The first thing Ash and Delia did when they got back to Pallet Town after their devastating adventure was stop by Professor Oak's Lab. Delia explained to the Professor what had happened to her recently deceased husband.
"That's awful news, Mrs. Ketchum, I'm truly sorry for your loss and I offer my deepest condolences. Why, I can remember when the lad first came into my laboratory asking for a starter Pokémon everyone could tell you two had a thing for each other that first day." Oak said sympathetically.
"Thank you, Professor." Delia said.
"Gee, I'm really sorry to hear that, Ash, Mrs. Ketchum." Tracey said.
"Thanks, Tracey, Professor, before my dad… died he ugh um told me to give you his Pokémon, he wanted you to take care of them." Ash explained.
"Thank you, Ash, I promise I'll take very good care of them." Professor Oak gave his word.
"You better…" Ash thought tears swelling up once more.
"Thanks again, Professor. Sweetheart, let's go home now okay, honey." Delia said with an urgency seeing how Ash was about to crack, she knew it would embarrass him to have everyone see him cry.
"Alright, mom." Ash agreed promptly also knowing he was about to burst out crying. Then they slowly and mutely strolled back to the Ketchum's residence, Pikachu always loyally sitting on Ash's shoulder. They then arrived to their home for the first time since Red's passing. Even though Red hadn't been home in years the house felt much colder now, the usually bright and cheery Ketchum's house always filled with smile, love and laughter now was cold and sad and dark.
"Would you like something to eat, Ash or maybe some tea or something to calm you down?" Delia offered but, Ash just nodded his head no.
"Are you sure, I'll make whatever you like, grilled cheese, it's your favorite?" she coaxed.
"I told you I don't want anything!" Ash shouted as he ran up the stairs crying, Pikachu chasing after him.
"Ash, I-"Delia sighed, knowing exactly how he felt but, it still kind of hurt her hearing him shout at her that way but, everyone knows when people are mourning they say stuff they don't mean. Then she sat on the couch massaging her temples with the tips of her fingers and started to sob. After an hour or so Delia remembered she had to arrange a funeral, one of the most painful parts of death she figured the sooner the better and why not get it over with.
"Ash, Ash, please come down here, honey, I'm sorry please I have to talk to you." Delia called up the stairs as Ash peeked his head out of his bedroom door, looking like a total disgrace, his face was such a red, blotchy mess, his eyes were blood-shot from crying so hard and his nose was all runny.
"Mom, I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier, I didn't mean it, you were only trying to help." Ash apologized while his voice chocked on tears.
"Oh, it doesn't matter, don't worry about it. Ash, dear, I have to go to the funeral home to set up the funeral." Delia explained as Ash's eyes widened hearing those words gave him sort of a reality check that his father was truly gone. "Do you think you'll be alright alone, I really hate to leave you like this, I know how upset you are, if you want to go or not is up to you. I'll be worried if you stay, though but, whatever you want." Delia said.
"I'll just stay here with Pikachu and Mr. Mime, I don't feel like going anywhere right now, I'll be okay." Ash muttered still grieving immensely.
"Okay, sweetie I have my Poke'gear don't hesitate to call me if you need anything. Goodbye, sweetheart I'll be right back, are you sure you'll be okay?" Delia asked worriedly.
"I'll be fine, Mom." Ash muttered.
"Okay, look after Ash for me, Pikachu. Bye, Ash, I love you." Delia said tearfully as she leaned over and kissed Ash on the forehead goodbye.
"Bye, mom, you too." Ash said as his mother slammed the door and locked it securely before leaving. Ash then dashed back to his room with Pikachu then he fell onto his bed and squeezed Pikachu like it was a stuffed animal and cried into his pillow.
"Pika-pi, Pikachu, chu." Pikachu said attempting to console its trainer.
"Pikachu…" Ash whispered sadly. "I can't help but hate that Team Snagem so much. Everything that's happened is all their fault. Dad wouldn't have had to leave in the first place if it weren't for them, and they're the ones who killed him!" Ash shouted as tears flowed off his face. Several hours of woe passed before Delia arrived home with the sting of tears shown on her face as well.
"Ash, Ash, I'm home, sweetie, I need to talk to you." Delia called up the stairs as Pikachu came running out of Ash's room without him.
"Pikachu, where's Ash?" Delia asked nervously.
"Pika-pi, chu, chu." Pikachu said.
"Is he sleeping?" Delia asked hopefully as Pikachu nodded its head affirmatively. Delia sighed distressfully and used the palm of her hand to brush away her tears as she walked upstairs. She spotted Ash in his bed sleeping soundly she shook Ash gently to awake him.
"Huh, oh, hi, Mom." Ash said drowsily.
"Ash, I didn't mean to wake you but, I thought I'd tell you that I scheduled the funeral mass this Wednesday and I invited some of your friends and their families." Delia whispered quietly not to perturb Ash.
"That's good… I guess." Ash muttered pessimistically.
"Okay, that's all I just wanted to let you know." Delia said as she left the room. The next few days passed until it was Wednesday, Red's funeral. Pikachu thunder bolted Ash to a rude awakening. Delia was already in a black dress and wearing a frown upon her face. Ash scolded for waking him up and barbecuing him to a crisp and then he rolled back to bed.
"I don't wanna go, Pikachu! I refuse to believe he's really gone! He could've escaped it was never officially confirmed!" Ash shouted at Pikachu in denial. Pikachu walked downstairs and mimicked Ash to show her what was going on. She sighed and walked upstairs to Ash's room and slowly creaked the door half-open to see exactly what the problem was.
"Ash, you need to get dressed, dear, I know it's painful but you've got to go to your father's funeral." Delia explained.
"No! No, I'm not going nobody proved he's really gone what if he escaped!" Ash replied as Delia then sat beside Ash on his bedside.
"Ash, I know how you're feeling; it's not fair you hardly knew him and evil people took him away from us. Those things are true but, you're only hurting yourself by denying these things like this, you've got to face them sooner or later no matter how much it hurts life does go on. Your father would want you to come, Ash, I know he would." Delia explained.
"Okay, I'll go for Dad but, I will never ever forgive Team Snagem for what they did." Ash stated begrudgingly about the criminal organization.
"Neither will I, I couldn't. But, at least you got to right the wrongs before he died, he died with me thinking he was a horrible husband…. I wish I could've seen him one last time tell him that it was all a huge misunderstanding, how sorry I am and how much I truly love him." Delia muttered as her eyes watered on the verge of hysterically breaking down.
"I'm sure he knows that, Mom, don't feel bad. I'm sure he knew you would've forgiven him." Ash said comfortingly.
"Thank you, Ash." Delia said wiping her foggy eyes. Ash's words brought her some comfort from all the contrition she was feeling. "Honey, I'd like you to put on that outfit you had on during the Wallace Cup you looked so handsome and grown-up in that suit, that's a nice suit where'd you get it?" Delia asked.
"You saw the Wallace Cup? Brock made the outfit for me I had no clue how to dress contests aren't really my thing." Ash admitted.
"Come on, Pikachu let's let Ash have some privacy so he can get dressed." Delia said as she closed the door behind her and she and Pikachu went down to the kitchen. "Poor Ash this is why, sometimes I worry if he should become a Pokemon Master… what if the same thing happens to my little boy." Delia said venting her feelings and worry to Mr. Mime and Pikachu. Ash then walked downstairs and the three of them headed off to the church for one of the most painful experiences of their lives.