Delia was not surprised her son slept until the next day. Albeit he did wake up early. She noted he was awake when he let out his Pokemon and apologized to them that they spend the night in their balls. She made breakfast. When he came down, she asked, "Good morning, Little Snorlax. I assume you slept well?"

"Not really, I dreamt of my death." he told her. "From Gary's view at that."

"Aren't you psyched out by this?" she asked. "I am."

"A bit... but our world is very weird and supernatural. Heck, my powers! Dreaming about death doesn't appear to be this weird." answered her son. "I am more worried about Team Rocket and the Mindless than that dream. I may worry if it becomes a reoccurring dream."

Delia nod. "Yes, yes, it would be better to keep a calm mind about this." she said. "You missed lunch and dinner, so eat now, Asher."

"Yes, mom." He sat down and got to eat, but not before feeding his team.

Delia joined him with her own breakfast. It didn't go unnoticed his was heartier than her sugar rush. She then asked, "Ash, could I borrow Trevenant?"

"Sure? But for what?"

"He is a grass type. I am sure he can help with my garden." she answered.

"Garden work sounds nice. I don't need training, so I would be up for it." agreed Trevenant.

"Trev agreed." translated Asher. "He is the ace of the team, so he could miss training with Gary."

As if called, someone knocked. It was Gary. As he walked in, he said, "As if you slept that much!"

"Hey! I travel with an insomniac Pokemon!" he countered. "And I dreamt about my death, so excuse me."

"You did what?" asked Gary.

"Dreamt about the accident." Ash pointed to his white hair. "From your point of view. On that note, do you recall a quadrupedal Pokemon being there? Other than the Arcanine?"

"White with a gold ring? Yes! That thing haunted my dreams for nearly two months. I... should be able to draw it." answered Gary. "I made so many for that psychiatrist Gramps made me talk to. Spooky that you saw it, too.

"Well, I dreamt about it... but maybe I saw it? Suppressed memories and such?" theorized Ash.

"Before you two do that, eat." said Delia somewhat strictly. "Gary, did you have breakfast?"

"Yes, but I won't mind a second one." answered Gary.

Ash and Gary got to a clearing near Pallet where they decided to train. Trevenant stayed with Delia like planned, even though she won't start with her garden work for another hour or two.

Time passed without either one paying much attention, when Trevenant appeared. "Trev! Did mom let you go?"

"No, but she asked me to fetch you both for lunch. Delia won't allow you to miss it again." explained Trevenant. "I actually want to help her some more. Garden work is pleasant."

Ash translated what he had said to Gary, who answered, "Of course a grass type thinks this is pleasant. Well, it is lunch time, we should go." Hearing that, Trevenant floated back, leaving the boys to their own devices.

They returned and saw Trevenant was helping Delia, who was working on a grill. "I figured the weather is nice enough for a barbecue." That pleased the boys. "Did any of your Pokemon evolve while training?"

"All of mine were fully evolved for a while now." bragged Gary.

"Lampent did. To be fair, he is a stone evolution." answered Ash. "He seemed ready. After that, he learned Shadow Ball. Oh, I ordered two TM's online, for Chandelure."

"He annoyed Ashy for nearly an hour to evolve." clarified Shuppet while laughing. "I am so happy I don't have a stone evolution."

"Ash, ordering those online-"

"Is expensive, I know." said Ash. "But I have a stupid amount of money from my battles, the sponsoring and the OFTR! And one of my passes contains free shipping for online ordering of TM's!"

"Then I didn't say anything." answered Delia. "But don't make this a habit."

"Yes, mom..."

The TM's arrived next day. While Ash worked with Chandelure to learn Dark Pulse and Flame Thrower, Shuppet and Datrix trained. While Trevenant chilled with his mom, Datrix rivalry with him seemed to move to Datrix. Asher heard Shuppet say, "I will be his ace!"

He also heard Jellicent say, "As of now it is Trevenant."

"And if someone takes over for Trevenant, it is me, the pseudo legendary!" claimed Drakload. Only to be chased by Datrix and Shuppet. Asher watched their antics and shock his head as this.

"Guys! No friendly fire! Now at least."

Jellicent told him, "I wonder what Shuppet's issues are."

"She has issues?" added Froslass. "Sure, her ability is Insomnia, but..."

"She has no sense of boundaries when it comes to Asher." pointed Jellicent out. "Then again, so does Datrix."

"Yes, but Datrix has issues because she hadn't had a trainer for so long."

"Man, I am happy I am no starter Pokemon! Those fellas and their quirks, I could never!" commented Haunter.

"Haunter..." scolded Asher.

"Jellicent, Froslass, what do you think are Shuppet's issues?"

