Ash Ketchum and his son were watching a battle on the television, an activity they rarely got to enjoy since his son was on his pokemon journey. But he had come home for two weeks and Ash certainly enjoyed spending time with his kids.
He heard the phone ring, and his wife came into the room and handed the phone to him, "It's your mom, Ash." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek,
he returned the smile and put the receiver to his ear, "Hey Mom! What's up?" he answered cheerfully. She then asked if he was busy, but it sounded like she had been crying.
He paused the battle and quickly told his son to give him a few minutes. The boy nodded and went to go help his mom with dinner. "Is everything ok, mom?" Ash asked in a somewhat serious tone.
Delia sighed, "Your father, he just passed away." She stayed quiet for some time after that, perhaps allowing Ash to take in what she said.
A full five minutes ticked by, and his mom finally spoke again, "I know you never met him, Ash, and you might still hate him because of that, but his funeral is next week in Viridian City and I would like you to attend, perhaps it'll give you some closure"
Over the days that followed, Ash was bombarded by the media, asking him how he was, and the age-old 'sorry for your loss' mantra, Ash finally got tired of it and addressed the swarm of reporters around him, "I appreciate your condolences, but I never met that bastard.
He walked out on my mom and me the day I was born. He can rot in hell for all I care. Please, no further questions." And with that, he unleashed his Charizard and flew home.
Ash sat next to his mother at the funeral, emotionless, barely listening to the priest dribble on and on, different speakers, talking about the man he never met.
Apparently his father had another family and stayed for them. Ash felt no bitterness towards them and showed no hostility to them, he just let them grieve. He still felt nothing when he approached the lifeless form of his father, just a slight glance and he left without saying goodbye to anyone.
After a very pleasant dinner with his wife and kids, he went into his office and flipped through his work emails, and then came across one with an attachment.
After running a quick security scan on it (he remembered Clemont giving him an hour lecture about viruses in emails), he opened it.
"Dear Ash Ketchum, I never got to meet my dad either, he walked out just like yours. I didn't write this song for you, but I think you're going through the same emotions I was going through when my father passed and I wrote this. Listen to it if you want, or ignore it, doesn't matter to me, but if you do, I hope it helps." At the bottom of the letter, there was a signature that took Ash a few moments to process.
Ash knew exactly who that was, the two had seen each other a few times, but weren't exactly close friends. He decided to listen to it in the morning, he wanted to spend more time with his family before bedtime.
Early the next morning, something was nagging at him to go to his father's burial site, he remembered he hadn't listened to the song. He got dressed and told his wife that he'd be home in a few hours, she understood and hugged him. A quick exchange of kisses and he drove off. Reaching his father's grave, Ash put in his earphones and listened to the song.
The third verse hit Ash like a ton of bricks, all of a sudden, he remembered all the shit he and his mom had to go through because his father walked out.
The letters he used to write that always came back 'return to sender', the blame he put on himself thinking that he was the reason why his dad left. The struggle his mom went through trying to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads.
The bullying in school because all the other kids had both parents in their lives, and because his mom couldn't afford a lot of the things that the other kids had. His dad didn't even bother showing up when he became a Pokemon Master, nor his wedding, hell, he never even came to meet his grandkids.
Ash became overwhelmed with so much anger that he kicked the headstone, almost removing it from the dirt. "I hate you!" he bellowed and spat on the soil.
"All I ever wanted was you, but all you did was ignore me!" Ash continued his tirade, "mom did the best she could, but I didn't have you around to teach me about being a man, I had to learn that shit all on my own!" Ash was seething,
"I hope I get to meet you in whatever hell you are in, so I can beat your ass myself! I know you can hear me motherfucker!" The rain started pouring and Ash fell to his knees.
His thoughts led to his own family that he loved and cared for; his amazing wife that had been there for him since day one, and his two beautiful children that he would sacrifice everything for.
"I may hate you with every fiber of my being, but I know that I'm a much better man, husband, and father than you could have ever dreamed of being. So, maybe I should say thank you, dad. You leaving was the best thing you could have done, I wouldn't be me if you didn't." Ash got up and fixed the headstone,
placing a hand on it, "Rest in peace", he turned to walk away but stopped and turned his head to look at the headstone one last time, "See you in hell." Ash muttered, and got in his car and drove away.
Authors notes: I LIIIIIIVVVE! When was the last time I posted a story on here?! *checks other stories, 2017?! Ho Boi! A LOT has changed since! I currently don't have a time line as to when I'll publish the next story. Maybe I'll wait another 6 or so years ;P Also, just wanted to say that story, in no way shape or form, is how my relationship with my IRL Dad is. Sure he has his flaws, but who the heck doesn't? I love him with all my heart. Anyways, thanks for reading, and, uh, till next time...