Title: Deadbeat
Author: Shadow/Phantomness
Pairing: None
Fandom: Pokémon
Theme: #78, Worthless

Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Warnings: OC, possible OOCness

           

            The sound of a key turning in the lock made Delia smile. So Ash had finally come home for another visit! However, the face that met hers was not her son’s. Black hair sprinkled with gray and a tattered brown suit swam in her vision, and she grasped the doorjamb to steady herself.

            “Horace… Ketchum.” She hissed. “How nice to see you again after all these years.”

            The man paled, as she stepped aside with an impatient gesture. He slowly walked into the house, taking in the familiar white washed walls covered with pictures. His eyes flickered to several new ones over the mantelpiece. They were undoubtedly of Ash; the boy was smiling with his pokémon, while several trophies glittered.

            “What are those from?”

            “Orange Island Championship, Indigo League Sweet Sixteen, Houen League and Johto League Top Eight, and completing the Battle Frontier.” Delia said coldly.

            Horace goggled at her. “My son won all of these?”

            “And more, if you paid any attention to the news.” Delia continued. “He certainly did better than you, wouldn’t you agree? And what have you done, Horace? What have you accomplished in the nine years we saw you last?”

            The man colored, but said nothing. He was a worthless trainer, and had left home in search of glory, but it had been for naught…

            “It is a good thing Ash isn’t here.” Delia continued. “His heart would break.”

            “What lies have you been telling the boy?”

            “Only that you were off training.”

            Horace exhaled, before he stood, shakily. “I should go.”

            “Yes, you should.” Delia agreed, and watched him leave without a backwards glance. She would let Ash keep his illusions. It would certainly save him from the truth – the poor boy would be horrified if he found out that his dad didn’t even have one badge!

            This was all for the best. She should never have married him, but for Ash’s sake… she never let the thought of divorce cross her mind, even if Horace was a shiftless piece of trash.

 

End Fic

Completed 5/6/07

Since from the pokémon novel, Ash’s dad is a deadbeat *cough* so what happens if Ash meets him? And isn’t Horace Ketchum a terrible name? And if Delia is OOC, sorry!

Ash: …

Phantomness: ^^ Well, I like NR sometimes

Lance: You should write more romance

Phantomness: *Smirk* you would say so… and my Pokemon Diamond version *finally* came in the mail! ß Happy