Chapter 1: Ambush
Ash, Iris and Cylan were camping at river, after defeating Roxie in Virbank City. "Cylan, where is next city?" Ash asked from his green haired friend. "It should be near, about 2-5 days from here," said Cylan when Pokenav suddenly beeped and new map symbol emerged to map. Cylan blinked his eyes and clicked it, informing "Duel Fort" had arrived to Unova. Cylans eyes widened, and he jumped air yelling "It arrived here at last!" Ash and Iris looked confused, and were going to ask, when nearby bush started to rasp, and man, about 27, stepped out.
He was wearing black jacket, purple T-shirt and black pants with purple strips. "Pardon me, but could you follow me please?" man asked. "And what if we won't?" Iris asked, looking suspicious. "Then, I have to take you by force, but I am not here for fight." man said, snapping his fingers, and few grunts with same outfit as him came from bushes. "But, as I said, I am not here to fight, so I hope my lady and gentleman would follow me." Cylan looked worried, and asked "First, who are you?" Man grinned and said: "I can only give you my code-name. I'm called Esper." Cylans eyes widened. "Esper? You are one of Umbra's four commanders! How did you get here?" "I have my ways, gym leader" Esper said, "but now it is not right time to speak." Esper looked grunts. "I give you 10 minutes, and then I deal with them personally. You wouldn't want HIM to arrive, would you." Grunted looked scared when Esper mentioned "Him", and picked Pokeballs, throwing them, and six Ninjasks appeared.
"Go, Ninjask!" all grunts yelled at same time. Ash looked down to Pikachu, and said: "Pikachu, do Thunder!" Attack was so powerful that 4 of 6 Ninjasks went down instantly, knocking grunts back too. "Ninjask, Shadow Ball!" Grunt said, and his Bug-type prepared attack. "Axew, Dragon Rage", said Iris, knocking rest grunts in down. "Jeez..." sighed Esper. I have to tell Eclipse to train his grunts more... Oh well". Esper stood up. "Now it is my turn..." He picked Pokéball and throw it and grinned. "Show them, Scolipede", releasing his Pokemon. "Pikachu, Volt Tackle!" said Ash, and Pikachu nodded, hitting enormous Bug-type to ground. Esper looked Scolipede and sighed again, and said "Scolipede, do Giga Impact." Scolipede raised from ground and charged towards Pikachu. "Dodge it!" Ash said, and Pikachu managed to dodge barely Giga Impact. Scolipede couldn't stop in time, and it's horn got stuck in tree.
Esper covered his face with palm, and returned his Scolipede back to Pokéball. "Fine, be that way," Esper said. "This time, I will do this myself, and you have to knock me out to make me leave". Ash, Iris and Cylan looked bit confused, but after moment Iris said to Axew "Do Dragon Rage." Axew charged attack, and fired it to Esper, but what happened next got them by surprise. "Mirror Coat", Esper said, and put his hand against Dragon Rage. Suddenly, Axew was knocked back by it's own attack, making Iris to look behind by confuse and saying "Axew, are you alright?" Axew was knocked out, and Iris looked shocked expression Esper. "H-how did you do that?!" Esper crossed his hands and said "It is a secret. And, now, I will take you to..." "Regigigas, do Hyper Beam!" echoed from somewhere, and Esper was hitted by it, making him fly backwards, to river. Ash, Iris and Cylan looked first in direction where Esper flied, then the direction where Hyper Beam came. In there was Regigigas, with boy, about 20 years old, standing next to it. "Good job. Now, return." he zapped Regigigas back to pokeball "Good thing I like to go search area we land, since other words you would been in trouble!" Cylan looked distracted, but soon shook his head, and identified Regigigas' owner. "Daren! Nice to see again!" Ash and Iris looked each other. "It sure has been strange day for now..." "We better get to fort, before Esper returns. He is rather strong, but out smallest problem of that Team..." Ash looked serious and asked "What Team?" as they were running to fort. Daren looked down, and said "Team Umbra. They are team whose members are from other teams: Aqua, Magma, Rocket, Plasma, Galactic and even Pincher's. I tell you more at fort!"
Same time at river, Esper was sitting on water-edge, drying his clothes. "I guess I have to report..." he picked phone "It is me, Esper. Mission Failed... Send message to Toxic and tell to come here... I give you coordinates". "Humph..." Esper looked shocked, and turned around. There was man standing next to tree behind him, wearing black jacket, black hat with crimson accessories and with black and crimson clothing. "So, you failed, Esper?" Esper grinned. "Well, I am just third strongest of us, or what you say... Ghost."
Who is this "Ghost" grunts were so affraid of, and what does Esper want?
Read rest story to find out.