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It had been years since Mattis found his adoptive son Ashburn. And moved to Unova, because there is no way in Giratina's distortion world that Mattis would even risk Giovanni reconnecting with Ash. Giovanni had his shot being Ash's father and he tossed it, now it is Lieutenant Surge's turn.
Despite living in Unova, they visit Paldea pretty regularly. Mattis Surge has quite a few relatives in Paldea, namely his niece Iono. Like the others of his family, they all accepted Ash pretty easily. Which also means that Iono demands each year that he, Mattis and her cousin Elesa, Mattis other niece, come to Paldea for the Semena Santa. One week of festivities and food. Elesa comes for the festivities, Ash is in for the food.
This year was no difference. Well, there is one difference. To Mattis annoyance, Iono started to be a live streamer. He told his sister, Iono's mother, that Iono is too young for this type of fame, but his sister didn't listen. And Elesa supported Iono hard, so that didn't help either. But Mattis managed to make sure that Iono won't show Ash. Mattis sister called him an overprotective dad hen because of this.
She knows that Surge wants to avoid that anyone from Giovanni's or his wife's clan can track down Ashburn, but she doubts they would recognize Ash. Or reach out to him. Because of this rule, they started the last few years a change in how they celebrate. While Iono does her holiday streams, too many of the days according to Mattis, something even Elesa agrees with, Ashburn and Mattis spend some days alone in Paldea. Sometimes with Elesa, when she gets annoyed with Iono's 'everything for the cam' mentality.
Which was the case this year. Elesa and Iono had a massive argument, that may or may not had been streamed live on the internet due to Iono's 'addiction' as Mattis frames it, in which Elesa called her a cam girl. Adding to the fact that they celebrate in Levincia City. Maybe due to Iono's fame, a very popular city for tourists. Especially while Semena Santa is. Hence Mattis, Ash and Elesa keeping their distance from Iono's gym. They want to avoid family drama, but Iono ruins the holidays for them, even without Mattis wanting to protect his son.
So it happens that the three were enjoying Chocolate Churros at a stand. Ash shared his with his newly caught Wattrel, Elesa told him he was spoiling her too much. Ash didn't mean to catch a Pokemon while on vacation, yet he did.
“Ashy, why did you even catch one on our vacation?”, asked Elesa.
“Because I wanted to?”, said Ashton. It sounded more like he was guessing his answer. “Wattrels aren't native to Unova!”
“Oh, not because it is an electric type?”, wondered Elesa. She was certain with her accusation.
“Elesa, stop it.”, scolded Surge his niece. He had been aware that Ashburn is a bit insecure about his status in the family. It wasn't really an issue. Until Iono started to brag in her streams about having an adoptive cousin to look more diverse. She framed her cousin like a charity case, even mentioning, albeit very vague, why he orphaned. Due to this, Surge even banned her from mentioning Ash indirectly. This prompted Elesa to say she has no real private life, hence calling her a cam girl. All that drama caused Ashburn to be unsure of he is family. “Don't make it worse.”
“Yes, Uncle Mattis.”, said Elesa. She then saw how the people moved from the streets. “Uncle, the Costaleros with the Pasos come though!”
The Semena Santa was filled with festivities and food, but also what could be called religious parades. The Costaleros, members of religious brotherhoods, were marching on fix routes though the big cities. They marched from their own churches and chapels to the biggest cathedrals of their respective cities. Some even marched to the cathedral of Levincia, as the city has the oldest (still standing) cathedral of all of Paldea. Elesa is pretty sure her cousin choose Levincia due to this already existing fame.
On their marches, the Costaleros carried the Pasos, massive wooden statues of the Legendaries and saints that are said to have tamed the Legendaries, all of them decorated heavily. The Costaleros were followed by the Penitentes. These were believers that were repending their sins, hence carrying chains. The brotherhood passing though now were carrying a Paso of Xerneas.
“That Paso is more crystal than wood.”, muttered Mattis. “But it is pretty.” Elesa agreed with a nod.
“They are... Is that you, Lieutenant Surge?”, replied a man.
Surge froze when he heard that voice. Looking away from the barely wooden Xerneas, he saw his old gym colleague Giovanni Sakaki. Ash's biological father. And potential murderer of Ash's mother, or accomplice if it was his affair partner turned wife. Said red headed woman, and sister Elite Lorelei was standing besides Giovanni. Ariana had her hands on their son's shoulders. The boy is proof that Giovanni had cheated on Ash's mother for a long while, as the boy is easily two years older than Ashburn.
