Hey guys,
This story is going to be comprised of five one shots that occur three years after Ash Ketchum mysteriously disappears. They will be set in and around the Ketchum Academy, with each one focussing on a student (or in this case teacher) that works or studies there. There will be an overarching plot, but I am purposefully writing self-contained oneshots in order to deliver a satisfying story even if I do not finish writing all five.
Any criticism, even flaming is fully welcome here.
"We do have a lot in common. The same earth, the same air, the same sky. Maybe if we started looking at what's the same, instead of looking at what's different, who knows?"
- Meowth, Pokemon: The First Movie
"The battle between Red and Leaf will now commence!"
Paul raised his arm into the air, signalling the beginning of the battle with all the same discipline as he would whilst commanding his Pokémon. Most of his students were perched on the benches surrounding the battle. They had varying levels of engagement, some watching quietly and others clearly paying no attention at all. A girl with lemon blonde hair who was seated at the front cheered slightly, leading to an embarrassed glance from the spectacled boy sitting next to her.
Paul sighed. He always stressed complete and utter focus in his classes. It was easy in the classroom, where he could use a threatening glance or a sharp couple of words could keep anyone in line, but for the practical battle segment, it was nigh impossible.
Sighing in defeat, the first ever battle teacher of the Ketchum Academy for Pokémon Training turned back to the two students nervously fiddling with their belts to get out their pokeballs. The girl managed to unclip her ball first, flicking her hair out of her eyes as she tossed the red sphere forward, revealing a small pale-blue rabbit.
"Nidoran, go!"
The poison type shuffled nervously forward, eyes flicking from side to side at the noise and clamour of the students. On the other side of the field, the other trainer, a boy with a bright red truckers cap and gleaming scarlet eyes, violently yanked at the irritating clip on his belt that held his own pokeball. The red sphere clumsily clanked to the ground, opening on collision and spitting out the Pokémon it held within.
The boy looked around sheepishly before scrambling forward to pick up the pokeball. Upon standing up he suddenly regained his confidence and composure and passionately yelled "Paras, I choose you!"
The small bug stood there, staring into space, cold as a statue. The red and pink mushrooms on its back quivered slightly.
Paul shot a look at Red and then sharply lowered his arm again. "And begin!"
"Fury Cutter!" The boy known as Red shouted. Paras quickly scuttled forward in approach, swinging one of its forceps down towards Nidoran's face. At a swift command of "dodge!" From the girl, known as Leaf, the poison type stepped backwards, leaving the bug type desperately scraping the dirt.
With a few seconds of nervous delay, Leaf then yelled "use poison sting!" causing the well trained Pokemon to strike in a counterattack with the venomous spurs hidden within its fur. The spine pierced the gap in Paras's exoskeleton, causing the mushrooms to shiver in pain as some of their mycelium was torn on the drawback. The fungi drooped slightly, though it's insect husk remained virtually unfazed by the deadly poison leaching through its body.
Paul raised the clipboard he had been holding in his other hand and began to scribble onto the yellow report card. Red clearly wasn't thinking that strategically and was opting to charge in recklessly with a negatively typed move. Leaf on the other hand, had an exemplary start, remaining calm as she ordered her clearly better trained Pokemon in a confident, professional manner, scoring a super effective hit in the process. Paul noted this and then grimaced, seeing clearly how this was going to end.
Meanwhile, Red still appeared to still be attempting an offensive strategy despite the fact that his opponent clearly had the upper hand. Paras was flinging Fury Cutter after Fury Cutter at Nidoran, but the poison type just tanked it as Leaf pressed her advantage using tackle. The scars from the constant Fury Cutters were beginning to form gradually deeper scars in Nidoran's fur, but the type disadvantage meant that the damage was utterly negligible. Paul winced, knowing that if Red happened to have a second brain cell when it came to Pokemon battling, he would use Spore and the match would be effectively over. But instead, Paras kept futilely waving its little pincers about, barely halting Nidoran's advances until eventually, Tackle finally connected, and Paras was sent flying backwards. It landed upside-down, mushrooms pulsing and legs flailing wildly in the air. Nidoran walked casually over, poison sting extended to deal the final blow when Red, desperate and on the verge of tears yelled out "PARAS! SCRATCH! NOW!"
