Chapter 40 Family Reveal

Serena is now sitting at a cafe with two people by her side, the first one is her mentor, Palermo, and the second one is the current Kalos Queen: Aria.

Palermo: So Serena, welcome back to Kalos. How are the contests in Hoenn?

Serena: It is fun, I mean, they have battles, but to combine performances with battles are interesting. Even though I had a rough start, I'm glad that everything goes smoothly.

Aria: Sounds like you have a wonderful time there. I'm a little jealous of you.

Serena smiles at Aria a little, and then Palermo takes a sip of coffee before asking for the business.

Palermo: Contests actually originated from Showcases, I was the one who build the concept of Showcases, however, my eldest daughter decides to expand the whole Showcase into Contests by adding battling to it. In the first year, there are a lot of complaints, since it is hard to judge how to reduce the points and how much they should reduce. However, time after time, they have become very popular.

Aria: I have never heard about your family before, Ms. Palermo. Why didn't you tell us about it?

Palermo: (Frowns) I have never heard of them ever since my two granddaughters went to the Reborn Region. I heard that both of them find their true love and have children there...but with the news of Team Meteor and other things, I was really worried about them.

Serena: Reborn Region...that is the same place where Ash is right now...

Aria: Ash, you mean Ash Ketchum? The same one who traveled with you and inspired you to attend Performances? So he is also there in the Reborn Region?

Serena: Yeah, he wants to challenge the League, so he went there with his mother.

Palermo: (Hearing the conversation and is in deep thoughts) Did you say that Ash's last name is Ketchum?

Aria: (Confused) Yes, what's the matter with that?

Palermo: Ketchum is actually the last name of my husband...may I ask what is the name of Ash's mother?

Serena: I think her name is called Delia or something...since I haven't met her in person before and I only heard about it from Ash or from the phone. Why do you want to ask about this?

Palermo: (Widens her eyes at the name) Zina Delia Ketchum... That was the name I gave to her...she is also the one who has the concept of contests and having others form the whole circuit... how was she? Is she fine?

Serena: But you said that your daughter lives in Reborn, but Ms. Ketchum has been living in Kanto all the time...are you sure they are the same person?

Palermo decides to show them a picture of younger Delia, and Serena widens her eyes to see that the person is actually Ash's mother without a doubt.

Aria: But if that's the case, why didn't she tell you that she moved to Kanto along with Ash? I don't think that makes any sense...

Serena: Yeah. Ms. Palermo, do you think you can call her with her number?

Palermo: I don't know, maybe I should try it out. (Dials the number)


In the Grand Hall, Delia is working with some papers until she gets the call, when she notices the caller, she widens her eyes in shock as the caller is no other than her mother. It has been years since she talked to her mother, and she is getting nervous. But regardless, she answers the phone call.

Delia: Hello?

Palermo: Zina, is that really you?

Delia: (Sighs) Hello, Mother. It sure has been a while.

Palermo: Been a while? Why didn't you bother contacting me for years? Ever since you got married to Adam, you haven't bothered calling me. It is not just you, your sister is the same as well.

Delia: (Frowns) I'm sorry, mother. But I haven't met Adam or Serra for a long time as well...

Palermo: I heard from one of my pupils that you were living in Kanto with your son, right? But what do you mean you haven't met your sister or your husband for a long time?

Delia: The truth is...both my son and I were killed by Team Meteor...

This causes Palermo, as well as both Serena and Aria, to be surprised.

Delia: Team Meteor wanted something from our family, and to protect my husband and my children, Ash and I were killed...but when we got revived, we found that we were in Kanto. I didn't contact you because I was scared...I thought you know that I killed myself and wouldn't believe me if I were alive...

Palermo: I knew that Reborn Region is not a good place for you to stay. But why did you go back there after what happened to you last time? Did you not value your life this much?

Delia: I'm here because Ash wants to. (Notices Serena) I see Serena is with you, did you tell them what happened to Ash, Serena?

Serena: (Shakes her head) I haven't told them...because I didn't know you were related.

Palermo: Serena, what does my daughter mean about what happened to Ash?

Serena explains the whole truth of the betrayal to both of them, and they are really angry. For Aria, ever since the dance ball, she starts to have some feelings for Ash, she sometimes gets jealous of Serena to have Ash travel with her, but she has to act like she doesn't care about going into a relationship because she is the Kalos Queen. As for Palermo, she is furious about how those people treated her grandson, especially someone famous like Professor Oak.

Palermo: I can see why Ash wants to prove himself by challenging the Reborn League, what they have done is not right.