“Yes, it is me, Giovanni.”, confirmed Surge, He had no idea how to deny this. Like Giovanni, he barely changed. “What are you doing here?”
“Vacation, of course. The Semena Santa is special to see, don't you think?”, replied Giovanni.
Ariana added, “And we wanted to explore Paldea before Silver attends Uva academy. We want to make sure it isn't a mistake to send Silver away for so long. Well, and Silver wanted to meet his idol Iono.”
“Relax, Ariana. Giovanni has no problem to replace his sons.”, said Surge. Besides that he struggles to keep clam near Giovanni, everyone in the league knows of Giovanni's cheating and believe he, Ariana or both are at fault for Delia's (and Ash's) death.
“Don't tell me you think I got rid of my step son?”, asked Ariana insulted.
“We assumed your husband did it, but considering you reacted...”, said Elesa. “Maybe your hair is red from blood?”
“Elesa, keep out of it. Take your cousin and go to Iono.”, said Surge, “I follow later.”
Ariana was pissed. But Giovanni told her to relax. He said, “I know you don't think highly of us, and I deserve parts of it, but I would never harm Asher. So would Ari or anyone from our family.”
“So you would harm Delia?”, said Surge. “Why didn't you just get a divorce, man?”
“Why don't we let the topic rest and enjoy Semena Santa?”, countered Giovanni. “That boy, I thought you only have nieces? Wait, is that the boy you adopted?” Giovanni took a step away from Surge and looked to the boy. Because of the masses, Elesa and Ash had a hard time leaving the plaza. In fact, Elesa got annoyed and they returned to Surge. “We won't go without you, uncle.”
“Yes, this is my son.”, confirmed Mattis.
“Considering you have relatives in Paldea, will he attend one of the academies?”, asked Ariana, “What was the other? Naranja?”
“And Arandano, the Blueberry Academy, but that one is on an artificial island, so I don't know how to feel about that one.”, said Surge. That Silver will attend Uva sucks. He did want to send Ash to one... and they got rejected by Naranja and Adadano. But if Silver attends Uva... He literally banned Iono from showing Ash because Silver subscribed to Iono's channel. “I actually planned to, but he doesn't want to. I don't want to force him.”
“Understandable.” Giovanni kneed a bit, to Ash's height. “What's your name, kiddo?”
While Surge did change his name from Asher to Ashburn, the name ain't different to trick Giovanni.
“M-My name is Esas. Esas Surge.”, replied Ash. He lied his biological father straight in the face and Elesa had a hard time not to laugh. Surge was just surprised, but relieved, that Ash didn't say his real name, well, changed legal name. “And dad is right, I don't want to go to school here. I want to stay home.”
“Fair.”, said Giovanni.
Silver had been eyeing 'Esas'. “So, you're adopted? What happened to your real family?”
Ariana slapped him on the arm and Giovanni send him a glare. “Silver! You just don't ask this!”, scolded him his mother.
“Why you asking?”, asked 'Esas'. “Want to know if my family is on your clan's kill count?” Elesa lost it and started to laugh. She had been corrupting him well. Albeit in an attempt to annoy Iono and her mom.
Instead of answering, the Sakaki's left in embarrassment. Elesa's laughing fit was too much for them, thinking she laughed about them.
With them out of ear shot, Surge just looked as his son with a questioning look.
Ash answered, “Before you ask, yes I recognized my birth father. Ariana and Silver, too actually. I figured a fake name is needed.”
“Why Esas?”, asked Elesa.
“Your mom said she would have named you that if you were a boy.”, said Ash, “It stuck in my mind for some reason.”
“Good job, Spark.”, praised him Mattis, using his main nickname. “Now let's go to Iono. I don't want to cross paths with them again.”
“They are literally here because Silver is a fan boy.”, said Ash.
“He has a point.”, admitted Elesa. “So, no Paldea school for Ash?”
“Even without Silver here, I still don't wanna.”, admitted Ash.
Mattis rolled his eyes. “Let me guess, as the same reason why you caught an electric type, you don't want to leave?”, he theorized, “You worry that we see you as lesser for being adopted?” Ashburn nod. Confirming Mattis' theory. “Oh, Ashy, don't worry about that. Now let's go. Churros aren't a real dinner.”