AN: This will be the last chapter for this year. Ghost Whisperer will be on Hiatus until January 3rd 2025, because I want to focus on a holiday project in December.

My traditional Rise of the Guardians fic.

Ciao for now, I'll see you January 3rd,

ABSOLuteOG

The next day, the double battles started. The first team was Farron and Jessica. She did not look happy to team up with him, it was clear she just teamed up with him as he was the only available option. They were battling against Judas and Aurore. The first one out of their two Pokemon was Jessica, leaving Farron in a two against one battle. But even when Aurore mega evolved her Lucario after her Noivern got knocked out, he managed to win. Judas was the most dissatisfied about his loss.

The group hoped Aurore and Judas would knock Farron out of the match, looks like they have to face him. Looks like Ash has to listen to Dreepy now. But first, The girls against Ash and Gary.

"Ladies and gents! The next double battle is between the On-Field Trainer and Researcher duo Gary Oak – Professor Oak's grandson – and Asher Farron Ketchum – the ghost whisperer – both from Pallet Town against Green and Yellow Kamado, also from Pallet Town!", announced the referee. "This is a four v four double battle, each trainer only uses two Pokemon, and follows the Indigo League rule set. Mega Evolution and similar is allowed if available, but substitutions and potions are not. Trainers, call out your first Pokemon, go!"

The friend group had the same idea, as if they shared a brain cell. Their starters! So Green's Ivysaur faced Gary's Wartortle and Yellow's Charmeleon faced Ash's Dartrix

"Oh by Arceus! A whole starter!", said a commentator. "And, what, an Alolan Starter? How neat!"

Green just snapped and pointed to Wartortle, then the water type was in the grasps of Ivysaur's vines and got slammed onto the ground.

"Datrix! Help Wartortle!", commanded Ash. Dartrix flew into the air, before free falling onto Ivysaur, using Brave Bird. Before she collided with Ivysaur, the other grass starter got hit with a phantom force, courtesy of Long Reach. Ivysaur let go of Wartortle, who water gunned Chameleon. Wartortle then waddled to Charmeleon, leaving the grass types to nuke it out under themselves. "Good job, Dartrix!"

She shot into the air, Ivysaur's vines grabbing for her. She used Peck on the vines, before grabbing them and carrying Ivysaur into the air. She used Astronish on Ivysaur, who fell onto the ground as she was jumped by Astonish. Ivysaur landed in Charmeleon. With both knocked out, Green and Yellow called in their Vulpix and Tauros respectively. Yellow spoke to Green, "Seriously, she still isn't evolved?" Green just smirked sheepishly. "Tauros, attack!"

Wartortle one shot Vulpix, proving Yellow's point. Wartortle made a grunt to Dartix who reacted to it. She carried Wartortle and then dropped him onto Tauros. With the girls beaten, Gary and Ash high five'd. Datrix hooted happily, as she didn't faint in a battle for once.

"Oi, Farron dude! Don't get beaten by a bunch of kids!", yelled one person to Farron who was away from the stage.

"Shit, we have to fight him.", whispered Ash to Gary, "Looks like Dreepy's wish will happen."

"Oh, what did he demand?", inquired Gary.

"Humiliating Farron in this."

"Tell Dreepy I'm in."

Two hours later, Ash's fight against Farron was on. Well, his and Gary's team against Farron and Jessica. He wished someone would have beaten Farron so that he doesn't have to face him. He could forfeit, sure, but that would be unfair to Gary and he won't want to give his sperm donor the satisfaction of his cowardice. He already knew the team to use. Trevenant, his ace, Frillish, his stingy diva and Dreepy, his dragon. Dreepy may not be strong yet, but he is a smart trickster. And he would like to keep the type overlap low. Yes, they all are ghosts, but their secondary types are all different. Man, he wishes he had a fire type on hand to have the type core at least.

