabbed its ears, whining softly from the sharp noise.
Ash felt his heart jump into his throat, and his arms became tense as he held Pikachu tightly.
What was happening? He needed to know. Getting onto his knees, Ash reached out for the doorknob with one hand, but Pikachu opposed this idea. Sinking its small teeth into his forearm, Ash paused to wince in pain.
"Oww Pikachu." He muttered.
"Pika-pika." It advised him quietly, reminding him of the promise he made to his mother. Ash bit down on his lower lip, looking at the doorknob with uncertainty. He so desperately wanted to know what was happening. He heard his mother struggling against these men, and she even began to cry. Ash couldn't bear the thought of them hurting her.
Feeling Pikachu lick at the small bite mark it left on his arm, Ash sighed and sat back down. He wouldn't go against his mother's words.
Hearing another car come screeching to a halt outside his home, Ash's curiosity reached an all-time high. There was some shouting from the men within his home, but the loudest voice all came bursting through the front door. He knew this voice.
It was his father's.
-X-X-
"And now, we will start tonight's main event!" Charles Goodshow announced from his seat in the stands. There was a spotlight on him as he stood, a microphone in hand. The audience roared in response, anxious for this match to begin. This was what they all came to see.
Ash shook his head, the sheer volume of the audience forcing him out of his thoughts. Glancing around, he saw that almost everyone was on their feet as Charles began to introduce the participants of the main event. Ash rose up as well, watching as one of the spotlights was pointed to the entrance of the battlefield.
"In the blue box, sporting a record that has spanned forty-three matches with only three losses. 'Hydration!'" Charles declared as a man in early thirties stepped out into the spotlight. The audience cheered for him, and he pumped his fist as a gesture to excite the audience. Reaching the area that had been dedicated for him on the battlefield, another spotlight was then directed at the opposite entrance. "And in the red box, with an undefeated record through nineteen matches, a man who has maintained his status among the top five trainers in the circuit! 'Trek!'"
Ash drew in a shaky breath as his father stepped out into the spotlight. Aaron wasn't anything like how Ash remembered him. During Ash's early childhood, Aaron always possessed a rugged appearance and a scruffy beard. The only reason he ever shaved it was for Delia to kiss him since she refused to otherwise. Looking at him now, Ash couldn't believe that this was his father.
The man was clean cut, his hair was trimmed and under control. He was sharp, dressed in a suit, although he was missing a tie and the jacket was left undone. The most notable thing that struck Ash was his father's expression. All throughout his youth in Pallet Town, this man wore the greatest of smiles, especially when he was around Pokemon. Yet at this very moment, he wore a neutral expression, almost as if the life had been sucked out of him.
This setting was what the man lived for. Pokemon battles, fans screaming for him, but he didn't seem to care about it at all.
Arriving at the red box, Aaron took one glance around at the audience before focusing on the referee.
"Trainers, are you ready to begin?" The referee asked. He received a nod of confirmation from each of them, and then he threw his arms up.
"Alright, let's go!" Hydration shouted as he threw up his Pokeball. Aaron quickly did the same, and each of the spheres cracked open to release the Pokemon within it.
On Hydration's side, a Poliwhirl appeared it immediately fell into a fighting stance. Its opponent was a Pokemon that Ash hadn't seen in a long time.
"Ka-da-bra." Aaron's Kadabra shouted, raising one hand toward Poliwhirl. Its hand began to glow, eager to begin this battle.
-X-X-
"Delia!" His father roared from the living room. It was the type of shout that turns your blood cold and sends shivers down your spine. The pop of a Pokeball opening rung out, and there were several shouts of protest following this.
Then Ash began to hear several crashes with shouts of pain from the men. Ash could no longer help himself. His adrenaline was pumping, curiosity piqued as to what transpired downstairs. Above all else, his concern for his parents forced him to release his hold on Pikachu and stand up. With no hesitation, he opened up the door to his closet and rose to his feet.
Stepping out, Ash proceeded to the door of his room and opened it up. It became abundantly clear that a brawl had broken out in their living room. He could see the shattered remains of a vase resting at the bottom of the staircase. Slowly, he and Pikachu went down each step, his shoulders hunched as he reached the final steps.
Ash peeked into the room, his attention first being drawn to the three men he heard. They were being held up in the air by the psychic power of his father's Kadabra.
"No, I was too late..."
His father was talking to someone.
"Some of his goons met me in Viridian City. That's what slowed me down." Aaron stated vehemently.
