Shadows on the Heart Window to the soul
by Flygon
Chapter 12

Day of surprises

Ash woke feeling ravenous, and since he was on solid food ordered as big a breakfast as he could. He was about to ask Misty what she wanted when he noticed that she was not in bed, nor in the room. Her small clutch purse that she carried was not on the night stand nor was Meowth on his table/bed. There was a note on the pillow of her bed.

My dear snoozing Prince Charming,

M

Ash nearly fell over laughing when he read it and dressed quickly in his clothes and slippers. Just in time. Two nurses came, one with his breakfast, and the other with a wheelchair. He finished the breakfast and fed Pikachu, and his other pokemon, who were allowed to be let out one at a time by the head nurse/keeper, then Brock came in. Ash sniffed, and detected nothing. Brock informed him that by order of Susie, he had to shower three times to get that stuff off. She had told him that despite her affections for him, she would fry him with a fire spin from her ninetails if he tried to use it again. Ash informed him of Misty's reaction and laughed when he said that he used it to try to attract women.

"Brocko, my friend," Ash began, using his nickname for the tall pokemon breeder. "Neither of us need to try to attract women, we have them already, and trying to get more, will only bring pain."

Brock agreed and the two gave each other a high five, just as a timid knock at the hospital door was heard. Brock opened it and a small nine year old boy, ducked inside quickly, after looking both directions. Ash assumed this was Bradley. It was. The little guy had a thatch of unruly blond hair and sea coloured eyes that were just two shades darker then Misty, he wore blue pyjamas with red and white poke balls on it and he looked somewhat troubled.

"Sir, I..."

"Ash, My name is Ash" He told the young boy.

"Wow, thanks Ash." Bradley said puffing himself up. "Well, I came to ask a big favour," he began, looking at the tips of his slippers. "I come from Pallet Town, same as you and I was sent here to recover from a sickness that I had. While I was here, I made two friends who are in the same room as me, and they are really sad. They were in an accident and their mom and dad were killed. They don't have anybody else, and when they leave here they're going to have to go to an orphanage. I was hoping that you could maybe, cheer them up."

"How could I cheer them up?" Ash asked, floored by this request.

"Tommy, he's the older one, he's eight, is a big fan of yours,"

"A fan of ME?" if Ash had been floored with the request, this news nearly had him out cold. "I have fans?" He looked to Brock who shrugged.

"Yea," Bradley replied quickly as if in disbelief, drawing out a rubber-banded batch of cards from the pyjamas shirt pocket, the topmost one had his picture on it, ready to throw a poke ball. "Tommy has a bigger collection then I do, he has every one of your cards and all the cards of your pokemon. He even has a foil hologram card with you and your pikachu."

Ash sat down, right in the wheelchair. He had fans? Cards? Foil holograms cards? He tried to digest this as Bradley went on oblivious to the effect that it was having on Ash.

"If you could come up to the Ward, and talk to him, I know he would be happy for at least a little time." He said, in a breathless rush. "And if you could autograph one or two of the cards, maybe he wouldn't have any nightmares tonight. He and his brother, Eddie, he's seven, are going to having their birthday this Wednesday, and maybe a visit from a famous person like you would be a nice birthday present."

"Brock," Ash said, incredulously. "Did you have any idea of this?"

"Well," His friend said slowly, "I knew that they had the cards out, while we were in Johto, and that they went one year back. But that's about all."

"Yea?" He gaped at the top card on Bradley's pile. "But ME? On a card? Like a Baseball player and all? Why?"

"Breathe Ash." Brock said with a grin for his friend. "What's so hard to believe about you being on a card. You did take Johto, The Orange Islands, Hoenn, and the Battle Frontier. Of course that's going to make you famous." Then he indicated Bradley. "And as for fans? That should follow the fame part like night following day. You got a taste in SandJem town with that store keep. He's probably finding it hard to keep those new type of poke balls in stock."

"Yea, but I didn't even mention my name. I just used a quick ball and grabbed that starly."

"Yea, but now I figure that he has your name in his window and his shop is probably the most visited." Brock stated. "And I called him and told him what balls were used to catch those wild pokemon that we ran into near Oreburgh City." He chuckled. "Ash, you should be glad you have fans. Think of it. The root for you when you battle, and cheer when you win, and feel a bit down when you don't. All famous people have fans." Then he gave the wheelchair a little shake. "Why don't we go up and cheer up some of 'your' fans, pal?"

