Episode 16: The Ghost of the Pokémon Tower
On the very next morning, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel had their breakfast and continued on their journey once Sora had his strength. He had to admit, he had a hectic day. He caught some new Pokémon, but he had to fight the Heartless that came his way, too.
They have arrived to Lavender Town. Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel have arrived to the Pokémon Center to rest from their long stroll down from the Rock Tunnel.
"Man, what a day we had yesterday," Sora said to himself, getting a soda. He gets a ring from his smartphone, and sees it's his mother calling him. "Mom. Better answer that." He answered the phone. Delia's picture showed up on the phone. "Hi, mom."
"Hello, Sora. I trust your journey is going great for you," Delia said.
"Yeah, just fine. I won three Gym Badges," Sora said.
"How wonderful, Sora. Glad you're doing well. And how is Kairi?" Delia asked. Sora flinched when his mother mentioned her.
"How did-" Sora realized who it was. "Darn it, Karen!"
"Don't get mad at your sister, Sora. I was taken by surprise when she told me about her. "Oh, my baby boy!" Delia beamed. "You just got yourself not only a Pokémon, but a girlfriend on the same exact day! You really are growing up fast! I knew for certain you'd turn some heads one day!"
"We're not dating or anything. We're just friends," Sora said, blushing.
"Is she with you right now? If so, could you introduce me to her?" Delia asked.
"Uh, mom, I," Sora said.
"I just want to see her with my own eyes," Delia said. "I just want to meet the girl who stole my little boy's heart!"
"Oh, Okay," Sora said, caving in. He walked over to where she is. He held the phone to the both of them. Kairi sees Sora's mom on phone's screen. "Here she is. Mom, this is Kairi. Kairi, this is Delia Ketchum, my mom."
"It's very nice to meet you," Kairi said, smiling.
"Oh my goodness! She's so beautiful!" Delia beamed.
"Um, thanks," Kairi said, blushing.
"My Sora is so lucky!" Delia said. "I just have so many questions to ask. Starting with how you two met. And where do come from? And are you making sure that he's eating properly?"
Sora and Kairi just paused remembering how her experience with the hunters and the Heartless.
"We just met on my way to Viridian City," Sora said. That was a half-truth.
"Yeah that's right," Kairi said, not wanting Sora to get in trouble.
"And you two are traveling together," Delia said. "The two of you are so cute together. I can see how close you two are."
"We're just friends, mom," Sora said, blushing.
"Just friends," Kairi added. "I should go check on your Pokémon. It was nice meeting you." Kairi bowed her head and took off, blushing.
"I can see why you fell hard for her," Delia said.
"We're not dating or anything," Sora said.
"Don't try to hide it," Delia said. "I know when my son is smittened. I can see it on your face. My baby boy is in love!" Sora blushed madly. "When you come to Pallet Town, I want to meet her in person."
"If that's what you want, mom," Sora said, blushing.
"So, where are you right now?" Delia asked.
"We're in Lavender Town. We're on our way towards Celadon City," Sora said.
"That's right. There's a Gym there. Be careful out there, and try to call me often, dear," Delia said.
"I'll try," Sora said.
"And be sure to treat Kairi right," Delia said. "Be grateful for what she does for you, and be nice to her."
"I will," Sora said. He's already protecting her from the Heartless; he would wonder if that would qualify. "Gotta go now, mom. I'll be in touch."
"Very well. Mimey needs me to help in the kitchen. I'll hear from you soon. Love you, Sora," Delia said.
"Love you, too, mom," Sora said. He hung up and he grits his teeth. "I'm going to get you for that, Karen."
Back in Pallet Town, Karen is in her room, reading a book when she sneezed.
"I know you're talking about me, big brother," Karen said.
Back in Lavender Town, Sora approached Kairi whom is still blushing from the meeting of his mom. Even if Sora didn't call her he knew that Delia would make a big deal about meeting her.
"Hey Kairi," Sora spoke.
"Your mom's nice," Kairi said smiling.
"Thanks," Sora said.
