Hey everyone, I'm back with a new chapter! I hope you all enjoy it!
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Chapter fifty-seven: Lavender Town
The next day our group set off again for the mysterious settlement in Eastern Kanto infamously known as Lavender Town.
By late morning, we had reached the edge of Route 9 and entered Route 10. Entering this road, we saw a river begin to show itself along the path. At first, it was a very scenic walk along the path with Rigel, Jennifer, Orion, Eev and I…surrounded by beautiful trees and shrubs. Of course, as to be expected, we ran into some trainers from town wanting to battle.
A few were some Jr. Trainers (younger kids who were excited to get into Pokémon battles as early as possible) and they had blocked our advance.
A girl challenged us, throwing into the ground an Oddish. Rigel thinks about his choices and it isn't long before I climb on his shoulder, whispering into his ear, "C-Charm..eleon…"
"Right, Fire-Type…" he nodded softly as I hopped off him. Come on kid, you can't always be using Orion, a Pikachu, for every battle…
Speaking of which, Orion gave me a thumbs up and wink even though I felt this information I gave is common knowledge. Oh well, baby steps, I guess…
"Go, Charmeleon!"
The Pokéball released the reptile from his confines as he let out a snarl at his opponent across from them.
"Uh oh…" the young female trainer gulped, "absorb!"
"Use your ember, Charm!" Rigel had instructed
The dragon-like monster grinned and unleashed its fiery barrage upon the helpless Grass-Type. Before the Oddish could retaliate, it was mercilessly pummeled by flames and rendered unconscious.
The Pikachu next to me smiles as his friend Charm puts his paws on his hips in a bullish manner.
"Way to go Rigel" Jen complimented.
There were several of these Jr. Trainers we ran into while on Route 10, one of them managed to get the upper hand at some point:
"Stun Spore!"
This results in Charmeleon becoming frozen on the spot. Rigel tried a few times to get his Fire-Type to retaliate; however, the reptile kept getting damaged…not good!
Soon realizing what he should do, 'Rig' decided to swap Pokémon to spare Charmeleon, "Orion, the floor is yours, come on buddy!" The teen called back the lizard into its ball. The Pikachu happily obeyed, feeling excitement overwhelm him, "you got it!"
Now on the battlefield, Jennifer, Eev, and me watch Orion begin with a quick burst of speed towards the opposing foe! The Jr. Trainer attempts to paralyze the Pikachu just as they did with the Fire Pokémon, but he is way too fast for them.
"Thunderbolt!" Rigel yells as Orion adds to the yell with his own, unleashing massive sparks from his small yellow body!
The other trainer panics, quickly yelling back to have their Oddish move, "Dodge it!" Unfortunately for them, it's too late, their Pokémon faints.
The girl scout calls back their Grass-Type and calls in a Bellsprout.
This next creature tries to use Growth but after it did, the plant-like creature is brushed aside by Orion's high-level attacks.
Defeated, all the girl could do is grumble in defeat, "I can't believe I lost…" reluctantly, she gave Rigel some money for losing.
And so, after that whole thing, we continued our journey through Route 10, our group trekked along the trail beside the flowing river.
Orion and Rigel were rightfully excited about their wins, never ceasing to brag about them to Jen and me. Inside though, I'm just glad Rigel is starting to use his head in battles…about time! Eventually, Eev the Eevee was called back into her Pokéball a few minutes later, but not before she scoffed at the two boys for their exhibitionist ways.
Anyways, the rest of our trip today consisted of running into more trainers and especially these "bug catchers" which posed minimal resistance for us.
Eventually, we made it to a Pokémon Center in the middle of a large forest glade, which is unusual because they are usually in towns and cities. Nevertheless, we went in, healed Rigel's team, and gathered ourselves before setting off again for our final leg to Lavender Town.
Despite the warnings: from locals telling us to turn back and the mark change in weather conditions, we continued…
…
After another hour or two of walking, we made it to Lavender Town where misty rain engulfed the air around us and the dark sky above. It's a kind of rusty smell that I can't seem to rid of, and the others agree.
A chilling wind kept our spines shaking and the hairs on our heads (Rigel and Jen) and our bodies (Orion and I) up.
The two humans with us shivered in dread…Jennifer, too late, knew just how haunted this place is…
Even worse, we saw some trainers, a boy, and a girl, running out of the tower across from us: their faces flooded with fear!
