When Morty arrived at the Burnt Tower, all the Ghost-Pokémon greeted him. He waved at the Gastly and Haunter. Morty walked downstairs to the painting of the Legendary Rainbow Bird Ho-Oh. He looked at it an sighed. It was impossible. Ho-Oh will never appear in front of him. He looked at his now evolved Gastly and his newly captured Misdreavus. His Haunter and Misdreavus both looked worried at their new Master. They were glad that they had someone like Morty. He was a nice and good trainer, who knew what they where talking about. They tried to make the blonde male smile, but it didn't really work. After hours sitting, walking, talking and staring with the Ghost Pokémon in the Burnt Tower, he looked outside and saw that it was dark. He then looked what time it was and groaned.

"Oh dear… It's already past 12… The Sages are going to kill me…" He gave a sigh when he stood up and beckoned Haunter and Misdreavus to come with him. He walked slowly towards the Gym and walked as quietly as possible inside. Too bad for Morty, were the Sages awake and they heard him coming inside.

"Where have you been Morty!" Bellowed Sage Koji. Morty was paralyzed… He knew what would come now and he seriously didn't want to face it, but he knew that he had no choice. He turned around and looked at the three angry Sages.

"I was outside, Sage Koji."Responded Morty quietly, while looking down. "Can I go to my room?"

"No, you can't. Come with us. You need to know the consequences of your stupidity. So we'll punish you, so that you'll never forget it. Do you understand?" Said sage Gaku.

"Yes, I do understand Sage Gaku." Said Morty while he followed them to their room. He knew the drill. He sat down on his knees and took off his shirt. It didn't took long before Morty felt the punishment. He felt the bamboo stick against his back and knew that he couldn't cry or give any movement of pain.

Haunter and Misdreavus saw the pain that their Master went through and knew that they couldn't do a thing. It's not that they didn't try it because they did. Except when they protected Morty, he was only punished and more painfully. So they never did it again.

Morty began to see black spots before his eyes. He began to get dizzy and he was sure that his back was bleeding. He still didn't gave a kick and knew that slowly he was going to pass out. Not that the Sages would allow that, but he could hope right? Before Morty passed out, they stopped with the stick. It was done for today, at least Morty hoped that.

"Stand up Morty and go to the wall and support yourself against it." Said Sage Masu. Morty did what they told and pushed his arms against the wall. Not a second later was the stick back, but Morty noticed that another thing was giving him pain. He soon heard the sound of a whip and the intense pain and the stinging that it left.

Morty felt his knees almost give out underneath him. They suddenly stopped. Morty didn't looked at them, but gave a very quiet sigh. It was finally over. He felt that his shirt was thrown to him and he knew that he had to put it on.

"Go to your room Morty. Don't ever come late home again. Do you understand mister. We are only doing this for you."Said Sage Masu with a fake honesty. Morty already knew that, but he still smiled and thanked them before retreating to his room. In his room he pulled his shirt off and threw it in the corner and took a shower. Haunter and Misdreavus washed the shirt while Morty was showering. The warm drops of water stung in his wounds and Morty let out a hiss. He just stood under the water and let all the blood wash away. After something like 15 minutes, Morty decided to get out of the shower. He grabbed the towel and put it around him. He then walked into his bedroom and took out some bandages and tried to take care of himself. With a few bad attempt, Morty decided not to sleep with bandages and put some sleeping pants. Morty was asleep in seconds as soon his head was on the pillow. Haunter and Misdreavus pulled the blanket over Morty.

The next day, Morty was in pain. The wound on his back stung and the wounds reopened in his sleep. Morty sighed and just changed and then pulled some clothes over it. He then walked out of his room to the garden where the Sages were meditating. Morty just sat down and did the same. He then received Gym training and he had to fight with his Haunter and Misdreavus. To the surprise of the Sages and Morty himself, he proved to be quite skilled. Morty was prohibited to go outside for the rest of the month and so he spend his time training his Haunter and Misdreavus.

This ritual continued until his 15th. He then could get more outside and he enjoyed it more. He would go and enjoy the weather and still have he daily walks through the forest. The Haunter and Gastly who first looked down on him, now adored him. He was loved by every Ghost Pokémon. And finally on his 15th he met a new friend. Someone with mutual interest. He was interested in Suicune, the Pokémon of the North wind. Morty knew a lot about it and so they talked. Morty also promised to try to find Suicune with his gift to find things, but it didn't work. Not that they friendship became worst, not even a little bit.

On his 15th his Haunter was evolved in a Gengar and both his Gengar and Misdreavus were his best friends. He still trained them, but slowly Morty had to train to become a Gym leader, who also needed time to retrieve Ho-Oh.

The Sages still punished him on cruel and painful ways. Sometimes Morty had to stand under an ice cold shower and sometimes he would get the whips again. Morty was sure that he was never meant to be happy. And he continued thinking that till his 22nd. He than knew that he was nothing more then a pawn and that nobody would miss him. But for now, he thought that even he could be happy.