Ash noted Gary was oddly silent when he returned from his little detour. At first he was annoyed his friend ditched him, some Lavender natives had been bugging him due to his powers. But he couldn't be mad at Gary for long. His friend said he was uncomfortable with Lavender Town. Makes sense, most people aren't comfortable in Kanto's most haunted town.

"Hey, Gary. If you want, we can leave town now, if you want." he offered him. "I could catch a Gastly somewhere else, right?"

"Sure. Hey! We could go to Maiden's Peak. It is the second most haunted town in Kanto and Gastly are quite common there, too." proposed Gary. "And it is close to Johto, maybe you even find a Misdreavus who crossed borders."

"Eh, I am not that interested into a Misdreavus." answered Ash. "But we can go there."

As they packed their stuff, Gary was, for a second, considering to break the shrine Farron had placed. He then scratched that idea. The tower has to be respected, regardless how much he dislikes Farron. He still vanished for an hour, before meeting Ash at the car.

"Where have you been?" asked Ash.

"Was just checking on something." answered Gary. His friend just rolled with the answer and both left town. They passed the row houses and saw someone had thrown a brick though a window of the shady house. "Poor guy, someone broke his window."

Ash ignored the comment, more focused on the thought of catching a Gastly. "Gary, did Professor Oak message you about the job we did?"

"He said we – well, mainly you – did well." answered Gary. "Miss Niijima was happy."

"Do you think I deserve the Key Stone Professor Sycamore gave to me?" asked Ash.

"The fact that you ask that tells me you do not." countered Gary, focusing on the street. "What's the issue?"

"I… Sycamore knew Oak's tasks are just… a distraction. He doesn't give me the task because he thinks I am capable."

Gary pointed out, "Doubt that, Ashy. Gramps won't risk Niijima's project just to distract you. You are capable."

"With ghosts, yes, but I don't feel taken seriously as a trainer." countered Asher. "You know… never mind, doesn't matter."

"It matters if you wanted to mention it."

"Oh, focus on the road, Oak tree."

They soon checked into a hotel. Maiden's Peak, unlike Lavender Town, became a tourist spot. Their main revenue source, and name sake, was the legend of the vengeful maiden. It seemed to be important considering their receptionist felt the need to tell them about it as soon as they checked in.

Ash and Gary got two separate rooms – turns out that was cheaper than rooming – albeit on opposite ends of the second level of the building. Gary was going to Ash's room after he was done unpacking, when he heard Ash talking. Apparently his friend was phoning someone.

Ash considered to call Giovanni, so when the man called him he had no reason to decline the call. "Hello, Mr. Sakaki. What can I do for you?"

'Ash, call me Giovanni. No 'Mr.' business, son.' he answered. 'You sound a bit off? Did something happen in Kalos? Or your job in Lavender?'

"I… Lavender Town was fine, even if I didn't find a Gastly I clicked with, but Lavender was fine. And in Kalos… it wasn't a real issue. It is just… Professor Sycamore admitted Oak only send me there to keep me away from Team Rocket." said Asher, not noting Gary eavesdropping. "I… I feel like a looser who can't do anything on his own."

'Asher, you aren't a looser. You're doing great, just remember the tournament on the St. Anne! You're skilled. And Team Rocket, that they are after you doesn't mean you're without skill of note. If anything, it means the opposite.'

"So, I should be honored that a criminal organization wants me?" asked Ash sarcastically. "Great…"

'That's not what I meant.'

"Well, regardless, I've been thinking about giving up the OFTR position and your sponsorship." he revealed with a heavy sigh. "It doesn't feel earned."

'Okay, the OFTR, I understand, but the sponsoring? You're overthinking that, Ash.' said Giovanni. 'You know, depending how this sponsorship goes, I wanted to offer you a different deal. I wanted to ask you if you would want to become my successor. And, for a while at least, my co-leader for the gym.'

Ash's pupils dialed hearing that. "Me, co-leader of your gym? I don't know what to say."

'For now you have nothing to say about it. Let's discuss this after the League, son.' he assured him. 'And keep the sponsorship. As for the OFTR, considering how Oak treats you and his motive, I would say ditching that one isn't a bad thing.'