Ash gulped audibly as he looked around in search of his mother. It didn't take him long to find her on the opposite side of the living room. She lay motionless on her stomach, her head looking in the opposite direction. He rushed to her side, kneeling down to see if she was okay, but Ash fell back with a queasy feeling at the sight of his mother.
There was a small hole in her forehead, blood trickling out of the fatal bullet wound. Her eyes were glassy, lifeless, but he could see the stains of tears on her cheeks.
"M-M-mom?" Ash asked, and Aaron whirled around. The grip he had on his phone loosened as he saw Ash beside Delia. This was what he was desperately trying to avoid this...
"Kadabra, use Hypnosis!" Aaron barked, pointing at Ash. Glancing back at Aaron, Kadabra was certainly surprised that the target of this attack was Ash, but it complied nonetheless. Hurling the three men it held in its Psychic grip aside, Kadabra gave a shout which earned Ash and Pikachu's attention. Briefly making eye contact with the two of them, Kadabra released a psychic wave which was propelled toward them.
The duo didn't have a chance to react before they were hit, being overcome by a sudden drowsiness. Ash could vaguely make out his father's face with the man looming over him, but he was unable to form a proper sentence before he succumbed to his urge to sleep.
-X-X-
"Poliwhirl is unable to battle, Kadabra is the winner!" The ref declared, and the audience burst into applause. Ash groaned as his vision refocused, and he saw the outcome of the battle. Aaron's Kadabra stood proudly over its unconscious opponent.
Ash sat in his seat, dumbfounded since he had missed the whole battle, in fact, he missed all of the battles tonight. Despite this, Ash didn't care. The only thing he cared about was speaking to his father.
One of the spotlights was shifted back to Charles as he stood up, applauding the two trainers that participated in the main event. As the cheering abated, Charles took up the microphone in his seat to speak.
"Quite a spectacle!" Charles exclaimed as he watched Aaron retreat to the exit of the battlefield with his Kadabra. "A performance worthy of one of our Kings! I'll have to make sure his next opponent is even stronger than this one. Would you all like to see that?"
The audience roared in response. Getting to see any of the Five Kings take part in a battle was truly a treat, but seeing 'Trek', King of the Red Skulls battle was something that only happened once in a blue moon. Some questioned his ability since he battled far less frequently than the other Kings. Others insisted that his small track record in the underground circuit didn't justify his ranking.
However, seeing 'Trek' fully control a battle against another trainer in the top fifty was a clear reminder of his skill. His small record may have undermined his reputation, but his dominance on the battlefield quickly shut down the naysayers. He and his Kadabra were unparalleled in combat, something that could only be said about the Five Kings.
As Charles went through the closing ceremony, Ash nudged Brock with his elbow to get his attention.
"I'm gonna go, Brock." Ash said causing his friend to glance at him knowingly.
"You're going to talk to him, huh?" Brock stated, earning a nod from Ash.
"I have to." Ash responded sternly, glancing back at the tunnel his father went into.
"I know. I got something to take care of myself. I'll meet you back at the car, alright?"
"Right."
Ash rose from his seat, working his way down the aisle until he made it to the stairway that would take him back into the main corridor of the stadium. He knew little about this building, but he was already certain that there was only one way in and out of the Hidden Cove. If he was quick, he could reach the shore before Aaron got there.
Returning to the corridor that led to the seating areas, Ash began to run through it, racing back toward the main lobby of the stadium. As he ran, Ash could swear that this corridor became noticeably longer. He and Brock didn't walk too far to reach the seating area, so why was it taking him so long to get back to the lobby? Finally, the corridor opened up, and Ash found himself breathing hard as he looked around the lobby. He quickly realized that he entered this room from the opposite side he left it through earlier.
Resisting the urge to slap himself, Ash couldn't believe that he managed to run around the entire stadium. He wasn't sure how much time he wasted, time he could have saved if he took the time to glance at any of the signs that were giving directions. Shaking his head with a sigh of irritation, Ash dashed out of the large doors of the lobby, stepping into the cool night air. The sky was dark, but the Hidden Cove was situated perfectly to see the moon as it rose up over the horizon.
Far out ahead of him, Ash saw a group of four men approaching the shoreline where the escorts and their Mantine's were waiting. Accompanying these men was a Kadabra, which meant that Aaron was among them. Going into a full sprint to close the distance, Ash gave a shout that caused them to glance back curiously.
"Hey!" He exclaimed loudly.
