Shadows on the Heart Window to the soul
by Flygon
Chapter 14

Party and gift of the heart

The first thing Ash did when he woke up on his birthday, was to give Misty a kiss to wake her up. They had breakfast, and then dressed. Ash was still to be moved around in a wheelchair for long periods of time. Then Brock and Susie came into the room followed by Meowth.

"Ash, bad news," Brock said. "Our shinxes are getting nervous and edgy around pikachu's eggs, and Meowth told us that they were saying that they wern't sure they liked the idea of it."

"Professor Rowan did say that pure Electrics sometimes get jealous of other pure electrics." Ash said sadly. "What do you want to do, Brock."

"Well, normally I would keep the eggs," Brock began. "And send the shinx's to Professor Oak, but, we have been working with them for a while, and the eggs haven't even hatched. They are close, but not yet. You might have to find somebody else to handle the eggs, and the pichu that hatch."

"Can I make a suggestion?" Susie asked, and continued when Ash nodded. "How about Tommy and Eddie. I saw the way they interacted with that girl, Marcy's, pichu. They have the knowledge to work with them. Tommy can begin building his up and maybe get it to evolve to a pikachu, and that could be his starter? And Eddie would have a companion to play with."

"That would be great, Ash." Brock said enthusiastically. "I hate the idea of giving up these eggs, twin pichu are a rare thing, but I really don't want to send the shinx back to Professor Oak, and Susie is of the same mind on that."

"I know I can give one to Tommy, but I am not sure about Eddie." Ash stated. "Eddie is only eight today,"

"You can give Eddie a pokemon and a pokedex, and he can use it to id other pokemon and as an ID" a voice from the doorway announced. "You just can't licence him as a trainer. He will have to wait until he is either nine or ten for that."

They saw Chad with Nurse Joy from the pokemon center. They had a laptop with the official emblem or the Pokemon League on it, three pokedexs, three sleeves of six poke balls with a special disk in the sleeve that would transport any extra pokemon to Professor Oak. And fifteen minutes later Ash was confident that he knew how to operate the software and program the new pokedex's he had. Then they made ready to go upstairs to the party. During the trip up Chad told Ash that Eddie could catch other pokemon, but would be limited to three, and would not be allowed to compete in contest.

"Further, for him to catch other pokemon he has to have a licensed trainer with him." Chad added. "Something for Tommy to do with his brother, maybe?"

"I'm glad you told me." Ash replied.

They exited the elevator and saw a large sign on the wall pointing to the sun room;

*Solarium - Ped Ward,* and under that in bright colours. *Reserved for birthday party*

As they entered, Chads cell phone rang and he answered it. a moment later he smile almost wickedly and said thank you. Then he turned to Ash.

"Pinchin is without any children at the orphanage, now." he began in a low voice, "That was Lance, and he said he picked up his new adopted daughter. He also said that he watched and saw her heading towards here, with her lawyer, a pair of large men, and her pet judge. It should take them twenty minutes to get here."

"Where is Tommy and Eddie?" Ash asked scanning the room.

"There, in the corner," Chad said quietly, "They were briefed by their court appointed attorney, and nearly ran him over in their haste to get to the adoption agreement to sign. The judge signed, and now all that is needed is your affidavit, Misty's, five witnesses, and to have it sealed." He turned to Oak "Do you want to do this now, or wait until she gets here? Just to let you know, if you do this now, you have a slightly stronger power base to work from."

"I want to take care of this now," Oak said in a firm tone. "Delia is worried, and the sooner we deal with this, the sooner I can reassure her." He looked to Ash and Misty.

They handed over the papers they had filled out to a Balding Judge with a huge handlebar moustache, and he looked them over, before chuckling.

"Well Sam, I have seen twelve glowing affidavits as to your good intentions and deeds." he winked. "If you ever get tired of research, you could use these to maybe get set up for sainthood."

"I'll just be happy if they get the adoption approved." Oak responded with a chuckle of his own.

