Chapter 16: Date of Cavendish

Miranda wrote on sheets of paper with Ash, Diana, Croix, Anna, Ursula and Pikachu watching. "I can understand that you're attending your home to discuss financial matters with your aunt," Miranda studied. "But why have Ash join?"

"I had asked him out on a date," Diana proclaimed. "Besides, I wanted to show him the city for his work around Luna Nova Academy."

"Oh, is that the reason?" cooed Anna. "You've never been one to think about love while learning." Diana's cheeks became red, embarrassed to the retort.

"Well, I… uh…" she stuttered.

"In any case," Ursula voiced. "We can prepare Ash for the date while we watch Pikachu should Team Rocket find themselves on campus." Pikachu agreed to the warning. Miranda put her pen down and slid the sheets to Ash and Diana.

"Just sign here and you're on your way," she offered. Ash and Diana signed their names. There was a warning on each.

WARNING: THOU ART NOT PERMITTED TO PERFORM MAGIC OUTSIDE OF LUNA NOVA ACADEMY UNLESS THE VENUE IS KNOWN TO PERFORM MAGIC OR IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY.

"I do not need to remind you about what people think of witches, let alone the ramifications of people finding out about a boy in an all-girls school," Miranda briefed.

"I know," Ash acknowledged. Anna palmed Ash's shoulder.

"Rest assured that it will be you and Miss Diana for tonight," she informed. "And it's best that you prepare for the evening together."

"We'll make sure," Ursula briefed. "Let's get going!"

"And we'll see you in an hour outside the tower," Diana promised. Ash nodded before they retreated to the tower where they helped Ash get uniformed up. They got him in a white dress shirt, black dress trousers and a charcoal vest over a matching a necktie.

("Looking really sharp!") squeaked Pikachu. Croix combed Ash's hair before applying gel, slicking it down.

"Oh, hold on," she noticed.

("What's up, Croix?") wondered Leavanny. Croix brought out a small rubber band. She tied the hair into a ponytail.

"Oh, magnifique!" awed Ursula, tearing up

("It goes well,") Leavanny approved. Ash reached and bounced the ponytail.

"I like the touch-up," he approved.

"I bet Delia wouldn't recognize you in that," Croix snickered.

("I wouldn't if I didn't watch,") Pikachu agreed. Ash sighed to the reactions.

"I wouldn't blame her with the way I look," he nodded. "Of course, if Iris saw me in this, she probably would stop nagging me about being a kid." Everyone else laughed while shaking their heads.

"Just stay relaxed," Croix assured, a tear shedding from her eye. "I see a young man that I wish was my son growing up." Ash nodded before Ash took a deep breath.

"Alright, I can do this," he murmured. He stepped out before a red rectangular compact car arrived. Ursula, Croix, Ash and the Pokémon gasped to the vehicle in question.

"The Mini Cooper?" recognized Croix. Anna emerged and walked around the car.

"Ash, you look dapper this early evening," she complimented.

"Thanks, Anna," Ash praised. Anna opened the passenger door where Diana stepped out, wearing an ivory dress. The shoulders seemed to barely hold the dress up while the gown reached her ankles, but she also wore white stiletto heels with an "X" strap over the top of the feet. Ash and Pikachu gawked to Diana's look. "Gorgeous doesn't cut it with you, Diana." Her name mentioned, Diana blushed.

"Much appreciated," she said. "Of course, I'm admiring that little tail." Ash had a small snicker.

"Diana also reserved a table to a restaurant for the two of you," Anna informed. Ash nodded, his date with Diana starting.

"Sounds good," he smiled before entering the Cooper.

("Have fun!") teased Pikachu. Anna drove them into the city. On the way, Ash noticed Diana taking a deep breath. The longing exhale made Ash concerned.

"Is this your first date as well?" he asked.

"Yes," Diana confirmed. "Anna had been a marvelous help in telling me about what goes on with occasions like this but telling me about it and experiencing it is… vastly different."

"I know, right? Just because I've been with a few girls like Dawn and Misty and Iris, they never asked me out." The admittance made Diana recall what he said last night.

"Not once?" All Ash could do was shake his head. "Oh dear…"

"But it gives me a chance to know you better. I mean, everyone was shocked when you laughed."

"Yes, well… I've taken everything seriously, especially my studies. When I saw you take that shot, I was instantly worried… but when you dismissed any pain, I just lost it."

