Narrator: "See you in a month." The writer said. It's now been two months, and she's nowhere to be seen.
Season: NO WAIT! The hero has arrived. I always doom myself because I end up posting the chapter as soon as I finish it but I haven't started writing the other so... um... enjoy this one and unto another hiatus we go? Whoops! In my defense I was still healing from my surgery then other things kept happening to my health. BUT I AM OKAY NOW!
This one goes out to everyone who has wondered if I'm alright. I'm fine. As fine as I could be with everything going on. Thank you! You guys may not believe you have influence on the story BUT if you review and show you're interested it gets me excited to write. Honestly, this chapter wasn't going to go up for at least a bit more but your interest got me to finish writing the last of it last week then I did some light editing and revision and BAM! Here we are. So this goes out to all of you. Thank you for being awesome peeps.
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Stupidity Does Not Earn You Heaven
by: Season Of Magic
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"Wake up sleeping beauty we have things to do."
Dawn rolled over to the side and groaned, placing a pillow to her head. It was quickly taken away.
"Up you go."
Dawn huffed out a sigh as she opened an eye to look over to her alarm and groaned again. "May it's seven in the morning on a Sunday. Go back to sleep."
"No!" She poked Dawn's face with a finger. "We have a busy schedule so there will be none of that."
Dawn pouted. "What could be so important I need to get out of bed this early on my last possible day off for ages to come?"
May hit her head with the folder she was holding with her other hand. "Wedding planning. The engagement is in less than a month and as maid of honor it's my duty to make sure we're on track. We need to go shopping for clothes, pick a cake flavor, flowers, what alcohol and food we will be serving, what music we play., send out invitations: oh yeah. We need to make those as well: we can start with a list I guess: You know. Everything a wedding needs but smaller. We're doing this twice."
Dawn wanted to take the folder and burn it. Maybe she could with her eyes if she focused hard enough. Did she have superpowers? One way to find out! "We can do that later." She uttered waving a hand, keeping her eyes on the folder. "Besides we already know what flowers we're using... sort of?"
"We have less than a month to plan this we have exactly one week to sort everything out and since we will be busy during the week then it's today." May hit her with the folder again. "Sort of isn't good enough now get up."
Dawn could only groan again as she got out up bed. "Fine but I'm not awake enough for this. I need coffee and food."
Right at that moment Ash walked in carrying a tray. "Someone ordered room service?" He asked with a grin.
May nodded approvingly as Ash put the tray on Dawn's bedside table and kissed her good morning. "And that's my cue to go. I'm going to go wake the munchkin now."
"Did she hit you with the folder as well?" Dawn couldn't help but ask.
"Worse. She poured water on me. My hair is still wet." He said with a laugh.
"She is taking this maid of honor thing a little too seriously." Dawn said with a yawn.
"Better for us." He said with a shrug. "Gary is being his useless self so at least someone is pouring in help."
Dawn laughed at that as well. "Let me go brush my teeth, and we can eat." She pointed to the tray's content. "Something tells me that the double of everything isn't exactly just for me only." She kissed his cheek and got out the room.
Dawn came back ten minutes later with her teeth clean, hair brushed, and wiping her face dry with a towel. "Alright let's see what's for breakfast. If this is how I'm waking up every day (sans May) why are we waiting to throw out lavish parties? Where do I sign the papers?"
Ash laughed as he took her hand and pulled her to where two plastic chairs were waiting for them right next to her bedside table where now a vase full of flowers that weren't there when she left the room magically seemed to appear. He made sure she was comfy and placed a napkin on her leg then sat down beside her, taking one of the flowers and giving it to her along with the cup of coffee: "A flower for a flower."
She giggled. "Why thank you."
He smiled brightly. "As to your question about why we don't just simply sign the papers..." he trailed off a bit as he grabbed his own cup of coffee. "There's nothing I'd love more than to do that but you deserve nothing but the best. If showing you off to the world means we have to wait awhile and throw some parties to show everyone how happy we are well I'm all for it. I want you to have your moment to shine. Besides Brianna already showed me over four different types of baskets she saw for flower girl, so I think if we don't do this to the grandest of scales, she will cry."
