"My baby is all grown up!" Delia cooed.
"Mom, it's just a dress." Ash pointed out.
"But it's not just any dress, and you look beautiful." Delia said. "Though I don't think you look much like an Ashton in it."
"I don't think it matters who I look like in, just as long as Serena likes how I look in it." Ash said stepping back. He was in a floor length deep blue gown, it was fitted at the top, while the skirt was loose, with a slit, allowing his right leg to be seen below the knee. It was held at the top with a choker style, with an open back.
"She'd be crazy to not think you're beautiful." Chloe said.
"Thanks again for helping me with this." Ash said, as Chloe began working some makeup magic.
"Please, this is probably the closest I'll get to going to prom anyways, considering how little Seb responds nowadays." Chloe said a tad remorseful.
"He'll come around. They always do." Delia said calmly.
"Not dad." Ash said angrily.
"Your father has been down a rough path, but at one point, he would have given his last Penny to see me smile." Delia said. "Now are you sure about the shoes, it's not too late."
"It kinda is, we're just barely on time." Chloe pointed out.
"I've been practicing." Ash said confidently. "Try keeping up with Dragonite in five inches, fours will seem like a walk in the park."
"Well, it's time. Ready to meet your cleaned up date?" Chloe asked.
"Ready as ever." Ash said.
Downstairs
"I'm so proud of you." Grace whispered to her daughter. While this wasn't how she imagined this, she knew Serena was happy.
"Introducing, your girlfriend for the night. Miss Ashlynn Ketchum." Goh faux announced holding a napkin over his arm.
Serena was left breathless, it was definitely the right choice for Ash to wear the dress, he looked stunning in it.
"Hi." Ash squeaked. It wasn't how he'd planned to let his mom know if the feminine name he'd chosen for more public scenarios.
"You look amazing." Serena said, calming him down.
After a not so quick photo session they were off.
"I'll drive." Serena said.
"Still not happening." Ash said taking the keys quickly.
"You're in a dress and heels, you can't drive like that, besides it's the guys job to drive the beautiful girl." Serena said.
"Even like this, we're less likely to crash." Ash said smirking. Even in the four inch heels, he barely made it eye level with Serena's nose, it was impossible to be intimidating.
"Just go you two!" Chloe egged on.
"Have fun, we'll probably be bored here." Goh commented, getting an elbow to the ribs.
On the road
"See I told you, complete control." Ash said.
"I didn't notice it at first, you're wearing the tiara I got you." Serena said.
"Well, it looked good with the dress, and it helps keep my hair in place." Ash blushed. "Plus the key doesn't really go with this."
"You still wear that?" Serena said in shock.
"I still believe we'll find where it goes." Ash said.
BOOM!
"What did we hit!" Serena said in shock, pushing the air bag down.
"Nothing, we're along the beach! Something hit us!" Ash said stepping out of his car. "Naganadle?!"
Serena leaned over the front to see the Ultra Beast that had helped her and Ash escape Necrozma years ago.
"Did he get that from hitting us?" Serena asked in shock.
"No, I don't think he did." Ash said looking up, seeing the growing ultra wormhole. "We need to get out of here and back to the lab!"
"The cars dead! A smashed engine will do that!" Serena pointed out.
"Then we have one option, open my glove box." Ash said.
"Pokeballs?" Serena said. "We're not Goh, we can't catch whatever's coming in two tries."
"We're not going to catch it." Ash said, seeing the first claw break through the barrier. "We're going to beat it!"
Guzzlord dropped out of the wormhole landing in front of them.
"Ready." Ash said.
"With you, always." Serena responded.
"Greninja I choose you!"
"Come on out Delphox!"
Guzzlord fired off a mighty beam, tearing up the road.
"Greninja use Water Shuriken!"
"Delphox use Mystical Fire!"
The Guzzlord turned its attention towards the docks, ignoring the attacks.
"Not good." Ash said. "They're out in the open."
Out on the docks, the prom was beginning to go into full swing.
"Serena, I'll keep it distracted, call the lab. I have an Aether foundation package in my room I was given in case of emergencies." Ash said. "Alright Greninja, let's do this!" Ash said activating their battle bond. "Greninja use Cut!"
Meanwhile back at the lab
"Goh. Chloe. I know you planned on having a relaxing night at the lab, but we have a problem." Professor Cerise informed them. "Get down to the main lab A.S.A.P."
"What's the issue dad?" Chloe asked.
"This is." Professor Cerise said.
"Breaking news, a strange monster like Pokémon has appeared near the docks and has been destroying the surrounding area. Civilians are advised to stay away, and boats are advised to not approach the harbor as authorities are taking care of this." A news reporter in a chopper said.
"I recognize that!" Delia cried out, "They attacked the Manalo Conference!"
"Not good, with Ash and Serena out on the water, we're down some serious fire power." Goh said.
"Chloe! Goh! Anyone? Can you hear me?" Serena's voice boomed.
"Serena! Are you okay! Don't come back to land!" Grace shouted to nowhere.
Professor Cerise moved the video call onto the holo screen.
"Serena, the city is being attacked, if the boat hasn't left already get it moving." Professor Cerise said.
"We didn't make it to the boat." Serena said as an explosion went off. "The trouble found us."
"Where's Ash? Is he okay?" Delia panicked.
"We're fine, but we only have Greninja and Delphox. We need supplies and backup. Ash said there's a box from the Aether Foundation in his room, that should help." Serena said. "Look, I'm pinging our location, get here quick."
"I'll grab the box, you gather our best teams." Goh said to Chloe as the two rushed off.
