~Attractive Altomare;Mini Chapter 8.5~

~Delia's Call~

Legacy of Time: It's time for a mini chapter. This occurs when Ash is alone in Misty's bathroom in the Pokemon Center. So, Enjoy.

Pallet Town. A quiet and quaint little place. A town with a beach front that a certain Mother of Ash Ketchum found herself visiting quite often. She felt that it was nice to be able to have both the lush green fields and forests to the north of town alongside the sandy beach in the south. Here we find Delia Ketchum tanning in the sun with a two piece bathing suit covering her delicious features.

Yes, this was just the perfect day. The peace and quiet, only matched by the soft sounds of the ocean lapping at the shoreline. A nice breeze would blow through the area making her umbrella which had loosely hanging pieces of nicely embroidered cloth blow back and forth daintily.

Delia smiled, sunglasses covering her eyes as she sighed, "I can't get enough of this…" She had a small table sitting just next to her chair, a drink on it with her Rotom Phone just off to the side.

But even with perfection, she still wondered how she could be sitting here when her capable son could be getting in trouble. Her worries were unwarranted of course. The only real trouble he hadn't got up to was with women. She could take solace in the fact that her little man wasn't going to be an early Papa just yet. Though, she kind of hoped he'd try getting with that Misty friend of his. She was nice and having some grandkids to take care of would make her life a bit more lively.

She watched the ocean a bit longer, trying to ease her thoughts away from such trivial things. But then, Delia would see her Rotom Phone out of the corner of her eye. She wondered if he would ever call her. Ash had been quite silent in the last year or so. She had only heard from him once on his trip. She started to sweat just a bit.

'He's a grown man. I don't need to worry about him. Ash is still my baby boy and he has a good head on his shoulders.' She thought, trying to ignore the urge to call him.

Mr. Mime had been trying to help her ease these worries, but he just couldn't keep her maternal instincts at bay for long. Professor Oak had visited a few times this month alone and they would talk about Gary alongside Ash. Reminiscing about the two and how they'd grown up to be amazing in their fields. She loved those chats with her friend that had been there for them for so many years.

Now she couldn't resist the temptation, quickly reaching for the phone and nearly knocking over her drink in the process, 'Just one little call, that's all.' Even as she began to dial it in, her phone flashed on its own.

Her "Baby Boy" was indeed calling her for the first time this month. What a coincidence, but she needed to compose herself. Delia calmed down and clicked the green icon which picked up. Delia saw Ash's face for the first time that month and she saw a mark on his neck. That didn't bode well, but she still had faith in her little man. At least she had hope.

"Hey Mom! I was wanting to check in and see how you're doing." Ash said to Delia who wasn't sure what to say.

Seeing that, she just smiled, "I'm doing ok. Just on the beachside today to soak up some rays and what about you?" She wanted to add how quiet he's been for the last while, but she decided against it.

Ash gave her a small smile, "It's been interesting here in Altomare." Delia gave him a warmer smile as she began to think.

Altomare… Altomare. She knew that he'd spoken about that place a lot before. In fact, he had told her about a certain thing that had happened there at that time. His first kiss… Delia was shakily holding the phone now. That mark on his neck was a hickey for sure! She wondered what to say. Delia knew that of course he was a grown up and could make decisions on his own, but Ash was still her baby boy! Why?!

"Uhhh… Mom? You okay?" Ash asked over the phone, breaking her out of the stupor she was in.

Delia awkwardly coughed, "Ye- Yeah! Just fine. It was just the breeze, that's all." She lied through her teeth, making Ash chuckle a little.

"Ok, so the other reason I called is to ask about relationship stuff." Ash said as Delia's eyes widened immensely.

"Oh. Oh? Oh…" Delia's camera was beginning to look as if it were shaking causing Ash to adopt a worried expression.

"Are Diglett coming through, Mom?!" He exclaimed into his mic which snapped Delia out of her haze causing the camera to focus in on her uneasy face.