"Ok, Brocko." Ash said finally, with a slightly shy smile. "Come on Pikachu," he said to the ketchup snacking rodent. "Your a part of this too." Pikachu grabbed one last packet of ketchup and hopped onto Ash's lap and then Ash looked to a smiling Bradley. "Bradley, lead the way."

Bradley practically whooped with delight and walked down the hallway with his chest puffed out with pride. During the elevator ride up, he bounced up and down on the balls of his feet with a huge grin on his face. Ash watched this display, smiling outwardly. Inside, he was still floored that he was that famous. In fact, he was floored that he was famous at all. Sure, he thought, he would joke about being famous, but he found the real thing somehow, jarring. The elevator doors opened and Ash saw a sea of young faces.

*********************************************

Misty and May stepped out of the Hospital into the sunlight and blinked. They saw all the people walking to their destinations, seemingly unaware of the different dramas that took place in the building that they were passing. The two girls looked at each other.

"Uh, Misty?" May began slowly. "Shopping I can really get into, but this pampering stuff that you put into that letter..." She trailed off.

"I had to put something down to explain several hours of us being gone." Misty responded with a sly smile. "Ash knows me well enough to know that a shopping trip could normally be done in an hour. I need time." They began to walk towards a street that seemed filled with shops.

"You lied?"

"A little one," Misty retorted a bit defensively. "I need to hunt down something special for his birthday and I don't even have a clue as to what to get him." Misty slowed and turned, noticing that May had stopped.

"You really do love him, that much." May said with a wistful smile.

"Yea," Misty began looking down at her feet. "When I saw him hug and then kiss you, I felt so hurt, then angry. And after I blew up at him and came back to camp only to find him gone, you and Max his niece and nephew, and the letter I had torn up. Something in me almost died. All I could feel was pain. Then in the Ambulance, I prayed that he would be spared, and that I wouldn't be left alone. I want to try to find something for his birthday that will make all that up, if it's possible." She gave May a smile. "Yea, I love Ash that much."

"Then I know just the place to go." May said grabbing Misty's hand and moving quickly down the street. "I found it two days ago while you were with Ash. The guy there is nice, but a bit creepy. He seems to be able to look into your soul or something and can tell just what you want."

"And what did he tell you that you needed?" Misty asked with scepticism. She had heard of shysters like this.

"Nothing." She grinned. "He said that I had a free heart and nothing he carried would be needed, yet"

They passed shop after shop. Pokemon shops; Jewellery shops; and then May stopped. They stood in front of a shop that had a very simple sign saying 'The Heart shop'. A man stood out in front sweeping the side walk. His hair was long and white as snow and done into a large pony tail in the back. He had his back to them yet he stopped sweeping and inhaled sharply.

"So young one," His voice was light and soft, and he had yet to turn around. "You return, yet for you I have nothing that would be of any use to you, your heart is still free." Then he inhaled again still without turning. "But you brought somebody." he paused for a moment, "Young, red hair, and a heart more tethered by strong love then many full grown women. This is rare, and beautiful." He turned to face them and Misty saw he was blind. His eyes stared straight forward and were a blue so pale as if to be white. He smiled and then chuckled. "One doesn't need eyes to read the heart." He pushed open the door to his shop and beckoned the two to follow.

Misty entered the shop in wonder. She saw psychic pokemon everywhere. A medichan wiped down a glass case containing a rainbow of stones set in different necklaces, while an alakazam worked on something in the corner. She saw Bronzors, and beldums floating in the air, and on a steel dais in the back of the shop was a metagross, one of the strongest of the psychics. She heard the man begin to speak.

"I was born in Hoenn," He said as he navigated the shop as if he could see. "To two of the strongest psychic trainers that had been seen at that time. I grew up with an ability that many have but rarely use. Empathy. However mine seemed to be more highly developed then most. I trained at the Psychic Gym in Hoenn, and then went to Kanto and learned from Sabrina's mother and father. I came to Sinnoh to seek more training and instead I lost my eyes and my other sight was opened. I can read hearts." He turned to face them and then went behind the counter. "I see the world with the aid of my friends here, but I see peoples hearts with my own inner eye. And I see that you, young red haired one, are searching for something for a young man that is linked directly to your heart. You seek a gift for your soul-mate." He turned and pulled out a box made of dark wood with gold fittings and placed it on the counter.

"What is a soul-mate?" Misty had heard of the term but never found the meaning. And now she stared into the mans milky blue eyes and was begging.

