The afterglow of the setting sun cast its light upon the sea of Maiden's Peak, painting the entire port in an orange-red hue. Ash tugged at the brim of his hat, excitedly gazing at the bustling scene before him.
"Wow, Pikachu, it's even livelier here than I imagined!" Ash turned to the Electric-type Pokémon on his shoulder and said.
"It sure is! There are food stalls and game booths everywhere!" Pikachu wiggled its ears, its eyes sparkling.
Xiao You, holding her Bulbasaur, looked around curiously: "I heard the legend of Maiden's Peak is very famous. I didn't expect to stumble upon a temple fair."
"The legend of Maiden's Peak?" Ash was about to ask, but then he realized Brock was nowhere to be found. He looked around and, sure enough, saw a beautiful woman in a kimono not far away, with Brock kneeling on one knee in his signature pose, holding her hand.
"Beautiful lady, your eyes are as intoxicating as the sea beneath this sunset..."
"Here he goes again..." Ash and Xiao You simultaneously sighed, hand to forehead.
"Forget him," Xiao You said with a helpless smile. "Shall we go explore the temple fair?"
The two Trainers and their Pokémon strolled along the lively street, the aroma of various snacks wafting towards them. Pikachu's nose twitched incessantly, its eyes fixed on a stall selling Pokémon pancakes.
"Want some?" Ash asked with a smile.
"Of course!" Pikachu nodded excitedly.
As they were queuing for pancakes, Ash's attention was drawn to an Old Woman behind a stall. She was an elderly woman with silver hair and a face full of wrinkles.
She sat alone in front of a small stall, selling hand-woven talismans. But what interested Ash was the unusual Pokémon energy he felt.
"Pikachu, do you feel it?" Ash whispered.
Pikachu perked up its ears vigilantly: "Hmm... that Old Woman has very strong Ghost-type energy."
Xiao You looked at them in Confusion: "What are you two talking about?"
Ash didn't answer immediately but walked closer to the stall. The Old Woman looked up, a fleeting, imperceptible glint in her cloudy eyes.
"Young man, do you want to buy a talisman? It can bless your journey with safety," the Old Woman's voice was hoarse and slow.
Ash squatted down, looking directly into the Old Woman's eyes: "Old Woman, how long have you been here?"
"For a very, very long time... so long that I can't even remember myself," the Old Woman replied with a soft chuckle, her fingers tracing the talismans on the stall.
Ash could feel Pikachu tensing up on his shoulder. He gently patted his partner, signaling it to relax, then smiled at the Old Woman: "Then I'll take a talisman, thank you."
After leaving the stall, Xiao You asked curiously: "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with that Old Woman?"
"That Old Woman isn't human," Ash lowered his voice. "That's a Gastly, and... a very ancient one."
"What?" Xiao You's eyes widened in surprise. "But it looks completely human!"
"An ordinary Gastly certainly couldn't achieve this level of mimicry," Ash explained. "But this one... I estimate it's lived for at least a thousand years."
Pikachu added: "And it doesn't seem to have any ill intentions; it's just observing humans."
Ash nodded: "There are too many people at the temple fair now. Let's come back for it tonight."
As night fell, the clamor of the temple fair gradually subsided. Ash bid farewell to Xiao You, taking only Pikachu back to the location of the stall from earlier in the day. Under the moonlight, the "Old Woman" still sat there, as if waiting for something.
"You knew we would come back," Ash said directly.
The Old Woman looked up, the wrinkles on her face appearing even deeper in the moonlight: "Good perception, young man. I noticed this afternoon that you could see through my disguise."
"Why are you pretending to be human here?" Pikachu asked.
The Old Woman—or rather, Gastly—let out a soft chuckle: "Observing humans is a very interesting thing. Especially at this time every year, people come to commemorate that poor maiden..."
"Are you talking about the maiden from the legend of Maiden's Peak?" Ash asked.
Gastly didn't answer directly but slowly stood up, its form beginning to distort and change: "Come with me, this isn't a suitable place to talk."
They followed Gastly to a large rock by the sea. Under the moonlight, the rock vaguely showed the silhouette of a maiden.
"This is the legendary Maiden's Statue," Gastly's voice was no longer hoarse but became ethereal. "But do you know? This is not just a legend."
Ash felt a chill: "What do you mean?"
Gastly's form fully manifested—a purple, gaseous creature floating in mid-air, with only a large face bearing an eerie smile.
"A long time ago, there was indeed a maiden here waiting for her lover who had gone out to sea and not returned. Day after day, year after year, until her body turned into stone, but her soul still lingered."
Pikachu asked in surprise: "So the legend is true? The maiden's soul is still here?"
Gastly nodded: "When I met her, her soul was already very weak. Out of pity, I used my power to sustain her existence."
Ash frowned: "So you disguised yourself as a human during the day to..."
"Collect human thoughts and energy," Gastly said frankly. "This energy can help sustain her soul. I haven't harmed anyone; I've just... borrowed a little of their emotions."
Ash pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: "I'm going to catch you."
Gastly froze for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Hahaha! Young man, do you know what you're saying? I'm a Gastly that's lived for a thousand years!"
"Precisely because of that," Ash said firmly, "I can't let you continue to absorb human energy like this. And... perhaps I can help that maiden."
Gastly's smile vanished: "Help her? How? Her lover will never return."
"How will you know if you don't try?" Ash had already pulled out a Poké Ball. "Let's battle! If you win, I'll leave immediately; if I win, you'll become my partner and tell me everything about the maiden."
Gastly floated in the air, its purple gas subtly fluctuating: "Interesting... Then as you wish!"
