Chapter 9

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. Since Valerie already knows Alice can use Aura, she asks Alice to use Double Team to create another copy so her sisters won't detect a thing. 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.

"That's where the store is." Valerie says as they walk down the street, and 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, "I worked with her mother before. I wonder if she still has the charm like her mother had."

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 smile and she gives a hug to Whith. "Hello, Whith. It sure has been a while. I can't believe you and Dean reopens 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 workplace, Valerie can only gasp, the face is the same as 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 opened 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 at the clothes on their own.


Once they get into the workshop, Valerie says, "Okay, Ash, I know it is you disguising as Dean."

Dean nods as he changes back to himself, and so is Whith changing back to Alice. Ash says, "Ms. Valerie. I know that Whith was one of your disguises 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."

"I know, I have heard everything from Alice here. I still can't believe Team Rocket would try to use a forbidden aura technique from the Sakaki Family to get rid of you, first they have already killed your father, and now this..."

"About my father, he was avenged for sure." Ash says. "The Sakaki Family is destroyed, so there is no need to worry about them anymore."

Valerie says, "But I also heard from Alice that even Delia was controlled by the Control Clouds...how is that even possible?"

"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. "I want to forgive her, but what she said really hurts a lot..."

"I see..." Valerie can relate to what Delia has said to him when under Team Rocket's control. "Now let's change the topic, I heard that you're dating my daughter Alice, is that really true?"

Ash nods and says, "It's true. She has been trying to mend my heart ever since we met, so 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 was just one of a kind. And after enjoying her 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 my age, I promise, we won't let anything tear us apart."

"Ash..." Alice is touched by 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, even though I am hiding from the world, I am still the World Champion."

"I see, you're still afraid of unwanted attention." Valerie nods. "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.

They talk about new clothes for 30 minutes, and then they realize Eve and Flora are still outside waiting for them. Before leaving the workshop, Valerie says, "Ash, there is also one thing I need to tell you. Your mother also knows about your father's disguises, if she sees your store from the news, she might come for you. What are you going to do if that happens?"

Ash says, "It is simple, I'll be talking to her. Even everything, she is still my mom."

Alice and Valerie nods, and then Alice changes back into Whith and walks out of the workshop with Valerie.


Once they are done talking, Valerie walks outside the workroom and Flora asks, "Mom, what makes 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 purchase them.


In the afternoon, Ash and Alice decide to close the store as they are going back to Sevestar Island to take a rest, but before they can do it, they hear a voice calling to them. "Dean and Whith."

The two of them turn around and see Delia and Pikachu walking towards them. Ash asks, "Is there something we can do for you?"

"Are you really Ash?" Delia decides to ask, "I know the first Dean was my husband, so you have to be Ash, right?"

Ash sighs as he takes off his disguise, Delia can't believe his son is in front of her, she wants to hug him, but Ash is just taking a step back with fear. Ash says, "Don't get close to me."

Delia flinches a little and she realizes what Ash is about. "Ash...I'm really sorry..."

"Sorry for what? "Sorry for having to be born into the family as you regretted? I guess so." Ash frowns. "I did tell you not to find me, but you still found me..."

"You have to believe me, Ash. I didn't mean what I've said." Delia says.

"Do you think it is because of Team Rocket controlling you that makes you say those words? I know that Team Rocket wants to ruin me, but all they do is enhance the dark thoughts in your heart about me. You must have thought of aborting me, which is why Team Rocket uses your words on me." Ash says with tears in his eyes, "I had no one to help me out, I was forced to jump into the river before Queen Ilene managed to save me. I suffered in hell during those days..."

Then Ash walks over to Delia and gives her a hug, much to her surprise. Delia wants to hug back, but she can feel her son's emotion from the hug. It is full of hesitation and fear. Negative emotions are flowing in Ash and it upsets her to know all of it.

After breaking the hug, Delia says, "I am sorry. I don't know how much pain you have gone through these years. But I am willing to atone it."

"I know you will." Ash says. "I can't bring myself to hate you, because you still bring me to this world."

Alice looks at Ash and Delia with a small smile, she knows that Ash's mother really cares about Ash, and Ash still loves his mother even though what she said might be hurting him.

Ash says, "Mom...this is not a good place for us to have a deep talk. Come with me, we'll go to the place where I live right now."

Delia nods as Ash calls Hoopa to teleport them away to Sevestar Island.


I'll end the chapter right here, I have decided to let Ash forgive Delia this early because of his good consciousness, he can't bring himself to hate his mother. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be Ash and his mother's deep talk, as well as all the Pokemon Ash had.