"I… I will think about it." said Ash. "You know, I'm in Maiden's Peak right now, trying to catch a Gastly. While I already have seven Pokemon, it feels weird not to have the one line native to my home region."

'Right, I've read about your Shuppet. A pure ghost type sounds a bit risky, but you do you.'

Gary felt numb, hearing that Ash considers to ditch his sponsorship and the OFTR. The later, understandable to some degree, but still. "I need to tell… Delia? Gramps? Both?"

Samuel Oak hates doing work on the PC. Not even because sorting files is boring, but because he isn't that good with tech. Sadly the files are too classified and important for him to push that duty onto his assistant, even if Tracey Sketchit sits right on the desk behind him.

Then he got a call, video chat with Professor Augustine Sycamore. He accepted it, 'Finally, an excuse not to sort files.'

"Samuel! I need to borrow Ash again!" announced Sycamore. "No, he does not need to return to Kalos, I just need someone to catch a few Kanto Pokes for me to study, ones not available in Kalos."

"You sure you want Ketchum for that?" chimed Tracey in. "He has like zero actual catching experience."

"Tracey, shut it!" scolded him Oak. He told Sycamore, "I am certain Ash would help you. He just finished a job on Lavender Town, so he should be free."

"Not like he's busy with his badges, he hadn't gotten one in a while." muttered Tracey.

"Oh, I am sure he can do it on the side." assured him Sycamore. "Right now, I only need a Vulpix."

Then, Oak got the message Gary is calling. "Oh, could my grandson join the call? He's with Ash, so he could play messenger."

"Sure." agreed his colleague.

Oak added Gary to the video chat. "Gary, Professor Sycamore listens in, keep that in mind."

"Oh? The prof who gave Ash that Key Stone?"

"Yes, that was me, young Oak!" confirmed Sycamore. "I would ask if he used it already, but Shuppet is still, well, a Shuppet, right?"

"Right. Gramps! What are you doing to Asher? I overheard him calling Mr. Sakaki. Ash considers to ditch the OFTR and sponsorship!" explained Gary, getting the attention of Tracey and Sycamore.

"What in Xerneas name are you doing, Samuel? I noted Ash had a low self esteem, but giving up the sponsorship and the OFTR!" complained Sycamore. "I understand you're worried about him, considering his near death and the thing with that team, but Asher isn't a frail egg, Oak! You need to have some hope-trust in him!"

"Professor Sycamore is right!" chimed Tracey in.

"You said he has no capture experience!"

"That was a bad joke, okay?!" admitted Tracey. "Seriously, give the kid some trust, no wonder he has issues."

"Anyway, Gary, could you tell Ash I have a task for him, not spawned by Oak."

"Sure, prof! But I need to call Delia Ketchum first, she should know that Ash may ditch the OFTR and sponsorship." said Gary.

"I could do that for you." offered Tracey.

"Nah, I call her myself."

At first Delia was happy Gary was calling her, but then she was worried Gary was calling her. Why wasn't Ash calling her? Worrying for the worst, she accepted the call. "Gary, did something happen to Ash?"

"No, your son's fine. We're at Maiden's Peak. He's trying to catch a Gastly." explained Gary. "Lavender Town was eh in that department."

"Oh, then why are you calling?"

"I… overheard Ash talking with Mr. Sakaki. Ash said he considers to ditch the OFTR and sponsorship." admitted Gary. "Thought you should know."

"I… why?"

"Your deal with Oak, Ash feels not taken serious. He has low self esteem." explained Gary. "Listen, Delia. I know you made that deal with gramps to protect Ash, but I don't think that would be good for his mental health… not to mention, it could make him more vulnerable for the Mindless, or at least what makes them."

"You think?"

"Their issues are bound to the mind, so it is my best guess."

"I won't ban Ash from being a trainer." she promised. "Anything else, Gary?"

"I… in Lavender Town, I saw Farron. He lives there." he said. "Farron placed a shrine for Ash into the Lavender Tower. It seems like he thinks Ash is dead. Thought you should know that, too." He ended the call.

