Delia Ketchum was tormenting one of her frying pans, meaning she was washing it aggressively. She was thinking about what Gary told her. Farron was trying to visit her. Gary told him she is on vacation. He may turn up here again and this just pisses her off.
"This idiot! Daring to turn up again after abandoning us-" The panhandle broke off. She took a breather. "Think about Unova, Delia. Think about the nice hotel Giovanni paid for…"
A shame Giovanni isn't her husband.
She stopped doing the dishes and dropped the pan and her sponge into the sink. Ash and Giovanni are quite close – at least she has this feeling – Giovanni is probably more a father figure than that waste of space Farron. Even if Ash doesn't have a good track record as a trainer, maybe it would be better for him to continue.
She will allow him to continue.
His time in Kalos soon ended. As he was packing his things, Sycamore gave him a letter and a box. He told Ash, "Please open those when you're in Kanto, not earlier. Better yet when you're home."
"Uh, okay?"
As soon as the Professor's other assistants dropped him off at the air port – Sina and Dexio are so weird, even for his standards – the curiosity became torture. The letter and box – not bigger than a ring box, then again it seemed to be a ring box with the brand name filled off – were right there in his backpack, yet he cannot open it. Well, he could, but he promised the Professor to wait until he is home.
With him on the plane was Datrix, having her own seat right besides him. Unlike Dreepy assumed, she reacted quite well to Shuppet. While she was a bit jealous, Datrix is jealous at all ghost types! And her rivalry with Trevenant is moreso about them having the same types than just the language barrier.
Dreepy himself was rather neutral with Shuppet… while Litwick was frustrated with her. At first. He did end up warming up to her after a few days, mainly due to her dedication to Ash and training. According to Dreepy, Snorunt was a bit irritated by her eagerness. Frillish was just happy to have a new team member.
Until they realized the big issue with Shuppet. Her ability. While an immunity to such a prevalent status effect is nice, Shuppet is literally insomniac. It doesn't help that she likes Ash's personal space, so she kept him awake quite a few nights, asking to train.
Due to that, Ash forgot about the box and the letter an hour into the flight as he fell asleep due to ghost induced sleep deprivation.
After twelve hours – not as long as the fourteen hour flight from Kanto to Unova, but longer than the seven hour flight from Unova to Kalos – Ash finally arrived in Kanto. Datrix woke him with a slap of a wing, as she felt the plane descending.
There he was picked up by his mom. After they hugged each other, she pointed out, "Ash, you have eye bags! Didn't you sleep? What did that professor make you do?"
"Professor Sycamore wasn't the problem! I caught a Pokemon, a Shuppet with intense Insomnia. She kept we awake. Huh, I slept though most of the flight." he told her.
"Well, you will spend a few days at home to fix that sleeping schedule of yours, young man." she demanded.
"Yes mom." Ash knew this wasn't a fight he could win. As soon as they were driving to Pallet, he fell asleep again.
As they arrived in Pallet, Delia did not wake her son up. Instead she carried him into the house and to his room with the help of Trevenant. As he slept, she took the liberty to let his team out in the living room. "Okay, who of you is the newbie my Ashy caught?"
Shuppet flew into the picture and floated around the room.
"Ash is asleep, please do not wake him, Shuppet." she told the Pokemon. "Now, while he sleeps, I better feed you seven."
Ash may have been sleep deprived enough that thirteen hours of sleep didn't fix the issue, but when he smelled food, he woke up. As he stood up from his bed, he spotted his backpack on his desk. There he saw the letter peaking out. He figured he could read it real quick and checkout the box, after all he is home now.
The letter itself was written in pretty hand writing – Ash and his Torchic scratch could never – and clearly written by the Kalosan professor.
It read:
Asher,
Samuel Oak asked to take you under my wing for two reasons. First of all he did it to give you a distraction. I know about Team Rocket's attempt to kidnap you. Secondly, he send you to me to keep you away from said group.
You probably feel insulted that he treats you like an egg – no, insulting isn't the right word – and I have to disagree with Oak. You are able, your ability to understand Pokemon, even if your team translates, gives you an edge.
