By: Enja
Chapter: 1 of 3
Ages: Ash: 12, Misty: 12
Ash’s P.O.V.
I stood at the edge of the curb with Misty, waiting for my Dad. Pikachu wasn’t too thrilled about having to go somewhere I was nervous about. Misty kept telling me that it was going to be just fine, that my dad seemed like a nice guy.
I agreed with her on that, it’s just that he kinda freaked me out a bit and made me a bit nauseous. I don’t know why though, he was being perfectly friendly over the phone…
The snow wasn’t falling nearly as hard as it did the day before; it was just a light fall. I looked through the windows at the clock in the Pokemon Center. It was 12: 29; Dad was half an hour late. I sighed and watched my breath turn into fog.
Another twenty minutes went by and still no sign of my Dad. Misty and Pikachu had gone inside to get us all hot chocolate and left me to watch the road. What was taking him?
I jumped back in surprise when Misty appeared right in front of me. “Here Ash, here’s your hot chocolate.” I took the cup from Misty and took a sip of the steaming substance.
“Thanks Mist.” She nodded and took a small sip of her own.
“Pikachu pika pi?” (When do you think he’ll be here?)
“I’m not sure, Pikachu… Are you sure he said today, Mist?”
Misty glanced at me. “Yeah, I’m positive. Today at noon, that’s what he said.” I moaned. Then I heard a small noise that sounded like a dieing motor. I turned my gaze to the direction it was coming from and watched.
I observed as a small navy blue Volkswagen pulled into the Pokemon Center driveway. I noticed the man in the driving seat as my Dad. The car seemed relieved when he turned it off.
A six-foot man stepped out of the car and slammed the door behind him. He was tall and thin with a grin on his face. He wore jeans like mine except a bit baggier and they were khaki. He wore a deep crimson long-sleeve shirt and black gloves.
“Ash?” I looked up to him and he gave me a big grin. “How are you? You’ve gotten so big!”
“Well gee, it’s kind of been nine years…” I said sarcastically.
“And you’ve got my sarcasm!” Was that supposed to be a good thing or not? I just continued to stare at him. Misty stepped forward and offered her hand.
“Nice to meet you in person, Mr. Ketchum.” My dad took her hand and shook.
“Please, call me Miles, Misty.” Misty gave him a smile and returned her hand. “Well Ash, you’ve got yourself a great friend here!”
“Yeah, I guess…”
Misty’s face turned an angry red. “What do you mean, ‘I guess,’ huh Mr. Pokemon Master???” I started backing up as Misty fingered her mallet.
“No, you are a great friend! The best I’ve ever had! I swear!” Misty’s face softened considerably.
“Really?” I nodded.
“Aww…how sweet!!!” I shot a glare to my father and I think Misty did too.
“Pikachu pi!” (He’s right, so cute!)
“Pi…ka…chu!” I said slowly, I only did that when I was considerably mad.
“Oh Ash, is that yours? He’s so cute!!!” My dad said cute, was he supposed to act like this or was he trying to impress Misty and I?
“Yeah, he’s mine… He was my first Pokemon I ever got, right Pikachu?”
“Pik!” (Yup!) Pikachu ran over and jumped on my shoulder.
“Well, can we go?” I asked. “It’s getting really cold.” My dad nodded and motioned us to the car.
It was a long car ride back. He said that he lived in the furthest suburbs of Blackthorn. That was where I was supposed to get my last badge but I haven’t even gotten my seventh one yet from Mahogany.
It was a long ride of staring out the window and sleeping. The main reason it took so long was because there were big traffic jams on the highway. Pikachu just slept on my lap while I stroked him and Misty and I had a few silent conversations about Christmas.
It was about half an hour later we pulled into a long driveway that went up hill. There were many trees surrounding the area and there was even a crystal clear stream just slightly hidden beneath the tees.
“So Ash, how do you like the landscape?”
“It’s beautiful…” I said as I stared at the snow-covered holly.
“Isn’t it?” Misty said. Pikachu ruffled around on my lap.
Pikachu stood up and stretched out his weary body. “Pika chu pi?” (What’d I miss?) I picked him up and stood him on my shoulders. “Pika pi chu!” (It’s so pretty!) I nodded and then I noticed a big stone house come in to view.
“Wow. Is this your house, Dad?” I gasped in excitement.
“Yup…”
“It’s so big, Miles. I love it! Ash, you are so lucky!” I grimaced. I always wondered what living the high life was like. It didn’t seem too fun, it seemed like you’d have to do whatever they wanted you to but I could be wrong or I could be right...
The car finally halted to a stop. “Hey Dad, if you have such a grand house, why do you have this car?” He turned his head and looked at me.
