After Summer battled an up-and-coming Trainer named Carlos, she caught the Onix he released and named him Rocky. Although she lost her rematch against Carlos, she was able to help him change his attitude towards his Pokémon. On the way to Lavender Town, Summer and Errol encounter a thick fog. What awaits them beyond it?

Chapter 28: Meeting the GTS

As I followed Errol deeper into the fog, the atmosphere immediately changed. Not only did the fog turn purple, there was also some creepy music playing. I didn't know where the music was coming from, but that was the least of my worries.

"Errol!" I called out. "Where are you?"

"I am right here, Ms. Summer!" He hopped into view. "It is so difficult to perceive anything. My Foresight appears to not penetrate this supernatural fog."

Supernatural is right…What's going on here?

We then heard someone, or something, moaning in the fog in front of us.

I froze in fear and nervously asked, "W-who's there?"

Instead of answering me, the moaning became louder. Errol and I slowly backed away until I hit something large and solid behind me. I immediately started to panic and frantically moved towards my right. As I did, I heard something small hit the ground. It released a calming melody, causing the fog to disappear. The small purple-roofed houses became visible, as well as the Pokémon Center and a tall black tower.

I looked around the ground and spotted my Soothe Bell. As I picked it up, it felt different, but I couldn't understand why. I put it in my capris pocket so I could put it away later.

"Are you okay, Errol?"

"I am fine, Ms. Summer. It is peculiar that fog disappeared so quickly."

"Yeah, but that creepy music's still playing. Why don't we head into the Pokémon Center? Maybe the nurse knows what's going on."

Errol nodded and followed me. When I opened the door and went inside, I saw a lot of people in the Pokémon Center. Trainers and families gathered by the waiting area and the cafeteria. Others were watching a breaking news report on TV. I returned Errol and gave my Pokémon to the nurse, who was slightly fidgety. I then put my helmet and Soothe Bell away and tried to see the segment.

Suddenly, three slightly tanned men burst through the main doors. The man on the left had short black hair and a black goatee. He was slightly tall and skinny, but was able to carry a large video camera. The man on the right carrying video equipment was a little overweight and bald. The most notable feature was his large brown beard. Finally, the man in the middle was muscular and clean-shaven. His slick black hair gave an air of suave and mystery. All three wore black clothes, sunglasses, and caps with the white letters "GTS".

Excited whispers immediately filled the previously tense atmosphere as the trio continued walking.

"I-it's them! The GTS!"

"That ghost hunting trio? I didn't expect them to come out here."

"Maybe they can fix our ghost problem!"

Ghost problem? I know Lavender Town has Ghost-type Pokémon, but not actual ghosts...

The three men stopped once they reached their destination: the reception booth. They all took off their sunglasses and attached them to their shirt collars. A Chansey curiously approached them.

"Excuse me, Chansey, can you see if Nurse Lilac is available for her interview?" the man in the middle politely asked. Because of his deep masculine voice, I assumed he was the leader of the group.

The Chansey nodded and went into the emergency room. Another Chansey came to the desk and looked at me. I quickly came over.

"Here are your Pokémon, Summer," Chansey said in her sweet voice.

I took my Pokéballs and thanked her. I forgot I could understand Chansey since the translation app was preprogrammed with that species translation.

I was about to go back to the TV when the man in the middle asked, "Excuse me, miss."

I turned my head towards the three investigators.

"Did you just arrive in Lavender Town?"

"Yeah, I did."

The other two men immediately gasped.

"Dude!" the man in the beard whispered to the leader. "Did she have something to do with that fog disappearing?"

"I'm not sure…" the leader whispered back. "I do feel she has that sense…"

"Miss, what's your name?" the man with the goatee asked.

"My name's Summer. Summer Scorcher."

The three immediately became interested. I didn't know them but how could they have heard of me?

"Oh, I forgot to introduce ourselves," the leader said and pointed to himself. "My name is Clark Snagab, the leader of the Ghostly Travels Squad, a.k.a. the GTS."

He then pointed to his teammates. "The man with the goatee is Danny Frog and the man with the beard is Bobby Wingood. They're my fellow investigators and camera crew."

After shaking each of their hands, I felt something strange inside the Pokémon Center. I looked around, but no one was there. To my surprise, Clark did the same thing.

"Sorry for the wait," Nurse Lilac said as she emerged from the emergency room. Her voice was almost as sweet as her Chansey's. "I already have a room prepared for the interview."

"Great. We're ready to start whenever you are," Danny replied.

"Could this young lady join us?" Clark asked the nurse.

She was slightly bewildered but nodded firmly. "Follow me."

Nurse Lilac led us to a small conference room at the end of a dimly lit hallway. Inside the room, six black chairs sat near a black table. A bronze chandelier with six candles slightly illuminated the purple walls. I sat on the south side of the table while Clark and Bobby sat across from the nurse on the east side. Clark gave each of us a portable microphone, and we attached them to the tops of our shirts. Danny set up the camera on a tripod at the northeast corner, hit the record button, and then joined his friends.

