Author note: Here it is! This fic I've been working on for months! I am dedicating this to Suddsie my editor. (She made me write this) I wasn't originally going to write this story so thank her because she talked me into it. Past It is a sunny day in Pallet town when out young heroes returned from their adventures in the Johto League. Too bad things are about to get stormy for Ash. "I can't believe I won!" Ash said for about the third time that day. Ash had a six-on-six match with the red trainer Locke, the red division champ and won. "I can't believe you won either, Ash," Misty shot in. "With your poor training skills and irresponsible personality, it was blind luck that you even got into the third round." "WHAT?!" Ash demanded with steam pouring out of his ears. Brock saw what was about to happen and decided to risk Misty's infamous mallet. "Misty, that was uncalled for," Brock said suddenly as he stepped between Ash and Misty. "I think that you owe Ash and apology." Misty gawked at Brock. Misty was about to say something when she stopped and thought about what she had said. "Alright," Misty began, "I'm sorry that Ash is such a poor trainer and is irresponsible…" "Ash?" Brock asked. Ash would have usually retorted to Misty's jibe but he stood frozen to the ground with his back turned to his friends. Misty noticed too and stopped her joke. When Misty and Brock walked over to see what Ash was looking at, they realized that Ash was staring at his house. "Whose truck is that in the driveway, Ash?" Misty asked. Ash didn't respond. Misty and Brock, more than just a little curious, began to walk forward when they noticed that Ash still hadn't moved. "Ash, are you alright?" Brock asked. Brock went back and waved his hand in front of Ash's face. Ash's eyes were locked on the truck. **** "Mommy! Mommy! Someone pulled into the driveway!" Ash called to his mother. Delilah Ketchum gasped and dropped the plate she had been washing back into the sink of soapy water. "Mommy?" Ash asked from the doorway, "Did you hear me?" "He wouldn't dare!" she suddenly shouted. Ash jumped out of the way as his mother made a mad dash to the door. Ash followed her out into the hallway and saw the front door swing open. "Where is he?" a loud voice demanded. Ash couldn't see anything because his mother was in the way. "Go away. You have no right to see him." Ash shuddered at his mother's cold voice. That was the voice she used when she was very, VERY angry. "This paper says that I have every right to see him," responded the voice. Ash heard a ruffle of paper from the doorway. Ash began to creep toward his mother to see who the visitor was and why his mother was so angry. Ash halted when his mother suddenly made a clenched fist. "You can't be serious!" Delilah sputtered. Ash resumed his creeping once more, determined to find out who was upsetting his mother. "He's only a boy," she continued with force, "You can't…" "I can and I will. Have him ready to by tomorrow, and say your goodbyes." Ash was directly beside his mother now. The stranger at the door saw the rustle of Delilah's skirt and smiled at what he saw. "Mommy, what is going on?" Ash asked his mother. Delilah gently grasped the back of her son's coveralls and urged him farther into the safety of the house. "Not now, honey, go back inside. Mommy's busy right now." Ash did not budge. Ash studied the stranger in the doorway, and he was big. All adults are big to small children, but this man was enormous! Ash saw sparkling blue eyes, black hair and a warm smile. Ash grabbed his mother's leg and caught the folds of her skirt. "Mommy, who's that?" Ash asked shyly. Delilah froze, not prepared for her son to ask such a question. The stranger laughed. Ash thought that is was such a nice laugh that he smiled and laughed too. The stranger kneeled down so he was face to face with Ash. "I'm someone you're going to know quite well. You're coming to live with me for a while." Ash was confused. In a questioning tone Ash asked, "Are you moving in?" The stranger laughed once more and ruffled Ash's hair. "I don't think so, sport. You're coming to live with me at my house," the man answered. "--For a while!" Delilah interrupted. The man's attention was adverted for a moment. Ash was curious and bursting with questions, but decided against is when the man's mood suddenly changed. "Until I can find a way to make it permanent, that is. Have his things ready by tomorrow." With that, the man walked back outside, got into his truck and drove off. "Mommy, who was that?" Ash asked again. Delilah turned and walked back into the kitchen, picking her plate back up again. "Mommy?" Ash tried once more. Ash wanted an answer very much so he decided to do what he normally did to get something he really wanted. Ash tugged on her skirt and gave her his patented Bambie-eyes routine. Delilah locked down at her son and began to cry. Ash did not know what he did but was sorry that he did it. "Mommy, I'm sorry. Don't cry, please." **** The truck was the same. It was the same truck that took him away from his mother. It was the same truck that belonged to the one person he forced himself to forget about. It belonged to the one person that he feared and loved at the same time. That truck belonged to his father. "Ash! Ash! Hello-o!" Misty called. Ash blinked twice. Then a thundershock blasted his body. Ash shook himself off from the ground and stood