Samuel is a well meaning idiot, don't get disheartened by this. Don't give up and good luck, especially with Shuppet! Now open the box, I am sure you two can use it well!
I hope we meet again,
Professor Augustine Sycamore
Ash sighed. He isn't surprised by Professor Oak's motives. It is nice to know that Professor Sycamore feels the same way, though. He then fished for the ring box and opened it. It was a Key Stone.
"Well, he did say Shuppet and I could use it." If this isn't a sign that Sycamore thinks he can do it, then Ash has no idea. He put the letter away and started to go to the kitchen.
Delia gave him a big serving of a vegetable casserole she had made, as he hadn't eaten a thing since he left Kalos. After eating around half of the dish, he asked, "Mom? You said I will spend a while at home… how long? Should I call Mr. Sakaki?"
She sat on the table and laid her fork down. "I am not banning you from being a trainer, if that is what you worry. I only want you to be careful. I don't want you to give up your sponsoring with Giovanni."
Hearing that was relieving. "Good. Because Professor Sycamore gave me a Key Stone, I want to use it!"
"Try to send me footage when you do it." she requested. "Now finish eating, Ash."
Days later, Ash was meditating – something Delia demands him to do, because she thinks it helps with his powers, a theory neither proven nor disproven – when someone knocked on the door. Delia looked worried when she said, "I get the door, Ash."
While he was supposed to continue with his meditation, Ash stopped anyway and looked to the door, wanting to know who knocks. Delia opened the door, Ash could hear a relieved sigh from her. "Oh, it is just you, Gary."
"Should I be insulted?" he wondered. "Gramps said Ashy's back! In fact, he has an OFTR job for us. It requires Ash's ghost type expertise."
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Lavender Town." answered Gary.
Ash gasped, "Really? I can catch a Gastly there!"
"I thought Shuppet is supposed to be your last Pokemon." muttered Dreepy.
Frillish told him, "Not like our trainer actively plans stuff."
"To be fair, Gastly is native to his home, of course he would want one." reasoned Trevenant.
Gary joined Ash on the living room floor. "How was Unova and Kalos, Ashy-Boy? And how was the movie?"
"The movie was cool, albeit the CGI could have been better at parts. We didn't see much of Unova, but we met the Ghost type Elite of the Unovan League." told him Ash. "Kalos was cool, too. I caught a Shuppet there! And I got my hands on a Key Stone and Banettite!"
Gary was impressed. "Not gonna lie, I am jealous. Now, what about the eye bags?"
"Still visible? Oh Giratina!" he complained. "Shuppet has Insomnia, the ability and the disorder." Hearing that, Gary couldn't help himself but to laugh. "Very funny, Gary."
"Well, pack your things, we're needed in Lavender, Ashy."
The next day, they left for Lavender Town. Gary was driving and Ash catching a few Z's on their way to Kanto's most haunted area. Despite that status, Lavender is as of now considered to be Mindless free. The only good point the town has with non-Lavender Townies.
As they reached Lavender, Ash woke up. "Mm…"
"Mornin' Sleeping Beauty." joked Gary. "Well, lunch time, I suppose."
"Gary, what exactly is our job here?" asked Ash, while fishing an energy drink from his backpack.
"Ash, take the can from the holster, that one is cooled." said Gary, bragging with one feature of his car. "Our job is to research how Gastly's raise their young. The town is very skeptical of outsiders, but they would allow you into the sacred tower – apparently it is or was some sort of cemetery – due to your 'spirituality'. Oh, some Lavender peeps want to interview you, Ghost Whisperer."
"Huh." was all Ash said, "So I will do most of it."
"Yeah, I am essentially just your assistant." admitted Gary. They then arrived in the town, so Gary had to find a parking lot. Unlike places like Viridian and Pallet, Lavender Town wasn't build with cars in mind. You're supposed to walk. "Let's get started."
"What? That we can leave as soon as possible?"
