Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, I do not have any rights to Pokémon and I do not make any money from writing these fic's.
A/N: Written for Remi's Chapter by Chapter 10 Prompt Challenge. The prompt I got for this chapter is a haunting. Written for the one million words added compotation.
Chapter Eight
"No, you are not joining us on our Pokémon Adventure," Ash said quickly before Beth could finish. "Mum has told me why she wants to travel with me and that is alright but I am not travelling with a bunch of girls! Misty was enough to last me a life time!"
"I was not going to ask to join you on your adventure, after all I have gone on a small camping trip of my own when I finished normal school and discovered that after...so called tasting the life for a few days I was not made to be a Pokémon trainer," Beth said as she ignored Ash's normal rudeness. "Besides, what is your problem with girls and having enough of them Ash? By any chance do you even know which way you swing yet Ash?"
"No reason, no reason at all," Ash cried out quickly as he shook his head in defence. "And let's not bring my love life into this. Now then, what was the question that you were going to ask us?"
Beth raised a single eyebrow, "I was just going to ask you to keep me up to date with the newest information on the fashion scene from whatever region you're going to. After all whenever Pokémon trainers send clothes home for their family I always get a large demand for similar outfits from other people in town and it then spreads throughout the region. It's amazing what one simple act a trainer can carry out can do to everyone here at home."
"Oh I would just love to do that for you Beth and I even already have your contact information so I can call you when we get to a phone," Delia said happily as she smiled and turned to face her son. "Well Ash, we are finally finished in this horrible clothes shop. Are you ready for our next two shops before home? I think that they might be more up your street."
"Don't worry Ash, all males, trainers or not, seem to think of this place as evil," Beth replied with a shark like grin only to pout when Ash ignored her and concentrated on his mother.
"Where will we be going?" Ash asked as he tilted his head to the side that was mirrored by Pikachu.
"Remember, I told you that we had to go to the PokeMarket and the Camping shop next before heading home so we can rest for the night. In the morning Professor Oak will come by to pick up the house keys and we will be off with the sunrise," Delia answered with a cheery smile which only grew at her son's look of relief on his face. "Mimmey, could you please transport the clothes to the kitchen table at home?"
"Mime!" Mr. Mime replied with a nod of his head. Raising his hands an electric pink-purple glow surrounded the clothes before they quickly disappeared off of the counter next to Beth.
"Thank you Mimmey, now Ash are you ready for our next stop?" Delia asked as she turned her attention back to Ash.
"Yeah, I say we go to the Camping shop first and see what they have, I know that I need a new sleeping bag and I was wondering if it was possible to find one that Pikachu could join me in when the temperature gets a bit too cold," Ash replied with a nod of his head as Pikachu happily agreed, glad that his trainer had never forgotten his hatred of Pokeballs. "You should only need a tent, a sleeping bag and the basic camping gear as we have mine from my other adventures. I know for a fact that my camping stuff like pots and pans can easily deal with four people or more."
"How very knowledgeable of you Ash," Delia praised causing Ash to blush. "Well then let's get going to the camping shot next."
"Bye, enjoy your journeys!" Beth called out with a happy wave as the mother and son pair walked out of the shop. "Remember to keep me up to date with the current fashions!"
"Now that was not so bad was it?" Delia asked kindly as they walked along the path towards the camping shop. "You had nothing to worry about now did you? Honestly, you are just like your father!"
"Mum...please do not say..." Ash said with a heavy sigh causing Delia to go quiet and give her son a worried but understanding look. "Anyway! For a tent I suggest a simple colour that can blend into the background of where ever we might set up camp for the night but maybe we should think about a different style or find a way to tell both of our tents apart in case they get mixed up somehow?"
"So a bright pink tent for me and Mimmey is out of the question then?" Delia said in a teasing stone as the camping shop came quickly into view. "It looks like pink will not be a very useful colour on our journey."
"It can be...just depends on what area we are in and what sort of Pokémon live in the area, after all we want to be safe," Ash said quickly as he shared a look of horror with the three male Pokémon. "How about a pale pink sleeping bag? And a sand coloured tent? My tent is grey-navy blue to give off the colour of the night to make sure that any more dangerous Pokémon passing by ignores it while my sleeping bag is black with orange trim. We could always find a way to add a bit of colour for you, but in a safe way."
"Good attempt at a compromise," Delia said with a chuckle as they came to the front doors of the camping shop. "But it is lucky for you that I have already decided to go with the same type of tent as yours but in a sandy colour with a lovely night sky themed sleeping bag I saw the other time I came in here when you sent me some money to buy you a replacement for your kettle."
"That was a close call," Ash muttered as the group entered the camping shop only to stop dead in their tracks when a tall well muscled male who had been moving boxes around the shop turned and looked at them with a large smile on his handsome face. "Pikachu, Mr. Mime, get ready to protect Mum. This guy looks to be a real creep."
Twin Pokémon noises of agreement was Ash's reply as the man walked towards them, showing off his muscles in Delia's direction who simply ignored him. His eyes stayed glued to Delia as he came to a stop in front of her and gave her a dazzling smile, through to Ash, Pikachu and Mr. Mime it looked like he needed to go to the toilet more.
"Delia, my dear Delia, one of the rare precious flowers that exist in this truly horrible world!" the man said as he gave Delia a love sick puppy look. "What can I do for one so beautiful as you my precious flower?"
"Get ready to act as needed," Ash said softly to the two Pokémon who in turn nodded their heads in agreement. "This man seems to forget that mum is married to dad...whatever that idiot male is doing...also that mother is not yet divorced nor have we been told that dad is dead and for sure with how he is treating us he is not even good starting romance material for mum."
"It is nice to see you again Thomas, I was wondering if you still had one of those camping boxes that we talked about last time ready for sale?" Delia asked with a kind smile as the love sick looks she was getting from the camp shop worker went totally over her head while her son, Pikachu and Mr. Mime shot Thomas a dark tense look. "You remember the one we were talking about that even had a bit of-"
"Feminine charm, yes my dear I do remember!" Thomas said as he cut off Delia while striking a think pose making Ash groan in disbelief and a strained smile to appear on Delia's face. "I still have a few left as it is mostly male Pokémon trainers who want those sort of set ups. Why do you ask? Are you finally taking me up on my offer to go on a special camping trip with me?"
"About that Thomas," Delia smiled more, through she took a step backwards as Thomas took a step forwards. "I would just like the camping box that we talked about last time. You see I will not be able to join you on any camping trips for quite a while...I am not sure for how long."
A smirk appeared on Ash's, Pikachu's and Mr. Mime's face as they watched the scene unfold. It seemed that this time they would not have to lift a single finger. Delia was going to do all of the work for them.
Thomas frowned as he leaned in close to Delia. "And may I ask why, my lovely buttercup?"
"It is quite simple really," Delia answered with a smile on her face, ignoring the ever changing emotions on Thomas' face. "You see I am going to be going on a Pokémon journey with my soon in a different region, I might join him for longer or shorter, it all depends on what happens and if I find my wayward husband."
"You are?" Thomas asked, doing a very good impression of a MagiKarp.
"Yes," Delia replied as she ignored the three soft snickering sounds behind her. "What do you think about it?"
To Be Continued...