"T-time to go!"
"This was a mistake, BIG one!"
They ran off, past us towards Route 8.
We all look at one another with concern.
"It's not too late to follow those two out of here…" Rigel muttered under his breath. Jen, unsurprisingly, composed herself and gave a stink eye back to him, "what, you chicken? Come on, we came all this way, might as well check some things out first!" She suggested.
"No way you're being serious right now!" The boy trainer gasped in shock, Orion mimicking his trainer's look.
"Come on" she cut him off, grabbing his hand and dragging him, and by extension Orion, with her. I hold onto her shoulder as she takes us to what appears to be a Pokémon Center.
We enter it: only to find it void of any light and people.
"H-hello?" She called out for anyone to respond but no voice returned. She lets go of Rigel and moves closer, taking out a flashlight to investigate further, leaving Rigel and Orion behind us.
Something sent chills down my spine…as if it suddenly got windy in this lobby…as if…something is watching us…
The darkness of the counter and door where Jen headed caused me to have second thoughts and I jump off her in response. She looks down toward me with a look of disapproval, "oh come on, not you too, Lucas!"
I shake my head to her, "no…d…don't…" I struggled with human speech. She remained adamant, "suit yourself. I'll be right back, maybe someone needs help."
"J…Jen…" I tried to stop her, but she already walked through the door, leaving me, Rigel, and Orion alone.
Rigel, rightfully so, looks down to me and nods, "come on Lucas, we better go get her before something happens to her…I got a BAD feeling about this…"
Despite the sudden gush of wind and total darkness we are presented with, I followed the duo from behind.
We enter the darkness of the room to find NO trace of the girl inside. The trainer turns to his Pikachu, asking "mind giving us light, bud?"
"Sure" Orion nodded in Pokémon speech, using his red cheeks to illuminate the dark room as he had when we both were in cages in the Team Rocket base. The three of us huddle, hoping that nothing will jump out at us…pranking us and embarrassing us in the process. Unfortunately, I DON'T think this is a prank AT ALL…there is something really bad happening around us…I FEEL it…
There's no trace of Jennifer…it's as if she vanished. My thoughts were proven correct when we call out to her and received no response, and there's no other door in here other than the one we came in. Soon enough, we find her flashlight…discarded for some reason…why?
"W-what…" Rigel shivered in dread, muttering softly. His Pikachu also is stunned by the sudden disappearance.
The trainer asked, "Lucas…where could she have gone?" I simply shook my head, worry and dread filling me, "I…I'm…not…s…ure…"
"Maybe she's pulling a prank on us…she's the type to do that" Orion huffed in frustration. The funny thing is…the Pikachu is NOT wrong…but this was different.
Suddenly, we hear footsteps more akin to running as we snap our heads back to discover the source: with Orion's electrical discharge we see a tall silhouette running for the door we came in! The hairs on our backs rise, h-how did she show up all of a sudden? It's as if she came back into existence! There's no mistaking it…it's Jennifer. The three of us widen our eyes in response.
"Jen!" I gasped; my mouth gaped in surprise.
The teen gulped, "Where is she going!?"
"Come on!" I yelled to them both to follow and they do so. We run out of the Pokémon Center to see that a hazy fog had descended upon the village…the rain had stopped…the air is moist and colder than before…somehow making the atmosphere even creepier than before.
We can see Jennifer making a run for the tower…the largest one in Lavender Town. We stopped to look up to see its higher sections shrouded by clouds/fog.
We gulp in unison, knowing what we must do: we enter the building after her…unaware of what's to come.
We are met with gravestones, memorials, tile floors, and stone walls. I've read stories about this place as a kid…it's a burial site for deceased Pokémon…it's making me uncomfortable to be here since it's hallowed grounds.
Nevertheless, our small group pressed onwards, passing by the tombstones that are placed in a way that we must navigate them as if we are in a maze. We look around, trying to catch sight of the adult girl on this floor. Sure enough, we see a red-jacket figure going up the flight of stairs across from us!
"There!" Orion pointed with his small stubby finger, "Jen!" Rigel shouted, "S-stop!" I followed behind both, Orion now on the ground in pursuit of the girl.
We climb the stone steps, soon making our way to the next floor and then the next. When we reached the next floor, we stop abruptly because Jennifer had stopped…her back facing us.