"Hey, better to have a sense of humor than being too focused. Besides, having fun can give you a bigger imagination to what spells you can perform." Hearing his words, Diana had a smile on her.

"You're probably right. Who'd ever believe a Wiccan, a 'son of a witch' as you called-" She began to laugh again. Ash smiled, knowing that Diana's happiness was okay. "I'm sorry, but that's just so gosh darn funny! Oh, Akko!" They arrived at a restaurant where Anna opened the Cooper to let Ash out before escorting Diana out. They reached the restaurant server, a blond man in a black tuxedo, who spotted the two.

"Name, please?" he asked.

"Cavendish," Diana answered. The server looked on a clipboard but spotted something in two seconds.

"Yes, Cavendish for two, I reckon?" he read.

"Correct," Diana confirmed.

"Excellent," the server agreed. "Right this way. I should inform you that the Beef Wellington is a best seller tonight." He escorted the two magic users to a circular table. Ash pulled a chair out and allowed Diana to sit before scooting the chair back under the table. Nearby, two young women with green streaks in their blond hair looked over a partition. They wore different small scarves around their necks.

"Is that… our cousin?" the blond with a purple scarf spotted.

"I believe so, Maril," the blond with a blue scarf guessed. "And it seems that she's with a young lad." A waiter came over with two teacups and a kettle of tea.

"Beef Wellington, huh?" repeated Ash.

"It's an English steak dish coated with pâté and duxelles and wrapped in a pastry," Diana explained. Ash seemed interested with the dish.

"That actually sounds really good."

"Oh, it is. It's been considered by tourists who come from parts of the world like the school is known for."

"Hey, who knows… I might ask for a recipe about it to try and bring home."

"Are you sure? It might upset Pikachu's diet."

"No, there are others like Pokémon that are out training or at the ranch back home in Pallet. Charizard and Infernape would love it."

"I see… Of course, Oshawott would prefer the Fish and Chips and Pikachu, maybe Shepherd's Pie."

"Yikes, a lot of unique dishes this country has. I mean, I've had some of Miss Callists's French dishes which were good as well."

"Yes, she did tell us at one point that you're quite a foodie." The response made Ash scoff.

"I would want to blame Mom for that. After all, she runs the local diner back home." The admittance made Diana giggle a little, astonishing the other blonds.

"Diana's… laughing?" the blond with the blue scarf gawked.

"Perhaps the stress of our late aunt has finally caught up to her, Merrill," Maril believed.

"So, Delia has resigned herself to cook for others?" guessed Diana.

"Look, money is money," Ash shrugged. "I'm happy as a Trainer who wants to be able to travel the world and compete to be the best by my means, not by others. I'm not saying this to belittle any rich person or family, let alone your House."

"Of course not, and… I mean, I do admit that when I saw you carried in, I wanted to stay by your side until you woke up. It also reminded me of…" Choked, tears came down her face.

"Bernadette was special to you. If it makes you feel any better, you can talk about it. I'm not forcing you, and you don't have to discuss." Wiping her tears, Diana shook her head.

"I know you aren't." Overhearing, Maril and Merrill sunk back behind the partition, sneers apparent.

"'Money is money' that boy said?" repeated Merrill. "Only a commoner can say that."

"If this is who Diana has decided to date, she's in trouble!" plotted Maril. "Mom needs to know." Ash felt somber hearing Diana's talking about Bernadette.

"Oh my gosh…" he hushed. "I couldn't imagine being an orphan. Your dad dies and then your mom… but you're not the heir of the House?"

"No, my aunt and my older cousins have it, but I've been growing disdain for some time," Diana hissed. "They're also witches, but they prefer making it rich rather than maintaining the House's motto." Ash nodded, knowing from talking to Diana before.

"Affection… I can help out if-"

"Don't, it's a family affair. This is something I must do."

"Maybe, but it doesn't mean I can't give you advice." Two waiters brought plates over with one waiter bringing what seemed like a small loaf of French Bread.

"Your Beef Wellington, sir," he offered. Ash nodded.

"Thank you," he accepted. Looking to Diana's dish, Ash noticed it was a skillet with a layer of mashed potatoes. "Oh, what's that?"

"Miss Cavendish ordered Shepherd's Pie," the other waiter weighed in. "On the surface is a layer of mash, but with a special blend of pork and meat underneath with vegetables like mushrooms, cabbage, parsley and mint leaves." Ash's eyes were wide open to what was in Diana's Shepherd's Pie.