Ash quickly threw a Poké Ball: "Gardevoir, I choose you!"
A flash of light, and the elegant Gardevoir appeared under the moonlight, her skirt gently swaying in the breeze.
"Gardevoir, be careful, this is a Millennial Ghastly, and it's very strong!" Ash warned.
"Understood," Gardevoir responded curtly, her hands already gathering pink energy.
Gastly launched the first attack, spewing a jet-black Shadow Ball from its mouth. Gardevoir deftly dodged, simultaneously retaliating with a Dazzling Gleam.
The two energy attacks collided in mid-air, erupting in a dazzling flash of light. Gastly used the cover of the light to suddenly vanish from its spot.
"Watch out behind you!" Pikachu shouted.
Gardevoir swiftly turned, but was still hit by Gastly's Sucker Punch, stumbling a few steps.
"Gardevoir, use Confusion to Lock-On to it!" Ash commanded.
Gardevoir closed her eyes, her entire body emitting a blue glow. Moments later, she sharply opened her eyes and pushed her hands forward: "Found you!"
Invisible Confusion waves accurately struck the invisible Gastly, forcing it to reveal itself. Gastly cried out in pain, but quickly gathered even stronger Shadow energy.
"Shadow Sneak!" Gastly's form suddenly split into several, attacking Gardevoir from different directions.
Ash observed calmly: "The third one from the left is the real one! Gardevoir, Moonblast!"
Gardevoir unhesitatingly unleashed her attack in the direction Ash indicated. The silvery-white energy wave accurately hit Gastly's true body, sending it recoiling several meters away.
Gastly gasped, the purple gas around it growing thin: "No... impossible... How could you see through my illusions?"
"Because most of your power is being used to sustain the maiden's soul," Ash said pointedly. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to defeat you so easily."
Gastly fell silent, finally sighing: "You're right... I really did use most of my power."
Ash stepped forward: "I understand your kindness, but this isn't a solution. Let me help you, and also help that maiden."
Gastly looked at Ash's determined eyes and slowly nodded: "Alright... I surrender."
The Poké Ball shook gently three times, emitting a "ding" sound. Ash picked up the Poké Ball and whispered: "Welcome to the team, Gastly."
Just then, a translucent maiden's figure suddenly appeared beside the stone statue. She wore an ancient kimono, her face sorrowful yet beautiful.
"Are you... talking about me?" The maiden's voice was as soft as a breeze.
Gastly emerged from its Poké Ball on its own: "Xiao Ye, this young man says he can help you."
The maiden named Xiao Ye looked at Ash in Confusion: "Help me? But... I just want to wait for him to come back..."
Ash walked up to the maiden: "I understand how you feel. But so much time has passed, have you ever considered... maybe he's never coming back?"
Tears welled up in the maiden's eyes: "No... he promised he would come back..."
Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder: "Ash, maybe you can use that..."
Ash nodded, taking the azure flute—the artifact bestowed upon him by Arceus—from his neck. He held the pendant in his hand, closed his eyes: "Please tell me, what truly happened to the lover Xiao Ye is waiting for?"
The azure flute began to emit a soft glow, and a series of images flashed through Ash's mind: a small boat in a storm, towering waves, the silhouette of a sinking sail... Ash opened his eyes, his expression sorrowful: "Xiao Ye... your lover truly wanted to return, but he encountered a shipwreck on his way back... he didn't survive."
The maiden's soul trembled violently: "No... that's not true..."
Gastly floated to her side: "Xiao Ye, this young man possesses the power of Arceus; what he sees is real."
"Why... why would you tell me this..." Xiao Ye sobbed uncontrollably.
"Because continuing to wait will only cause you more pain," Ash said softly. "If your lover knew you were tormenting yourself like this, he would be heartbroken too."
Under the moonlight, the maiden's soul gradually calmed. She looked up at the starry sky, as if searching for something.
"Actually... I've always known," Xiao Ye said softly, "I just didn't want to admit it."
She turned to Gastly: "Thank you for taking care of me all these years, giving me the chance to hear the truth." Then she said to Ash: "And thank you, kind Trainer."
Xiao Ye's figure began to become transparent: "I think... it's time to let go."
Gastly asked urgently: "Where are you going?"
"To where I belong," Xiao Ye replied with a smile. "Perhaps... I can see him in another world."
Her figure gradually dissipated like morning mist, finally transforming into specks of light rising towards the starry sky. The sea breeze gently stirred, as if carrying a sigh of relief.
Gastly gazed at the sky for a long time, tears seemingly sparkling in its purple gas: "A thousand years... I finally fulfilled my promise to her."
Ash gently patted Gastly's body: "You did very well."
Gastly turned to Ash, suddenly saying solemnly: "Possessing the power of Arceus... you must be the legendary Child of the Planes, aren't you?"
Ash was a little surprised: "You actually know about that?"
"Live long enough, and you'll always learn some things," Gastly's voice became serious. "I originally helped Xiao Ye only out of pity, but now... I truly accept you as my Trainer."
Pikachu asked curiously: "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"
"Because someone who can use the azure flute must have a pure heart and strong will," Gastly explained. "And... the way he helped Xiao Ye find peace proves that he is indeed extraordinary."
Ash scratched his head sheepishly: "I just did what I had to do."
Gastly suddenly showed its signature eerie smile: "But kid, don't expect me to be as obedient as other Pokémon. I'm a Gastly with a thousand years of cultivation!"
Ash burst out laughing: "That's what makes it interesting! Welcome to our team, Gastly!"
Under the moonlight, the newly formed partners gazed at the calm sea, and the legend of Maiden's Peak finally came to a satisfying conclusion.