Pokémon : Forced to Be a Ghost Champion

Chapter 18: Is This the Ultimate Social Bull?

The next morning, Ruby and Alex went their separate ways. Ruby was eager to reach Mauville City to get a head start on the Gym Challenge, while Alex didn't share the same urgency, his focus was on training and preparation.

Alex headed for the outskirts of Slateport City, a coastal area with open fields and wild Pokémon. He had Gengar equip the Power Lens, a training device from the custom Power Set, designed to boost special attack gains. (Unlike the game mechanics, this version's Power Set alters effort values for story development: defeating opponents raises special stats directly.) Trevenant, in contrast, held the Power Bracer, meant to enhance physical attack growth.

Alex let the two fully evolved Pokémon train autonomously. Gengar, already a confident fighter, used moves like Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb against wild Pokémon, while Trevenant focused on physical moves like Shadow Claw and Horn Leech to toughen up. Then, Alex turned to his final Pokémon Dreepy.

Despite being small and floating with a dopey wobble, Dreepy had already reached level 41. Yet it remained in its base form, still unevolved after five years of partnership.

"Dreepy, what do you think about your own evolution?" Alex knelt beside it, speaking seriously. "Or better yet—what do you think when you look at Gengar and Trevenant?"

"Dree… Dreepy…" the little ghost whimpered. (I feel like I'm useless… I've been with you the longest, but I'm still the weakest. I envy Gengar and Trevenant so much… They evolved, and I'm still like this. I try so hard… why can't I evolve too?!)

Alex gave a soft sigh. "You're wrong, Dreepy. Their evolution wasn't easy either. Both Gengar and Trevenant evolved through trading. If no one had been willing to help, they'd still be stuck as Haunter and Phantump."

He took out his Pokédex, tapping into a PokéVid app to pull up footage of a Dragapult soaring through the sky. "This is what you'll become. You're a pseudo-legendary. Your evolution comes later but once it does, it's worth the wait."

"Dree…?" (But… what if I'm still weak, even then?)

"You're afraid of being left behind, huh?" Alex said, reading Dreepy's expression. "Afraid that I'll stop caring? Listen—we've been together for five years. Have I ever given up on you?"

He smiled, ruffling the little ghost's fin. "Don't act like a wallflower. You're the big brother of the team. We all look up to you. You've already got a Lucky Egg, and at level 41, your evolution into Drakloak is just around the corner."

"Dreepy!" the Pokémon cheered, its confidence beginning to return.

Alex stood and gestured to the surrounding field. "Alright then, time to test that new mindset. Let's see you battle solo."

He watched closely as Dreepy took on a wild Oddish, correcting its aim mid-Twister and praising it after a clean win. The morning rolled on like that, battle after battle.

By noon, the results of training had paid off. Gengar reached level 40, his attacks more polished than ever. Trevenant hit level 38, his physical strength increasing. And Dreepy had bonded more closely than ever with Alex the invisible wall of doubt between them seemed to melt away.

Feeling this emotional progress, Alex began to let his three Ghost-types lead the way as they continued training en route to Mauville City. He had an idea: the forests around Mauville would be the perfect place for the next phase of growth. Among the team, only Trevenant hadn't yet learned directly from Victreebel, the physically dominant Grass-type they'd studied before. But with Shadow Claw and Horn Leech—two powerful, STAB, self-sustaining moves Victreebel didn't have much left to teach.

"Trevenant!" With a decisive Shadow Claw, Trevenant knocked out a wild Electrike, crackling with leftover static.

"Gengar!" the shiny Ghost-type parted the tall grass ahead—and Mauville City came into view.

On a side note, Alex had recently tested the Amulet Coin's effect during a series of field battles. Whenever he defeated a wild Pokémon, around 200 Pokédollars dropped from the sky—l a strange but accepted mechanic in this world. That sum wasn't much, barely the price of a standard red-and-white Poké Ball, but the cumulative effect was undeniable. As Alex battled more wild Pokémon and roadside trainers along the way, the Amulet Coin truly began to shine. Against trainers especially, the money gain was doubled matching the payout the trainer offered, and then dropping again from the sky in a mirrored amount.

After dozens of casual battles and wild encounters, Alex's coin pouch.which had previously grown slim from Poké Ball purchases, healing items, and a few TM trades was looking nicely plump again.