The attack was feeble, but it was enough to cause Nidoran to flinch, missing the Poison Sting attack and stumbling back slightly. Paras lurched forward, his back pair of legs finally managing to touch the ground. But just as the bug type was about to regain its balance...
"Tackle!"
...It was knocked over again. Its legs went limp, and, on closer examination, spirals could be seen in its dull, glassy eyes.
Paul raised his hand. "Paras is defeated and Leaf wins."
There was a half-hearted round of applause at this, accompanied by a passionate cheer from Bonnie, the blond kid on the front row. Leaf walked forward, a smile on her face and Nidoran trailing at her ankles. She raised her hand, offering it to Red to shake.
"You did well their Red. I had fun battling you today." She said reassuringly. Red's face flushed scarlet in anger as his right hand balled into a first. He turned in his heel, saying nothing as he ignored her praise and strode off to sit next to Max, the spectacled boy on the front row, not even bothering to return Paras to its Pokeball. Leaf's face fell as she crouched down and picked up Nidoran in both arms before sadly walking back to where her friends were seated on the other side of the hall.
Paul stepped tentatively over the unconscious Pokémon body on the floor, adding some more comments about Red's post-match behaviour to his report card. He lowered his clipboard and stared around the class with the classic authoritarian gaze he had perfected during his days a trainer.
"Well that brings us to the end of today's lesson. I must say, at least half of the class had really impressive battling skills today. Overall, I'd say that was an improvement over last week's performance."
He paused, trying to find a way to articulate his sentence that did not single out any of his poorer students. "That being said, concentration could be improved and certain students..." (he couldn't help himself here and fixed his imperious silver gaze on Red, who lowered the bill of his cap over his eyes in response). "...are still way below mediocre in capability." His eyes left Red as he continued to speak." Those of you who battled today will be in the classroom with Ritchie tomorrow whilst I assess the other half of the students. In other news, your form will have further information on the Spring Ball Doubles tournament, but just a reminder that those who compete will get a boost to their overall end-of-year battling grades. You have another month to find a partner and sign up before I can get the tournament organised. That's all I have to say for now, so you are now free to go to the changing rooms in an orderly and civilised manner. Have a nice lunch."
No sooner had he said that than most of the class began to stampede towards the door of the gym, eager to get changed into fresh clothes and go out to lunch. In the chaos he caught Leaf giving a depressingly mournful look at Red as she walked out with her friends. The aforementioned student stayed behind, fidgeting with his belt until Paras' ball fell off and clattered to the ground. At the door to the gym, Bonnie and Max (the only two kids who Red could even remotely consider friends) waited impatiently for him. Red cursed and picked up Paras's pokeball "Useless, weak good-for-nothing bug!" He muttered under his breath.
At that comment, something inside of Paul snapped. He clutched his clipboard so tightly that his knuckles were beginning to turn white. The way that this arrogant brat treated his classmates - especially Leaf, who was always so supportive of him - not to mention how he treated his own Paras was far beyond unacceptable.
Oh, how Paul longed to put Red through a long suffering detention, one that would teach him a lifelong lesson about what being a trainer really meant! He knew he couldn't. Despite how brutal Red was, he usually kept the right side of the school rules and if Professor Sycamore found out that he was unjustly tried, then Paul might be the one suffering instead!
However, something in Red's words, tone and attitude reminded him of someone he used to know. He wasn't exactly sure who this was but for some reason he did know that Red bore a striking similarity to them.
Well, he thought even if I can't punish him, I should probably get the word out.
"Max, Bonnie, please go to the changing rooms," he snarled, "Me and Red are going to have a little talk."
"Oh. But..." Bonnie was about to respond when Max grabbed her wrist and dragged her off.
"Let's go Bonnie. Red'll catch us up."
After the pair of them had left, Red flicked Paul bored look "What?" he indignantly spat.
Paul took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure. "Sorry for wasting your time. I'm not going to sugarcoat this for you, but you failed this examination, and you will most certainly fail the next one if you don't...
"Oh, I didn't fail," Red interrupted, shrugging nonchalantly. "My Pokémon did. That worthless bug of mine lost the match the match for me. A Bidoof could have easily tanked that poison sting. Hell, even a Caterpie could. But instead, I got stuck with this utterly pathetic excuse for a Pokémon that is barely capable of anything."
