Author's Note: Okay, here's a quick update for ya! In this chapter is the battle with Ecruteak Gym Leader Morty! So, enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
When I entered the Gym, everything was completely shrouded in darkness. Unlike the other Gyms, battling the Gym workers was actually necessary if I wanted to reach Morty. Before I could step forward, the Gym guide guy told me to take my shoes off first. Each time Marley and Louie took down an old Medium sister, they lit up their lanterns. After defeating the last Medium old lady, I could finally see well enough to reach Morty.
"Ready to battle, Ritsu?" Morty asked.
"You bet! Louie, come on out!"
"Haunter, take charge!" Morty exclaimed.
Haunter's first move was Curse, which weakened both it and Marley. While Haunter was still weakened, I sprayed Marley with a Super Potion, and he defeated Haunter with two Assurance attacks.
"Quite remarkable, young lady," Morty remarked. "But I'm not through yet! Gastly, come on out!"
I switched Marley for Louie. Since Louie was part Normal-type, Ghost-type moves had no effect on him.
"Clever little sneak," Morty thought, "Gastly, use Curse!"
Gastly summoned a ghostly nail that pounded itself into its head and Louie. Despite being a little dizzy, Louie was still strong enough to fight.
"Louie, use Hypnosis!" I called out.
Louie's eyes glowed a bright red, and Gastly fell into a deep sleep. Louie managed to KO the already weakened Gastly with a new Confusion attack. However, the minute Gastly was defeated, Louie was surrounded by many glowing feathers. His body grew slightly taller and his he now had two feet instead of one. Once the magic glowing feathers vanished, Louie was now a Noctowl.
"Louie, you evolved!" I beamed, "Hmm, maybe you'll finally impress Rose!"
"Y-You think so?" Louie chirped cutely.
"Who knows? But right now, let's focus on winning the Fog Badge!"
Morty decided to use Gengar as his final Pokémon. Not even close to being worried, Louie simply used another Hypnosis attack. Unfortunately for him though, this one missed Gengar.
"Gengar, show them what a real Hypnosis is all about!" Morty exclaimed.
Unlike Louie's previous attempt, Gengar actually managed to entrance Louie into a deep sleep.
"Now, finish with Sucker Punch!" Morty called out
Gengar quickly snuck behind the sleeping Louie, and bashed its fist into his body, knocking both me and him backwards. Luckily, Morty caught me and Louie in time so we wouldn't fall into the dark abyss below.
"That was close, huh?" Morty remarked.
"Way too close!" I exclaimed.
Seeing Louie was still sleeping and too weakened to battle any further, I withdrew him and sent out Marley.
"Be careful, okay Marley?" I pleaded, "You're not immune to Ghost-types unlike Louie."
"I don't need caution, I'll just take it down with Selfdestruct!" Marley exclaimed proudly.
"What?! No, Marley, Normal-type attacks don't wo—"
Before I could even get the last word out, Marley began to glow bright white. Sensing danger, Morty and I guarded our Pokémon from the explosion. When I tearfully looked up, all that was left of Marley was a pile of purple rubble.
"Why'd you do it, Mar?" I sniffed as I began to break down, "Why?!"
"I'm so sorry about your Koffing, Ritsu," Morty said sincerely.
"It's alright, Morty," I assured him, "Let's just continue with the battle."
I sent Erin out to finish the job. She managed to easily subdue the Gengar with her new Mega Drain attack, followed by an Acid attack. Suddenly, Erin was surrounded by a tornado of toxic leaves. She grew bulkier, got arms and legs, and the weed on her head turned into a large flower. Once the transformation was complete, Erin was now a Gloom.
"My my my," Morty remarked, "You've defeated me, and two of your Pokémon evolved. I'm impressed. Well, here's Gym Badge number four; the Fog Badge."
"Thanks..." I said somberly as I accepted the badge.
"You know, Ritsu," Morty said, "If you scatter your Koffing's remains into the Gym's mysterious abyss, his soul will live on in the Spirit World."
"Really?" I asked, "Then how come if a person falls in, they just get sent back to the beginning of the room?"
"It's called the Spirit World for a reason, you know," Morty sighed. "The Spirits don't care much for living things."
As I scooped up the purple rubble, I blew it into the abyss below. Suddenly, the rubble took the form of a ghost version of Marley.
"Goodbye, Marley," I sniffed as I put my arms around his form.
"Bye, Ritsu," Marley's ghost said, "Even though we haven't spent much time together, I'm still gonna miss ya..."
"Me too, buddy. Me too."
Marley's ghost closed his blank white eyes, and faded away to the afterlife. With my eyes still red from crying, I bid Morty goodbye and left the Gym. I promised myself that I wouldn't let anyone else die under my care, and after Marley's death, I was determined to make sure my Pokémon are safe.
Pokémon obtained: None.
Deaths: Marley the Koffing, Lvl. 16-25.
Boxed/Unboxed: Spike the Nidoran (Unboxed)
Author's Note: When I was writing out Marley's passing scene, I listened to "Oogway Ascends" from the first Kung Fu Panda movie. It seemed pretty fitting and equally sad. Anyways, stay tuned for Chapter 13!
