Chapter Six: Lavender Town

It was strange; as I entered the town, my mood dropped. I didn't know much about the town: only that it was the home of the deceased Pokémon. It was as if the town emanated that like an aura. I couldn't imagine a sadder place to live, really.

The Pokémon Center was thankfully a bit cheerier, but even it had the faded sense of joy. I really didn't want to stay too much longer, so I gave the town a quick pass. My trek led me to discovering a ghostly hand on my shoulder (or so some boy says), the Lavender Volunteer Pokémon House for abandoned Pokémon, and a Pokémon Mart selling the legendary item Revive.

I didn't have much money, but I definitely bought one; as a last resort, of course. As I began to leave, a wide man with glasses came out with me. "Hello, hello! I am the official Name Rater!"

And at last we meet. "Um, hi," I said politely and shyly. "What are you doing here?"

"Part of the job, my boy. I need special ingredients to change a Pokémon's name."

"Woah, you can do that?" I never really thought about the naming process, but to change the name of a Pokémon would probably be as hard as changing anyone else's name and making it stick.

"Yup!" he boasted. "It's a trade secret, and very complicated, but I can pull it off easily. And for free, I might add," he said with a wink.

The offer did have a bit of appeal. I didn't hate any of the names, but I did have to admit I wasn't a fan of Ninety's name anymore; it was too awkward to say. "Want me to rate the nicknames of your Pokémon?"

Without realizing, we had walked in front of his house already, and I didn't want to keep him out for too long. I nodded, and we walked inside. "Which Pokémon should I look at?"

I took out my Poké Ball containing my Geodude and sent him out. I then told the Name Rater his name.

"Ninety, is it? That is a decent nickname!" You sure like it more than me. "But, would you like me to give it a nicer name? How about it?"

"Yeah, go ahead," I said.

His enthusiasm shining through, he said, "Fine! What should we name it?"

I added to my request, "I want something cool that fits his nature."

"Hmm," he said to himself. "Calcite?" Seeing my confusion, he explained the origin of the carbonate mineral, and it sounded really cool to my youthful and child-like mind.

I nodded with a smile. He then began a strange process, letting my Geodude smell herbs, using hypnotic coins, and other strange whispers. After a minute, he declared, "Okay! This Pokémon has been renamed Calcite! That's a better name than before!"

Calcite turned to me, and he seemed even happier than I remembered. I guess I can't argue with positive results. "It's a great name, Calcite. Enjoy it." He nodded…I think (can rocks nod?), and then I returned him to his Poké Ball. "Thanks again, sir." The man bowed in respect, and after I did, I went on my way.

I began my walk to the west to Saffron City. Hopefully Saffron would be open from the east. But my mission in Lavender was not over yet.

Have you ever had the feeling of another presence? As though someone else was there? I'd lie if I said I didn't, but I always attributed the feeling to a natural cause, a trick of the mind. The closest to the supernatural are Ghost Pokémon, and there are some scientists who believe Ghost types are really just gaseous forms of matter.

But not today; like the boy had said before, the feeling of a hand came on my shoulder. This time, I felt it. At first I tried to shake it off, but when I noticed no person, no Pokémon, nothing, I was afraid I was going crazy.

I took more steps away from Lavender, out of the border, but not out of eyesight. So when the hand came on my shoulder again, I tried to run away from town. Instead the shrill cry of a Pokémon hovered in the dusky day.

Finally, I tried calling out for the culprit. "Show yourself! What do you want?!" But the noise was gone again. Clearly, this was a sign, and I could only assume some Pokémon was trying to play tricks on me. "Whatever you are, I'm not playing your game!"

I continued my march, but for the fourth time, the hand landed on me. But this time anger replaced fear. "Stop it!" The feeling was gone. "What do you want from me?!" At last, a sign presented itself. As I stared at Lavender, I felt something shove me from behind, pushing me toward the town.

I retaliated with words, but the offender stayed hidden. "Fine, I get it," I said aloud. "You're some ghost, and you want me to go the tower, right?" A minute passed; no answer in sight. "Fine, I'll go."

Trusting a ghost that didn't trust you…that's a bad thing, right? Either way, guess I definitely believe in ghosts now.