Paul's teeth gritted, his hand clenching into a fist. "I'm afraid you are mistaken. Paras didn't fail you back there. A Pokémon does not truly fail its trainer by being too weak. It fails by giving up. Paras most certainly didn't do that. If a Pokémon is too weak then it is the trainer who has failed to strategize."
"Oh please, save your preaching! Why does the so called "skill" of the trainer matter when the Pokémon are the ones fighting? Is it to do with the supposed "bond" that we're supposed to be sharing? The "belief" we're supposed to have in each other? Any of that crap?"
As he began to walk towards the door, he felt something clenching on his shoulder. It prevented him from leaving. He struggled, trying to shrug the weight off until he turned around to see the sinister glare of an Electivire, one arm seizing his shoulder to stop him from moving. Red whimpered wordlessly as the electric type bared down on him.
"Let go Electivire! He's scared enough," With a shove, Electivire shoved him to the floor. Paul walked over and leered down at him. His voice was no longer strict and commanding. It was downright terrifying.
"Listen here Red. I will say this once and I will not repeat it. You are without a doubt the most pathetic trainer I have ever seen! Aside from your communication with your Pokémon you have no good qualities I can speak of! Your strategies all revolve around blind offense with little thought as to what your opponent would do. You are a complete jackass to anyone around you up to and including those who for whatever reason want to be your friend. You take losing horribly and though I have never seen you win I am confident that you act even worse when you do. And don't even get me started on your relationship with that Paras! It is careless and borderline abusive!" This is the closest he had ever gotten to yelling in his entire life.
Red gulped "Sir, I..."
"...go away Red. Know that I am fully planning on removing you from the Pokémon training course entirely. I do not want to see you in my lesson ever again. Are we understood?" Paul then abruptly turned on his heel and began to walk away, Electivire trailing him as he went.
"I'm sorry, what did you say to him?" Brock raised an eyebrow, voice muffled by a mouthful of lettuce.
"I said that I was considering booting him off the course. Because I am." Paul shuffled his fork around his own salad. After his fairly tense conversation with Red he had dismissed him before retiring to the staff room to eat his lunch. On the way he had run into Brock, and they had decided to stop at the staff room and eat lunch together.
The Pokémon health teacher scoffed "Do you really think that Red's that bad? He's a jerk sure but at least he's focussed."
Paul sighed, his hand clenching into a fist "Oh believe me 'jerk' does not begin to describe Red!"
The volume of Paul's voice had raised slightly during his tirade and his face was beginning to turn a light shade of red. Upon seeing Brock's surprised reaction, he composed himself
"Sorry Brock. I needed to get that off my chest."
The former Pewter gym leader smiled. "It's fine." He jabbed at his salad again. "You know, he kind of reminds me of someone," he murmured cheekily.
Paul shot him a sharp look, reading his mind. "May I remind you that when I was his age..."
"...you were a strategic mastermind with a seemingly endless arsenal of powerful Pokémon led by the scariest Electivire I have ever seen. I know. But I'm sure that Red would be in the same position if he actually got the chance to go on his journey."
Paul smirked. "Red on a journey. That would be something."
Brock grimaced, taking another mouthful of salad. Five years before, when the league had raised the age restriction for new trainers by eight whole years and introduced the woefully poor Pokémon academy system to replace it, Brock had been strongly opposed. He saw the ploy: reduce the number of trainers to reduce the human and Pokémon injury rates and use these falling injury rates as an excuse to defund the Pokémon centres and the breeders of starter Pokémon. Brock had lost his job in nursing due to the Pokémon Centre layoffs and ended up at Ketchum Academy, teaching Pokémon healthcare to students who only owned at most two or three Pokémon and occasionally ranting to them about how they were trapped, unable to go as far as their parents could have through no fault of their own.
Raising head, Brock faced his purple haired friend, a smile returning to his face. "Politics aside, you two are more similar than you realise. That being said, I bet his older brother is stronger than Reggie."
Paul raised an eyebrow "Red has a brother?"
"Take a wild guess,"
"You expect me to know him,"
"You've met him,"
Paul snorted. "I've met a lot of people."
This caused Brock to facepalm. "Does anything about Red seem familiar to you?"
"Please elaborate."