"Sam," The judge said with a exasperated tone. "If it wasn't for the 'laws' need for twelve affidavits, I would have approved the adoption ten minutes after Chad told me about it. You and Delia are very acceptable candidates, and your reputation is so impeccable that it squeaks. Sign the damn paper already, you got two boys who I think would like to join their new family."

He did so with a flourish and moved back. The judge added his signature to the paper, and he called over another judge who was talking to one of the Elite four from Kanto. That judge looked over the whole thing and then sealed it with a crimping tool.

"Done," The Judge said in a clear voice. "I'll have this filed and copied and should have a copy sent to you, Sam, by Wednesday."

"Can we get two photocopies now," Chad said with a grin. "I got word that a certain harpy is on her way, and I want to head her off before she gets here. And Just in case, I want Sam to have a copy."

"You can use the hospital copy machine, at the nursing station." One of the doctors directed him.

"Thank you," Chad replied. "I'll get the copies and head off one harpy. Then I will be back, save me some cake, please?" and he went off humming a jaunty tune.

Ash looked to Misty and she gave a thumbs up, mouthing the word great and Ash agreed. At that moment Tommy and Eddie came running up with practically whooping with joy.

"We got parents," Eddie crowed, "We got a famous brother too."

"You got more then that, uncle." Gary stated as he came up to the group, wearing a party hat that looked like a top hat. "Max and May are family too, you two are their uncles, just like your mine."

Eddie turned his head from one to another, eyes wide then he began to cry, yet he was still smiling.

"What's wrong, Eddie?" Misty asked kneeling near him.

"I'm happy," He burst out. "I got my birthday wish before I blew out the candles on my cake."

The party went on for a while, some people coming and dropping off presents. Gary remarked that it looked like The Elite four of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh had all paid a visit. When it came time to start opening the presents, they were separated and the two boys found that there were a sizeable pile for each of them. They stared at them in wonder. There were a number of small boxes, and when Eddie opened one, he nearly fell over in wonder when he saw a poke ball. The card read: To Edward From Lance, Dragon Champion E4 Kanto. (do not open ball until Ash gives you his gift). Ash decided then to give his gift. But both boys told Ash that they had gotten the best gift by being adopted. He grinned. He saw that Professor Oak had set up the laptop and he wheeled himself to the table. He called the two over.

"Guys," he began, in a serious manner. "You know that I am a tri-champ, right?" He saw both nod, Eddie still clutching the poke ball from Lance. "One of my abilities as such, is that I can licence three pokemon trainers each year." There eye grew wide. "I have a very special request for the both of you. Brock and Susie can't help me because they have a shinx, and it's a pure electric. The problem is that Pikachu had two eggs that will soon hatch into pichu, and there shinxs don't like another pure electric in the same group. I would like you two, to each raise one of pikachu's babys. And I need to give you these."

He plugged the cord from the laptop to one pokedex and filled out the form for Tommy, using his full name. He checked the box for trainer and then listed the pokemon as an unhatched pichu. He pointed the pokedex video pick-up at Tommy, and said: smile, before clicking the mouse on photo. Then he gave Tommy the pokedex, the sleeve with the poke balls. He started to do the same for Eddie, but checked non-trainer when Lance stepped in,

"Pardon me, for a moment." He smiled and winked at Ash.

"What are you doing Lance? Eddie is eight." Ash asked when he saw Lance uncheck Non-trainer and move to another box that said other.

Ash watched as a menu popped up asking for name and password. Lance entered his name and password and then checked Jr. Trainer and added a eight in age, as well as Eddie's birth-date and then Professor Oak's full name in a slot that appeared asking for Father's name and Delia Ketchum in the spot for mother. He did a bit of typing in a spot called override and hit enter then he signed out.