"No honey, just… Erm… Unyielding ra- Curiosity! Who are you in a relationship with exactly?" Delia asked, tightening her grip on the Rotom Phone which made the Pokemon inside it squeak in pain.

"Well, it's kinda complicated. I just needed some advice from you because you've been with Dad before." He said as Delia got the fire in her eye that Ash would get similarly whenever a challenge came along.

"You need advice and I need answers! We do even trades because that is the Ketchum way!" Delia said abruptly to which Ash looked confused.

"I thought the Ketchum way was to become the very best like no one ever was, Mom." He explained as Delia nodded with a devious smile.

"Yes, in many different ways. Now, tell me my Baby Boy! What is going on?!" She saw him hesitate and Delia let out a gasp, "So, you're hiding something from your own mother?! I thought you loved me." That would get Ash to spill the proverbial beans at least she saw his willpower beginning to crumble and if it didn't, then the lone teardrop slowly spilling down the side of her cheek would bring her plan's to victory.

Ash could see his Mother's tactic from a mile away, you didn't become a champion without gaining the ability to see a cue, unless it pertained to other women in Ash's book, "Mom… I don't mind telling you, but I don't want you to overreact. Besides, wouldn't you be proud of me?" He asked her, trying to gauge another reaction.

Delia was being overpowered by her son, she had to pivot! It was the only way, "I would be proud of my Baby Boy no matter who he dated." That wasn't a lie, she'd be happy for Ash… Unless it was someone awful. She would put up with it for his sake, but damn would it be a downer. Delia put on her best smile while thinking of all this. She's going to get that answer.

Ash, being alone for the moment, looked around anyway. Trying to make sure the coast was clear or at least as much as he could hope for in terms of clearance. He took a deep breath, 'She said that she would be proud of me no matter who I dated. I hope that means Latias is fine… And maybe Bianca… Even Bayleef potentially? Not to mention Misty…' Oh, he was definitely in over his head. Ash shook slightly and the phone jostled in his hand making him have to struggle with it while Delia could barely see a blur from the other side before he finally caught it.

'I can do this. It's just Mom. It's just Mom. Oh-no, it's just MOM!' His thoughts screeched while Ash held the phone tightly.

Delia wondered what the hold up was for. Had she come on too strong? Well, perhaps she had. It was a bit much for her to be going so hard on this topic, but was it really that bad? She sighed, watching the salty water swallow the shoreline in its grasp before returning back to the ocean it came from.

Ash spoke up, "I may have gotten myself into a bit of a situation." Delia nodded, listening intently and hanging on every word, "Okay, I kind of maybe… Got with a Pokemon." Ash said shakily as Delia's mouth widened into an "O" of shock before she dropped the phone, appearing to pass out while Ash worried over her from the other side of the screen.

That had only lasted a few moments before Delia would come back swinging, "YOU WHAT?!" She exclaimed as somewhere in another universe, the sun had collapsed in on itself causing the heat death of that place as it knew it. That very energy radiated from Delia like a light bulb from billions of years in the future. Ash had to shield himself even though they were miles apart and only connected by a flimsy signal at that.

Delia's shining energy began to dim as she exhaled a puff of smoke from her lungs, "A P- Pokemon?" She asked him as Ash nodded a little less enthusiastically.

"Does it at least love you for you?" Delia asked, not believing even her own words as Ash nodded a little more enthusiastically this time, "Now son, I'm your mother and I don't want to judge you based on that and at the very least it's not illegal. Tell me it's not Pikachu at least." She said as Ash shook his head.

"It's definitely not Pikachu." Ash said with conviction as Delia let out a sigh of relief.

"Well, thank goodness!" Delia said to her son before narrowing her eyes, "Who is she then?" She asked next as Ash looked back around the empty room, knowing he was perfectly alone.