"That… did my messages ever reach Farron?"

Giovanni didn't mean to read that newsletter, but the article that made the front page was quite eye catching.

Lavender Town Home got window broken by brick by Futaba Sakura

The fact that it didn't read 'break in by brick' was what made him interested. The article read:

Last Wednesday, around noon, someone threw a brick though the window of a house in Lavender Town. Lavender Town, as Kanto's most haunted location, rarely sees crimes, be it petty crimes. The house in question belongs to Farron Ketchum, an average man living in the not so average town. He is known for attempting to establish a ghost gym in the town. Mr. Ketchum is well liked in the town, so no one knows who would have thrown the brick. As there was no signs of a break in – broken window being point of entry – the police doubts it was a break in.

Giovanni nearly ripped the paper, when he read the name. "So, Asher's father is in Lavender? And he tries to establish a gym there?" He decided to manipulate that endeavor. Maybe he can take advantage of this data to corrupt Asher into joining his team.

Ash was pleased to hear he had a task from Sycamore. And it was something that finally required actual trainer skills, not ghost powers!

Even if he had to catch a Vulpix. As of now. So he added the fire type to his mental list while exploring Maiden's Peak and surrounding.

Said town, despite being the second most haunted location in Kanto, was quite beautiful. It was at the sea, there was the stone of the maiden. It was pretty to look at. Ash decided to take a photograph of both – especially as the sun was setting, bathing everything in a wonderful golden light – and send them to his mom, with the message, 'Should I get you a souvenir when I am already here?'

"Ash, we should go to our hotel. It is getting late." requested Gary.

"What? Don't tell me you're scared of the Vengeful Lady?" mocked Ash.

"Oh, please! If your powers are anything to go by, she could be real!" countered Gary.

"You can go. Night is prime Gastly time." answered Ash, observing his surroundings. "And if she is real, maybe I could help her move on."

"Of course you would consider that." muttered Gary. "Fine, I stay with you."

So they scouted the surrounding area for Vulpix and Gastly. Ash had an advantage as he could see in the night, while Gary needed his flashlight.

Ash saw a Vulpix, "Finally!", and took aim with a ball, but when Gary aimed his flashlight as it, the Vulpix fled. "You know what, even if you don't go to the hotel, maybe we should keep some distance."

"I suppose you're right, Mr. Night Vision."

"What is up with these nicknames?" asked Ash. "Got Ashy-boy boring?"

"Yeah…"

Gary decided not to fray too much from the path they were on. They were in a forest, it was dark, but he was trying to catch something, so the flashlight should be off. He should invest into a flashlight with differing intensity settings.

He opted to point the light onto the ground and just walked around while Ash was who knows where. Gary saw leaves falling, a tree was rustling. "Looks like someone took to the trees, again." He laughed at his friends antics. "You're worse than a Primape." No answer. "Ash?"

Gary pointed his flashlight to the tree where he thought Ash was on, but instead he saw a thin lady in a traditional dress instead. Gary dropped the flashlight and ran. "Asher! The Maiden!"

The lady jumped off the tree and floated over the flashlight, looking after Gary who ran to the town proper. She landed and grabbed the flashlight. Then a tree rustled and Ash jumped out, landing besides the Maiden. She then dropped the light.

"Oh, did I scare the apparition?" he asked. "In that case, you're not that scary."

She said, albeit her voice sounded male to Ash, "Aren't you a weird one."

"I hear that often." he answered. He then realized what was odd about the voice. It sounded like a Pokemon voice. "Why do I have the feeling you're a Pokemon?"

The maiden morphed into a Gastly. "I am a Pokemon."

"Cool. May I ask why you pretend to be the Vengeful Maiden, Gastly?" he asked.

"I was bored, so I decided to give this old legend some life." he answered. "Now I am bored again."

"You say that as if I demand you to stop." Ash said. "If you need entertainment, you could join my team, if you're into fights."

The Gastly floated a bit around. "Mm, I miss rough housing with my fellow Gastly's, before they decided to be boring. What do I get besides entertainment?"