"Normal non-trainers can only carry three pokemon at a time," Lance told him and the two boys. "However, Edward here," and he clapped the boy on the shoulder, "Is officially the son of a diamond shield holder, namely Professor Oak. Add to that the fact that your mom is a Tri-Champ, from her journey days. They are allowed to carry six pokemon, and are just restricted from competitive battles, unless there is an official member of the League present, and that member approves the battle."

Ash finished with Eddie's pokedex and gave it to him along with the sleeve and poke balls.

"Now can I see what I got from this nice man." Eddie said looking from Lance to Ash. They both nodded and the boy released the pokemon. There wasn't a sound for at least thirty seconds. The pokemon was a silvery blue gray and worm like, but there wasn't one person who didn't recognise it as a dratini.

"My four dragonites all had eggs at the same time," Lance explained. "They hatched two weeks ago and I was going to give you one anyway," He told Ash. "When Professor Oak and Chad called and told me that Myrna and I could adopt a girl, something that we have wanted to do, and save her from a horrid orphanage, and that he was going to adopt two, I figured that solved my problems. I really don't have the time to raise another dratini, let alone four. I gave the girl I adopted one, and figured that the other three should go to the ones responsible for helping me find Moira." He winked. "your going to find more pokemon from other regions Elite four in there. You each got a meditite from Lucian, a Riolu from this regions head, Cynthia, and your new brothers have a pair of eevee each from Karen, in Jhoto. They also have, from Cynthia, one gible apiece, as do you, Ash." He reached out his hand to Ash. "The rest of the gifts from the gym leaders, Elite four members from other regions, and notable people are a thank-you gift for all the help that you and your friends have done in stopping Team Rocket, Team Magma, and Aqua, and also for those few times that you helped do a lot more." Then he looked to the two kids who were staring at Ash in wonder. "Oh, and Glacia gave you each a female Snorunt, and Pheobe gave you each a duskull and shuppet. You kids are starting off with a power line-up and you haven't even started on a journey. Such is the life of kids who have a famous dad and brother." He headed toward the door. "Ash," he called back over his shoulder. "After you become a Master, and settle down for a while, give me a call. You have my private cell number on your laptop. I have a proposition that may interest you."

"I don't know if I can deal with any more surprises like this." Ash laughed.

"Well you may have to Uncle," Gary was walking up to him with four boxes and a letter. "It's from Wallace in Hoenn. And there is one for Thomas, Edward, Misty, and Ash."

"But it's not my birthday," Misty said.

"My friend," Ash read from the letter that Gary gave him. "This is a thank you for your help in the magma aqua event. Each of these pokemon have been fed dry poke-blocks until their eyes were bulging, battle a bit with them and watch the fun. They have in addition to the standard Tackle, Water Pulse, Ice beam, Dragon breath, and mud sport. I included one for your lady friend, because I have seen how she works with water types and admire her, and envy you, treat her right, you both deserve that.

Wallace, Water master of Hoenn."

"Dry poke-blocks?" Misty was puzzled. Then she released the pokemon and a somewhat homely looking fish pokemon sat on the floor.

Soon there were three others laying there, and Eddie trained his pokedex on one of them.

"Feebas - The Fish Pokemon - It is famous for its shabby appearance. While populous, they tend to cluster in set locations."

"Wow, we all got a Feebas!" Crowed Eddie practically dancing. Then he recalled his. As did Ash, and Tommy.

"I still don't get it." Misty said, confused. "I mean, I really like another water pokemon, which this is, but it just looks like a different type of magikarp."

"If you battle with it," May came over to Misty, "And it gets enough experience while it's contest beauty stat is maxed out," she reached out to Misty's pokedex and pressed the next button. "It will evolve to this."

"Milotic - The Tender Pokemon - When people bicker, it is said to arise from the depths of lakes to becalm violent hearts."

"How can something that looks like that," Misty pointed at the pokemon on the floor, "Become something this beautiful?"

"That's one of the reasons I gave up competitions," Gary said, "And decided to do research, instead."