"There has to be a reason why she is so clingy." said Jellicent. "Or why she wants to be so strong, her obsession with her Mega Evolution."

"But what could cause that?" asked Froslass. "I suppose we only know if she tells us."

"But we can't pressure her." said Asher, "It may be something she is uncomfortable to speak about."

Then a wave of fire came, nearly hitting Froslass. "Chandelure! At least pretend you can aim!" she yelled, before shooting ice at him. It just melted. "Jelli, could you may?"

"Sure." she answered, then she dozed Chandelure with water.

"Guys! Stop! Chandelure, apologize to Froslass." demanded Asher

"Fine. Even though it is an accident. Froslass, I am sorry for hitting you." said Chandelure, "Now about Shuppet, I think her issues are similar to Datrix."

"What do you mean?" asked Asher.

"Well, Datrix always acts as if the world collapses when she looses, she feels like she fails you. So does Shuppet. Then again, you use her less in battle, so you may not note it." explained Chandelure. "Shuppet had a trainer and she didn't speak positive of him. She spoke like a Poke who got abandoned."

"He is right. She sounds like a Poke who has abandoning issues." said Jellicent. "I met an abandoned Ottawatt once. Dear was heartbroken yet did not speak well of her trainer. It would explain why she is so clingy."

"And like Datrix, hates to loose." added Froslass. "She worries you may leave her too, if she fails you too often. She may think the Mega Evolution means it won't happen."

The chase over their heads stopped. Datrix and Shuppet returned to nuke it out between themselves. Asher called, "Shuppet! Come here, please! We need to talk!"

Shuppet flew to him while Datrix remained in the air. "Is there a problem, Ash?"

"No, I just have a question about your old trainer." he explained. After taking a deep breath, he asked, "Why aren't you with him anymore?"]

Shuppet remained for a bit and just floated close to Ash's face. "He was annoyed by my Insomnia."

"That was it? He sounds like a total dim wit." answered Ash.

"And because of this stupid proverb. Or the cursed Dex entries he and his friends took as gospel. That we feed on malice!" she added, sounding annoyed and angered. "Shun the house where Shuppet gather in the growing dusk, they read in an entry. This is stupid. While we are feeding on negative emotions, this helps the humans and other Pokemon."

"So... he is superstitious." rephrased Asher, "One of those, huh."

"Doesn't sound like you miss much." added Drakload. "See it that way, if he would have kept you, you would never have met Ash!"

"I suppose this is true." she admitted. "But how do I know he won't abandon me too?"

"What makes you think I would?" countered Ash. "You work well in your teams – albeit you could work on your behavior with Datrix and Chandelure, but so could they – and I admit I complain about your Insomnia from time to time, but I know this is just how you are. Not to mention, I also complain about Fros' coldness, Chandelure's heat, Jelli making everything wet, but they are just like this. Water types make things wet, Ice types make coldness, fire types heat up. Unlike your old trainer, I put the work into all your flaws to work."

Shuppet, again, remained silent. She then flew to him and huddled into his neck, her attempt at a hug. "That's why I like you and want to stay with you." She then glowed and evolved. She became a Banette. "Ah, this feels better!"

Ash scanned her in. The dex spoke, "Banette generates energy for laying strong curses by sticking pins into its own body. This Pokémon was originally a pitiful plush doll that was thrown away."

"Oh, another bogus dex entry." mused Froslass.

"Shauntal was right about the dex entries." muttered Asher, "Those are terrible."

When he returned home, he announced to his mom Shuppet evolved into Banette. "Aw, Banette looks cute!"

"Seriously? This is your reaction?" he muttered. "Now, I would need Trevenant's ball back. I want to challenge Mr. Sakaki soon."

"About that…" said Delia. "I would like to keep him. You have Datrix. She will be the same types, right?"

"Does Trevenant want that?"

"You are the Ghost Whisperer." she said, tipping his nose. "Ask him. Trevenant!"

Said ghost came. "Trevenant, do you want to stay with mom?" asked Asher.

"Yes. I lost interests in battles, the garden is more pleasing." he answered. "And when Datrix gets around to evolve, do you really need two grass types?"

"In that case, I cannot force you. Stay with mom." answered Asher. "If you ever change your mind, let me know."

"I doubt that will happen. I am old. You're my fifth trainer. I am ready to retire." clarified Trevenant. "I may join the training from time to time, for exercise."

Then Datrix flew though the room. Both Delia and Asher could not understand her. "No translation needed, Jellicent."

Someone knocked at the door. Ash got there and opened it. There was Sabrina. "We need to talk about your OFTR task." she said. Sabrina then saw Delia, "Hello, Mrs. Ketchum."

"Oh, hello. Are you Sabrina from Saffron?"

"Yes. I need to talk to Ash. In private."