Entering the Pokémon Tower was a very solemn experience. The mood was somber, and with appropriate reason, but that didn't mean I wanted to be here. The ghost stalker never made a reappearance, so I climbed to the second floor without interruption. That job was reserved for someone else.

"Hey, Red! What brings you here?" Of course he'd be here, he is everywhere after all. Still, I wasn't sure how to answer his question; at least without sounding insane. "Your Pokémon don't look dead!" Silly me, he did my job for me. "I can at least make them faint!" The disrespect marches on. "Let's go, pal!"

Calcite as a starter brought me a major advantage: a wall. And Blue's Pidgeotto would definitely be at a disadvantage. "Quick Attack!" Blue ordered.

The bird tried to slice Calcite with its foot claws, but Calcite was too hard to cut through. Calcite was new to the team, but he already had an idea of what my hand movements meant. He looked back to see me order a Rock Throw, and tossed it with amazing strength!

Blue was dumbfounded at how I got Calcite to attack without words, but that wasn't enough. Unfortunately, the Quick Attack had a purpose, and allowed Pidgeotto to dodge the boulders with ease. "Keep tossing, Calcite!" I said.

"Gust!" Blue shouted, albeit weakly. Blue was desperate to keep those rocks away, but he seemed out of it. Still, Geodude's throwing arm was top-notch! "Blast it! Gust again!"

Calcite was preparing his third Rock Throw, and couldn't dodge the Gust in time; even worse, he was hit critically! "Calcite, it's okay, just throw again!" But the Rock Pokémon had a look of anger in his eyes. Apparently he wasn't a fan of critical hits. With all his might, he tossed his last boulder, faster than I thought possible, and slammed a critical hit on Pidgeotto!

"Bah! You and your type advantages!" Blue grumbled as he zapped away Pidgeotto. "I choose you, Growlithe!" I couldn't understand the choice of his new fire-breathing guard dog, so I stuck with Calcite and his advantage.

With another motion, I ordered a Tackle to test the waters. Blue, still melancholy, ordered Leer, and suddenly I understood. "Not a bad plan, Blue," I admitted. "Trying to lower Calcite's defenses. But I'll finish you before you can land a hit!"

"We'll see!" Blue yelled. Tackle had hit critically, but Leer was doing its job. Blue's new Growlithe then tried to Bite, but the damage wasn't enough. However, that wasn't the point.

"Calcite flinched?!" I said, clearly shocked. Blue gloated with words I didn't listen to, but as I ordered a Rock Throw to the cringing Pokémon, Growlithe went for another Bite! But Calcite was ready this time, and with another Rock Throw, his dog was down!

Blue stood there for a whole minute, just staring, his eyes filled with raging water. I tried calling out to him, but he wouldn't answer. At last he said, "Fine! Go, Exeggcute!"

I honestly didn't know what to expect. It was a whole new Pokémon to me. But I never expected it to look like actual eggs! "Um," I said with a pause, "so your next Pokémon...is six little eggs?"

"Go ahead, switch if you dare," was all he said. Looking it up quickly, I could see it was a Grass type, so I had the perfect answer. However, his expression was too difficult to read, and I didn't want to bring Charmeleon in just yet.

"Go! Raticate!" That got him to emote. But I still couldn't understand what this emotion was.

After a pause, he answered. "So, still using a Raticate, eh?" I was confused by this, so he continued. "I'll say this; you'll regret having it on your team. Right now!" His cocky attitude is back; the lack of it was truly scary.

As I motioned Raticate to Hyper Fang, Blue said, "Exeggcute, Barrage!" I didn't know what it was, but as Raticate bit one of the eggs, two of the others flung themselves at her! The damage was minimal, but Raticate was caught oblivious.

"The signature attack of my buddies!" Blue boasted. I signaled a Quick Attack, but that only gave Blue what he wanted. "Hypnosis!" Blue didn't know what Raticate was going to do, but he knew she'd get in close, and now she was asleep!

"Shoot! Wake up!" I said in vain. Since Raticate was asleep, I'd have to call out orders, but hand signals were less important than survival.

