Danny had thoroughly explored the pokémon centre by the time Ash and the others woke up and ventured down to breakfast. They ate together and spoke about the festival due to start at dusk. Nurse Joy even recommended a few attractions for them to see.
"Nurse Joy, do you know anywhere we could find ghost pokémon before the festival? We'd love to see them," Ash inquired. Nurse Joy frowned in thought.
"You could try the forest to the south of the town. It's pretty dark there so the ghost pokémon like it and not many people go there usually. Most visitors wait for the festival to see the pokémon," Nurse Joy answered.
"Thanks Nurse Joy," Ash replied with a grin.
"Come on guys let's go to that forest," Ash urged and walked out of the pokémon centre. Serena frowned as they followed Ash down the street.
"Ash, I'm not so sure about going into a scary forest where there'll be lots of ghost pokémon. They'll scare us off," Serena interjected. Bonnie giggled.
"Yeah, won't it be fun!?" Bonnie exclaimed. Clemont and Serena stared at her with clear disagreement.
"Oh come on guys. You're not scared of ghost pokémon are you? This is the perfect opportunity to meet them," Ash retorted casually. Serena glanced at Ash.
"I say we vote. So, I say we wait for the festival," Serena declared and raised her hand. Clemont joined her.
"Well, I say we go to the forest and check out what pokémon came. There's no guarantee we'll see them tonight," Ash replied firmly. Bonnie put up her hand and jumped up and down on her toes.
"I agree. I want to see ghost pokémon," Bonnie added.
"Well, we have a tie," Clemont noted. Ash shook his head and turned to Danny.
"What do you say Danny?" Ash prompted with a hopeful smile. Danny blinked in surprise, he hadn't expected to be included in the decision-making process. He wasn't exactly from around there or part of their group. He bit his lip and glanced at Serena, who already looked a little frightened. But then again, the ghost pokémon might be able to tell him exactly where the ghost portal will open and help him get home. He sighed and smiled apologetically at Serena.
"I'm interested to see the forest myself to be honest," he admitted.
Ash and Bonnie cheered and turned to Serena as she got out her electronic map disappointedly. She scrolled over the town and pointed down the road.
"It's that way," Serena informed the group and Ash led the way down the road. Within ten minutes they arrived at the edge of the forest. It certainly did look ominous and dark.
"I really don't like the look of the forest. Maybe we shouldn't go through with this Ash," Serena spoke up, a slight tremble in her voice.
"Nah, it's just a little dark. Let's go see some ghost types," Ash urged and stepped into the forest. Bonnie cheered and ran after the boy. Clemont called after his sister and followed. Serena frowned nervously.
"Hey, there's nothing to be afraid of. Come on," Danny reassured her and held out a hand for her. Serena glanced at him and shyly took his hand.
"Thanks," she whispered with relief. Danny led her into the trees after the others and they soon caught up.
After fifteen minutes of exploring the forest, Ash sighed sadly.
"I didn't think it would be this hard to find a ghost pokémon. There's supposed to be like hundreds of ghost types coming to this festival. Where are they all?" Ash complained. Clemont frowned.
"Nurse Joy said that there's usually ghost pokémon hanging out here. I admit it is strange that we haven't even seen a sign of one being near," Clemont muttered.
"How so?" Danny inquired. Clemont turned to him.
"Ghost types are playful and curious pokémon. They would have come over to us if they knew we were here. And by the sounds of it, this forest should have plenty of pokémon here for us to have come across at least one by now," Clemont explained.
"Maybe they only hang out here when it's not the festival," Serena suggested, still clinging tightly, almost painfully, in fear to Danny's hand. Danny didn't mind, he knew that Serena hadn't wanted to come and was happy to offer any kind of reassurance to her.
"Shuppet!" a voice screamed fearfully. The group turned to the voice.
"That's a Shuppet," Ash exclaimed excitedly before frowning as the pokémon came into view. It looked terrified. It zoomed over to them and cowered behind the first person it reached, Bonnie. Danny gasped softly as a sharp chill went up in spine and tried to hide his ghost sense from Serena by keeping his mouth closed. It was a mistake, he ended up with a terrible case of brain-freeze. He cried out quietly and put a hand to his head. Serena turned to him concerned.
