＊＊＊

Officer Jenny felt very uncomfortable as she made her way to the reported encampment, her trusty Growlithe already out and prepared for trouble.

She hadn't been onboard with tossing the kid out on his own to begin with, even if she acknowledged he was… Different, in a way that just felt unsettling.

Working in Lavender Town, she was used to - as used as one can be anyway - Ghost Pokemon and their antics. The way they flocked around Ezra however… She could understand why Lavender Town's elders and town council wanted him gone. She hadn't agreed, but her job wasn't to make laws or regulations, it was to enforce them.

And while they hadn't quite gone so far as to make it illegal for Ezra to stay in town, they hadn't made it easy for him to stay either. Officer Jenny had done what she could, even signing that, in hindsight, lopsided pokemart deal, that had so infuriated the council.

She didn't regret it, thought it was clever of the boy in fact, and regretted not thinking of it herself, low balling the boy with her own first offer in her own thoughtlessness.

He'd left, and she'd thought that was it. She'd quietly wished him luck even then. He'd do better outside the reach of the superstitious townspeople of Lavender Town, she was sure.

Except when he'd left, he'd just barely followed the instructions laid out for him in his banishment.

He'd made camp about two hours away from Lavender Town, and stayed there. Seemingly content to stay and train his Pokemon without going anywhere.

Once that information began circulating in town, brought in by trainers who'd run in to the boy - the council naturally tasked her with the job of impressing on him that the banishment although technically only from Lavender Town, who's city limits he was not within - it naturally also meant he was supposed to leave the surrounding area.

Jenny wasn't sure what she was even going to say to the boy when she got there. He hadn't broken any laws that she knew of, so no matter what flak might come her way from the town, she couldn't actually force him to go anywhere.

That said, as an experienced woman, she could give the young man some advice, and see him off before he got in real trouble.

The council probably wouldn't put a bounty on a kid, they'd have to get that past the league, and she really didn't think the excuse of - he's creepy - would fly past them. His seeming control over Ghost Pokemon was not enough on its own, not unless he actually did something illegal with it.

That said, if the council made enough of a fuss, Jenny knew there were always unscrupulous people around who'd salivate at the thought of a young lonely man with that kind of potential.

Hence why she hadn't protested too hard when she'd been pressured to go deal with him.

He'd seemed an intelligent young man, for all that she'd been forced to continuously bring him in due to overwhelming witness statements against him in the past. She'd never charged him, how could she? When it was always him with more bruises than skin.

No matter how the others would have a broken nose or split lip, only one of them ever came in as if stomped by a crowd. So she'd given him shelter under the guise of holding him. Giving him medical care, food. A respite.

Even if she'd been forced to act like he was some sort of delinquent, or risk losing the ability to do anything as the town pulled their support.

She let out a huff of air, her tired mien watching the sky as her feet led her forward on the well trodden path, who'd have thought policing was so dependent on the townspeople around you… She snarked mentally.

Eventually she stepped off the path, heading to where he'd been reported to have set up camp, not too far off the road.

As Officer Jenny approached Ezra's encampment, an unnatural chill settled over her. The sun, still high in the sky, seemed to struggle against a sudden, oppressive gloom. A purplish mist swirled around the trees, creeping along the ground and giving the air a spectral quality.

She tightened her grip on Growlithe's fur as she pet him, her loyal companion bristling but ready. "Stay alert, Growlithe," She whispered, her breath visible in the cold, thick air.

The path ahead was obscured, each step into the mist feeling heavier than the last. Jenny's instincts screamed at her to turn back, but duty propelled her forward. The first signs of Ezra's camp came into view shortly thereafter.

As Officer Jenny stepped into Ezra's encampment, the eerie atmosphere intensified. The purplish mist thickened, curling around her ankles like spectral tendrils. The temperature dropped noticeably, her breath puffing out in small, frosty clouds. Growlithe, usually brave, pressed closer to her leg, growling softly at the shadows.

Ezra's camp was nestled in a small clearing, surrounded by gnarled trees whose twisted branches reached out like skeletal hands. The ground was uneven, dotted with old tombstones half-sunken into the earth, remnants of an abandoned graveyard. These stones, weathered and cracked, added to the macabre ambiance, each one bearing inscriptions long faded by time.

Did he purposely pick the creepiest place he could? She wondered, an expression of distaste crossing her face.

The campfire at the center of the clearing cast a weak, flickering light, barely piercing the gloom. At least she could tell it was properly built, so she wouldn't have to give him a citation for that. You'd think with fire Pokemon a thing, humans wouldn't still be the major proponent of forest fires…

Not that she was in the mood for citations or any of that anyway, not with how much she just wanted to walk away right now…

She was suddenly glad the Mayor and the council were all too old to be taking jaunts through the woods, because if they saw this, things would definitely escalate.

League of no league, they'd put a bounty on the kid. Which would cause a headache and a half, because only the worst of the worst got bounties - or the most dangerous Pokemon.

Hovering in the mist were various Ghost Pokemon, their forms ethereal and ever-shifting. Gastly’s floated silently, their gaseous bodies pulsing with an eerie light. Haunter's hands detached from its body, clawing at the air playfully yet menacingly. A Misdreavus drifted near a tombstone, its red eyes glowing ominously as it let out a low, mournful wail that sent chills down Jenny's spine.

Ezra himself stood near the fire, his silhouette blending seamlessly with the spectral surroundings. His clothes were dark and slightly worn, and he'd found some sort of leather jacket somewhere, he seemed almost a part of the mist, a ghostly figure among ghosts. His presence, though calm and collected, only added to the macabre scene, as if he were a warden of this haunting domain.

She shook her head, no time to get maudlin, I've lived in Lavender for years, it's just Pokemon.

The oppressive silence was broken only by the occasional whisper of the wind and the distant, eerie cries of the wild Ghost Pokemon. Jenny felt the weight of countless unseen eyes watching her every move, the air thick with an ancient energy that pressed down on her like a physical force.

He is doing this on purpose, she realized, all the danger she felt melting away as she realized he was just being edgy.

"Ezra," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper in the ghostly stillness, "You really need to think about what it is you're doing here, think about what I said before." She wet her lips, trying to find the right words, “You were banished, you can't stay just two hours outside the city… You will attract a lot of attention, they won't leave you alone.”

