A/N: Hiya, guys! I'm back with another chapter of this whacky fic. Waaah.. It's been so satisfying to write this one. I finished this in one whole day. I was pretty shocked at how easy the words were flowing out of my mind and into my fingers and into my laptop. Hehehe.. I felt good about myself. Hopefully, you guys agree with me.
Wow, thanks for the reviews you all gave to me. I finally pierced the 100 review count! Woohoo! Hurray! Where's Talon when you want to hug him!? OMG I'm so happy I could probably kiss the guy right now! -Obviously, not in the lips, that's just Ewww...
Mymag99: Thank you for reading. Here's your update. Enjoy~
Phantomspirit12: U got great timing! Kudos bro!
Zane Tribal Tyne Alexandros: Of course. There's that scene in this chapter. Oops, spoiler. Hehehe.. I have half a mind to make it stays a secret, but your suggestion was just too good to pass. Also, it was easy.
Princessbinas: Correct. Here, get some Cookies.
Pegasus Sword Master: Ehehe.. my fingers slipped and I kinda typed it in the middle of the night. Sorry for the mistake and I'm glad you like it. Thanks for the support, Pegasus.
Blazingkill: I think I will.. I am still planning whose going to be paired for him.
Par: Aww.. Thank you so much. It's just that sometimes its better to critize yourself before someone critize you with hurtful words. Did I just sound so mellow.. I'm so not gonna live this down.
Anyway, that's all for the review reply, here enjoy the chap-
Talon: I'm home!
Me: Speak of the devil! *grins* Talon! C'mere you bastard!
Talon: Huh? Why're you callin' me- Aaaaa! Don't hug, don't hug!
Me: Aww.. C'mon let your big bro give you his celebratory hug!
Talon: You never had that thing! It's mine to begin with! Hugging is my business since I'm three!
Me: Meh. Anyway, Enjoy the chapter! *Hugs tighter*
Chapter 12
"Fire Spin!" Rings of fire exploded from Ponyta's feet and shot forward to detonate on a poor and defenseless Haunter. The Gas Pokemon, however, wasn't such an easy opponent to defeat and reformed its gaseous body whole, clean and devoid of any signs of injury despite having just received a detonating Fire Spin to the face.
Detached, disembodied hands torpedo-ed towards the galloping fire horse, a trail of dark, ghostly energy following its wake. With great reflex, Leo snatched a antique flower vase from a passing table, internally apologizing to Marrlene for using her old possessions as a makeshift weapon before throwing the vase, flower and all, towards the approaching Shadow Punch. Obviously, it did little to nothing in stopping a full-power Shadow Punch, but Leo wasn't deterred and picked out more of the random objects he passed.
Sorry Marrlene, Sorry Marrlene, don't curse me for this! Leo kept on throwing objects towards his pursuer, Ponyta adding embers and flamethrowers to turn the impromptu projectiles to burning bullets once in a while.
::How dare you.. using Ms. Marrlene's things like this!:: Haunter, apparently, took offense to the defiling of Marrlene's stuff despite never knowing the woman himself. Ah, right. Hypnosis. Leo grimaced as he stared at the ghost's red rimmed eyes, really not liking the brainwashing effect of the Psychic-type move. ::Die!::
And then, not only the hands, but Haunter himself started on pursuing him. Leo noticed with a start that its mouth was glowing purple. Crap, Dark Pulse! "Ponyta, run faster and turn to that corridor as fast as you can!" Leo pointed towards a left turn in the distance of the seemingly endless corridor. Ponyta nodded with a neigh and Rotom gave a robotic hum in acknowledgement.
THRM!
Leo sneaked a glance to his back only to squawk fearfully as a beam of dakness shot towards them, crakcling with dark electricity as it tore through the air and made its wat to its target. Further inspection showed him that Haunter hadn't let up his Shadow Punch as his detached arms rocketed towards him in a pincer maneuver beside the steadily accelerating Dark Pulse, ready to intercept them should they made an escape by turning to the side.
"It's one or nothing! Faster!" He gave a gentle, but commanding kick to Ponyta's side, encouraging her to make haste. Ponyta acknowledged the order of her new trainer and made larger gallops, covering the distance faster. 5 feet... 3 feet... 2 feet...
"Now!" Leo ordered, instinctively closing his eyes to shield himself from the purplish glow of the incoming beam.
BOOM! A strong blast ripped through the otherwise silent mansion as Dark Pulse impacted with the wall a few distance away. Leo dazedly opened his eyes, blinking rapidly as the dust got into his eyes before his sight adjusted to the dimly lit hallway. Feeling something soft under him, Leo turned to see Ponyta below him, lying on her stomach as she panted in exhaustion.
