Chapter 7
After telling the family about the news, Eve and Flora want to go there to see the clothes. Valerie decides to close the store for a day and then bring the three daughters to Lumiose City to check out the place. Eve is getting a little impatient and she asks Alice, "Alice, where is the store?"
"It is right over there I suppose, right? Mom?" Alice asks as she points at the street.
"I guess so." Valerie says with a little unease, knowing that there are somebody disguising themselves as Dean and Whith. Once they arrive there, they see a lot of people, they are either younger or older generations, they are checking out the clothes and some of them are taking pictures with a girl in front of them. And that girl is no other than Whith, the model.
"Thank you, Ms. Whith, you look really beautiful like you are in magazines." The kid says with a happy tone.
"Why thank you. It is thanks to you all that I am able to move forward." Whith says with her signature smile, and the kids bid farewell to her.
The Masho family realizes the person in front of her is Whith, and Flora says, "Is that the famous model Whith? She looks beautiful in person."
Alice says, "You're right. Mom, so you have worked with her before?"
Valerie nods and says, "Yes." But she is quite uncomfortable as the girl reminds her of her younger self just by looking at her face and the dress she used to make with Red.
As Whith sees Valerie, she gasps and says, "Ms. Valerie, it is a pleasure to find you here in Lumiose City."
The crowd is surprised to see another famous fashion designer in front of them, Valerie gives a wry smile and she gives a hug to Whith. "Hello, Whith. It sure has been a while. I can't believe you and Dean reopen the store without telling me."
"Sorry about that, we just open for a day and I see the news are spreading. Oh, Dean will like to see you as well, why don't you come inside?" Whith says sheepishly.
As they enter the store, they are surprised to see a lot of dresses on display, much to Valerie's surprise is that they also start selling male clothes. Some of the pictures even have Dean on it as well.
"Dean, Ms. Valerie has come. Why don't you come and greet her?" Whith says with a happy tone, and Dean says, "I'm coming."
Just as Dean comes out of his work place, Valerie can only gasp, the face is the same when Red was younger, but her thoughts are snapped out as Dean says, "Valerie, it sure has been a while."
"You too, Dean. I still can't believe you open this store again and with a lot of new varieties." Valerie says.
"Well, we did change a lot in these years. By the way, care to introduce these fine girls in front of you?" Dean asks with a little flirty tone.
When Red is in Dean's disguise, he would also flirt with her and she can't believe that he is doing the same. She says, "These are my daughters, Flora, Eve and Alice."
"It is nice to meet you." The three girls bow towards them. Dean says, "My, such polite girls. You are really lucky to have them."
Valerie nods as she asks, "Well, can we speak in private, since I have some stuff that I want to ask you."
Dean and Whith nod as they walk into their workroom, while Flora, Eve and Alice are looking the clothes on their own.
Once they are inside the workroom, Valerie immediately drops her smile and she asks, "Okay, I want some answers. Who are you and why are you disguising as Dean and Whith?"
Dean and Whith just give her a busted look and Dean says, "Ms. Valerie. I know that Whith was one of your disguise since you were an Aura Guardian. We are not doing this for bad intentions, we know that people like your products and it will be a shame that the D&W is gone forever. We want to revive it so they can flourish just like all those years ago." Then he glows as he is dropping his disguise.
Once the light dies down, Valerie thought that she is seeing Red again, but then again, she knows that the person in front of him is actually his son, considering that he came to her Gym and he uses a Hawlucha to beat her Spritzee and her Trick Room strategy.
"Ash...Ketchum?" Valerie asks. "Is that really you?"
"It has been a while, Ms. Valerie. I am glad that you remember me considering that I had battled you and we fought against Team Flare back then." Ash says.
"Yeah, I couldn't forget about that as well. But Ash, we have seen the news, what happened to you and why were the others bad mouthing about you?" Valerie asks.
"Team Rocket happened." Ash says with a frown. "Not only they killed my father Red Ketchum, they also tried to break me down by using the Dark Aura known as Control Clouds."
"Control Clouds?" Valerie is surprised, "That explains why they are badmouthing you...that is a forbidden aura technique."
"Yeah, my Pokemon, my friends...even my mother are affected by it..." Ash frowns.
"What? Even Delia?" Valerie asks. "But why? If Red has married to her, she won't be affected as well because of the aura, right?"
"That is the strange thing, and my assumption is that my Father didn't give Mom an Aura Test, which explains why she couldn't fight the Control Cloud." Ash says, "But that is another story to tell. There is always a way out, and thanks to Queen Ilene, I managed to find this."