Aaron stopped mid-step, causing the other with him to pause and look back at the source of the shout. Glancing over his shoulder, Aaron could swear that his heart stopped at the sight of Ash Ketchum racing toward him. For all the time he spent watching his son over the last decade, this was the first time he was seeing him face to face. It simply astounded him how much this boy had grown since Aaron last saw him in person. Ash closed the gap in height, and he grew out his hair in the same fashion that Aaron used to wear his.
"Stop him Kadabra." Aaron said softly, causing Kadabra's eyes to flash blue for a brief moment. Ash's sprint came to an abrupt halt, his body now restrained by an unseen force. Ash grit his teeth, and fought to break free, but it was a truly bizarre experience to have lost all control of his body. He wanted to move, but he wasn't allowed to.
"Wha-What are you doing? It-It's me, Ash!" Ash pointed out, using the only part of his body that would obey his command. Aaron turned around to face Ash, but with the moonlight behind him, it concealed his expression from his son.
Aaron maintained his distance from Ash, posing his own question to his son.
"Why are you here?" Aaron asked him, and Ash felt his heart sink. On top of the changes to his appearance, Aaron's voice had grown rough. Even though their interactions had been sparse during Ash's childhood, Aaron would always talk to Ash in a way that put him at ease. But at this particular moment, there was no warmth or acceptance coming from Aaron. Just a raspy voice that was filled with skepticism.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked him in return.
"Why did you come here tonight?" Aaron clarified.
"To see the best trainers, why else would I be here?" Ash answered with a touch of indignation in his voice. Aaron's expression hardened at this response and the tip of his nose twitched twice.
"How did you get in?" Aaron questioned him.
"I got some tickets from someone who works for one the sponsors of the underground circuit. His name was um..." Ash frowned, realizing that he didn't even know Mr. Berlitz's first name. Not to mention he owed the man for unknowingly providing him those tickets. "His last name was Berlitz, that's all I really know about him."
Unknown to Ash, Aaron's eyes became narrow at the mention of 'Berlitz.'
Aaron hated being forced out of his little den to battle publicly for Charles Goodshow. 'Berlitz' was the picture-perfect example of why Aaron lived as a recluse. That man wanted him dead.
Hearing Ash just mention the name 'Berlitz' sparked a sense of rage with Aaron. What did that man want with his son?
"Is something wrong?" Ash asked. His father stood silent for some time now, and even the men that were escorting him were waiting for him to speak.
"Why did you come after me?" Aaron inquired with a deep breath.
"Because...I wanted to talk to you." Ash stated, and Aaron felt his breath become short. All of the effort he put forth to calm himself was forgotten immediately. There was only one subject that Ash could possibly want to talk to him about.
What happened the day his mother died.
"You're not ready." Aaron responded as he averted his gaze from Ash.
"What are you talking about? You don't even know what I was going to say!" Ash proclaimed, tightening his jaw out of frustration. This was hardly the discussion he expected to have. This was the first time they had seen each other in years, and his father had yet to say his name.
"You want to know about your mother, don't you?" Aaron said vehemently, forcing Ash to pause as he thought about his next choice of words. This was all of the proof Aaron needed. "You're not ready."
"And what makes you think I'm not ready?" Ash barked at him.
"Because I'm you fath-"
"You're not my dad!" Ash shouted at him, forcing Aaron to look back at him. Ash could see his father's eyes amidst the darkness, and his anger boiled. This man had no right to claim that he was Ash's father! "I was seven years old the last time I saw you! That was ten whole years ago! I'm not that kid you'd come to visit every now and then, so you don't have a say in what I can and can't know."
Aaron's expression darkened as he stared at Ash, balling his hands into tight fists.
"Listen!" He piped up over Ash, and his voice became scornful. "You don't understand anything that happened that day!"
"I know that was the day you chose to leave because you couldn't take care of me!" Ash hollered defiantly, and Aaron's ears began flush with the thump of his heart. His hands began to tremble which caused his Kadabra to take a cautious glance at its trainer. Seeing his anger flare up so violently, Kadabra knew what was coming next.
"C-C-Calm...Mind." Aaron spoke with a quiver as if he was kettle that was about to burst. Kadabra's eyes flashed blue momentarily, and Aaron's did the same. His anger abated, and he took one hand to pinch the bridge of his nose with a deep sigh.
Ash furrowed his brow, expecting an outburst from his father. But Aaron responded with a frightening calmness.
"Alright, you want to know about your mother?" Aaron asked him.
"At this point what else do you think I want to know about?" Ash retorted, but this didn't bother Aaron in the slightest. Rather, he lowered his hand to place his thumb against his chest.