"Barrage!" Two more eggs flew at Raticate. The biggest was somehow tossing its brothers with psychic powers, but it kept tiring out at two. Thankfully, Barrage was too weak to be a threat.

Blue must have known that too. "Here guys, have a Potion," he said as he sprayed the medicine on his psychic eggs. I was surprised, Blue rarely helped his team out.

"That health boost won't save you!" I shouted.

"Oh, it doesn't need to," he bragged. "Your Pokemon getting zzz's is all I need! Barrage!" This time Exeggcute fired off three eggs; it was getting warmed up now. As much as I tried to wake Raticate up, Barrage whittled down her HP.

And then it got worse. Exeggcute found a weak point, and tossed two more eggs at Raticate critically! Thankfully, the jolt of pain woke Raticate, so I cried out, "Hyper Fang!" Exeggcute wasn't ready for the giant rat, and went down with ease.

Blue was annoyed, but still confident. But at the same time, I saw a crazy look on his face. "Hehehe, you're dead. I'm so sick of you, Red." I didn't know what to say, so he ended with, "I choose you, Kadabra."

"Kadabra?" I said in confusion. "Wait, if you've got him, and you probably kept Wartortle, then-"

"Yes, Raticate's gone," he said with such plainness. "Now, let's do this."

I didn't understand, it was so different from his typical attitude, so mysterious. But it didn't matter right now. I knew I wanted to take this fight in a different direction. "Return, Raticate!" With her back in my ball, I sent out Daydreamer to make this a Psychic duel.

"Confusion!" he commanded. After my Drowzee was pushed back by Confusion, I ordered Disable in response, but Kadabra managed to evade the attack with surprising swiftness. I decided to go with Hypnosis instead, and although Kadabra attempted to Teleport away, the attack finally landed.

"Sleep well," I said zestfully. Blue was not amused. "Fine, fine," I said with disappointment. Instead, I motioned for a barrage of Confusions, and Daydreamer complied, flinging Kadabra all over the room. Daydreamer made sure to avoid hitting any gravestones.

As each turn passed, Blue's anger rose. His Psychic type had been bested, all because of Hypnosis. I almost felt bad at how easy this was. But the moment Kadabra came out of sleep, Blue said, "Disable!" Before I could blink, a blast of energy enveloped Daydreamer. His best offense had just been blocked. "Shoot?" Blue jeered at me.

"Grr, that's it!" I yelled. I moved my head, and Daydreamer got the signal. Daydreamer made the same motion and suddenly shot out bright light! I covered my eyes in time, but Blue and Kadabra didn't. "Disable will run out eventually, so good luck hitting me until then!"

Blue started laughing. "Hello, psychic Pokémon? It's gonna be a lot easier than you think!" Daydreamer attempted to dodge Kadabra's Confusion, but failed, and flew into the roof!

"Keep doing Flash," I said, forgetting my new oath on attacks. "The bright lights will distract it!" Daydreamer followed orders, but Kadabra did too. Not every Confusion hit anymore, but they still had some power behind them.

"Fine, here, have a Potion!" Blue yelled. Kadabra Teleported over and received the spray, but it was a case of too little, too late. Daydreamer was Disabled no more!

With one signal, Daydreamer grabbed Kadabra and started throwing him around. But as he fell to the ground, he stood up, confused! Blue was dripping anger, and he had no words left for me. The Potion's purpose ran dry as Kadabra was back down to the red, and was finished as Confusion ended the battle!

"Oh, this battle is far from over, Red," Blue blurted like a mind reader. "Remember, I have a trump card. "Are you ready?"

Bringing back his humanoid fox creature, he threw down his final Poké Ball. "I choose you! Wartortle!" Wartortle blasted on the scene, roaring fiercely.

"Go! Kara-Tee!" Blue wasn't expecting her, but I needed to give her some experience, after all. I motioned for a Karate Chop, but she barely even noticed my order in time! Wartortle's Bubble came first, and Kara-Tee felt it for sure.

"Stop lazing about and fight!" She was acting far too confident, but as Wartortle slid in for a Tail Whip, Kara-Tee used Low Kick, dealing a good chunk of damage. However, no matter how many Low Kicks I ordered, the barrage of Bubbles and Tail Whips was too much for Kara-Tee.

