Angela's OneShots

[Dedication] Pokeshipping: Azure

I got the idea of writing this one-shot after I saw some avatars PersonSayinStuff made. So, I guess I dedicate this to her? I know you're a hardcore Contestshipper but... maybe Contestship is for next time?

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Ash remembers the day his daughter Azure came into this world like it was yesterday.

How could he ever forget the moment his precious daughter was first placed in his arms? She was so tiny, so defenseless. She literally couldn't survive without their help... his help. While nestled in his safe embrace, Ash instinctively made her a promise... to protect her always and keep her safe.

Ash and his daughter Azure shared a strong bond; he was the one to wake up at night to check on here even when she's not crying, he changed her diapers more than her mother did and he even bathed her every day. He just loved it when he'd tickle his baby girl's stomach and she'd giggle. 

When Azure was a child, she was whenever Ash was. He'd pick her up from her bed on the weekends and go out to the park; take her out for ice cream; leave the house and go have lunch at McDonald's; giggling at how Misty is oblivious to their little escapes, sleep beside each other on Azure's pink bed and bake cake together for Mother's Day.

Their strong relationship started falling into pieces when Azure started going through puberty.

She didn't like sleeping beside Ash anymore. She didn't like going out with him and having ice cream. She didn't like washing the car with him, and she hated when he tickled her stomach.

She said it made her feel fat, so Ash stopped doing it. 

"What is wrong with Azure?" Misty looked really surprised when Ash asked her that one night. It was dark outside and Azure was still at her friend's birthday party. She was only thirteen. Wasn't it dangerous?

"She's... changed."

"She's growing up, that's what! She's a girl, Ash. She's changed. You said it. Girls change, both physically and emotionally. She doesn't want to act like a kid anymore because she can't. Leave her alone."

She grew up, Ash knew that. It was the harsh truth he learned to accept over the years. To Azure, she has grown and that's it, to Ash, she was still his baby girl, his princess. How was he going to get over her?

He felt horribly left out. As she grew up, year after year, he felt like he was becoming more and more of a spectator of his daughter's life. He was just watching her from behind; watching himself get pushed away more and more.

But she was growing up, right? She was a beautiful girl. She was trying to get noticed, be cool at school, wear cute skirts and go on dates with boys (and Ash hated boys). She wore makeup, talked hours on the phone, plucked her eyebrows, dieted and went on jogs. She was nothing like the baby girl Ash carried in his arms sixteen years ago.  

It tore his heart apart when, last week, he heard her ask Misty in the kitchen:

"Is daddy mad at me? He doesn't talk to me."

It killed him. Every word she spoke killed him.

"Of course not. He's just busy with work."

"Are you sure? He just doesn't ask me how I'm doing, or about school... or even my friends."

"There is work, and then he has to take care of Grandma and go often to her house. She gets mad if he doesn't visit."

"But he's my dad, no?"