"She's a beautiful woman," Kairi said. "But she seemed rather young."
"Well, she got married to my dad when they were pretty young," Sora said. "But that was after she found out that she was pregnant with me and Karen."
"Was it a rushed marriage?" Kairi asked surprised.
"Well, kinda, I guess," Sora said. "She married him on her eighteenth birthday. It wasn't a big wedding; it was just friends and family."
"My parents were just young adults when they had me. And it was just the same way on their wedding," Kairi said.
"My mom never regretted ever having us. She always said we were the source of her happiness. Making her smile again after my dad died," Sora said.
"I wish I could meet your dad, Sora," Kairi said.
"Me too. He would like you just she did. And I can say the same about Karen, and Mimey," Sora said.
"Who's Mimey?" Kairi asked.
"Oh, he's my mom's Mr. Mime. I've known that Pokémon my whole life. She had him ever since she found him as a Mime Jr. She took such good care of Mime Jr, right up to when he evolved into a Mr. Mime. He was a big hit with my grandma and grandpa. He was a part of the family. After me and Karen were born, he helped take care of us," Sora said. Kairi wanted very badly to see Sora's baby pictures. She wondered how cute he was.
Meanwhile, Psyduck eventually found his way out of the Rock Tunnel and continued to track down Sora and Pikachu. Psyduck tumbled downwards towards Lavender Town.
Back in Lavender Town, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel were having lunch in a local restaurant when they heard someone talking.
"I heard some rumors that a ghost has been appearing at the Pokémon Tower lately," a male voice said.
"Pokémon Tower?" Sora asked. "And a g-g-ghost?" Sora shivered. Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel turned to see a man and woman talking about it.
"Really?" the woman asked surprised.
"Yeah that's right," the man nodded. "And there were some people who claimed to have seen it."
The kids ended up frightened, about hearing about the ghost. They stood up and approached the people.
"Excuse me!" Sora said to the man and woman while the others joined up. "You said something about a ghost. Is that right?""
"Uh huh," the man nodded. "I haven't seen it myself, but the whole town is talking about it."
"And what's the Pokémon Tower?" Sora asked.
"Is this you first time in Lavender Town?" The man asked.
"Yeah," Sora nodded.
"And do you know that this town is the grave sight for Pokémon?" The man asked.
"I have heard about that before," Kairi said.
"The Pokémon Tower is the grave sight," the woman said. "People from all over come to the Pokémon Tower to pay respects to the Pokémon who had lost their lives."
"So it's a Pokémon memorial," Kairi stated.
"Yes," the woman nodded.
"And the ghost that you're just talking about is a Pokémon?" Sora asked.
"Like I said, I've never seen it," the man said. "But it is a rumor."
"Do any of you believe in ghosts?" The woman asked the group.
"Uh, no. I mean, why would I believe in something like that? Everybody knows there's no such things as ghosts," Sora said.
"Well, I guess the white hand resting on your shoulder isn't real either," the woman joked.
Sora ended up getting jumpy as he looked at his shoulder and sees no hand. They all looked around as well.
"Ah, come on," Sora said. "Quit kidding around." They noticed that the two people were gone. They wondered if they were really there at all or if they were real ghosts. "Where did they go?"
"I don't know," Kairi said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Uh, Kairi, y-y-y-you don't believe in ghosts, do you?" Sora asked.
"I believe in angels, but not ghosts," Kairi said.
"I didn't think you did, so I thought I should ask," Sora said.
"Oh, thou should believe," a voice spoke from behind. They turned to see an old woman walking towards them. She wore the clothing of a Japanese priestess. "When thou disrespect the spirits of the dead, they will come at thee with a vengeance."
"If you're so certain, then what's this big rumor going around?" Sora asked.
"The ghost is an angry spirit. It has sensed the evil in the hearts of men, and now it has come to punish us for our sins. Repent thy sins, and the ghost shall not punish thee," the old woman said, swinging her fans around. "Begone, evil spirits." Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel just watched her leave.
"Somebody's been spending too much time at the temple," Sora said.
