Pokémon : Forced to Be a Ghost Champion

c19: Hibiscus

The person calling Alex from behind him was a dark-skinned young woman in a long indigo dress adorned with Wailord motifs, wearing a large red hibiscus in her hair.

"Ah, I am indeed the Alex you're referring to unless Uncle Norman has another secret son," Alex quipped, recognizing her voice and presence from earlier League meetings.

"Hello there, I'm Elder Sister Phoebe, the Ghost-type Elite Four of Hoenn~" Elder Sister Phoebe cheerfully introduced herself, spinning once with a teasing flourish.

"Hey, Steven told me you're a Ghost-type trainer too~ So let me ask, do you like Ghost-type Pokémon?" Alex reflected on his early encounters with Shuppet in Mt. Pyre and his rescue by a spectral Duskull in Route 121.

In those memories of fear, gratitude, and eventual trust, he found his answer.

"Yes, I love Ghost-type Pokémon."

"Mmhmm, I can tell you're telling the truth, But you know, those of us who love Ghost-types are often misunderstood, aren't we?"

"Uh, yeah." He recalled Ruby's raised eyebrows when he mentioned having a natural affinity for Ghost-types—how even Sapphire had once flinched when his Gengar phased through the floor unexpectedly.

Yeah, most people don't get it.

"Hey, I think you're interesting. Show me your Ghost-type Pokémon."

So, Alex headed to the practice yard behind the Slateport Pokémon Center and released Dreepy, Gengar, and Trevenant into the warm coastal breeze.

"Wow, wow, wow! You've already raised so many powerful Ghost-types! Look at this Dreepy, it seems really attached to you~"

"Of course, Elder Sister Phoebe. My Dreepy has been with me since I was five, it was a gift from a Kalos professor who noticed my Ghost affinity," Alex said, his voice warm, almost paternal as he looked at the floating dragon.

"Don't call me Elite, we're both Ghost-type trainers here. Just call me Elder Sister Phoebe," she insisted with a grin, folding her arms with mock authority.

Alex hesitated. Calling a League member by her given name felt improper, but

"Then, Elder Sister Phoebe, why did you come to see me? If there's no official business, I still need to challenge the Gym."

"I just heard Steven-san speak so highly of you and when I found out you're someone who understands Ghost-types like I do, I just had to meet you."

"I'm waiting for you to challenge me Oh, as your senior, I didn't come empty-handed, so take this Duskull Promise me you'll raise it well "

"Oh my Arceus, thank you, Elder Sister Phoebe! This is seriously perfect timing!" Alex was overjoyed, practically spinning like a Hitmontop in excitement.

He had been searching for a solid defensive wall for his team.

Alex and Elder Sister Phoebe exchanged PokéNav contact codes, and with a graceful wave, Phoebe vanished down the seaside trail toward Route 109.

Alex turned his attention to evaluating the fourth member of his party.

"Come on out, Duskull!"

"Alina!"

Pokémon: Duskull Lv.10

Type: Ghost

Ability: Pressure

Tera Type: Ghost

Individual Values: HP 31, Attack 31, Defense 31, Special Attack 8, Special Defense 31, Speed 0

Nature: Impish (↑Defense / ↓Special Attack)

Gender: Male

Known Moves: Glare, Astonish, Disable, Shadow Sneak, Haze (Egg Move), Pain Split (Egg Move)

Held Item: Leftovers

Remarks: An incredibly durable Pokémon with top-tier physical and special defenses.

"Whoa, this is insane… It really is worthy of coming from a member of the Elite Four!" Alex couldn't believe his luck. A defensive Ghost-type with perfect tank stats—exactly what his team lacked.

Just then, Alex's Pokédex buzzed with a notification.

He opened it and discovered that Elder Sister Phoebe had added him to a new group chat. The group name? "Ghost-type Pokémon Club."

He scanned the list of members and froze.

Group Chat Owner: Agatha

Group Members: "Phoebe's Dusclops," "Matsu's Gengar," "…" (This "…" had an avatar of a masked child wearing a traditional ghost festival kimono)

"No way… Did I just get added to a group full of Ghost-type legends?"

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