The Hat-trick Hero (Amourshipping)

Youngster In Legend Path

Note:
Italic: Commentator's voice
Bold: Author's note
Underline: Soccer's rules explaining

*15 years ago*

"Hey, pass it to me!" "Pass it to me, quick!" Those were the sounds of the children. They were playing soccer, but their match was important. Any team won would become the new champion of U7 Youngster Championship (championship for 7-year-old or younger players)

There were a lot of young players. We had Gary Oak, the striker of Pallet Junior FC, or Calem Xavier, the striker of Vanivile Young. They were one of the best young players of each team, and could be the upcoming soccer player in the future

However, all eyes were on Ash Ketchum, pairing with Gary. What special about him was his father, Red Ketchum, was a living legend of Japan.

Red had played for many clubs, like Arsenal and Real Madrid. He retired at the age of 36, at his old club, which he started as a young player, Pallet United. He got married with a woman named Delia Ketchum and Ash was born.

When Ash was young, Red always wanted him to become a soccer player like his dad. He made Ash to watch every soccer match he played, so the love of soccer could flow in his body. Ash loved soccer, so he trained as a youngster and joined his school's soccer team, Pallet Junior.

However, one bad thing about Red was he was too arrogant and obsessed with winning. In his career, there were so many times he got suspended for over 5 matches or even 5 months because of his violent act on the field. He got furious when his opponent took the lead, and he would do anything just to win, even cheating. Even if he was a living legend, his career still remained the dirty spots from the past.

Back to Ash's match, Red's obsession with winning still being shown.

"Brendan passed the ball to Ketchum. Ketchum is dribbling... Oh no, he got tackled!"

"C'mon son! Stand up! Don't be like that!" Red shouted at the raven hair boy, who was slowly standing up from the tackle. He gave Red a nod, then continued the game. He was doing as best as he could, to keep the ball or to dribble it, but he still got tackled over and over again

"What a weakling! I don't have a weak son like that!" Red shouted, and received a punch at the shoulder from Delia

"How could you say something like that to our son? He's trying his best!" Delia scolded Red

"Delia, my darling, "trying" does not exist in professional soccer. Our son needs more improvement!"

"Then why don't you give him a chance? Let him complete his skill!"

"You said what?! "A chance"? There's no such thing like that! Our son has no potential!"

"Don't say that to Ash!"

"Then keep him! I'm leaving!" Red said one last word and left, leaving Delia alone. But she didn't bother stopping him. She kept eyes on the field, when her son was about to take a shoot

"Ketchum is dribbling... That's the last defender! He passed him! Is it a goal...?"

"Illegal tackle! Penalty given!" The commentator said as the referee pointed at the penalty spot on the field

In soccer, any tackle or interception that is illegal or doesn't hit the ball from the opponent, and it happens in the "box" of the opponent (the square zone that has the goalie) will lead to a penalty

The referee handed the ball to Ash, waiting for him to put it down. But Ash didn't think so

"Anyone wants to take this?" Ash asked. The whole team was hesitated. They knew scoring a penalty at that point would almost end the match, but it was also very pressured. Then Gary spoke out

"How about you put an end to this match?" Gary asked

"No, I can! I'm a weak player of the team" Ash didn't believe in himself, but Gary walked to him and encouraged him

"Don't worry. We'll be here to cheer for you" Gary said with a grin. Ash nodded and went to the "box". He put the ball on the penalty spot and stepped back, ready for the sprint

"C'mon my little soccer player. I believe you can do it!" Delia cheered Ash and he heard that. He felt more confident

"Ash Ketchum is sprinting... He's going to shoot...!"

"GOALLLL! A PERFECT PENALTY SHOT FROM KETCHUM! THIS COULD BE THE END OF THE MATCH!" The whole team joined Ash's celebration, while Calem, in the opposite team, kicked the goal post in frustration

"I know you can do it!" Gary said and gave Ash a bro hug. At the same time, the whistle blew for the end of the match

"And there it is. Pallet Junior 1, Vanivile Young 0. Congratulation to Pallet Junior. They've done it! The new champions, the new upcoming generation!"

As Pallet Junior was about to lift the trophy, Ash walked to Calem, who was sitting on the field with disappointment

"Hey, I don't want to say this, but great performance of you" Ash said and offered his hand, but Calem slapped it away

"First, that was a lucky win. And second, I can stand up by myself, you know that, Ketchum?" Calem stood up and said

"Yeah, but at least a friendly handshake?" Ash offered his hand again, and this time, Calem shook it

"But this is not the end, Ash. 'Till we meet again" Calem said and left

"Yeah, 'till we meet again..." Ash mumbled and joined his team's celebration.

Later that afternoon, he got home with his medal. He couldn't wait to show his dad. But he couldn't find him anywhere.

"Mom, where's daddy?" Ash asked

"He... left our family..." Delia said sadly. Ash was shocked, and he knew his father was disappointed in his skill. He went upstairs and threw his medal on the desk. He lied down the bed and sighed sadly. Until a voice from someone cheered him up

"Where is my young champion?"

"Grandpa!" Ash stood up from the bed and hugged Cole Ketchum, Ash's grandfather, and also a soccer legend. The love of soccer was flowing inside the Ketchum's veins

"Hey, hey! Blood pressure!" Cole said and Ash released

"Sorry grandpa" Ash bowed his head and apologized

"It's okay. So, where's the medal?" Cole asked and Ash showed him the medal. It was made of metal, painted in gold, but still special to him

"Hey, remember this. This will be your first step of your career, got it?" Cole asked and Ash nodded. "By the way, where's your father? That's stubborn man" He asked and Ash sighed

"My father... left my family..." Ash said sadly, but Cole cheered him up

"Nah, let him be. He still has that arrogant personality, huh?" - Cole said and Ash smiled again, then he took out a ball. It looked quite old, but still be able to be played for a long time

"This is the ball that I made my first goal of my career. I want you to have it, as my blessing to your career, and as a gift for the championship" Cole said. Ash took the ball without saying thanks to his grandfather, and started juggling it, while Cole smiling from behind, looking at his upcoming legend.

*present*

"Hey, Ash. Wake up! Time for training!" An old man shook a 20-year-old grown man

"Ummm, five more minutes, grandpa Cole..." the man groaned and pretended to sleep. Cole then thought out something

"Hey, wake up Thunder Crow! Time to shoot the ball!" Cole called him one more time. The man stood up from his bed, revealing he was already in his training kit

"Wow, you tricked me!" Cole said with a chuckle. The man grabbed an old worn out ball and left

"Because I'm Ash Ketchum, the striker of Pallet United, the one known as the Thunder Crow. And when you face a crow, you can't expect what will happen to you next" Ash said with a grin and left.

Ash was now ready for his journey, his soccer career

But his journey was just like a crow. He couldn't expect what would happen when he faced it