As Asher was orienting himself, he noted who was there. Of course, the gym was surrounded by the police, but there were also the G-Men, lead by Champion Lance. Said man ran to him.

"Asher! Thank Arceus you're alright! Sabrina, she-I heard the audio. I… listen, the paramedics will take Farron to the hospital, but you'll have to come with the police. Someone should call your mother as we speak." he explained. "Stay here until Officer Jenny collects you."

"Which one?" he asked.

"Me." answered a blue haired Jenny sister. "Come with me, Ketchum." As he followed her, he could see Aurore Laverne being there. "Aurore!"

She heard him and ran to him. "I hope it is important." was all she said, crossing her arms.

"Judas works for Team Rocket." he told her. "He was in a room under the stairs in the gym, unconscious."

Her blue eyes were wide. "This traitor." She ran off.

Aurore ran into the gym with some G-Men, she was scanning the area for the doors Asher mentioned. Once she found them, she listened in. Aurore gestured to the others to keep silent. A minute later, Judas came though the wall with the help of his Gengar. "Oh… hello Aurore."

"Judas, traître!" she yelled before calling out her Florges.

"So predictable." said Judas with a smirk. He recalled Gengar and replaced him with his Arbok. His poison type jumped onto Florges and wrapped around him, before poisoning the white flower Pokemon until he fainted.

Aurore replaced him with him with her trusted starter, Delphox. Her psychic abilities knocked Arbok out, who was switched against a Vaporeon. After two hits, Aurore switched Delphox out against her Gourgeist, despite Delphox not having fainted.

Gourgeist then faced Judas' Nidoqueen. She turned her into a ghost type as well, before taking her out with the full power of her ghost moves. Sadly Gourgeist had no chance against his Gengar. Aurore's Noivern managed to beat the Gengar, but struggled against the following Magnezone. Aurore switched him out against Lapras, who got instantly knocked out by Magnezone.

Aurore returned Delphox to the battle, she burned Magnezone, but lost to the succeeding Houndoom. Judas mega evolved his last resort. Aurore sighed and called out her Lucario. "Luc, Mega!"

Lucario jumped unto the Houndoom, who winced as he bit metal, beating it into submission. When the Houndoom was done, Lucario approached Judas. Judas looked at Lucario and dropped to his knees. "I can't anymore."

Asher sat in a room in the closest Police station. He was given water, a soda and a sandwich and was told to wait. Someone will question him about the events that had gone down. While there audio recording is available, the investigators still have questions.

Someone came into the room, it wasn't an officer, but an old lady. Agatha, the Ghost specialist of the Elite Four of the Indigo league. "So, you're this Asher I've heard about. Shauntal, Lance and Surge told me about you."

"I…"

"You're overwhelmed with all of this, right?" she said, "Sweetie, calm down. The worst is over now, child. We will talk again some other day."

As she left, Officer Jenny walked in. "I have a few questions."

Two hours later, his mom came in and hugged him. "Asher, I was so worried when I was called!"

"Mom, I'm okay, just shaken." he told her. "Dad, however…"

"Farron doesn't matter, Asher." she answered. "Not for the last eight years."

"But mom, I could sense he regrets." he said. "I want to talk to him. He should be in the hospital with the Mindless ward. Dad's got shot with the machine that creates Mindless."

"I… fine. I don't want to see him, but if you want to, I'll go with you." she answered, "He needs to sign the divorce papers anyway." She crossed her arms. "Terrible that Sakaki's evil."

"Uh? Why?" he asked. "Don't tell me you-"

"No." she interrupted him all red. "Albeit he was in some magazine covers. I just hoped him as a mentor would make you drop Farron."

"I'm surprised you didn't try to use Professor Oak as a replacement." said Ash.

"Oak's too… well… Samuel wasn't an option." said Delia. "He barely manages to be a pseudo grandfather for you."

