A Rocket’s World
 
 Jake Ketchum sat under a tree in Prof. Oak’s reservation, sketching  a field of 
sleeping Sunflora.  It It had been exactly ten years since it happened. Ten 
years since his father and his Pikachu disappeared into the flames of their 
house in Olivine City, trying to save his life. Ten years since the Rockets had 
taken over Johto.  
 It had been a peaceful day, Jake, who was only two then, his mother, Misty 
Ketchum, and his father, the Poke’mon League champion, Ash Ketchum had just 
returned from a relaxing day at the beach.  Misty laid Jake down in his crib for 
a nap, then went downstairs into their living room to watch TV. Ash was already 
sitting down in front of it, watching the news with his Pikachu.
 “Breaking News!” the newsman said, “Team Rocket has taken Ecruteak City, and is 
advancing on Mahogany Town and Olivine City. We suggest anyone in these areas 
should vacate the area immediately!”
 “Great! Misty, stay here and watch Jake. Pikachu and I have some work to do,” 
Ash told Misty.
 “But Ash-”
 “Also call Gary and tell him to get to Mahogany Town. They probably didn’t 
think and split their forces in half. If they did, they sent the stronger 
trainers this way,” said Ash.
 Ash went to his personal PC in the corner of the room.
 “Prof. Oak! I need Grovyle, Tauros, Snorlax, Meganium, and Typhlosion! Right 
now!” he ordered. His Poke’balls appeared almost instantly. Ash grabbed them and 
he and Pikachu ran out the door.
 Misty sighed. “One of these days his ego is going to get him killed.”
 She ran to her bedroom and got her Gyarados, Starmie, and Politoed. Then she 
walked into Jake’s room.
 She looked at him sleeping and said “ Your even cuter sleeping than you are 
playing in sand.”
 The smoke detector started going off. Misty ran to the steps. It was Team 
Rocket! They had a Houndoom and it was setting everything on fire. The next 
thing she knew, A Rocket slid behind her and knocked her out with a pipe.
 When Misty woke up, she was out side the house. She looked around and saw Ash 
and Pikachu running into the burning building. She wanted to stop him, but she 
couldn’t move. She looked to her right. A firefighter was bandaging up her head. 
Then a thought came to her.
 “Jake! Where is Jake?” she questioned the fireman.
 “He is still inside. Your husband went back in to get him.” 
 He pointed over to the side of the house. A number of firemen were gathered 
around holding a giant trampoline. 
 “Your husband called us and said it was to damaged to walk back through, so he 
is going to jump out the window onto the trampoline with your kid,” the fireman 
explained.
 Misty watched the window. She saw Ash! He dropped Jake onto the trampoline. 
Just as the toddler hit the trampoline, the house collapsed.
 “Ash!” yelled Misty.
 She finally found the strength to get up. She ran over to the rubble. Ash was 
buried under the debris. Misty started crying. A fireman walked over to her and 
handed her Jake. 
 She stayed at the Poke’mon Center for the next few days. She got a call from 
Gary saying that by the time he got to Mahogany Town, it had been too late. The 
Rockets now controlled most of Johto.
 The firemen brought in Growlithe to search for Ash and Pikachu, but all they 
found were Ash’s five Poke’balls and a note that said “Give my Poke’mon to 
Jake.” That was Ash’s dying wish.
 Misty decided to move into Pallet Town with Ash’s mom. They had lived there 
ever since.
 Jake stopped drawing. He looked at his watch. It was 5:12. He was late for 
dinner.
 He ran as fast as he could to the fence of the reservation. He called out 
Tauros to give him a boost over the gate, called him back, and made his way back 
to his house. He opened the door and tip-toed in.
 “JACOB KETCHUM! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?” yelled his Mom, “YOU ARE LATE AGAIN! DID 
YOU SNEAK INTO PROF. OAK’S RESERVATION AGAIN?”
 “I was only drawing a picture of a field of-”
 “I DON’T CARE IF YOU WERE DRAWING A FIELD OF CELEBI! WHEN I TELL YOU AT TIME TO 
COME BACK, YOU COME BACK AT THAT TIME AND NOT A MINUTE LATER! YOU HEAR ME? You 
are just like your father!” Misty stated. “And Prof Oak told you not to go into 
that reservation! There are some dangerous Poke’mon in there!
 “I had Typhlosion and Tauros,” Jake replied.
 He reached in his backpack and pulled out the picture of the Sunflora and 
handed it to his mom.
 “Wow! Jake, you are getting better and better. Oh, and take that hat off, we 
are about to eat.”
 Jake removed his father’s hat (which his father left with his mom when they 
moved to Johto. When they moved back, Ash’s mom gave it to Jake) and revealed 
his jet-black hair. Jake took off his jacket and hung it up. 
 In the kitchen, Jake’s grandmother was setting the table with her Mr.Mime. Jake 
and Misty walked in and sat down.
 “So, Grandma, what’s for dinner?”
 “Spaghetti!” she replied.
 They ate silently. After dinner, Jake went upstairs to his room.
 “You know it’s been ten years,” said Delilah.
 “Yeah, I know,” said Misty, with a tear coming to her eye.