The three of us glance at her unmoving form, wondering why she had stopped but secretly relieved she had finally done so…
"J…Jenn…fer…" I reach my paw out to her. Rigel/Orion watched from behind, finding themselves shivering from the sudden burst of cold air in the room. I move closer, "what…g-going…on…"
Her body is shaking…her hands especially. When I get close enough, I start to hear faint laughs coming from her. Suddenly, she snapped around, startling us! There are bags under her eyes and her hair is now floating! Her fire-red eyes have been replaced by dilated blue orbs that stare hauntingly back at us. I step away, confused and unsure what to do.
Rigel and Orion both stand still, shock rocking them.
"Sorry…" her voice had a reverb behind it…echoing, "I got a little lost…guess you found me…"
This is when I finally take a step back in fear…that-this isn't her…something is WRONG.
"Or maybe…I found YOU!" She screeched, laughing hysterically as a purple aura suddenly surrounds her body.
Rigel stepped towards me in return, "Lucas!"
Orion narrowed his eyes and jumped toward Jennifer, ready to retaliate if he must. Before I can get hurt by the possessed Jennifer, Orion, with his superior speed, pushed me out of the way!
I look back to see Jen had made contact against the floor: where I would have been. My initial shock is broken by Orion, who growls defensively at the woman, "stay away!"
The doppelganger does not listen and instead stands up and rushes for us again, all the while keeping a wicked smile on her pale face.
"Out of the way!" Orion gestured to me before we both sidestep in opposite directions.
We've got to stop her, Rigel thought to himself, "Lucas, use Thunder Wave!"
I stopped; did I still even have that move? I suppose, there's no time to think about it! The girl, by this point, had managed to grab Orion by the chest tuff and brought him up to her face. With a chuckle from her, I realized then that her expression is just like that of a Haunter! I hesitated…but Orion is about to get hurt!
My Pokémon instincts consequently began taking over…I had to protect my fellow Pikachu…
Sparks flew out of my cheeks and body before they ultimately traveled toward the human. Before she can inflict pain upon the mouse Pokémon she's holding, she is paralyzed by my attack, and she falls to the floor as a result.
Orion is let go and he lands gracefully on the ground beside her. He can see my shrunken pupils and notices my feral panting. Very quickly he runs up to me and shakes my body, "Lucas…LUCAS! Snap out of it!"
Very shortly after, my pupils widen and my human side comes back, I regain myself once more. I glance over to the yellow mouse who brought me back. Faint tears begin falling on my face before he hugs me tightly, "it's okay, she'll be okay…and so will you…it's fine…I mean it" the smaller Pikachu encouragingly said as his trainer went to check on the unconscious Jennifer.
As the teenager checks up on her a purplish hue escaped her body, causing Rigel to yelp and fall on his back, "i-it's!"
Orion and I look over, alerted. We are surprised to see the ghost Pokémon known as Haunter floating to the ceiling, disappearing to the other side.
After that's over we, as in Orion and I, join Rigel beside Jennifer, who is just recovering from my Thunder Wave.
"W-what happened?"
"I guess that a Haunter somehow took control of you!"
She shakes her head, rubbing it softly, "what…r…really?"
Suddenly, we hear sinister laughter all around us…echoing off the walls and into our ears. We're still not safe…
"I told you this place is crazy!" Rigel scolded the older human next to him. Jennifer can't help but agree now, especially with what happened, "can you get up" he asked softly, somewhat taking the responsible ground, much to my surprise and much to his Pikachu's delight.
"Y…yeah…"
"Let's get the heck outta here!" The teen exclaimed. He led our group down the stairs, making it through the tombstones. We climbed down another set of stairs and ran through this room also. We climbed down yet another flight of stairs…ending up in YET another room! What the!?
I'm VERY sure we only climbed TWICE to get to Jennifer the first time or am I going crazy?
Sure enough, we did the same thing a FOURTH time and it dawned on the others what is going on…
We're trapped in a loop.
"What is happening…" Rigel shouts in frustration.
"I don't understand…" Jennifer muttered, close behind.
"There weren't this many floors when we came in…we were on the second floor when we found you!"
"Lucas…" Orion looks at me worryingly, "are we stuck here?"
"I dunno…" I retorted in dread.
