The four had traveled to the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town so that Ash and Laoise could capture the Ghost Pokémon in order to defeat the Psychic Pokémon of Sabrina. Both Ash and Laoise had a high-flying adventure, and made some new friends. The Ghost Pokémon hated to see the two go, so Haunter decided to follow Ash to Saffron City while the Gengar willingly chose to join Laoise's team.

It had taken a lot of talking and convincing to Brock and Misty that the ghost Pokémon joining them was on their side.

Now they've returned to Saffron city ready for the rematch. While Ash the others looked over the hill, confirming their return to Saffron City, Laoise hung back a little strategizing and thinking up a nickname for her new ghost Pokémon.

"And this time, I KNOW we're gonna win! Right, Brock?" Ash turned only to notice Brock standing a few feet away.

Brock replied nervously. "Uh, if you say so."

Ash asked, "What's the matter?"

Pikachu titled his head, "Pika?"

"Think I'm allergic to ghosts. Kinda feel sorta dizzy." Brock laughed sheepishly.

Ash asked, "You're not scared are you?"

"Please. You couldn't be afraid of such a cute little thing." Misty said calmly.

Haunter appreciated the comment and he nuzzled Misty.

Laoise looked up from Dixie, "Aww that's sweet!"

Brock took a step back, "Cute. Right."

Haunter then Licked Misty, unaware that the effect is different on humans.

"Dee-uh-oh." Laoise looked over.

Misty had begun shaking, "It just crossed the cute line." And she fell over.

"Haunter! You paralyzed her." Ash scolded.

Haunter started crying, and Laoise went over to Haunter.

"It's okay, we just need give Misty a sweater that's all."

Ash calmed down, "Hey, Haunter. It's really not that big a deal."

Haunter cheered up at once.

"I guess he's still sorta learning like we are." Laoise said, then as she made to walk for the city, she bumped right into a tree. "Ouch!"

Ash, Pikachu Misty, and Brock, cringed in sympathy. Haunter was momentarily amused, thinking Laoise had done a slapstick routine.

The accidental move made the poke ball containing her new Gengar fall out. Laoise had switched him out earlier temporarily with Bulby, so that her Bulbasaur could rest at Prof. Oak's for the time being. The pokéball opened, and it looked as though the ghost Pokémon materialized, but there was no sight of him by the time Laoise recovered.

"Huh?" Laoise looked around. "Gengar shoulda come out from the pokéball."

Brock then yelped. Laoise's Gengar had emerged from his shadow, clapping.

"There you are!" Laoise smiled in relief.

"This Pokémon can be tricky." Brock commented.

"Tricky…" Laoise brightened. "Yeah! You're guys are full of tricks. She addressed the Gengar, How about I nickname you Tricky?"

The Gengar looked thoughtful for a moment then nodded and clapped happily. "Gengar!"

"He likes it!" Laoise said cheerfully, "And right now we're gonna need all the right tricks to defeat Sabrina's Kadabra."

Ash nodded, "In Saffron City there's a trainer named Sabrina who uses Psychic Pokémon. Ghost Pokémon are strong against Psychic Pokémon, right? Will you help me defeat her?"

Haunter agreed. Tricky floated near, also listening intently.

Our heroes soon return to the Saffron Gym as Ash remembered the last match. Tricky was back in his pokeball, Laoise was more than ready.

Then she and Ash turned and see the others standing back and cheering them on, suggesting that Ash and Laoise will go in alone.

Ash carped, "Stop goofing around! Aren't you even coming in with us?!"

Misty reminded, "Last time she wanted to play with us and pretended we were her bowling pins. Remember?"

"And she almost bowled a strike!" added Brock.

Ash replied, "Now that I got Haunter, that won't happen again."

Brock then said, "I wouldn't be too sure, Ash. What if Haunter is the one who's controlling you?"

Laoise shook her head emphatically, "Don't be silly!"

Ash laughed confidently, "Me and Haunter are pals!"

"Yeah, I trust him and Tricky." Laoise said, "There's no way that Haunter's controlling Ash."

Haunter laughed at the very ludicrous thought of controlling Ash.

Misty remarked. "Haunter isn't worried at all."

Brock noted. "It's pretty confident."

Pikachu added, "Pika Pika!"

Ash said, "You got nothing to worry about. With Haunter on my side, I'm guaranteed to win that badge! Now, wish me luck."

Then Ash brings out Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur and they prepare to go inside. Soon, they head inside.

"Time for a rematch." Laoise took a deep breath and tried to go into the gym… only to be locked right out after the others went inside!