Her legs.. Oh my god, her legs! Leo stared, wide eyed, at the twisted -so, so twisted- leg of the fire horse. He didn't knew legs could bent that way..
"P-ponyta, are you okay!? Is it hurt." Obviously, panic caused people to miss the obvious. Of course it'd hurt, Leo knew it, but he couldn't think of anything else to say to her.
::Examine. The leg's broken.:: Rotom's robotic voice filtered its way onto his ears. ::Noted. There's no way she could run or even move effectively with a leg like that. She's a dead weight, switch her out.:: In the span of a half hour that he knew the dual Electric/Ghost type, he'd come to understand and accept his robotic personality, the complete void of emotion and the total incomprehension to anything regarding it. Now, he was once again reminded of how cold and analytical Rotom was.
"You did a great job, Ponyta." He whispered soothingly, half aware that Rotom was giving them the look he'd saw multiple times on mad scientists in movies. "Thanks so much, now rest. I'll make the pain go away." He gave a gentle rub on her neck before absorbing her back towards her Ball.
Just in time for Haunter to made its reappearance.
Rotom flashed. The Plasma Pokemon literally turned itself into a bolt of lightning, ricochetting off the walls and object before striking and electrocuting the Ghost just before his Shadow Punch made contact with Leo's chest. Everything in a span of five seconds.
Leo blinked, not comprehending what had just happened as Haunter fell livelessly to the ground, his body smoking despite the impossibilty of it. Seriously, Haunter is the Gas Pokemon. His body is literally made out of compressed gas! How the heck did he produce smoke!?
"I must have spent too much time with Danny." He groaned. "I'm starting to question the laws of physic." He lamented as he facepalmed in complete shame. Of course, being Leo, the redhead immediately brightened up with a smile. "Hey, I sound so smart just now!"
::Confused. Does that mean you're stupid before?:: Rotom asked with a tilt of his head.
"Let's go, Rotom!" And just like that, Leo casually brushed aside the question made about his dubious level of intellect before making his way deeper into the mansion, Rotom once again leading. " So.. we are going to go get the prisoners or the Gengar?" That was still questionable to him.
::Answer. Gengar, obviously.:: Rotom answered. ::Knowing her, she must have stripped the humans off of any form of weapon and Pokemon before locking them in the basement. It's best to take her out, free the other Ghosts and then free the humans.::
"Okay." Leo answered blankly, clearly not catching any of the explanation. Rotom.. doesn't seem to care.
Outside.
"So.. this is the rumoured haunted mansion that has claimed many of my workers?" A young, blue haired man noted as he eyed the imposing and more than slightly ominous-looking building in front of him. "I was expecting something more.. ghostly about it." He said with a disappointed sigh.
"Orders sir?"
"Sweep clean the house, get any pokemon you can find. I heard there was a strong Gengar residing in this pathetic rip-off of a hanuted house, it is the main priority." The blue haired man said. "Team galactic will benefit with the use of this haunted house."
"Understood, Sir Saturn!"
"Marvelous. Get to it, men." Saturn smiled, pleased.
Inside.
"We need a quick way to get down!" Leo said, repeatedly pointing towards the floor to emphasize his point. "I've been searching and running around but I can't find a single damn stairs!"
::Apology. I forgot where the stairs are located in this floor.:: Rotom said not-apologetically. ::I'm sorry.:: Like I said, not-apologetically.
Grovyle nodded understandingly at their plight, only sparring a glance to the robotic Rotom. He had dealt with Leo's craziness for more than three years, a robotic and emotionless ghost wasn't about to phase him anytime of the day. Nodding, Grovyle opened his mouth and let loose a barrage of Bullet Seed to the floor. With a loud, expensive sounding crack, the floor cracked and crumbled, opening up a hole directly to the lower floor.
"I don't know how but I suddenly felt a huge amount of guilt just now." Leo admitted.
::Me too. I felt as if I just broke something expensive..:: Grovyle chirped in, adding his input to Leo's.
Rotom floated closer to them, face set in his usual deadpan. ::Confirmed. The floor of this mansion is made out of a rare kind of Granite and the carpet is made out of Ninetails fur woven together to create one huge carpet. That combined together would take quite the amount of fortune.:: The ghost informed, not the least bit phased by the destruction of an obviously expensive property.
"I'm sorry Marrlene../ Forgive me, dead woman.:: Both Pokemon and Trainer fell to their knees as they apologized to the former owner of the mansion.
::Copying. Forgive me, Marrlene.:: Rotom followed emotionlessly.