"Something about his fashion perhaps..."
"I mean he usually wears a similar style of jacket to you..."
Brock sighed exasperatedly "Arceus, how dense you are! Is there anything ELSE about Red's fashion choices that you find familiar?"
Paul's eyes widened with realisation "Oh no..."
Brock burst out into raucous laughter "Oh yes! And who are the only people who actually want to be around him..."
"Leaf... Bonnie and Max. Are you sure?"
"I know his mother. His adoptive one anyway."
"Oh," Paul said before his face began to harden "Well none of this excuses how cruel and insufferable he is."
"I never said it did."
The two friends ate in silence for a little while before the subject of the conversation changed. Brock eventually finished his meal and stood up. Before he could leave though, Paul stopped him with a question.
"What do you think?"
"About what?" Brock asked.
"Should I kick Red from the course?" Paul watched Brock's tone shift from the more friendly attitude to his serious, gym leader attitude.
"You shouldn't treat your students as Pokémon." He answered and began to turn to the door.
"What do you mean?"
"You're too ready to get rid of those who disappoint you. You don't want Red to become the Chimchar that slips through your fingers."
"What the hell? Please stop taking in metaphors."
Brock turned around "I'll leave at for you to interpret."
Paul smirked "Mysterious really doesn't work for you, you know that right?"
Brock laughed "Maybe it doesn't. Anyway, I've got a class to teach. Enjoy that lunch of yours." He unclipped a pokeball and released his Toxicroak, which trailed behind him as he walked down the corridor.
It was a warm Friday evening. Paul landed his Honchcrow on his front drive, slipping off and patting the dark type's feathers before returning him to his pokeball. The front door was unlocked, and a coat was missing from the hanger, indicating that Dawn had been and gone, presumably out clubbing.
Paul also found her dirty plates in the sink and a note on the fridge saying "out clubbing - look after Piplup - Boys night in?" This caused him to groan. Dawn may be a brilliant soulmate, but she was an absolutely horrible housemate. At least she had the decency to not drag him out clubbing with her (although he knew that he would probably have to make it up to her later).
After doing his girlfriend's washing up and having a not-so-savoury argument with her Piplup, Paul collapsed onto the sofa and pulled out the TV remote. Flicking through the channels he stumbled across what he was looking for: a new documentary series on Kalos TV, produced by the famous reporter Alexa DuMain, about the history of the World Coronation. He felt Piplup jump onto his lap as he clicked play and the opening began to roll.
It was the evening at the end of the working week, so he decided to binge the entire series. The first few episodes were focused on the background, exploring the Coronation's origins in the ancient kingdom of Rota. Once they started to teach the modern period however, the focus shifted to looking at each tournament and each monarch individually, the key battles that defined the tournament and the attitudes that the Monarchs had during their reign. Then Paul managed to reach the final episode.
"Well, this is all over!"
"What's happening? Why isn't Charizard moving?"
"Ash seems to be struggling to keep it in folks."
The TV showed a sandy court that Paul immediately recognised as the centre stadium of the Indigo League in Kanto. In the middle of the stadium sat a Pikachu and a Charizard. The Pikachu had an odd hairstyle and utterly dumbfounded expression as it studied his opponent. The mighty Charizard was slumped over, eyes tightly shut, its breathing steady and peaceful as it snoozed. Behind him was a trainer dressed in Blue and Denim with a red baseball cap turned backwards on his head and a second sad and weary Pikachu stood at his feet. The camera focussed on him as he furiously yelled at his lazy Pokemon before it froze.
"And that was the first that anyone saw of him. He was a nobody, a young brat with an uncontrollable Charizard that This boy needs no introduction. Many consider him an icon, the main mascot of the new, great generation of powerful trainers and an inspiration to children everywhere. He is Ash Ketchum."
Paul ignored the rhetoric. It was true that Ash was a cut above the rest when it came to Pokémon training, but he wasn't the messiah.
The episode continued going into many details about Ash's early life as Alexa interviewed Professor Oak, his assistant Tracey and the Cerulean Gym Leader Misty, all three of which appeared to have been close to Ash Ketchum. Then came Brock, whose interview was unsurprisingly the best part of the documentary. Brock had travelled with Ash longer than anyone else and so had quite a lot to say about the trainer. Alexa even managed to interview a wisecracking Meowth, whom Paul recognised as a former member of team rocket, now on parole after serving his time.
