"I told you, it's fine! I'm not mad—and we're friends, aren't we?"
Ash grinned as he took the gift from Gary's hands. His tone was casual, but his movements were anything but—he tore open the box like a kid unwrapping his first birthday present.
"What's this…?" His eyes lit up immediately.
Inside the box lay a Poké Ball—not the classic red-and-white kind, but one with a smooth, pearly-white sheen.
"This isn't a normal Poké Ball," Gary said proudly, his old confidence slipping back into place as he crossed his arms. "The League doesn't allow anyone under ten to buy or even own standard Poké Balls. But this one's special—it's a gift item, not sold in stores. That means even someone under ten can legally own it."
Ash's eyes sparkled. "Really?! That's awesome!"
Gary nodded smugly. "It's called a Premier Ball. They usually give it as a bonus when someone buys ten Poké Balls at once in a Poké Mart. It's rare because it's not for sale, so technically it's not breaking any League rules."
"Wow," Ash said, holding it up to the light, watching the faint glimmer on its surface. "This looks amazing. I love it!"
He turned it over in his hands with genuine excitement. Sure, the Premier Ball wasn't any more effective than an ordinary Poké Ball—but for him, this wasn't about stats or catch rates. It was about possibility.
Still, the realization hit him soon after.
"But wait… The League also says no one under ten can own a Pokémon." His voice dimmed slightly. "Even if I've got a Poké Ball, I can't exactly go out and catch one."
Unless…
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "What if I did it secretly? Or maybe… caught one under Mom's name?"
He chuckled nervously. The thought alone made him picture Delia's shocked face—and Professor Oak's lecture that would follow.
No, that wouldn't work.
Ever since awakening in this world, Ash had been turning one thought over and over in his mind: How can I get my first Pokémon early?
And now, holding this pearly-white Premier Ball in his hands, his mind began spinning again.
After days of consideration, he had come up with a loophole—a way to "capture" a Pokémon without technically breaking any League rules.
You see, using a Poké Ball to capture a Pokémon wasn't the only way to make one your own.
If he could befriend and tame a Pokémon instead—earn its trust, gain its recognition—then even without a Poké Ball's binding contract, it would still be his partner in every sense of the word.
He just wouldn't be able to keep it with him.
In other words, he could train it secretly—raise it, battle with it, strengthen it—and then, once he turned ten, officially register it as his first Pokémon.
A perfect plan… in theory.
But there were two huge problems.
First: Without a Pokémon of his own, catching or taming another one would be extremely dangerous.
Second: If the wild Pokémon he tamed roamed free without the security of a Poké Ball, there was always a risk another Trainer might defeat and claim it for themselves.
Still, the benefits were enormous.
If he could pull this off, he'd already have battle experience and a strong Pokémon long before his official journey began. And with his Ascension Trainer System backing him up, he could get a massive head start over everyone else.
He even had a way to fix the "free Pokémon" problem.
If he managed to tame a Ghost-type Pokémon, then it could simply hide inside his shadow—literally following him everywhere while remaining invisible. No one would ever notice.
It was a clever solution.
But… there was one small issue.
How the heck was a six-year-old supposed to tame a Ghost-type Pokémon?
Even adult Trainers struggled with that! They were elusive, mischievous, and among the hardest types to deal with—right alongside Psychic-types.
Ash sighed, then smirked. "Well, every problem has a solution. I just need to think like a Trainer, not a kid."
And he did think—hard.
Back in the hospital, between meals and check-ups, he had racked his brain for every possible approach.
Ghost Pokémon were known for their curiosity and love of fun. If he couldn't fight one, maybe he could befriend one—appeal to its playful nature.
After all, in the original timeline, Ash had bonded with a Haunter in Lavender Town using almost the same method. That Haunter had helped him defeat Sabrina's terrifying Psychic Pokémon at the Saffron Gym.
But then again, that was the anime—a world with soft edges and child-friendly ghosts.
This world felt… more real.
Real Ghost Pokémon weren't harmless pranksters. They were spirits—restless, eerie, and sometimes dangerous.
So, as much as he liked the idea, he wasn't about to wander into a haunted tower just yet.
Instead, he had a safer backup plan: head into the nearby wilderness and look for an injured Pokémon.
If he could nurse one back to health, maybe it would bond with him naturally. He couldn't keep it at home, but he could visit it often—and when he turned ten, officially make it his.
Yes. That would work.
"Hey… Ash?"
"Ah!" He nearly jumped when Gary suddenly shook his shoulder. He'd been so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed his friend calling his name.
"What are you spacing out for? I've been calling you for ages!" Gary huffed.
"Oh, sorry," Ash said sheepishly, scratching his head. "I was just thinking—now that I've got a Poké Ball, maybe there's a way to get my first Pokémon early."
Gary blinked. "You mean before you turn ten? I don't think that's allowed…"
He frowned, tapping his chin. "But maybe Grandpa would know! He's always talking about League rules and Trainer regulations. I'll ask him for you."
Ash's eyes lit up. "Really? That'd be amazing! If it's possible to get one early without breaking any rules, I want to try!"
Gary thumped his chest proudly. "Leave it to me! I'll get you an answer straight from Professor Oak himself."
Ash grinned. "Thanks, Gary."
Even if Oak said no, he wasn't giving up. His plan was already in motion.
The moment he got the chance, he'd head out into the wild—whether to befriend a Ghost-type or save an injured Pokémon—and begin his journey as a Trainer four years early.
Because this time, he wasn't waiting for anyone to hand him his destiny.
This time, he was taking it.
…
…