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 Nine
"Well...whatever you think is for the best Delia," Thomas said as he dropped the nickname, he knew when he had been shot down. "I have the box you mentioned already made up, want me to sent it to your house for you?"
"Yes please, that would be wonderful," Delia replied with a happy smile causing Thomas to wonder if he could grow mushrooms in a random spot like he had seen on his younger brother's anime shows. "You have my permission to use that wonderful Natu to use teleport to send the box to my home, can you make sure that your Natu will put it in the normal spot as I have some other shopping on dotted about."
"My Naty can do anything and more," Thomas said proudly puffing out his chest while not noticing the shocked looks Ash and Pikachu was sending him. "I take it that this means..."
"You full well knew that I never returned your affections," Delia said softly as she pulled out her purse once again. "And I never once returned your feelings or showed you any sign. You of all people should know that Thomas."
"I know but you are the most precious flower in the village for us manly men," Thomas replied with a sad sigh as he held out his card reading machine allowing Delia to pay for her supplies. "I know that you won't believe me but almost every male in this town would die to go on a date with you."
"Then why have they not just come up to me and asked? Or tried to slowly make friends while helping me to see if my husband is even alive?" Delia questioned with a frown as she finished paying and put her purse away. "At least one man in this town would of had the guts to go through the proper channels."
"They might of but it is not as easy as you seem to think Delia," Thomas said as he ran a hand through his hair with a heavy sigh as he shot a look at Ash, Pikachu and Mr. Mime who were all returning the look with a very dark warning look. "But you do not realise just how protected you are from us guys."
"I do not know what you mean but at least now you can move on and find a nice woman or man to settle down with," Delia said with a smile towards Thomas before turning her attention towards her son, Pikachu and her own Pokémon. "Are you three ready for our last stop of the day? Afterwards we can go home, pack properly for tomorrow and go to sleep early so we can get an early start."
"Yeah, it is the PokeMark right?" Ash remembered as he nodded his head a Delia walked back towards him. "What do we need to get from there? I am always stocked with different sorts of potions, Pokeballs, berries, evolution items, a few form changing items and more."
"I know Ash, after all from what I have learnt from Professor Oak it seems to be a habit that all Pokémon trainers have ingrained into them after a couple of days to a week on the road," Delia replied with a happy smile. Once again she ignored Thomas' love sick-depressed sigh. "Besides I need to a few items from the shop myself as I cannot always use all of your items Ash, and what happens if you run out or we get into an emergency and separated?"
"You do have a good point," Ash replied in a thoughtful tone as he leant against his mother causing Delia to wrap her arm around him. "But can we make this quick? We have been shopping all day and I do not know if you have noticed but it's going to get dark outside pretty soon."
"Not a problem Ash, after walking around town in these high heels, even small ones, I can understand what you mean about proper walking shoes. Believe it or not I have almost had enough myself," Delia said softly as she tightened her grip around her son's shoulder. "Do you want to go back to the house and rest? I only need to pick up a few potions and Pokeballs so I won't be long."
"Really? You would not mind?" Ash asked as he remembered the times he had been dragged around town shopping for over ten hours one day by his mother. "You would not mind? I thought that-"
"You have helped me out a lot today Ash, no matter how little it is you have helped me out and I can see the exhaustion on your face," Delia smiled as she moved her arm and ran her fingers through Ash's hair. "If it makes you feel any better today you had to suffer through what I like doing most, shopping for clothes and shoes, but starting from tomorrow you will be introducing me to your world and showing me the ropes."
"Alright but do not stay out to late and do not talk to any strange men," Ash replied as he shot Thomas a dark look causing the older male to gulp in fear at the killer intent rolling off of Ash. "Have you got anything in mind for tea tonight? I can always start getting it ready for us."
"Wow, I'm impressed Ash. Does this mean I can trust you to not burn down the house?" Delia asked with a light laugh as she gently guided her son out of the camping shop. At the put out look Ash shot her Delia felt her expression soften. "I am only teasing you my dear. I know that you have most likely got much better at cooking with your time on the road."
"Thank you," Ash blushed at his mother's praise. "As long as you take Mimmey with you and let him protect you then Pikachu and I will go home and start tea."
Delia smiled as they walked out of the shop and down the path. "You got yourself a deal Ash. Also for tea tonight I thought we could have sausages, mash potato, vegetables and gravy. Something light and quick but filling on the stomach so it will not affect us tomorrow when we wake up."
"Then I will go home and get tea started, maybe even start putting together a few things for our packing if I get chance," Ash said with his normal lopsided grin. "The sasuages are in the freezer right?"
"Fridge, Ash, I got them out before going to bed last night so they could defrost," Delia said with a soft smile before leaning forwards and placing a kiss on both Ash's and Pikachu's foreheads. "Now go home and get our tea started before I changed my mind and decide that you are going to come with me to the last shop, which I will make sure to take my time in!"
"Okay, okay, there is no need to tell me twice," Ash said with a laugh as he held his hands up in defeat. At that moment Ash had no idea how much he looked like his father in his mother's eyes. "See you soon mum! Mr. Mime, make sure to protect mum!"
"Mime! Mr. Mime!"
"Ash, I will be fine so get going already before I turn my threat into a reality!" Delia said well naturally as she gently pushed Ash forwards. "Also if you want to find out which region I have decided for us to travel to then you better get going."
"You finally chose a region?!" Ash asked in excitement as he slowly began to walk backwards at his mum's look. "So where are we going to?"
"If I tell you will you go home like we talked about?" Delia asked with a laugh, which turned into a large smile as Ash nodded his head. "I have decided to take Professor Oak up on his offer, you see Gary is going to the Sinnon region and that leaves Professor Oak with spare tickets for some seats in an airplane to the Unova challenge. So I decided on the Unova region. Now scat Mr. And get our tea started or at least make it part way home before I catch up with you!"
With one last grin at his mum Ash turned and with a relived short laugh ran in the direction of home, excitement about the new region and not having to compete with Gary all the time filled him. As he ran away from all of the shops, even if it was for the needed Pokémon items there was only so much shopping Ash could take, Ash found his mind racing a mile a second at the new region they would be visiting, one that even Gary had yet to visit.
The Unova Region.
To Be Continued...