"Don't trash her beliefs, Sora. She looks like she takes it seriously," Kairi said.
A little later, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel approached Nurse Joy to ask about the ghost that has everyone talking.
"We just heard something about a ghost in the Pokémon Tower just a little while ago," Sora said.
"That's the talk of the town," Nurse Joy said. "But before you head there, I recommend that you visit the Pokémon House."
"Pokémon House?" Sora tilted his head.
A Short time later, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel made it to the place that matches Nurse Joy's description.
"This must be it," Sora said.
"Are you sure this is the place? It looks more like someone else's house," Kairi said.
Well, Nurse Joy said to do before we go there," Sora said. "And we might as well check it out since we're here."
Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel entered the house and saw no-one around the room.
"Hello?" Kairi called. "Is anyone here?"
"Yes? I'm coming!" A girl's voice called. A girl went to greet the visitors, she has reddish brown hair and indigo eyes. She wore a pink shirt and a lavender skirt. "How can I help all of you?"
"Can you tell us what this place is all about?" Sora asked.
"Oh, you mean nobody told you?" The girl asked. "This place is where abandoned and orphaned Pokémon are taken care of."
"Abandoned and orphaned Pokémon?" Kairi asked, disheartened.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Exactly," The girl said. "Please come this way. I'll show you."
The group obliged the girl, seeing the place. They looked and saw some Pokémon being tended by the people who have come to visit. Sora looked around and saw the Pokémon in the house. An Oddish, and a Vulpix, also a male Nidoran and a Growlithe can be seen.
This brought back some memories for Sora and Kairi. They remembered Melanie and her secret village. And how they helped out by battling the same two Pokémon hunters from before and Sora having Bulbasaur on his team.
"Another place that tends to abandoned Pokémon," Sora said.
"You should talk to the founder of the Pokémon House," the girl said. "His name is Mr. Fuji. He says there are people who thinks that Pokémon are nothing more than tools or some kind of accessories."
"How terrible," Kairi said.
"Yes it is," the girl said. "This used to be Mr. Fuji's own house. He remodeled it to cater the needs for the Pokémon."
Sora and Kairi smiled as they already liked Mr. Fuji even if they hadn't met him yet.
"He sounds like a nice guy," Sora said with a smile.
"You're right," the girl said. "And that's the reason many people in town started to volunteer around here. My name's Reina."
"I'm Sora. And this is my Pikachu," Sora introduced.
"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu said.
"I'm Kairi, and this is Angel," Kairi introduced.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"It's good to meet all of you," Reina beamed.
Kairi looked around the room seeing the happy Pokémon, but there was just one that caught her attention.
"All the Pokémon here look very happy here," Sora said. "This place is okay in my book. What about you, Kairi?" Sora didn't get an answer. "Kairi?" He looked her way and saw a troubling look on her face. Sora along with the others went to what they were looking at. What they saw was a Cubone in a corner. "A Cubone." He turned to Reina. "What's up with this one?"
"This little one only came to this place just recently," Reina explained. "But it only opens up with Mr. Fuji. But it's nervous around anyone else."
"And why is that?" Sora asked.
"It's because of Team Rocket," Reina answered.
"Team Rocket?!" Sora and Kairi both exclaimed.
"Pika?!" Pikachu shared their shock.
"Ee?!" Angel shared their shock as well.
"That's right," Reina started. "There were members of Team Rocket who started to poach Pokémon just close to town. Cubone was out there when their members tried to capture it. But its mother, a Marowak got in the way. Team Rocket took Marowak's life and made Cubone an orphan. Mr. Fuji found it and brought it here so that Cubone wouldn't be so lonely. Since then, Cubone never opened up anyone except to Mr. Fuji."
"How sad," Kairi said, feeling sorry for the Lonely Pokémon.
Sora clinched his first at the thought as he was angered by their actions.
"Those bastards," Sora said gritting his teeth under his breath.
Kairi opened the pin and went in. Cubone was feeling nervous around the new girl. Cubone looked up and saw the saddness in her eyes. Cubone and clinged to her crying its eyes out.