Valerie widens her eyes as she sees the diary. "Red's diary..."
"Yes. My father's. After you were found out by my grandparents and your parents, my father is saying that how sad he couldn't fulfill everyone's happiness. Which is why I am going to fulfill it."
"I see." Valerie turns to Whith, "But if you are Dean, Ash, then who are you and why are you disguising as Whith?"
Whith says with a sigh. "Please forgive me, Mother. I am sorry that I didn't ask you for permission to have this disguise..."
Just as she glows, the one in front of them is no other than Alice, and that surprised Valerie the most as she can't believe that even her daughter is helping Ash out.
"Alice? Is that you?" Valerie asks, and she nods. "But if you are Alice, then who is the Alice that is looking at the clothes here?"
"Mom, that was my Double Team. I found out my Aura abilities thanks to Ash, and I wanted to help him." Alice says with a frown.
Valerie realizes that history is repeating again and she decides to hug her daughter. "It is fine, Alice, I am glad to see my daughter all grown up. But when were you able to learn aura?"
Alice says, "Mom, I am sorry to hide this from you...Do you remember the time when I got separated because of the blizzard? I was taken by Ash to help him destroy Team Rocket."
"Wait, the news said that the one who destroyed Team Rocket is an Ice Type User who has an Articuno...that was you all along? Alice?" Valerie asks in surprise.
"I wasn't alone. I had Ash accompany me." Alice says, and Valerie almost gets a heart attack. "Why did you do such dangerous thing?"
Ash says, "Please don't be mad at her, Ms. Valerie. Arceus is the one who asked me to take her along. The prophecy said that the last member of the Sakaki has to be removed by both Ketchum and Masho together, so I found her in the blizzard and then we destroyed the Team Rocket together."
Valerie says, "I couldn't stop you if it is Arceus' orders. Since we were often asked to do his orders as well."
Ash and Alice are relieved that Valerie understands what they are thinking back then. Valerie continues to ask, "So Alice, from what I have heard, it seems like you liked to be with Ash, right?"
Alice blushes a little and she says, "We have been making clothes together, training our weapons, cooking and also playing when we are alone. I love him with my heart and I am not going to lie, Mother, I really enjoy his company."
Ash wraps around Alice and he says, "I am feeling the same way, she has been trying to mend my heart ever since we met. It is just a matter of time that we fall in love with each other."
Valerie smiles, "You really are the younger version of me and Red. But let me ask you a question, Red and I couldn't continue our relationship because of our parents. Do you think your relationship can last longer than us? Or maybe even to the extent of getting married and having kids?"
Ash and Alice understand what Valerie is implying, and Ash says, "Don't worry, Ms. Valerie. Throughout my journey, I met a lot of girls. The first time I met her, I feel like no one could compare to her, she just one of a kind. And after enjoying accompany even though it is only 10 days, I realize that I truly and deeply love her, I can't imagine a life without her, and I sure hell won't let go of her. I need her too much for that to happen."
Alice and Valerie are shocked at this sudden revelation. Ash continues, "The day I fell in love with her, the day I confess to her, the day we started this relationship, is the day she became my dream, my life, and my world. Even though you and Dad were the same when you were in my age, but I promise, we won't let anything tear us apart."
"Ash..." Alice is touched at Ash's words, "He's right, Mom. I also love him too much, I don't want to see him cry again, which also makes me sad, and I don't want anything to make us apart as well."
Valerie smiles and she says, "It is a good thing that you two are this desperate. So when shall we have the wedding?"
Ash says, "I don't think that we are ready, in fact, I want our relationship to be a secret."
Alice says, "I am feeling the same thing. Please don't tell Dad, Eve and Flora about this as well, Mom."
Valerie sighs and she says, "I understand. Now since you were Dean and Whith, can we start having some business agreement?"
The two of them look together and smile. "Sure." Dean says.
After 30 minutes, Valerie walks outside the workroom and Flora asks, "Mom, what takes you so long?"
Valerie says, "Sorry, it is just that we are discussing our working agreement. I have some good news, we are going to make clothes together in the future."
Alice says, "Really? That's awesome."
Eve says, "Yeah. I want to see what Mom and Dean's clothes are like."
Valerie says, "I am sure you will. Now girls, I think that you have some clothes that you liked, right?"
"Yeah." The three girls start to pick the clothes from the closet and then Valerie helps purchasing them.
Here is a new chapter, and I decide to make some changes with the original story. In this one, Valerie already knows the truth and she will keep it a secret for Ash's sake. Unlike the original, in which Valerie doesn't know until 10 years later. I hope you like it.