"Beat me in a battle. An official one. Then we'll talk." Aaron stated, and Ash's anger turned to shock.
He needed some time to process what his father said. It was a complete one-eighty from the direction their conversation had been going. Ash began to anticipate a contest of who could raise their voice louder when suddenly Aaron retreated into his shell again. Ash struggled to figure out what could have prompted this subject. Once again, the questions were piling up.
Why would his father use such a ridiculous condition? Was it to keep him from finding out what happened to his mother? Why was Aaron trying to keep this a secret in the first place?
Ash shook his head, pushing these questions aside as he concluded that this must be the new norm for his father. After all, the man didn't have any qualms about dumping him in Vermilion City with Cassidy ten years ago. He didn't even have the decency to say goodbye. If Aaron was fine doing this, then it was no wonder he could put such a stupid roadblock in front of Ash.
"And how do you expect me to do that?" Ash asked him in return. His chance of entering the underground circuit was minuscule at best, and odds of a battle between him and his father being arranged were even smaller than that!
"I've been watching you," Aaron said, raising his arms. "I'm the King of the Red Skulls. I've seen you battle with my trainers. I know that you can make it into the circuit."
Ash lowered his head, deepening the glare he shot at his father. That proclamation felt as if Aaron was trying to make up for his absence. As if him stating that stalking Ash could make up for that.
"None of that matters," Ash said, brushing aside Aaron's comments before returning to the subject at hand. "No one is going to sponsor me."
"You've already found your sponsor. Berlitz. He'll get you in." Aaron revealed, but this didn't erase any of the doubt in Ash's stare. The young man was having such a hard time following his father as their discussion jumped from one place to another. "Just tell him your name...and he'll get you in."
Aaron turned away from Ash, using a moment to steady his breathing. Then he began to walk, his men following him to the beach where the Mantine's were waiting. Ash wanted to scream, to chase him down, to grab his father by the collar of his damn shirt and slap some sense into him. But Kadabra's psychic restraints held him in place, which gave him the privilege of watching his father leave him...again.
Once the group was situated on the back of a Mantine, Kadabra glanced back at Ash and released its hold on him. Ash fell to the ground once his freedom was restored. Raising his head to look up, Ash could see his father fading into the distance. Even if he raced down to the shoreline to board another Mantine, they would have been long gone. With no other option, Ash could only pound the sand of the beach angrily.
Even after talking to his father face to face, the man was but an enigma to him.
Charles Goodshow gave a sigh of relief as he leaned back into the sofa in his office. It was nights like these that he lived for, but the toll on him increased alongside his age. Organizing these nights every weekend was no small matter. There was so much to consider with each match.
The goal of the underground circuit was to bring out the best in each trainer and Pokemon that were participating. Charles also went through the trouble of trying to keep the matches balanced to keep the gambling community honest. The last thing he needed was someone thinking these matches were rigged.
In most cases, Charles would speak to the sponsor of a trainer in order to set up a match. However, there were a few occasions where Charles had to meet the trainer in person and 'convince' them to take part in a battle. This was a requirement when trying to get Aaron Ketchum to battle publicly. This man was elusive and crafty, slipping from one shadow to the next in Vermilion City. Fortunately, Charles possessed a few ties to the Red Skulls that made this task more bearable.
Aaron was stubborn, so it typically took two or three meetings with him to get him to actually commit to a battle. Even though it was a process to get this man to make an appearance, it was always worth the effort with the show he would put on. It was obvious why this man was one of the Five Kings of Vermilion City and with his alias on the schedule would guarantee a full house.
Hearing some commotion from outside of his office, Charles rose from his seat. Before he could step away from his desk the ruckus had reached the door of his office which had been thrown open by a spiky-haired male. Behind this young man, Charles saw his assistant who was clearly irritated with their uninvited guest.
"Mr. Goodshow, if I could just have a moment of your time." He began, bowing deeply as an apology for barging into his office. Charles could see that his assistant was eager to send this person away, but Charles didn't have the heart to do so. After all, he made it to this point in his life by listening to those who approached him in just such a fashion. Only people with a clear goal in mind would barge into his office like this.
Motioning for his assistant to leave them, the young man beamed at Charles and thanked him graciously for this. He shut the door to his office and then quickly approached Charles's desk as the gentleman got situated in his seat once again.
"So, what can I do for you?" Charles asked him, though he had a hunch already.
