It was Tuesday when Asher felt secure enough to challenge Lieutenant Surge. Gary promised he'll watch and give his emotional support. The gym was less busy opposed to the weekend. While Ash was training, he saw many people going in and out the gym and center. Now the traffic between the gym and Nurse Joy's table was less intense.

Walking into the gym, he and Gary saw the Lieutenant dunking on a trainer who lost his battle. Gary told him, "He wasn't as rude as he normally is at your boot camp."

"I see..."

As the trainer left the gym, Lieutenant Surge noted Ash and Gary. "Ah, Ketchum! Was about time you roll here up! Oi, two badges only, eh? I can't convince you to return when you have six badges, can't I?", said the Lieutenant. "Oak, what are you doing here?"
"Watching Ash's battle, giving some support.", answered Gary. "I go to the spectator benches then." Gary looked around. "Um, where are they?"
"We got rid of them. Not used enough to make the upkeep worth it."l explained Surge. "You have to stand besides my referee Tom instead."

"Mm, I battle you now, if I'm already here.", said Ash.

"Good point. Referee!" A referee, an ash blonde trainer, ran up to Lt. Surge, awaiting his command. Mattis Surge told him, "The battle with OFTR Asher Farron Ketchum from Pallet Town will be a single format three v three battle. Mega Evolution and similar will be allowed."
"But Lieutenant, you don't have any!", argued the trainer.

"Tom, do I have to tell you each time that I don't care? Most trainers loose anyway!", argued the lieutenant.

"Does Asher have something that can Mega Evolve? Z-Move? Tera?", asked Tom.

"No.", said Ash.

"Than what is the point?", asked the referee.

"None, it seems. Fine, ditch that.", decided Surge. "Come Ash, to the field."

"This battle is between the Vermilion City Gym Leader, Lieutenant Mattis Surge and the Gym Challenger, On-Field Researcher and Trainer Asher Farron Ketchum from Pallet Town! This will follow the official rule set of the Indigo League for single format battles and will be a three v three battle.", announced Tom. "Mega Evolution and similar, as well as Potions, Substitutes and similar are prohibited in this battle. Trainers, call out your first Pokemon, go!" Gary was pretty sure this is a different referee then when he battled the Lieutenant.

While Ash called out Rowlet like he promised her, Lieutenant Surge called out his Voltorb. A round Pokemon, literally just a Pokeball with big eyes. And an asshole grin. The Pokeball Pokemon rolled around the ground. "You, Ash, have the honor to battle my newest catch! Needed some fresh blood for trainers under four badges.", explained Mattis. "That or an Alolan Raichu, but I was too lazy to travel to Alola. Anyway, Voltorb, Spark!"

"Dodge!", yelled Ah. Rowlet flew though the air, dodging shocks from the Orb. Bullet Seed!" Ash remembers the Voltorb line from the professor's ranch, he also remembers their nasty abilities. Voltorbs can have three, one being a hidden ability, and two suck to fight against. The hidden ability the most. If you beat it, the attacker gets damaged. Then there is Static... a shame Frillish's Cursed Body doesn't work on abilities. He hopes this Voltorb has Soundproof and no additional hidden ability, that would be the best case scenario.

Lieutenant Surge watched Rowlet dodge and shoot seeds at his Voltorb. The little avian is like a torrent, a torrent with wings. Seeing that Ash focuses on her not being hit – instead of not choosing a flying type to begin with – he had an idea. "Voltorb, Rollout!" Voltorb rolled around, jumping against the walls and shooting from there to Rowlet.

Ash saw that as well and got frustrated. He has to risk that this Voltorb has Static. "Rowlet! Get it off its momentum! Use Razor Leaf!" Rowlet gave a hoot and started to shoot sharp leaves at Voltorb as he was on the wall like the fictional hero, Spidops-Man. Voltorb got knocked off, to the ground. He suffered damage upon the collision. Rowlet used the opportunity, and attacked Voltorb with a barrage of while keeping him in place with her claws. He sparkled, but Rowlet wasn't bothered.

Gary noted the same. "Huh, why isn't she bothered?"

"Good question.", answered Tom, "Considering this little Voltorb has Static."

Gary's eyes widen when the realization hit. "Long Reach?"

"Mm?"

"Her ability, their abilities cancel each other out.", stated Gary.
"Oh, nice.", said Tom, "Mattis was so happy when the first Pokemon he found had good abilities. Looks like they mean nothing."
"He didn't bother much, eh?"

