A few days of training and travelling later, they arrived in Lavender Town.
"Your friend lives in there?" Misty asked dubiously.
"Yea. Come on," Ash said, leading them into the haunted tower.
The group entered into a dark and worn room. The door slammed shut behind them. Misty jumped.
"What was that!?" she screamed.
"Calm down, Misty. Everything is fine," Ash said soothingly. "Now, I don't mind, but do you mind if I let you down now?"
Misty got ahold of her bearings again, registering her position. She had her arms locked around and squeezing Ash's neck, while sitting bridal-style in his arms. She quickly dropped onto her own feet.
"Sorry about that," Misty said with a light blush.
"No problem. Hey, you can stop with the pranks! I'm back!" Ash shouted into the tower.
Misty and Brock looked at him strangely for a moment before the chandelier on the ceiling and torches around the room suddenly lit up with blue fire. Three figures phased into existence in front of them.
"Gastly, Haunter, Gengar! Hey, how have you been doing?"
"Ash! You're finally back! I've missed you so much!" Haunter said happily, giving Ash an affectionate Lick.
His body locked up from paralysis. "Ash!" Misty shrieked.
"Bottom right pocket, yellow container," Ash stated.
Misty grabbed and applied the paralysis heal on Ash. Haunter laughed nervously and rubbed the back of her head apologetically.
"Welcome back Ash!" Gengar and Gastly said simultaneously. They materialized party poppers and set them off.
Ash smiled and unhooked his Pokéballs. "I'm sorry I won't be able to stay long guys, but I brought more friends for you to play with. Come on out!"
The five Pokéballs clicked open. The five Pokémon looked at the three Ghost-Types curiously.
"Who are they, daddy?" Butterfree asked.
"They're friends that I made when I was younger, before I started my journey. Have some fun, why don't you?"
The five nodded and Pikachu jumped off his shoulder to join. Misty and Brock also released their own Pokémon, minus Misty's Pokémon that could only move around in water, leaving Misty, Brock, and Ash alone.
"How did you meet those three in the first place, Ash?" Brock asked.
"Knowing you, it probably wasn't a really fun first meeting," Misty quipped.
Ash nodded his head in agreement. "Oh, it wasn't fun at all. Actually, I died when I met them."
Brock and Misty stared at him. "What?" they said simultaneously.
"Yea. This was before I got far into my training and obviously before I become an official trainer. I'd wandered off from Lucario and mom during our little trip over here. I came to this tower and wandered around. Eventually, I came back into this main room and," Ash pointed at the chandelier, "that fell on top of me."
The two former gym leaders glanced at the object in question and shuddered.
"How are you still alive now?" Misty asked. She put a hand on his cheek automatically, eyes soft with concern. She blushed, realizing what she did, and retracted her hand.
Ash blushed as well, but then continued with the story. "After that, I blacked out for a while. I woke up staring into the face of Haunter and floating a foot or two above my body. They pulled my spirit out. I hovered around with them for a while, having fun, until Lucario darted in. I went back into my body quickly when I saw that and explained what had happened. Lucario wouldn't let me out of sight for days after that," Ash laughed. "I told those three about my dream of becoming a Pokémon Master when I grew up. Gengar and Gastly wanted to stay here, but Haunter said she'd join me."
Misty and Brock looked over to the group of Pokémon. They were all playing tag together happily. Gengar and Gastly enjoyed the new company while they could, while Haunter was absolutely beaming with the thought of traveling with Ash.
Brock and Ash started to cook for the night with the group deciding to head to Saffron in the morning.
Misty sat off to the side, staring off into the distance. "Hey, Misty, are you ok?"
She turned her head and saw Pikachu sitting in front of her, concern in his eyes. She smiled and picked him up, putting the mouse in her lap.
"Hey Pikachu. Did you come over here because you were worried for me?" she asked.
'Right, we've been talking with Ash too much. Humans don't normally understand us. Better gesture more.' Pikachu nodded. "What's wrong?" he asked, imitating a sorrowful person and shaking his head in frustration.
"Are you asking me what's wrong?"
Nod.
"Well, if I tell you, you need to promise not to tell anyone else, ok?"
Nod.