"My name is Brock, and I'm trying to help a friend of mine get into the circuit." Brock began. Charles merely raised his brow in response, so Brock continued. "Now I know a lot of people come to you to make this request, but I have to tell you that you'd be making a big mistake passing on my friend."
"Well, you're right about one thing. A lot of people do come to me to make this request." Charles replied with a snort. He was the commissioner of the circuit, so a lot of people assumed that kissing his butt was the fastest way to get in.
Charles wouldn't have any of that. Every trainer that was invited to take part in the underground circuit all had one similarity. They were excellent trainers. It was a simple as that. Trying to grease his palms and flatter him with compliments wouldn't make Charles' view of a trainer any less critical. Only the most skilled and powerful trainers could take part.
"I'd like to believe that I perceive talent the way you do sir," Brock said respectfully to Charles, looking him straight in the eyes. "I've seen my fair share of Pokemon battles in this city, and believe me, my friend is something special. Some of the people he's beaten have told me the same thing."
Charles placed an elbow on his desk, using his hand to begin to stroke his short beard. Under any other circumstance, Charles would've ignored how Brock was praising his friend. Charles only trusted his own eye test, but Brock's comment about perceiving talent seemed to resonate within him. His curiosity was piqued.
"Tell me about someone your friend has beaten." Charles said, leaning back into his seat as he waited for Brock's answer.
This was his test during these interviews. Charles knew all of the strong trainers in Vermilion City. If a trainer seeking entry into the underground circuit couldn't beat any of the trainers he knew, then they didn't belong here.
"Giselle." Brock stated and Charles raised his brow again, but this time surprise was evident in his expression.
"Ah, now there's a trainer I had high hopes for." Charles commented, taking a few moments to briefly recall what he could about Giselle. He saw a few videos of her battles with circuit trainers. She could easily hold her own against all of them, but she turned down the invitations to join the underground circuit.
Charles smiled faintly at the thought of Brock's friend defeating Giselle. If this was true, then this trainer was certainly worth considering.
"Who is he?" Charles asked Brock, earning a grin from him.
"Ash Ketchum."
Charles blinked a few times, unable to hide his clear shock now. Ketchum? As in, Aaron Ketchum's son? He didn't even know Aaron had a son, but considering how reclusive that man was it was no surprise that this was a well-kept secret. Charles' mind began to run wild at the prospect of the two of them having a battle. If this was indeed Aaron's son then this boy certainly had the pedigree to become a fantastic trainer and battler.
"Aaron's boy...how old is he?" Charles inquired.
"Almost eighteen." Brock responded, and Charles' jaw dropped.
Eighteen!? A teenager that was already on par with other circuit trainers? The doubts Charles in the back of Charles' mind concerning Brock's friend faded with each new piece of information he received. Regardless of how much Charles learned, his eye test would still have the final say.
"Bring me a recording of a battle he has with Giselle." Charles specified. "I want to see this for myself."
Charles had seen many, many great trainers, but this was the first time in two years that he found himself anxiously waiting to see a trainer in action!
Brock was ecstatic during the ride back to the Vermilion City shoreline. While the other passengers on the Mantine were discussing the battles they witnessed, Brock was anxiously thinking about the next battle he would see. Ash against Giselle, but this time there was more to it than just practice. This was his chance to get into the underground circuit!
It wouldn't be a problem to get Trevor to record this battle, and then all he would have to do is deliver this video to Charles as soon as he got the recording. Charles gave Brock his contact information in order to arrange a meeting between them. The older man also extended his generosity to Brock by giving him two tickets to return to the Hidden Cove the following weekend for Ash to see another set of battles. These tickets were very expensive, so Brock didn't spare a moment in showing his gratitude.
As the Mantine arrived at the shore, Brock couldn't help but grin up at the dark skies, excited over the prospects of what was going to take place this week. About two weeks ago he and Ash decided to focus on entering the underground circuit, and Brock wasn't expecting to make this much progress in such a short amount of time. He thought it was going to be much harder to convince Charles to give Ash a shot, but with that out of the way now, they could focus on finding Ash a sponsor. That would be their real challenge.
Stooping down to thank Mantine for the ride, Brock jumped to the rocky shoreline to begin his walk back to the parking lot. It was about a mile from here, so Brock was expecting to meet Ash here at the shore. His friend was nowhere to be found. Taking out his phone, Brock sent him a text for his location.
Ash's response came quickly, telling him that he was already at Brock's car. Brock raised his brow with intrigue at the response, wondering if Ash was alright. The expression his friend wore just before he left to pursue his father left Brock feeling uneasy. He had the same look in his eyes from the night Brock picked him up at the hospital when Cassidy went down. Ash was feeling lost.