"Well, he did settle for a Voltorb, didn't he? He probably would have stalled out to catch a new Pokemon until the champions bi-yearly check up, but with that new guy...", said Tom, "A lil bit pressure was there."

"New guy?", asked Gary.

"Yeah, there is a guy who applies to open a new gym. Everyone's worried they loose their ranking if the new guy gets his permission.", explained Tom, "Not like he got rejected trice by now. I see no reason why Mattis worries."

"Good job, Rowlet!", yelled Ash, as his starter defeated Voltorb. Gary was also impressed seeing her win. She then started to glow and evolved into Datrix. "Oh! You evolved! Great!" Datrix then flinched, as if she had a stroke. "Let me guess, your Voltorb had Aftermath?"

"Don't take that as a guarantee to win! Magneton!" Lieutenant Surge called out his next Pokemon, a Magneton. "Use Electro Ball!"

"Dodge!" Datrix struggled to fly, she had to get used to the new body, the newly sized wings, her added on body weight, but she felt great having reached her goal.

"Finally.", said Gary super relieved.

"She isn't your Pokemon, why are you so relieved?", asked Tom.

"She threw a lot of tantrums for not evolving, she picks fights with Ash's Trevenant... and some of my Pokemon.", told him Gary. "I just hope she is more calm now."

"Oh, she has anger issues. Mm, reminds me of my Meowth.", said Tom, "Little piss head traumatized dad's Arcanine a lot. Mm, it will never not be funny that such a massive fire type is afraid of that spoiled Meowth. Not to mention-Oh! Datrix fainted! This match goes Gym leader Surge! Next Pokemon, Ketchum!"

"Huh, why did she get beaten?", asked Gary.

"Magneton drained her, just chasing her around.", guessed Tom, "Your friend told her to dodge after all."

Ash sighed and recalled Datrix, replacing her with Dreepy. "Dreepy, your turn!"

Dreepy said while circling around Ash, "May I annoy him? I have an idea that requires to piss him off. Command that I should dodge, I would prefer if our opponent doesn't know you can understand us."

"Dreepy, try to dodge, I need to think.", replied Ash.

The Magnezone made a buzzing sound, but Dreepy heard, ""Your trainer sucks, dragon. Your team mate didn't do well dodging."

"Maybe, but I dodge better than her.", replied Dreepy, zooming around the arena. "For sure better than you, Slowpoke!"

"I'm not a Slowpoke!", yelled the Magnezone before chasing after Dreepy.

His trainer shouted, "Magnezone? What are you doing? Calm down!"

Dreepy zoomed around, slowing intentionally down to have the Magnezone close. Flying a straight line, the flew a barrel roll as Magnezone came close, hitting him with Dragon Tail.

"Magnezone, Reflect!"

Magnezone created a Reflect field, but Dreepy attacked him anyway, flew though and slapped him again. Ash chuckled at this, "Reflect is useless when Dreepy has Infiltrator."

"Not like the baby dragon can do much.", replied Lt. Surge. "Magnezone, Gyroball!"

'A chance.' Dreepy asked Magnezone, "Is your trainer always that insecure or why does he insult his opponents?"

Now the Magnezone saw red. "Mattis is not insecure!" Magnezone flew as fast as he could to Dreepy who flew close to the floor. As Magnezone was just inches away, Dreepy turned intangible, allowing Magnezone to go though him, face first into the ground. The impact knocked Magnezone out. Dreepy floated away and became visible again.

"Good job, Dreepy!", praised him Ash.

Mattis Surge tried to comprehend how Dreepy beat his Magnezone, so did Tom. "Uh, I am sorry, but I need to check how that happened. This battle is paused, until Asher Farron Ketchum is proven not to be a cheater."

"Huh? Can you even do that?", asked Gary, offended for his friend.

"I can.", said Tom, as he walked to Ash. "Have you any explanation how Dreepy beat Magnezone."

Surge sighed. "All of you, follow me into my office."

"I tricked him into flying into the ground.", muttered Dreepy annoyed circling around Ash. "All ghost types can turn intangible."

"Dreepy Turned intangible when Magnezone attacked. All ghost types can do that.", explained Ash, after hearing Dreepy's explanation. "Dreepy, showcase please." Dreepy turned intangible and Tom tried to touch him, touching though Dreepy. "Weren't you aware of that?"

Tom sighed and said sheepishly, "Not really. I'm new to this and not really familiar with ghost types."

"Challengers rarely use ghosts. They mainly use grass, ground or fighting types.", explained Lt. Surge. "In that case, as an official of the Indigo League of Kanto, I apologize for the wrong accusation on my referees behalf. I forfeit, so you win the battle."