Now, they had reached Mauville City, the bustling hub of the eastern Hoenn region, home of the Electric-type Gym. For Alex, it was a fruitful day of preparation and accumulation.

Ruby, energized by his own progress, walked into Mauville with a spring in his step. But before they even got far into the city, a scene stopped them in their tracks a rotund, white-haired old man was posing with a victory sign in the crowd, his laughter echoing across the plaza. He was unmistakably extroverted.

This flamboyant figure was none other than Wattson, Mauville's Gym Leader (known as Tie Xuan in other regions). Alex instantly recognized him. Wattson was a notable figure not only a Gym Leader but also an engineer and the driving force behind the city's electric infrastructure. In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Wattson was introduced with a loud personality and unmatched enthusiasm, sometimes bordering on overwhelming. His team featured a powerful Manectric, and in Alex's version of this world, it could Mega Evolve into a Mega Manectric—a powerhouse with exceptional Speed and Special Attack.

Still, running into Hoenn's most social extrovert early in the morning wasn't exactly on Alex's wishlist.

"Yo, hey! Now there's a fine young Trainer!" Wattson bellowed. "Hahahahaha! The energy! The drive! Oh, I love seeing the youth charging into the future like thunderbolts!"

"Uh, well, sir, I—"

"No need to say it! Let me guess, you're here for a Gym Challenge?"

"That's true, but"

"Splendid! Hahahahaha! I was just on my way back to the Gym! Come by soon, young man! Let's see what sparks fly!"

Alex stood there for a moment, blinking. Wattson spun away, laughing as loudly as ever, vanishing into the crowd with surprisingly spry steps for someone his age.

Alex knew this man wasn't just an eccentric old Gym Leader. Wattson was practically the de facto mayor of Mauville, having built the city's underground energy grid and lighting system. But how did he end up with a personality that screamed "ultimate social butterfly"? Truly, a mystery.

After the crowd dispersed, a group of older vegetable vendors nearby chuckled knowingly.

"Don't mind him, young man," one said. "That Gym Leader's always like that. We love him, but he sure gives us headaches sometimes."

Alex muttered under his breath, "That's not a regular social butterfly… that's an extreme form…"

Still, Alex wasn't in a rush to take on the Gym. First, he made a stop at the Pokémon Center, where he handed over his three core Pokémon Gengar, Trevenant, and Dreepy to Nurse Joy for healing. While waiting, he mulled over his team composition.

He currently had coverage for Ghost, Dragon, Poison, and Grass types but his roster was vulnerable. None of his team could take many hits; they leaned heavily on speed or trickery. Alex needed balance.

Dark-type opponents were a glaring threat. Trevenant and Dreepy were both weak to them, and Gengar, while tricky, couldn't always handle them solo. So Alex considered Fairy-types as a solution he thought of adding Mimikyu or even Flutter Mane, the ancient relative of Misdreavus from Paldea's Great Crater. Both would complement his theme and patch his type weaknesses.

Then came the bigger question: How was the world structured? Did this version of reality follow the Scarlet or Violet line? Were Professor Sada and Professor Turo both real here, or only one? And if so what role did Arven play in this world?

Shaking off the unanswered lore questions, Alex pivoted to defensive options. His current team was frail; he needed tanks or Pokémon that could endure. He considered adding Drifblim, Dusknoir, or Aegislash bulky Ghost-types with decent offensive potential. They could wall hits and retaliate, giving him more options in longer battles.

Finally, Alex knew he needed at least one annoying support Pokémon, something that could disrupt strategies and cause headaches. His choice was clear: Sableye, the mischievous dual Ghost/Dark-type. On the second floor of Granite Cave, Sableye could be found, and if he was lucky, he might catch one with the Prankster ability, giving priority to status moves like Will-O-Wisp or Taunt.

Still, Alex didn't want to stop at just building a six-member team. His philosophy was to train broadly, ensuring even boxed Pokémon could hold their own when called upon. Flexibility was his endgame.

For now, he had his sights set on the following:

Mimikyu or Flutter Mane for Fairy-type coverage.

Drifblim, Dusclops, or Aegislash for tank roles.

Sableye or Galarian Corsola for disruption and support.

There were other candidates, sure but these were the priorities.

Just then, Alex heard his name called at the counter. He stepped forward to receive his fully healed Pokémon, feeling more resolved about the road ahead.

And right as he turned around

"Hey! Aren't you Alex? The Ghost-type specialist who's been traveling with Senri's son?!"

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