Ezra's eyes met hers, and for a moment, the mist seemed to clear just a bit. "I will think about it, Officer Jenny," he replied with a half smile, sounding amused, his voice carrying an otherworldly echo that sent shivers through her.

Yes, definitely playing it up… Arceus save me from teenagers…

With a final, reluctant nod, Jenny turned and began her journey back, the ghostly encampment fading behind her into the mist. She'd done her duty to the letter. She'd informed him that he needed to move. He'd said he'd think about it.

She wasn't sticking around further than that. He'd move on soon enough or he wouldn't, she'd done her duty.

The town called him creepy. Officer Jenny didn't think anyone could argue with that anymore.

It was just a phase anyway surely, when she'd been a teenager she'd had her own, just not…

That.

＊＊＊

Ezra couldn't help but chuckle as Officer Jenny left, glancing at the multitude of Ghost Pokemon that kept hanging around, “She's one of the nice ones, you could have been a little less creepy with her.” He admonished, without any heat.

He had found it funny after all. From the haunting laughter that echoed through the mists of his little camp, the Ghost Pokemon agreed.

He hadn't exactly meant to have his camp come across as some sort of forest of the damned. His Pokemon just felt more comfortable around graveyards, so when he found a couple of old gravestones in a clearing, he'd figured why the hell not?

The mist and purplish haze came after, as both the wild Ghost Pokemon, and the ones that enjoyed hanging out in his shadow, spread a sort of miasma from all of them gathering together.

With his already creepy looks, it really didn't make him any more approachable. Not that it upset him. He knew he couldn't stay here forever, and a tent wasn't his idea of the height of luxury either.

Perhaps it was the orphan in him, but he craved the finer things. Which meant money. Which meant he needed flight before anything else.

The good news was that he was an absolute cheat. He'd found that as long as it was an order they didn't mind too much, the ghosts following in his wake, were happy enough to obey.

Not something he could use in actual pokemon battles with other trainers. For trawling through a forest and finding a good pidgey or pidgeotto for him to train? It worked like a charm.

Unlike in a game where each area was based on a level, this was reality. So higher level pokemon could be found the further away from civilization you came. Holding territory, building their own primitive little societies. Two hours away from Lavender like he was?

Chock full of the smaller weaker pokemon like Pidgey, Rattata, Caterpie etc.

The weaker pokemon sought shelter close to humanity where they were less likely to be eaten, while the stronger avoided humans preferring their freedom and territory.

So he'd caught himself a Pidgeotto, one of the more powerful pokemon in the area, hunted down by a bushel of gleeful ghosts.

The problem was that he wasn't exactly a Pokemon whisperer, or at least he thought so. He didn't have any intention of using this Pokemon for anything but a convenient way to fly. So how do you convince a Pokemon to work for you when you can't do the friendship is magic thing?

That's what he had been pondering when Officer Jenny interrupted him, a pokeball laying at his side, holding the aforementioned Pidgeotto.

His Cubone, Haunter and Shuppet were all free from their balls, honing their skills just outside his clearing, where he'd set them each their task.

Did he try to teach them new techniques? Did he try to have them master complex maneuvers? No, of course not.

He had them honing what they had. Accuracy, technique energy expenditure, physical stamina - for as much as that mattered with their types, mostly just Cubone on that one. Once they honed their current skills to a knife point, he'd have them work on compressing them even further, on expanding them, on twisting and crafting something extra out of their respective techniques to surprise their enemies.

Ghost Pokemon were more malleable than most - he was sure he could help them harness their energy in inventive ways. It helped that the idea of messing with people by doing the unexpected, really intrigued his pokemon.

He wasn't one to sit and ponder for too long, so with a sigh, he released the Pokemon held in the pokeball.

Ezra sat down cross-legged on the forest floor, his small campfire casting long shadows around the clearing. The oppressive mist of earlier had lightened now that they didn't have an intruder, giving way to the soft, silvery glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy of the trees. In front of him, released from its pokeball and perched on a low branch, was his newly captured Pidgeotto. Its sharp eyes watched him warily, feathers ruffled in a mix of curiosity and suspicion. It still showed the signs of its not so gentle capture.

It hadn't come quietly. Not at all thrilled by the chase of a dozen ghosts taunting and delighting in the chase, until in the end, they'd grown bored, and the Pidgeotto was finally felled.

"Listen, Pidgeotto," Ezra began, his tone calm and steady, "I know this isn't likely what you expected, and if you ever thought about getting caught it's even further from it. I need you to understand that I'm not like other trainers." He leaned forward gaze intent.

He wouldn't be the type who made best friends with every Pokemon he came across. His team, he had no doubt he'd come to cherish them. This Pidgeotto? It was a tool.

That was simply reality, and he would not hide it, these creatures were intelligent enough that negotiation was preferable before subterfuge.

It was too exhausting to even think about acting anything but himself for that long. Who had time for that? In a second life to boot?

Pidgeotto tilted its head, a skeptical gleam in its eyes. It fluttered its wings slightly, ready to take off at the first sign of trouble. Not that it would do shit all, since he still had the pokeball.

Ezra held up a hand, showing the Pokemon a small bag of berries, their enticing aroma wafting through the air. Stomping through the forest did have some advantages, finding berry bushes was one. "I don't want to make you into a battle pokemon, other than what is needed to evolve you... I captured you because I need a strong flying Pokemon, a partner to help me travel. You see, I have big plans. I want to create a gym, a place where Ghost and Dark Pokemon can thrive, and I need your help to get there."

Not exactly anything in it for the Pidgeotto in that plan, but he was being honest. And of course there would be the carrot…

Pidgeotto eyed the berries, its suspicion giving way to interest. It hopped down from the branch, landing gracefully in front of Ezra.

"These are for you," Ezra said, holding out the bag. "And there's more where that came from. I promise you, if you help me, I'll make sure you get a territory of your own to rule over once my gym is established. A whole forest, filled with as many berries as you can eat and as many nests as you can build. You'll be the master of your domain, free from human interference except my own." He met its eyes, his own serious and intent, “I will make it so.”

The Pidgeottos eyes sparkled at the thought. It cawed softly, still unsure but clearly tempted by the offer.