"It's Latias. You know, the girl I told you about from Altomare about five or so years back? She and I met as soon as I got here and well… It's been an interesting three days." Ash said to his mother as she emphasized for him to continue which he did, "Well, we kinda did things. A lot of things and well… I love her!" He said to his mother unflinchingly.

Delia shook her head, "You're too young to know what love is. You've only been together for three days. When you visited back then, it was hardly a week. You have to be in over your head at this point." She implored, trying to reason with her Baby Boy, but Ash turned away from the camera and a frown adorned his face.

"No, I'm not. I'm not able to deny that I felt something for her. It's hard to describe, but it's definitely there. My heart starts beating really hard, but I'm not deterred from speaking with her and I feel like explaining just how I want her so badly!" Ash said to his mother who looked like she was a little less convinced, but he wasn't stopping there, "I wanna show her the world! I want to be there with her and everyone else!" Ash's eyes widened as he realized what he'd just said.

Delia twitched a little, "Everyone else? Just WHO is everyone else?" She asked, making sure that "Who" was said louder than her other words.

Ash had already dug his grave, now he'd have to lie in it, "Well, I may have also gotten with her step sister…" Delia's eye was twitching now rather than her whole body.

"And her… Sister? Explain." Delia said simply as Ash began to try drilling his way back to the surface of his metaphorical hole.

Ash gulped audibly, "Sure… She's a human just like me and a really wonderful woman who I kind of also really want to be with as well." Ash said to his Mother who nodded along slowly.

Delia didn't say anything, he wasn't sure if she was happier, sadder, or just disappointed in him. Ash was trying to pick his next words carefully, "And her name is Bianca. She's really great!" He reiterated, but Delia seemed to tilt her head slightly.

Delia was no fool, "You said there were others. That would imply more than two. I want to be proud of my Baby Boy for being such a hit with the ladies, but what if something bad happens?" She asked Ash who looked a bit confused, so she continued, "What if you happen to get Bianca pregnant?" Oh, Ash perked up immediately at that.

"Simple, I'll take responsibility! It's easy enough! I'm a champion, so all I have to do is make money and tend to her!" Ash said to his Mother who showed a bit of pride with a nod that eased Ash up a little.

"And Latias too." Delia said chidingly.

"Yeah! Though, I don't think I can actually get her pregnant, but I'll try!" Ash said as Delia nearly dropped the phone again.

'He's too confident! Did I raise such a sexual beast and never notice it?' She questioned herself as Ash gave her a grin that would melt any mother's heart, but she wouldn't falter. Delia still had one more question that she had briefly mentioned not a moment ago, "And the others?"

Ash blushed a bit, which was unexpected coming from him, "Well, I was never the brightest when it came to romance, but I think my Bayleef is coming on to me." Delia had actually seen that one coming and so did everyone else with a functioning brain. Not that she ever thought her son would be interested in the touch of a Pokemon and he'd always brushed off her affection most of the time.

"Well, good for her. Now, before I cut off this call. Is there anyone else I should be aware of?" Delia asked as Ash scratched his head.

"Well, there's Misty." He said as Delia smiled, clenching her left fist in victory and sending it high into the proverbial sky which just ended in her knocking the umbrella to the ground.

"That's an even bigger win. Make sure to at least let me know when you'll all be visiting." She told her son as he nodded.

"Of course! You couldn't keep me or them away! Love you, Mom!" He exclaimed as she replied to him.

"Love you too my Baby Boy!" With that, the screen went back to her usual homepage with Ash and Pikachu adorning it. She sighed, 'He's growing up too fast.' She really hoped he would succeed in some way, but the prospects were a bit high. She had also forgotten to mention that she really wanted some grandchildren in the next few years or so. Oh well, she'd say it later when she got the chance.

Then as the breeze picked up, Delia watched her umbrella sail down the beach side. She jumped up, chasing it as we turned back to see her Rotom Phone wink from the chair.

~End of Chapter~

Legacy of Time: If you enjoyed it, please tell me what you thought. Have a wonderful Labor Day!