The documentary then covered Ash's respectable run in the Silver conference, focusing on the great match where he crushed his long-time nemesis Gary Oak. Paul watched as Charizard used seismic toss to crush Gary's Blastoise into the ground. He noted the change in Ash's demeanour, no longer overemotional and frustrated but calm and composed. In this clip, he was a good five years younger than any of his students but still seemed stronger and more in his element than any of them, even his best ones like Leaf.
Paul remembered the footage of Ash at the Indigo league. In terms of skill in training Ash must have gone from being as bad as Red to better than Leaf in less than a year. Was Ash just superhuman or could one of his students get there one day? He was cut out of his thoughts by the loud squeaking cheers of Piplup as Blastoise fainted.
On the documentary went to Ash's time in Hoenn. In terms of his career this was a relatively calm period, with Ash making his way at a solid rate through all eight gyms, doing reasonably well in the League and then losing in the quarterfinals to Tyson. The main interviewees for this section were Brock and May, a close friend of Paul's whom he knew both through Dawn and through her brother Max, the quiet straight A student in his class.
Now came to the part he was dreading: Sinnoh. Sure enough, after some interviews with Brock and Dawn, there it was: his Electivire and Ash's Infernape facing each other down. Infernape swinging in with a Mach Punch. Electivire dodging and grabbing Infernape's wrist before sending enough voltage to power a city straight through his body.
Paul couldn't help but realise how evil he looked in this moment. Infernape was screaming in pain as Electivire refused to let go. Paul couldn't help but feel bad for the pain he was causing to a Pokemon that he had known since he was a Chimchar.
But then he remembered how he had though in the moment. He was making a calculated decision, punishing his opponents foolishness. That was the same reason he abandoned Chimchar. That was what was logical. So why did something that made sense in the moment seem so heartless in hindsight?
You give up on people too easily.
Paul remembered the words he had said in that moment: "Pathetic just like always,"
You shouldn't treat your students like you used to treat your Pokémon.
And then Infernape stood up, eyes blazing with anger. All that anger, all that hurt, all that hatred built up from months of failing to live up to the expectations set both by Paul and himself, condensed into a single gesture of defiance.
Don't let Red be the Chimchar that ends up slipping through your fingers.
And then there was Ash, cool and confident as ever, standing back as his Pokémon stood up. One passionate command was all it took for the pumped up monkey in front of him to burn his enemies to dust. That is when Paul finally realised that Brock was right in all three comparisons.
Red was Chimchar, far more pathetic than those around him, trying desperately to live up to standard that he could not meet. Red was also Paul, not Paul the teacher or Paul the boyfriend but Paul the sixteen year old trainer, angry at all around him and ready to blame all those who disagreed with him for his losses. And Red wanted to be Ash, the hero who laughed in the face of obvious defeat.
Paul stood up from the sofa and shook his head. Why was he thinking in senseless platitudes? And why about Red of all people? Either he was tired, or Brock was getting to him, or both. Piplup squawked indignantly as he got up, wondering what the hell was going on. Paul chucked and sat back down on the sofa as his girlfriend's water type indignantly crossed his arms and continued watching.
In truth, Paul wasn't really focussed on the show from here on out. He knew the story already. A loss to Tobias. A mediocre showing in the Unova league. Then a rapid rise to dominance, claiming second in Kalos and first in Alola before assembling the strongest team ever constructred in the history of the World Coronation and winning it all in Galar. Then going off on a journey from which he never returned, leaving a legacy that inspired thousands of people.
But at that point, Paul and Piplup were both sprawled out on the sofa, fast asleep.
Paul sat in his office, watching the clock impatiently. He'd requested that Red meet him in his office for twenty minutes at the end of class and ten of those minutes had already gone by. That was surprising. Red's wasn't usually this tardy or forgetful. He was usually among the first to reach lessons, though that probably had something to do with being friends with known geek and obsessive rule-follower Max Maple.
Red finally burst through the door, face flushed and panting heavily. Once he composed himself, Paul offered him a seat with a gesture of his arm and then fixed him with his most imposing, Glalie-melting glare. Something in Red's tone was different today. He seemed humble, nervous even, cap pulled down firmly over his eyes to try and avert his teacher's gaze. A full minute of awkward silence permeated. Had he really threatened him that badly.
