Pokémon : Forced to Be a Ghost Champion

c11: Become a Vengeful Ghost! Little Wood Spirit (Part 2)

At noon the next day, Alex, whose mind was in a daze, finally woke up.

"Hiss, that's so refreshing, but I'm never running like that again. Yesterday was way too close a call with death."

Alex looked in the mirror and saw that his clothes were in tatters, with countless scrapes and cuts on his body. He looked like he had just been through a high-level Trainer gauntlet in Victory Road.

"Tsk, gotta clean up first before I scare Nurse Joy."

After showering, Alex changed into a classic black-toned Kanto-style travel outfit—the same first-gen look Red wore back in the Indigo League arc, complete with black cargo pants and fingerless gloves. He finally looked somewhat normal, though the minor wounds from yesterday's escape still pulsed with faint pain, like the lingering effects of a wild battle that had just ended.

Without delay, Alex headed straight to the Pokémon Center lobby to retrieve his deposited Pokémon.

He picked up two Poké Balls from the counter. One of them contained a fully healed Phantump, the Ghost/Grass-type he had rescued from the forest near Laverre City.

However, Phantump's expression had dulled. Its once-playful eyes were now lifeless, as if the encounter with the rampaging Mightyena pack had crushed its spirit.

This was going to be a problem. Alex understood, any Pokémon brutally overwhelmed like that would likely suffer psychological trauma. Even in the manga, Sabrina's Kadabra had shown PTSD symptoms after battling Ghost-types, and this was no less severe.

Still, Alex didn't coddle it. He gently turned Phantump's wooden head toward him and said in a low but firm voice:

"I know you feel wronged. Maybe you don't even understand why you were attacked… but think about it: if you were strong, truly strong do you think those Pokémon would have dared to lay a paw on you?"

"Phan...tump."

Phantump's voice was still laced with fear, but its resistance had clearly weakened.

"So, tell me—do you want revenge?"

Alex locked eyes with the little Pokémon, his voice as cold as the air in a Lavender Town graveyard.

Phantump hesitated. It remembered this human—the one who had shielded it during the escape, who had shouted at the Pokémon Center staff until it was healed. Its trembling eased slightly. After a moment of silence, something changed in its expression.

"Phantump!"

A sharp gleam flared in Phantump's eyes. Suddenly, a black-red flame shimmered in its gaze, a spectral flicker that pulsed with hatred and resolve.

It was Will-O-Wisp.

This was no accident. The move had manifested not through training, but sheer emotional overflow, a rare occurrence, but not unheard of in the manga when Pokémon were pushed to extremes.

Alex's eyes lit up.

"Not bad. That's the kind of spirit I like to see. You're not just some random forest Pokémon anymore, you're someone with potential. Real power."

He knelt beside the hovering Ghost-type and extended his hand.

"I'm Alex. I specialize in Ghost-types. If you're ready to become stronger, strong enough that no one dares to lay a hand on you again then come with me. Let's rewrite your story together."

Phantump hovered silently for a few seconds, the Will-O-Wisp still flickering across its eyes. Then it floated closer and gently nudged its head against Alex's hand.

The pact was made.

Phantump nodded, but the fighting spirit in its eyes still blazed. It clearly wished to battle Alex. Even though it was still weak, it couldn't tolerate surrendering without a fight. This wasn't just about pride, it was instinct. Even a haunted tree had dignity.

Alex suddenly remembered he hadn't checked this Phantump's data yet, so he pulled up the Trainer System interface. He had already decided—no matter what the stats showed even if its individual values were trash-tier, Alex was going to catch it. Worst-case scenario? Nature Mints and Gold Bottle Caps. It wasn't like those hadn't helped Blue's underwhelming Aerodactyl in the Pokémon Adventures manga.

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Pokémon: Phantump (Lv. 16)

Type: Ghost/Grass

Ability: Harvest (Hidden Ability – may recycle a consumed Berry in sunlight)

Tera Type: Grass → Dark (Tera mutation triggered by emotional state—rage and vengeance)

Individual Values: HP 31 / Attack 31 / Defense 15 / Sp. Atk 23 / Sp. Def 18 / Speed 25

Nature: Adamant (+Attack / -Sp. Atk)

Gender: Male

Known Moves: Tackle, Astonish, Wood Hammer, Leech Seed, Confuse Ray, Will-O-Wisp, Sucker Punch (Egg Move), Imprison (Egg Move)

Held Item: None

Remarks: This vengeful Ghost-type's spirit burns like a restless soul. Adamant nature suggests it will be a battle-hardened Pokémon with time.