"Hey Megamind, open up!" Laoise yelled, knocking on the doors. "I gotta get in there!"

While Laoise was stuck outside, everyone else returned to the stadium, as Ash demanded a rematch. Sabrina agreed and sent out Kadabra. Ash attempts to send out Haunter, but Haunter has disappeared. Ash freaked out, losing his confidence. Sabrina ordered Ash to send out another Pokémon, reiterating her threat. Ash tried to send Pikachu, but he backed away to the wall in fear, with his other Pokémon doing the same, not wanting to battle. Sabrina is furious as Ash decided to back out, running away while the others followed.

The exit sealed off as the little girl appears from behind, using telekinesis to turn Brock and Misty into dolls. The little girl appears in front of them as Ash's Pokémon hid behind him. The man that told him to find the Ghost-type Pokémon before appears and teleported them out.

Laoise hadn't begun to panic, if anything, she was rather irked. What was the big idea?

Surely, Sabrina would've allowed a rematch wouldn't she?

It looked like she'd just have to wait for the others. But to pass the time, Laoise pulled out her headphones and began listening to music. She chose a spooky but fun song selection, one of them was 'Say my name' from the Beetlejuice musical.

While she listened to the music, Laoise began snapping her fingers to the beat and singing along. "Don't you want a pal? Yes, I do! Yes I do!"

Sure some of the lyrics were grim, but it had that catchy Danny Elfman flair.

"I'm on the bench, but Coach— Just put me in the game! All you gotta do is say my name."

As it turned out Tricky liked her taste in music and not just from spooky type musicals, but a varied selection. What's more it didn't look like Laoise would have had to wait long.

To her astonishment, she saw the same bearded man who'd warned them about Sabrina's gym and instructed them to go to Lavender town appear three feet from her. Above his head, she saw Ash, Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle appear too.

"What the?!" Laoise gaped as the group all dropped into a pile on top of the man.

Ash landed on top of the stranger as did his pokèmon. Pikachu stood on Ash's back rubbing his head in relief and surprise. "Pika Pika."

"Hey, Pikachu! I'm glad you're safe, but would you please get off my back?" Ash asked.

"Will you all please get off mine?" The man grumbled.

"Ash! Pikachu!" Laoise cried. "What happened to Brock and Misty?"

Soon, all of the Pokémon are relaxing, Laoise had allowed Tricky to listen to her music collection while she talked to Ash and the man. Ash relayed to Laoise what happened inside the gym.

"Sabrina did that?!" Laoise cried.

"But what about you?"

"I was about to follow you all inside but the doors closed right in my face!" Laoise griped. "I tried to get but it was locked tight."

The man then surmised. "Most likely, she didn't want you intervening but planned on besting you alone."

"Divide and conquer. That must've been her angle." Laoise mumbled.

Ash sighed "Sabrina's the meanest trainer I ever met."

"She wasn't always such a mischievous girl." The man said.

Ash looked at him, "You mean you knew Sabrina before she changed?"

The man was slightly taken aback. "Huh? Well, I've. I've heard stories."

"Please tell us." Laoise said.

He explained that when Sabrina was young and first discovering what she and her psychic powers were capable of. This included bending silverware effortlessly and essentially breaking a silverware holder, to using her powers on a golf club to see what would happen, all while her parents told her to stop.

However, instead of heeding her parents warnings, Sabrina used her psychic powers on her own family. Though she was still a child then, Sabrina became completely obsessed with her psychic training. She didn't want to make friends. All she wanted was to be left alone to develop her powers. Her parents tried to help, but Sabrina used her psychic powers to drive them away.

The man explained as he got out a picture. "The conflict caused Sabrina to split into two girls. The strong Pokémon trainer who is always causing trouble, and the lonely little girl who desperately desires to make friends. That doll that Sabrina always holds represents her true self, before her training. Before she rejected her own heart."

"Disturbing, but what the use of being born with psychic powers if you won't use them to do good and help people?" Laoise said a little too bluntly.

The man nodded understandingly at Laoise's comment. "You make a fair point. Sabrina allowed her powers to isolate her, rather than using them to form connections and put some good into this world. A tragic misuse of her gift."

Ash then noticed something about the photo, "Sabrina had this picture of her family in her room."

"So it is." Laoise looked over.

Ash said, "If you have the same picture, then that must mean you are…"

The stranger leans back in surprise. The man believes that Ash has found out that he is Sabrina's father. However, Ash just thinks he is a photographer. Pikachu laughs and the man is somewhat astounded that Ash is that oblivious.