"Nurse Lilac," Clark started. "Can you tell us about Pokémon Tower?"

She paused, then muttered, "Sorry…I'm a little nervous."

"It's okay. I know the events six years ago really affected this town. Take your time."

Six years ago? What happened that made people still scared now?

"Pokémon Tower is a cemetery designated for Pokémon in the Kanto Region," Nurse Lilac explained. "It's a six-story tower filled with graves. Trainers and visitors are allowed to pay their respects every day. Mr. Fuji, who runs the Pokémon orphanage in Lavender Town, currently maintains the Tower with his workers and volunteers."

"I see," Danny said. "Tell us about the orphanage."

Nurse Lilac nodded. "The Lavender Town orphanage cares for Pokémon that have been abandoned by their Trainers. Mr. Fuji and his team care for them and help them find new Trainers."

Clark looked visibly upset, but he continued the interview. "Can you tell us what's been happening in the town three days ago?"

"It was nothing out of the ordinary. The town's respectfully quiet to not disturb the spirits. But last week, a creepy song started to echo throughout the town. Some of the townspeople tried to find the source, but strangely the tower doors were locked. A day later, that purple fog rolled in and covered the entire town. People were afraid to leave their houses, and the only place they could see faintly is the Pokémon Center. That's why so many residents were here."

"Hopefully people can go back home," Bobby reassured. "The fog's gone now."

"Yes, although it's strange. What caused that fog to disappear?"

I then felt someone tap my right shoulder. I turned in that direction, but to my surprise, no one was there.

"Is something wrong, Summer?" Clark asked.

I looked at the adults and saw concerned looks on their faces.

"Y-yeah. I thought I felt someone tap my shoulder."

"I think it was a white hand," Clark determined.

I almost fell out of my chair. "H-how did you know?"

"Clark has the ability to see ghosts," Danny explained.

"Yeah!" Bobby enthusiastically added. "He's had it for years."

"T-this is the first time a human spirit has entered the Center…" Nurse Lilac said in astonishment. She then looked upset. "Something must be really wrong."

Suddenly, a Chansey burst into the conference room. "Ms. Lilac! A Pokémon emergency came in!"

The nurse immediately stood up. "I'm sorry, but I have to cut this interview short."

We also stood up as well. "I understand," Clark acknowledged. "This may be related to the events. Can we help?"

"Of course. I appreciate it."

After Danny took the camera off of the tripod, the five of us ran after Chansey. The Egg Pokémon led us into the waiting area of the emergency room, where the other Chansey gently placed a small orange Pokémon with a white mane and black stripes onto a stretcher. The Pokémon was covered in scrapes and growled angrily at everyone.

I looked up the Pokémon on my Pokédex. [Growlithe, the Puppy Pokémon. Its superb sense of smell ensures that this Pokémon won't forget any scent, no matter what. It uses its sense of smell to detect the emotions of others.]

"Now, now," Nurse Lilac softly said. "I need to examine you."

But when she slowly extended her hand towards the injured Pokémon, he bared his fangs and barked, "Don't touch me!"

"Let me help," Danny offered. "Come on out, Cocoa!"

A smaller Growlithe emerged from Danny's Pokéball. He looked at his Trainer attentively.

"Can you see what's wrong with that injured Growlithe?"

Cocoa eagerly nodded. He jumped onto the stretcher and began talking to Growlithe. As they were conversing, I felt something tap my shoulder once more. Feeling a sense of dread, I turned to my right and saw a red and black cap resting on a white bench.

That cap looks really familiar…

I walked over to it and cautiously picked it up. Growlithe saw my actions and angrily barked, "Get away from that hat!"

Everyone jumped at the uproar, especially me.

"What happened, Cocoa?" Danny asked.

Before his Growlithe could respond, I asked the aggressive Pokémon, "What do you know about this hat?"

The room became silent. "C-could you be h-her?" the injured Pokémon whispered. The barking took the strength out of his voice. "M-my master...mentioned a girl who could understand...and speak to Pokémon. T-trapped in...tower. Please...help him…"

Growlithe then collapsed from his injuries. Nurse Lilac urgently carried the Growlithe into the operating room. Both Chansey automatically followed her.

"How did you know what he said, Summer?" Danny asked, puzzled.

"It's a long story… But based on what Growlithe said, his Trainer might be trapped in Pokémon Tower."

"Do you know him?" Bobby asked.

I looked towards the ground. "I...I think it's Weldon, my rival…"

Fear then crept into my mind. What was he doing in such a dangerous place? D-did someone, or something, get to him…? I can't let that happen to anyone else...

"Summer...Summer, are you okay?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and saw Clark shaking my left shoulder.

"Y-yeah. I'm okay."

Nurse Lilac then returned. "Growlithe will be fine after a good night's rest. Were you able to figure out who his Trainer is?"

"Yeah...his name is Weldon Leland…" I solemnly replied.

The nurse gasped. "You mean that boy who was here last week?"