The intense smell of cleaning supplies, bleach and medicine hit them as they stepped into the hospital. According to Officer Jenny was send there. Going to the reception, Delia said, "We're here to see my husband Farron Ketchum."

"Ah, yes, room 388, Mindless ward." answered the receptionist. Her name sign read Michelle Jones. "He has no memory loss, so you can talk to him."

"Good. He owes me answers." With that, they left and took the elevator to the third level. Then they looked for the room. Five minutes later, they found the room and walked in.

"Oh… Delia… A-Asher." said Farron unsure. "I didn't think you would come to see me."

Delia put her hands on her hips and said angrily, giving the nurse tending to Farron goosebumps, "I didn't want to see you but your son wants, even though you abandoned us! However, I have some divorce papers for you to sign, Farron."

He sighed and laid back in his pillow. "Chiyo, mind leaving us alone?" he asked the nurse.

"When I re-bandaged the burn on your chest, Mr. Ketchum." answered the nurse strictly, but still friendly.

"Oh, still using my surname?" asked Delia.

"I am not going back to being called Dovorce." he said. "Even though the name would be very fitting."

"Not your divine punishment of a name, but of a new spouse?"

"Besides that I can't remarry while being married to you,", he reminded her, "I don't want to fail a new family."

"Fail? You decided to run when things got difficult." Delia countered. She took a few steps closer. "You decided to run when our son nearly died!"

Farron could see the nurse gave him a judging glare. "I… I am sorry, Delia. I thought-I didn't knew Asher survived! I just ran without thinking." he told her, tears starting to come. "When my mind cleared, I doubt-I couldn't. I was scared."

Before Delia could answer, Asher said, "You thought I died for real? That explains the shrine in Lavender Tower Cemetery."

"So, you were in Lavender." stated Farron. "You gave me a scare. I thought a ghost was haunting me. Or Arceus was playing a cruel joke on me."

"You would deserve it." said Delia, now her arms crossed.

Asher added, "Well, I was dead for a few minutes… I literally returned from the dead."

"The ghost affinity makes so much more sense, now." he stated. "Asher… Ash, I am sorry. If Delia allows it, I want to be your parent again."

"I don't know… but if you really want to, we can try." answered Ash.

Delia sighed and looked out the window. "If Ash wants. I will, however, sue you for the missed child support. Each individual yen, I needed."

"I you plan that, I recommend Harvey Dent as a lawyer." said the nurse. Delia replied with a smile.

When Asher read the article about Giovanni's imprisonment, he did not expect to receive another letter from S. But that happened mere days after they returned from visiting his father.

Asher,

We need to talk. In person. Please meet me at the coordinates under.

I know you didn't assume I would contact you anymore, but it is too important for me not to.

Please come in three days time, 3 P.M.

S.

The League had been postponed for two months, he has time.

The next day, Farron visited them. The doctors and psychiatrists concluded the machine didn't work. If it did, raiding Team Rocket's labs allowed them to figure how the machine ticks, how it works and how it can be reversed. When they are done conducting their tests.

Delia wasn't that excited for Farron to step back into the house. She eyed him like a guard watching an inmate who was left out of his cell. At least this is how Farron felt. Luckily for him, Asher's tales about his Pokemon were distracting.

"… so Taylor decided to trade Trevenant to me. He is mom's now, as he wanted to retire and work in the garden." explained Asher. "On that note…"

"Her anger for me rubbed off on him." concluded Farron. "Yeah, I deserve it. Any plans? Now that you ditched the On Field Trainer and Researcher thing. I… would train for the league with you. Only if you want."

"Mm, I plan to visit a friend I met on my travel, overmorrow. And dad, the OFTR, I at the very least need a break from this, but don't worry." answered Ash. "But other than that, sure! Maybe Drakload finally evolves by the time the league roles around. Hey, are you still trying to open a gym?"

Before Farron could answer, someone knocked on the door. Farron stood up from the couch and opened the front door. "Miss Agatha!"