"Really? But we can just continue.", argued Ash.

"Dude, stop complaining about an easy badge from Surge!", butted Gary in.

"Is this really in the rules?", inquired Ash while ignoring Gary's input.

"Yes. While the forfeiting is optional, because my referee accused you, I have to in this case. Plus, I have to keep a reputation.", explained the Lieutenant. "Now Tom, you as the referee are not supposed to accuse challengers of cheating. Only I or other trainers who battle for the gym can. Don't overstep your boundaries."

"Got it, boss.", said Tom in a small voice.

"Tom, you leave now. Now here is your gold badge.", said Mattis, "And the tickets Giovanni wanted me to give you. Good luck for the St. Anne tournament."

"Mm... Thanks.", said Ash timid.

"Aren't you excited for the St. Anne tournament?", chimed Tom in.

"Not really. If it wasn't part of the sponsoring, I probably would ditch it."

"Why?", asked the lieutenant. "Isn't that exciting? A good practice for the league?"

"Maybe, if I reach the league.", answered Ash. I would prefer a break from excitement. If you haven't heard, Team Rocket is after my butt."

"Fair, fair. It must be scary to have a criminal organization after oneself, especially at your age.", agreed Mattis, "You don't exactly sound confident about the league."

"I don't feel about the St. Anne tournament either. I mean, most of my Pokemon were given to me, I didn't really win the badge you gave me...", told him Ash. "You probably know why professor Oak made me an OFTR?"

"Ah, I see, you don't think you deserve any of these."

"Mm, not that I live up to Mr. Sakaki's sponsorship either.", said Ash. "I'm afraid to disappoint him."

"Giovanni didn't seem to be disappointed when he talked to me about the tickets.", mentioned Lieutenant Surge. "Gary, please leave, too." Gary nod and left the office. "Now, Asher. Did Lance ask you to join the G-Men?"

"Mm, yes. Why does he think I am able? So far, I only lucked my way though my journey.", said Ash. "Professor Oak only gives me light missions, enough to justify my status."

"Yes, but that... back to Lance, you don't sound like you want to."

"Of course I don't! Not like I can't! I'm not a good trainer, I'm not courageous.", said Ash. "Isn't that like the main trait G-Men are known for? I'm afraid of so much right now. I kinda became a coward after meeting Team Rocket. And the Mindless... What if I end up like these trainer's shells?"

"You're not a coward just because you're afraid of something, everyone is afraid of something."

"You're not."

Lieutenant Surge started laughing, "My Raichu would disagree with you. I was scared out of my wits at times! You know, a wise man said that courage isn't the absence of fear, but knowing that there are things more important than what you fear. Focus on your goals and stay vigilant, kid, then it should work."

"So I just should ignore Team Rocket and the Mindless?", asked Ash. "I doubt these leave any time soon."

"No! Of course not, that would be foolish. Stay vigilant is what I am saying.", clarified Mattis. "You... if you take issue with the Mindless and Team Rocket, maybe you should join Lance's group. Your ghost powers should be key against the Mindless. But hey, you're still a kid, you can decide what you do in life. Now I let you go, your friend is probably waiting for you."

"Yeah. Bye, Lieutenant.", said Ash before leaving the office. He met Gary in the lobby Ash and Gary then left the gym. They heard Surge verbally ripping into his referee, calling Tom unfocused being one of them. Walking out of the gym, Ash told Gary, "I don't feel satisfied with my badge."
"Mm, relax. You can get your satisfaction on the Anne.", argued Gary. "Now, you were given two tickets... mind giving me one?" Ash gave him one. "You know, part of the tournament are tag teams. We better work together. It isn't unheard of that some peeps sabotage the opponents for their friends in there."

"Good point. Now what do we do until the St. Anne comes?", asked Ash, "Besides food and healing our team?"

"We'll see... wait, how many tickets did he give you?"

"Four.", answered Ash. "Any idea what to do with the remaining ones?"

Gary thought a bit. "Green and Yellow should arrive in Vermilion soon, heck, they should be here already.", he said. "If we see them, maybe we could give the tickets to the girls?"

"That is an answer, but now let us go to the center, I need to heal my team.", decided Ash.

As they walked into the center, they saw the brunette twins. Gary called out to them, "Oi, Green, Yellow! Good to see you two!"

Green – at least Ash thought she was Green – turned around from the nurse counter. "Ah, Gary! I thought you already challenged Surge?"

"I did, but I met up with Ashy-boy who just got the golden badge from that nightmare."

