DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokemon nor any of its characters and I would be filthy rich and putting this storyline in the franchise if I did right now.

AN: This is a sequel to my other story: Gary's HYPNOsis - a rewrite (look it up on my profile or just use the search button). This takes place two months after that story. I'm too lazy to tell what happened there so you might as well read it first. A warning though as that story contains Yaoi/BDSM/Hypnosis and some other stuff. This story, however, is a pure Pearlshipping/Commoner/Fortuneshipping/Palletshipp ing story and will contain Straight and Yaoi themes as well. I'll have a brief summary or idea of what happened on the last story on the succeeding chapters so if you can't muster reading the last story, you could still read this one. Your thoughts/opinions/comments are greatly appreciated. :D

PS. Oh yeah, one last thing. I removed the Clingyshipping so characters of this story will only be Ash, Gary, Dawn, and Lucas. And maybe some other side characters as well. And also, if anyone would be gracious enough to make a cover for this story then I will highly appreciate it. Just send me a PM. ^_^

Thank you and enjoy reading! :D


"Come on, Dawn. I don't like this idea of yours," I told my best friend and long-time crush as I tugged her away from the creepy mansion.

Rumor has it that people have been hearing strange screams and moans inside the Old Chateau in Eterna Forest. The screams and moans, people say, get even louder during the night and those who live by shut their windows tight in fear that a ghost would come out of the Old Chateau and enter their own homes.

No one knows the origin of these strange screams and moans, however. They say that the noises started around two months ago. A trainer who was incidentally passing by the Old Chateau at night time heard such loud screams and moans coming out of the old building that he ran so fast to the Pokemon Center in the city with pants pissed and told the tale. The story spread wide and fast that it became a sensation all over Sinnoh. But ever since then, people have become wary of even going near the Old Chateau lest they hear the agonizing screams and moans from the inside.

A few daring trainers coupled with a TV crew to boot planned to solve the mystery of the strange screams and moans coming from the Old Chateau. They were filming it live and the entire region watched just to see what the real cause of the strange noises was. But as they entered the old mansion, a mist suddenly came from out of nowhere and then the footage was immediately cut. The trainers and the TV crew lived however but when people asked them what happened inside, all they can say was they didn't remember.

Dawn even dragged me to her room just to watch it live. Ever since she heard that story, she's become so fascinated to find out what was causing the mysterious noises inside the Old Chateau. As for me, well, I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat when it comes to ghosts and the like so I didn't enjoy watching the live footage that much though I don't want Dawn to find out about it.

Dawn is a really sweet girl, very eccentric, and above all, very pretty. She has been my childhood friend ever since I can remember and just fell in love with her just like that. As for me, well, I don't much have redeeming qualities I could boast about. I'm pretty decent all around, I think and I'm a pretty good trainer too in my own standards. The only thing I'm best at is telling jokes so yeah, it looks like a longshot if ever I mustered the courage to confess to my best friend.

When the live footage was abruptly cut, Dawn got very angry and insisted that we investigate for ourselves. Though I'm really against the idea, I couldn't just let her waltz in there all on her own even if she had her own Pokemons to protect her. So, as troublesome as it might be, I went with her plan and after three days, here we are in front of the Old Chateau.

"Come on, Lucas. It would be really exciting to find out what was causing all those strange noises! Plus, it's high noon and according to the rumors, the noises come out during the night so I think we'll be safe. Look, even Pikachu is raring to go, right Pikachu?"

"Pika!" the mouse Pokemon on her shoulders responded in agreement.

As strange as the Old Chateau rumors were, her Pikachu was also, coincidentally, very strange.

We were beginning trainers two months ago and just got our first Pokemon. As we headed back to Twinleaf Town from Sandgem Town, we saw a giant robot with two strangers clad in white and a Meowth manning it.

Both of us were so excited to see the giant robot. After all, not all of the times do you see a giant robot passing through your far-flung town. But as we chased it and got closer, we noticed that the giant robot was holding a Pikachu in its hands and it looks like the Pikachu was struggling to get out. It didn't take a second for us to know that those people clad in white were poachers who were trying to take away that Pikachu. We found out later though that they were not poachers but instead, Pokemon thieves.

We instantly called out our Pokemons to battle and as impossible as it may sound, we did take out the giant robot and sent the poachers flying away.

It was a strange Pikachu, that one. Dawn tried to catch it but a barrier covered it instantly. It looks like it already has a trainer. The Pikachu looked very hurt so we decided to take it to the Pokemon Center back in Sandgem to heal but to our surprise, it fought back. It really looked tired though but it shocked us when we found out that it was still pretty strong. We struggled to pacify it until my Munchlax used a Yawn attack to make it sleep. After that, we took it immediately to the Pokemon Center and when it was finally healed, we assured it that we are not enemies and that we will find its trainer as well. The Pikachu seemed reluctant at first but as the days went by, it got closer to us.

Now, all three of us are in front of the Old Chateau and I admit, even if it's still in the afternoon, I'm already a bit terrified.

"Hey Dawn, I think the rumors are not true so let's just leave it at that, alright?"

But as I looked beside me, Dawn was already gone and was already at the lawn of the Old Chateau.

"Well, we won't find out about that if we don't investigate, right?" she told me half-across the lawn.