"Something very rare," The man smiled warmly. "Yet, and here is the ironic part, everybody has one. Most go their whole lives without ever finding theirs. They settle for love, and live their lives in happiness, but never knowing the bond of a soul-mate. You are blessed to have found yours, and he is blessed to have found his. You see, you can bump into your soul-mate, your perfect match, and not even know it if your heart is clouded by anything. But when your heart is clear, and you meet, then it is obvious. It is impossible to explain, even to one who has met their soul-mate, but it is a bond so strong that it can transcend even the bounds of death at times." He indicated the open case. "See if anything here touches your heart as a gift for this young man."

Misty looked down at the case and saw that it was lined in velvet and had nine items in it, All made of a crystal that she didn't recognise, and a small box set in it one corner. Her eyes went over the items, and the man told her to touch them and see if any felt right to her. She rested her finger on each item, A crystal bracelet made to look like an onix, a pair of rings, one shaped like a dratini, the other huntail. She felt a warmth from a pendant that had a crystal Milotic on it, but thought 'no'.

"Found something," he said with a smile.

"Not for Ash," She said with a smile. "I can't see Ash Ketchum wearing a pendant."

"Ash Ketchum?" He said straightening up some. "That is your soul-mate?"

"Yes," she sighed. she had touched all the items and nothing.

"Then maybe," And his hand moved to the box set in the upper right corner and lifted the lid.

Misty's breath caught in her throat and she stared. Resting on a small velvet pillow in the box was a crystal ring shaped like a dragonair holding its tail in its mouth. The eyes were fashioned from silver as were the small wings on the side of its head, and the sphere under its chin and the two on the tail seemed to be perfect sapphires. She brought her trembling finger towards it, though something in her told her this was it. She felt the warmth even before she touched it but the tingle that coursed through her when she made contact sent a feeling of warmth through her whole body.

"Yes, I thought that it might be today." He softly told her. "You see young lady, in this box are items that I carved from a crystal that I found in the heart of Mount Coronet. On that crystal bed rested the Adamant Orb and the Lustrous Orb. When I touched the crystal, a large piece fell off into my hand. A piece large enough to make sixteen items with, at the same time a small cloud of the broken crystal hit my face and my eyes. It was then that my sight started to fade, and I left the chamber quickly. By the time I had gotten out, I was blind to worldly sight, but my hearts sight was magnified ten fold. I managed to make those items using my heart and the eyes of my pokemon. Feeling what each item should be, and how it should be shaped, using my hearts sight to guide me. That sight has never failed me yet."

"How much is this?" She asked fearing that it would be too much.

"For you, and your mate." he began, taking the ring and putting it in a red and white ring box. "two hundred,"

"That wouldn't even cover the cost of the silver in the eyes." Misty said in wonder. She watched as he sat on a stool and heard his soft laugh. "How can you take so little for such a beautiful piece? The sapphires alone must be worth three times that."

"Why do you think I named this place, The Heart Shop, young lady?" He asked with a warm and calm smile, answering his own question a moment later. "Because I help people in love here. I make plenty of money on these other items." And his hand swept around the shop. "The items in this box are for special people. Soul-mates looking for an item to express feelings so great that they cannot be put into words." He closed the box and put it away, "Each item in that box was hand made by me. Each item took about three months to complete. But if I charged a price for them as other jewellers do, nobody could afford them and their purpose would be lost. So I set a small price on them, and show them only to people who I 'see' as having a use for them. I help bind hearts together. So, take this ring, and use it for the purpose that I made it for, please."

Misty left the shop in a daze. Despite his assurances, she felt guilty and had bought a pair of his and hers poketches, and even spent extra to have their name engraved on them. She looked through the window and saw the man sitting on the stool with a small rag in his hand polishing some silver rings with a smile on his face. Then she turned to May, and they went off to do some more shopping.

****************************************

Ash found himself to be the center of attention in the ward. At first a nurse came running up and apologised to Ash for not being able to stop Bradley, but Ash waved that away. He covered for the boy and told the nurse that he had been expecting the visit and would have come up anyway. He saw a sea of faces looking at him with expressions ranging from surprise to awe. Suddenly a small girl of six reached out and touched his arm.

"My name is Doris." She simply said, and that seemed to break the silence there in the ward.

Ash found himself thanking what ever being had given him a good memory for names, because suddenly he found himself bombarded with them. Pikachu sat quietly, as one after another of the kids petted her, or gave her a scratch under her chin and Ash marvelled at this. Normally she would not stand for so much contact from others. Then Bradley came back with two others in tow, and the crowd around him parted. He saw that both boys had black hair, and bright green eyes. The fact that they were brothers was obvious, even though one looked like he was close to twelve or so and the other looked to be ten or eleven.