"Gold?! Holy Miltank, Ash!", said her sister, Yellow. Again, they are Gary's friends, so Ash is not sure who is who.

"Ah, no big deal...", said Ash.

"No big deal? It is notable you hung out with Gary.", she said, "Right, Yellow?" He got the twins wrong.

"Exactly.", agreed Yellow.

"No, really. Surge's referee wrongly accused me of cheating, so Surge forfeited... I kinda didn't beat them...", explained Ash embarrassed.

"That Bidoof called Tom didn't knew that ghost types can turn intangible.", explained Gary annoyed, "He assumed Ash cheated when his Magnezone smacked into the ground when his Dreepy turned intangible."

"That's the fifth time this Tom had done that.", chimed the Nurse in. "I'm surprised he hadn't been kicked out yet. Anyway, girls, your Pokemon are done. Who next?"

"My Datrix needs a heal.", said Ash. He gave her Pokeball to Nurse Joy. He soon got her back. The group then walked to a seating area. "So... how are things been going for you?"

"Mm, good.", said Yellow – or Green – who took her Pokemon. "Wanna see what I caught?"

"And mine!", added her sister. "You, too, Ash! What is a Dreepy? How many ghost types do you have so far?"

"One question after the other, Yellow.", said the girl sitting on the left. So Green is on the right from Ash's view. "Gary, you too."

"I start!", said Green. "I have an Ivysaur as you know, but also a Polywhirl and a Vulpix... I prioritized to build a type core before catching anything else. I want to catch a Psychic type and a Meowth."

"Good luck on that part, Green.", said Gary. "I have caught dozens, so I rotate a lot. Right now I have a Wartortle, a Growlithe, a Pidgeotto, a Sandshrew and a Electrebuzz on hand. I try to think of what to use for the St. Anne tournament."

"Oh! Exciting!", said Yellow. "I have a Charmeleon, a Seadra, a Taurus and a Nidorina. I am not sure what to catch... Joking! I want an electric type, but I can't decide what! Well, not a Voltorb! You, Ashy? Mr. Ghost? And show us what Dreepy is!"

"Show us your starter!", demanded Green. "And tell us how you got them!"

"Mm, fine." Ash took all Pokeballs. "Rowlet evolved, she is now a Datrix. And no, he is still no ghost type." He called out his starter. "Then there is Trevenant, my only fully evolved Pokemon. He is quite the story. I found him as a Phantump back in Viridian. He stayed with me while the League looked for his vanished trainer. I actually found him close to Vermilion."

"Was he a Mindless?", asked Yellow instantly.

"Mm, not really, he just had a total memory loss, but he was functional.", answered Ash. "After he was found, he traded him to me, he then evolved." Ash then called Trevenant out.

"Trevenant and Datrix have a rather one sided rivalry.", said Gary.

"Then there is Snorunt." He called her out. "She was part of a sponsorship deal I signed."

"Awesome!", said Green, "But with who?"

"With motherducklett Giovanni Sakaki!", revealed Gary.

"He also gave me four tickets to the St. Anne.", told them Ash, "Gary and I only have use for two... wanna have the others?"

"I'm not saying no!", said Green, taking one and giving the other to Yellow.

Yellow said, "Green, you, me, tag team."

"Of course! Gary, Ash, are you gonna tag?"

"Yes.", answered Ash. "Now, there is Dreepy..." He called out Dreepy. "He' a Galarian Pseudo Legendary."

"And a gift from Champion Lance.", chimed Gary in.

The twins looked at Ash in disbelief. Dead silence reigned supreme until Green said, "Ash Ketchum, you son of a Bisharp! You're so lucky!"

"Not really. I got nearly kidnapped by Team Rocket at Mt. Moon.", said Ash. "Their boss is apparently after me. Save bet because of the powers I have..."

"Okay, not so lucky... have you considered dye?", said Yellow.

"No dye manages my hair. Black would be gray, red be pink and brown be shit.", said Ash. "My last Pokemon-" "Ash got a girlfriend.", interrupted him Gary. "-No."

"Dude, the chick from Cerulean caught Frillish just for you and then waited a week to give her to you.", said Gary, "No one would just do that."

"I saved her from a Gyarados, that could be why. Not romance stuff.", countered Ash. "And I fixed her bicycle."

"Oh! Tell us the details!", demanded Yellow. Ash complied after calling out Frillish.

Started: 24th September 2023

Edited: 29th July 2024

Finished: 19th October 2023

Uploaded: 18th November 2024