"Of course. I need to go to my restaurant, anyway, so I will not bother you." said Delia. "Trevenant, follow me."

As she left, Sabrina gave him a bag. "Wired clothes, microphones mainly. Cameras are difficult to hide."

"Do you know who S is?" he asked her while looking though the clothes. They look like the stuff he normally wears. A part of him is weirded out how she knows his sizes.

"Yes, but is does not matter for now." said Sabrina. "Maybe you already met S. Maybe you will meet him. Either way, it is not relevant."

"I hope you are right." said Ash. "Well, I will go to Viridian tomorrow. Then I challenge Mr. Sakaki."

"Good. I hate to wait regarding the Mindless."

"Why do the Mindless matter so much to you?" asked Asher.

"I am a psychic, Asher. I find it very disturbing and horrifying what is happening with the Mindless. When they first appeared, I was asked to peek into their mind. What I found was a rotting mental scape. I never saw something like this and this is horrifying." she explained to him. "Accusing Giovanni may have started out of desperation, but S was so sure of it."

"How did you meet this S guy." asked Asher. "He is a guy, right?"

"He is, albeit he can act like a Diva when it comes to his hair." she told him, "We met over a forum in the dark web. I was not the first to accuse Sakaki."

"Dark web, huh?"

"There is a second reason I came. I need your help with a trade evolution." she explained. "I suppose your Haunter isn't a Gengar, yet?"

"Correct."

The night was plagued with the return of the nightmare. Another night of reliving his death. However he got a better glance at the thing. Comparing his memories to Gary's drawings was eerie. It was the thing. Then it vanished, as if it was ripped from him.

The next day when he woke up, he asked Gengar, "Did you use Dream Eater on me?"

"Yes." confirmed the Gengar. "You trashed in your sleep, your mom was worried."

"Oh Gengar, it is just a dream." said Asher. "Just a dream. I would be more worried if it depicted the future."

Asher was dressed in the clothes Sabrina gave him. He stood in front of the gym. His heart pounded as he walked in. Ash just hoped his sponsor assumed this to be normal trainer nervousness. Walking in, he felt fear. But it was not his fear, it came from the walls. This just scared Asher even more.

Then he met Judas Starman. "Ey, Ketchum! I'll be the referee for your battle with Mr. Sakaki!"

"Oh, a new job?"
"You could say so. Being an OFTR really only makes sense for the young. And Mr. Sakaki simply pays more." explained Judas. "Now follow me to the battle field, Asher."

Asher followed Judas to the battle field. Giovanni was already waiting there. "Ash, there you are. Judas, go to your spot already. I want to talk with Asher before we start."

"Sure, boss." said Judas. "Ash, I'll be the referee, too." He got up the stairs to the small balcony over the field.

"Asher, I am a busy man. I could just close this gym, but I would prefer if someone takes it over. I would like to train you as a successor, so I will treat our battle as a test." explained Giovanni, coming to the point. "Any questions?"

"Don't you have a son? Why not him?" asked Asher.

"Silver doesn't want to. I can't force him." answered Giovanni, "Not to mention, he'll be busy enough with the companies. He treats Pokemon battles more like a hobby. I would prefer someone who is passionate about this to take over the gym."

"Mm, I suppose this makes sense." answered Asher slowly. Something is odd. He can't sense a lie, but not what the lie is. It sounds logically that this Silver doesn't want to take over his father's full work load, so Asher isn't sure what the lie is. Then again, this isn't the first lie he senses from Giovanni.

Maybe Giovanni only offers to make his son jealous, to motivate him? That would be silly.

Giovanni then said, "Blaine probably used four Pokemon against you, didn't he?" Asher nod. He looked around the gym, the fear he sensed is stronger. It seems to come from under the stairs, from the doors he on his prior visit assumed were Matori's office. On that note, where is Matori?

Giovanni continued, "I would like to use full six for the test aspect."

"Sure. Six v six sounds exciting!" agreed Asher. "You know… I was aiming to open a ghost gym one day in Lavender Town, but that town is no option anymore."

That surprised Giovanni. "Why not? Isn't Lavender perfect for this?"

"Yes, but someone else is already trying to open one there and the Indigo League only allows one gym per town. Well, by the time I can open one, that guy should succeed." explained Asher annoyed. "Adding salt to injury, my father lives there."

"Oh. Looks like my offer comes in handy, then." stated Giovanni. "I expected you to make a ghost gym. Now get onto your half of the field, we'll start."

"Wait, what is with Matori?"

"She has to attend other matters. After all she is my assistant for everything." answered Giovanni. "Luckily Judas was free to ref."

Started: 20th July 2024

Edited: 29th July

Finished: 21th July 2024

Uploaded: 7th February 2025