Worst case and it said no, Ezra would actually release it and find another. While he didn't intend to use his flying mount for anything else, he also didn't intend to have a reluctant mount. He needed to be able to rely on them.

Using up one of his slots for a purely flying mount instead of a battler might seem like madness. But no matter what world you were in - money talked.

He was sure once he got enough cash in hand, there were ways to expand the limit.

Ezra leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You won't have to fight unless you choose to after you've evolved. Just help me, help me travel. Be my eyes in the sky. In return, I'll ensure your safety and your future. You'll have freedom and power, more than any other Pidgeotto could dream of, your own forest protected by my gym."

He placed the bag of berries on the ground between them and leaned back, giving the Pokemon space to make its decision. Pidgeotto stared at Ezra for a moment longer, then cautiously pecked at the berries, savoring the sweet taste.

"Is it a deal?" Ezra asked, his tone hopeful. It would be a pain in the ass to move camp and find another alpha of the weaklings, so to speak.

Pidgeotto looked up, its gaze meeting Ezra's. After a long, tense moment, it gave a sharp nod, a sign of its tentative agreement.

Ezra smiled, relief washing over him. "Thank you. I promise, you won't regret this."

The first hurdle had been passed. One, he could negotiate with Pokemon that weren't Ghost or Dark, that was good to know. Two, he had a way to avoid the whole trawling through woods for the next year bullshit.

Ezra clenched his hands into fists, his red eyes gleaming. “Let's see about getting you that evolution, hmm?” He said, his shadow expanding like a cloak, wafting out behind him, dozens of eyes and smiles lighting up, laughter beginning to echo out into the encampment.

“This forest won't know what hit ‘em!”

＊＊＊

Ezra stood at the edge of the forest, the moon casting an eerie glow over the landscape. The air was thick with anticipation as he prepared for the night's training. His shadow, cast long by the moonlight, seemed to move with a life of its own. From within that darkness, Ghost Pokemon emerged, their spectral forms tethered to Ezra like a living, ethereal menagerie.

He didn't give a shit how creepy it must look - it was so goddamn cool, he felt like an anime character about to do tragic backstory bullshit.

It was a shame this was one anime world which didn't run on tits as its source code. But one couldn't have it all.

"Alright, everyone," Ezra whispered, his voice carrying an edge of command. "Let's give Pidgeotto the training he needs."

He hoped this worked. Obviously leveling up according to a game couldn't be the exact same thing in reality. But Pidgeotto beating up Pokemon, while intent on growing stronger and evolving, surely would work?

From his shadow, a Gastly floated up, its gaseous form pulsing with a malevolent energy. A Haunter's disembodied hands emerged next, followed by the rest of its sinister figure, its grin wide and menacing. A Misdreavus materialized, its eyes glowing with a spectral light, then another Gastly, two, then another Haunter. The Ghost Pokemon, attached to him by some unseen force, awaited his instructions with a silent, almost eerie eagerness.

His own pokemon came to his side as well, having not spent any time in their pokeballs since being captured. His Cubone sat at his feet as the Shuppet and Haunter hovered around him.

He frowned, eyeing his Pokemon, with so many other Haunters floating around, he really couldn't just keep calling his own that, could he? Food for thought for later, he'd have to name it, or something, give it a designation.

Ezra turned his attention to Pidgeotto, perched on a low branch nearby. "Are you ready?" he asked, because this all hinged on him being able to follow the plan.

Pidgeotto gave a sharp nod, its eyes gleaming with determination. It stretched its wings, preparing for the task ahead. It was going to be carried on a speed run. Hopefully it wouldn't take too much of the experience away.

"Good," Ezra said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "Gastly's, Haunters, Misdreavus - let's start." He ordered, before looking down to his own Pokemon, “You guys, take the perimeter, keep them from escaping.”

At his command, the Ghost Pokemon dispersed into the forest, their spectral forms blending seamlessly with the shadows. They moved swiftly, their presence unsettling the

Pokemon of the forest. Small Pokemon like Caterpie and Pidgey felt the chill of the Ghosts' approach and began to panic, their instincts driving them into a frenzied flight.

Especially as his ghosts specifically made sure to hunt down and bother them in their nests. Not a very nice thing, but hardly monstrous either, just efficient.

Ezra watched as the first wave of frightened Pokemon bolted from the underbrush, their eyes wide with terror as they were harassed by Ghost pokemon, some of the Dark pokemon that followed him on the fringes, apparently having seen his plot and decided to join in the hunt. An unexpected benefit. "Now, Pidgeotto!" he shouted.

Pidgeotto launched into the air, its powerful wings beating with a swift rhythm. It swooped down upon the fleeing Pokémon, its talons outstretched. The forest became a chaotic scene of panic and pursuit, with Pidgeotto diving and striking at the weakened and exhausted creatures driven into its path by the relentless Ghost Pokemon.

If they tried to flee away from the relentless assault they couldn't fight back against, his own Pokemon pushed them back into the killbox. If they tried to send off a technique, the Ghost or Dark Pokemon cut them off at the knees.

A Rattata, its eyes wide with fear, darted out from a bush, only to be caught by Pidgeotto's swift claws. The bird Pokémon carried it high into the air before releasing it, sending it plummeting back to the ground. The cycle continued, with Pidgeotto methodically targeting and overpowering the frantic forest dwellers, its strength and skill growing with each encounter, or so he pictured it, at least.

There was no difference to be seen, except perhaps in the growing exhaustion of his Pidgeotto. He'd likely have to continue this for more than tonight, but it should work. Hopefully within a few days. This wouldn't be a tactic he could use to create elite level Pokemon, the targets too weak. But to simply evolve a Pidgeotto, a few days of it should be enough.

Ezra watched the scene with a mix of satisfaction and determination. He knew this method was harsh, but it was likely to be effective. Pidgeotto needed to grow stronger, and the best way to do that was through rigorous, relentless training. Or in the defeat of Pokemon, which he hoped was a possibility here.

After all the others didn't really harm any of them, they just terrorized them, leaving the Pidgeotto to do all the damage to knock them out. And if he ate a Caterpie or two… Well Ezra wasn't too fond of bugs anyway.

He really didn't want to spend possibly weeks training his Pidgeotto, he wanted to be gone before Lavender Town did more than grumble. So he could come back later to show them all how wrong they'd been.

And really rub their faces in it.

