Somewhere in Saffron city, a young woman is sitting in a chair holding a doll, her eyes briefly glowed red. In her mind's eye, she could see the autistic child whose parents had called about on her way to the city. But the girl was not alone, she had three more trainers with her.

"So, now. Time for us to play."

The odyssey continues. As they pass through a dark and mysterious forest, it seems that danger lurked behind every shadow. Laoise would rather travel by day unless its necessary but since they were probably a few miles from the next city, it didn't seem like that big deal until the sun finally set.

And once again, they've lost their way.

Ash finally stopped, "So THIS is the way to Saffron City, huh, Misty? I knew we shouldn't have listened to you, now we'll never get out of here!"

Misty snapped, "As if! Your sense of direction is so bad, you can't find yourself in a mirror!"

Ash fired back, "You break mirrors!"

Pikachu tried to stop them from arguing, "Pika!"

Misty snapped, "You big baby!"

Brock walked up. "That's enough, guys! You two don't want to stand here and insult each other like this."

Ash and Misty glared at him, "Yes, we do!"

"I don't see you carrying a compass!" Laoise griped at Misty.

"Laoise, didn't you have a compass?" Brock questioned.

"HAD a compass." Laoise sourly held up the reason, "I cracked it during our crazed escape from the island of giant robot pokèmon, remember?"

As Pikachu tried to stop the arguing, our heroes soon heard a child's giggling in the distance. They turned to the right to see a little girl giggling and bouncing a ball.

Laoise stared, confused. "What's a little girl doing out here by herself? And at this time of night?"

"I don't know, but we can ask." Ash turns to the young girl. "Uh, hello! Do you live around here?"

The little girl takes her ball and ran into the forest.

"Hey! Please, don't run away!" Ash had started chasing the little girl into the forest.

Laoise followed after them, "Not so fast Ash! You both can get lost with how dark this place is!"

"Wait! We need directions! Wait up..."Ash keeps running until he spots a cliff and falls off it.

Laoise hurried after Ash, concerned about the safety of both him and the mysterious little girl. The forest grew darker and more ominous with each step, the branches of the trees intertwining overhead, casting eerie shadows on the ground.

"Misty, Brock, stay close!" Laoise called out, trying to keep track of her companions in the dimly lit forest.

As they followed the sound of Ash's footsteps, they stumbled upon a clearing and heard cry out. Ash had chased after the mysterious little girl only for the forest suddenly give way to a sheer cliff. As Ash began to fall, he called out Bulbasaur, who pulled him up to safety with its Vine Whip.

The others then reached Ash, who was relieved to have survived.

"Hey what about that weird little girl where'd she run off to?" questioned Misty.

Laoise glanced around. "I didn't see her either."

"Beats me. But take a look over there." Ash pointed ahead.

He was pointing to the the lights of a city, Saffron City.

"Wow!" Laoise gaped, "What a place!"

Misty thought so too. "Oh, wow! It's beautiful!"

Ash nodded, "Saffron City."

Brock said, "Sabrina's the leader of the Saffron City gym. You defeat her, you win a Marsh badge."

Our heroes soon reach the entrance to Saffron City. As our heroes enter, firecrackers go off around them, startling them.

Suddenly, two hula girls give Ash both a lei and a kiss and congratulated them for winning something just by entering the town.

"Congratulations, winners."

Ash became suspicious. "Winners?! There's something real fishy about this! Why should we win something just for walking into town?"

One of the hula girls said, "There's a simple explanation."

The other added, "It just so happens you're the millionth through millionth and fifteenth visitors to Saffron City!"

Both girls started to hula dance. The hula girls lead our heroes to a building. Soon, the second girl, wearing rubber gloves, nabs Pikachu and her voice is revealed to be that of James from Team Rocket, proving that it was all an elaborate trap.

"Thank you for your Pikachu."

Everyone turns in surprise.

Ash spun in anger, "Hey! You can't take..."

One of the hula girls put her hand over Ash's face. "You won a trip through the warp tile!"

Ash and Laoise were shoved into the others and they land on the warp tile and disappear.

Our heroes reappeared in another room.

Ash stared around, "What's going on here? If this is the grand prize room, then where are all the prizes?"

Misty rebuked him, "Can't you put two and two together?! The only thing we won is this trap!"

Laoise retorted, "You didn't see through their disguises either."

Brock noted, "There aren't any doors or windows in this room."

