Pokemon: A different Ash

Join my p@treon for more chapters

[email protected]/Tempest_29

Boom!!!

A sudden explosion startled everyone as a fiery cannonball burst through the air, striking Gastly, who had been orchestrating the Hypnosis.

"Whoa!!" 

Gastly reeled from the impact, his ethereal form thrown backward by the force of the explosion. He had already expended much of his energy setting up the elaborate illusion, but the unexpected attack left him defenseless. As his strength waned, the illusion dissipated abruptly, revealing the real world to Ash and his friends, who had unwittingly fallen under Hypnosis.

Ash, Misty, and Brock shook themselves free of the trance, blinking in surprise as the strange scene before them became clear. 

"What's going on?!" Misty exclaimed, her voice echoing the shock on her face.

Brock spun around, his sharp gaze searching for the source of the explosion. "Look behind us!" he urged. 

"Hmph! Since you asked the question sincerely..." 

"We will tell you mercifully." 

The all-too-familiar chant rang out, causing Misty and Brock to groan in frustration. Three unmistakable figures stepped into view, and sure enough, James stood triumphantly with a bazooka resting on his shoulder.

"Prepare for trouble!" 

Jessie. 

"And make it double!" 

James. 

"To protect the world from devastation!" 

Jessie. 

"To unite all peoples within our nation!" 

James. 

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!" 

Jessie. 

"To extend our reach to the stars above!" 

James. 

Jessie! 

James! 

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!" 

Jessie. 

"Give up now or prepare to fight!" 

James. 

"Meowth, that's right!" 

Misty clenched her fists. "It's you three again! What do you want this time?" she snapped, her voice tinged with exasperation. 

Team Rocket smirked, unfazed by her anger. 

Jessie sneered, her eyes gleaming with greed. "Isn't it obvious? A talking Gastly that's survived for centuries is a rare prize. We'll be taking it off your hands today!" 

As Jessie spoke, she pulled out a peculiar-looking bazooka. James grinned, adjusting his aim as Jessie fired a glowing sphere from the weapon. The orb sped toward Gastly, expanding mid-flight before transforming into a shimmering energy cage. Gastly darted forward to evade, but the cage snapped shut around him. He lunged at the barrier in a desperate attempt to escape, only to be repelled by the energy field. 

"Hmph! Ghost-type Pokémon can slip through normal cages, but this energy cage was designed just for you!" Jessie declared smugly. 

"Stop it! Do you even realize what you're doing?!" Misty shouted, stepping forward, her voice filled with fury. 

Jessie dismissed her with a wave. "Keep out of this, little girl! Ekans, use Poison Sting!" 

"Koffing, use Smog!" James added, tossing his Poké Ball. 

The two Pokémon emerged, immediately launching their attacks at Misty. Clouds of noxious smog and gleaming Poison Stings hurtled toward her. 

"Pikachu, use Thunder Shock! Eevee, use Swift!" 

Ash acted quickly, throwing a Poké Ball. Pikachu leaped forward, releasing a jolt of electricity, while Eevee darted into action, sending a barrage of glowing stars into the fray. The two attacks collided with Team Rocket's assault, neutralizing the danger and pushing back their Pokémon.

Pika~~~chu!!!

Both sides launched their attacks simultaneously. The collision of moves resulted in a powerful explosion, filling the air with smoke. The thick cloud obscured everyone's vision, but Ash was undeterred and pressed forward with another command.

"Eevee, Encore! Follow it up with Swift!"

#!!!

Eevee released another flurry of Swift. The golden stars shot through the smoke like a glittering rainstorm, hitting Ekans and Koffing directly. The repeated impacts caused bursts of smaller explosions, and the force pushed the enemy Pokémon back as the smoke began to clear.

Ash didn't miss the chance. "Pikachu, use Splishy Splash!"

!!!

Pikachu surged into action, a strong electric current coursing through his body. He leapt into the air, summoning a massive wave of water infused with electricity. Riding atop the wave, Pikachu charged toward Ekans and Koffing with stunning speed.

The wave crashed down, engulfing Ekans, Koffing, and their trainers. Jessie, James, and Meowth looked on in horror as they were swept into the electrified water.

Boom!!!

The crashing wave knocked out Ekans and Koffing while also shorting out the devices Jessie and James had been using. The protective barrier imprisoning Gastly shattered, freeing the Ghost Pokémon. As the water subsided, Team Rocket emerged, soaked and charred, looking utterly defeated. 

Before Ash could deliver a final blow to send them blasting off, an eerie chill ran down his spine. He froze, his instincts warning him of something dangerous. 

Gastly shuddered, also sensing the ominous presence. He turned, and everyone followed his gaze toward the sky above Maiden's Peak. 

"What's going on?" Misty asked, clutching her arms as a cold wind swept past. Brock's expression grew serious as he surveyed the scene. 

A dark purple-black aura pulsed in the sky, spreading a heavy, oppressive feeling. Even the air around them grew colder. The source of the aura was the ghostly woman who had been waiting for her husband. 

Her head hung low, her long pink-and-purple hair obscuring her face. A deathly silence surrounded her, broken only by the faint rustling of the unnatural wind.

"This... this is Grudge!" Gastly's voice trembled as beads of sweat formed on his spectral form. 

The woman had spent countless years waiting faithfully, her pure heart refusing to turn malevolent even in death. But now, the sudden betrayal of her hope unleashed a powerful and vengeful energy within her, magnifying her grief into something far more dangerous. 

"Lie to me... You lied to me!!" 

Her voice, icy and hollow, sent chills down everyone's spines. Slowly, she lifted her head, revealing glowing red eyes and a face that was now unnaturally pale. Writhing tendrils of Grudge energy spiraled around her, growing more intense with every second. 

"She's not evil, but her heartbreak has overwhelmed her!" Gastly explained frantically. "If this Grudge continues to build, it could spiral out of control!" 

"Listen to me!" Gastly pleaded, floating closer to the woman. "We're here to help you! Please, you have to understand!" 

The ghostly woman's eyes flickered for a moment, but the overwhelming power of her sorrow kept growing. The cold wind howled louder as the ominous aura expanded, signaling an impending disaster. 

Ash, Misty, and Brock exchanged uneasy glances, bracing themselves for what might come next.