Out back
"Okay, Registeel, Cinderace, Inteleon, Golurk, Castform and Dusknoir. Then Eevee, Araquanid, Corvinight, Regice, Boltund, and Koffing." Chloe listed off gathering the Pokeballs before rushing back inside.
Upstairs
"Okay, I've got the crate, and just in case." Goh said grabbing the case of z crystals and Ash's Z Ring.
Back at the lab
"Okay let's get going." Both said in unison.
"Not without us." Delia said as she and Grace stood in the way.
"Our kids are out there, and we won't let them get hurt by that thing." Grace said.
Back with Ash and Serena
"HEY UGLY!" Ash shouted, throwing one of his shoes, hitting Guzzlord's smaller head. "Well that got his attention. Any ideas?"
"Keep attacking until help arrives?" Serena offered.
"I'm down to one shoe, not sure how that'll go a second time." Ash said. Greninja and Delphox were strong but they weren't taking on Guzzlord alone, levels of strong.
Guzzlord fired a beam, back at the road. A large explosion going off, as a tire flew above them.
"Kukui's going to kill me." Ash bemoaned.
"Not if this kills us first." Serena said, just before a purple blur zoomed past striking Guzzlord.
"Naganadle!" Ash cried out as the Pokémon floated towards him.
"That's great, but we need more than that." Serena said. "We still have no way of containing it."
"Then it's a good thing we're here." Delia said, as a lab van skidded to stop beside the two.
"Mom?!" Ash said in shock.
"Hi kids, sorry about the night." Grace said from the drivers seat.
"Mom!" Serena said in shock.
"Don't worry, we brought help." Delia said, as the back doors opened. Goh and Chloe rushing out.
"Ash, I brought the crate, but what's in it?" Goh asked.
"An emergency Ultra Guardians kit. Put these on." Ash said, passing out discs. "Those attacks can hurt, they'll absorb some of the blow." Ash said activating his. His dress compressed as he was in his traditional Ultra Guardian's Uniform.
"Here, I grabbed you some Pokémon." Grace said to Serena.
"And we weren't the only ones back there." Chloe said as Ash's Alola team piled out, his champion team back together again.
"Here I didn't know which one you needed." Goh said holding out the case.
"Pancham use Stone Edge! Sylveon use Moonblast! Mantine use Bubblebeam! Rillaboom use Boomburst! Regirock use Rock Blast! Mandibuzz use Bonemerang!" Serena commanded.
"Cinderace use Pyro Ball! Inteleon use Snipe Shot! Golurk use Hyper Beam! Registeel use Zap Cannon! Dusknoir use Shadow Ball! Castform use Weather Ball!" Goh shouted.
"Eevee use Assist! Boltund use Crunch! Koffing use Skudge Bomb! Corvinight use Hurricane! Regice use Ice Beam! Araquanid use Lunge!" Chloe called out.
"Mimey use Focus Punch!" Delia joined in.
"Ryhorn use Horn Attack! Fletching use Peck." Grace said.
"Alright! Let's do this!" Ash roared. "Rowlet use Seed Bomb! Lycanroc use Stone Edge! Incineroar use Darkest Lariat! Melmetal use Double Iron Bash! Naganadle use Dragon Pulse! Pikachu use Gigavolt Havoc!"
The cavalcade of attacks sent Guzzlord tumbling back into the ocean, causing a slight rain over the group.
"Should've done this five years ago." Ash said his eyes glowing bright blue. "Beast Ball go!"
The ball wiggled in the water before a ding was heard.
About an hour later
"So Chloe's taking your mom back to Pallet, and my mom is staying in a hotel for now." Serena said with a sigh.
"Not exactly the perfect night." Ash said, he was now in a tee shirt and a pair of soffe shorts, with knee high socks. "Sorry we missed the boat."
"Sorry about your car." Serena said. "You had a feeling something would happen, didn't you. That's why you had the Pokeballs ready."
"Knowing our luck, I didn't want to take the chance, but I would've at least liked one dance." Ash said. As if on cue, the lights dimmed, and music began playing over the speakers.
"I don't think we're alone." Serena said.
"We're leaving to see a movie, enjoy this." Professor Cerise said over the intercom.
"Well then Ashlynn, may I have this dance." Serena said, holding out her hand. With Ash held close, her arms wrapped around him as they rocked back and forth, she knew this was what made tonight perfect, just the two of them together.
Back in Pallet
"Thank you again Chloe." Delia said.
"It's not a problem Mrs Ketchum, my dad said he wanted us out of the lab for a special surprise for Ash and Serena anyways." Chloe said. "See you again."
Delia unlocked the front door, to be shocked to see someone inside.
"Richard, give me one reason to not call the cops." Delia threatened her husband.
"I still had a key, and I'm trying to make things right." Ash's dad said. "I spent some time with my brother in law, and he made me realize how important family is." Richard said.
"That doesn't make up the hard lost years, the years Ash and I struggled." Delia spat.
"I know, and I know this isn't going to make up for it, and it's not even close to what I should have, but I'm just looking for another chance." Ash's father said, handing Delia everything he owned in terms of cash. "All I ask is for one month, to win you over like I did when we were kids. If not, then you'll never see me again."
"Okay." Delia relented. "One month, but that also includes reconciling with Ash. He told me about your encounter." Delia informed. "The couch is yours."
"I can't even sleep in my own bed?" Ash's dad questioned.
"You wanted a fresh start, and I'm not sharing my bed with a stranger." Delia said, walking off.
"Touché." Ash's dad said with a smirk, before locating the couch.