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"It has two perfect IVs? And an Adamant nature?" Alex murmured, eyes wide. "That's not just acceptable, it's great. Especially since Bottle Caps cost a fortune."

"Alright then, Phantump. Let's battle. If I win, you become my partner."

The two faced off. Dreepy floated beside Alex, already getting fired up. Off to the side, a curious Gastly hovered, smirking—watching the match unfold like it was a prime-time showdown on Pokéstar Studios.

"Phantump!" The small specter made the first move, firing a Will-O-Wisp, its ghostly flames lashing forward like ethereal snakes.

"Bad news!" Alex's internal alarm went off he knew that if Dreepy got burned, its physical attacks would be halved. "Dreepy, dodge and counter with Infestation!"

"Dree…py!" Dreepy darted aside, and with a twitch of its claws, it unleashed a mass of creeping black tendrils. Infestation, a Bug-type move, wrapped around Phantump like living shadow-vines. The Grass/Ghost Pokémon shuddered as the attack dug in it was super effective.

"Nice hit! Dreepy, follow up with Astonish! Let's finish this quick!"

But just as Dreepy lunged forward, Phantump's wooden body glowed with a shadowy aura. In an unexpected burst of speed, it lunged forward and struck first Sucker Punch!

"Phantump!"

"Dree!"

Neither of them had anticipated that. Dreepy reeled back from the hit, its light body tossed midair. But even while taking the blow, its Astonish landed causing Phantump to flinch for a split-second.

Alex grimaced. His head pulsed strangely, he actually felt Dreepy's pain for a brief moment.

"Wait… don't tell me this is Bond Phenomenon?" he muttered, thinking of Ash's Greninja in the manga spinoffs. "No… we're not there yet. Still a long way before Dreepy hits Level 60 and evolves…"

On the battlefield, the tide turned. Though Phantump was brave, it was still caught in Infestation. Its HP drained steadily, and combined with Dreepy's earlier hit, it reached its limit.

Phantump collapsed, unable to battle.

Alex stepped forward, aimed a standard Poké Ball, and with a flash of red light, Phantump was captured.

Ding!

Event Points ×5 gained. Fulfill Phantump's revenge, and earn additional Event Points ×15.

"Oh, so that's how it works?" Alex raised an eyebrow. "Well, I already respect Ghost-types. I'm not about to leave a spirit's wish unfulfilled."

With that settled, Alex used the Center's healing station to tend to both Pokémon. Then, he and his team spent the rest of the day in Rustboro City, treating themselves at the bustling snack street. They gorged on Ghost-type friendly items—dark energy cubes, tamato berry mochi, and Gengar-branded Poffins.

He also stocked up on energy blocks infused with Shadow Essence, known to be a favorite among Ghost-types in side stories like the Pokémon RéBURST manga. The team had a blast. The bond between Alex and his three Pokémon Dreepy, Gastly, and now Phantump grew stronger.

By evening, Gastly, who had recently evolved into Haunter, had become the unofficial prankster king of the team. Even though Dreepy was technically higher in level, it couldn't reliably handle Haunter's arsenal of sneaky tricks and Hypnosis + Shadow Ball combos. Still, Haunter couldn't take both Dreepy and Phantump at once especially not with Phantump's Sucker Punch able to land surprise counters.

That night, everyone crashed in their room, dozing peacefully after the long day everyone except Dreepy.

"Dree…py…"

Its big round eyes stared out the window at the moonlight.

"I'm the big brother, but now I'm the weakest… I want to be strong—for my Trainer."

Resolute, Dreepy shut its eyes. In its dream, it stood before a towering, magnificent figure. A Pokémon that looked just like it… but grown.

"DRAAA!"

"Gira!"

The dream echoed with their roars one from the future… and one watching from the shadows.

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