Soon, Jessie's voice is heard. Bingo. "The warp tile is the only way in or out of this room, there's no way to escape.

A television screen drops down and Team Rocket remove their disguises, revealing that the prize-winning welcome was part of a ploy.

"It's Team Rocket!" He then remembered something. "Ew! Gross! They both kissed me!" He ripped the leiin disgust yelling "Bleh!" six times.

Team Rocket recites their motto, but all four trainers ignored them drinking tea and eating snacks.

"Hey! Don't sit there ignoring us!"

Misty shrugged, "Their show is pretty boring. "

Ash said, "It'll get cancelled pretty soon."

"They kinda remind me of Batman's Joker, they're scared of being forgotten." Laoise commented.

James griped, "We're boring? Afraid of being forgotten?"

Jessie sneered, "Just you wait. We'll pull off something they or anyone else won't soon forget, because we have something that'll grab their attention."

Both Jessie and James step aside to reveal Meowth holding Pikachu tied and gagged.

"Because now it's time for our special guest's..."

Meowth finished "Farewell performance!"

"You better give Pikachu back, right now!"

The television screen goes off.

"Hey! Where are you going?!"

Inside Team Rocket's control room, Jessie and James are twisting dials and pushing buttons to figure out what's wrong.

Meowth ordered. "Turn it on!"

James answered. "We can't! Nothing's working!"

"Dat's what happens when you work with amateurs." Meowth then noticed something. "Huh? Hey, you guys!"

Jessie didn't turn around, "Can't you see we're a little busy right now?"

Meowth replied. "Yeah, but who's da kid?"

Jessie and James then turned around and saw the little girl our heroes had seen in the forest earlier.

"How did you get into this room, little girl? You don't belong in here." Jessie said.

"You can't just come barging in here." James said as he and Jessie approached.

The little girl smiled, started glowing, and Team Rocket froze in place. While they're stuck in place, the little girl untied Pikachu and disappears with him.

Back inside the trap room, Ash was still shouting at the monitor. "Team Rocket, give me back Pikachu!"

Everyone soon heard giggling, and turned to see the same little girl holding Pikachu in her arms.

Ash was too relieved to question how she got in, "Pikachu! So, it's you again!"

The child then allowed Pikachu to run back to Ash.

"Are you the one who saved Pikachu?" Laoise asked.

The little girl nodded yes.

Ash grinned, "Thank you! We owe you one!"

The little girl glows again, to the shock and bafflement of everyone.

Misty warned, "We better watch out. That's no ordinary little girl!"

"So, what is she, then?" Ash said nervously.

The little girl pointed to our heroes and they glow as she does.

Our heroes soon disappear as the little girl laughed.

All four trainers reappeared outside. It was probably a little after dawn, thus it looked a little foggy.

Misty asked the same question everyone was thinking. "How did we wind up back outside again?"

Laoise said, "Me thinks that little girl did this."

"We should be okay, as long as we don't have to win anymore prizes." Brock remarked.

Ash looks and notices a building right in front of them. "What's that?"

The place sort of looked like the Sydney opera house only if the 'shells' were titled over to form a full roof instead leaving any openings save for a few doors and vents.

Soon, a jogging man comes up. "You've come to Saffron City and you don't even know Sabrina's gym?"

Ash turned to look at the place with a grin. "So, that's Sabrina's gym."

Laoise smiled. "So we made it!"

"If you young people are trying to enter the Pokémon League, this is one gym I suggest you stay away from."

Ash was confused, "Huh? But why?"

But as he'd turned around to ask, the jogger headed back into the city.

"Where's he going?" Ash wondered.

Laoise was concerned but she looked back at the gym, "That's weird, but me and Ash have gotta compete here. Without Marsh badges, we can't enter the Pokémon League."

Ash nodded, "We can't let a little warning stop us. Let's go!"

They approached the entrance which were glass automatic sliding doors and stepped into the gym. The interior was a Stil de grain yellow with odd mushroom-like columns holding the lights.

Strangest yet, almost no one appeared to be about as they walked down the hall.

Misty was looking around, "There's something creepy about this place."

As they passed by a green door, Laoise noticed something and beckoned the others over. "Hey, look at this-"

Everyone looked through the green door window and saw a bunch of people in white coats doing experiments meant to determine if one has psychic abilities or not, as demonstrated by one person guessing what shape is on a card without him seeing it and another person practicing bending spoons.