“This is the best car ever, this car has lasted me fourteen years! I love it, like I love you! Right Ashy-boy?” There it was; I despised that name. And he loves cars? All they do is pollute the environment and he loves it like he loves me? Then that is either too much or not a lot…
“Yeah…”
“Well, let’s go, I’ll show you to your rooms!”
Misty literally jumped in her seat. “YES!!! I love getting rooms with nice comfy, soft beds…” The list continued on but I ignored her. Its not like we haven’t gotten good rooms before.
My Dad laughed along with Misty, but I didn’t… Who cares though? I just want to get this trip over with. This feeling about my Dad irritated me. He was acting too nice and this wasn’t how I acted. I was a hyper and naive person, not a kind and crazy lunatic. That’s what my Dad was according to me…
My Dad stopped chuckling and stepped out of the car. “Well let’s go, Ash, Misty.” Misty just continued to show her grin as she got out of the car and ran up to the house. “Ash lets go.”
Literally a squeak came out of my mouth when I agreed with him and proceeded to the place Misty stood at the front of the mansion. My Dad soon followed behind but only after nodding to the forest. I gave him a strange look.
“Why did you nod to the forest, Dad? Greeting the trees?” He furrowed his eyebrows and then just smiled.
“Yeah. Secretly I believe that trees talk to me.” Uhh, yeah… Okay lets move on here!
We soon entered the house. It was beautiful… Everywhere had big cushy blue chairs with a silver trim. The floor was a stunning white marble and the Mahogany tables were polished so you could see your own reflection. The ceiling stood high above the floor and works of art surrounded everything. And best of all, there was a humungous TV just sitting in the middle of it all.
“Wow…” I gasped. The last time I had been in something this grand was the Pokemon museum in Pallet, the most famous of them all. I could tell Misty was speechless by just looking at her.
Dad’s smiling face jumped right in front of my view. “So kiddies, what do ya think?” Kiddie? I was not a child!
“Dad, I’m not a kid.” His smile washed out a bit but his annoying bright face still shined.
“Of course you aren’t! You’re twelve, lets think of a teenagers nickname. Hmm…how about Sport!” I cocked an eyebrow.
“No.” I sneered.
“Yes. And Misty can be…Beauty, and Pikachu shall be Pico!” Misty and Pikachu broke their gaze and stared at dad.
Finally after an uncomfortable silence, Misty broke the ice. “Aww, that’s so sweet, Miles! Ash would never call me beautiful!”
“Pikachu pi chu!” (I love it!) I glared at my two friends but kept my mouth ceiled.
“Well, now that you’ve seen the living room, how about I show you to your rooms?” Misty’s smile got wider, if that was possible. “Come on, Sport.” I sighed but followed suit.
The halls were also very beautiful; this isn’t what I’d expect from a father that has been alone for nine years. Where’d he get the money? I found myself in a daze soon with all these questions clouding my thoughts. Though I did check with reality every once in a while.
I snapped back to reality when Misty bumped into me on purpose. “Geez, Dad! How long are these hallways?” He turned his head and winked at me.
“We’re here. Ash, this is your room.”
“Gee thanks, good-bye!” I said as I dashed to open the door and shut it as quick as I could.
“Pikapi!” (Ash!) Oh shoot, did I get Pikachu’s tail in the door? I peered down hoping not to see a jagged yellow tail sticking through the door. No.
“Pikachu, you go with Misty to see her room, okay.”
“Pika.” (Fine.) I set my ear against the door to make sure I heard them far down the hall.
The room was also very beautiful, perhaps more common but more comforting. In the corner sat a stunning queen-size bed. The sheets were a deep crimson with a dark aqua duvet. The walls were a midnight blue and once again mahogany wood was everywhere.
This was my room, it was nice, but it was missing something. I shook of the feeling of my stuff from my REAL room.
I plopped down on my bed and sighed. “Nice place…” I muttered for no purpose as I slowly drifted off to sleep…
I jumped up in bed as a piercing scream awoke me from my peaceful sleep. “Ash! Wake up! It’s time for dinner!” Misty screamed.
“AAAHHHH!!! Misty, ever heard of nudging?!” Misty huffed and stuck up her nose.
“Yeah, I have, but as a matter of fact, I TRIED!!! You sleep too much and too hard! You never came to see my room!”
“So, your point?”
“Nothing…just hurry up and come eat dinner.”
“Pikachu!”
“Fine, I’m coming.”
I came back from a delicious filling dinner and a long period of watching TV. I had stayed downstairs to at least eleven, late after everyone had gone to bed. I was tired; the light of the TV affected me in fatigue. I easily and quickly fell asleep…but not before hearing the doorknob twist and turn on my door…