No... I probably won't end up updating more in the summer. sighs I suppose you'll just have to bear with me. Oh, and for this chapter, I'd like to tell you all that only the first 151 Pokemon are actually known to this region.

MagiMagikarp!

Chapter Nine

Kelvin stared hard at the Ghastly, who were slowly closing in. He'd never met Ghost Pokemon before, and wasn't exactly sure if they were going to attack them or possess them or something terribly creepy.

On the other hand, Ravi didn't seem too worried. His cat-like eyes were darting around, and he seemed to be muttering something under his breath. Something about "should be appearing soon."

The Ghastly suddenly parted, and a shadowy figure walked towards them. Kelvin paled.

It was a Gengar.

The spiky Pokemon advanced towards them, and stopped about five feet away. Kelvin could feel goose bumps on his arms, and tried to ignore thoughts of imminent doom, instead focusing on Ravi and his reactions.

"Hello, Gengar. Might there be a reason for you visit?"

Kelvin gaped. Why was he asking the Gengar a question.

The Gengar nodded, to Kelvin's utter amazement, and pointed. The two of them turned and saw yet another dark shape in the distance, one that quickly disappeared. A Pokemon, Kelvin decided, but one he had never seen before.

"What can that be?" Kelvin asked aloud.

Ravi shrugged. "I don't know, but it seems to be causing the Ghost Pokemon trouble."

"They want us to vanquish it?"

"I suppose." Ravi looked at Gengar. "We need to go to the Pokemon Center to retrieve our Pokemon, is that okay?"

A nod parted the Ghastly, and Ravi stepped through. Kelvin quickly followed, and they ran to the Pokemon Center.

"Do we (gasp) really have to go (gasp) back?" Kelvin questioned as they entered the Pokemon Center. He was out of breath from running, and had actually overtaken Ravi in his flight.

"Hm? Of course. The Gengar asked us for a favor, what else can we do?"

"But--"

"Let me tell you this," Ravi interrupted. "Ghost Pokemon don't often ask for favors from humans. This is a once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing. And I'm not missing out."

"Can't we ask people to help?" Kelvin asked desperately?

Ravi shook his head, his auburn hair flying. "No, the Gengar asked us, and not anyone else. Besides, the Pokemon is probably a type that the Ghost Pokemon can't defeat. But we should be able to do so. And maybe catch it too."

Kelvin thought. Ghost Pokemon had no weaknesses, as far as he knew, but the only Ghost Pokemon known to him were also Poison types, which were weak to Psychic and Ground attacks. Psychic Pokemon were weak to Ghost Attacks, so it probably wasn't a Psychic Pokemon. And a Ground Pokemon wouldn't have been able to hit the Ghosts because of their Levitate Ability.

"What can it be?" Kelvin mused.

"I would have absolutely no idea," was Ravi's reply. "Does it matter? Just bring all you need; your Pokemon, and some Pokeballs so we can catch it."

"Catch it?" Kelvin asked incredulously. "If the Ghosts might not be able to control it, how can we?"

Ravi shrugged again. "That will be the fun, won't it?"

Now very nervous, Kelvin retrieved his Pokemon from Nurse Joy, and watched Ravi take back his. He'd never ever done anything like this, and surely didn't know what to do. Was this even safe? And what would the Ghosts do if they refused? Would it be worse than if they tackled the mystery Pokemon?

"You're worrying too much," Ravi commented. "Keep a Pokemon out if you need to. Of course, it's entirely possible the Pokemon will attack us, but Pokemon normally avoid humans if possible, and they rarely attack. I don't know why."

Kelvin didn't find this too reassuring, but followed Ravi out of the Pokemon Center, and to the local Shop to buy Pokeballs. Ravi paid for them all, since Kelvin didn't have too much money with him. The $1600 he'd won from beating Azaria didn't go very far, not when you considered the fact that Pokeballs cost $200 each, Great Balls cost $800, and Ultra Balls cost $1200! And there were the Antidotes, $100, and other things.

It was very dark by the time they set out. Ravi led on in the darkness, and when Kelvin asked why he didn't get a flashlight, Ravi told him that it would only scare away the Pokemon, and that wouldn't be good if they were trying to encounter it.

There was no moon, just a sky of stars and clouds, and Kelvin was getting cold. He hadn't brought his jacket, having left that in their room at the Pokemon Center, and he thoroughly regretted doing so. It sure didn't help that he'd left his Pokedex in his jacket pocket. Now he wouldn't be able to identify their mystery Pokemon.

He might not get any information anyway, seeing how hadn't recognized the silhouette of the Pokemon.

The Ghost Pokemon were waiting for them. For some reason, this unnerved Kelvin. He didn't do well in front of audiences.

Ravi took the lead again, and they set off in search.


There was nothing, not so far as they looked. Kelvin realized he was getting awfully sleepy when he tripped over a hidden root and fell flat on his face. Ravi helped him back up.

