Watching the final dubbed episodes of Ash's journey has made me so wistful for the earliest memories we have with him. Fortunately, I really love incorporating those elements into my stories, so it's given me a lot of inspiration!

Aiden: 4 years old


Zombies

"All perfumes are a waste and turn guys into zombies!"

To prove his point, Ash jabbed a finger towards Brock, who was currently slack jawed and drooling over the beautiful, kimono clad women standing in front of them. None of them, nor Misty, were pleased with Ash's accusations, even if Brock was pretty much proving his point.

The women who ran the store were so irked, in fact, that they wound up kicking Ash out.

Not like he really cared. He really did think perfume was dumb, and he didn't regret telling the truth. And he also swore he would never end up like Brock. Slobbering over girls who were covered in that smelly stuff? No thank you. He'd sooner quit being a Pokémon trainer and give up his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master than ever subject himself to that kind of fate!

XXX

"Oooh, you smell so good."

Misty giggled as Ash leaned in closer to her, sniffing the side of her neck. "You like it? It's a new perfume I just bought!"

"Yeah," Ash breathed, fluttering his eyelids until they closed. "It's great…"

"No, Mommy! Don't turn Daddy into a zombie!"

Ash's eyes snapped back open as he turned to look over his shoulder. "Who's a zombie?"

"You," Misty helpfully replied with a smirk. She then turned her attention onto their young son, informing him, "Daddy isn't a zombie, sweetheart."

"Uh huh he is!" Aiden argued. "Lookit his face! It's all goofy!"

Ash grimaced as he touched his cheek. "Goofy?"

"It is not," Misty calmly challenged. "It's sweet! Daddy just likes the way I smell, that's all."

"Yeah, cause it's tricking his nose," Aiden grumbled, scrunching up his own. "That's what perfume does!"

Placing her hands on her hips, Misty turned towards Ash and demanded, "is there some secret meeting that all boys go to where they teach you this kind of stuff?"

"Nah, we just all share the same train of thought," Ash replied, a small smile appearing on his lips. "For a little while, anyway."

"Ooh," Misty breathed, grinning at her son. "Hear that, Aiden? Daddy doesn't think perfume turns him into a zombie!"

"Oh no, I know it does," Ash scoffed. "I just don't care anymore. I've learned to simply accept the zombification. Honestly, I even kind of like it!"

Aiden's eyes widened to an almost comical size. "Daddy, you can't like that kinda stuff! It's girly!"

"Maybe, but it smells really good," Ash murmured, rubbing the back of his neck.

Aiden made a noise of disgust and stuck out his tongue. "No, it doesn't! It's icky!"

Smirking, Misty slowly strode over to the boy, which caused his look of distaste to transition to one of confusion. Before he could actually react, however, Misty scooped her son up into her arms and began to snuggle him. Aiden whined in protest, trying his best to push away from her. "Mommy, no!"

"Come on, Aiden," Misty giggled. "Don't you think Mommy smells pretty?"

"No!" Aiden protested again. "Daddy, help!"

"With what?" Ash asked with a chuckle. "Mommy's just giving you hugs! That's nice!"

"Nuh uh! She's makin- me smell her perfume! I don't like it!"

Ash playfully shook his head. "Come on, Mist, I don't think you're gonna get him to change his mind. Not right now, anyway. Takes a couple of years!"

"Don't underestimate me," Misty teased. "I think I can turn him!"

"How?" Ash asked, genuinely curious.

Misty smirked once more. "Because I'm his mom! That's a lot different than just some random girl wearing perfume." She rubbed her nose against Aiden's forehead, causing the boy to reluctantly giggle. "Isn't that right, sweetheart?"

"Nuh uh!" Aiden protested through laughter. "It's not!"

"What do you mean it's not?!" Misty playfully gasped. "It totally is! Isn't Mommy the one who takes care of you and loves you more than anyone else in the whole world?"

"Hey!"

Misty snickered at her husband's outburst. "Okay, Daddy too. But he doesn't wear perfume."

"No, Mommy," Aiden refuted. "I love you, but I don't love perfume."

"Oh, fair enough," Misty sighed, giving Aiden one last kiss on the forehead before placing the boy on the floor. "I guess I really can't convince you! We'll just have to wait until you're all grown up like Daddy to start liking that kind of stuff."

Aiden furrowed his brow. "Nuh uh, I'm never gonna like it! Not even when I'm a grown up!"

"Yeah, I used to say the same thing, buddy," Ash muttered. "Look at me now."

"You just gotta be more stronger," Aiden declared. "And don't let Mommy into tricking you with that stuff!"

Raising an eyebrow, Misty turned towards her husband. "Tricking you, huh?"

"Well, I guess he's not totally wrong," Ash admitted. "That stuff really does things to your head! I smell it and totally stop thinking. But it's not like you mean to do that to me, so I don't really think you can call it a trick." Stopping to think about it, he asked, "you don't…do that on purpose, do you?"

With a sly smile, Misty joked, "I can neither confirm nor deny." Turning back towards the bathroom, she more seriously added, "I have to finish getting ready. Aiden, why don't you go downstairs and play with Michelle while you wait for Grammy to get here?"

"Okay," Aiden calmly replied. "I'll do anything to not smell that smelly stuff no more!"

Misty sighed as Aiden charged out of her and Ash's bedroom before glancing over her shoulder at the amused man. "I forgot how exhausting it can be dealing with little boys when it comes to beauty products."

Ash nodded in agreement before abruptly stopping. "Hey, wait, little boys?! I was not a little boy when I complained about the perfume!"

Misty playfully rolled her eyes as she continued into the bathroom. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, sweetheart."

"I was 10!"

"You sure were."

"That is a young man!"

"Mmhm."


Misty grew up only with sisters, so between Ash and Aiden she's just wondering where this secret boy cult is that they all act alike lol.