I saved Kara-Tee in time from fainting, but I had to be careful with my next choice. Gloom could win with ease; it should have been a no-brainer. But I had to prove I was more than just a type-opportunist. I wanted to prove I had strong Pokemon too. "Go! Charmeleon!"

I expected laughter. Or anger at how stupid a move it was. But instead, Blue took the site of my Fire type seriously. "Come here, Wartortle. Use my last Potion." The turtle walked over, getting some much-needed health.

"Are you ready, Blue? No holding back." He nodded, and with that, we gave our commands!

I signaled a Scratch, and he charged in, claw stretched. The Scratch was a critical success, but not enough to stop a Bubble to the face! "Scratch again!" I ordered aloud, not caring about the final blow enough to hide it.

Wartortle formed a Bubble in its mouth, but the claw was too fast, and sliced through Wartortle's scales, inflicting just enough pain to win me the match!

Blue's defeat was calm, somber, and peaceful even. Then he said, "What? You stinker! I took it easy on you too!" The mood died in both the most appropriate and inappropriate place.

"Yeah, whatever Blue," I said. "I still don't get why you got rid of Raticate, you would have had a better chance."

He looked at me for a moment, the strange look in his eyes again, before asking, "How's your Pokédex coming, pal?" Pal? "I just caught a Cubone!"

"Um…then why didn't you use it?" I asked.

"Heh, well…it fainted." I gave him a stare to convey my guess at his intelligence, but he rambled on. "Doesn't matter! The point is, if I stick to using the same Pokémon for so long, I'll never catch them all!" I didn't like it, but he did have a point…

"Anyway. I can't find the grown-up Marowak yet! I doubt there are any left!" That's right, I remember hearing that in town; a Marowak died at the hands of Team Rocket. I had been trying to ignore the despicable thought as a rumor.

I guess he was getting weirded out at how quiet I was, so he said, "Well, I better get going! I've got a lot to accomplish, pal! Smell ya later!" Typical Blue…

After watching Blue walk away, an eerie feeling crept over me. It wasn't another invisible ghost, at least not that I could tell, but it was giving me second thoughts about climbing to the next level. Surrounded by gravestones, dim lighting, and an absolute lack of people around made the area more terrifying by the second.

But in my haste to battle Blue (plus thanks to his distracting challenge), I failed to notice one person standing by the stairs leading up. Thankfully she didn't seem to mean me any harm, but talking to her did not alleviate my fears.

"An impressive battle, dear boy, but your feud does nothing to settle the spirits' discontent." Why do I run into all the weird people? Dressed in ceremonial robes, she was actually quite young, but her tone and body language spoke of levels of experience that would make Mom look casual.

"Well um, that's, uh," I tried to say. I felt it necessary to talk to the Channeler about my experience outside with the ghost, but I couldn't find the right words. "How smart are these ghosts?"

She gave me a quick look-over before answering. "Yes, a good question, but odd for someone so young to ask." I couldn't help but blush. "The ghosts are as smart as you and I, and any other we meet. Their origins are surrounded in legend and myth, but like all Pokémon, they are varying in intelligence and personality."

This was exactly what I needed to hear. "So, they can be as good, or have good intentions?" She nodded, so I continued. "If ghosts want to do the right thing, like anyone else should, then if a ghost came to me outside, does that mean I need to continue on?"

"Hmm." She looked me over again, but now with a much more detailed view. It made me blush more. "You may pass if you wish, but be warned, the Pokémon Tower has changed since the death of Marowak. The ghost Pokémon are restless." Suddenly, I saw anger in her eyes, erasing the stoic image she had to this point. "Even we could not identify the wayward Ghosts!"

I wasn't sure what this all meant, but there was a serious tone about her, moreso than the conversation had started with. "I think I understand," I said, but let out a small laugh, "and yet, I don't think I possibly can."

And then the weirdest emotion came: happiness. "Perhaps, when you're older, you will," her smile said. "But be careful, wherever your journey will lead you." I could tell she had no more to say, and I knew what my next task was. Whether I could help out with, whatever the problem was, I had to keep going. If I was to be a Pokémon Master, I can't be afraid of the very creatures I'm after.