"Why are you apologizing!? Also, add a bit more feel to it!" Leo shouted frustratedly at the floating Plasma Pokemon.
::Let's move.:: Grovyle said cooly.
"YOU'RE JUST LETTING IT SLIDE!?"
Ignoring the comment, Grovyle grabbed Leo in the waist and jumped down through the hole, Rotom following shortly thereafter as he floated down through the large passage.
"It's dark.." Leo noted. "Which floor is this?"
::Answer. This should be the second floor. The only dark room in this floor is...:: Several Will-o-wisp appeared randomly in the dark room. Some green and some blazing red. The ghastly fire danced around randomly in the air, following no rhyme nor reason in an ominous imitation of a firefly before converging to two spots -the red to the center and the green to the corner.
::That's... a Banette?!:: The Marionette Pokemon stood in all its insidious glory, illuminated by the dim lights of the Will-o-wisp around him. Its dark-grey doll-like body shook with mirth and its red-rimmed eyes gleamed with some sort of glee. It's mouth, zipped as it is, kept on letting out creepy giggles that echoed through the room.
::WelComE To THE TheatrE RoOm!:: Its voice was distorted and mixed up, as though it couldn't decide whether to sound like a giddy child or an excited old man. ::Today we Had A VerY SpeCiaL GUeSt StaR: mR. PhAnTOM!:: The trio reluctantly ripped their eyes away from the Marionette Pokemon and into the figure in the corner.
"No..." Leo gasped.
Firefly-like green Will-o-Wisp floated up from the figure's leg, revealing that he wore white boots. It travelled higher and higher, revealing black jumpsuit-like outfit and white-gloved hands. Higher and higer it went, showing the figure's face.
::I-impossible!::
"I-is that.." Leo trembled, gulping as he stared at the white haired, red eyed boy in the darkness. "Is t-that you...Danny?"
Lobby, Guest Hall.
Doors and windows exploded and shattered as the forces of Team Galactic intruded upon the mansion. Purple fog rolled into the large hall before transforming and condensing into two Haunter and several Ghastly's. Shadows danced in the room as the gathered humans prepared their Pokemon for battle and readied their weapons to catch the ghosts, unaware of the steadily dropping temperature.
"Get the- Uaaah!" A Shadow Punch from below knocked the man unconscious as well as throwing him into some of the grunts behind him.
"Be careful of the shadows! The Gengar- Kyaaa!" This time it was a woman who was attacked. Haunter detached his hands and grabbed the woman by the neck, chocking her.
At once, the room exploded into chaos as ghosts and humans clashed.
::Disappear.. foul humans!" Gengar's eyes glowed in the shadows as she watched her underlings doing their job.
"Well.. well, the queen watches the war on her golden throne. Aren't you the theatrical one, Gengar." Shocked, Gengar turned to look at the one who had addressed her only to get shot in the back. Gunshot rang through the chaos, silencing any and all noise inside as all, ghost and human, paused and looked around in confusion.
Gengar rolled away, hitting the wall in the far side of the hall as she clutched the shot wound on the side of her torso, glaring wrathfully at the human who had dared invade and attack her.
"S-sir Saturn!" One of the grunts exclaimed.
"Do you know what the word Incompetent is?" Saturn glared at the gathered grunts, golden eyes shining in the darkness, making him look as though he was the devil -complete with the horns too. "It is for people who can't get results. Like you." He growled.
::Infernal ape..:: Gengar snarled before standing back up.
"Ho?" Saturn looked mildly impressed as well as amused. "Aren't you sturdy, queeny? Well, then, let's see just how sturdy you actually are. Obliterate her, Kadabra." A pokeball popped open from his belt, releasing the yellow cat-like psychic Pokemon.
::When I'm through with you..:: Gengar snarled at the Psychic type.
Kadabra gave no visible response, merely raising the spoon in its hand. The spoon vibrated madly and Gengar was suddenly thrown back upon the wall. Kadabra didn't let up, and the spoon vibrated even more, causing the invisible force pinning the ghost to intensify. The walls cracked from the force of the attack and Gengar was left screaming.
"Kadabra."
The Psychic-Type raised its other hand, the spoon once again virating like mad, causing the two approaching Haunters to stop in their tracks before vibrating and screaming in pain.
Saturn smiled at the quick victory and walked leisurely towards the queen of the ghost. "Let's stike a deal. I want this mansion, you give it and I'll let you walk away with all your limbs plus your life intact. If you say no.. well, let's just say lots of blood will be spilt." The blue-haired young man pulled out a butterfly knife from his pocket, tracing a small cut on the immobile ghost's cheek and drawing her blood. "It won't be mind, definitely."
