Chapter 54: The Ghosts of Lavender Town Part 2

As the sun began to set, our heroes found themselves standing outside the Pokemon Tower, its seven stories looming upwards toward the sky like a haunting presence. Goh took a big gulp, uneasy.

"Um, maybe we should look somewhere else?"

"What's the matter, are you scared?" Ash asked teasingly, making Goh flustered.

"N-no! I…I just thought Lillie might be scared, is all."

Lillie rolled her eyes, stepping forward.

"Scared or not, we promised Professor Cerise to get to the bottom of this, and that's what we're going to do."

"Right!"

"Um, yeah, right."

And so the trio stepped through the doors, not noticing the Cubone from the orphanage sneaking in along with them.

The inside was as ominous and foreboding as the outside. Rows and rows of graves filled the interior, and a light fog rolled across their feet. Goh shivered in fear.

"Man, this place gives me the creeps!"

"Still don't believe in ghosts, Goh?"

"Of course not! It's just cold in here, that's all. Besides, everyone knows real Ghosts don't exist."

"I've come for your soooooooooooul."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Ha ha ha! You should've seen the look on your face!"

Goh glared, both happy and angry to see that the voice was just Gary, who was clutching his stomach from laughing so hard. Even his Umbreon seemed to be laughing at Goh's expense.

"Oh, it's just Gary."

"Gary, how's it going?"

"Hi, Ash. And Lillie, long time no see."

"Nice to see you too, Gary."

"And Goh, I heard you passed your Project Mew test. Congrats, now you might actually be a worthy rival for me. Maybe."

"Gee, thanks."

"What're you doing out here anyway, Gary? Are you on a mission for Project Mew?"

"Actually, Gramps asked me to come out here and check on an old friend of his. Said no one's seen him in a few days."
"Is that friend Mr. Fuji?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

Ash explained about their trip to the Pokemon House and the disappearances around town. Gary stroked his chin in thought.

"Hmm, something strange is going on here. What do you say we all work together to get to the bottom of this?"

Goh just sighed in annoyance.

"Great, working with Gary. Everybody's dream."

"Get over it, Goh. I know you don't like him, but working together is the only way we're going to figure this out."

Goh sighed, realizing Lillie was right.

"According to the reports, the people who disappeared were last seen on the fifth floor. Maybe we should start there."

"Not a bad call, for a rookie researcher."

Goh seethed silently as Gary strolled ahead of them, but kept silent.

As they reached the fifth floor, they found it to be much less intimidating. In fact, as they stepped farther into the room, they felt a strange sense of calmness wash over them.

"Is it just me, or does this floor feel a lot less creepy?"

"It's not just you, Goh. It's almost like all of the death and despair from the previous floors has vanished."

"Get out! Leave this place!"

Suddenly, a teenager came out of nowhere, swinging his prayer beads wildly with a manic look in his eyes. Startled, Ash pulled Lillie behind him while Goh and Gary readied their Pokeballs.

"Gastly, show these intruders the door!"

"Raboot, use-"

"Shadow Ball, Umbreon!"

Before Goh could usher a single command, Gary's Umbreon fired off a quick Shadow Ball, knocking the Gastly back into his trainer, which seemed to knock some sense into him.

"Huh? Where am I?"

"What do you mean? You're the one who attacked us!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about! Forget this, I'm out of here!"

"Wait!"

But the man had already ran out of the room, leaving the four more confused than ever. Gary knelt down to examine where the teen had fallen, finding some strange markings.

"Hmm, I wonder…"

"What're you looking at, Gary?

Gary reached into his backpack, pulling out a book and flipping through the pages before he reached a picture showing the exact same markings.

"I saw these exact same symbols during my research with Professor Rowan in Sinnoh. In ancient times, they were believed to ward off evil spirits, and maintain peace."

Goh scoffed, still thinking all of this was a bunch of superstitious nonsense.

"Are you for real? Do you really expect us to believe a few lines on the ground can ward off so-called ghosts?"

"Maybe not, but you have to admit that the guy stopped acting all crazy once he touched it."

"He was just out of his mind, simple as that. Your Shadow Ball just knocked some sense into him."

"Guys, enough! If we're going to figure out what's going on here, we need to make it to the next floor."

"Right!"

They weren't sure what they were expecting when they reached the sixth floor, but nothing was not it. An eerie silence fell over them as they passed the rows of grave markers. Goh shivered tensely.

"I've got a bad feeling about this."

"Aw, what's the matter, you scared?"

"I am not! It's just…cold in here, that's all."

"Uh huh, suuuure."

Goh was about to retort when Ash stopped abruptly, making everyone pause suddenly.

"What's the matter, Ash?"

"I sense something. We're not alone."

"Get Out!"

The air became freezing cold, and the dim lighting became even darker. Everyone's eyes darted about, desperate to find the source of the voice.

"Get Out! Leave this place!"

A mist rolle in, coming together in the middle of the room to form a strange cloud. Suddenly, two golden eyes emerged, glaring at them.

"What is that? Is it a Pokemon?"

"I don't know, but I don't like it!"

Curious, Goh raised his Rotomphone to see if he could get any information on it, only to get:

"Species unknown. No known data."

"Leave this place! You're not welcome here!"

"Oh yeah? Well, let's see what Raboot has to say about that!"

"Go, Riolu!"
"Snowy, I choose you!"

"Get it, Umbreon!"

But the minute their Pokemon saw the mysterious creature, they became petrified with fear, unable to move.

"Begone! This is sacred ground!"

"Please, we're not trying to intrude! We just…"

But the figure wouldn't listen, and swooped into attack Lillie, but she dodged just in time.

"How dare you enter this place! Now you shall pay!"

"Cubone!"

Before it could attack again, the Cubone from before leapt out of hiding, blocking the apparition from getting closer to them. Surprisingly, this stopped the figure in its tracks.

"Guy's, it's distracted! Let's make a break for it!"

"Right!"

"No!"

But the creature was too late to stop their retreat. Growling, it looked at the small Pokemon once more then disappeared, but not before uttering one final remark:

"Why?"

Cubone sadly watched the figure disappeared, letting out a somber "bone" before slinking away.