And so I went up. The steps didn't creak like a typical scary movie. There weren't cobwebs in the corners. Things were gray, but not dark and spooky. It wasn't scary by the standard conventions society throws around.

But I was still terrified. As I reached the top of the stairs, I looked through the dank room. As if channeling scary movie clichés, I called out, "Hello?!" No one answered of course, but part of me hoped someone would.

It took a few seconds, but through the tombstones, I saw a Channeler standing alone. Maybe she could help, I thought to myself. I checked to be sure my six teammates, none of which were healed from Blue's battle (a dumb mistake), were still there, and then marched for the Channeler. I didn't get far.

Within steps a vague shadowy form ambushed me, leaving me stunned beyond words! A ghost had appeared! I could already tell it wasn't a Pokémon I knew of, but I immediately remembered I had something that could help. "My Pokédex!"

I pulled it out of my pocket. Normally, the Pokédex could identify a Pokémon in an instant, but it took several moments before finally displaying a message: "Cannot be ID'd." Darn!

In desperation, I sent Calcite, arguably one of the bravest Pokémon I had to protect me. I knew nothing of this Pokémon's weaknesses, but I wasn't going to worry about them for now. "Calcite! Rock Throw!" I said, forgetting to use commands.

Nevertheless, it didn't matter. As Calcite reared his arm back, the ghost whispered, "Get out…" At first, I thought I was hearing things, a whoosh of a breeze, but the ghost reiterated the statement. "Get out…"

Calcite immediately dropped his summoned rock and look absolutely terrified. The fact that he's such a hardy guy only made me more terrified. He was too scared to move, and if he couldn't do anything, how could any of my Pokémon fight back? I decided the only option was to run, and amazingly, it worked. The ghost immediately gave up and let us go.

I went back to the second floor where I met the Channeler and fought Blue, carrying with me disappointment and even anger that I could do nothing, and neither could my Pokémon. "So now you see our plight?" She asked me, but it was a rhetorical question.

"If I'm supposed to go up there," I said slowly, "or, if anyone does, how can they get past those ghosts? If they're Pokémon, why can't they be fought?"

She closed her eyes, deep in thought. Although with the length of time they were closed, I was beginning to wonder if it was sleep instead of thought. "They say this tower bears more power than it lets on. It's not just the burial ground of Pokémon, or even the home of Ghost-type Pokémon, but a den of supernatural power we cannot comprehend."

"Um, well, that may be, but honestly that really just flies over my head," I admitted. Pokémon were so powerful already; what could possibly make them stronger than now?

However, she seemed to ignore my comment and continued. "The power here gives ghosts an ability to become invisible, and even more, mutate themselves into apparitions neither human nor Pokémon. A Silph Scope might be able to unmask them." A Silph Scope?

I hit up the Pokémon Center, still lost for words. Science was already amazing, but now they had technology to see ghosts? What a world.

But the world could be so predictable. Just as I left the town, I felt that familiar presence on my right shoulder again. "Look, I can't do anything, okay? Leave me alone."

It didn't. I felt a hand land on my left shoulder, but this time it held me in place. Angry, I turned and yelled, "I CAN'T HELP! I'm just a kid! There's nothing I can do!" At first, nothing happened. But then I felt something: guilt. The ghost apparently gave up trying to convince me, and for whatever reason I felt bad for lashing out at the Pokémon in peril.

I guess that sentence alone explains why I felt guilt; nonetheless, my words were true, there was nothing I could do but continue on my journey. Perhaps if I did find the Silph Scope, I could do more, but I had to keep marching on. That's what a trainer does.

Route 8 was west of town, and was filled with many trainers, and each one served the purpose of driving the guilt out of my mind. In fact, the farther I left Lavender Town, the more the depressive aura that was being saturated seemed to leave me.

As for the trainers themselves, they all seemed in a relatively good mood too. Although, as I soon learned from a Lass named Megan that the guard for Saffron was even less friendly than the first I've met. After defeating the trainers on the route, I had to see this for myself.

I entered the guard station, and at first the guard seemed quite normal. "Excuse me? Can I pass into Saffron?"