"Please Nurse Lilac!" Clark exclaimed. "Tell us about Weldon."

She nodded but was hesitant to explain. She took a deep breath and said, "Weldon arrived at this Pokémon Center about a week ago. I recognized him from an article I read in Trainer's Digest. Anyway, it seemed he was training around the area. When that miserable fog rolled in, he decided to help find the cause. After talking to someone on the phone two days ago, he ventured into the fog, but he never came back. I hope he's all right."

"Don't worry," Clark reassured. "Unfortunately, we're pretty beat from the traveling. It's best to rest then explore the tower tomorrow."

"Feel free to stay as long as you need to. It seems the visiting Trainers left after the fog disappeared. There's plenty of room."

We all bowed appreciatively, went to our rooms, and had an interesting discussion during dinner. We spent almost three hours talking about our adventures. I learned so much about the haunted places they visited, making mental notes to not go there. After that, we went into our separate rooms and fell asleep.

A few hours later...

"No...no… Get away from me!"

"Summer, Summer. Wake up!"

I gasped and bolted up. Lightning fell off the bed and angrily rubbed her head.

What...what was that dream…?

"Every time I touch her when she gets scared, I end up getting hurt in some way…" Lightning muttered as she picked herself off the floor.

I looked at my Electric Mouse Pokémon and said, "Sorry, Lightning."

"Are you okay? You've been talking in your sleep, and that's never happened before."

I nervously rubbed my left arm. "I...I think I saw a ghost in my dream…"

"Really? Maybe you should talk about it. It'll help you feel better."

"All right. I was in a dark place, filled with headstones. I tried to find an escape route, but a black shadow kept chasing me, blocking every visible exit. It had an evil cackle…"

I shuddered then continued, "I panicked and thought I was a goner. Then something white appeared. I couldn't tell what it was, but I knew it wasn't alive. That white thing jumped towards me...and that's when I woke up."

"Oh...that makes a lot more sense now."

"What does, Lightning?"

"There's a white mist who wants to talk to you."

I freaked out and jumped, hitting my head against the wall. After rubbing it for a few seconds, the room suddenly felt colder. A white mist-like form appeared in front of us. I gave a small yelp and hid under the bed covers. The mist was so bright, the light penetrated through the white sheets.

I then heard Lightning and the mist talking to each other in muffled voices. The apparition sounded like a shrill bird.

"Gosh! I didn't mean to frighten her…" the mist sadly said.

"Don't worry," Lightning reassured. "She's been like that ever since I've known her."

Thanks, Lightning… Maybe this Pokémon spirit isn't evil. Doesn't hurt to ask, I guess.

I slowly pulled the covers off my head. "You're not evil, right?"

The mist shook. "Of course not!"

"Sorry for the forward question…"

"No worries, Summer. Actually, you have something that can help free us."

I was a little confused until I remembered what happened earlier. I got out of bed and looked inside my backpack.

"Is this it?" I showed it the Soothe Bell

"Yes it is! When I heard it ring earlier, I knew that will chase that evil force away."

E-evil…?

"Quick, follow me to the tower!" The mist floated through the door and presumably outside.

I don't have a choice, do I?

"Come on, Summer. What're you waiting for?" Lightning softly shouted.

I sighed and took out a blue sweatshirt from my backpack. After I put that and my helmet on, and we quietly walked out of the Pokémon Center. The mist saw us and guided us to the tall, sinister building northeast. The creepy music was still playing, but at a softer beat.

I understand what the townspeople mean. I feel something strange inside.

At the Pokémon Tower, the entrance was guarded by two wooden doors. I tried to push open the right door but it wouldn't budge.

"Oh well," I said, nervously laughing. "I guess that means we can't go in."

Right after I said that, both doors slowly creaked open, revealing a completely black room. The mist floated inside, scanning the reception booth. I turned on my helmet's flashlight, and to my dismay, it couldn't illuminate more of the room. As soon as we entered the spooky tower, the doors slammed shut. This made the room darker than the night sky we saw from the windows. I scanned the walls and saw no way to escape, like my dream. I didn't know what to expect, but it would be something that would bring up something I never wanted to remember again.

Pokémon: Blaze (Combusken, male): Brave Nature, moves: Quick Attack, Double Kick, Flamethrower, Focus Energy

Errol (Hoothoot, male): Rash Nature, moves: Foresight, Growl, Hypnosis, Peck; learning- Confusion

Swirls (Poliwhirl, female): Relaxed Nature, moves: Water Pulse, Hypnosis, Water Gun, Doubleslap

Lightning (Pikachu, female): Adamant Nature, moves: Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, Iron Tail, Sweet Kiss

Flower (Bulbasaur, female): Gentle Nature, moves: Tackle, Leech Seed, Vine Whip, Sleep Powder

Rocky (Onix, male): Lonely Nature, moves: Rock Throw, Slam, Dragonbreath, Iron Tail

Questions for the Chapter:

What do you think of the GTS?

What made Summer so scared of ghosts?