Pokemon: A different Ash

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"You're welcome. I only come to work once a year. Although I lost my job, I still wish you well!" Gastly said with a casual laugh, hovering in the air. It didn't seem to care much about whether it worked part-time or not, its eerie grin unwavering.

For a Pokémon like Gastly, yearning for material things seemed pointless. Such desires were merely a distraction from its ghostly existence.

"We must be happy together!!" Misty shouted as she ran to the edge of the cliff, waving with all her might.

Everyone stood in awe, watching as the two ascended into the heavens and disappeared from sight. Their hearts swelled with emotion. Though fear had gripped them earlier, they were now moved beyond words.

"Huh? Over there is..." Brock said suddenly, pointing down the cliff. His sharp eyes caught sight of numerous fires glowing at the pier below.

The group turned their attention to the scene. A crowd had gathered at the pier, holding lanterns and paper boats. One by one, they placed the boats into the water, letting them drift away with the gentle currents.

"Today's temple fair is held to commemorate departed loved ones," Brock explained. "Relatives believe the spirits visit during this time and then return on the paper boats."

"Ghosts can be frightening," Gastly added, "but no one fears the spirits of their loved ones. Well, it's time for me to leave." It glanced at the floating paper boats, its tone softening as it bid farewell. "Goodbye, Trainers. You've been kind."

"Huh? Where are you going?" Misty asked, stepping forward.

"I don't know," Gastly replied with a wistful chuckle. "Wherever I'm needed. There are still many lost souls in the world who need help. Goodbye, kind-hearted Trainers!"

Gastly's gaze lingered briefly on the paper boats before turning to leave.

"Goodbye, Gastly! We hope to meet again someday!" Ash called out, joined by Brock and Misty.

"Hmm! By then, you'll all be independent trainers, I'm sure," Gastly said, pausing. "Oh, I almost forgot! I stumbled across this earlier—it's no use to me, but take it as a token of thanks."

Gastly stuck out its enormous tongue, looking as spooky as ever, and produced an object from its curled tongue. Ash instinctively caught it and examined the item—a smooth, dark purple stone.

"This is... a Dusk Stone!" Ash exclaimed, immediately recognizing it.

"That's right," Gastly confirmed. "It's a Dusk Stone. Use it wisely. And now, farewell!" With that, Gastly floated towards the pier, settled itself on a paper boat, and drifted away with the tide.

Ash, Misty, and Brock stood at the edge of the cliff, waving until Gastly was no longer in sight.

But before they could make their usual escape attempt, Jessie and Meowth clamped a hand over James' mouth. "Shh! You idiot, stay quiet!" Jessie hissed, dragging him away. The trio slipped away unnoticed.

"The Rockets escaped again," Brock muttered in frustration once he realized they were gone.

"Let it go," Misty said, her mood still light after Gastly's farewell. "I'm in too good a mood to let them ruin it."

As they turned back to the scene, the Eevee in Ash's arms let out a soft, distressed cry. Startled, Ash looked down to find the little Pokémon trembling, its eyes tightly shut and its forehead damp with sweat.

"What's wrong with Eevee?" Misty asked, alarmed.

Brock knelt closer, his expression serious. "It looks like it's having a nightmare," he observed, concern evident in his voice. The group huddled around, unsure of what to do for their suffering companion.

"Eevee will be okay!" Misty stepped forward, her voice tinged with worry. She couldn't help but feel responsible. Earlier, Ash had been injured protecting her, and Eevee had been hurt protecting all of them. If anything happened to Eevee, she felt it would be her fault.

Ash cradled Eevee in one arm, determination etched across his face. Despite his fatigue, he focused inward, trying to summon the strange power that had surfaced earlier. His eyes glowed faintly red, a sign that he had already pushed himself far beyond his limit today. Yet, for Eevee's sake, he gritted his teeth and pressed on.

Through this power, Ash sensed it: the lingering trace of a force deep within Eevee's body, stubbornly refusing to leave, even though the resentment that had once enveloped it had faded.

"What do I do? What do I do?" Ash muttered, desperation creeping into his voice. Although he'd watched countless adventures unfold in his travels, he had no clue how to handle this situation.

As he concentrated, Ash failed to notice the energy within his own body surging down his arm and into his hand. Suddenly, the Dusk Stone he was holding began to glow with an unearthly light.

"Huh?" Ash's attention snapped to the stone, and Misty and Brock immediately noticed the glow.

"What's going on?" Misty asked, staring at the radiant Dusk Stone.

"Could it be?" Ash murmured, a thought forming in his mind. Slowly, he moved the glowing Dusk Stone closer to Eevee. Under its light, Eevee's tense expression eased slightly, the pain visibly receding.

Ash knelt down, his eyes filled with hope. Gently, he placed Eevee on the ground and pressed the Dusk Stone against its forehead. The moment the stone made contact, a brilliant light erupted, flooding the area with its intensity.

"Boom!"

The brightness forced Misty and Brock to shield their eyes, while Ash squinted through the glare. He could feel the Dusk Stone dissolving in his hand, as if it had transformed into pure energy.

The light enveloping Eevee grew even brighter, and within it, its small form began to shift and change. Ash withdrew his hand, watching in awe as the transformation unfolded. Eevee's silhouette elongated, its features refining into something new and otherworldly.

Then, with a sharp, eerie cry, the light shattered, scattering like tiny stars. Standing in place of Eevee was a Pokémon unlike any they had seen before. Its eyes glowed a haunting scarlet, and its sleek, ghostly form radiated an aura both intimidating and majestic.

The Pokémon let out another cry, its tone sharper and more piercing than Eevee's usual sound. Though its Growl was familiar, it carried an otherworldly edge. This was not the same Pokémon they knew—it had been reborn.

"A new evolution..." Ash whispered, marveling at the transformation.

The Pokémon's ghostly yet regal appearance was striking, a perfect contrast to the lighthearted elegance of Sylveon. Its dark, shadowy aura hinted at a mysterious power, yet there was a nobility in its stance that suggested it would never harm the weak. Despite its devilish exterior, the Pokémon exuded a protective energy.

"It's incredible," Misty breathed, watching in awe as the new Pokémon glanced at them, its crimson gaze softening for a moment. Though it had an intimidating presence, its loyalty to Ash and the group was unmistakable. 

Ash reached out a hand. "Welcome back," he said softly, earning a quiet yet resolute nod from his newly evolved partner.