Pokémon Spirited Away

Once again, it is I! WhiteOwl74, now presenting yet another fanfic, second crossover and fourth about Pokémon! This fanfic combines some of Japan's greatest imaginary wonders: the enchanting Spirit World of the Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away and the wonderful creatures called Pokémon. This is inspired by the wonder of a child's mind, when at age seven, you wonder how this movie could get better. Just add Pokémon! (Alright, so it's pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to make the movie even better, but hopefully, it'll work out with Pokémon!)

To those who are new readers, welcome! For the people that have been reading since I first started out, great to see you all again! This is going to be a different experience, as I have very little experience with writing crossovers (other is one of Beauty and the Beast and Pokémon, still working on it), but I will do the best I can!

Summary: White didn't think that while exploring with her best friends, Cheren and Bianca, she would uncover a gateway into the spirit world. Now stuck there with her Snivy partner and having to work at a bath house for the freedom of her friends who have now been turned into Pokémon, she can't help but wonder why the apprentice to the owner is familiar.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or Spirited Away, no matter how much I want to. But I DO own my soul, this account, and all my ideas inspired by various TV shows, movies, and books. Imagination rocks!

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"Honestly Bianca," a bespectacled black-haired boy called out from his bicycle, "I think we're lost."

"Nope," the cheerful blonde called back to her companion. "Professor Juniper said to take the right off the main road, remember? We just haven't gotten there yet. How you holding up White?" she called over her shoulder. Another figure, also on a bike, pedaled after her friends.

The brunette with the pale blue eyes smiled as she coasted forward, enjoying the breezy air. "I'm fine Bia. How are you doing, Snivy?" she asked the green Snake-Grass Pokémon perched in the bike's basket.

"Sniiii," the little Snivy said contently. This is the life, she thought as her Trainer pedaled to catch up. Sunny day, a little breeze, and a ride with my Trainer, what could be better?

Needless to say, Snivy's thoughts might have jinxed everything as Bianca swerved madly, stopping her bike from crashing into a small shrine. Bianca didn't hit it, but her bike collided with Cheren's and the two tumbled down with their Pokémon, an Oshawott for Bianca and a Tepig for Cheren. White hurried forward and braked, concerned about her friends.

"Are you two okay?" she asked, stepping away from her bike and helping them back up.

"Urgh yes, Bianca," Cheren said sternly. "Watch the heck where you're going with your bike!"

"Well excuse me for hitting you! But I was trying to avoid smashing that shrine," she shouted, pointing at it. "Would you have wanted me to have destroyed a piece of history?"

The two squabbled some more while White smiled and shook her head. Those two were so in love with each other and wouldn't admit it. It made her happy, yet sad too, as though she was a third wheel on a bike that wasn't supposed to be a tricycle.

"Guys give it a break please," White said to Cheren and Bianca, who were now nose-to-nose, glaring daggers at the other. "Be glad no one was harmed, and this thing's good too Bia."

"Good," Bianca said as she picked up her bike. "What does it say, anyways?"

They all looked at White expectantly as she studied it closer. The Unknown letters were worn, but she could tell it was an offering of old to the powerful dragon Pokémon in Unova legend. Which one, she couldn't say, but you could tell the historical significance. An old story her grandmother had told her came to her mind.

"Some people used to build these shrines to honor and worship their ancestors. Some even say they house a spirit inside their stone hollow. Never break it, for sometimes, a Spiritome way come and haunt you until you have either gone to the spirit world yourself or repaired its home."

"I'm guessing a prayer for a good harvest, maybe? Hard to say, the writings all faded," White said.

"Yeah, but we're never going to find that town now," Cheren said, pulling out a map and looking it over. "If somebody would have let me pull over for directions, we wouldn't be here." He shot a glance to Bianca, who ignored him.

"Come on guys? Where's that sense of adventure?" she asked perkily. "I say that we explore this path and see where it goes!" She climbed back on her bike; Oshawott stowed in, and rushed forward, not waiting for a reply.

"…She didn't know where to turn, did she?" Cheren asked White as they got back in their bikes.

"In one," she replied and they pedaled after their blonde, slightly ditzy friend.

The little dirt path was wavy and led through a thick grove of tree. The little light that dappled through illuminated the path so that the three could see enough to bike through. Curiously enough, there was no sign of Pokémon and no calls could be heard either.

"Spooky…" Bianca whispered to White, who looked around curious.

"It feels…Like we're trespassing," she said after a while.