As the night wore on, the forest became quieter, the Pokemon too frightened to move from their hiding places. Pidgeotto landed back near Ezra, its chest heaving with exertion but its eyes shining with a newfound fierceness.

Ezra approached, offering a handful of berries as a reward. "You did well, Pidgeotto," he said, his voice filled with genuine praise. He might not ever see him as more than a tool, but he wouldn't shy away from rewarding effort. "This is just the beginning. Keep this up, and you'll soon get everything you were promised. Your own domain, protected by my people.”

Once he had people… No need to say it could be years yet…

Pidgeotto accepted the berries, eating them gratefully. It was tired but invigorated, its confidence boosted by the successful training session.

Ezra looked at his Ghost Pokemon, still lurking in the shadows, their presence a constant, unnerving reminder of this power of his. "Good work, everyone. Let's give Pidgeotto some rest and prepare for tomorrow. There's still much to do."

He'd have to experiment with his own power. Whatever death aura or whatever that he had, that drew these Pokemon in. Even if never useful in ranked battles. Up against something like Team Rocket? They'd be a trump card that would serve him very well.

The Ghost Pokemon receded back into his shadow, their forms merging seamlessly with the darkness. As Ezra sat by the campfire minutes later, Pidgeotto resting beside him, his other Pokemon back to work training, he felt a sense of grim satisfaction. His plan was working. He was sure of it.

Once Pidgeotto evolved, he'd have all of Kanto at his fingertips.

＊＊＊

Next day.

Ezra stood in a secluded part of the forest, the early morning light casting a soft, golden glow through the trees. The air was still and cool, perfect for the precision training he had planned. In front of him floated Shuppet and Haunter, both eager and ready to refine their ghostly abilities.

He couldn't spend all his time on Pidgeotto, he didn't want to accidentally injure him nor risk overworking him - that would defeat the point entirely of what he was doing. And besides, he'd need his team to actually be competent if he wanted to succeed in even gaining his start-up capital.

"Alright, Shuppet, Haunter," Ezra began, his voice calm but firm, "Today's training is all about control and accuracy. It's not enough to have powerful moves; you need to be able to direct them precisely. Let's start with the compression exercises I had you guys practice these last few days."

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

And boy had it been a fun game of charades to figure out some of their move pools, he needed a frigging pokedex pronto. Although they were around, and in use pre-Ash apparently here - they were also expensive, and only the richest or well sponsored trainers could afford one.

Shuppet hovered closer, its cloth-like body undulating slightly. Haunter, with its disembodied hands and mischievous grin, followed suit. Ezra could see the anticipation in their ghostly eyes.

He had no idea if it was because of their connection or if he was actually bonding with them, but none of his pokemon had so far backed down from any of the training.

"Shuppet, I want you to compress your Dark Pulse attack into a tight beam. Imagine it as a needle, sharp and focused. Haunter, you'll do the same with your Shadow Ball. Smaller, more controlled. Ready?"

All three of his pokemon had a decently large and versatile move pool already, making him suspect he hadn't been approached by any rookie pokemon here. Dark Pulse he imagined must have been a technical machine technique for Shuppet, as he didn't remember it being part of its move pool.

Both Pokemon nodded, their forms shimmering with latent energy. They'd been training for twelve hours minimum a day, just getting used to manipulating their energy further and in new ways, Shuppet having the harder time of it as it's chosen technique to play with was a dark type move.

What he'd learned of Pokemon battles in school since arriving here… The vast majority of trainers had absolutely no innovation, only treading already worn ground.

Same with breeders and everyone really. It was the reason why no one had discovered how to evolve Milotic from Feebas, people just did what their forefathers always did.

The ones that didn't?

Well that was your top 1 percenters right there.

Although perhaps it was more like five percenters, the Ace trainers weren't your average idiots.

Ezra took a step back, giving his Pokemon some space. "On my count. One... Two... Three!"

Shuppet's eyes glowed with a dark light as it concentrated, a thin beam of shadowy dark energy forming in front of it with a vicious aura to it. Haunter's grin widened as it summoned a small, dense Shadow Ball, its size reduced but its power more concentrated.

"Hold it... Hold it..." Ezra instructed, watching as both Pokemon strained to maintain their focus. "Now, release!"

The compressed attacks shot forward, Shuppet's Dark Pulse beam slicing through the air with laser-like precision, while Haunter's compact Shadow Ball rocketed forward, both dissipating harmlessly into the sky. Ezra smiled, pleased with their progress.

Sure, at five seconds to form, it was almost useless in most fights, but when they'd started getting the hang of it, the time had been 15 seconds. He was confident they'd be able to get it further down. Which would mean their hits would pack a much heavier punch, necessitating less of them needing to hit the target to incapacitate their opponents.

"Excellent! Now, let's work on your accuracy with it." He reached down and picked up a handful of pinecones, holding them in his hand. "I'm going to toss one of these each in the air. I want you to hit each target as quickly and accurately as possible. Shuppet, you'll use your Dark Pulse. Haunter, stick with Shadow Ball."

Ezra took a deep breath and tossed a pinecone high into the air in front of Shuppet. "Now!" He shouted, even as he used his other hand to throw another one for Haunter.

Shuppet's eyes flashed as it fired a precise beam of its Dark Pulse, the malevolent aura resonating with Ezra, feeling almost homely, the attack managed to strike the pinecone and reduce it to splinters before it hit the ground - on his first try. Ezra noticed that Haunter's Shadow Ball obliterated its own target mid-air, the fragments scattering in all directions as well, also on the first try.

"Great job! Again!" Ezra encouraged, his voice filled with cheer. Inwardly he clocked it as another sign these pokemon had belonged to someone and had been trained.

Just don't let it be my body's former owner, I'm already playing into the creep factor enough as is…

He continued to toss the targets, each time faster and in more unpredictable patterns. Shuppet and Haunter responded with supreme confidence, their attacks becoming more accurate and controlled with each attempt. Shuppet's Dark Pulse beams became razor-thin and deadly precise, while Haunter's Shadow Balls, though smaller, packed a powerful punch and hit their marks unerringly.

They'd managed to shave a quarter of a second or so off compressing their techniques too. Just by being pushed to go faster, each of his throws slowly being tossed out faster to pressure them.

