Originally I wasn't going to give Red such a big part, it just kind of happened. I thought it would be better to split the two parts up then leave them together.

A Family Reunited

Red smiled at the scene and turned to walk back to the tunnel so he could get out of the stadium before the press remembered he was there but he stopped when he saw the people from his past waiting for him. He locked eyes with one person in particular, he started moving towards that person with slow steps that soon increased in pace until he was running. He took Delia into his arms and spun her around before pulling her in close and whispering into her ear.

"I'm sorry."

The years of anger and frustration that Delia had felt temporarily faded away as the feeling of being in her husband's arms took her back to a happier time. Professor Oak walked onto the field to announce Ash as the new Pokémon Master while Blue and Leaf took a few steps away to let the married couple have some time together.

Red and Delia stared at each other for what must've been a few minutes but felt like days to them until they heard Ash's voice.

"Mom? What's going on?"

Delia pulled herself out of Red's arms and went up to Ash and May hugging both of them. She kissed Ash's cheek lightly before speaking to him.

"You've found him, I knew you would." Ash was confused but May realised what Delia meant.

"What do you mean?"

"Ash, this is something I should've told you years ago. Your father didn't die, he was lost but today you found him again." Delia gently took Ash's arm and pulled him towards Red. "Ash, this is Richard Edward Daniel Ketchum. Your father." Ash stood just staring at his mother and Red, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Wh…Wh…" Ash couldn't even form the simplest of questions as he struggled to wrap his brain around this new information.

"You're mother's right Ash." Red said, "I am your father but I haven't earned the right for you to call me that. I've never been there for you, at some point during my training I lost touch with my emotions. It may have been because I was travelling alone in the places people never go, the places where danger is constant. I'd forgotten who I was, who I was supposed to be as a man, a husband and a father. I don't expect you to like me, forgive me or call me Dad but I would like to get to know you and the people you care about. The way you battled out there today, it reminded me of how I used to me before I became that emotionless monster." Red looked away and made a tight fist, his nails digging into the palm of his hand through his fingerless gloves. "It's because of you that I want to redeem myself in your eyes and your mother's. Like I said I haven't earned the right to be called Dad or be loved by your mother. I'll do whatever you want me to do to be part of the family you have, no matter how demeaning or humiliating in might be I'll do it."

"You idiot." Delia said with tears glistening in the corners of her amber eyes, she stepped forward and put her arms around Red's neck placing her chin on his shoulder. "All you need to do is come home." Red returned the hug, a lone tear sliding down his cheek. "But there will be a price to pay when we get there." Delia whispered in his ear, making Red break out in a cold sweat. Professor Oak stepped forward and held out his hand, Red took it and smiled.

"It's good to see you again Richard." The Pokémon Researcher said with a kind smile.

"Good to see you too Professor, Saur missed you." Red replied. Blue and Leaf stepped forward next as Delia pulled out of the hug but stayed close to Red. "Blue."

"Red." Blue replied, they stood staring at each other for a few seconds before grinning and pulled each other into a manly hug. "Glad to have you back."

"Good to be back." Blue moved back and let Leaf step up next. Red braced himself for what was about to happen. A resounding crack echoed in the tunnel as Leaf slapped Red across the face. "Okay, I know I deserve that but OW! Did you have to hit me that hard?" Red said gently rubbing his reddening cheek. Leaf then jumped at Red enveloping him in a near bone-crushing hug, as she started to cry into his shoulder. Red gently rubbed her back as he returned the hug. "I missed you too." He said, after a few minutes Blue managed to prise Leaf off of Red. Ash was still frozen trying to cope with the revelation, Red looked at May and could see what she wanted to do. "Miss Maple, I can see that you want to hit me so feel free but please don't hit the same cheek that Leaf did."

May just looked at Red controlling her emotions for the moment, she stepped forward but didn't raise her hand.

"Mr Ketchum, I'm not going to hit you even though I really want to for what you've put Ash and Delia through. It's nice to finally meet you but I'm going to wait and see what Ash is going to say before I make any decisions." May stepped back again and turned to face Ash, ignoring the people around her she placed a gentle loving kiss on Ash's lips. This simple act was enough to bring Ash out of this maelstrom of emotions and back to the scene in front of him. "Ash, are you okay?" May asked, stroking his cheek.

"Yeah, I'm okay. It's just a lot to take in." Ash looked at Red and walked up to him. "I take it this is what you wanted to talk to me about?" Red nodded, Ash waited a few seconds before asking his next question. "Did you know? Did you know I was your son when I challenged you?" Ash asked, this was a question no-one else had thought about.

"I thought you might've been but I wasn't sure. A part of me hoped you were, the way I was thought that if you were then I would finally have a challenge." Red chuckled a little. "It was right you definitely were a challenge. If you're thinking I didn't fight at full strength because we're related you're wrong, I gave everything I had in that battle and so did my Pokémon. You just had more to give." Red sighed, "I don't like repeating myself but I'll say it again, I don't expect forgiveness from you or for you to call me Dad but I would like to get to know you and try to earn the right to call you my son." Ash was quiet for a few minute letting the tension hang in the air as he thought about how to respond.

Slowly Ash raised his hand, holding it out for Red to take.

"I'm not too good with words, what I just said to May took me months to work out. Help me train and we'll go from there." Red just looked at Ash, was it really going to be that easy? He took Ash's hand and shook it.

"You are your mother's son." Red said.

"With his father's looks and battling ability." Delia added putting her hand onto of Ash's and Red's, connecting the family for the first time in 25 years.

"I hate to ruin the moment but Ash you need to go to the press conference." Professor Oak said. Ash looked at the Professor then back to Red, the former Pokémon Master recognised the shine in Ash's eyes and grinned. Well he is my son Red thought as he put an arm around Delia's waist as Ash did the same to May.

"Professor, tell the others that we'll see them in at the party." Ash said as both he and Red sent out their Charizards. "You good for one last flight?" Ash asked, getting a snort of acknowledgement from both Pokémon. Pikachu and Glaceon jumped onto their trainers and the family climbed onto the fire and flying types. "Let's go home." Both Charizard roared and flew out of the tunnel, Red leant over the side of his Charizard as Delia hung onto his waist snatching up his hat and jacket as they flew past. The two fire and flying Pokémon circled once as they got into the open air before heading away from the stadium and towards the place where it all started. Pallet Town.

Professor Oak watched as they disappeared into the distance, he turned and walked towards the room where the press were waiting thinking about what he was going to say to them. He shook his head and chuckled to himself remembering what happened when Red became the Pokémon Master.

"Like father, like son." He said quietly.

That's all I've got for now, I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can.

Until Next Time

Basic Trainer