"Danny?" Serena whispered. Danny shook his head and pulled Serena behind him and adopted a ready stance.
Skulker floated into view and looked up and grinned at his audience. Serena gave a soft scream and Clemont pulled Bonnie closer to him. Ash scowled at the ghost. But Danny was furious. He glared at Skulker.
"Hello whelp," Skulker greeted Danny. Danny easily slid his hand out of Serena's tight grip and stepped up to Skulker.
"Did you not hear what I told you yesterday?" Danny growled. Skulker smirked.
"I did. I just don't see you as a threat," Skulker taunted. Danny gritted his teeth and his eyes flashed green in his anger. Skulker laughed.
"You don't scare me ghost child," Skulker goaded. Danny turned his head slightly to the group behind him.
"Ash, take your friends and that pokémon away from here. I'll deal with this pest," Danny ordered, scowling at Skulker. Ash opened his mouth to protest.
"I mean it Ash! I wasn't fighting Hawlucha, I was blocking it. You've never seen what I'm capable of. Trust me," Danny interjected firmly.
Ash bit his lip before grabbing Serena's hand and tugged on Clemont's sleeve. The group, with Shuppet, ran into the trees behind them.
"Alone at last," Danny muttered and changed into his ghost form. White light appearing at his waist which slid over his body changing his jeans, sneakers and shirt into his black and white jumpsuit, complete with his emblem. His black hair turned pure white. His blue eyes changed to neon glowing green. His body glowed softly and his faint cut from crashing in this world, no longer looked red and purple but a sickly green from ectoplasm instead of blood.
He charged his hand and pointed it at Skulker.
"Why were you chasing that pokémon?" Danny demanded. Skulker grinned.
"It was prey. I am a hunter," Skulker answered calmly like it was obvious.
"Have you caught any of those creatures?" Danny asked with a frown, slightly surprised that Skulker was answering his questions. Skulker nodded.
"I have," Skulker confirmed simply.
"Where are you keeping them?" Danny inquired. Skulker shook his head.
"I'm not. I have a buyer," Skulker replied. Danny faltered.
"A buyer? You're doing business?! With who?" Danny exclaimed in shock. Skulker chuckled.
"With Team Rocket," Skulker told the halfa. Danny frowned.
"Those idiots with the ridiculously long intro? You're working with them?" Danny recalled incredulously. Skulker scowled.
"I work with the situations I find myself in whelp. That is the sign of a true hunter," Skulker retorted.
Danny stared at the ghost.
"Do you want to be trapped here forever?" Danny inquired carefully. Skulker raised an eyebrow.
"Whelp, you seem so certain that you have the choice about leaving or staying. Portals into the Ghost Zone are rare and far in between. It is better to bide our time and wait. In the meantime, you and I have business," Skulker answered calmly with a grin. Danny scowled and charged his hand brightly with green energy as it had dimmed throughout their conversation.
He fired as Skulker floated closer. Skulker was forced back slightly. Danny charged his hand again.
"Try that again and I won't hold back next time. Where is Team Rocket keeping the ghost pokémon?" Danny commanded threateningly. Skulker frowned.
"You think I'd tell you?" Skulker taunted. Skulker flew forwards unexpectedly, Danny fired his ghost ray. Skulker dodged it and charged. Danny turned intangible and dropped into the ground. He peeked back up invisibly and gasped as Skulker went after Ash and the others. Danny bit his lip as he came to a decision. Secrets didn't matter in alternate worlds.
So Ash and co. might be meeting Phantom soon, but how they react…
Let me know what you guys think of the story so far, I love hearing your opinions.
Again I'd like to urge you guys to check out my facebook page, JB Gilroy. It's a page not a person, in case you looked and couldn't find it. There's a poll there that will determine the next fanfic I post. I'd love your input. And if you're not comfortable commenting on a facebook page, you're more than welcome to review here and to make your choice known instead. Thanks.
Until the next chapter.