up. "Ash?" Brock asked worried. Ash was never like this; he almost looked…afraid. Ash knew something bad was about to happen. The look of concern in both his friend's eyes made it clear that he was upset. "Pikapi?" Pikachu asked. Pikachu was even more worried about Ash than Misty or Brock. This was Ash's hometown; here Ash was on familiar ground. Ash was always alert, a bit on guard when traveling, but in Pallet, Ash seemed in his element and relaxed. Ash's sudden zoning out scared Pikachu. "All right mister-what's going on here?" demanded Misty. Ash didn't answer his friend's questions. When Ash took off running directly at his house, it came as a complete surprise to his two friends. Pikachu clamped onto Ash's shoulder with a death grip as Ash ran. Misty and Brock weren't too far behind. Ash slowed when he heard the voices. All too familiar voices were shouting at each other. "You're lying" a voice accused. "Why would I lie? Besides he's on a Pokemon journey. It won't do you any good to stay her until he comes home." There was a silence. "How do I know if you're telling the truth? Ash could be upstairs in his room listening to us for all I know." "Go upstairs and check for yourself." Ash had come to a stop now. Misty and Brock joined him on the steps of his house. Misty's eyes were wide and unbelieving. Brock just stood silently. "That was your mother's voice" Misty final said. Ash gathered all his courage and opened the door. "Hello?" Delilah called from the kitchen. Ash noticed the tone of voice she was using. "Hi Mrs. Ketchum" Misty called in response. There was a crash of a dish in the kitchen. Ash didn't have to guess the look on his mother's face for she entered the room seconds later. Ash had seen his mother's face like it before: upset, worried and scared. "Ash?" Ash couldn't look up to see that face again. Pikachu looked from Ash to his mother and back again. "What's going on here?" Brock demanded. Ash hadn't noticed his friends had come inside with him. Mrs. Ketchum lowered her head and she sobbed. Footsteps came form the stairs and Ash couldn't move. "Pikapi?!" Pikachu said in sudden alarm. The man that had just entered the room looked a lot like Ash. Same spiky, black hair, same face shape and the same nose. "Where've you been boy?" the stranger demanded. The bewildered look on Ash's face confirmed what Delilah had said to him earlier. The stranger's mood suddenly changed when Ash didn't answer. "And just who are you?" Misty demanded. The man ignored Misty's question. Misty, not liking to be ignored, got angry. "Hey! Are you listening to me? Ash are you just going to let this stranger run amuck in your house?" "Misty, stop it" Mrs. Ketchum sobbed. Misty gave the unfamiliar person a death glare. Brock was now in his girl-protecting mode so he was kneeling beside Mrs. Ketchum. "So it's true," the man suddenly stated. Ash looked up and met the man's gaze. The man suddenly wondered how much of what Delilah told him was the truth. "You don't remember me, do you?" "You seem familiar" Ash said. Misty and Brock stared at him. "I can't place you though." "I see" the man said. "Doesn't matter. You'll remember soon enough. Don't bother getting unpacked; you're coming with me." "Wait a minute!" Misty growled. "Ash isn't going anywhere with a stranger. Who do you think you are?" The man shot Misty a look that could have squeezed water out of a stone. "I'm his father" Mark Ketchum growled. The apparent shock hit Misty first. "W-What?" Misty squeaked. Brock was like a statue beside Delilah Ketchum. Ash could have been knocked over with a feather. "Pikaa" Pikachu said in awe. Mark noticed the Pokemon for the first time. "What is that?" Mark demanded, shaking a finger at Pikachu. Pikachu turned a shade of blue and hid behind Ash's head. "This is my Pikachu" Ash stated proudly. Mark looked over his son, noting the pokebelt. "You train Pokemon?" Mark asked. Ash winced at the way he said it. "Well, I'm sorry but where you're going, you won't have time to train Pokemon." "What are you saying?" Misty gasped. Brock jumped up in shock. They both had the same thought at the same time. Ash's expression was blank. "Give your Pokemon to your mother" Mark ordered. Mrs. Ketchum visibly paled when she saw the tear. Pikachu glared at Mark when he heard the order. "Pikachu, pika chu pi!" Pikachu growled. Ash made fists with his hands. "How can you ask me to do this?" Ash asked in a small voice. Mark crossed his arms in impatience. "Pokemon will only distract you. I wan t you at home with a clear mind. Now give your pokemon to your mother." Tears dropped down his cheeks as all eyes watched him. Ash could fell his heart breaking. "Ash-" Delilah sobbed. Ash unbuttoned his belt and gave it to his mother with shaking hands. Pikachu was harder to let go of. "Pikapi! Piiiii." Ash untangled the pokemon from his shoulder and held the pokemon in a fierce hug. Pikachu hugged Ash back just as hard. "I'll miss you buddy." Ash sobbed. Pikachu was passed to Delilah and a hand went on Ash's shoulder. "Time to go boy." "Nooooo!" Ash yelled as he bolted up in bed. Ash remembered the nightmare and took deep breaths to steady his nerves. Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon or anything related to pokemon. Pokemon and its associated characters are copyrighted by Nintendo/Game Freak. This is a pokemon fanfic created by my mind only (however warped it is.).