::I'll kill you.. all of you who seek to destroy Marrlene's precious.. mansion!::
"Kadabra, Extrasensory." A slight vibrations later and Gengar once again screamed. "Continue." Screams echoed through the halls, as laughs and jeers from Team Galactic reverbrated.
Meanwhile..
::What did you do to him?:: It was rare to see Grovyle ticked off. The lizard could control his emotion so well it took two years for Leo to actually differentiate his happy face and sad face. This time, however, there was an unmistakable trace of burning anger in him as well as the desire to chop and slash something to pieces.
::Now, Now.. Let's NoT Be HAstY!:: Banette replied flippantly, waving its stuffed arm as though fanning off the anger Grovyle was directed towards him.
::Answer me, cretin!:: Bullet Seed ripped its way through his throat and shot forward to blast the infernal grin of the Marionette Pokemon. GhostDanny, as Leo decided to dub him, flashed in a show of speed, moving so fast he turned into a blur for him to see, before creating a green shield in front of the doll-like Pokemon.
::AwW.. So NiCe Of YoU Mr. PHAntoM.:: Banette giggled as GhostDanny just gave him a silent nod. ::AnYhow.. We're GoIng tO Be HavIng a PlaY!:: Banette jumped off to a different seat, hoping from one feet to another as it tried to subdue its glee.
::YoU sEe, MaRrLLene LOvEd ArThUrIAN LegeNds BacK THen.. sO, I Was tHiNKinG of HavIng a PlaAy of It!:: The Ghost clapped its hand in childish glee and it disturbed Grovyle that a creature as demented as Banette could express and expression such as that. The ghost pointed to Leo ::ArTHuR.:: He pointed to Grovyle ::LaNCElot.:: Pointed to Rotom ::GaWaIN.::
Banette grinned once again before pointing to himself ::I'Ll Be StarrInG aS MOrGannA!:: Lastly, the doll pointed towards GhostDanny. ::Mr. PhaNtoM WiLL pLaY.... MordrEd.::
Just as he finished those words, Grovyle lept and immediately pounced onto him, Leaf Blade ready to cut the ghost to bloody little pieces and send him back to his grave once and for all. ::Then, I shall hunt the evil witch!:: Grovyle growled.
::ThAt'S tHe SpiRitt! LeT tHE tRagEdY of CaMeLOt BeGiN!:: As though it was the declaration of war, Banette zipped open his mouth and let loose a Dark Pulse towards Grovyle. The green lizard was caught off guard but was quick enough to jump away and evade the devastating beam of darkness. Banette relentlessly pursued the Grass-type starter, Shadow Balls in hand.
GhostDanny blurred away and quickly reappeared behind Leo, his fist glowing green and ready to deliver his version of Shadow Punch only to be interrupted with a barrage of Electro Balls, forcing him to abandon offense. GhostDanny turned around and stared at the equally emotionless Rotom. "Don't interrupt." He growled.
::Annoyed. Don't order me around.:: Was the Plasma Pokemon's reply before turning into lightning and blitzing towards the human ghost. ::Leo Hashiri, snap out of it. Grovyle needs your help. Over.::
Meanwhile, in another side of the theatre room, both Grovyle and Banette was trapped in a stalemate as both Leaf Blade and Shadow Claw clashed, trying to gain the upper hand and break through each other's defense. Grovyle struggled to push back the Ghost-type and break the stalemate, but Banette seems determined to keep him in place.
"Grovyle." Leo's voice filtered through the battles. "Tackle."
There were times, and it was pretty often, when Grovyle would question the sanity of his Trainer. This was one of those times, but the finality in his voice compelled him to follow and even though he might gonna regret it, he'd chose to do it. Grovyle set his leg in a stance and lurched forward in a standard tackle towards Banette.
He phased through the ghost.
"Bullet Seed." Grovyle let loose a salvo of explosive seed from his mouth, hitting the Marionette Pokemon square in the back. "Brick Break and Leaf Blade." Grovyle twisted and gave a double fist-strike to his back before leaving two large slash wounds with the blade attached to his arms. Grovyle leapt away to his trainer, setting some distance between him and the doll.
"Are you okay?" Leo asked.
::I'm fine. Are you okay?:: Grovyle asked worriedly, still paying attention to the screaming Banette in the corner.
"Physically? I'm fine. Rotom protected me just now. Emotionally? I don't know anymore.." Leo answered in a whisper. "Is Danny.. Is he, you know, dead? Is that his ghost that Gengar hypnotized?"