The gym must double as both a Pokémon gym and a training facility for those with psychic powers.

Ash was bewildered, "What kind of place is this?"

Soon, an unidentified man shows up wearing a white coat and a white surgical mask. "What are you all doing here?"

Ash declared. "We've come to ask for a Pokémon match, to earn a Marsh badge."

Laoise motioned to Ash and herself. "He means me and himself."

The man scoffed. "You two wish to challenge the great Sabrina?"

"Sure do." Ash nodded.

"Yes." Laoise confirmed.

Misty looked a little hesitant, "Excuse me, but what are all those people doing in that room?"

Again the man scoffed. "Humph. You know so little and yet you wish to challenge the great Sabrina."

He held out a spoon and concentrates, trying to make it bend, to everyone's confusion, but only barely makes it bend.

"Fools! It's telekinesis. You can't control a Psychic-type Pokémon completely without using telekinetic powers."

"That's what you think. Telekinesis is okay, but I have my own method for bending spoons." Ash then bent the spoon using raw strength. He laughed, "Muscle over mind!"

Yet in so doing, he embarrassed the stranger and some of the others.

Laoise however, had something else on her mind. "Control a psychic type with telekinetic powers? Isn't that wrong? Wouldn't understanding and empathy be more preferable, especially so it gets used to your presence?"

The man in the white coat narrowed his eyes at Laoise. "Compassion? Empathy? Those are mere sentimental notions."

Laoise pursed her lips irritably.

Ash glowered at the man, "Just hurry up and take us to Sabrina so we can start the match!"

Laoise folded her arms, "Yes, if you please."

"As you both wish." The man answered.

The stranger led our heroes to the battlefield and subsequently entered.

"Here we are."

Brock was a little uneasy, "This is more like some kind of temple then a Pokémon gym."

Misty hugged herself, "Whatever it's like, I don't like it."

The man who lead them to the area bowed in front of the curtain, "Oh, great Sabrina! These strangers have come and two of them wish to challenge you! Though I don't know why you'd waste your time this group of losers. Let alone a feeble-minded child." He laughed derisively.

Suddenly, the little girl from before appears, much to everyone's astonishment.

Ash stared. "Whoa! It's the little girl who brought back Pikachu!"

The little girl looked at our heroes, this time with her eyes glowing red, making Laoise gasp sharply. This whole thing gave her the heebie jeebies.

Suddenly, the stranger start writhing in pain and glowed just as the little girl did when she saved Pikachu. "Forgive me, great one! It's not my place to decide whom you battle!"

Finally, the stranger stopped glowing and ran out of the room in terror.

Misty stared. "I told you there was something really strange about her!"

Brock agreed. "Right, but who is she?"

Laoise gulped but said, "Okay, that was spooky, but she saved Pikachu so she can't be all bad! R-right?"

"I don't know, guys. This whole situation gives me a bad feeling. I can't shake the sense that there's something dark and dangerous lurking beneath the surface." Misty said uncertainly.

Brock chimed in, his voice filled with caution. "Even so We should proceed with caution. We don't know what kind of power she possesses."

Ash stared at the little girl, "Are you really Sabrina?"

The little girl started giggling.

"Sabrina! My friend Laoise and I demand official matches to compete for our Marsh badges!" Ash said proudly.

The mysterious little girl nodded. "I'd like to have a match with you two. I'll start with you, Ash."

Ash shrugged, "Well, that was easy."

"But if you lose, you have to be my friends and let me play with you."

Ash was a little relieved. "Be your friends? Okay, you bet!"

Laoise was equally surprised but she shrugged. "Play? Be your friend? Okay."

Ash grinned, turning to the others confidently, "You all gotta have a little more faith in me. Even if she does have some telekinetic powers, she's still only a little girl."

Soon, the others get a look of shock.

Brock warned. "Just don't let your guards down."

Right on cue, the gate separating Sabrina and the others lifted, and it's suddenly revealed to the shock of everyone that the little girl is just a doll of some kind.

The gym leader Sabrina was a stoic young woman with long dark green hair and indigo eyes. She wore black boots and a red dress with yellow buttons.

"So, now. Time for us to play." she said coolly.

The doors suddenly closed behind our heroes as the match is about to begin.

Laoise peered at Ash nervously. While her spirit was willing, her anxiety threatened to get the better of her. But she believed in Ash and his bond with his Pokémon.