"These are the friends that I wanted you to meet." Bradley said slowly, as two doctors came into the room.

"My name is Tommy." The oldest said with a big smile on his face, thrusting out a hand which Ash took and gripped. "And this is my brother," He continued bringing the younger copy of himself forward and Ash extended his hand to the sad boy.

"I'm Eddie." The little one said and silence rained in the ward.

Ash noted the sudden silence, broken by a whispered 'Oh my GOD' from the nurse and wondered at that. He found that his hand was suddenly bypassed and he had a seven year old hugging him tightly, crying into his chest. He also saw tears in the eyes of the Nurse, Tommy, Bradley, and several other children. He grew nervous, but unconsciously put his arms around the crying boy and rubbed his back.

"Could I speak to you, young man?" one of the doctors asked, and then continued with a shake of the head when Ash seemed ready right then. "No, when this one is calmed down."

It took almost fifteen minutes for that to happen, and Ash found the boy had literally cried himself to sleep in his arms. When the nurse started to take the boy off to a bed he started to whimper and Ash reached out and touched his hand.

"Your safe, Eddie," he said softly and the boy calmed instantly, and was carried off to a bed.

"Thank you, sir." Tommy said, with tears coming down his face and followed the nurse.

"Could somebody please tell me what is going on here." Ash exclaimed softly, looking to both of the doctors.

"What do you know of those two boys, Mr. Ketchum?" The one doctor asked after checking the hospital bracelet Ash wore.

"That their parents died in a car accident and they survived." Ash said quietly.

"That's right," The other doctor said just as quietly. "I won't get into the gory details here, but little Eddie, apparently saw his parents die and was so traumatised by it that he has not cried or uttered a word or sound in the two months that he has been here save the occasional whimper in his sleep. He would mechanically eat his food, but that's all. Until today."

"That's horrible," Brock said. "But he seems to have come through now, so will he be ok?"

"It's too early to tell," The doctor said with hand movement that showed it could go either way. "But it looks promising. I would like to ask you Mr. Ketchum, if you could visit here more often while you are here at the hospital? It seems that you are having a positive influence on Eddie and he may just open up to you."

"Sure," Ash agreed quickly. "I can come every day if you need me."

"Thank you," The doctor replied "I think that with you coming here to visit Eddie, he can regain some of the joy he had." He looked over Ashes shoulder and a look of disgust filled his face. "You seem to have a loving heart, unlike some."

"That's so sweet," Said a cold voice behind him, and he turned his chair slightly. "I think I want to puke."

Ash was immediately reminded of a block of ice upon seeing the speaker. She was tall, dressed well, and had a fine head of blue hair. Her eyes were a violet shade and seemed devoid of any emotion. She looked at the doctors.

"Are the little darlings," she twisted the last word slightly. "Ready, or have you found another reason to keep them here?"

"Miss Pinchin," The doctor ground out the name. "I cannot release them until I have a fully clean bill of health on them. That included mental and emotional."

"Your job," She said with an arrogant shake of her shoulders. "Is to make sure that they have all their body parts in the right place and working fine." She inspected her nails, before glaring at him, "My job is to take custody of them as soon as your job is done, and as to their mental and emotional well being, I have Doctor Madison as resident psychologist."

"Madam," The one doctor said with distaste. "I wouldn't qualify Alfred Madison to be capable of treating a sea sponge, let alone a child who went through a trauma like those to did."

"He's licensed," She replied sweetly. "That's all that matters." Then she turned back to the other doctor. "OK, I will be back on Monday to take the children, I have an orphanage to run and these delays are costing me." Then she left.

"I hate that woman," Ash said vehemently, "And I don't even know her."

"Kathy Pinchin," The doctor volunteered. "She runs the orphanage at this end of the city, and she gets funds and pay depending on how many children she has under her care."

"So," Brock ventured, "She gets money per child, and she doesn't care about them?"

"Oh she cares," The doctor put in. "She has to," Then he turned towards the two of them. "She keeps all her charges well and healthy with as little effort as possible, not to mention spending as little as she needs to on any of them. She keeps just within the limits of the law so she can keep operating."

"The children there," the other doctor stated, "Are treated little better then the children of the old workhouses from way back. And she keeps the right people paid off to see that others don't have a chance to get involved."

"My word," A new, and familiar voice said, "A most disagreeable woman."