"Is it alright if I request recipes for these dishes?" he asked. The waiters giggled.

"But, of course," he smiled. The waiters walked away while Ash and Diana ate. Ash cut through the Wellington to find the beef inside.

"Ah, that's well-ington," he punned. Diana snorted again as she ate her Shepherd's Pie. After the meal, Ash received the recipes and Diana paid for the bill. They rejoined Anna outside. "That was fulfilling, and their Shepherd's Pie looked appetizing."

"Yes, and I'm glad that you acquired the recipes for them," Diana praised. "The crumpets were a little on the dry side."

"They weren't supposed to be dry like that?" A shake of Diana's head confirmed Ash's guess. "Gotcha…" As they returned to Anna and the Cooper, they heard music from a radio. Diana smiled at the music.

"Classical waltz!" she awed.

"Funny enough, Miss Callists and Miss Meridies gave me a few lessons if something like this happened."

"Dance lessons?"

"That's right." That's when he took a step back, faced Diana and offered a hand. "May I have this dance?" Humored, Diana nodded and took Ash's hand before they started to waltz as a crowd gathered. They watched Ash and Diana as the center of attention as they danced and were synchronized with their stepping. Anna clapped along as the two had a great time. A drone flew from around the corner. Back at Luna Nova Academy, Akko, Lotte, Amanda, Constanze, Hannah and Barbara watched Ash and Diana dance.

"Oh, now I wish it was me with him!" whined Akko.

"He's not doing badly at all," Hannah awed. "Diana is the right choice."

"Though, part of us wishes it was one of us," Barbara agreed to an extent. Constanze presented her tablet.

ASH FOUND DIANA'S HAPPINESS.

"Yeah, we realize that, Constanze!" snapped Amanda. That's when a stomp was heard. The girls jumped and turned, finding Anne.

"Isn't it rude to peer on your peers!?" she scowled. The girls jumped in fear and scattered away. Anne scoffed to the actions of the students. "The nerve…" She glanced to the screen and saw Ash and Diana dancing. "Those two are water and oil in my eyes!" Back on the street, the drone flew away while Ash and Diana bowed. They were greeted with praises, claps and whistles.

"You two were wonderful!" a young woman sounded.

"Youth appreciating the classics," a man awed. "There is hope!"

"Splendid dancing among the two of you," another woman praised. Ash and Diana smiled to each other.

"I would agree that we had a splendid waltz, Ash," she accepted as she reached Ash. "This is something to remember… along with this." She gave Ash a kiss to the lips, holding it for several seconds. Ash gawked, processing Diana's actions before taking in the soft kiss. The crowd cheered on the pair's moment of romance.

"Yeah, it is," he surrendered with a smile. They returned to the Cooper with Anna giggling to the scene.

"Oh, how it is to be young again," she wished. "You two were indeed connected."

"Of course, Anna," Diana smiled. Suddenly, there was a ring. Diana dug into her white purse before pulling out a phone. Her face dropped at the number and the name of the caller.

HOUSE OF CAVENDISH

"Now, what does Aunt Daryl want?" she wondered. She pressed her screen before holding the phone up to her ear. "This had better be important."

"It is, you little bitch," Daryl swore, startling Diana. "I heard from my daughters at how you took a commoner out for a date. Have you any nerve of what you're doing to the House of Cavendish?" Ash heard Daryl's belittling and took the phone from Diana.

"Listen to who's talking about the House you're in," he scorned. "And it's none of your business who Diana is taking out."

"And who is this? What have you done that makes you think you can take her anywhere?"

"Someone who actually cares about her feelings, Ma'am… or maybe I shouldn't call you that after what you said to her."

"I am her guardian, you little wanker. I don't care if she lost her parents, they didn't have anything to support their frail bodies when they died."

"From that, they were a lot stronger than you. Now, it's easy to just be nice and-" The phone went to a dial tone. "I think I just struck hers." Anna gulped, knowing that something was on the horizon.

"We'll head over to the House," she suggested. "After all, there's the manner of finances Diana has to clarify. It would be best to stay out of trouble, young Ash."

"Sorry, Anna…" he apologized. "But I don't want anyone in Diana's family belittling her. I can tell that she wants to see me… so let's go." They all entered the Cooper, the House being their next destination.

TO BE CONTINUED...