"I'm thinking we should head back," Ravi commented, brushing the dirt off Kelvin's clothes. "You look rather tired..."

"I am tired," Kelvin muttered, getting to his feet with great difficulty. "I'm definitely not used to this."

Ravi laughed. "That's too bad. I'm sure used to this. Breeding is nice, but you have to watch over the mothering Pokemon a lot."

"Can we go back now?"

"Can you?" Ravi asked? "You don't look like you can even walk."

"I'll try."

The two of them trudged back from where they had come, towards the town that currently seemed a small dot in the distance, at least to Kelvin. It was a lot closer than that, but he couldn't see to clearly, and the sun had not yet risen. The lights of the city had been dimmed too.

Ravi helped him along, and they crossed the small streams, splashing noisily, then hearing their feet squish in the mud as they got out. Kelvin heard Ravi mutter something about "ruined clothes" as they walked along.

That would be just great, seeing how he didn't have many outfits at all. And this was his only pair of shoes; they were undoubtly ruined. He didn't want Ravi buying one for him, that would be asking too much of his friend.

Ravi gave a sudden shout, and halted; Kelvin toppled over into the mud. Well. His clothes were definitely ruined. But that wasn't important. He raised himself in time to see the dark shape flying towards them, connecting squarely with Ravi, and knocking him backward.

Oh, great. Now we're getting attacked.

A rush of adrenaline helped Kelvin get to his feet, and pluck a Pokeball from his belt. He didn't know which one it was, but Aria burst out, and screeched her battle cry.

There were muffled sounds, which was Ravi's yelling, and another burst of light revealed Squirt, who promptly attacked the Pokemon. Aria waded into the fight as well, and it was all a flurry of wings, fists, and... claws.

Kelvin helped Ravi out of the fight, all the while watching the Pokemon. It was mostly white, though there were black-blue parts, and the eyes were red. There was something shaped like a scythe on one side of its head. But the most disturbing thing was the Pokemon's aura, black as night, so that it almost obscured the fact it's fur was white.

Squirt popped into his shell just in time to avoid a vicious bite attack from the Pokemon, which sent the shell flying and nearly colliding with Ravi and Kelvin. Ravi was suffering from bite and slash wounds on his arms, obviously protecting his throat from the Pokemon's attacks. Kelvin growled, and took out a Super Potion. It wouldn't work as well as if Ravi were a Pokemon, but it would help the wound.

Ravi hissed in pain as Kelvin sprayed the injuries, and they both watched Squirtle charge back into the fight, only to be knocked out again. Aria had taken to the air, where she attacked with her beak, making sure not to get too close to the flying paws.

Purple hues suddenly illuminated the ring, and Kelvin saw the Ghastly ringing them, helping light the area. The Gengar was supporting Ravi, and a few Haunter, which Kelvin had not seen before, picked up the fainting Squirtle and deposited it with his trainer.

Aria was fighting diligently, all right, but it wasn't effective enough. The Pokemon smacked her down with a paw, drawing lines of blood across her back. Kelvin immediately recalled her, and sent in Dustin.

The Graveler roared, and attacked the Pokemon with Rollout, which missed as the white feline sprang out of the way, then attacked the Graveler with a Wind attack.

"Razor wind," groaned Ravi. "High chance of a critical hit, but isn't too effective against your Graveler." Ravi winced in pain as he got up, using Gengar as a cane.

It looked as if the match was in the bag. Dustin launched a Magnitude attack, which slammed full force into the Pokemon, causing it to stagger. Then Dustin used his Rollout again, managing a hit this time.

The Ghost Pokemon all seemed very anticipating, the Ghastly moving about and throwing their purple-ish light around. The feline Pokemon sprang from Dustin, and used a Quick Attack, but to little avail as Dustin grabbed it with his four strong arms, lifting it up, then slamming it down again.

Kelvin called Dustin off, and reached for an empty Pokeball. Biting his lip, he tossed it at the Pokemon. The device sucked it in, and started rolling on the ground, as the Pokemon tried to break out. Could he actually catch this Pokemon that he'd never seen before?

The Pokeball stopped rolling suddenly, and made a ping sound. Kelvin gasped faintly, picking it up, and marveling, until a groan from Ravi brought him back to the world.

The Ghastly and Haunter all gathered together, as if they were saying farewell. Kelvin wondered why, until Gengar tugged on Ravi's belt, detaching a Pokeball. Ravi gaped.

"You want to go with us?"

The Gengar nodded.

"Oh. Good. I always wanted a Gengar." Ravi petted the Gengar's spikey head. "Ouch, my arm hurts, the sooner we get to that town, the better."

Kelvin laughed, his lethargy gone, and recalled Dustin. They had a town to get to.


DarkFlameWarrior: Sorry for not updating sooner! I hope you liked the chapter!