"Ladies and gentlemen! The last double battle for this tournament! Asher Farron Ketchum, the ghost boy from Pallet Town and his fellow OFTR Gary Oak against Farron Ketchum and Jessica Star! Mm, are we gonna see a family feud? This battle is a six v six, each trainer gets to use three Pokemon, in double format, following the official league rules of the Indigo League!", said the referee, taking the commentator's thunder by mentioning the Ketchum's. "Mega evolution and similar are allowed if available, while potions and substitutions are not allowed. Trainers, call out your first Pokemon, go!"

Unlike Ash, who called out Dreepy to start, Gary choose his starter, Wartortle. Jessica choose her Arbok and Farron called out his Fearow. Farron hadn't revealed all of his six Pokemon, one reminds a secret, it is unpredictable. But Farron so far always started with his Fearow. His Blastoise was the last thing he called out. His Leafeon, Alakazam and Tauros had no fix spot in the order. Before Ash cold command Dreepy to attack the Arbok, Dreepy attacked the Fearow with Dragon Tail. Ash just sighed. His ghosts sensed his anger for his father and reacted accordingly. His eyes drifted to Wartortle who was smacking Jessica's Arbok around to the woman's shock. 'Mm, she looks familiar.'

Wartortle grabbed the Arbok by the tail and slammed them against the Fearow, getting it out of the air. Dreepy, despite bugging Fearow and turning intangible when Fearow strikes back, did not get hit. Until he flew to Fearow and was hit by Wartortle's Ice Beam as he turned visible to mock Fearow. He didn't faint, but Dreepy took damage.

"Dude, we're on the same team!", said Ash annoyed.

"I know! That was an accident, I swear!", answered Gary, "But Dreepy makes it hard to aim with his constant vanishing and reappearing."

Arbok fainted and Jessica called out her Rapidash. Its first move knocked out Farron's Fearow on accident.

"Oh, my mistake!" she said. Farron looked at her darkly, while Ash felt she didn't really mean it. Farron then called out his Alakazam. The Alakazam then knocked out Dreepy.

Ash called out Frillish, who focused on Rapidash. He heard how Gary's starter got knocked out, then replaced by Growlithe. Ash heard how Frillish planned something with Growlithe. Ash was impressed but saw an issue in their plan, the Alakazam listened in and prepare. They needed to distract him. Arceus was on their side, it seems, as Jessica's Rapidash provided just that as she was running into Alakazam. As he was caught off guard by the fire type, Frillish and Growlithe attacked the Alakazam at the same time, with Night Shade and Bite respectively. This beat Farron's Alakazam, forcing to call out his last Pokemon.

Blastoise. His evolved starter. Which he mega evolved. "Blastoise, Hydro Pump on Growlithe."

"Frillish, take the hit for Growlithe!" commanded Ash. Frillish complied, feeling her ability take effect. While she was a water type herself, Blastoise was so much stronger and knocked her out. Ash replaced her with Trevenant.

"Man, Ash! Growlithe, attack the Rapidash!" said Gary. His Growlithe used Bite on Rapidash's legs, making her fall and faint. "Rapidash's legs are so frail." This forced Jessica to call out her Lickitung. Growlithe focused on it.

"Again on the Growlithe!" This time, Ash didn't command his Pokemon to take the hit. Blastoise could simply use the move. "What?"

Ash tried not to laugh. It felt good to outplay this asshole. He was not aware that Frillish's ability disabled the move. He was ripped out of his Schadenfreude, when Growlithe got taken out by another, but weaker water move by Blastoise. 'So I disabled his strongest move. Good. I need to give Frillish a treat when this is over.'

Gary called out his last team member, Electrebuzz. It was massive and impressive. But not really trained, so Jessica's Lickitung beat it. And the Electrebuzz beat it. They knocked each other out. "Sorry, dude." said Gary as he was leaving the stage.

