Volume VII's Winning Shipping: AureliaShipping

One-Shot 7: Lillies Fully Grown

Mohn was found and reunited with the family who had long searched for him since his disappearance. They soon returned to Melemele Island and to relieved staff and support while Ash, Goh, Chloe and their Pokémon friends joined. It's Chloe's first time in Alola so seeing Lei made her gush in delight. Hobbes, Wicke and Faba greeted the family back as did Kukui, Burnet and Lillie's classmates. "I missed everyone," Mohn smiled. "It feels wonderful to see everyone again after so long."

"We feel the same!" cried Wicke.

"And we can't tell you what has happened since you vanished," Burnet wished. Seeing Lei, Mohn chuckled.

"Oh, I see a little hint with this little boy," he joked as the students gathered around Lillie.

"I'm so glad that you reunited with your dad!" cheered Mallow.

"And now, we're all back together with Ash joining!" added Lana.

"I know, and I did miss you all," Lillie cried. Lana and Mallow both hugged Lillie as Sandy came to Chloe's Eevee. Chloe's Eevee pawed at Sandy's extended hair around the eyes.

"It just wasn't the same that you left before we wished the champion off," Sophocles mentioned.

"And I couldn't apologize to Ash enough about missing out on his departure," Lillie teared up. Ash smiled with Goh and Grookey watching.

"Speaking of missing," Goh realized. "Where's Kiawe?" Sophocles turned to those visiting and helped return Mohn and his family.

"He's back home near Wela Volcano," he answered. "When we got word that you guys were coming back, he went off to train with Turtonator." Ash and Goh awed the reasoning for Kiawe's absence.

"We've all been watching your climb in the Pokémon World Coronation Series' ranks," Mallow added, her Tsareena by her side. "Still, we can't believe you made it to the Master Class!" Ash itched the back of his head.

"It was nothing," he tried to play off.

"Don't be passive about it," Mallow teased. "Besides, that battle you had with Raihan was incredible! And just think, you're representing the Alola Region." Ash bobbed a nod. Chloe noticed the two Eevees playing.

"Is that your Eevee?" asked Lana. Chloe turned to see a smiling Lana also observing the two Eevees.

"Yeah…" confirmed Chloe. "I'm still undecided on what Eevee should be. What about you?" Lana patted Chloe's back.

"I don't want to force Sandy to be anything she doesn't want to be. There are trainers who prefer this way for their Eevee."

"Is that so?" The idea made Chloe think as Lillie came to Ash.

"You've done so much for me ever since we first met at the Pokémon School," she admitted. "I don't… um… know if thanking you will ever be enough." Ash knew Lillie was being sincere.

"You're a friend, and that I want to make sure that you're okay," he replied. "I'm more than glad that I could help out." Lillie shook her head.

"I want to repay for all that you've done, even if it means as a wife," she admitted. Everyone but Lei gawked to what sounded like a proposal when Lillie realized what she just said. She covered her mouth, her face flashing red hot. "That wasn't- I didn't mean-" Embarrassed, she bolted from the room. "I'M SORRY!" Everyone watched for a second before Gladion and Snowy started to chase.

"Lillie, wait!" he shouted. Lusamine and Mohn soon followed and left the rest. Burnet suspected Lillie misworded what she wanted to say.

"You don't think that was a Freudian Slip, do you?" she guessed. The kids blinked to Burnet's guess.

"What's a… Freudian Slip?" asked Mallow.

"What it is basically is that you mean to say something but another thought breaks in and takes over," Wicke tried to simplify. "It's like accidentally saying the quiet part out loud when you wanted to say something completely different."

"We've had flubs like that," Faba admitted. "No one is perfect."

("Not that you were one to begin with,") Pikachu muttered. Ash wasn't worried about a slip of the tongue.

"All I want to know is if Lillie's okay," he wanted as he started to chase the rest.

"Ash, wait!" halted Kukui. Ash turned back to the Professor. "This is best left to Lillie's family. I know you want to help…" Ash felt denied as he watched Lillie's family try to comfort her. At Kukui's home, Chloe played with Lei as Rotom heard from Ash about the Freudian Slip.

"So, Lillie tried to praise Ash for all he's done from Alola and beyond," he studied as he wore the blond wig. "But she mentioned being a wife which got her to freak out and run away? And that it was a slip in thought?"