"It looks as though that people rarely pass by," Cheren remarked.

White's bike screeched to a halt as her head swerved to the side, her eyes locked on a clump of bushes.

"White! What is it?" Bianca asked fearfully.

White gazed at the bushes. For a moment, she had seen a dark creature with a mane of green fur and a foxlike face. She could almost feel the strong grey-blue gaze of the Pokémon as she looked around, but nothing emerged.

"…Nothing, I could have sworn I had seen a Pokémon though," she said to her companions. Snivy sniffed the hair, her sense of smell the keenest. Beneath the tones of the forest, she could pick up a light trail of a Pokémon. Of course, it could just be nothing, but Snivy wasn't so sure.

"Well, good thing you did stop White," Cheren remarked as he pointed at something. "Otherwise, we could all have crashed into that." White turned to see what exactly that was.

That was a large statue of a Pokémon, a large gate with no fence behind it. The stone Zoroark stared at her with its granite eyes as she studied the red building. The gate itself was tall with a black rooftop stretching across it. Time had not been kind to it, as the plaster had disappeared in some places to reveal the bricks underneath.

"Wow," Bianca said, putting her bike besides an oak tree. "Where do you think it leads?"

"I don't know, but it just gives me the wrong feeling," White muttered to herself and her partner. Snivy nodded. The atmosphere of the area was haunting and mysterious, yet inviting. There was a soft echo of their voices and a wind swept through, pushing, no, pulling a cluster of leaves into the tunnel.

"Well…I wanna see what's here," Bianca said cheerfully as she skipped through the gate. She turned around and waved for her friends to follow. "Come on, don't tell me you guys are too scared to come!"

"I suppose a quick look wouldn't hurt. We're late enough already," Cheren agreed as he walked forward, Tepig at his heels.

Snivy and White shared a look before they followed. The three friends and their Pokémon all went through the tunnel, unaware of the danger they were about to put themselves in.

White was nervous as they walked down the darkened path. This whole tunnel, this part of the forest felt…Wrong. The slight breeze kept pushing at her back, as though telling her to keep moving while the rest of the air was still and silent. Snivy shivered, she was scared too. White looked to her trembling partner and gave an encouraging smile and patted her head. Snivy wrapped a vine around White's wrist as the two followed Bianca and Cheren.

"How long is this tunnel?" Cheren asked.

"Hang on, just up ahead," Bianca said to her companions.

In a few moments, they found themselves standing in a stone building. It was old and covered in vines and moss, with a few glass windows allowing light to pass through. Rows of stone columns held the high roof up, unlit lanterns dangling beneath it with empty benches scattered about. A lone fountain stood in the center, small drops of water trickling down.

"What is that noise?" Bianca asked confused.

White strained her ears, her sense of hearing the best. In the distance she could hear a faint roar and clacking, a sound she was familiar with.

"A train?" Cheren asked.

"Sounds like it," White agreed.

"Then there should be a train station nearby," her friend said as he walked forward.

As they started to move, White gave a glance back to the tunnel. She had a deep longing to return to the forest and pedal away as fast as she could, but her friends probably couldn't feel her unease. What was so dangerous that she wanted to leave? Why did this whole area have this peculiar atmosphere?

White stepped out from the darkness and into the light, a gasp escaping her lips. In front of her, miles wide, was the most beautiful valley she had ever seen. The green hills rolled into the distance, strewn with wildflowers and blossoms. A few stone statues were present too, covered in moss. A large village of rundown shacks stood before her.

"Oh," she said softly as her eyes returned to the distant hills.

"I believe I know where we are," Cheren said with a smile.

"Really? Where?" Bianca asked.

"This is an abandoned amusement park. Look."

Cheren pointed back to the building they had come from. The structure was massive, much bigger thatn they had thought it was, and much more extravagant. A clock tower sat at the very top, although the clock appeared to be broken for quite some time. It was obvious that the building hadn't been used in years.

"These sorts of places are everywhere. They were built during the Unova Golden years, but when they ended, the business went bankrupt and these parks had to close down." Cheren looked around and nodded. "My guess is that we're in one of them."

"How do you know that?" Bianca asked, her mouth wide.

"I've read about it, but I've wanted to see one with my own eyes for a while."

"Then let's get a closer look!" Bianca cried, grabbing Cheren's and White's arms and dragging them forward, across a bridge over an empty riverbed, not a single drop of liquid on the stones. White frowned and looked around. The theme park had a strange feel to it.