Sure enough, we yet again end up on the same floor.
"What do we do…" the boy trainer gulped loudly…stopping by the stairs.
Jennifer thought to herself, placing a finger on her chiseled chin, "what if we…go up this time?"
We all look at her with confused faces, "uh, what?"
"It's worth a try, otherwise we'll tire ourselves out!" She clapped back.
Rigel rolled his eyes as a rebut, but he finally yielded, "fine…"
And so, we follow her lead this time and sure enough, we climbed the stairs on the other side of the room and ended up in a completely different room! Apparently, it worked…it broke the illusion! I would be happy about this if it weren't for the fact that we are now in a room with tombstones stretching endlessly on the horizon in all directions!
"T-this is insane!" Orion yelped; ears drooped as I, meanwhile, pant nervously.
We all look behind us but then jump when we see that the stairs we climbed up from are now gone, replaced by the same endless scenery in front of us.
"Welp…we're screwed…" Rigel quietly murmured.
We make our way through the "graveyard" for minutes until we stop, exhausted.
"There's no use, there's NO end to this!" The teen trainer said as Jennifer scoffed, "this is probably just mind tricks…maybe if we close our eyes…"
"Oh, come on!"
She does it but is surprised to find it doesn't work, "welp…at least I tried…"
As Orion and I try to find some clues to break this new illusion, we start hearing the same sadistic laughter from earlier. Before we know it: the four of us see purplish creatures heading toward us in every direction. Panic sets in and we look around frantically for a way out! Orion, meanwhile, growls, sparks forming on his cheeks.
I look down, suddenly finding a black pit in front of us. I gesture down, getting everyone's attention, "L…look…" I exclaimed, pointing with a yellow finger.
Rigel thinks for a second as time is running out. He didn't even think of the consequences: he suddenly jumped into the hole, much to the surprise of everyone!
"Rigel!?" Jen let out a scream, "oh man, his parents are going to KILL me!"
Without thinking, Orion went in after him! Now there was just Jennifer and me…with the ghosts closing in…only seconds left on our side!
"Jen…we have…to…" I squeaked.
"No way Lucas!"
"Sorry…" I suddenly slapped her back with my tail, sending her into the hole before I jump in right afterward.
Expecting to fall through an abyss, I instead end up back in Lavender Town with the others, unharmed as if we had been sleeping! We ended up right outside the Tower and we gathered ourselves, surprised to find the whole place filled with people and Pokémon now. The sky is still cloudy but no longer foggy or damp…
I look over to the girl and apologized for pushing her earlier…not to mention electrocuting her as well…let's not forget that...she took it better than I expected.
"What the HECK was all that about…" Jennifer muttered. She sighed, however, helping Rigel up from the ground. Jen shakes her head in regret, "sorry I was so reckless back there…I'll try not to be in the future…"
"It's fine…I guess you learned your lesson" Rigel retorted.
Jen ignored that last part, "I…think we're safe now…" she added.
"Are we, though?" Rigel chimed in.
The girl wipes dirt off her jacket, "I don't know, but I don't want to stay around and find out!"
"Right, let's get out of here!" The boy nodded; Orion couldn't help but agree with the plan.
"Come on, Lucas" the Pikachu tapped me on the shoulder, but I was busy looking at what appeared to be a purple figure smiling from above the Pokémon Tower…as if it's taunting us…
Chills ran down my spine for the last time and I turned around and followed the smaller Pikachu out of the Village square.
"Remind me NEVER to visit this place again" Rigel mumbled as everyone couldn't help but laugh.
"You think anyone would believe us if we told them?" Jen asked sincerely.
"No…" the boy scoffed.
"It could make for a hell of a book to write though" she grinned.
"I rather just forget what happened back there…your face scared the daylights out of me!"
"Oh, yea…here let me do it again for you" she smugly said.
"No, stop!" Rigel looked away as she laughed.
And so, we quickly left the village in a hurry for Route 8. The laughs of a Haunter could be heard around the Tower still…
I guess Ghost stories ARE real…does that mean we should put them in the non-fiction aisle now?
…
Looks like the group is headed now for Saffron City!
Alrighty, that's the end of that chapter. Something of note: I was inspired by Silent Hill and Backrooms when writing this chapter, heh. I hope you all enjoyed this recent chapter; I'll see you all next time!