::Could be.:: Grovyle answered. ::If it is, we're gonna free him from Hypnosis, find the body, give him proper burial and then I'll kill the Gengar. That's a promise.:: Grovyle said reassuringly.
::HerE'S BAneTTe!:: Banette screamed as he leapt over towards the duo, a Shadow Claw ready to chop their heads off.
::Here he comes. Get back, Leo.:: Leaf Blade glowed to live and soon, Grovyle finds himself once again clashing in a sword fight against the doll, trading some sneak attacks every once in a while in hope of catching each other off guard.
Rotom steadily gathered electricity inside of him as he lazily dodged the punches and kicks of the human ghost before finally releasing it into a large burst of plasma bolts with him in the center, blasting and electrocuting GhostDanny in the process.
::Smug. Is this all you could do. Hu Hu Hu.:: Obviously, the dual Electric/Ghost type's attempt at being smug was still as robotic as ever.
In response, GhostDanny released a beam of ice from his palm, almost catching the other ghost off guard had he not turned himself into lightning and blitzing away from the attack. Rotom eyed the ice berg made from the Ice Beam and hummed in interest. ::Intrigued. Dual Ghost/Ice type just like Frostlass. Interesting.:: Rotom noted.
Danny made the traditional hand gun with both his hands and started to shoot a rapid fire Ecto Bullet to Rotom, causing the ghost to once again be on the run and dodging the incoming bullets.
::Intigued. A signature move? Hmm...:: Rotom started counter attacking by shooting Electro Balls and Thunder Shock at GhostDanny forcing the white haired ghost to move and abandon offense. Rotom took this as a chance to once again turn into electricity and move away, not to attack nor to run but to possess a giant piece of technology in the room.
The giant cinema linked to the sound system.
The screen started to glow blue and orange before it spread like a virus to the sound system beside it. They turned bright orange with blue outlines around them. Cartoonish eyes appeared on the screen and a jagged line spread over below it, becoming the mouth of the new Theatre Rotom.
::Arceus' balls..:: Grovyle eyed the new, improved form of the tiny ghost in shock and awe.
"Wow.." Leo gaped.
::Warning. Plug your eyes and get down. It's gonna get loud.:: Rotom warned before opening its mouth wide. ::UPROAAAAAAAARRRR!:: Sound blast, so loud it could be called a sound bomb exploded through the room right after Grovyle pressed Leo down to the floor, blasting both Danny and Banette and also the entire seats in the room into the far off wall.
::Ding dong. Thank you for your attention.:: Rotom flashed out of the cinema system and floated down to the ground where Leo and Grovyle was trying to get up. ::Inquiry. What do you think?::
"Loud." Leo concluded. Gorvyle just nodded, still trying to stop the ringing in his ears.
::I see.::
CRACK! BRRRKKK!
Leo and the two Pokemon looked over to the mountain of broken seats in the corner to see that Banette and GhostDanny had once again recuperated and ready to fight. Grovyle and Rotom readied tmeselves for violence, Leaf Blade blazing to life and electricity crackling in the air. It wasn't to be however, as both GhostDanny and Banette started clutching their heads and falling to their knees, groaning and growling.
"What happened?" Leo wondered, panicked. Did the Gengar gave them new orders or something?
::Response. Someone is fighting on the lobby and probably caused Gengar significant damage for her to lose control over some of the ghosts.:: Rotom responded.
"Then that means-"
"Uurgh.. what happened?"
Leo turned to the side to see both Banette and Danny blinking confusedly as though having just wake up from a dream, clutching their heads and releasing growls and groans of pain. Suddenly, both winced and grimaced as they noticed the scars and wounds on their body from their short fight against Grovyle and Rotom.
"D-danny?" At his name, Danny turned to the side to see Leo looking at him with teary eyes, looking ready to burst to tears any moment. Actually, make that into now. Leo jumped and enveloped Danny in a tight, bear hug as he cried on him. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" He bawled.
"Huh? Leo? What are you crying about?" Danny questioned before he took notice of his appearance and froze. "Leo, look, I can explain about this I'm just-"
"You're dead." Leo said, sniffling. Danny noticed with growing disgust that the redhead was using his Hazmat suit as a makeshift handkerchief to blow his nose. Eww... "If only I didn't go training.. If only I didn't get separated from you.."
"Leo.." He began, tone soft and reassuring. "This isn't your fault."
"It is!"
"It's not."
"It is!"
"It's not." Danny pressed his hands over the redhead's mouth before he could blame himself again. "I've been half dead for a while now."
"Wutt?!"
TBC
A/N: Well? How do you think? I hope its good! Give me your opinion in review guys! Thank you and Luv U ALLLLL~~
SSF out!