Dawn almost dropped the cup with how she was gasping and nearly in tears. How did this perfect man exist? He was so thoughtful and kind. She lifted the cup to her lips and drank coffee to settle her butterflies that were clearly going through her stomach right now. "The wedding isn't just for me and Brianna to look pretty. It's your day as well."
"I could walk in wearing a Kabuto costume borrowed from Bill and no one would even bat an eye."
Dawn nearly dropped the coffee again. "Please don't." She uttered with a laugh. The things Ash came up with, honestly!
"Well, there goes that plan. Unto the Aerodactyl it is."
"Ash! You wouldn't!"
"You're underestimating the things I would do to keep that smile on your face." He chuckled as he waited for her to finish her coffee and passed her one of the bowls. It was oatmeal with berries on top. "Eat up or it'll get cold."
Dane took the bowl from him and smiled as she took a spoonful of the oatmeal. "Wow this is delicious."
Ash blushed at the compliment as he took his oatmeal and began to eat as well: "The reason this is a light meal is because my mom prepared a bunch of food, and she wants us to try it out to pick what's going to go on the menu. I told her catering is just fine, but she insisted she wants to cook everything herself. If I let her have this we can compromise for the wedding and maybe then I can get her to enjoy herself and stop fussing so much."
Dawn almost choked. "As in, we're going to your mom's place?"
Ash leaned forward. "Hey deep breath. It's alright. We don't have to."
"Sorry, sorry I'm fine. Just went down the wrong side." Dawn took a deep breath. "I think it's great I finally get to meet your mom I've been dying to. She sounds lovely."
"Trust me you're both all she ever talks about. Hello, yes mother, remember me? You have a son."
Dawn laughed at that. "My mom won't stop sending me pictures of you and asking how you are."
"Our mothers are a menace."
"Cheers to that."
They finished the rest of the oatmeal in silence. Dawn was buttering a slice of toast Ash was drinking his glass of orange juice. He had already eaten his toast.
"So what date are we thinking? Most people usually do summer but since our engagement party is in April that would only give us a couple months to put everything together. We could pull it off if that's what you want but I don't want you to be too stressed." Ash asked.
"I'm thinking end of summer, beginning of fall sounds perfect. The leaves are changing, it's perfect for pictures and the weather isn't too cold yet isn't too hot either that we won't burn in our clothes."
"Changing of weather to signify the change in our lives. I like that." He agreed.
"Early September then?" May said as she and Brianna walked in. "It's the Goldilocks of weather months." She flipped through her folder and jotted it down. "We can work with that."
"I was thinking middle of October, actually." Dawn replied.
"The flowers will be a beautiful color for me to throw by then. Oh! it's absolutely perfect we HAVE to." Brianna walked over to them. "It'll be great."
"What do you think about wearing a Omanyte costume?" Ash pitched the idea to Brianna.
Brianna simply crossed her arms. "Seeing Professor Bill wearing them is nightmare fuel enough thank you. But I suppose we can give out some statues as party favors."
"I almost forgot about those! Thanks munchkin." May added it to the list.
"Honestly at this rate I might as well just plan the party myself." The eight-year old pretended to sigh with raised arms.
Ash and Dawn laughed.
By the time they made it out the house after breakfast, quick showers and whatever else they had to do it was already nine. May was lead them out into Ash's van where Tracey and Gary were waiting inside.
"How?" Ash sputtered as he waved his key chain.
"I let them in." May said. "I know where your emergency key is too." She wanted to roll her eyes.
"Might as well just leave all of them out in the open." Dawn said as Ash opened the door for her.
"Then it would defeat the purpose of an emergency key." Ash replied.
"Good morning Gary. Tracey." Brianna said as she hopped onto the van. "We're going engagement planning today."
"We know." They said as if they've heard it a million times already.
"Good morning Bri." Tracey replied with a smile. "May already filled us in. We're here as backup."
"Or Tracey volunteered us, and we have no option but to tag along." Gary stated. "Morning parrot."
"We're groomsmen Gary it's only fair we know what the plans are."
"I thought we just showed up and that's it." Gary was almost frowning.
May hit him with the folder as she walked in and closed the door. "I'm not doing everything by myself!"
"Ow that hurts!"
"Welcome to the club." Ash said as he stepped into the driver's seat. "That's her current favorite weapon beside a bucket."
