039: The Summer Camp Is Officially Open!!
"Emm…"
"Remember when I mentioned earlier that I had a little secret I'd reveal once the Pokémon Summer Camp officially started? Well… it's time."
Ash's voice was calm, and the air around him grew subtly charged with mystery.
"Two days ago, I was fishing for Water-type Pokémon in the river near the outskirts of Tokiwa Town. I slipped and fell into the water, and apparently passed out. When I woke up in Tokiwa City Hospital, something was different… I had awakened Psychic powers."
He raised his right hand, focusing, and a soft, emerald-green glow slowly pulsed from his palm like the aura of the Viridian Forest itself flowing through him.
"As you saw just now, my ability allows me to heal injuries. Both for people… and Pokémon."
Trevor nodded in understanding.
"That's amazing. So that glow… that's the Viridian Power, right?"
"Yeah," Ash confirmed.
"I read about that in a magazine once," Tierno said excitedly, his round face lighting up. "They say only people with a strong bond with nature can awaken it. Ash, you're so lucky!"
But Gary's expression was more guarded. He looked at Ash with narrowed eyes.
"We'll keep it a secret, Ash," Gary said solemnly, his voice steady.
Ash waved his hand, smiling.
"No need to be so cautious. The 'Heal' variant of Psychic isn't aggressive, and it's not easy to notice unless you're looking for it. I planned to reveal my Psychic ability during the official opening weekend of Summer Camp anyway."
"Alright," Gary relented with a sigh, folding his arms. "If you've thought it through, I won't push."
Ever since Ash returned from the hospital, Gary had noticed something different about him. He seemed more composed, more confident exactly as Aunt Delia had said.
But in a world where the concept of time travelers didn't exist, Gary simply chalked it up to Ash growing up.
"What about Pichu?" Gary pointed to the yellow Pokémon half-hidden behind Ash's neck.
"Oh, that." Ash smiled as he reached up and gently patted Pichu's head. "I met it not long ago, and we bonded almost instantly. It was love at first sight, I guess. It trusts me… and I feel the same."
"So I used the Premier Ball you gave me, Gary, and caught it."
Ash held up the pearl-white Poké Ball with pride.
Gary's eyes narrowed. "Ash, you know that's not what I meant."
He took a step forward, his tone sharper.
"In both the Kanto and other regional Leagues, kids under the age of 10 aren't allowed to officially own Pokémon. That's a core regulation."
"If someone underage captures a Pokémon and is reported, they could be barred from becoming a licensed Trainer… permanently."
Ash remained calm, unshaken.
"But you'll keep it a secret for me, right?" he asked with a knowing grin.
"I…" Gary hesitated, jaw clenched. "Yeah. I'll keep it secret."
Then he muttered, "You idiot…"
Ash chuckled.
"Don't worry. The rule's purpose is to protect kids, not to block them. The Alliance just wants to make sure young Trainers aren't put in danger."
"I'll register Pichu under my mom's name temporarily. That way, it's legally her Pokémon and not in violation of the rules."
Gary blinked. "You really planned this out…"
Ash looked at him with a smile, then glanced toward Tieruno and Trevor.
"Also, you guys should know what's up for grabs at the end of this Summer Camp, right?"
"The top three campers get the right to keep a Pokémon even if they're under 10," Trevor said, catching on quickly. "And a free partner Pokémon from the Alliance!"
Gary crossed his arms again. "Still, the camp hasn't even started. You really think you can rank in the top three?"
Ash turned around, his back to them, holding Pichu securely in his arms.
"As someone who dreams of becoming the greatest Pokémon Trainer in the world of reaching the very summit I'm not aiming for the top three."
He glanced back, eyes gleaming.
"My goal is number one."
He walked out of the woods with quiet confidence, the dappled sunlight casting a halo behind him.
Gary's mouth dropped open slightly. His cheeks flushed, and he shouted after him with irritation and admiration mixed together.
"Hey! Don't get cocky! First place belongs to me, got that?!"
Even as he yelled, Gary's heart pounded. Ash had changed and he liked that fire in him.
Tieruno nudged Trevor.
"These guys are kind of intense, huh?"
Trevor nodded, watching their backs disappear into the trees.
"Yeah… but I think we just made two very interesting friends."
Regardless of whether he and Pichu met in advance, it was as if preordained by fate a natural encounter in the path of a future professional Pokémon Trainer determined to become the strongest.
Faced with a Pokémon whose potential had been evaluated by the system as SS (King)-level on par with the best species potential noted in the Pokédex studies at Professor Oak's lab, such as Red's Pika in the Pokémon Adventures manga Ash could not afford to miss the opportunity, especially since he felt an immediate and sincere bond with this particular Pichu.
So, rather than delaying the moment, or waiting until the conclusion of the summer camp to attempt capture, Ash made the firm choice to immediately subdue and bond with Pichu using the Premier Ball that Gary had previously gifted him a rare token often reserved for significant captures.
However, Ash was also clearly aware that his actions violated current Kanto League Regulations, which stipulate that individuals under ten are not permitted to own or train Pokémon outside official supervised settings, as noted in the orientation documents for summer camp issued by Viridian Gym's League-affiliated office.
To avoid drawing attention from the Alliance authorities, Ash rushed back home post-capture and handed the Poké Ball to his mother, Delia Ketchum, entrusting her with Pichu's custody and publicly presenting the Electric-type Pokémon as her own companion. As established in the Pokémon manga, Delia was once a promising Trainer herself and retained a registered Pokémon ownership ID, which made the transfer legally plausible.
"Phew... This should help me avoid being reported. As long as the summer camp launches without any unexpected inspections, I'll earn the temporary license given to top three campers. Then I can officially keep Pichu as my own before age ten, just like what happened with Gold's Aipom in the Johto arc of Pokémon Adventures."
"Pijiu…"
Ash reached out and affectionately patted the tiny Pokémon resting on his shoulder. The soft fur and Pichu's trusting gaze made Ash's heart swell with warmth. He could feel their synchronicity, much like the bond Red often showed with his Pikachu in key battles.
"Ash, you and Tieruno and Trevor stay at home and watch some TV. I'm heading to the Viridian Pokémon Supply Store to pick up food that's more suitable for a baby Electric-type," Delia said while tying her apron.
"Okay~" Ash responded brightly.
In the last two days, so much had changed for Ash. He had made new friends from the Kalos region, witnessed and even interacted with rare and regional Pokémon in the vast backyard habitat of Professor Oak's Laboratory including a shy Alolan Sandshrew and a territorial Scyther and now, he had bonded with Pichu.
The once-energetic trio who loved roaming around Pallet Town's hills suddenly preferred the indoors. Ash, Tieruno, and Trevor were more than content chatting, watching Pokémon League highlight reels, or taking turns helping Ash train Pichu using soft toy targets, under the pretense of playing.
And whenever Gary dropped by, he would lead the group on short supervised visits behind the lab, where Ash could observe and learn directly from Gary's Eevee and see the daily routines of the lab's Tauros herd or Chansey caregivers.
Compared to the boredom often grumbled about by other children stuck in town for the summer, Ash and his friends had experienced a vivid, packed two days filled with excitement, friendship, and promise.
Time passed in the blink of an eye, and soon on a bright, breezy morning the Pokémon Summer Camp finally opened its doors with great fanfare!!
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