"Keep it up!" Ezra called out, throwing multiple targets at once. Shuppet and Haunter didn't miss a beat, their ghostly forms moving with fluid grace as they dispatched two pinecones each with pinpoint accuracy, although to be fair they were grouped together - two more falling to the ground. They both glared at the offending pinecones.

After several more rounds, Ezra finally called for a halt. "Alright, that's enough for now. You both did amazing."

Shuppet and Haunter hovered closer, their ghostly energies still shimmering from the exertion. Ezra reached out and patted them gently, a proud smile on his face. It felt cold but not unpleasantly so, to touch them.

"You're getting stronger and more precise every day," He said, his voice filled with genuine praise. "With control like this, you'll be able to take on any challenge that comes our way."

Shuppet let out a soft, ethereal cry of delight, while Haunter's grin somehow managed to widen even further.

“Take a fifteen minute break, then try and get that compression down to three seconds, alright?” He told them, walking off, smiling softly as one of the Haunters haunting his shadow, lightly pulled on his hair just to get attention.

Ezra wandered into the nearby clearing, where Cubone stood, its distinctive skull helmet catching the early morning light. Despite not being a Ghost Pokemon, Cubone had always been a special case in his mind, and he'd once had it on his team playing the games. It had connotations of death and loss, and if Ezra didn't misremember, evolving a Cubone at night could result in it becoming a Fire/Ghost Marowak - a perfect fit for his ghostly team.

And if he failed. Well, he'd always wanted an Arceusdamned Cubone, so he'd be fine either way.

Cubone had followed Ezra just as the Ghost and Dark Pokémon had, volunteering to be part of his team even. Its affinity for ghostly phenomena, or perhaps just death itself, made it a promising candidate for Ezra's evolving plans. He saw this as a good omen for its eventual transformation.

Obviously Cubone was already attuned to ghostly energies, or it wouldn't have so easily sought him out.

Ezra approached Cubone with a thoughtful smile. "Alright, Cubone, it's time for your training."

Cubone looked up at him with determined eyes, gripping its bone club tightly. Ezra had decided to go a bit unconventional with Cubone's training - or if he had to be honest - he'd gone entirely left field. It had a tail even if it wasn't much of one, and he was determined to teach it Iron Tail. If it could channel the energy into its tail, perhaps it could eventually do the same with its club, making it a formidable weapon.

It would also surprise the shit out of people for a while, which was just a bonus.

"Let's start with speed and hitting power," Ezra said, picking up a few sturdy logs he'd gathered earlier. "Cubone, I want you to use your club to hit these logs as hard and as fast as you can. Imagine your tail and club becoming as hard as steel."

Cubone was pretty fast, something he was eager to take advantage of, continuing to focus on speed, and of course hitting power was important, as Cubone was a more physical fighter than the others.

Cubone nodded, its resolve clear. It took a deep breath, then swung its club at the first log with a mighty crack, splintering it into pieces. Without missing a beat, Cubone moved to the next log, its swings becoming more forceful and rapid. It's cry heard through the forest as it cried out its victory over the dastardly logs.

"Good, Cubone! Keep it up!" Ezra encouraged, watching the Pokemon's determination with a calculating gaze, he'd lucked out it seemed, his pokemon all having a burning determination. Each swing was stronger than the last as the Cubone just kept speeding up, the sound of wood cracking echoing through the clearing.

After several rounds, Ezra decided it was time to focus on the essence of steel. He knelt down beside Cubone, placing a hand on its tiny shoulder, the little guy almost jumping in shock, letting out a quiet, “Cu?”

"You're doing great, Cubone. Now, let's work on feeling that steely energy. Imagine your tail and your club becoming as hard as metal, unyielding and powerful."

They'd been working on it for days, but seen no progress, probably because it wasn't a natural evolution of technique for Cubone, with a dash of him having had a hard time explaining how the technique worked based on memory.

Cubone closed its eyes, concentrating deeply. Ezra could see the effort etched on its face as it tried to visualize the transformation. He knew this part of the training was challenging, but he had faith in Cubone's perseverance.

It had tons of guts and determination, so everything else would come. Everything else could be taught. You couldn't teach this kind of guts, so starting out with that was already a win in his books.

To help, Ezra began to explain, trying to be more specific than his perhaps too lax explanation previously, "Think about what it means to be steel, Cubone. Strong, resilient, and enduring. Steel doesn't bend easily. It doesn't break. Picture that in your mind."

Cubone's eyes snapped open, a newfound intensity in its gaze. It swung its tail experimentally, and though there was no visible change, Ezra sensed the shift in Cubone's mindset. The grip it had around its club strained as its muscles tensed as it tried to picture steel.

"Alright," Ezra said, standing back up. "Let's try Iron Tail again. Imagine your tail becoming hard as steel and strike." He said, gaze intent on his Pokemon, “You are hard, unbending, everything breaks against your enduring strength. Focus on your tail, focus on steel.”

Cubone focused, its tail actually glowing faintly for just a second - with an energy that Ezra hoped would soon become a full Iron Tail. With a fierce cry, Cubone swung its tail at a log by swinging its entire body. The impact was stronger this time, leaving a deeper mark on the wood. It wasn't Iron Tail, by any metric, but he liked to imagine that glow meant it was on its way. The goal was possible.

"That's it, Cubone! You're getting there!" Ezra cheered, his excitement palpable. His cheer also cheered up Cubone, who went back to training with newfound belief.

As the sun climbed higher, nearing the noon mark, marking the end of their training session for now, Ezra knelt beside Cubone once more. "You've made incredible progress today. Keep this up, and we'll unlock your full potential." He smirked wickedly, “People aren't going to expect you at all. It will be glorious.”

Cubone looked up at him, its eyes gleaming with a fierce determination. Ezra patted its head gently. "Rest for now. We'll continue this tomorrow."

He could have forced more training today, but with Pidgeotto’s gauntlet later, he didn't want his Pokemon too exhausted.

Although he still felt suspicious of his circumstances, because either he was the best trainer ever - or his pokemon were scarily intuitive - or they had previous training.

He didn't want to kid himself on the best trainer thing. He had faith in himself, but not… Iron Tail for a Cubone in just a few days faith.

That was…

Well…

It would all work out in the end.

