Last time, Ash, Misty, and Brock came across an old mansion in the middle of the woods. Chilled to the bone, they decide to seek some shelter in the mysterious house.
Author's Note: There will be more Team Rocket soon, I swear! All rights for "The Shining" belong to Stephen King. Sorry for mocking your wonderful story! Oh, and by the way, I do not own Pokémon. If I did, Ash and Misty would have already confessed their love. ^_^
So there is no confusion, all the characters are the same age and appear as they do in the TV Series.
Summary: Ash, Misty, and Brock enter the strange hotel, thinking that it's deserted. But they are dead wrong....
Midnight! Pokéball Go!
Spruceton Spook
Part 2:
The Little Hotel of Horrors
Ash, Misty, and Brock were instantly relieved by the blast of warm air that had hit them suddenly when they entered the mansion. Somewhere a furnace was blowing out that warm air, which made Brock feel a little better about the place. It meant that someone must be living there, though he was still uncertain.
The outside appearance of the mansion was nothing like the inside; the three found themselves amidst a gorgeous and well-kept interior, warm and inviting, yet dark. Beautiful antique throw rugs covered the floor, and a sparkling clear chandelier hung from the ceiling of the main entrance-way. Paintings dotted the walls, all of mysterious yet kind looking people. Dimly-it lamps provided the only light, guiding their way through the door.
Misty smiled from ear to ear. "Would you look at this place!" she exclaimed ecstatically, her eyes darting from one section of the room to another.
"Wow, I've never been in a place like this before!" Ash replied.
"Me neither!" Brock put in.
Misty still felt queasy. "Are you sure we shouldn't of knocked first?" she asked, looking distrustfully at Ash and Brock.
Brock sighed. "Well, it's better late then never." Taking a deep breath, he shouted as loud as his lungs could handle. "HEY! ANYBODY HOME?"
Silence. Ash began to shout the same. Then Ash and Brock shouted together. Still no answer.
"Hey, look at this!" Ash shouted. He rushed over to a beautiful wooden counter that stretched throughout the length of the hall. On top of it stood a dusty, old cash register, one that you might see in an old movie. Behind the desk was a large bulletin board, and out of it jutted large, golden hooks, each delicately holding a brass key.
"This place must be a hotel!" Brock realized. "But...a really depressing one."
"I don't think anyone's here," Misty said softly. She pulled her backpack in front of her and gently scooped out Togepi. Still sleepy and slightly cold, the small Pokémon lay quietly in her warm arms.
Pikachu jumped up onto the front counter. He spotted a front desk bell, and began to hit it repeatedly. The others stood in silence, but no one arrived to help them.
"I think you're right, Misty," Ash agreed, finally stopping Pikachu from eventually breaking the bell. He looked over at Misty, but became puzzled by her even more puzzling expression.
Misty was not satisfied. "This is creepy, guys. Somebody must be home. They wouldn't leave a fire in the fireplace now, would they?"
As she asked this, Ash and Brock followed her pointed finger into the direction it was heading. Inside the accompanying room to the left of the lobby was a huge sitting room. It was by far one of the most spectacular rooms either one of them had ever seen. The fireplace stretched up to the high ceiling, and inside sure enough raged a blazing fire.
"Pika!" Pikachu shouted, sprinting towards the fire. He settled himself down near it, and called Ash over.
Ash, Misty, and Brock strode over to the fireplace. Misty closed her eyes and smiled as she felt the warm fire take over her body. It was the warmest she had been in days. She set Togepi down near Pikachu and turned back to the two boys. She sighed heavily and sat, also.
"We might as well get warmed up," said Brock, joining Misty on the large, fuzzy throw rug.
Ash said nothing, and sat down also, letting the fire warm every aching, frozen part of his body. And although he still felt uneasy about the whole situation, he could not deny his need for an escape from the outside weather.
They sat in silence once again, each of them carefully observing the room. Misty looked uneasy, and Ash smirked at her with his teasing grin.