Sabrina's doll let's go of the Pokéball it's holding and it flew toward the battlefield.

Sabrina said calmly, "Come out, Abra."

Abra materialized. It was a bipedal mammalian Pokémon that is primarily yellow. Its face is kite-shaped with a small, pale yellow snout and two short, pointed ears with pale yellow interiors. Its wide eyes are normally closed. Abra's body is segmented with black skin is visible between its joints and along its neck. It has two brown, pauldron-shaped extensions on its shoulders, as well as a brown, fauld-like piece around its chest. It has three digits on each hand and foot, but its fingers considerably shorter than its toes. Two of its toes face forward and one faces backward. Its tail is thick and long, with a brown band located near the tip.

"Go get em, Pikachu!" Ash called.

Pikachu races to the battlefield, determined.

"Pikachu! Pi Pi Pi! Pika Pikachu!"

To everyone's surprise, Abra doesn't make a move, even as Pikachu circles around it. Save for the occasional breathing and brief wheezes, you'd think it was in a coma.

Pikachu was confused. "Pika Pi! Pikachu!"

"I don't get it!" Ash frowned. "Nobody sends a sleeping Pokémon out into a match! Maybe she's making fun of me!"

With a questioning look, Laoise pulled out Dixie to analyze the pokèmon. "Abra, a psychic power Pokémon. It sleeps eighteen hours a day, but deploys telekinesis, even while sleeping."

Ash wondered. "Telekinesis?!"

Misty said, "Be careful."

"No problem! Pikachu, Thunder Shock!" Ash instructed.

Pikachu charged a Thunder Shock, but Sabrina's eyes glowed red, and at the same time, Abra's eyes begin to open and glow red as well. Just as Pikachu lets loose it's Thunder Shock, Abra disappears, to Pikachu's surprise, and reappears behind him, spooking him and alarming everyone else.

Sabrina then uses her Psychic powers to make Abra evolve into Kadabra. Ash checks his Pokédex again. He thinks that it is unfair due to it being a one-on-one match, but Misty informs him that evolving during the match is within the rules. Ash orders Pikachu to fill the stadium with lightning to negate Kadabra's teleportation. Pikachu launches a Thunder attack at the ceiling, pooling it into a massive vortex that starts raining down lightning bolts towards the field. However, Kadabra uses Confusion to control the attack and redirect it towards Pikachu. The individual lightning bolts combine to form a dragon, and the attack quickly catches up to Pikachu, causing serious damage. Kadabra then uses Psychic to control Pikachu's body, forcing him to dance. Ash is initially amused by Pikachu's routine, though Misty corrects Ash before Kadabra slams Pikachu into the ceiling and back down, attack several times much to everyone's horror.

Ash shouted, "That's it! Stop the match!"

He ran out to the battlefield, the Kadabra stared at him but didn't do anything else.

Ash immediately picked up his Pokémon. "Pikachu, are you alright?"

Pikachu was exhausted but still alive, "Ka."

Ash looked up at Sabrina and said, "I-I forfeit."

"Laoise is next to battle me." Sabrina's doll nodded.

Laoise glanced at Sabrina and the Kadabra with a gulp. Okay she can do this.

Brock, Ash and Misty were naturally concerned, but Laoise nervously insisted. She had to at least try.

Laoise took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She stepped forward, her voice shaking slightly. "Alright, Sabrina. I'm up."

Sabrina nodded, her expression unreadable. "Very well, Laoise. A two on two match. Let us begin."

"Metapod, let's do this!" Laoise called upon her Pokémon, her Metapod, to the battlefield. Metapod emerged, its hard shell glistening in the light.

Sabrina's Kadabra focused its gaze on Metapod, its eyes filled with an intense concentration.

Laoise tried to think strategically. She knew that Metapod's moveset was limited, but she had to make the best of it. "Metapod, use Harden!"

Metapod obeyed, its body becoming even harder and more resistant.

Sabrina observed calmly. "Interesting choice. But let's see how your Metapod handles this. Kadabra, use Confusion!"

Kadabra unleashed a powerful psychic attack, attempting to manipulate Metapod's mind. However, Metapod's hardened shell provided a strong defense, minimizing the effects of the attack.

Laoise felt a glimmer of hope. "Good job, Metapod! Now, counter with String Shot!"

Metapod expelled a sticky string from its mouth, aiming to restrict Kadabra's movements.