Delia: I know...but right now, we can't leave the Reborn Region...the Grandview Station is bombed by Team Meteor, and Ash vows to stop Team Meteor no matter what, considering that they have held my children hostage...

Palermo: So Ash is not the lone child, am I right?

Delia: Adam and I have two more children, and I recently adopted one because her father committed suicide while her mother was killed by Team Meteor. All three of them were captured and Ash has been going through places to save them.

Palermo: I see...as long as you're safe, I'm relieved. I hope that everyone will be fine and Ash can stop Team Meteor.

After the call ends, Palermo decides to leave because of business, leaving Aria and Serena alone.

Serena: So Aria, I noticed in your performances that you started to use a lot of Bug Types along with your Delphox and Aromatisse. How come?

Aria: In one of my exhibition matches, I find out how people are mocking Bug Type Pokemon because they have the weakest base stats, and some Pokemon aren't strong to win battles. That's why I want to prove them wrong by training them along with Delphox and Aromatisse. Palermo agrees to this, and she also asks the Santalune Gym Leader to help me out with some of them.

Serena: That's nice. (Then thinks about what happened with Ash) By the way, Aria...are you, by any chance, developing feelings for Ash? I mean, when I talked about what happened to Ash, you seem to be very angry about it.

Aria: (Blushes a little) I admit that Ash is charming. But as a Kalos Queen, I can't be in a relationship because of my duties and my images...I would want to have Ash as my boyfriend...

Serena: (Thinks) Looks like I have already found one...now all I need is to tell her the whole truth from Arceus...


When Ash walks outside of the Byxbysion Wasteland, he hears someone calling out to him, as he turns around, he finds Cal standing in front of him. Ash and Pikachu are not happy to see him, and Pikachu is sparking his cheeks at him.

Cal: Hi. Look, I know you have every reason to hate me, but hear me out. Please believe that I never meant for this to happen. Kiki never would have-

Ash: But she is dead! Because of you and Solaris! You threw her Medicham into the volcano! How are you going to explain that?

Cal sighs as he sends out two Pokemon, the Medicham and the Camerupt. Ash widens his eyes as the Camerupt was the same one with the PULSE, and the Medicham is also Kiki's.

Cal: I didn't go to Apophyll to infiltrate it for Team Meteor. I really did want to change. And- I did. I think...It feels like every time I finally get on track, something else happens to kick me off of it. Team Meteor found out where I was, so they gave me orders to set up the PULSE. You all and Kiki tried so hard to stop it...But I had sabotaged the machine in the first place.

Ash: So that Camerupt was the PULSE? You didn't kill it?

Cal: I didn't want anyone to get hurt. I liked that place. So I secretly broke the PULSE when I installed it. Ripped the entire cooling system. Kiki didn't have to die.

Ash: (Points at Medicham) Then what about Medicham? We all saw him falling into the lava! How was he here with you?

Cal: Long story, let's say that the lava's temperature isn't that high, so I saved him after you guys chased me off. But I'm so sorry that it happened this way. Do you believe me?

Ash thinks for a while, and he sighs, he already knows that Kiki is going to die thanks to Shade, and Cal really changes as a person.

Ash: I believe in you, Cal. However, I'm saying this not because I forgive you for what you've done. I just don't want to hold any grudges when more lives are at stake.

Cal: I appreciate your mercy. It's almost more than I deserve. And I don't expect anyone from Apophyll will listen to me. Especially not Victoria. And, there's one more thing.

Ash widens his eyes as Cal gives him the TMX for Strength.

Ash: You were the one who stole this from Kiki sensei?

Cal: I... had to steal that in order to haul the machinery up there. I regretted it immediately. Even more when I found out- Team Meteor is holding Shelly. I want to charge in there, break her out, and tear them a new one...But I won't. I have to find a way to be better than my fears and impulses. So, I'm going to make myself scarce. They'll be after me, too, now that they know I betrayed them. I'm counting on you to save her in my place. I know it's my fault that half of this happened, but please help make it right.

Ash: (Nods) Don't worry, I'll save Shelly, after all, she is like a sister to me, and my real siblings are also captured by them as well.

Cal: (Nods as he recalls both Pokemon and send out Charizard) Maybe we'll meet again some day.

Cal jumps onto his Charizard and flies off, and Ash decides to rush towards the Underground Railnet so that they can try to save Shelly and the others.


Here is a new chapter, and I have revealed another new member to the harem: Aria, and the reason I choose Bug Types is because there aren't many female Bug Type trainers that I can use for Ash's harem. (In my harem fics, I have to consider their ages) I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be saving the kids.