"It's okay," Kairi said kindly. "It's okay."
Reina was pretty shocked to see Cubone had actually opened up to someone other than Mr. Fuji. Sora and Pikachu weren't; they both knew her compassion for this baby Pokémon was boundless.
Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel gathered to the front room as they were about to leave for the Pokémon Tower.
"Thanks for showing us around," Sora said. "I can see why Nurse Joy told us to come here first."
"Well Mr. Fuji isn't just kind," Reina said smiling. "He knows everything about Pokémon, too! He teaches us all kinds of things."
"He sounds like someone who would get along with Professor Oak," Sora said.
"He sure does," Kairi agreed.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"He's someone I would like to meet," Sora said. "Which one is Mr. Fuji?"
"None of them," Reina said. "He stepped out just yesterday, but he didn't come back. So no one knows where he is."
Suddenly, a door opens and a man enters the house.
"Everyone!" The man called. "I just found out where Mr. Fuji is!"
The volunteers ran up to him.
"Where?!" A woman asked frantically. "Where is he? Tell us!"
"He's at the Pokémon Tower," the man explained.
"The Pokémon Tower?!" The volunteers gasped.
Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel didn't like where this was going.
"That's right," the man nodded. "He was heading that way. Someone saw him go into the Pokémon Tower yesterday."
"Why would he go in there?" Another man asked.
"Team Rocket," the first woman answered. "That's the only reason. He must have gone there to convince them to leave the Pokémon Tower."
"Those people won't listen to the likes of us," Another man sighed.
Team Rocket is in Lavender Town?! And they're at the Pokémon Tower too?! Sora definitely didn't like this one bit.
"Um excuse me," Sora spoke up. This grabbed the volunteer's attention. "You just said Team Rocket is in the Pokémon Tower. Can you tell me and my friends on when they first shown up?"
"They just showed up just a few days ago," the second man said. "They made the top floor of the Pokémon Tower their base."
"It was completely out of the blue," Reina added. "They arrived by truck and stormed the place. And what's worse is they chase away anyone who goes there."
"Why would they do that?" Sora asked.
"I don't know," Reina answered. "But no one was able to get in the tower."
"And on top of that, a ghost appears!" Another woman spoke up.
This definitely got their attention.
"A ghost?" Sora asked.
"Yes!" The second woman answered. "I know because I saw it myself. Just the other night when Team Rocket wasn't looking, I sneaked into the Pokémon Tower and that's when I saw the ghost. It was unbelievably scary!"
"I see," Sora said shaking a little.
Sora could see why nobody wanted to go in the tower, not only because of Team Rocket, but also because of the ghost that haunts the tower.
"If people can't come visit the Pokémon Tower then this town is finished!" The first man said.
"We should go there together and rescue Mr. Fuji!" Reina proclaimed. They all looked at her like she was crazy.
"Many people had challenged Team Rocket and lost," the first woman said. "They're pretty tough for a bunch of petty thugs."
"And there's a ghost there!" The second woman added.
"I can't believe all of you!" Reina exclaimed. "Are you saying that we should abandon Mr. Fuji after he went there to protect us?!"
"Of course not," the first woman said.
"We wouldn't dream of abandoning Mr. Fuji," the first man said. "But they're just too tough for us!"
"And they may let Mr. Fuji go eventually," the second man said.
Sora was silent. He was starting to think it might not be a ghost, but it might be a Heartless that looked like a ghost. He turned to Kairi and stepped out.
"Sora, what do you think?" Kairi asked.
"I don't think it's an actual ghost, Kairi. It might be a Heartless," Sora said. Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel gasped at the thought.
"A Heartless?" Kairi gasped.
"What else could it be? These people are scared out of their wits, and I'm the only one in town who has the only thing that scares the Heartless," Sora said.
"I hope you're right, Sora," Kairi said.
With that said, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel have made it to the Pokémon that night. Sora snuck over to the entrance and peeked inside. There weren't any signs of Team Rocket, and that was a good sign. He gestures to Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel that the coast was clear.