She looked over to Brock and Ash, making sure they were out of hearing range. "Ash is really great, isn't he? He treats all of you like his own family. Makes sure you're all comfortable, but trains you well and reasonably. Makes sure he takes care of you all as equally as he can."
"Yea, he's my best friend and I'd go with him to the ends-of-the-earth! Everybody else would," Pikachu agreed while nodding.
"…Do you think he'd go out with me?"
Pikachu fell straight onto the ground. Misty gasped and picked him up quickly.
"What, was it something I said?"
"Hey guys, it's time to eat!"
Misty's head snapped back to the group's direction. "Well, I guess we better get back over there. Remember your promise, Pikachu," she said with a threatening smile.
Pikachu nodded furiously. The malicious intent disappeared from her smile and the two walked back.
…..
A/N: Sabrina is like 18, instead of 21. Just a slight tweak, not really too important.
"Bye Ash, bye Haunter, have fun on your journey! It was nice meeting the rest of you!" Gengar and Gastly shouted, waving their hands.
Everybody waved goodbye before returning to their Pokéballs. Haunter remained outside of the Pokéball, floating around and getting used to be outside of the tower.
It was around four o'clock in the afternoon. After waking up at around six in the morning, Ash and Haunter worked on battling together and reviewing the moves that Haunter had worked on while he'd been gone. She hadn't been idle in waiting for him.
Butterfree had returned to the Pokémon Ranch, reasoning that she should let the others stay as she had been with Ash for the longest. Pikachu didn't count, since he was basically a part of Ash.
On the way to Saffron City, a presence entered Ash's mind. It wasn't Lucario.
'Will you play with me…?' it said faintly. It sounded like a little girl.
'Will you…help me?" an older voice said.
Ash reached out with his psychic senses and felt a powerful, but split, presence among many smaller forces. He continued walking towards the gym with nothing happening to his external expression.
As they found the entrance to the gym, a bearded man wearing a hat jogged over to them.
'Well, this feels strangely familiar,' Ash thought.
"Hey, are you thinking about challenging that gym? I'd advise staying away from it if I were you." Before Ash could even respond, he jogged away.
"Why did he say that?" Misty asked.
Ash shrugged, knowing well-enough why he was being warned. They entered through the door and into a large and vacant hallway, lined with lighted pillars.
"Hello?" Ash called out.
They continued along the hallway.
"There's something creepy about this place," Misty commented.
As they kept walking, they passed a green door on the wall. Misty and Brock walked up to it. The people inside of the room were either holding spoons or holding up cards for their partner to divine.
Misty and Brock both glanced at Ash. "Are they practicing psychic powers?"
Ash shrugged. "Probably."
"What are you kids doing in here?"
A man with long hair and wearing a cough mask walked up.
"I came to challenge Sabrina for the Marsh Badge."
The man laughed. "You want to challenge the great Sabrina? How could you stand a chance? Behold, the powers that we hold!"
He took out a spoon and started concentrating fiercely on it. Moments passed as he began to make louder noises. His face started shifting through a few shades of red before the spoon finally bent. Slightly.
"You cannot control a Psychic-Type Pokémon perfectly without psychic powers!" he said haughtily. "And no ordinary trainer can beat a well-controlled Psychic-Type."
"Well, first of all, I'd much rather just become friends with my Pokémon than control them," Ash said holding up a finger. "Second of all, your psychic powers suck."
Ash's eyes glowed blue as he grabbed the spoon telekinetically and straightened it, bringing it over to his own hand. "Here, so you can save some money."
Brock, Misty, and Pikachu all chuckled. The man fumed, face turning red again.
"Before you strain yourself, could you lead us to Sabrina? I'd like to start the match."
The man growled and led them into Sabrina's room. It was a large room with columns lining the sides and two large torches on both sides of the blinds opposite of the entrance.
The man walked over and in front of the staircase.
"Oh, great Sabrina! These strangers have come to challenge you. Though, I don't know why you'd waste your time on these impudent brats!"
A doll of a small girl came into view as the blinds lifted and lifted its head. Misty recoiled in fear when its eyes glowed red. A blue aura surrounded the man.
"No, please, forgive me!"
Ash quickly raised his hand. The field broke and the man ran out screaming.
"My name is Ash Ketchum, from Pallet Town. I'd like to challenge you for the Marsh Badge."