＊＊＊

An hour later,

Ezra was sitting by his campfire, meticulously cleaning his belongings, and contemplating the progress his team had made. The early afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting shadows across his camp. His Ghost Pokemon floated nearby, occasionally disappearing into the shadows, their presence a constant reminder of his unique bond with them.

He couldn't wait to start experimenting with that when he had his team situated better. Couldn't Agatha like… Do weird ghost shit? He wanted to do weird ghost shit.

He'd do all the weird ghost shit. It would be glorious.

Suddenly, a rustling in the underbrush caught his attention. He looked up to see a young almost adult trainer, maybe a year or two older than him, emerging from the forest. The trainer was tall and muscular, wearing a tank top and shorts, exuding a carefree and confident demeanor. He had a friendly smile on his face, seemingly unfazed by the eerie atmosphere of Ezra’s camp.

Which was a first. The first person that had first run into his camp - and likely the one that whined to Officer Jenny - pissed themselves when they ran into his little camp. Apparently not appreciative of the ambiance.

“Hey there!” The trainer called out, waving excitedly. “I saw your camp from a distance, what with all the darkness and smoke and such, and thought I’d come over. Are you up for a Pokemon battle?” He asked, looking utterly cheerful.

Evolution must have gone differently for humanity in a world of pokemon, Ezra would not have run towards smoke and darkness back in his old life. Probably wouldn't do it now either, for that matter.

Ezra looked at the other trainer in some surprise at the offer. He hadn’t expected anyone to approach him out here, let alone challenge him to a battle. His heart raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness. This would be his first real Pokemon battle against another trainer. He was older too, so probably experienced.

No, don't be nervous! Just kick ass! He psyched himself up mentally.

“Uh, sure! I’m Ezra,” he said, standing up and introducing himself, trying to sound casual.

“Nice to meet you, Ezra. I’m Barney,” the trainer replied, flashing a laid-back grin. “I’ve been traveling around, looking for strong trainers to battle. Your camp caught my eye. Pretty cool setup you’ve got here.” He looked with interest at the surroundings, not batting an eye at the pokemon making malevolent little noises at him from the shadows.

Ezra couldn’t help but smile at Barney's nonchalant attitude. Most people would be unnerved by his ghostly companions and the overall creepiness of his camp, but Barney seemed completely unfazed. After having so much of Lavender Town freak out just from his appearance, let alone his newfound ability. It was refreshing to run into someone who just didn't care about any of it.

He would still kick his ass of course, he had a reputation to build. But it was still nice to know not everyone was going to be an ass to him from the start.

Now if they were an ass to him after he was going to totally be an ass to most of them, then that was fair.

He just heavily disliked people who judged someone ahead of time, based on nonsense like skin or some shit.

“Thanks. My Pokemon and I have been training hard. Let’s do this,” Ezra said, feeling a surge of confidence. With what they'd been doing, surely they'd do alright, he could only see two pokeballs on the other trainer's belt.

He was probably just out for a stroll then, or left the rest at the pokecenter. Almost an adult, he must have more than two Pokemon.

Barney pulled out a pokeball and tossed it into the air. “Alright, let’s get this party started! Go, Machop!”

In a flash of light, a muscular Machop appeared, flexing its arms and ready for battle. Barney began flexing, making grunting noises for some reason - the Machop matching his flexing expertly. Leaving Ezra slightly nonplussed for a moment.

A Haunter slipped out of his shadow trying to flex its hands, letting out a mournful little wail when it didn't get the same effect. Ezra patted it on the head, sweat dropping as Barney and Machop clasped hands, stomping the ground in some weird pre game ritual, all the while continuing to grunt.

Ezra quickly considered his options while they… Did whatever that was. He decided to start with Shuppet, who hovered eagerly by his side anyway, ready for battle.

“Shuppet, you’re up!” Ezra called, letting Barney know he was ready.

His Shuppet floated forward, letting loose a menacing aura as it faced Machop. Barney raised an eyebrow, but maintained his easy going demeanor.

“Cool, a Shuppet! This is gonna be fun. Machop, let’s kick things off with Karate Chop!” Barney commanded.

Ezra had wondered if the cheerful facade hid an idiot, when he'd revealed a Machop to fight what was obviously a Ghost trainer, he'd figured he had learned some more effective moves or something.

Not… This.

Machop charged forward, its hand glowing with fighting energy - totally useless against Ghost types. Ezra reacted swiftly enough anyway. Even if it was ineffective, his pokemon needed to get used to dodging attacks anyway, “Shuppet, dodge with Shadow Sneak and use Confuse Ray!”

Might as well get practice in, if this guy was seriously just going to throw fighting moves against him. He'd expected at least a thunder punch or something.

Maybe he was just getting started?

Shuppet phased out of Machop’s path, reappearing behind it in its shadow, and releasing a beam of dark energy. Machop stumbled, clearly affected by the ghostly attack but quickly regained its footing.

Damn, Confuse Ray didn't take, oh well…

“Nice move! Machop, use Low Sweep!” Barney shouted, punching the air excitedly.

Low sweep? Against a floating ghost? What is this guy, who's the rookie here? Am I… Beating up a special needs dude?

Machop aimed a swift low kick at Shuppet, but it just floated just out of reach even without any orders. Ezra took the opportunity to press the advantage, the Machop in a bad position right beneath Shuppet.

“Shuppet, hit it with Dark Pulse!” he ordered, a wicked smile on his face, his pulse quickening. Despite the ease of the battle, this was fun!

Shuppet naturally went with the compressed version, and against a faster pokemon it would have taken too long at 3 seconds now - but the Machop hadn't moved quickly, and Barney hadn't given it another order yet, so Shuppet managed to launch it at Machop without the Pokemon dodging out of the way, the Machop standing in place seemingly bulking up.

The attack struck Machop directly, knocking it back with significant force, slamming it into the ground. Barney's smile never wavered even then.

Normally Dark Pulse and it's debilitating aura was widespread and could even hit several pokemon at once - but compressed, it visibly brought the Machop to the edge of fainting when it brought it low.

Whatever the Machop had been trying to do, dissipated with the strong strike. bulk up? Ezra thought, Most likely, but without any orders…

This trainer was confusing him. Had he trained his pokemon to work independently, or was he just so bad the pokemon chose on its own?