"Actually if I'm right he's kin, Y'know, a blood relative of Sabrina." Laoise guessed.

"You could say that…" The man said.

"Right now, we gotta save our friends." Laoise said.

Ash agreed, "Laoise's right. Sabrina turned Brock and Misty into dolls."

The man, who unbeknownst to Ash is Sabrina's father said. "The only way to rescue your friends is to defeat Sabrina. Isn't that why you traveled to Lavender Town to get a Ghost Pokémon?"

"I have Tricky right here, but he's not much of a fighter persay." Laoise jerked a thumb at her Gengar.

Behind her, Tricky shrugged and played the next button on Laoise's playlist.

Ash said, "But Haunter's disappeared someplace."

Sabrina's father said, "Than you must find Haunter first. Without it, you'll never be able to defeat Sabrina and her Psychic Pokémon."

"I guess not." sighed Ash.

"Maybe Haunter's more of a pacifist, only he prefers to make people laugh." Laoise guessed.

"How can you tell?"

"Honestly, I'm just doing some guesswork here."

Laoise was able to talk to Tricky, telling him the truth about what just happened to Brock and Misty. Although Tricky was a mischievous albeit jolly ghost Pokémon he understood what was at stake.

But even he was at a loss at where Haunter could've gone. So it was just Ash, Pikachu and Laoise (she recalled Tricky into his pokéball for him to save his strength).

Ash asked, "Pikachu. Where do you think Haunter could be?"

Pikachu looked around, trying to keep his eyes peeled. "Pika Pika."

"There's a number of places he could be. But let's keep looking." Laoise said.

Meanwhile, on a window cleaner's trolley, Team Rocket prepared their newest plan. They alongside a skyscraper on a window cleaner platform. James readies the fishing net in order to capture Pikachu, but Haunter appears in front of them, scaring Team Rocket and causing them to fall off the platform. Jessie grabs hold as everyone else clings onto her. She cannot pull up because they are too heavy. Haunter appears next to Jessie and makes funny faces, trying to get her to laugh. She tries to resist because she will let go if she laughs. Eventually she cracks, laughing and releasing her grip, sending her and her teammates to plummet to the street below.

Despite them falling, James had his arms folded. "I really don't see what's so funny."

Meowth sighed, "She's gonna die laughing."

Finally, the trio crashed through the sidewalk, getting our heroes' attention.

Ash jumped, "Huh? What was that?!"

"Something fell through the sidewalk!" Laoise noticed, "And up several stories up, too!"

They rushed to see Team Rocket in the hole they created and Laoise pointed out the window cleaner's trolley.

Ash gasped, "It's Team Rocket!"

Pikachu was surprised, "Pi Pikachu!"

Haunter soon appeared laughing.

Ash looked at the ghost pokèmon, "Haunter! You stopped them from capturing Pikachu!"

"Yeah, and here's the proof!" Laoise had knelt down and found the fishing net, James had been holding. "They must've tried to snag Pikachu with this."

Ash grinned, "Way to go! Now, let's get back to Sabrina's gym!"

Haunter looks confused for a moment, scratching its head.

"But you promised you'd help me battle Sabrina! I can't beat her Psychic Pokémon without you."

"Haunt Haunt Haunt." The Haunter folded it's hands and shook its head.

"Please, you can't let her make a fool out of me." Ash pleaded.

"Hey, Haunter." Laoise began whispering an idea to Haunter, who smiled and agreed. "Bingo. Haunter will fight by our side!"

"Oh, gee. Thanks, Haunter! Thank you! Just help us save our friends and you'll never have to help me out again!" Ash said.

Haunter laughed, "Haunt Haunt Haunt Haunt Haunt."

Soon, both trainers returned to the gym and right onto the battlefield

Sabrina said coldly, "Have you returned for more humiliation? Haven't you realized that you'll never defeat me?"

Ash declared, "Brock and Misty are my friends, and I can't leave them behind! Not even if you turn me and all my Pokémon into dolls!"

Sabrina's Doll said, "If you want to be a doll, too, I'll be glad to play with you. It'll be a one on one battle. Sabrina's Pokémon will be…"

Kadabra materialized. Sabrina sets Misty and Brock dolls on her chair to watch. Misty and Brock protest, but Ash is set to battle. Kadabra comes back out as Ash orders Haunter to go, but it has disappeared again. Ash falls to the floor in defeat, but Pikachu steps out to battle, even though Ash knows Pikachu is at a disadvantage. Its insistence convinces Ash and the match begins with an anxious Laoise watching. Pikachu used Thunder Shock, but Kadabra Teleports to avoid it and then uses Psybeam on Pikachu.