"Make space, Farron. I'm looking for your son." she said, pushing him away with her cane, "Asher?"

"Here, Miss Agatha." he answered as he stood up. "What can I do for you."

Agatha sat down on the couch. "I know that Sakaki offered you to take over his gym. Well, there is an open spot now, so the League wants to offer it to you. I would mentor you for this…" she explained. "Partly because, maybe you take over my spot in a few years. The best gym leaders tend to become Elites. Unless you're like Sabrina and really don't want to."

"I would be an idiot to reject that offer! Yes!" answered Asher happily. "I have a question, though. Could I move the gym? Not just into a building but… maybe to Lavender? Not instantly, but in a few years?"

"Well, someone else already wants to open one there." she replied while eyeing Farron. "But as he is your father, maybe you can work something out. Be co-leaders or something. I think you will end up an Elite anyway."

"Really?" he asked, hopeful and excited.

"No." she said. "Blaine and I have a bet running. You becoming champion, beating Lance. Now do me a favor and beat Lance, I want Blaine's retirement funds."

Farron choked on his tea. "You bet your retirement funds?"

"Blaine bet his. I bet an old vase." she told him. "I won't be where I am today if I was that reckless."

Asher arrived at the coordinates S send him. They were an old playground in the Viridian Forest, close to the city. The most functional looking thing was a swing set.

A young man was sitting on one, his back to Asher. He had rather long red hair and wore dark purple clothes. "Are you S?" asked Asher.

"Yes." he answered, not turning around. "But you can call me Silver Sakaki. Take a seat, Asher."

Ash did as he was told and sat there.

"Isn't it ironic? Giovanni's own son puppeteer-ed his downfall. Thank you for your cooperation, by the way. Don't get me wrong, I'm a bit iffed he is in prison, but even I have to acknowledge he deserved it." spoke Silver, looking away from Asher. "I felt always conflicted about his criminal doings, but the memory wipes overstepped a line. Even moreso that he didn't stop when the Mindless popped up. Sure, he tried to fix this, but still.

Asher did not interrupt him. "You probably noted his pity for your familial situation. His criminality twisted how he shows affection, hence why I distanced myself from him. I only talked to him to collect intel that I can wire to Sabrina. I… I am sorry for dragging you into this all, but…"

"My powers were useful, I get it. I am happy to help." said Asher. "Silver, how do you feel about me and dad replacing his gym?"

"I don't care, the gym was never of great importance. Like he said, it was there to find talented recruits. However he got one thing wrong. I like Pokemon battles, I just prefer traveling than being stationary." explained Silver. "Well, but I have to be stationary for a bit. I will re-brand father's – now my – companies. This is all…"

"This is all… farewell, Silver." said Asher. He then jumped off and started to leave.

"Asher, wait." called Silver. Turning around, he looked into Silver's pale face. "Good luck regarding the League."

Ash knew he was in a dream. He remembers that feeling from when he dreamt of his death. He also knows this is no dream, or memory. He is in a void and can do as he pleases. "This is weird."

"It is not, Asher." replied a voice. Ash just knew it was a ghost type speaking. Turning around he saw the thing from the death dream. "My name is Arceus."

"You are real. I…" was all Asher could muster. "Why me?"

"Why what?" asked the God in return.

"Why did you revive me?" clarified Asher.

"You are my chosen one, Asher. I need you alive." answered Arceus. "As for why I gave you ghost powers. I did not, it was accidental."

"Chosen One…" muttered Ash. "Am I a protector?"

"Yes. The whole thing with Team Rocket was a test. Not one I created, I just found Silver's scheme a good test for you."

Asher sighed. "I assume you talk to me because you need something?"

"No. I just wanted to meet my favorite human."

The dream then ended. "Gods are weird." he whispered, "Then again, so is my life."