WHOOOOOOOSH!

A sudden wind blew from the building behind White, causing her to pitch forward. White staggered slightly and glanced back. She cringed slightly at the eerily tinkling melody of a wind chime before hurrying to her friends. As much as she despised this location, she had a feeling they should all stick together.

"Hey, didn't the building sound like it was moaning?" White asked Cheren.

He shrugged and said, "It's just the wind, White. You always thought that spirits were everywhere when we were kids. Don't let our imagination take over."

White frowned. Cheren still didn't believe about Totoro, the Snorlax spirit that lived in the large tree near White's house. Perhaps it was farfetched to him but still, nothing about this place felt right.

"Come on White, cheer up!" Bianca said as she skipped towards the town. "Isn't it the most amazing thing you've ever seen? I wish we could have brought a picnic, it's the perfect day for one." She elbowed Cheren gently. "See, wasn't it worth it?"

"Don't push it," he said, but the smile agreed that yes, it was worth it.

White still didn't like it as they kept walking. Bianca suddenly tripped and crashed into Cheren.

"Ouch! Bianca watch where you're…"

His voice trailed off as he saw the position they were both in. Bianca was lying on top of Cheren's chest, their faces dangerously close. White stifled a giggle as their faces flushed and they scrambled back up. Cheren fiddle with his glasses while Bianca tugged on her hat. Oshawott and Tepig smiled knowingly at each other.

"Alright love birds, where to now?" White asked with amusement.

Cheren looked embarrassed while Bianca said, "I say we find out where that smell's coming from."

White sniffed the air with Snivy. Indeed, a strong, tasty aroma seemed to fill the air, coming from ahead.

"Why don't we go see? It would seem that the park isn't as abandoned as we thought," Cheren said.

The buildings were of all shapes, sizes, and designs. Some were shaped in bizarre ways, like pop-out flowers, with statues of Pokémon in fine condition spread about. Signs of foreign or smudged letters dangled from eaves and the roofs. And as unique as they were, White could tell there was something similar about all the buildings.

"Weird, looks like their all restaurants," Bianca said.

"Where is everybody?" White asked.

They group continued to walk onward, the scent growing stronger. White saw that some of the buildings had lanterns and peculiar designs. Could this have been the center of the park? It's main attraction? White certainly couldn't see any rides or coasters.

"Found it!"

A little farther ahead, Bianca found the source of the smell. It was a bar style restaurant with a counter in front and the kitchen in the back. Stools sat up tall and the sound of steam seemed to hiss from the empty kitchen. Large bowls sat on the counter, full of delicious looking foods, the likes of which White had never seen. Her stomach rumbled, not from hunger, but a feeling of dread.

"Whoa!" Bianca said, plopping herself onto a stool.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" Cheren called into the kitchen, but no answer.

"Hey White, aren't you sitting with us?" Bianca asked her friends who was still standing.

White shook her head furiously. She might be hungry, but the feeling of dread had flowed throughout her entire body. Something wasn't right here. The Pokémon seemed to understand too. Oshawott was tugging on Bianca's skirt and Tepig looked tense. Snivy appeared calm, but fidgeted nervously on White's shoulder.

"Do you think it's okay to eat anything?" Bianca asked, staring at a smaller bowl of noodles. "I'm starving."

"No one's here, though," Cheren said with a frown.

"We can leave money or wait to pay," Bianca countered lifting the bowl and grabbed a pair of chopsticks.

Her eyes lit up as she ate. "Oh! This is so good! You have to try some Cheren!"

Although wary, Cheren couldn't help but try his own bowl. He was surprised. "This is delicious," he agreed. "Do you want anything White?"

"Not hungry," she said quickly. "I don't think we should eat any on it."

"Don't worry, White. We'll pay for these noodles. Why don't you try some?"

White was about to say no again when Snivy suddenly shot off her shoulder. "Snivy! Come back," she cried, but the Grass-type ran off.

"Oh!" Bianca said surprised.

"I'll be right back," White said to her friends, who had stopped eating.

"Okay, we'll wait for you."

"We need to pay for the food anyways," Cheren stated.

"Right, back soon. Snivy! Wait up!" White cried again as she took off, her brown hair flying out behind her. She didn't realize that by leaving her friends, she was not leaving them alone, but with something much more dangerous.

And…Chapter's done! Tell me what you think! We'll be seeing the spirit world soon enough and meeting a certain apprentice. Anyways, review for the soul! Or in this case, the spirit!