Ash turned and saw the speaker to be Professor Oak. Suddenly his thoughts turned to his mom.

"Professor," he began, worry clear in his voice. "Is mom, alright?"

"Hello Ash," The professor smiled, "Yes, your mother is doing fine, and so are the triplets, though she does say they seem to be kicking a bit." Then he looked at the doctor, "please tell me that that horrid woman is not on your staff."

"Which horrid woman?" The doctor inquired.

"Tall, blue hair, violet eyes, well dressed, and as much compassion as that wheelchair that my stepson is in."

"Ahhhh," The doctor said with a knowing nod. "You must mean Miss Pinchin, no she isn't any staff here."

"Thank heavens and some how the prefix, Miss, doesn't surprise me." Professor Oak said with a snort. "I don't think any male, human or animal, would be able to stand her."

"You'de be surprised," The doctor said in a low tone. "She manages to get one or two high placed males to help her on occasion."

"I can imagine how, she does it." Oak stated in a voice filled with disgust.

"Why are you here, Professor?" Ash asked.

"Yea," Brock chimed in. "No offence intended, but shouldn't you be back in Kanto preparing for some new arrivals."

"Your mother asked me to come and check on you," He said to Ash. "She was worried a bit and I came via my alakazam. I met Gary in the lobby and he told me your room, and then a nurse informed me that you were here." Then he looked intently at Ash. "I am glad that Gary glossed over some of the things that had happened, otherwise your mother would be very worried. And also, congratulations on your liaison with Misty. Gary informed me of that too, and I told your mother. She is very happy for you."

"I am happy for me too," Ash chuckled. "I haven't been this happy, in..." He shrugged.

"I'm going to go entertain the kids here, while you two talk," Brock said, and wandered off to a group of kids.

"Doctor," Ash asked when Brock had left. "Hasn't anybody ever tried to take down that Pinchin broad? At least a peg or two?"

"Oh yes," the doctor answered. "There have been numerous attempts."

"But she has a local Judge in her pocket," The other doctor added, "And a very saavy lawyer. Not to mention the quack she has as a psychologist." He shook his head. "They keep her legal so her orphanage doesn't get threatened."

"Don't tell me that creature," Professor Oak stated, aghast. "Runs an orphanage?"

The doctor nodded and told Professor Oak the details. When he was done, the professor was horror stricken.

"I thought those laws were changed almost twenty years ago?" He finally burst out.

"For all the other orphanages, it was. Her lawyer and some of his cronies managed to get a grandfather clause in for that one." the doctor replied with feeling. "As long as she has a child in there, the law cannot be changed for her establishment. And she has always managed to keep at least one or two around. Now she has eight, and if she gets those two into her place, that brings her up to a total of ten, and her pay doubles, as well as the funds for her establishment."

"As well as locks in the older law for her place." The other doctor responded. "Then if she gets all the kids adopted out, she still can get others and the laws for her won't change. Beautiful system our ancestors set up, huh?" Sarcasm was plain in his voice.

"Is there no way to stop her?" Professor Oak asked.

"If you could get all the kids at her place adopted out," The one doctor started. "Including the two here, then the grandfather clause falls and she will be able to run the place but will have to do so under the new laws, which she can't."

"Hmmmm," Professor Oak knitted his brows in concentration, then nodded. "I might have a way, but I will need to get to a phone to make several long-distance calls to even try to pull it off."

"We have an empty office here, and I will loan you an office helper." The one doctor said in an instant. "If you have a legal way to take down Pinchin, I'll back you."

"Me to," The other doctor said in quick succession.

"Count me in too, Professor." Ash added with a devilish grin.

Just then Tommy came up to the group, and looked at Ash.

"Eddie is asking about you, Sir."

"My name is Ash, Tommy." he said to the younger boy.

"Thanks," he smiled a bit, then turned to one of the doctors. "Sir, Eddie doesn't remember anything about the accident. He knows mom and dad are gone, but he doesn't remember being there."

The one doctor knelt down in front of Tommy.

"Sometimes, when a person goes through a great tragedy, it gets erased from their minds." he said. "Your brothers mind is trying to protect itself. So it erased this part. It's not meant to hurt or anything."

"No," Tommy replied quickly. "I'm glad that he forgot, now he doesn't hurt any more. But..." and he glanced at Ash. "When he asked for... Ash..." saying the name. "He asked where Uncle Ash was. Why... Why did he call Ash uncle?"