"You scared, Misty?" Ash asked, grinning away.
"NO!" she snarled, turning her head the other way.
"Stop," Brock mumbled, bringing a finger up to his lips.
Ash continued his taunting. It took away from the weird feelings he was encountering sitting in a stranger's home. "What, ya think there's a mad murderer watching our every move? Waiting for the best time to attack?"
Misty growled at him, then lunged out at him, knocking him over. He continued to laugh.
"Shut up, Ash! I'm warning you!"
Brock reached over and grasped a hand around Ash's mouth. "Stop being so loud, guys!"
Ash stopped, and looking perplexed at him. "What's up?"
Breathing hard, Brock's eyes darted around the room. "It's too quiet here," he stated.
Misty nodded, and sat up on her knees. "It is too quiet. That's why I'm worried."
Ash only laughed a bit more, looking at the frightened expressions on his friends' faces. "Would you calm down? No one's home but us!"
"Well, maybe there WAS someone home," Brock said, shaking his head.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Misty asked in a high-pitched scared voice. She gripped her arms around herself tightly.
Ash just gulped.
"Well..." Brock started, just as Pikachu sprang up from his peaceful slumber and looked caustiously at the room enterance. His body stiffened, and the hairs on his back stood on end. Misty watched him horrified, and Ash looked inquistively at his Pokémon friend.
"What's the matter, Pikachu?" Ash asked, his voice shaking.
"Pika pi," Pikachu simply said, glancing up at Ash. "Chu, pika pika."
"Huh?" Ash asked. Before Pikachu could tell Ash exactly why he didn't feel alone in this hotel, the sounds of footsteps on the floor above them began to sound, softly at first, then quite louder.
Misty didn't scream, but just uttered a sound of disbelief and fear. She bolted up and grabbed Brock's shoulders as she huddled close beside him for protection. Brock put a hand on her shoulder and stood up.
Ash began to shake and he grabbed Pikachu as the footsteps continued, only now they sounded more distant.
"What...the...hell...is that?" Misty asked between huge breaths.
Ash just shook his head. He held Pikachu tightly in his arms, and could feel the poor Pokémon shaking in terror. "Well, whatever it was, I don't think I want to be here to find out!" he exclaimed, suddenly bolting. Brock seized him immediatly by the collar.
"No Ash, wait," he ordered, holding him firmly. "Just calm down a moment."
Suddenly, the footsteps started up again. This time, though, the were much louder...and much nearer. Ash's heart pounded. Brock's grip on Ash remained, only his hands began to clench tighter. Misty held Togepi close to her chest, and breathed deep, heavy breaths. She still stayed where Brock had been originally when she had grabbed hold of him. Whoever or whatever those footsteps belonged to were coming down the main staircase just outside the room.
Misty suddenly shrieked. It pierced Ash and Brock's ears with tremendous force, and their hands immediatly flew up to them. They jumped back abruptly as they noticed a man rush into the room. He himself clamped his ears shut, but now Ash and Brock put their screams in as well.
Pikachu's nerves finally went hay-wire, and as the man entered the room, he set off a huge bolt of electricity, which shot in all directions, reaching every corner of the room. It shocked everyone in sight, and when the electricity ended, the four unaware humans lay fried but pretty much okay.
Ash shot up immediatly, and glanced over at the charred man before him. "Oh my God, sir, I'm so sorry!" he said at once, running over to him.
Ash looked down. The man's eyes were shut and his teeth were clenched hard. He opened one eye which directed itself towards Ash's stunned face. Ash gasped, but the man smiled at him, and slowly lifted himself up.
"It's okay," he said gently, but with a little bit of effect in his voice from the sudden thunderbolt. "Nice Pikachu you got there."
Ash smiled, looking down at Pikachu. "Uh, thanks. I guess."
The man smiled once again, this time nodding a hello to Misty and Brock. He was about sixty years old, as the kids observed, and he had a friendly face to him. He was dressed in casual house clothing, which by now was a little staticy on account of Pikachu. "Sorry I scared you kids. I didn't know anyone was here. Wanted to see if my fire was out yet."