Sabrina remained composed. "Kadabra, use Psybeam."

Kadabra fired a beam of psychic energy, cutting through the string and striking Metapod directly.

Laoise winced, but she wouldn't give up. "Metapod, endure! Use Tackle!"

Metapod, weakened but determined, charged towards Kadabra with all its might.

Sabrina simply nodded. "Kadabra, dodge and counter with Psychic."

With a swift movement, Kadabra evaded Metapod's tackle and retaliated with its powerful psychic abilities. Metapod was thrown back, unable to withstand the force.

Laoise's heart sank as she watched her Pokémon fall. "Metapod, return! You did your best, buddy."

She took a moment to regroup, her gaze shifting to Sabrina. "You're strong, Sabrina. But I won't back down. I'll keep fighting until the end."

Sabrina remained stoic. "Your determination is commendable. Prepare yourself for the next round."

Laoise took a deep beath. "Skyler, let's go for it!"

She threw her pokèball and her Pidgeotto emerged.

Skyler, the loyal Pidgeotto, spread its wings and let out a powerful screech, ready to take on the challenge.

Sabrina observed the new opponent with a calm demeanor. "A Flying-type, an interesting choice."

Laoise knew that Pidgeotto's Flying-type moves would have little effect against Kadabra's Psychic abilities. She had to think of a different strategy. "Skyler, use Sand Attack!"

Skyler swiftly flew towards Kadabra, flapping its wings to kick up a cloud of sand, aiming to hinder Kadabra's accuracy.

Sabrina remained unfazed. "Kadabra, use Reflect."

Kadabra created a barrier of psychic energy, forming a protective shield against Skyler's sand attack.

Laoise bit her lip, thinking quickly. "Skyler, let's try Aerial Ace!"

Skyler soared through the air with incredible speed, aiming to strike Kadabra directly with its powerful flying attack.

Sabrina calmly issued her command. "Kadabra, use Psychic."

Kadabra focused its energy and unleashed a powerful psychic force, intercepting Skyler's Aerial Ace and stopping it in its tracks.

Laoise clenched her fists, frustration building up. She couldn't let it discourage her. "Skyler, use Quick Attack!"

Skyler, unfazed by the previous attacks, darted towards Kadabra with lightning speed, hoping to catch it off guard.

Sabrina's eyes narrowed, her focus unyielding. "Kadabra, counter with Confusion."

Kadabra unleashed another powerful psychic attack, intercepting Skyler's Quick Attack and sending it crashing to the ground.

Laoise's heart sank as she watched Skyler struggle to get back up. She knew that she was outmatched, but she refused to give up. "Skyler, one more time! Use Gust!"

Skyler, despite its exhaustion, flapped its wings with determination, creating a powerful gust of wind directed towards Kadabra.

Sabrina's expression remained stoic as she commanded her Pokémon. "Kadabra, evade and use Psybeam."

Kadabra swiftly dodged the gust of wind and retaliated with a beam of psychic energy, overpowering Skyler's Gust and leaving it unable to battle any longer.

Laoise sighed, recalling Skyler back into its Pokéball. She walked over to Sabrina, extending her hand in defeat. "You're a formidable opponent, Sabrina."

"Be my friend. You promised I could play with you." Sabrina's doll said.

Laoise nodded solemnly, her hands in her pockets. "That was the deal."

Then to her and the others' bewilderment, they were teleported once again.

This time they found themselves in a colorful, albeit deserted town.

"Looks like we've been teleported again." Brock commented.

Misty glanced around, "Right from the Pokémon gym."

"This place is empty!"

"And a little too quiet for comfort." Laoise said uncertainly.

Ash said, "I'll take a look around!"

Misty agreed, "We'll come with you, Ash!"

Pikachu followed, "Pikachu."

They entered one house but no one seemed to be around. Not a sign of life anywhere. However on the table it had tea and cake.

Brock said, "That cake looks delicious!"

"Sabrina wanted to play with us, but I guess we're gonna have lunch first. I wonder where she is." Ash mused.

Laoise sighed, "What a day." She went to lie down on the couch, but the moment she did... she jumped back up in shock and confusion. "Hey this feels like it's made of plastic!"

"Guess it's rude not to wait for her, but, I can't resist." Brock bit down on the cake but hurts himself. "This stupid cake is fake!"