Brock jogged, shortening the time it would take him to his car. Returning to the parking lot, Brock found his car with Ash seated on the hood of it.
"Hey man." Brock called out to him.
"Hey." Ash said flatly as he glanced back at his friend. Despite the dim lighting of the parking lot, Brock saw Ash's gloomy expression clearly.
"You okay?" Brock asked as Ash hopped off the hood of the car, heading over to the passenger side. He didn't respond until he was seated with his seatbelt on.
"I don't really know right now." Ash replied softly as Brock got into the driver's seat. Brock started the engine with a small frown, realizing that Ash's attempt to speak with his father must not have gone so well.
"What happened with your dad? If you want to share, that is. You don't have to if you don't want to." Brock quickly added, but Ash waved off his concerns.
"It's cool. You know, it's been more than ten years since I've seen him, so I was kind of expecting...something, you know?" Ash explained although he struggled to articulate it. "Like...it's been so long that I thought I didn't care anymore. But when I saw him I just started to remember everything and-" Ash stopped, clapping his hands against his cheeks with a sigh of aggravation. "-I don't know! I don't want to care about him, but I do, and I don't know why!"
"It's because he's your dad, man." Brock reasoned with him. "You can't help it."
Ash took a moment to consider what Brock said while his friend began to drive, reversing out of his parking spot. He didn't like what Brock shared with him, but there was some truth in his statement. Ash spent the last ten years reducing his expectations of his father, whittling them down to the point where he didn't expect a damn thing from him. Yet, just the sight of him suddenly filled his heart with thoughts of restoring what they lost all these years.
Ash opened a small piece of heart for his father, and he regretted doing that now. Ash got exactly what he should have expected from his father.
Nothing at all.
Brock gave Ash plenty of time to think while he drove, but he could sense that Ash needed something to boost his mood. Especially since they had an exciting week ahead of them.
"So, guess who I spoke to," Brock said to Ash. Ash pursed his lips, taking a few moments to think about who Brock might have spoken to. After some time, he gave up, shrugging his shoulders as a motion for Brock to continue. "The commissioner himself, Charles Goodshow."
Now that earned a proper response from Ash as he looked straight at Brock with an expression of shock.
"How'd you pull that off? Doesn't he have security or something?" Ash inquired.
"You'd think he would, but I guess considering the Hidden Cove is pretty secluded he doesn't really need to have security," Brock responded. "-but get this, he's gonna give you a shot."
It took a moment for this to register in Ash's mind, that the commissioner was actually going to give him a spot in the circuit. It almost sounded too good to be true.
"For real?" Ash exclaimed, and Brock grinned at him.
"For real," Brock repeated with a nod. "He just wants to see you battle Giselle again. I'll have Trevor record it for us, and then next weekend I'll drop it off for him."
"Aww sweet!" Ash cheered, pumping his fist.
"We're halfway there. All we gotta do is get you a sponsor." Brock stated, and Ash grew quiet as he remembered his father's direction.
"You already found your sponsor, Berlitz. Just tell him your name...he'll get you in."
'Berlitz' was Dawn's father. Would that man really be the key to getting into the underground circuit?
A/N
Hey everyone, I'm back with another chapter and as promised, things are starting to get real. I'm especially looking forward to the next chapter which my beta and I have already started working on together so it should be up soon than later.
Two important characters were introduced in this chapter.
Charles Goodshow. You may or may not remember him from the anime since he hasn't been seen since the Lily of the Valley Conference. Much like his anime counterpart, Charles Goodshow is running the show in my fic as well. Forgive me for that awful joke lol. But he is an integral part of this plot as his position might suggest, so be prepared to see plenty more of him in the future.
Aaron Ketchum. Ash's papa. I know there's been some wild speculation about who Ash's father is, but I figured rather than playing the Giovanni card or something like that, it would just be safer to run with an OC. Obviously, there is a lot to talk about with him, but that discussion is for a later date. Right now his first appearance is really just a tease for what's to come.
Give me some feedback or ask me questions, leave a review, PM me, whatever the heck you feel like doing! I'm always happy to talk and I've had tons of great ideas just talking with those of you who message me from time to time.
Gotta give props to my beta reader MjrGenMatt for all his help. Any praise you give to me I'll just redirect to him because he does all the heavy lifting lol. Thanks to everyone for reading, and I'll see you again soon!