“Wow, your Shuppet is strong! But we’re not done yet. Machop, get up and use Seismic Toss!” Barney said encouragingly.

Machop got to its feet, determined despite the damage it had taken. Seismic Toss was finally an attack that could actually hit Ezra's pokemon - so obviously he wasn't going to just sit around and let him do it.

“Shuppet, Night Shade!” he commanded.

Shuppet’s eyes glowed with an eerie light, and Machop’s movements slowed as it succumbed to the nightmarish mirage, taking damage before it could begin its own attack. Within moments, Machop was unconscious on the ground.

Barney laughed good-naturedly. “Looks like I’m outmatched this time. Great job, Ezra! Your Shuppet is amazing.”

Ezra couldn’t help but feel like it had all been too easy. Still, he could be polite at least. “Thanks, Barney. Your Machop put up… An adequate fight for what he was facing, but are you sure we are done? You still have another pokemon, right?”

He couldn't help but be perturbed by this entire encounter, his Shuppet bumping into his head for pets, which he absentmindedly delivered.

Barney recalled Machop and walked over to shake Ezra’s hand, and to give him his winnings, something Ezra had forgotten about. 200 pokedollars wasn't a fortune, but every little bit helped. “Thanks for the battle, man. Keep training hard. You’ve got something special here, you totally wasted me, man.” He said happily.

Well… You did walk into a ghostly encampment with only a fighting Pokemon…

Ezra shook Barney's hand mentally shaking his head, feeling a newfound sense of relief. Because now he knew that no matter what, he wouldn't embarrass himself totally on the circuit, not if people like this were around. “I will, thanks for the battle, Barney. Safe travels.”

With a final wave, Barney turned and headed back out of the forest, leaving Ezra to reflect on his first successful Pokemon battle.

Maybe this all won't be as hard as I'd thought… He mused.

＊＊＊

That night, as the moon hung high and the forest was shrouded in darkness, Ezra prepared for another training session with Pidgeotto. The air was cool and still, perfect for honing the bird pokemon's skills. His Ghost Pokemon flitted about in the shadows, ready to assist in driving the local Pokemon into Pidgeotto's path.

Ezra stepped carefully through the forest, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. Pidgeotto perched on his shoulder, its feathers ruffled slightly in anticipation. He reached the edge of a clearing and was about to set his Pokemon in motion, when something caught his eye.

Lying in the clearing was a figure, motionless and pale in the moonlight. Ezra's heart skipped a beat as he approached, the scene becoming clearer with each step. The figure was a person, unmistakably dead, with a Pokedex lying beside them. No pokeballs were visible, and the area around the body looked like someone had definitely gotten up close and personal.

Odd to leave the pokedex behind though. It wouldn't be that hard to wipe it and re-register it.

Ezra knelt beside the corpse, his eyes narrowing in thought. This could be the work of poachers or even Team Rocket, he reasoned. Whoever it was, they had left no trace of their Pokemon, only this lifeless body and the abandoned Pokedex.

Considering the pokeballs were gone, and since this kid had a pokedex she was definitely a trainer - she'd been jumped for her Pokemon - with the state the body was in, it wasn't that long ago either. She might not even be declared MIA yet.

Honestly he'd suspect poachers after a particular Pokemon personally - unlucky girl probably had something rare. Team Rocket, even if they were as obsessed about capturing other people's Pokemon as in the source material - were a criminal organization and therefore surely knew how to wipe a pokedex. They were worth enough money they wouldn't have left it behind.

Unashamedly, he picked up the Pokedex and examined it. It was a standard model, nothing particularly special about it, but it could contain valuable information. With a quick swipe, he powered it on and scanned through the entries. It might help identify the victim or even give clues about what had happened.

From… Celadon, Ah, there it is, how on earth does a rookie have a ninetales? Or had, I guess. Legacy Pokemon? Either way, got you killed girl, he thought, scrolling through the pokedex, finding nothing else substantial.

Without compunction, he did a complete reset, wiping everything off the pokedex, and then sat down on a nearby rock, going through the set up stages, registering himself as the owner through his training license ID. He wasn't going to turn down a free pokedex, and besides, it wouldn't do the girl any good now.

Finishing, Ezra sighed, and took a deep breath, scrolling through until he hit the pokenet page for the Lavender Town police department. It was time to report this to Officer Jenny. He dialed the number and waited, the dial tone echoing in the stillness of the night. After a few dozen rings, a familiar voice answered, sounding sleepy.

You know… I know they have other members on the force, but why is it only her dealing with things with the public? He wondered.

"Officer Jenny here," came the professional yet tired and concerned voice from the other end.

"Officer Jenny, it's Ezra," He said, trying to not sound too apathetic, it probably wouldn't be a good look, "I'm in the forest, about two hours out from Lavender Town, fifteen minutes west of my camp. I've found a dead body. There's no sign of any pokeballs or pokedex, so not sure if it's a trainer, but she's definitely dead.” He eyed the deep rend through her torso, obviously the product of a Pokemon attack, “Very dead.” He added.

There was a pause, then a note of urgency in her voice. "Ezra, can you give me your exact location? I'll come out there right away. Don't touch anything else until I arrive." She said rapidly, the sounds of ruffling clothes, and quiet cursing, coming through the phone call.

Had he known she'd be in bed already, he'd have placed a video call instead… Would he get arrested if he asked what she was wearing?

Probably, right?

Ezra quickly described his location as best as he could, giving landmarks and directions, even if his original explanation was enough, in his opinion, "I'll wait here for you," He added, glancing around the eerie clearing with annoyance, because this did slow down his training. "Be careful on your way." He added as an afterthought.

"I will. Stay put and keep an eye out for anything unusual. I'll be there as soon as I can," Jenny replied, her tone brisk and efficient. The barking of her Growlithe echoing through the line.

The call ended, leaving Ezra alone with the body and his thoughts. He looked at Pidgeotto, who seemed uneasy, and gave it a reassuring pat. "Looks like training will have to wait," he murmured.

His Shuppet and Haunter hovered next to him, almost seeming to hang protectively around him, which he appreciated. His Cubone was in its pokeball, having overworked itself behind his back when he was fighting Barney.

With a thought, the pokemon living in his shadow spread out, like a wave, checking the surroundings. Never hurt to be too careful - next time he should probably do that first. Before kneeling down next to the obviously murdered person.