"A home, company, food, medicine if needed." counted Asher. "Most of my Pokemon are also ghosts, albeit Datrix has yet to earn her ghost typing."

"Food, shelter and playmates?" The Gastly said, "Count me in!"

When he returned to the town, he found Gary waiting at a store front. "You look relaxed. What happened, was that a prank of yours?"

"Gary, you know I can't do illusions." answered Ash, before taking out Gastly's Pokeball. He let him out. "This lil' guy can, though. He was bored and pranked us. I caught him, he's cool."

"So, now you have your Gastly." said Gary.

"I am sure now my squad is complete." said Ash. "Albeit, you never know what crosses our path… and I am considering a Vulpix."

"Huh? Vulpix? But it isn't a ghost type." wondered Gary.

Asher argued, "That is kinda the point. It is mysterious, and it would be a nasty surprise to any opponent who assumes all of my team are ghosts. Imagine calling out a Shifty, thinking the next opponent is another ghost, when there's a Ninetails, ready to set the Shifty on fire."

"I see, you got that idea from Mr. Sakaki?"

"His lack of type commitment did inspire me." he admitted. "Now let's go to our hotel, I am tired."

Thank Arceus Gary decided to get his own room – even though it was expensive due to Maiden's Peak being a tourist trap – because Shuppet's insomnia was kicking in again. Hard.

Ash was awake and decided, "Shuppet, if you keep me awake, then at least I could scan Gastly in."

Doing that, the Dex droned on, "Gastly, the Gas Pokemon. With its gas-like body, it can sneak into any place it desires. However, it can be blown away by wind. Its body is made of gas. Despite lacking substance, it can envelop an opponent of any size and cause suffocation. This exemplar is male. He knows the moves Lick, Hex, Payback and Clear Smog. He has the Ability Levitate."

"Not too shabby." mused Ash, "I have to admit, Shuppet, your set is more impressive."

"Yeah…" she answered, nearly whispering.

"Is something wrong, Shuppet?"

"Everything is fine." she assured him, 'Now that I am with you, Ash.'

They planned that they would go their separate ways again, but when Gary saw how tired Asher was – thanks to Shuppet – Gary decided to drive Asher to Saffron City, Ash's next stop.

"Are you sure you want to battle Sabrina?" asked Gary. "She's tough."

"I am not stupid, I will train for a few days – as well as trying to fix my sleeping rhythm – before fighting her." answered Ash. "That, catching a Vulpix and getting a hair cut. My hair's starting to get long."

"Does it annoy you?"

"Not really, I just spend too much on shampoo, that is all." said Ash. "Now lemme sleep." He closed his eyes and focused on the samey noise of the motor.

"Will do."

Five seconds later, Ash's phone rang. The ring tone he choose for his mom. He fished his phone out and accepted, "Hello mom! What is it?"

'First of all, I hope you got me a souvenir.' He did, even if she would have said no. 'Secondly, a Pidgey told me you consider to ditch your sponsorship and the OFTR! Asher, please don't. I mean, I would be okay if you stop being an OFTR – albeit I would prefer if you prove Samuel wrong – but please don't make any rushed choices about the Sponsorship.'

Ash was silent for a bit. "Aren't you worried?"

'Yes, but I cannot force you to stop enjoying your life.' she answered. 'Just be careful. And call me regularly.'

"Yes, mom. And I got you a souvenir, multiple actually." said Asher. "Oh, and I caught a Gastly, finally."

"The little shit made an illusion, pretending to be the Vengeful Maiden of the Maiden's Peak." chimed Gary in, annoyed by yesterday's events.

'Oh! Another team mate.' she said. 'You have eight now, right?'

"Yeah. I would say I am done catching, but I consider adding a Vulpix or some non-ghost type." admitted Asher. "And you never know what I cross paths with. Who knows, maybe I catch Giratina! Ha!"

'No legendaries, Asher.'

"Yes, mom."

Started: 22th May 2024

Edited: 29th July 2024

Finished: 22th May 2024

Uploaded: 13th January 2025