Misty grinned, her heart slowly returning to its natural beat. "That's okay. We...we didn't know if anyone was here either."
The man laughed, walking over to the fire. He began to poke at the flaming pieces of wood, which had little left to them. "I tend to get tired lately. I rarely get customers any more."
"I can see that," Ash murmured to himself.
"Sorry, I didn't introduce myself. My name's Mr. Vrenden, and welcome to Fireside's Warmth Hotel."
"Well, Mr. Vrenden, you sure do have a nice hotel," Ash exclaimed. "Sorry my friends and I barged in. You see, we were kinda cold, and..."
Mr. Vrenden waved his hand. "No problem, it's fine. My door's always open to travellers."
"Thanks!" Brock said.
Mr. Vrenden offered the kids a seat, and they sat down. "So, where you kids headed?"
"Pallet Town," Ash answered. "Oh, I'm sorry...I'm Ash. And this is Brock and Misty," he added, pointing to each of his friends.
"Ah, Pallet Town," replied Mr. Vrenden. "Very nice town. You visiting someone there?"
"No, going home," Ash answered. "For the holidays. We've been on a Pokémon journey for the past couple months."
Mr. Vrenden's face lit up at the mention of the journey. "Johto League, I presume?"
Ash nodded. "That's right! I've caught two Pokémon already, but I haven't earned any badges yet."
"And you guys? How've you been doing?" Mr. Vrenden asked, looking over at Misty and Brock.
Brock laughed. "Nah, we just tag along to make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."
Scratching his chin, Mr. Vrenden sat back in his chair. "I remember the Johto League. So many energenic trainers I used to battle."
Ash looked at him shocked. "Battle?"
Mr. Vrenden nodded. "Sure! I used to be a gym leader a couple years back. Way before I used to run this hotel."
"Oh, cool!" Ash said happily.
"My father left this hotel to me when he died. I didn't want to let him down, so I retired from Pokémon training to run it full time. Only now, I'm not so sure I want to run it anymore." Mr. Vrenden looked glumly at his feet.
"Why not?" Misty asked.
"Oh, I don't know," replied Mr. Vrenden. "Business hasn't been so good, and I just don't have the energy anymore."
"Well, it is quite a beautiful hotel," Misty said, trying to lift Mr. Vrenden's feelings. He didn't reply, but looked admiringly over at the kids.
"So, I suppose you'd like a room," he implied, standing up.
"That would be great!" Ash said. "But...we--we don't have much money." They did in fact have a couple of fifties with them, but Ash expected the rate of this gorgeous hotel to be through the roof.
Mr. Vrenden gazed down at the young Pokémon trainer, and smiled daintily. "No charge."
Ash jumped up. "Really? That's great!" He glanced over to Misty and Brock, who were beaming.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu exclaimed happily.
Ash went over to the fireplace to collect his bag, while Misty and Brock did the same. Mr. Vrenden watched Ash playfully shove his friends, and them laughing, shoving back at him. They were going to be warm tonight, and they were happy.
"Say," Mr. Vrenden said, pointing to Ash. "I know you said you didn't have a badge yet, right?"
Ash nodded and shrugged. "Was kinda hoping to bring one home to show to my mom, but, well, ya know."
Mr. Vrenden winked at him. "Well, there's still time left."
Ash looked at him weirdly. "What d'you mean?" he asked, as Pikachu leapt up onto his shoulder.
"I just happen to have some of my old badges left," Mr. Vrenden told him. "I'm pretty sure they're still good, that is, if you want to battle me for one."
Ash's smile grew larger and larger. "Really? I can win my first Johto badge from you?"
Mr. Vrenden smiled and nodded. "Of course, you would have to challenge me for a battle..."
"I challenge you to a Pokémon battle!" Ash shouted, making Misty and Brock jump back a few feet.
"As you wish," replied Mr. Vrenden, motioning them to follow him.
TO BE CONTINUED...