"It is rare," The doctor said quietly. "Very very rare, but does happen with young. If their parents are taken from them they will latch onto the nearest older person who strikes a chord with them as a substitute." He looked from Tommy to Ash and back. "It seems that little Eddie has chosen you Ash. Your his substitute guardian figure."

"But I just met him," Ash blurted out. "How could he know me?"

"I guess," Tommy said in a small voice. "It's my fault. We were such fans of yours, and then the accident happened, and then I lost my little brother, he was like a robot, instead of the laughing little pest he used to be. I would sit up with him for hours showing him all my cards of you, and your pokemon. I would tell him about all the times we watched you beat trainer after trainer in Johto, The Orange Islands, and in Hoenn. I would say to him that I wish we had an uncle like you. I must have repeated it so much he believes it now."

Ash listened to the boy and felt something of kinship. They had both lost somebody they loved, both in an accident. He had done the same thing but to Professor Oak. He remembered paying a lot of visits to the Professor. It was the Professor that had the normally father son talk with Ash. It was Professor Oak that took the father role when his dad had died. And he remembered that he was not shocked, nor repulsed when he had told him that he wanted to marry his mother. He turned to Tommy who was looking sad.

"It's alright." He said. "If it helps him, and you don't mind, then I'll play uncle to him."

Tommy looked up with wet eyes, and smiled. He whispered a thank you.

Misty came up and found Ash, Brock, Tommy, Bradley, and another boy playing boardgames with Eddie. She heard Eddie calling Ash Uncle Ash, and saw a plea in his gaze, so she went along with it and joined the game. They played a few more board games and then told them they had to go back to their rooms and left after promising that they would be back the next day. Misty remained silent during the elevator trip down, and all the way into the room. But before she could ask, Ash told her the whole story. She listened in growing shock as Ash told her about the boys parents being killed, and now there was a mercenary woman who just wanted the boys so she could collect more money. She remembered the smiling face of little Eddie and saw the look of happiness. Then she saw it crumble as the two boys were taken to an orphanage run by a witch. She tried to cheer Ash up, because he looked like he was ready to break. In fact she was too. The little boy had such a charming manner, he had grinned and smiled his way into her heart as well. But she still tried to help Ash, because he needed it.

"Professor Oak said that he would try to help, right?" She offered, hopefully.

"Yea," Ash said sadly, wondering what was happening to him. "But either way, Mist. They will lose out." He sighed. "If they are adopted, they'll most likely be split up, and that won't be good. And if not, then they have to go to that cow, who just wants them so she gets more money." He slammed his hand into the pillow. "I wish there was something that I could do." A tear fell. "Both Tommy and Eddie trust me, and I can't do jack to help them. I'm going to let them down."

"Ash, you aren't the only one who let those two into your heart." Misty said fervently. "Those two are charmers and they got into my heart too." She saw Ash look up, his eyes brimming. "I'm sure that Professor Oak will come up with something, and if I can help in any way, I'll do it in an instant. Just like I would help you in an instant, in any way I could." She held his face between her hands, and kissed him. "Remember what you said in Johto when I said that the parents of those fourteen kids would run out of love? I do. You said that love is the only unlimited resource. The more you give, the more you have to give. Something will be done."

"Thanks, Mist." And Ash smiled at her.

*************************************

Neither saw the door close slowly. Neither knew that Professor Oak had heard them. Samuel Oak moved quickly back to the office that Doctor Evans had loaned him. He thought he had found a way, but he needed legal advice. He punched in the number for the Pokemon League Lawyer, and waited. Chad Echart answered the phone and his grin faded when he saw the serious expression on Oaks face.

"What's the matter, Sam?" He asked.

"Chad, I need a big favour."

Professor Oak outlined the situation and then quickly told him what his plan was. He told him the sections of law that he knew covered it, and how old those sections were. Then he asked him.

"Chad, I need to know if it can be done?" Samuel Oak asked his old legal friend. "And I need to know fast. My new stepson is involved and I need reassurances quickly. I already outlined the plan with Delia, and she said that she would go along with it, so you have part of the equation."

"Give me an hour." He said looking at an open book in front of him. "I need to talk to a judge first, can I use your name and Delia's if I need to?"

"Of course," He replied, "What ever it takes, and as long as it is done to the letter of the law."

"You know I don't work any other way, Sam." He smirked. "Talk with you in an hour." Then he signed off.

And Samuel Oak sat there and began to wait. The phone rang just before the hour was up and Professor Oak slapped the receive button. The smile on the face of Chad told him it was good news, and he relaxed as the legal eagle as he was known in the trade explained what was going to happen.