The rest of the presents were opened and they found a variety of items. vitamins that would increase strength, endurance, speed, and such. a vast selection of berries that most pokemon loved and would help make them more friendly. He found two more pokemon in the pile for him. Steven from Hoenn had sent him a beldum, and Max gave him one of the aron he had caught. Then he found the last box. A small box with a card on it that simply said: To: The heart giver From: The heart holder. He carefully opened it and saw a small ring box red on top, white on the bottom with a small button on the front. When he pressed the button he saw a ring that looked like a rainbow crystal dragonair holding its tail in its mouth. Taking off the ring his mom had given him, he placed the dragonair ring on his finger, then replaced the other ring. Then he practically vaulted out of the wheelchair and embraced Misty.

Chad returned to the party just as they were getting ready to blow out the candles. He had grabbed a party hat and joined the group as each of the birthday boys stood in front of their own cake with burning candles. They were all just staring at the cakes.

"What's wrong guys?" Brock asked with a smile.

"I don't know what to wish for." Ash said rubbing the back of his head. "I know what I wished for for the last two birthdays," and he looked fondly at Misty. "Now I got it, and I don't know what else there is to wish for."

"I was going to wish for a family who would love Tommy and me." Eddie said staring at the cake. "Now we got that. Then I was gonna wish for a lot of pokemon, and we all got that. Now I don't know what to wish for." He looked up with a little smile.

"If you'll all pardon the pun," Tommy said glancing at his brother. "Ditto." He coloured slightly as everybody laughed.

"Just wish for something that you'de really want to have happen, but hasn't." Brock answered.

The three of them looked like they were concentrating, then as one they looked at each other and nodded.

"On three?" Ash asked and the two boys nodded.

Brock did the countdown and all three managed to extinguish all the candles on their respective cakes. The cake was cut and they all sat down to enjoy it. Ash, Tommy, and Eddie sat at a table that was set on a small dais, and with them were Misty, and Professor Oak. a video phone had been set up so Delia could watch the proceedings, and the newest members of Ash's family saw the woman who would be their mother for the first time. The party started to wind down about seven o'clock and when Ash offered to help clean up it was refused.

"This party was for you and the boys." One nurse said with a grin. "It wouldn't do for you to clean up after your own party."

Ash watched as Brock and Susie left for the pokemon center and their room there. Then Gary and Duplica followed suit. Professor Oak started to leave with Chad, and told Ash that he would see him in a day or two. And then Jessie, James, Max and May came up.

"Thanks for letting us share this moment." Jessie said, looking a bit uncomfortable and she glanced to James.

"You taught us so much, Ash." James said sounding a bit sad. "But May and Max have decided that they want to try some of the contests here, and asked if we would like to join them."

"Yous guys wants ta leave?" Meowth asked, surprised.

"We learned so much from Ash, Brock, Susie, and Misty." Jessie told Meowth. "But we can't put any of it to the test, if we stay with them. We have to go off on our own some day, and this gives us the chance."

Misty looked at Meowth who was looking somewhat down and made a decision.

"You want to stay with them, don't you Meowth?" She smiled at the cat pokemon.

"I won't lies to ya," He began, looking back at Misty. "You an Ash treated me good, but Jessie, James and me were together fer a lot of years, and I sorta mis bein wit dem."

"OK," Misty pulled out a poke ball, and looked at it for a moment before handing it over to Jessie. "I'm not giving Meowth to you, yet, consider this a loan from a friend."

"A friend?" Jessie said with a small smile. "That's something that we havn't had many of."

"Well, you have two here, at least." Ash said putting out his hand. "Promise me you'll stay for a bit. I want to pick up satellite phones for all of us."

"We can stay around for a couple of days." May said smiling. "And we know the way to the Pokemon League grounds, so we'll be there to cheer you on."

"Yes, I wouldn't want to miss that." James said taking Ash's hand and gripping it firmly.

"Now it looks like when we pick up this journey," Ash told Misty with a smile. "We'll be four."