Ash was partly right, Gary would like to leave Kanto's most haunted town. "That and that you can catch that Gastly." he said. "How do you feel, being here? Your powers must react to Lavender Town, right?"
Ash took a breather. "Lavender feels nice. It is refreshing to feel so much supernatural energy. Now, where are we supposed to meetup with the people who research the Gastly's in the tower?"
"A house close to the tower, I have the address."
The house itself was run down, no wonder the town gave it to the researchers who work on a project they are skeptical about. In there were three scientists and a town official, arguing about the project.
"Where is that Ghost Whisperer?" asked the only female scientist slightly annoyed, pushing her glasses up. She looked unassuming with her dark blue pixie cut, yet her voice was sharp.
"I am here, Miss." said Ash.
"Ah! You must be Asher!" said the official excited. "Professor Oak told us about you! I am nearly offended that we haven't heard of you earlier. Is it true that you can understand ghost types?"
"Yes! You can ask Professor Sycamore from Kalos if you need a cross reference." answered Asher.
The scientist didn't waste time and said, "Ghost Whisperer, we need you to go into the tower and tell the resident ghost types that we only want to learn about them, how they want to be approached. And if some of them would answer some questions. You, of course, will translate."
"Sae, kid just arrived." said one of her colleagues. "I for my part want proof that he can understand ghosts. We can't just take things on face value, we need proof."
"Akechi has a good point." said the third.
"If even you say so, Amamiya." answered Sae. "Ketchum, before you start, I want you to translate Akechi's Duskull. Akechi!"
"On in, Miss Niijima!" he answered, before calling out his Duskull. "Dusker, this kid will translate what you say. Please tell him… mmm… ah, tell him what my other Pokemon are!"
'That's why you called me out? Well, kid, listen. He has a Blaziken and an Absol, called Kicks and Solstice respectively.' said the Duskull.
"According to your Duskull, you have a Blaziken called Kicks and an Absol called Solstice." translated Asher.
"Oh, the kid's the real deal!" confirmed Akechi. "He's good to go, Sae."
"It's Niijima on the job, Akechi." answered the apparent head scientist.
Gary was allowed to accompany Ash into the sacred tower. Ash had Dreepy and Shuppet out. "Dreepy, Shuppet, could you find the resident ghosts for us?"
'Sure!' answered Dreepy before shooting into the ceiling. Shuppet followed him more slowly.
"Your Dreepy's so weird! With that energy I have to wonder when he evolves." commented Gary.
"Dreepy will evolve when he evolves." answered Ash. "Ah, I sense them returning."
"Already?"
'The Gastly's found us!' chirped Shuppet, descending from the ceiling, followed by Dreepy, a Haunter and a few Gastly's.
'I was told you can understand us, white hair. Why are you here?' asked the Haunter. 'Can you really understand us?'
"I can understand you, and don't call me 'white hair', call me Ash." he answered. "We were send by scientists who want to research about you. They mainly want to know how the Gastly line and ghosts in general raise their young, compared to other Pokemon. They only want to observe and ask questions, I would translate. They won't go into your tower if you don't want to."
'So you are a Medium! Well, if they only observe, we are open to allow them in.' answered the Haunter. 'Go, get your people. While I allow it, I would prefer to get this over with as soon as possible.'
Sae Niijima was pleased to hear this. With a light smile she said, "This Haunter sounds efficient. We will start."
While Ash was translating the ghost types, he kept an eye open for a Gastly that would fit into his team. But the more Gastly's he translated, the more he realized none of them wants to leave the tower. He can't be mad at them for not wanting to leave home.
When the work was done, or at least Ash's translation wasn't required for the day, Asher and Gary explored Lavender Town, mainly to find a spot to eat something. They found a little cafe, from there they could see a row of houses. All of them were small, looked like they were cheap rent and all looked lived in. Well, one house did not, even though there were curtains in the windows.
The pool in front of the shady house was empty, dried and wasn't used in a while.
"Look at that house, maybe you could move there. It even has a pool!" commented Gary. "I think you would like Lavender, Lavender sure likes you. Even though they normally have problems with outsiders."