"That's what we're believing, Rotom," Goh recalled. "But why are you wearing that ridiculous wig? It looks really-"

"Don't disparage the good name of Great Detective Laki!" snapped Rotom. Goh frantically waived his hands in front of him to not get Rotom angrier.

"Okay, okay!" he pleaded for peace. Kukui sighed while Eevee licked Lei in the face, tickling him.

"And to think, I had made arrangements for the Battle Royal at the Dome for you and I to participate in," Kukui informed. "Now this, and I know it was directed to you." Goh became curious to the event.

"The Battle Royal?" he repeated.

"Four trainers send a Pokémon each into the ring where they battle until the last Pokémon stands," Kukui mentioned. "It was a way to welcome our Manalo Champion back." Ash looked up while Pikachu perched on Kukui's shoulder.

"I was starting to think that maybe it wasn't much of a Freudian goof or whatever it is," he mispronounced. "Part of me believes that Lillie wanted to be upfront about how she feels."

"Maybe, but it did come off rather silly," Chloe replied.

"But if that's true, that would mean that she wanted to marry you like Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet," Rotom theorized. "But isn't it too soon for that to happen?" Chloe cleared her throat as she gave Lei back to Burnet.

"That's not as important as knowing if Lillie's okay," she voiced. "Besides, I think she meant to say 'all my life,' not 'be my wife'." Suddenly, a knock. Kukui reached and opened the door, finding Lusamine.

"Is Ash inside?" she requested. Hearing his name, Ash came over to see the mother.

"How's Lillie?" he asked.

"Still pretty shook up," Lusamine relayed. "But… she wanted to see you." Ash and Kukui looked to each other as they wondered about the reason. Lusamine led Ash and Pikachu to the battlefield that Ash and Kahuna Hala battled. Arriving, they saw Gladion approaching from the other side of the battlefield.

"Mother said that Lillie wants you," he believed. Ash nodded to the claim. "Alright… I just want you to know that I'm still protective of her. If you do anything funny…"

"My concern is about Lillie," Ash voiced. "I want to resolve the drama, not make more of it." Lusamine came to the two boys.

"I know you want to protect Lillie," she voiced. "But this is between her and Ash. She trusts him." Gladion wasn't sure about allowing Ash to be close to Lillie. He reluctantly allowed Ash to proceed to the other side of the battlefield. Reaching her, Ash took a breath before speaking.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Lillie looked to Ash as he sat by her.

"I don't know what came out of my mouth back then," she whimpered. "I was going to say that I wanted to repay you for all that you did, even if it means all my life."

"That's what Chloe guessed what you were trying to say." A nod came from Lillie.

"I guess I got caught up in the moment when I saw you. After all, you're the one who helped me with Snowy from her time as an egg to now… and you helped me get along with the other Pokémon… I guess I got to thinking that you were the one I'd fall in love with." The confession made Ash gasp.

"Were you afraid to say that?" Lillie's head bobbed.

"I was afraid Gladion wouldn't approve of me admitting my feelings. He still feels really shook up from when that Nihilego tried to kidnap me before Silvally did the rescue."

"I don't blame him. If I had a sibling, I'd do anything to keep family safe. I'd rather be friends with Gladion and help him over being a rival… not that I wouldn't have Pokémon Battles with him once in a while." Smiling, Lillie's head softly shook.

"And now, you're in the Masters 8 of the Pokémon World Coronation Series and Gladion wants to make sure you're ready." Looking up, Ash wondered what Pokémon Gladion would use.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he used Lillie in it." Lillie turned her head to Gladion, a weight she wanted to remove from her chest.

"Is it alright if I have Gladion join us?"

"Yeah, go ahead." She stood before walking to her brother.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked.

"Not yet," Lillie denied. "I'd rather have you join me and Ash for a minute." Gladion blinked before joining Lillie and then Ash. "Gladion, I know we haven't done much together since you went off to train." Gladion bowed in some shame.

"You don't need to beat Gladion like that-" started Ash before Gladion rose a hand.

"No, she's right," he admitted. "I wanted to do everything to protect Lillie that I soon forgot what it meant to be a brother. It's not that we're back on speaking terms at the very least… but even then, I still want her to be safe." Ash nodded, accepting Gladion's words.