"Sure, I'd love to battle with you! But, if you lose, you have to be my friends and play with me!" the little girl said.
Ash nodded. "Of course. I'd like to be your friend even if I win, however."
Silence remained for a few moments before the blinds lifted completely. The back room lit up, revealing an attractive young woman with dark green hair, blue eyes, and a blank expression.
"I will…hold you to those words. Let's play."
The doors slammed shut. Sabrina floated off of her chair and onto the trainer platform, the lights fully coming on for the room.
"One on one. All out match. Do you agree?'
Ash nodded. "Yes."
The Pokéball held within her doll's hands floated up. "Come out, Abra." It snapped open and materialized the little Psychic Pokémon onto the field.
"Time to play, Haunter." A Pokéball on his belt snapped open, depositing the Ghost-Type across from Abra.
"Oh, our first battle! This will be fun~!" Haunter exclaimed.
"A Ghost-Type…a smart choice. It will not be that simple."
"Haunter, Nightshade!"
Two dark crimson beam, outlined in purple, shot from Haunter's eyes and towards the smaller Pokémon. Sabrina and Abra's eyes both glowed red and Abra dodged with a quick Teleport. Immediately after reaching his destination, Abra evolved into Kadabra.
Sabrina knew she wouldn't accomplish anything by playing passively in this match-up.
"Kadabra, Confusion."
Haunter found herself outlined in blue energy. "Well, this'll be a new experience." Kadabra slammed Haunter into the ground. She screamed out in pain, the Psychic-Type move being super effective against her. "Ok, those hurt, don't get hit by them!"
"Alright Haunter, Payback!"
Haunter phased out of sight and next to Kadabra, slamming a dark-enhanced fist into him. Kadabra cried it in pain and fell to the floor.
"Shadow Ball. No need to overpower it." Haunter nodded and tossed the ball at the still-recovering Kadabra. It exploded against him and he collapsed on the ground, fainted.
Sabrina nodded in acknowledgement. "Good work, Kadabra. Return."
"Nice work, Haunter. I knew you could do it!" Ash said happily, rubbing her head. Haunter smiled and floated around happily.
Sabrina floated up from her trainer platform, coming over to Ash. "You have defeated me. The Marsh Badge is yours." The badge floated out of one of her pockets and into Ash's hand.
He clipped the badge next to his others. "You're really pretty, Sabrina. That blank expression doesn't fit you." Ash glanced at Haunter.
"You know, you're right Ash! I think she'd look nice with a smile or a laugh!" Haunter exclaimed. A light bulb showed up on her head. "Oh, I know!"
She floated in front of a rather confused, but still blank, Sabrina. She pulled her face and stretched it a few directions, letting her tongue dangle out as she made funny faces. She even licked her own face and detached her eyes, attaching them to her tongue and wiggling it. Sabrina's mouth twitched for a moment.
"Not enough, huh? Fine, take this on for size!"
Haunter pulled a bomb with a red skull and bones on it. The fuse was burning away quickly. Misty, Brock, and the bearded man from outside, who had entered during the match, gasped in shock.
Haunter's grin stayed on her face the entire time. Sabrina's mouth was slightly open in apprehension. The bomb exploded lightly, covering both of them in smoke and leaving some small black marks on their bodies and clothes.
Sabrina's mouth twitched again, dangerously close to actually forming a non-neutral expression.
Haunter put her hands to her non-existent hips. "Ok, fine. I'm gonna have to bring out my secret weapon! The one thing that never fails to make me smile!"
Haunter quickly enlarged her claws and placed them behind both Ash and Sabrina. She swung inwards, pushing the two together suddenly.
*CLONK!*
Ash and Sabrina's heads recoiled backwards and both fell on their butts to the ground after they smacked into each other, courtesy of Haunter.
"Hahaha! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that!" Haunter giggled. "It was supposed to be a hug!"
Sabrina and Ash both rubbed their foreheads in pain, glancing at each other. Ash stood up and walked over to her. He offered her a hand and smiled questioningly at her.
Sabrina stared at Ash with her cold eyes for a few moments. She smiled and started to laugh. Her eyes softened immensely. And she took Ash's hand.
"She smiled…" the bearded man whispered.
Ash pulled her up, overdoing it slightly and pulling her into his arms. He backed off quickly.
"Sorry about that, Sabrina."
