Chapter Text
It was a special day for the Ketchum Family. Ash was given home plate seats for the Kanto vs. Hoenn series game. Being a multi-champion does have its perks. Since becoming champion, everyone seems to want to invite Ash to whatever is happening just to say he made a guest appearance. Normally Ash hasn’t really accepted any invites, especially now that his wife recently gave birth to their first child 6 months ago. He really meant it when he said he would slow down as soon as he found out his wife was expecting.
***
May had been in the middle of feeding when her husband walked in after a day of training. Ash kissed both her and their daughter before he made his way to the kitchen and helped start dinner.
He was in the middle of prepping the chicken when his phone rang. After washing his hands, he grabbed the phone and saw that his manager was calling him. He was just with him, what on earth would he want?
“Hello?” He answered and looked over at May who noticed his mood drop. “Hey Mark, what's up?”
“Ash! Great news!” His longtime manager answered. “The Baseball Association wants to give you and your wife tickets to the series game on Saturday! Whaddya say?”
“That’s 3 days from now,” Ash began as he looked over at his wife, “We would need a sitter for our daughter and even then, I’m not sure if it’s a good id–.”
Before he could finish his thought, May had grabbed the phone from her husband.
“Mark?” She began. “Hey it's May! How are you? Great! Yeah, she has gotten really big. Takes after her father. Listen, what is this I hear about series tickets?”
“The series game on Saturday!” Mark practically shouted. “They are inviting both Ash and yourself to the game given who is playing!”
“No way! We are totally there!” May exclaimed and turned back to Ash. “We just need a babysitter.”
“No worries!” He continued, “Kids who are able to sit on laps can go in for free. Of course if that’s okay with you.”
“That sounds perfect! Tell them Ash accepts and please send over the information.” May continued and bid him goodbye before hanging up.
“Don’t give me that look Ash,” she began when she looked over at her husband who was slowly shaking his head. “We both need to get out of the house for more than just doctor appointments and quick errands.”
“But–” he began but was cut off short.
“No buts!” May continued. “You deserve a fun day out with the sun shining and for once sitting in the stadium with a hot dog in your hands. Besides, when will Kanto and Hoenn ever play together again?”
“I guess you’re right.” Ash pondered and faced her, “As long as she gets to wear Kanto gear, we can go.” He pointed to their daughter who was in her baby bouncer under the watchful eye of Pikachu.
“Yeah, yeah,” May rolled her eyes and giggled. “Whatever you say.”
***
“Remind me again why we’re here?” Ash complained as they found their seats. He cringed when the crowd applauded at their appearance and fixed his daughter’s noise-cancellation headphones.
As they sat down, Ash placed the diaper bag down and carefully made their daughter comfortable on his lap. Her bright blue eyes scanned the stadium in awe before nestling against her father.
“Oh stop it you.” May replied as she began eating her hot dog. “Yummy! It’s been a long time since we had a nice time out.”
May was wearing a red baseball jersey with blue and green stripes on the sleeves. The words Hoenn in white letters and blue outline on the front of the shirt. Of course, she chose to wear it open with a white tee underneath, blue shorts and white sneakers. On the top of her head a red bandana with the Hoenn crescent. Ash, on the other hand, was wearing a similar outfit, except his jersey was blue with red and yellow stripes on the sleeves. Much like May, the front of his jersey also sported the name of his home region, Kanto, in white letters with red outline. He dressed it with jeans, sneakers and his Kanto hat that he wore when he started his journey.
Oh, they were rivals at the moment. Even their daughter was sporting the Kanto uniform, much to May’s dismay.
While the game was going on, Ash found himself quite enjoying the ambience of baseball. He would converse with the group of guys next to them and even signed a few autographs for some of the kids near them.
It was the bottom of the last inning and the game was tied. May gently took their daughter from Ash and began to stand up.
“I’ll be right back.” She explained. “I need to change her.”
Ash started to stand up as well. “Here, let me go with you.”
May shook her head and sat him down before grabbing the diaper bag. “No you stay. We won’t be long.” And with that she began walking up the stairs.
Even though Ash stayed behind, he made sure to watch his family go up the stairs and watched them disappear before turning back to the game.
A few moments later, May was walking down the stairs with a giant smirk on her face. Ash noticed them and did a double take on his daughter.
“What the fuck?!” He exclaimed. Looking at his daughter, she was no longer in her Kanto gear. Instead, she was changed into a red onesie with the words Hoenn similar to her mother and a red bow laid on top of her head. “May, you didn’t!”
“What can I say?” May stuck her tongue out. “She is a Hoenn native afterall!”
Ash shook his head and admitted defeat as the game was ending.
Hoenn won.