"To be fair, the rest of Kanto tends to shit talk the town." countered Ash. "Lavender Town sure would be a good location for a Ghost type gym."
Gary asked surprised, "Are you planning to become a gym leader?"
"I consider it, as an option." answered Ash. "We're newbie trainers, I doubt anyone of us could become champion on our first try."
"Finally a more level headed newbie." chimed the waitress in. "Not to pop your bubble, but the house you talked about is lived in. The owner's just traveling a lot. Albeit I saw him returning on my shift yesterday."
"So, he lives alone?" asked Gary.
"Yeah. Rumors have it he wanted to move someone it, hence he got a house opposed to an apartment, but that felt flat." she told them. "That guy's trying to set up a ghost gym here for years now, so far his attempts also failed. Rumors have it he fails due to depression."
"Poor guy." commented Ash.
She left and their talk returned to his trip to Kalos. "How did you get the Key Stone, anyway?"
"It was a parting gift from Professor Sycamore." answered Ash, slightly frustrated. "You know, that stint in Kalos was another scheme of that grandfather of yours, to keep me away from danger. Sycamore acknowledged that, gave me the stone, told me not to give up."
"Oh." said Gary. He sighed. "Ash, you know how gramps is, he can be a well meaning idiot at times."
"Funny, this is the same Professor Sycamore said."
Gary started to laugh at that, finding the fact a guy on a different continent considers his relative to be that as well. While he laughed, his field of view returned to the shady house. The front door opened and a Blastoise came out, followed by its trainer. Followed by Farron.
"So… our work is over, are we leaving now?" asked Gary, "I mean, we could spend the night here… but unlike you, Mr. Phantom, I am not comfortable here."
"Miss Niijima said she may not need me anymore, but the whole project ends tomorrow anyway, so why not be there, in case Niijima ends her mind?" countered Ash. "I want to be a reliable OFTR. And honestly, I don't want to leave just yet, not before I catch a Gastly! You can leave on your own, Gary, if you're that bothered."
"Eh, I am more bothered by traveling alone than by Lavender's ambient, well, everything." answered Gary. 'But I am even more bothered by Farron being here.'
"Then we will check into, wait, Lavender Town Poke Center has no boarding."
"Not like we can't afford hotels. Mr. Sponsoree."
The next day, Ash noted Gary was more vigilant. He was more observing of their area, as if he was looking for something. But he returned to being normal when they assisted Niijima's team, even though there really was no need to translate. They only observed. One Haunter allowed them to watch how anew Gastly hatched from an egg, even.
It turned out the tower – which worked less like an actual cemetery but a place containing many tiny shrines of the dead – was still in use. Gary was exploring the lower, more used levels, out of a very morbid curiosity. That happens when you hang out with a boy who should be dead and speaks to the dead.
Down there, he walked though a labyrinth of miniature grave stones. The shrines were essentially just that, tiny grave stones. No wonder some call this a cemetery. Walking though the rows, he read the names out of curiosity. Then he froze when he read 'Asher Farron Ketchum'. Gary kneed to get a better view of the stone.
The stated age matched the date of Ash's accident, near death experience, temporary death, whatever you call it. "By Arceus, what is this doing here?" Gary photographed it with his dex. He stood up as he heard someone else climbing the stairs. Up. Not down. Not a scientist, but a person who wants to use the tower for its purpose. Gary then, again, spotted Farron. He walked away and hid behind some bigger grave stones and eyed Farron.
Said man stopped in front of Ash's stone and touched it. Gary sneaked a bit closer.
"No, no, it must have been a, a doppelganger. Yeah, a trick of the universe." he heard Farron speak. He then stood up and left, leaving Gary confused.
Gary left his hiding spot. "Does he think Ash died?"
AN: That the title is like the total opposite of what is actually happening is intentional. Who of you recognizes which game I referenced?
Ciao for now,
ABSOL_ute
Started: 20th May 2024
Edited: 29th July 2024
Finished: 22th May 2024
Uploaded: 8th January 2025