"Trevenant, give your all." said Ash. "And I mean all." Ash just hoped Trevenant knew he meant his cruel tricks. Trevenant did, considering he wrapped Blastoise in vines. Besides repeatedly using Magical Leaf, Trevenant got creative. He turned himself and Blastoise invisible and intangible and pulled him into the ground. Then he let go.

Thanks to the power of physics, when Blastoise got tangible again, he got rejected from the floor and repelled upwards, before slamming onto the floor, taking damage. This spiel reminded Ash of that one Hero Anime Gary made him watch. One of the heroes had an ability that allowed him to do just that, but more refined. Anyway, Trevenant knocked him out. Ash at first didn't register his win.

'I beat the dead beat. This feels good.' Then it clicked.

"The win of our small tournament goes to the OFTR Asher Farron Ketchum!" said the announcer. "May the winner choose his prize? A foreign Pokemon!"

Ash left the stage and walked to the table where the prizes were kept. He was given a medal and then asked to pick a Pokemon. On the table were around ten Poke-balls, all with a sign what they contain. His hand floated a bit over the Honedge, until he saw the Litwick. He adores the Aegislash line, but by Arceus, he wants, he needs a fire type! He wants a type core. So he choose the Unovan Pokemon and was given an Evolution stone for it.

Gary then congratulated him for the win. To their surprise, Jessica Star and Jamie Cain did the same. Jamie even asked, "Mm, my did you task your Frillish to take that hit?"

"Her ability is Cursed Body, it disables moves." he explained. "She disabled his strongest move."

"Smart cookie, you." said Jessica.

This moment of utter bliss was destroyed when the light shut down. The dimmer backup lights started, illuminating Team Rocket grunts, storming the ship.

"What the heck? What are they doing here?" asked Jamie in surprise and shock.

Two Rockets jumped in front of him. One was a red headed woman and the other a man build like a shit brick house. He smelled like smoke, too.

"So, you're the kid our boss is interested in?" said the Brick house. "Make it easy and just come with us." He then got attacked by Aurore, who tackled him to the ground.

She was followed by Judas, who was hesitating. "Ash, run!" Then the ship shook. "Oh Taurus shit, I think the boat's sinking... Everyone evacuate! Ship's sinking!" Aurore let go of the Rocket and helped the evacuation process. "Everyone call out Swimming Pokemon!"

Everyone complied. Ash and Gary ran to the deck, trying to get to the life boats. Ash was grabbed by a Rocket, but he managed to call out Trevenant and Datrix. Trevenant made him intangible, freeing that way, while Datrix aimed for the eyes of the Shit house. Trevenant carried him to the boat Gary and Aurore were occupying. "Datrix, fly around and evacuate others of needed." His starter hooted in acknowledgment and flew off.

Ash was taking deep breaths. "You okay?" asked Gary.

"Not really, I just got nearly kidnapped again." answered Ash.

"Your mom won't be happy."

"Figured." answered Ash.

"Is that Farron?" asked Aurore, pointing to a very roughed up Blastoise carrying a man.

Gary just looked away, slightly guilty. He didn't see a point to bother saving him.

Minutes later, they reached the shores of Vermillion. The cities population was there. Lieutenant Surge was running to them. "What happened? Aurore!"

"After the tournament concluded, Rockets hijacked the boat and tried to kidnap Asher. Their boss is after him." she explained. "The ship then started to sink. I am sure those are connected."

Surge looked to Ash. "Ah, they didn't get him, good." he said. Surge then looked up. "Oh, news choppers. Those Mandibuzz. You better call your families before they get the from idea from the media."

"Good call, Lieutenant." agreed Aurore. "I check on the others. I need to find Judas!"

The adults left the teens to their own devices.

"We better call your mom first." decided Gary.

Ash agreed and did just that. "Ash! Why are you disheveled?"

"You haven't seen the news, have you?" asked Ash. Delia shook her head. "The SS. Anne is sinking, we managed to evacuate. Well... Mom, Team Rocket tried to kidnap again, but Trevenant rescued me."

