At the church there was an array of flowers and photographs but since there was no body or any remains there was no coffin or even an urn they couldn't even have a wake because it would just be too painful to be reminded how horrible his short life ended. All of Ash and Delia's friends and family were in the church mostly saying how sorry they were and how they were glad the Ketchums kept the funeral private from the paparazzi and crazed Red fangirls, they limited it to only those who truly cared. Brock, his parents; Flint and Lola, and his eight siblings were there along with Misty and her sisters; Daisy, Violet, and Lilly. Also, May, Max and their parents; Norman and Caroline were there and Drew had tagged along, Dawn and her mother, Johanna were there with Kenny who wanted to come. Gary, Tracey and Professor Oak, obviously attended so did Paul and his older brother, Reggie. Barry and his father, Palmer of the Battle Frontier had come. Professor Ivy, Elm and Birch had flown to Pallet as well Ritchie, Casey, Angie, Lyra, Khoury, and Todd Snapp also had gone out of their way to pay their dues even the Champion of Sinnoh, Cynthia had heard and came. Spencer Hale, his wife and his daughter Molly had come. The most shocking was that Team Rocket had shown up Jessie, James and Meowth had all appeared to give their condolences. Ash, Delia and Pikachu arrived and everybody ran up to them to offer their deepest condolences and shake hands or give them a hug.
"Ash, I'm sorry to hear about your father, I don't know what I'd ever do without my dad." Brock said shaking his friend's hand.
"Ketchum, I heard about your dad I-I don't know what to say but to offer my condolences I know, from experience, that nothing anyone says is gonna stop the pain. My Gramps spoke quite highly of him" Gary said reminiscing on a similar tragedy that occurred in his family.
"He was a Pokemon Master, y'know?" Ash smiled proudly.
"Oh, Ash!" Dawn exclaimed, teary eyed giving Ash a big comforting hug, which piqued Misty and Kenny's attention.
"Dawn…?" Ash said.
"Okay he get's it…" Kenny mumbled enviously as Misty nodded her head agreeing beside him.
"Chill out, Kenny, he just lost his dad. Oh, and you must be Misty, I'm Dawn, nice to meet you I've heard do much about you!" Dawn introduced herself.
"Yeah, Ash better have mentioned me… Oh, I'm sorry where are my manners, I'm Misty good to finally meet you, Dawn." Misty replied somewhat covetous of Dawn.
"Sorry about your dad, Ash." Kenny said shaking Ash's hand.
"Yeah, Ash I know I already said it a hundred times on the boat but, still." Misty stated.
"Thanks guys…" Ash said coldly. Just then Paul and Reggie made their way to Ash.
"Sorry for your loss, Ash. So I hear your father was a Pokemon Master, eh? I underestimated you, that's why you beat me in the Sinnoh League, you have this battling stuff in your blood. Pokemon Master, not so pathetic, not too pathetic at all." Paul said
"Gee, thanks Paul." Ash said stunned, that Paul of all people had just complimented him.
"I'm sorry, Ash" Reggie said shaking his hand. In the corner of the church by a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary there was May's family with Drew, Max had really been hit hard by Ash losing his father something about losing your father really hit home with Max and freaked him out, supposedly it made him realize how much he took Norman, his dad, for granted especially since Max was so fond of his father. May, Max and Drew walked up to Ash, Max clutching May's hand tight, afraid to see Ash for some rationale only a seven-year-old could conjure.
"Ash, I can't tell you in words how sorry I am for you." May said patting Ash's shoulder which aroused Drew's attention, just a simple pat on the shoulder.
"Ash, I've been traveling with May recently when I heard about your father I had to come here, I'm really sorry." Drew said sadly.
"Oh, Ash!" Max exclaimed as he squeezed Ash around his belly, being that's all he could reach and Max started sobbing.
"Max, what's gotten into you! What's the matter?" Ash asked concernedly.
"Max, what is it?" May questioned.
"I'm really sorry about your dad Ash, I mean it. I don't know why but I feel really hurt and scared inside!" Max cried Ash just hugged Max back not knowing what else he could do or say.
"Max…" Ash said, touched that his friend appeared to care about him that much. Then a familiar face approached Mrs. Ketchum, it was her old colleague, Spencer Hale with his wife and daughter, Molly.
"Hello, Delia, long time no see it's a shame we had to get together for a time like this. I'm deeply sorry for your loss Red was a fine gentleman and he will be gravely missed. Why, I can still remember when he came into Oak's lab way back when." Said Spencer.
"Thanks, Spencer it's good to see you and hello there, Molly, last time I saw you you thought I was your mother and an Entei was your father, how're you?" Delia asked as Mrs. Hale scowled at Delia as if she were utterly mad, apparently she hadn't seen Pokemon 3: Spell of the Unown.
"I'm good!" Molly exclaimed.
"I'm glad! Speaking of the unown incident how's your research and how's the house?" Delia asked.
"I aborted that project on Unown it was much to dangerous and the renovations on the house have been going well." Spencer responded. Team Rocket then slowly walked towards the twerp.
"What're you three doing here? Leave me alone! Don't you have any mercy please just go away can't you just wait to steal Pikachu tomorrow! I'm so sick of this, go away you'll never get Pikachu anyway, never ever EVER! Haven't you learned that yet! I just lost my Dad I don't wanna lose Pikachu next! Leave me alone, I'm tired and sad and I just want to be left alone can you ever leave me alone just this once, I'm begging you! You, can continue following me for the rest of my life if you just leave me alone this once!" Ash screamed as everyone stared at Ash who had finally cracked at Team Rocket after all these years of stalking him. They we're all stunned by what Ash had said especially Jessie something about how upset and tense they had made him had struck her Jessie actually felt bad for stressing the poor kid out day after day after day the same old routine and torment. Jessie also could empathize with Ash having lost her mother at his age in the Mewtwo cloning experiment. Jessie went over and gave Ash a hug and James and Meowth's eyes widened and jaws dropped in shock.
"What're you doing!" Ash asked extremely confused and totally convinced it had all been a dream at this point.
"Hey, twerp, I'm- we're sorry about your dad. I'm also sorry for all the time's we've tried to steal your Pikachu, it wasn't right but, don't count on us giving up! We don't want Pikachu today and, twerp I know what it feels like to lose a parent, it hurts, more than anything, my mom died when I was around your age…" Jessie said empathetically.
"Since when do you guys care about me!" Ash said pinching himself to see if he was dreaming.
"Deep down, though these two goofballs will never admit it we do care, we wouldn't follow around just anyone, y'know. I'm sorry for your loss." James said shaking Ash's hand as Ash's jaw dropped open.
"Yeah, we's sorry twerp!" Meowth said. Then the priest announced that the service was about to begin. He came down gave a few blessings and prayers as the audience wailed.
"Red Ketchum was the beloved husband of Delia Ketchum and beloved father of Ash Ketchum but, most of all he was a role model to Pokemon Trainers everywhere. He was an outstanding man of great talent that everyone just instantly fell in love with as they became mesmerized by his battles on TV. And so today we release Red's soul to you, Lord and pray that he is in paradise with you, Lord. Also, God help Red's family and friends through this difficult time of grieving. It's a shame he had to go so violently at a tragic age of thirty-one." Said the priest as they all let Red go to rest.