"I-I'm sorry for being late sir. I was busy trying to teach my Paras Sludge Bomb."
"Really? And how's that going?" Paul raised an eyebrow. Red trying something new? That was unusual!
"It's going fine thanks. I got the TM for it for my birthday this week. There were a few issues, but I believe it's working."
Paul snorted. He knew it made him sound old fashioned, but he had never thought much of the new Technical Machines. They rarely worked properly, and he preferred a more... hands on approach when it came to teaching Pokémon new moves.
"Well at least you're taking training seriously."
"Thank you, sir. Trainings been meaning a lot lately especially since." Red tensed up. "Our last talk."
"I see." Paul began to reach into the draw and pull out a small wooden chest, opening it and quietly staring at the pokeball inside. It was a grade A Azalea heavy ball, designed specifically to keep giant Pokémon from escaping. Both the ball and the Pokémon it contained could sell for a lot of money. He was so happy to have one of the worlds best breeders for a brother who was totally willing to give him Pokémon. He was not going to sell his entire house to help a single student.
Returning his gaze to Red. "That reminds me. I called you here today to apologise. Not for any of my comments I made about your strategies or attitude, I feel they were completely justified and regret none of them."
Red raised a hand in interruption, lowering his head "Say no more. I understand."
"However, I feel like my threats were somewhat unnecessarily cruel. You're young and stupid. I know that you'll develop with enough time and patience. I want you to be reassured that in my current mind I have no intention of removing you from the Pokémon Battling Course."
He could feel the relief and gratitude emanating from his student. Red smiled even less than Paul did, but now he was grinning from ear to ear. " Thank you so much sir! You have no idea how much this means to me. If there's anything I can do to repay you for this then just tell me."
Paul chuckled, allowing for a brief moment of levity before he returned to his normal authoritarian tone. "That is alright. You will repay me with effort. I accept that you deserve a second chance but in return you must accept that some of the fundamental aspects of your behaviour must change," He opened the box again and turned it to Red. "We can start with your attitude towards your Pokémon themselves."
Red raised an eyebrow at the pokeball. "Keep it." Paul commanded. The younger student gasped as he raised the grey and blue sphere towards the light. Realising what Paul meant he apprehensively handed it back to Paul.
"You really don't have to..."
Paul sharply raised a hand in refusal "Red Ketchum I demand you keep this Pokémon!" He responded sharply. He didn't mean to be cruel, at least not to physical abuse by Electivire cruel.
Red lowered his arm then fidgeted with trying to clip the ball to his belt. "Think of this Pokémon as an extra project," Paul continued "I want you to train it up for me and then battle me with it the week after we come back from the spring holiday. I would prefer it if you kept this between us: I don't want the rest of the class clamouring to me for more Pokémon. If this Pokémon harms school property, another student or especially yourself I will not hesitate in taking it away from you. No second chances on this one. Understood?"
Red grinned and raised his hand in a corny salute "I believe I do, sir."
Paul chuckled. "Well then, you shoud probably get going. I wouldn't want to interrupt your Sludge Bomb training."
"Thank you, sir. For everything." Red stood up and walked towards the door before turning around. "Oh, I almost forgot. Is there anything else I can do. To improve I mean?"
"If you can coerce a girl into coming with you to the Spring Ball, may I recommend the Tourney? It'll be a great doubles experience and I'll be putting your achievement on it on your final report."
"I'll see what I can do." As Red left, Paul noted that Paras had been hanging from his backpack this whole time. Once again, that was odd. Red was one of the two trainers he knew who refused to let his Pokémon out in any situation outside of battle. The other one was... well... himself.
I hope you enjoyed this first chapter of Ketchum Academy. It took me a lot of effort. I hope I did well on the character work - I deliberately wanted to take my depiction of Red in a different and completely different from other Red's in a way that let him foil against Paul and Ash. I am a bit more concerned about my depiction of Paul as I wanted to show that he had matured whilst not writing him too ooc.
Red and Paul will return in later chapters (Red will get his own spotlight in the future) but the next character I will be diverting my attention to is Bonnie. Stay tuned, and have a lovely April!