Ash enters the bathroom and sees a woman in the bathtub. He turns away, but Pikachu pointed to the mirror, noticing that the figure is really a doll.

"Something's not right here." Ash said. Then the 'person turned', "That thing is a doll!"

Then the others came running up to him.

"Ash! You're not gonna believe this, but we're inside a doll house!" Misty cried.

Ash was shocked, "This is a doll house?!"

Brock added, "Everything here is made out of plastic, including the food!"

"How can that be?"

"No wonder this town is empty!" Laoise was stunned. "I think she shrunk us!"

Soon, everyone feels what they think is an earthquake. The roof on the house moves to reveal a giant Sabrina with her doll.

Sabrina's Doll giggled, "Now I can play with you all!"

Sabrina reaches down for our heroes, making them run, just narrowly getting out of Sabrina's reach)

Brock concluded that they were shrunk by telekinesis and are in a toy box. The little girl laughs uncontrollably as Ash and his friends run into a picture frame, showing the little girl and her parents.

Ash yelped, "So when she said she wanted to play with us, she really meant it!"

Soon, giant thumps are heard behind our heroes. They turned to see Sabrina's doll walking and bouncing a ball.

Misty wailed, "She's coming this way!"

Brock yelped, "Uh oh!"

Ash yelled, "We're gonna have a ball!"

"Now I know how Indiana Jones feels!" Laoise shrieked.

The doll stops and stops bouncing her ball. "I wanna play catch!" Sabrina tosses her ball and it started rolling toward our heroes.

But just before the ball reached them, the jogging stranger from earlier who'd warned them about the gym appeared in front of them.

"Listen! Let your minds rely on mine!" the man said.

The ball gets even closer.

"Teleportation."

Everyone was teleported out of the toy box just as the ball crashes into the picture frame and bounces off it and right back to Sabrina's doll, who picked it up.

Sabrina's Doll laughed, "That was fun! Let's play again sometime!"

Sabrina just looked in annoyance.

Meanwhile, our heroes reappeared in Saffron City. They got up and turned to the stranger standing in front of them.

Misty asked, "But why did you decide to rescue us?"

The man replied, "Sabrina is a dangerous Pokémon trainer. I got the chance to help you this time, but next time you won't be so lucky. You'll all be trapped in her toy box for eternity."

Everyone is shocked by what they just heard.

"Give up your crazy idea of challenging Sabrina. Leave Saffron City and never come back here!"

"I can't do that! I have to win Sabrina's Marsh badge so I'll be able to get into the Pokémon League!"

"So do I!" Laoise said earnestly.

"You will never be able to defeat Sabrina and her Psychic Pokémon."

Ash said, "Yes, I will! We just need to make a quicker attack before she can kick in with her psychic powers!"

The stranger's eyes then started glowing red, just like Sabrina's. He made Ash's pants drop and forced him to dance, Misty covered her eyes out of both disgust and embarrassment.

Brock was shocked, "Ash, what do you think you're doing?"

Ash answered, "It's not me! My body's moving by itself!"

"Hey! You can't do that!" Laoise snapped and she began stomping over to the man.

However, the stranger used his powers on her, making Laoise freeze in her steps. She couldn't move.

"If you two can't beat me, you haven't a chance against Sabrina." His eyes stopped glowing and Ash stopped dancing while Laoise almost fell forward.

Ash pulled up his pants, charged forward, and asked to be taught telekinesis, but the man pushes him back, mentioning that a person is usually born with it. Ash continued to be forced to the ground by the man's telekinesis, so he resorted to crawling. His determination convinces the man to reveal...

"There may be just one way you can beat her. Only one other type of Pokémon can battle the psychic type. If you capture a Ghost Pokémon from Lavender Town, you might have a chance."

"A Ghost Pokémon, from Lavender Town. Thank you." Ash listened.

The stranger humphed as Ash collapsed and teleported away while the others rushed to Ash's aid.

Brock asked, "Are you okay?"

Misty worried. "You haven't got a chance against a Psychic Pokémon."

Ash was more than determined. "Ha! Let's go! On to Lavender Town!"

"I'm in!" Laoise said. "We both need to get that Marsh badge!"

As our heroes held Ash up, the stranger appears on a tree branch behind them.

"With some luck, that kid may be the one who can rescue Sabrina." he murmured.

Who is this mysterious bearded man? Will Laoise and Ash have what it takes to capture a Ghost Pokémon in Lavender Town?

To be continued...