Since meeting the mysterious S, a decade had passed. In those then years, Asher and Farron opened the Major Ghost Gym of Kanto. While Farron's skill was close to Flint's and Erika's, Asher turned out to be super difficult.

Maybe it was the constant complains about him being too difficult, Agatha's requests or a mix of both (or that being a gym leader became kind of stale for Ash) but when he turned nineteen, he took Agatha's spot.

As an Elite, he was even more difficult, because he really could go all out. Especially his nightmare ruined many shots at someone fighting Lance. His rise to the Elites carried his fame outside Kanto's borders, especially since he sometimes substituted for the Johto Elites.

Shortly after his twenty fourth birthday, Lance pulled Asher aside after a meeting. "Hey, Ash, I… don't get me wrong, but I would like to battle someone for my title again."

Asher crossed his eyes, his long white hair framing his face as he looked to Lance as if he had grown a second head. "I am not letting someone loose, Lance."

"This is not what I implied, Ash." answered the reigning champion. "Remember Agatha's bet?"

Ash remembers. "Well, when would you like to battle? Wait for the next league, or?"

"Next league, no need to rush things, my friend." decided Lance. "To be clear, I speak about the Kanto League. But I suppose you could try out Johto as well if you want to fight your way though a full league circuit."

"Nah, I see how overworked you are heading two leagues." answered Ash. "I don't need that."

"Fair."

Asher was mentally preparing to face Lance, when Sabrina came into the room he was sitting in. She didn't say a word and dropped a folded paper in front of him. She winked and left. Asher had a feeling to know what this is. A weird sense of nostalgia set into him.

Asher,

Good luck against Lance.

I'll be watching, friend.

Silver

It felt nice to have another letter from Silver. At the same time it was weird he didn't sign as S. Then again, this secrecy hadn't been needed in years, not since Silver asked for Ash's help to propose to Sabrina.

His alarm rang. It was time.

Agatha and Blaine were watching. "I already know where to put your vase, Agatha." said Blaine confident as ever.

"And I know what island I'll retire on with your money. Alola is nice. Apparently they have a ghost specialist. Rumors have it the girl has powers similar to Asher's." answered Agatha.

Agatha eyed the stadium. Lance and Asher both walked onto the field waved at the spectators. Maybe it was the white hair contrasting the tan skin, but the female audience was more excited about the Ghost Whisperer than the Dragon Tamer.

Like expected, Lance opened with his Gyarados. He always does it. Agatha had been nagging this predictability gives his opponents an opening. As Asher had heard the same advice – albeit not always aimed at him – his style became unpredictable. He opened with Froslass. Agatha likes her the most from Asher's team. She has an ethereal beauty, similar to an Absol.

Froslass created a blizzard as soon as she saw Gyarados. Of course, the blizzard hurt her opponent, but it also allowed her to profit from her ability. In high speeds, she floated around the Gyarados and used Thunderbolt on him. The Gyarados soon was floating wonky in the air, allowing Froslass to defeat him with a Draining Kiss.

The Blizzard left by the time Lance called out his Aerodactyl. As Froslass was used to high speeds Snow Cloak gives her, she didn't dodge fast enough and got knocked out by the fossil. Agatha saw Asher thinking. Even in the middle of a fight he tries to learn. She assumed he decided to make her less dependent on her ability and more in her inherent invisibility. Hilariously enough, she had the opposite issue when Asher was newly named an Elite.

Jellicent was next. She made short work of Aerodactyl with Nightshade. Jellicent is the most independent of Ash's team. Most of the time she assesses an opponent's strength and uses Nightshade. If she considers them too weak but not weak enough to one shot, she may ask Asher. Due to her tendency of instant wins, people hate to fight her. That and her ability to disable moves. There is rarely a fight Ash isn't using her in. For all Agatha cares, this is a true Ace. Not Gengar or Banette, regardless of their Mega Evolutions.