She waved it off, still smiling.
"I don't mind, Ash. Not in the least," she said coyly.
'Wow, talk about changing personalities,' everybody thought. Misty fumed slightly.
"I'm glad I could help, Sabrina. Getting disconnected like that is usually never a fun thing," Ash said, shuddering slightly.
The Psychic raised an eyebrow. "You have experienced it before? You seem to be too well in control of your emotions for it to happen to you."
"Mine was rather unique in terms of the phenomenon, but I've experienced it before."
Sabrina nodded.
"Regardless, you saved me from an unsavory situation. I will be forever indebted to you, Ash. I'd also like to give you a reward," she said with a smirk.
"What kind of-"
Sabrina leaned in and kissed Ash on the cheek, keeping contact for a second or two. Ash's entire face filled with blood.
She leaned back and smiled coyly. "Rather innocent for somebody with such a generally mature mind."
Brock cried tears of manly pride for his friend. Misty fumed even more than she did previously. Sabrina glanced at the orange-haired girl and smirked.
"Would you mind staying in Saffron City for the night? I have something I would like to request of you, but I must take care of some other things first," Sabrina stated.
Ash nodded, still recovering from the sudden 'reward.' "That's fine. We're not really in a hurry."
"Of course. Would you please leave with your male friend and the bearded gentleman for a moment? I'd like ask your other friend something."
Ash glanced at Misty, who nodded in reply. "Alright then. Bye Sabrina."
Ash left the room with Brock and the strange man from earlier in the day, leaving Misty with Sabrina.
…..
"I'll…keep it in mind," Misty said hesitantly.
"Please do so. If you would be so kind as to send in the bearded man as you leave, I would very much appreciate it," Sabrina stated.
Misty nodded and regrouped with her friends. They left for the Pokémon Center to stay the night.
The next morning, they returned to the gym. Sabrina greeted them pleasantly at the entrance, hugging Ash on sight. She asked him to do a quick trade with her so they could evolve their Haunter and Kadabra respectively. Ash agreed to do so.
After Sabrina and Ash exchanged numbers and the group ate a nice meal with the gym leader and her mother and father, they departed Saffron City.
On their way to Celadon City, they came across a Mankey that tried to steal Ash's hat. He didn't take kindly to take and fought back personally. Eventually, the monkey even evolved into a Primeape, but still lost to Ash. He then proceeded to bow down to Ash and ask to become his disciple. Ash palmed his face, but caught the fighting monkey, telling him that he would be able to train under his own master.
…..
"Is that…perfume?" Ash asked, sniffing the air.
Misty's eyes sparkled happily. "Can we go check it out? It smells really nice!"
Ash shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
They walked off, located, and entered the store in question. The three clerks came to attention and stopped their gossip.
"Welcome! How may we help you today?" they asked with a smile.
"Could I have a sample of your perfumes?"
"Of course, right this way!"
Misty walked over to the bench to take a seat. Pikachu jumped off his shoulder to join her.
"Do you mind if go with her? I'm kind of curious," Pikachu said with sparkling eyes.
"You don't need to ask me for permission, buddy," Ash said with a smile.
Ash went off to browse the merchandise alone. He picked up a bottle and uncapped it, sniffing the pleasant aroma. He realized what was familiar about the scent.
"Oh, it's made with Gloom essence…that's cool. Lush and vivid smell. I wonder if they use real flowers as well. Lily of the valley, wisteria… Ah, there's rose," he murmured to himself.
"It's nice to see a person with an understanding of flora," a woman said from behind him. He turned to see a woman dressed in a kimono and styled hair. "Are you interested in purchasing anything?"
"No, I'm sorry, I just came here with my friends."
"Ah, what a shame. My name is Erika, the manager of this perfumery," she said pleasantly. She bowed in greeting and Ash returned the gesture.
"My name is Ash Ketchum. Are you the same Erika that's the gym leader of Celadon City?"
"One and the same."
Ash nodded. "Well, I would like to challenge you to a battle whenever you're available."
"It would be fine to go now," Erika said with a smile.
…..
A/N: (New) Hey, unfortunately, for those of you guys very much enjoying this story, I only have two more chapters of this stored up. I may return to this project in the future, but for now, my efforts are devoted to Harry Potter: Divergent Paths.