I swear, I don't know why I fell in love with her and I knew that someday, I'm going to get killed because of her but what the heck. I immediately ran towards her and kept up.

"Hey, wait for me!"

I felt goosebumps as we finally arrived at the front door of the Old Chateau. It was creepy as hell. But Dawn was not deterred and immediately pulled on the large knockers to open it.

"H-hey, I still don't think this is a great idea..." I told her as I walked slowly after her.

They didn't call this the Old Chateau for nothing. It was really old. All the furniture are either damaged or destroyed, the wallpapers were all drooping down, curtains were torn, mold was forming on almost all things it could grow on to – the whole building was structurally unsound!

"Come on, what's the worst thing that could happen?" she asked while exploring the area.

"W-well, Chanseys are, the ghost might appear if that isn't the worst you're expecting..."

"Come on, don't use puns at a time like this!" she said as she nudged my arm, "It's not befitting the atmosphere!"

"Well, I'm just conditioning myself if something Onixpected happens."

"Seriously, Lucas," she said as she shook her head, "Let's just go upstairs. There's nothing here and it looks like the ghost might be there."

I think my jokes didn't discourage her enough to continue exploring the rotting mansion. Even Pikachu is trying its best just to accommodate my jokes. I know I'm not going to win against her so I just scratched my head and let out a loud sigh as I followed her upstairs.

Man, if the ground floor was so derelict, upstairs was even more so. There were holes all over the floorboards just like the infamous Sky Pillar in Hoenn and most of the wallpapers are just barely hanging on. The skeleton of the chateau is already exposed and you could see some Ratatas and Raticates already built their homes inside them.

Like the eccentric girl that she was, Dawn tried on opening all of the doors upstairs and every time she tries to open one, I'm mentally preparing myself of what was to come, hands on my belt just in case something comes out. But to my surprise, every time she yanks on a door, it wouldn't budge. All of them must be locked from inside. Thank goodness.

But that won't let her falter, however. We continued to circle the whole second floor until we came across a dead-end. The floor was literally gone but another room was there just beyond it. I suspect it was the haunted room of the rumors so I'm not taking any chances of going there. Good thing we can't get there. But as I looked into Dawn's eyes, what I saw was not disappointment. Her eyes were shining like a happy pirate who found a hidden treasure.

"Hey, it looks like a dead-end so I think we should turn back now..." I told her.

She wasn't listening however. She was too engrossed on really finding out ways to get to the other side that she wasn't hearing anything that I was saying. Not that I didn't mind. She wouldn't get through the other side anyway.

I was looking at her while he rummaged around for some secret hidden button or something when I noticed something odd about Pikachu. Its nose was twitching like crazy, like it was smelling something. I didn't mind it at first but I was shocked when its ears stood up and leapt from Dawn's shoulders onto the other side. And what shocked me the most is that it went straight for the supposed haunted room!

I saw Dawn's eyes widen the minute Pikachu went straight for the room. She looked scared and worried for it at the same time.

"Pikachu!" she called out. But the mouse Pokemon didn't return.

"Lucas!" she turned toward me now, her eyes filled with worry, "We've got to get Pikachu! We promised that we'd get him back to his trainer!"

She was shaking me, grabbing me by the shoulders as she said that. I've never seen her so worried my entire life I've been with her. It really pained me to see her like that. Her eyes were already welling up as she waited for my answer. I know the trainer's not what she minded anymore because she got attached to Pikachu so much as well. As scared as I am already, I assured her that everything's going to be alright.

"Okay, don't worry," I told her as she finally let go, "I came across a very long plank before we went here. I think its length is just enough to reach the other side."

Instantly, Dawn's eyes filled with hope. It looks like she remembered as well. She held me by the hand and ran off to find that conveniently lengthy plank. Take note, this is the first time we've held hands and it was pure Blissey.

"Look, there's the plank!" she said as she pointed at it.

She immediately let go and tried to carry it herself! She's that worried about Pikachu. But being the man that I am, I offered her my strength. She immediately agreed and gave the plank to me. Man, it's as heavy as a Snorlax! To think she was already carrying it with ease... just what monstrous strength does this girl have?!

It took me a good few minutes before we reached the dead-end was more. I was already sweating bullets just with dragging that long plank.

After placing the long plank so precariously, making sure it was really safe, Dawn didn't take a second to hop on it and cross it immediately.

"W-wait, Dawn!" I called out to her.

Man, she's so fast when she's excited like that. I went after her immediately, not minding the danger that a little slip would make me crash down below and break my bones. What if the ghost caught her? What if she suddenly faints or something? I was so engulfed with worry while I'm crossing the plank. I couldn't think of anything else. Maybe this is what she felt when Pikachu ran towards the room, too?

I was in the middle of my crossing when I noticed that Dawn was just in front of the room and wasn't moving an inch. The worst of my thoughts haunted me.

"Dawn!" I yelled as I jumped from the plank to the other side. I couldn't even believe that I could jump like that! But that's not important right now. I rushed to Dawn the moment I got my bearings.

"Dawn! What's going on?! Dawn!" I asked furiously as I tried to snap her back into consciousness.

Thank heavens though that she wasn't unconscious or anything. She was literally just speechless at what she saw. I turned and looked at the direction where she was looking and I too felt speechless. Just by the far side of the room was a boy, thin and naked, as Pikachu and an Aipom were desperately trying to pull him from where he was sitting.