"Try to hang on, Pikachu! Come back at Kadabra with a Thunderbolt!" Ash said.

Pikachu launched a powerful Thunderbolt, and it nails Kadabra.

"It actually hit!" Laoise gaped, "Alright Pikachu!"

Ash cheered. "That's it!"

Sabrina cooly said, "Recover."

Just as quickly as Kadabra was singed, it healed itself in no time. The Kadabra must be at level 31 or higher in order to learn that!

"It's impossible to win." Sabrina said as her doll laughed.

Suddenly, Haunter appears in front of Sabrina and laughs.

Ash gaped, "Haunter?!"

"Two against one's not fair!" Sabrina's doll protested.

However, Haunter doesn't belong to Ash, he didn't catch him. For Haunter willingly followed them whereas Tricky grabbed one of Laoise's pokeballs to get himself caught.

Soon, Sabrina's father teleported in. "It's just playing around on it's own. Haunter is not battling against you, so it isn't against the rules."

Haunter tried all the comedy it knows to make Sabrina crack a smile and laugh, including pulling a false bomb out of it's mouth, which goes off, to the shock of almost everyone.

After a long pause, Sabrina began to smile due Haunter's jokes.

"She smiled!"

Soon enough, Sabrina started laughing along with Haunter.

"Is that Sabrina, laughing?" Ash stared.

Sabrina's father said tearfully. "Ever since she started her telekinetic training as a little girl, I've never seen Sabrina laugh like this. I've never seen her so happy in my entire life!"

"But, if you've known Sabrina ever since she was a little girl, does that mean..?"

"You figured it out, eh?"

"You must've taken her baby pictures, too!"

Sabrina's father fell over in disbelief. "Just how dense can a person be?!" He then recomposed himself. "But I'm glad you came back. That Haunter has helped Sabrina rediscover the human part of her heart."

Ash was chagrined, "What do you mean?! Haunter was supposed to beat the Psychic Pokémon and instead its making friends with Sabrina! Me and my friends are gonna be dolls!"

Laoise noticed something, "Hey Ash?" she pointed to Kadabra, on the floor laughing.

"I don't get it. It looks like Kadabra's in pain." Ash was confused.

"It's not in any pain. Kadabra and Sabrina are joined telepathically. Kadabra is a-rolling with laughter, just like Sabrina." Sabrina's father said.

Ash's jaw dropped in disbelief. During Haunter's comedy routine, Sabrina's doll disappeared, making her whole again. As it vanished, the doll drops Kadabra's Pokéball and Brock, Misty become human again much to Laoise and Ash's relief.

"Since Kadabra is no longer able to battle, I officially declare Pikachu the winner!" Sabrina's father declared.

"That Marsh badge is yours Ash." Laoise smiled. Then she remembered, "Uhm, since Ash won this match. Can I have my rematch against Sabrina next, please?"

Half an hour later, Sabrina got a hold of herself and agreed. She was no longer a cold looking woman obsessed with her own psychic powers, there was light in her eyes that Haunter helped bring out.

Fortunately, Ash, Misty Brock and Pikachu got to watch Laoise's match, knowing this could Laoise's chance to win the Marsh badge.

Sabrina's father acted as referee and signaled the start of the match, and Laoise wasted no time in sending out her new Pokémon.

"Tricky, iiiit's… showtime!" Laoise called out.

Tricky the Gengar emerged from its Poké Ball, its mischievous grin evident on its face. Laoise knew that Tricky's Ghost typing would give her an advantage in this battle against Sabrina's Psychic Pokémon.

Sabrina, calm and collected, sent out another Psychic Pokémon since Kadabra was temporarily out of commission. Laoise recognized it as an Alakazam, a formidable opponent.

Laoise's eyes narrowed as she assessed her opponent. "Alakazam, huh? This is going to be a tough battle, but we won't back down, Tricky!"

Tricky's mischievous grin widened as it floated confidently in front of Laoise. "Gengar!" it exclaimed, ready for the challenge ahead.

Sabrina's Alakazam took a calm stance, radiating an aura of psychic power. It seemed to be sizing up Tricky, ready to unleash its formidable abilities.

Laoise took a deep breath, reminding herself to stay focused and calm. "Tricky, use Shadow Ball!"

Tricky complied, gathering a dark energy in its hands and releasing it in the form of a powerful shadowy sphere aimed at Alakazam. The Shadow Ball shot forward with impressive speed, but Alakazam swiftly countered with its own Psychic attack, creating a wave of psychic energy that clashed with the shadowy projectile.