They snuck in quietly with flashlights in hand, keeping a lookout for any Heartless. Fortunately, they didn't see any Heartless. They went even further up. They eventually reached the sixth floor.
"It's quiet. Too quiet," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Yeah, and that's what's scaring me," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"No Heartless and no ghost. So, Team Rocket seems to be up there, and that's where they're holding Mr. Fuji," Sora said.
"Get out!" A voice said. Kairi flinched.
"What was that?" Kairi asked.
"What was what?" Sora asked.
"Get out!" The same voice repeated. Sora froze when he heard the voice.
"I hear it now," Sora said, shaking. He points the flashlight forward, and he saw a shadow moving. The shadow had red eyes. Sora realized it wasn't a Heartless st all, because Heartless has yellow eyes, not red. Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel all turned pale at the sight of the ghost.
"Get out! LEAVE THIS PLACE!" The ghost roared.
"A GHOST!" Sora and Kairi yelled as they started running.
Sora and Kairi screamed at the top of their lungs and ran out of the Pokémon Tower as fast as their feet can carry them. They ran right around the corner and then stopped to catch their breath. They were panting and sweating after all the running they did.
"Okay, it wasn't a Heartless like I thought it was. It was definitely a ghost," Sora said.
"And they weren't kidding when they said it was scary," Kairi said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"How are we going to get to Mr. Fuji with that blasted spook blocking our only way up?" Sora asked.
"It doesn't look like we can, Sora. Not as long as that ghost is there," Kairi said.
"I can help you," a voice spoke. Sora and Kairi turned to see a young man showing up. "There's rumor buzzing around that there's a way to literally see ghosts for what they are."
"There is?" Kairi asked.
"How?" Sora asked.
"This machine is a tool to help you with your ghost problem. It was created by the Silph Company a while back. But word is Team Rocket has gotten their hands on it," the young man said.
"Team Rocket?" Sora asked.
"That's right. There's word that Team Rocket has something going on in Celadon City," the young man said.
"Just how do you know this?" Sora asked, unsure to trust him.
"I have ways of finding out. There's a place in Celadon City called the Rocket Game Corner, it shouldn't be too hard to find," the young man said.
"Celadon City? That's where we're heading," Sora said.
"And that's where you gotta go," the young man said. "The Silph Scope is your only chance to get up to save the old man, so think about it." The young man took off, leaving Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel to think.
"You know, that guy is right. We have got to get to Celadon City and get the Silph Scope from Team Rocket," Kairi said.
"You're right, Kairi. Given the situation we're in, I don't think we can get out of it even if we wanted to," Sora said. "So, to save Mr. Fuji, we will have to head for Celadon City and find Team Rocket's hideout."
"And I'm right with you, Sora," Kairi said.
"I had a feeling you were going to say that. So, let's go," Sora said. Just then they heard the sounds of footsteps. A small figure comes towards them. "Who's there?" It turns out to be Psyduck.
"A Psyduck?" Kairi asked. Sora recognized thr Psyduck.
"Hey, I know you. You're that Psyduck Pikachu and I met after Vermillion City," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Psy," Psyduck said.
"Were you following us the whole time?" Sora asked.
"Psy-y-y-y," Psyduck said.
"How do you know this Psyduck, Sora?" Kairi asked.
"I fed this Psyduck a Leppa Berry when I met him," Sora said. "If you wanna come with me, then you'll have to stay close to us, okay?"
"Psy?" Psyduck asked.
Just when they started to make their way to the Pokémon Center, Sora tripped and a Pokéball rolled. Psyduck is struck by the Pokéball and flows inside it. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Sora's Pokémon Box goes off asking him if he wants to keep Psyduck with him. He decided to send Psyduck to Professor Oak's lab.
"Well, at least Psyduck is out of harm's way," Sora said.
The mission to rescue Mr. Fuji has begun. How will Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel find Team Rocket's hideout and retrieve the Silph Scope and rescue Mr. Fuji from their evil clutches? What who and what is the ghost that haunts the Pokémon Tower? More answers to come soon.