Dawn glanced to May. "Where are we going first?"
May grinned. "I'm glad you asked.
Dawn should not have asked.
The first stop of the day was a photo studio. It was originally supposed to be an hour long session of pictures but various clothing changes, background settings and props later, it turned into an entire morning event. By the time they were sipping coffee on their way over to Delia's house for lunch they were almost behind schedule.
Dawn and Brianna got out the van and looked around amazed. Ash's childhood home looked well taken care of and loved.
"Everything is really neat." Dawn said.
"And very symmetrical. That hedge cutting must have taken hours!" Brianna added.
"Half an hour with a good pair of shears and my skills." Ash mimicked his mom. "She is really proud of it."
"Ash Ketchum are you mimicking your own mother? You know, the woman who gave birth to you? Took care of you for ten whole years and this is what I get?" Delia shook her head as she opened the door in disbelief. Then she saw Dawn and Brianna and squealed. "Oh! Aren't you two just precious? Come on in." She placed a foot on the door so it wouldn't close and hugged both of them.
"Mother, remember me? You have a son." Ash repeated his earlier statement from the morning as if feeling left out.
Delia ignored him. "I'm Delia but you can call me mom." She said as she hugged Dawn again and started cooing at Brianna. "And you can call me..."
Brianna blinked. "Delia?"
"We'll work on that." She said as she finally ushered them inside.
"She is way too excited for this sorry about that." Ash quickly apologized as they walked inside.
"Mrs Ketchum we literally have an hour and fifty minutes the small talk can wait for later." May said.
Delia nodded as she brought them into the kitchen where various small plates full of bite sized portions lay.
"It's a dinner, so I thought garlic bread, mushroom or spinach soup alongside stuffed mini potatoes could be the appetizer and then lasagna, burgers, and then a lot of smaller sizes of say tacos, burritos and maybe pizza could be the better choice of accompanying them. There are also plenty of dessert options like cake, cookies and even some mousse. If there's anything you don't like or want added we can discuss that here."
Dawn looked at everything on the table. "It all looks delicious."
"I suppose burgers and pizza will have to suffice for me since I'm the only child here." Brianna said. "And I guess I can eat mushroom soup if I have to."
Delia laughed. "There will be fries and a popcorn bar along with mini sandwiches."
"Try these tacos first then you'll change your mind." Ash said as he passed her a plate. He had already eaten at least five while his mom gave the explanation of what was available.
"Thank you." Brianna took the plate and bit into the taco. She gave a thumbs up.
"Not even waiting for a signal to start eating that's Ash for you." May said laugh as she grabbed a plate of lasagna and a fork then passed Dawn a burger. "Here. Tell me if this would be munchkin-approved."
Brianna had finished the taco and took a plate of burger. "The munchkin can tell you herself."
Both Dawn and Brianna gave thumbs up.
"Now do the same but with the adult meals." May winked.
Ash grabbed a bowl of soup and garlic bread. "Mom's soup is always the best." He said as he dunked the garlic bread in the broth then bit the top off. "The spices are just right and the notes are there."
"Notes of what?" Dawn asked curiously. "And you know that's not a dip right?"
"Could be if you try hard enough." Ash said dipping it again. "Notes of a well-balanced broth to vegetable ratio."
"I could make a dip." Delia said. "I think you meant hint of not notes of."
"Super spicy queso!?" Brianna asked excitedly.
"Not so spicy." Dawn countered. "Remember the milk incident?"
"Medium spicy queso." Brianna agreed.
"I'll add it to the list alongside chips." Delia promised.
"Okay but like what did you put into these mini stuffed potatoes?" Gary asked. "I've already eaten three."
"There's some more in the oven. I'm trying out tomatoes and other veggies just to see which would actually be the better base."
"Throw the mushroom soup on top." Tracey suggested.
"Now snush!" Brianna piped in. "Like a mashed potato with gravy!"
"This is an abomination." Gary said looking at the finished product. "But fairly edible." He said as he poked with the fork.
"It amuses me that you're finding out unique ways to eat the soup other than how it was supposed to be intended to be eaten." Delia can't help but state.
"The normal way is boring mom." Ash was now trying the mashed potato abomination for himself adding a layer of bread on top.
