019: How To Legally Own Pokémon Before The Age Of 10!!
"Crack~" Ash opened the door to find his mother Delia standing there, clearly worried.
"You've been in your room all afternoon. I was afraid something happened to you, Ash. Mom was really worried."
Delia examined Ash carefully from head to toe. Only when she confirmed he was alright did the concern on her face begin to soften.
"Mom, I'm fine, really." Ash smiled, feeling an unfamiliar warmth as he looked at Delia's worried face.
As someone who had grown up as an orphan in his previous life, this kind of love and care was something he never experienced before something he now deeply cherished.
"Actually, Mom, I have something very important to tell you." Ash's tone grew serious as he looked up at Delia, having already made his decision.
"Oh? What a coincidence. I also have something very important to tell you." Delia's brows lifted in mild surprise.
"But since you're the one with important news too, Mom wants to hear yours first " Delia crouched down, cupped Ash's face playfully and smiled.
"Huh? What happened to your hand?" Ash asked, frowning as he noticed the Band-Aid wrapped around Delia's index finger.
"It's nothing serious. I just nicked myself pulling weeds in the garden this afternoon. A blade of grass gave me a tiny cut."
"Just like I always taught you no matter how small a wound looks, clean it well, use antiseptic, and keep it covered. I used Tolko solution to clean it, then disinfected with iodophor and covered it properly."
"So if you ever hurt yourself, no matter how small, be sure to treat it properly like your mother does."
Delia reached out to pinch Ash's cheek again, clearly relieved, but
"Crack~" Her hand was intercepted by Ash before she could complete the gesture.
Ignoring her confused expression, Ash gently took hold of her injured hand and removed the Band-Aid. The wound was indeed minor, barely more than a scratch.
Of course, in his past life, some overly dramatic celebrities might've called it a "serious injury" and summoned an ambulance.
"I said I had something important to show you—look closely."
Ash didn't say much. He simply held Delia's injured finger with his right hand, quietly channeling the newly awakened power of Viridian that had begun flowing through him since his afternoon slumber.
Healing. Ash thought quietly.
His right hand glowed faintly with an emerald-green light as the healing technique one of the four abilities of the Viridian Power activated.
To Delia's astonishment, she felt a brief, tingling warmth on her finger as the small wound closed completely, leaving no scar behind.
"This is…" Delia's eyes widened in disbelief. She stared at her son's glowing hand and then at her fully healed finger.
"Son, you…?"
"As you're thinking I've awakened Psychic powers." Ash raised his small hand and smiled softly.
Ash knew from the start that this was not something he could hide not if he planned on using his powers publicly. Rather than lie or wait, he chose to confide in Delia, whose trust and love he was certain of.
This Delia was not yet the composed and calm mother of the anime timeline. She was still the fiercely doting mother who would do anything for her son, even if it meant bending rules or challenging convention.
That's why Ash felt safe revealing this to her. In fact, it was Delia who had first suggested finding a way for Ash to own a Pokémon before turning ten an act that defied current League regulations.
But Ash was careful. He didn't reveal everything. He said nothing about his waveguide powers and restricted what he showed her to just the healing aspect of the Viridian Power.
Healing, after all, was non-combative and purely supportive. It was the perfect ability to reveal impressive enough to draw the attention of the Pokémon League and Professor Oak, but subtle enough not to attract the dangerous gaze of those from the underworld, like Team Rocket.
Delia, for her part, was thrilled. Her face lit up with uncontainable joy.
"I knew it! My Ash is special! You're absolutely amazing!" she gushed, pulling him into a tight hug and planting kisses on his cheeks.
"..." Ash blinked silently.
"..."
To Delia's inevitable questions about how his power awakened, Ash simply stuck to the story: "I don't know. Maybe it happened while I was unconscious after nearly drowning. When I woke up, it was just… there."
Before Delia could dig deeper, Ash changed the subject smoothly.
"Right! Didn't you say you had something important to tell me too, Mom? What was it?"
"Oh my Ash, I was so happy I nearly forgot!" Delia clapped her hands, excitement returning to her face.
"You've always wanted to have your own Pokémon, right? Well, after I finished weeding the garden, I went to Professor Oak's lab this afternoon to enroll you for the Pokémon Summer Camp happening this weekend."
"You mean...?" Ash's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Yes!" Delia said with a proud smile. "Professor Oak said that while League regulations prevent Trainers from officially starting their journey before age ten, children enrolled in the Pokémon Summer Camp can temporarily bond with and care for Pokémon under the lab's supervision."
"This includes catching, raising, and even training Pokémon as part of the camp's curriculum!"
"So in a way," Delia continued, "you'll legally get to own and train a Pokémon before your official Trainer license even begins!"
---