"Though, I do wonder if there's any resentment between the two and if there's a reason I shouldn't fall for Ash," Lillie spoke. Gladion's eyes grew to Lillie's confession.

"Is that why you wanted me to join?" he guessed. "That I can't let you two love each other?" Lillie nodded, her concern on her face. "I do admit that Ash is brash about battling other trainers, but he has shown confidence and care for Pikachu, Melmetal, Incineroar and whoever else has in mind. If you wanted to have Ash as someone you love…" He now turned to Ash. "It's probably not my position to accept or decline Lillie's request, but what do you think? My sister's fallen for you. We both heard it. I won't hold anything against you either way." Ash lowered his head in thought.

"To think, you have two Lillies in your life now: your sister and your family's Nihilego," he reminded. Gladion opened the Ultra Beast Ball, releasing the Shiny Nihilego. Ash came to Nihilego, nicknamed Lillie by Mohn in believing it was her daughter that she missed. "Lillie, can you promise me that you'll do what you can to protect Mohn and the family?" Ultra Beast Lillie hummed as it rested a tendril on Ash's shoulder. "You have my support as well." Ultra Beast Lillie acknowledged Ash's word.

"Even Ash accepts you as a friend, Lillie," Lillie briefed. Ultra Beast Lillie's hum was supportive. "Gladion, I know Lillie won't be the same like me, but I know you'd be as protective of her as you would me." Gladion and Ultra Beast Lillie accepted.

"I now see that Freudian Slip not being such a slip as we all believed," Gladion acknowledged. Lillie turned to Ash.

"It may have been a Freudian Slip, if you could call it that," she giggled. "But if it means being with you all my life, will you accept me as your future wife?" Ash giggled to Lillie's rhyming.

"Lillie, you've been a great part of my life as well," he pointed out. "If you want to, I'll agree." Smiling, Lillie hugged Ash and shared a passionate, longing kiss to his lips. Gladion and Ultra Beast Lillie smiled, knowng that Lillie's heart had a love who's accepted her. At the Battle Royal Dome the next day, a soldout crowd stood to watch an epic four-way battle.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" an announcer started. "WE NOW PRESENT THE BATTLE ROYAL!" The crowd cheered wildly as spotlights aimed at one corner and platform. Goh and Grookey cheered in the stands while Chloe stayed with Burnet and Lei at home. "INTRODUCING FROM NEAR WELA VOLCANO, IT'S KIAWE!" Waiving to the crowd, Kiawe acknowledged the cheers.

"Thank you!" he cheered. "We'll erupt like Wela Volcano!" The spotlights reached the next platform as Kiawe reached the ring.

"NOW, INTRODUCING FROM AETHER PARADISE," the announcer started. "IT'S GLADION!" The crowd cheered as Gladion posed with Umbreon by his side before they proceeded to the ring. The spotlight was on another platform. "NOW, INTRODUCING FROM HAU'OLI CITY… IT'S PROFESSOR KUKUI!" Cheers erupted once more as Kukui tipped his cap.

"We didn't need Royal Mask for this occasion," he smiled as he made his way to the ring. The spotlight was on one more platform.

"SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST," the announcer started. "ALL THE WAY FROM PALLET TOWN IN KANTO, AND THE REIGNING MANALO CONFERENCE CHAMPION, LET'S WELCOME BACK… ASH KETCHUM!" Ash and Pikachu emerged with Lillie by her side, wearing a Lunala-pattered dress with laced high-heels and a tiara holding a hibiscus. Ash and Lillie held hands while Pikachu remained perched on the opposite shoulder. Gladion smiled to the young couple.

'She wanted to wear that dress, and it looks good on her,' he minded. Ash and Lillie reached the platform when Lillie gave Ash a kiss, the crowd going into a frenzy. Lillie took a few steps back as Ash prepared for battle.

"Pikachu, let's show the Battle Royal Dome how we battle!" he urged. Pikachu leaped into the ring, ready to battle. Lillie smiled, her boyfriend now preparing for the Masters 8 Final of the Pokémon World Coronation Series. Ash promised to Lillie that he won't let their new relationship Freudian Slip away.

END of VOLUME VII