Despite her power and winning records, Asher recalled her, replacing her with Dragapult. Lance's Salamence didn't stood a chance against him. His reputation is similar to Jellicent. Often instant wins. There had been petitions for Ash to fight the champion of Galar using Dragapult. As Leon won't leave Galar (which fueled the fire that are the theories he can't fight without Dynamaxing as he would instantly loose) and Ash is rather busy in Kanto and Johto, said petitions hadn't come far yet.

Asher switched out Dragapult as Lance called out his Kingdra. This switching tends to waste time or put the new Pokemon at risk as the opponent could charge up an attack. Asher is known to take that risk. He had Dragapult shoot Kingdra with a dragon attack. While Kingdra recovered from the impact, Asher switched him out for Decidueye. Decidueye took to the sky, before she shot her grass type arrows from the sky, giving Kingdra no chance to dodge the rain of pain.

Lance followed with Dragonite. While he is very predictable, he stopped using Dragonite as his Ace. He still is Lance's trade mark Pokemon, though. But even he had to admit Dragonite is not the strongest, fastest or even most tank-like of the team. To Lance's dismay, Asher called out Dragapult. Again.

Asher has two unknown Pokemon. He could have Trevenant with him, unlikely but not impossible, he could have Chandelure, he could have Banette or Gengar. Which one he has of the later ones is the big question. Lance has an idea how to counter the Gengar… but Banette is just nasty. Agatha knows of Ash and Lance's training battle. He never could beat Banette, even without Mega Evolution.

"Dragonite fainted, this match goes to Dragapult!" announced the referee, "Would Champion Lance Watari call out his last Pokemon?"

Lance knew he pretty much had lost. Agatha was sure he knew. Lance had only one Pokemon left, while Asher only lost one. Even Lance knew the strongest Mega couldn't beat five Pokemon. One of which being a Mega themselves.

Asher called out Banette, they lost no time to go Mega. Lance knew he was done for, but he still gave it all. At least he can end his career as the Kanto champion with a show.

Somewhere, far away in Kalos, someone regretted to have abandoned their Shuppet.

Started: 23rd July 2024

Edited: 29th July

Finished: 23rd July 2024

Uploaded: 17th February 2025

AN: There is going to be a sequel, called Death Speaker, set between scenes of Aftermath, meaning before he becomes champion, but after he meets Silver. Like mentioned, Ash did some travelling! After all, this was just a test. Arceus has a lot planned for Ash!

But before this comes, I have other projects. I need a break from Pokemon. The next fic I'll post is whatever I finish writing first. Right now, I work on two fics at the same time.

A Danny Phantom fic that... lets say it has the plot of Total Drama Island, but is set in the Ghost Zone. TDI is available on Youtube, so you can see what awaits you to some extent.

I also write on a How to train your Dragon fic, my interpretation of the "Hiccup and Toothless run away from Berk, but reunite with Berk a few years later" story line many writers in the fandom attempt but rarely seem to finish. I just want one completed Runaway fic that isn't Hictrid porn, even if it means I have to write it myself.

After these two, I have a My Hero Academia planned. Deku goes to Germany, exchange student. That fic is written out of spite, because some egg head on wattpad tried to write 'Deku visits Germany'. Not only was most of the plot just porn, then again so is most stuff on Wattpad, but they got so much wrong about Germany.

I spend nearly 15 years in the German school system, another 3 still to go, but I know for a fact our 16 systems (each state does their own shit, looking at you, Bavaria, you weirdo) but none of them are like the US school systems. We don't have middle schools. We have primary, secondary and maybe in some states optional Gymnasiums, but not Middle Schools!

After all that, Death Speaker. Title may change. (Unlikely, but Ghost Whisperer Part II isn't off the discussion table.) A third part is not planned. But the same was said about Part 2, so who knows.

I am not promising all this is coming this year. I have Abitur exams and still need to find an apprenticeship. This is just my project pipeline until Death Speaker. Not counting One Shots. One Shots are unpredictable.

Ciao for now,

ABSOLute