He saw his mother going pale. "Again? Maybe it would be better if you go home, Asher. I am sorry." Ash knows she is serious when she uses his full name, not just the nickname.

"I consider it actually."

"Oh really?" said Gary surprised. "You better inform Mr. Sakaki of that."

"Good point, Gary. And you call Samuel!" said Delia. "We better end the call."

"Wait, Delia!" said Gary. "Ash won the tournament. He won a Litwick. Ghost and fire, right?"
"Right."

"Oh, good job-It means you defeated Farron!" she praised him. "Good job! But seriously, better come home."

"Yes, mom. Love you. But I really need to call Mr. Sakaki."

She ended the connection and Ash called his sponsor. "Asher?"

Ash then informed him of what had happened. He was silent at first. When the silence got awkward, Ash added he won the tournament.

"Good, good... I... I suppose your mother wants you to stop and come home?"
"Mm, yes..."

"I see... I wanted to invite you to a test screening of a movie one of my companies makes, but if she... I will talk to her, it would be a shame if we end the program." said Sakaki. "Now rest, calm down and talk to the police. They probably want to know about the near kidnapping."

Jessie and James caught up to Cassidy and Butch on the shore of Vermillion. Jessie yelled annoyed, "By Arceus! What were you doing? Why were you trying to kidnap the twerp?"

"The boss is after him! We and the others wanted to bring him to him." explained Cassidy. "It was just a matter of time until he would have tasked us with that."

"You're wrong! The boss wants that the twerp grows his powers and comes to him on his own accord!" corrected her Jessie.

James added, "I am sure he wanted to recruit him at the gym. He always recruits strong trainers there."

"Whatever." said Butch.

"Let's call the boss, we will see who is right." said Meowth, "And who will get a pay cut."

James called their boss, who instantly yelled, "Who of you buffoons decided to kidnap Asher!"

In that moment, Cassidy and Butch knew they screwed up big time.

Delia was surprised how soon the door of her house rang. Opening it, she was on one hand disappointed not to see her son, and on the other hand confused to see none other than Giovanni Sakaki in front of her home. "Mr. Sakaki! I suppose you want to speak about Asher? And the sponsorship?"

"You are correct, Mrs. Ketchum." he confirmed.

"Then come in. Could I offer you coffee, tea or water?" she offered. She runs a restaurant, she knows how to be a hostess.

"Mm, a black coffee would be nice." he said. "Not a Unovano. That stuff is more water than coffee."

That made her laugh. "Yeah, those are overrated."

Sitting on her kitchen table, he said, "Asher called me and said you would prefer if he were to come home and lay low. Which is understandable, Mrs. Ketchum."

"Call me Delia."

"Okay, Delia. Then call me Giovanni. Well... before that is decided, I wanted to invite Asher to a test screening of a movie my company makes, in Unova." explained Giovanni. "I understand if you are uncomfortable if Asher leaves the region. I would extend the invite to you, if this calms your mind?"

Delia was thinking. "Mm, if anything, as Team Rocket is only active in Johto and Kanto, he probably would be more save in Unova... and it would be a nice distraction."

"That's why I am here."

"Mm... yes. And I would love to come as well." agreed Delia. "Now what type of movie are we talking about?"

"A hero movie. Those are all the hype right now."

AN: In my outline, I wrote that Farron would be beaten by someone and Ash would fight Jessie instead in the last match. But I kinda didn't look at my outline, so that didn't happen. I also planned that Giselle makes a cameo in the tournament (and looses first round to show that the school sucks) but that also got changed. And he battled Gary at last instead as well. Anyone else who just ignores outlines?

Did you notice what dear Jessica did? Also, I enjoyed calling Butch a Brick Shit House a bit too much.

Regarding the Unovano coffee: It is an Americano, but America does not exist in the world of the fic, so it is an Unovano.

Ciao for now,

ABSOLute

Started: 22th October 2023

Edited: 29th July 2024

Finished: 17th February 2024

Uploaded: 28th November