He stood up, scanning the area himself for any signs of movement as his posse? Yeah, his Ghostly posse, had a look around the forest. The forest was eerily silent, the usual night sounds conspicuously absent. Ezra felt a chill run down his spine, but he pushed it aside.

It made sense, he'd been running the wild Pokemon ragged, they were probably all hiding, or had left the area to avoid him. That's why it was so silent.

The forest remained shrouded in an oppressive silence as Ezra waited for Officer Jenny to arrive. His Ghost Pokemon floated around him, their spectral forms flickering in and out of the shadows, providing some company in the stillness of the night. Pidgeotto perched uneasily on a low branch, its eyes darting around, reflecting the tension in the air.

Whether the Pokemon knew something was dangerous due to his own feelings, or because they recognized it on their own - he couldn't tell, but either way they were all prepared for action if anything happened.

Finally, the distant sound of rustling and the soft glow of a flashlight pierced the darkness. Officer Jenny emerged, her Growlithe by her side, the canine's nose twitching as it sniffed the air for any clues. Jenny's expression was grim, her eyes reflecting the urgency and sorrow of the situation.

"Ezra," She called, her voice breaking the silence. "I'm here."

Ezra raised a hand in acknowledgment, stepping away from the body to give her space. "Took you long enough," He muttered under his breath, though not loud enough for her to hear. He just wanted this over with.

Now more than ever he needed Pidgeotto to evolve, this area was obviously not as safe as he'd thought.

Jenny approached the body, her flashlight illuminating the scene. She knelt down beside the lifeless form, her face tightening with a mix of sadness and professionalism. Growlithe stood guard, its senses on high alert.

"This is terrible," Jenny murmured, more to herself than to Ezra. She carefully examined the corpse, noting the deep rend in the torso. "Looks like a Pokemon attack, but this was no wild encounter. She was definitely ambushed." She mused out loud, looking around the clearing, spotting things he hadn't apparently.

But then he wasn't a cop, nor did he have any kind of forensic training.

He wondered if she usually spoke about these things with random kids nearby. Then again, when they were trainers… Probably. The league was kind of weird with that, a training license suddenly making you ready for anything.

Ezra watched her continued work with mild disinterest, his thoughts already drifting back to his interrupted training session. "Yeah, I figured as much, just as I reported. No pokeballs or pokedex around either, so someone probably took them. Poachers or Team Rocket, maybe."

Jenny watched him carefully in the dark clearing, “I notice you have a pokedex suddenly, it's what you used to call me, right?’ she asked, carefully.

Ezra cocked his head, “Was there a question in there somewhere?” He asked, purposefully being obtrusive. If he suddenly became all helpful and friendly, she'd notice and think he was lying.

Although she probably wouldn't believe him no matter what. Which was fine - as long as she didn't have anything to actually go on.

“Did you steal the girl's pokedex and use it to call me?” Jenny asked point blank, eyes hard.

Ezra scoffed, crossing his arms, ominous noises, cackling and hissing - coming from around him as the Pokemon under his aegis made their own opinion known. “That's the thanks I get for calling this in, huh? Shoulda just left her, figures, tch.”

Seeing her continued staredown, he rolled his eyes, “Had a couple trainers come through, they sold me one of their old ones, I let them capture one of the Haunters that hang around me in exchange.”

Jenny nodded slowly, and he wasn't sure if she believed him, but she'd probably be asking all newcomers to Lavender Town about it soon enough, “I see… My apologies.” She offered, apologizing for her suspicions.

“So Team Rocket or poachers, huh? That's gotta suck.” Ezra said, wanting to move things along. Not having any intention to stand around a body all night.

Jenny nodded, her expression hardening. "It's likely. This area isn't known for high crime, but poachers and criminals like Team Rocket are always a possibility." She glanced up at Ezra, her eyes piercing. "You did the right thing by calling me." She added, a note of apology in her tone, for her previous line of questioning.

Ezra shrugged, not particularly moved by her praise - especially suspecting she didn't believe him, "Just wanted to get it over with."

Jenny sighed, standing up and dusting off her hands. "I know you’re not one for rules, Ezra, but this is serious. You can't stay in this area anymore. It's too dangerous, and now there's been a murder. If word gets out, it'll draw more attention, and not the good kind."

Ezra frowned, crossing his arms. "I haven’t broken any laws. I'm not in Lavender Town’s limits." He reiterated, not willing to tell her he'd already planned to leave since the second he found the body.

He didn't want to come across as too cooperative here, not with all the shit the police department put him through.

"I understand that," Jenny replied, her tone softening. "But it's not just about the laws. It's about safety. For you and for others. This place isn't safe right now, and I don't want to see you get hurt."

Ezra rolled his eyes. "I'm not afraid of a few poachers or Team Rocket grunts. I can handle myself." I hope…

Now that he had a pokedex he could start doing some research. He had no idea how bad they actually were in this world.

Jenny stepped closer, her expression earnest. "This isn't just about you handling yourself, Ezra. This is about preventing more harm. If they come back and find you here, alone... it won't end well. Please, listen to me."

Ezra glanced at the body again, faking a look of discomfort, dialing down on his bravado, letting her believe she'd slowly convinced him. Reluctantly, he nodded. "Fine. I'll move camp tomorrow." He allowed.

If I can get Pidgeotto evolved tonight, I'll just leave…

"Thank you," Jenny said, genuine relief in her voice. "I'll make sure this area is thoroughly investigated. In the meantime, please stay safe and keep a low profile."

Ezra sighed, turning away. "Yeah, sure. Whatever."

He'd hit his limit on being told what to do. Heh, he was a teenager again, so it was only proper for him to act this way.

He could really go for a damn drink though… Could a Ghost pokemon steal alcohol?

Or would a trainer's license even extend that far? Proooobably not, he thought. For police work? Or fighting gods or terrorists, sure. But no drinking, that's the limit.

As Officer Jenny and her Growlithe began to secure the scene, Ezra walked back towards his camp, his pokemon trailing behind him.

＊＊＊

Early morning,

“Fuck you world!” A holler called out across the sky, a Pidgeot taking to the sky, a trainer whooping in joy aboard it.

Lavender Town got its wish.

Ezra Kassian was out.

But he'd be back, oh would he ever be back…

＊＊＊