He gave me a strange look, and then said, "I'm on guard duty."

"I don't mean any offense," I hastily replied. "I just really want to visit the gym here. Can you please let me in?"

The man gave me a look that bordered between bland and irritated. "Gee, I'm thirsty, though!" Did he…want me to bribe him? With drinks?

"I'm sorry sir, I don't have anything to give away to you. Maybe I can-"

"Oh wait there, the road's closed." He turned and stared back at the door I came through. Clearly, he was sending me a message to get out, and I crossly took it. It was understandable if Saffron was still under quarantine, but rudeness was never the right thing to do.

I stepped outside, pulling out my map to think of a new route, when I noticed the sound of motors. Somehow being inside the guard station must have muted their approach, but just to my left were four bike riders sitting by a little house. Despite the motors' rumbling, I could clearly hear them.

"Man, boss, I'm not too sure about this. It's crazy enough to take on the police, but Team Rocket?!" He had a worried look in his eyes, and the other Mohawk bearers seemed to have similar expressions.

"He does have a point," another said. "After all, we're going UNDER one city they conquered and then driving THROUGH Celadon. That's like their capital, right?"

The leader stroked his chin as he commented. "Maybe so, but we're a part of the Kanto Riders Federation! We're not going to wimp out just because a few Rocket Grunts are prancing around in Celadon City!" Of course, it's always where I'm going next.

"True enough, sir," the third Biker replied, "but there are a lot of them." The leader slapped him upside the head.

"Idiot! Numbers mean nothing! It's quality versus quantity, and you know WE have the quality!" They all nodded without doubt, so he continued. "Besides, once we get to Cycling Road, we'll be speaking with the Westside Bikers, and you know they'll join up, whether we make them or not. THAT, will be our quantity.

The three goons seemed satisfied with this answer, and the first replied, "I'm sorry I ever doubted you, Paxton."

"Yeah, you better be," he growled. He got on his bike and looked around, thankfully unaware of me eavesdropping. "Alright you clowns, in we go! To Celadon!" With that, the riders drove into the little house, and the question to where I had to go next was answered.

I couldn't deny I was nervous as I stepped into the little house and began descending the stairs. There was a girl in there, who rationalized the gangsters as shopaholics by saying "The department store in Celadon has a great selection!"

After I rolled my eyes, I walked down the steps and saw that, indeed, the bikers had already made a great distance, which kept me out of their line of sight. Soon I saw their headlights head into the roof, meaning they were now outside the Underground Path. And after a few minutes, so was I."Why do I have a feeling you're not with the Bikers?" a man on top of the stairs said.

"Yeah," I replied. I looked around the area, seeing that it was quite clean despite four creeps barging their way through. "Any idea where they went?"

"Nope," he answered, "but I would have guessed Cycling Road." Great, that just makes things a lot harder for me, I bet. "And yet…" He gave me a curious look I didn't understand, so I asked him what he meant.

"Well, it's just they probably can't get there. I heard a sleepy Pokémon appeared near Celadon City." I was about to ask "So what?", but he caught me before I can say the words. "Clearly, you should know what the Pokémon is, judging by all the fancy clothes and Poké Balls."

The comment confused me, but I knew exactly what Pokémon he meant. If there was a Snorlax preventing travel yet again, it would keep the Bikers from their plans. Maybe.

Nevertheless, they weren't my problem. My mission is still the same: collect, battle, win badges. And as I stepped outside the small house, I could see Celadon City on the horizon. At last, my goal was within my sight.

I evaluated my situation, knowing what was to come. I knew from the Bikers that Team Rocket had their "capital" here. I also knew that Celadon City was where Jim Gai told me to visit next. While I'm not going to doubt him or his advice, I had to admit I was afraid.

Two gangs were there; one of which may even have heard of my exploits in Mt. Moon. Not likely, but there wasn't a lot to look forward to other than that precious gym badge.

Oh, and shopping; Celadon City is where all the bike-riding shopaholics go, right? I did a quick catch of Growlie the Growlithe before heading onward.

With one last breath, I stepped forward, ignoring the guard station behind me that would surely contain another dead-end, and moved forward, straight toward the future. My uncertain future.