Dawn had tried the soup along the other available options. "It's really hard to pick."
"Is there a all the above option?" Brianna asked. "That's what I choose."
"I'm glad you all enjoyed it." Delia's smile couldn't be bigger if she tried.
"What's for dessert?" Brianna jokingly asked as she bit into a cookie.
"You're only eating five of those." Dawn warned her daughter.
Brianna was already grabbing a plate with a slice of cake. "Too late for that."
"You're eating it." Delia said with a laugh. "Although a chocolate tart could be bribed from me with the correct phrase."
"I love weddings!" Brianna screamed.
"That wasn't quite what I had in mind but sure." Delia uttered.
"It took her a while to admit she wanted to call me dad." Ash said as he leaned against the table. "It's not so easy to swindle a genius mom."
Delia pressed a finger to her lips. "A chocolate tart is only a bribe tactic if one tries hard enough and also manages to bring in a chocolate fountain."
"That is way too many sweets for her." Dawn said.
"Hush and let me win the affections of my soon to be granddaughter and there might caramel filled pastries in the future for you as well, daughter."
"What can I say Ash, mom certainly drives a hard bargain."
Ash laughed. "I feel like this is payback somehow but I'm not complaining."
"So all I have to do to get a chocolate fountain and a chocolate tart is call her grandma? What's the catch?" Brianna asked, giving a questioning kind of stare.
"She won't ever stop her cooing thing." Gary said. "Run while you can."
"A chocolate fountain is worth it." Brianna said.
"Don't come crying to me for help." Gary said with his arms raised.
Ash piped in. "She'd coo regardless."
Out of the oven a perfect tart emerged and Brianna squealed. "Grandma!"
"It was nice knowing her." Tracey said with a shake of his head.
"She really should have run for it while she could." May pointed.
"It can't be that bad..." Dawn said.
"Sources confirm that Ash was a twin, due to smothering he became a only child when Ritchie went off on his own and never came back." Gary stated.
"Sometimes I can still hear him." Ash said with a sniffle. He hit call on his poketch. "Ritchie bro, where did you go? Why did you leave me alone with mom?"
"Hello to you too Ash I haven't seen you for almost two decades and you're still trying to pass us off as twins?"
"Aren't you?" Gary asked.
"We dressed similarly and had the same Pokemon but that didn't make us twins."
"Could have fooled me, twin."
"Ash for the last time we aren't twins. Sparky says hello by the way."
"Ritchie and Ash met during the early days of Ash's journey. They had a lot in common and got along great. Not even a battle against each other could break their friendship up." Tracey said.
Dawn peered silently at the conversation going on and nodded. "I'm not even going to bother asking what that's all about."
"Honestly it could be weirder." Tracey said with a shrug.
"If we sneak out fast enough I can show you some of Ash's baby pictures." Delia whispered.
Dawn smiled and nodded. "Let me just grab some more food, and we can do that."
"No time to grab food. Brianna honey follow me." Delia beckoned the eight-year old with her hand.
Brianna who was still eating to her heart's content looked over at the two woman and then at the larger plate full of food she was stacking on top of each other. She stopped adding things to her plate and nodded. "Following."
"Alright so the baby picture thing wasn't a lie you will get to see those in a bit but I actually wanted to speak to you two alone." Delia admitted.
Dawn gave her a questioning look. "Hmm?"
"Well, my son talked so much about you I feel like I know you based on that already but I know it must be a bit overwhelming
to meet me after so long of dating and then getting engaged to my son."
"I am quite busy with work and I'm sure you are as well Delia. I'm happy to finally get to meet you." Dawn said with a bright smile, taking the woman's hand and patting it gently. "You didn't know us but you still took the time to make various outfits and gifts for my daughter and even offered to host the engagement party. It really meant a lot, mom."
Delia smiled even wider. "A mother can tell when her child is happy and even without knowing you personally, I knew that Ash was in good hands. That is all a mother could ask for. Gifts are simply that, gifts. You two give my son so much it was only fair I do something in return." Delia patted Dawn's hand in return, then brought both her and Brianna in for a hug. "Thank you for making my son happy. I believe I don't have to say welcome to the Ketchum family... you already are family."