The two attacks collided, causing an explosion of energy that shook the battlefield. As the dust settled, both Tricky and Alakazam remained standing, though slightly winded.

Sabrina's father, acting as the referee, called out the next command. "Laoise, it's your turn! What's your move?"

Laoise pondered her options carefully. She knew that Alakazam's psychic abilities made it a formidable opponent, but she wasn't going to give up. "Tricky, use Hypnosis!"

Tricky's eyes glowed with a haunting light as it attempted to put Alakazam into a deep sleep. The eerie energy emitted from Tricky's eyes enveloped Alakazam, but the psychic Pokémon managed to shake off the hypnosis, its strong willpower preventing it from falling asleep.

Sabrina's Alakazam retaliated with a powerful Psychic attack, sending Tricky flying back. Laoise clenched her fists, determined not to give up. "Tricky, use Dark Pulse!"

Tricky regained its composure and unleashed a wave of dark energy in the form of pulsating rings towards Alakazam. The Dark Pulse hit its mark, causing Alakazam to stagger back, momentarily disoriented.

Laoise seized the opportunity. "Now, Tricky! Finish it with Shadow Claw!"

Tricky's claws glowed with an ethereal darkness as it lunged forward, slashing at Alakazam with its powerful attack. The strike landed true, and Alakazam was knocked out, unable to battle any longer.

The battle was over, and Laoise's Gengar stood victorious, panting but triumphant. Laoise couldn't help but let out a cheer, feeling a surge of pride for Tricky's exceptional performance.

Sabrina, surprisingly, smiled, a genuine smile that reached her eyes. "Well done, Laoise. You and Tricky fought with great strategy and determination. You have earned the Marsh Badge."

Laoise beamed with joy and gratitude, accepting the badge from Sabrina. "Thank you, Sabrina. This means a lot to me."

Later, our heroes are outside the gym, Haunter chose to stay with Sabrina's family but was there to bid the quartet and his friend Tricky a fond farewell.

"Try not to overdo your psychic abilities, it often pays to have courage and be kind." Laoise said.

"I'll take your words to heart." Sabrina smiled and nodded. "Oh, by the way, your parents phoned a second time before the match. They wanted to know if you were alright."

Laoise sweat dropped and blushed. "Oh, er, thank you. I-I'll be sure to call them."

Ash waved, "Goodbye!"

Sabrina's father waved, "Thank you for everything!"

Sabrina's mother was there too, "Have a good journey!"

The quartet walked away from the gym as Ash looked at his fourth badge. "I finally got a Marsh badge!"

"Likewise, me." Laoise said admiring her own Marsh badge. It looked like an amber button without holes.

Brock said, "And that Marsh badge puts you both one step further along the road to the Pokémon League."

Ash was a little thoughtful, "Yeah, but do you really think I deserve to get this Marsh badge?"

Misty nodded, "Sure. Making Sabrina laugh herself into a defeat is a great strategy."

"Pika Pika." Pikachu agreed.

"Keep it up, and you'll be known as the funniest Pokémon master of all time!" Brock joked.

"Maybe even the jack of all trades Pokémon master!" Laoise said brightly.

Ash then stopped for a moment in confusion.

Brock asked, "What's wrong?"

Ash scratched his head, "I could've sworn I heard Team Rocket's voices."

"No way!"

Misty reminded them, "We got more important stuff to think of. Like, where we're going."

"Okay. So, where's the next closest gym?" asked Ash.

"In Celadon City."

"Look out, Celadon City! Ash Ketchum's coming to town!" Ash said excitedly.

Pikachu agreed. "Pika!" He and Ash began dashing to the city exit.

"In that case, Celadon city...here we come!" Laoise crowed.

Brok and Misty began chasing after them.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket is frozen in the pothole as it is being slowly filled with cement. However, they managed to jump out in time and run down the same direction as the trainers.

Ash had help from Haunter, and Tricky aided Laoise in winning a marsh badge, will she get another badge in Celadon City? And what adventures will our friends find along the way?

To be continued...

Author's note: And please, I'm still focusing on the Indigo league season, haven't yet thought about Johto and other regions save for maybe what pokèmon Laoise may get or some pokèmon from those areas could end up in Kanto for weird reasons. I'd rather discuss that via private message not reviews if you please.

Four down four more gyms to go! Next chapter should be an intriguing start to their quick journey to Celadon city. More on that in the next two chapters and what I planned out.