In hindsight, perhaps announcing that I was going on a multi-week vacation before I went on a multi-week vacation would have been a good idea to ensure this rather lengthy break in updates didn't come completely out of nowhere.

Sorry about that. On the plus side, though, I have no vacation plans in the near future. So no more breaks like this for a good long while!

"I just realized," said Ash as he, Clay, Cyrus, and their Pokemon ate lunch by the side of Route 7. "I haven't called my brother in forever! I'm sure he'd love to hear all about my adventures so far!"

"You have a brother?" Clay asked.

Ash blinked. "Oh, right, I've never told you about Gladion. He's really cool! He basically raised me from birth, taught me a lot of stuff about Pokemon, and he's got a really powerful team!"

"That sounds like a good older brother," Cyrus noted.

"Reminds me of someone I know," Clay murmured with a glance at Cyrus.

"He's coming to the League to watch me!" said Ash. "So when I get there, you'll be able to meet him!"

"Don't get too overconfident," Cyrus warned. "You only have half your required Gym Badges. Many other Trainers have gotten this far and still ended up not qualifying."

"I won't fail!" Ash insisted. "And even if I do, I've got Genesect as a last resort! I doubt anything at this level can handle him!"

On the other side of the clearing they were sitting in, Genesect let out a robotic snort. "I - STILL - DO - NOT - SEE - WHY - I - WAS - UN-A-BLE - TO - FIGHT - IN - THE - PSY-CHIC - GYM."

Scizor and Kricketune were quick to speak up, their words mollifying their fellow Bug-type. Ash nodded. "As I bet they're saying, I need to give all of my Pokemon time to shine. You'll get your chance in another Gym, Genesect. Don't worry."

"I - SUP-POSE," Genesect murmured.

Ash grinned and pulled out his Pokedex. "That reminds me - I need to tell Gladion about all my Pokemon! Genesect especially - I'm sure he and Silvally would love to meet sometime!"

As Ash dialed Gladion's number, Cyrus glanced at Clay. "Who is Silvally?"

"No idea," Clay murmured. "Certainly ain't any Pokemon I've heard of."

Ash finished dialing; the Pokedex had barely started buzzing before the call was picked up. The screen shifted, showing Gladion's face; it was immediately noticeable that he was frowning.

"Ash." Gladion's voice was surprisingly lacking in enthusiasm.

"Hi, Gladion!" Ash exclaimed. "It's been a little bit - how have you been?"

"I was doing well," said Gladion. "Up until I was apprised of the fact that you appear to have declared war on Kanto's foremost criminal organization within your first month of being a Trainer."

Ash grinned sheepishly. "Um…I didn't exactly declare war on them. More…uh…"

"Your Scizor and Kricketune beg to differ," said Gladion. "Umbreon has informed me that they've been telling Silvally all sorts of interesting tales. Mount Moon, the S.S. Anne…I believe 'declared war on Team Rocket' was the exact wording they used."

Ash shot a glare at Scizor and Kricketune, who suddenly were both surprisingly interested in looking elsewhere.

"So tell me something, Ash," said Gladion. "Why haven't I heard this from you?"

"Well…" Ash hesitated. "I…um…didn't want to worry you." He momentarily rallied. "And besides, Gladion, I'm traveling with two Gym Leaders, and I've got a really strong team! I can handle myself!"

"And while I'm glad about that," said Gladion, "as your older brother, I'm also worried about you. And when you don't tell me that you're in danger-"

"I'm not in danger!" Ash protested.

"You were on a sinking cruise ship!" Gladion cried. "I daresay that qualifies as being in danger!" He heaved a sigh. "Look, Ash. The next time you end up in that kind of trouble, let me know, okay? I know it's your journey, but things like Team Rocket aren't meant to be part of that journey. Got it?"

"Got it," said Ash. "Have Scizor and Kricketune mentioned the rest of my team at all?"

Gladion nodded. "And I am incredibly curious as to how you managed to get your hands on two Legendary Pokemon in the space of a month. And one of them was Genesect? As in the experimental artificial Legendary from Unova? How'd some random Trainer in Kanto get their hands on that?"

"No idea," said Ash.

"All right," Cyrus muttered, "how is it that so many other people have heard about Genesect before while I have not?"

Clay shrugged. "Hey, I dunno. I just heard rumors, that's all. Maybe Gladion heard those rumors too."

The two continued to eat, listening as Ash proceeded to regale his brother with a few stories that Scizor and Kricketune hadn't gotten around to telling, including the recent battle with Miette. At length, the two brothers said their goodbyes, with Gladion promising once again to meet Ash at the league. Ash set his Pokedex down, wiped his mouth, and looked at the rest of the clearing's occupants.

"Well," said Ash, "I'm full. And Celadon City's not far. If we go now, we can make it there by late afternoon, so-"

He was interrupted by a brown blur leaping down from an unseen treetop, grabbing his hat right off his head, and leaping off again, disappearing so fast Ash couldn't even see what it was.

Ash blinked, then - too late - clasped his hands to his head. "My hat!"

"Anyone see what that was?" Clay asked.

"No, I did not," said Cyrus.

"I need that hat back!" Ash cried. "We need to follow that thing!"

"Careful," Clay warned. "This could be a Team Rocket trap of some sort."

"Indeed," said Cyrus. "We should proceed with caution."

"Right!" said Ash. "Let's cautiously go get my hat back!" Whirling, he charged into the undergrowth, his team close behind him.

Clay sighed. "He really does not understand the meaning of caution, now does he?"

"No," said Cyrus. "No, he does not."

Speaking of Team Rocket…

"I don't see what we're doin' in some literal ghost town," Aron griped.

"I have to admit," said Liza, gazing at the large, creepy-looking tower that dominated the rest of the surprisingly barren town around them, "I agree with Aron for once. How is wandering into Lavender Town going to help us find that kid?"

"Well," said Drake, "the thing is, I've spent my entire career letting Dragonite do all the work. And he's been good enough to handle whatever's come my way. But now that's not the case. I've got Ditto now, too, but if I'm gonna beat the kid, I'm gonna need more."

"You want a Ghost-type," said Liza drily.

Drake nodded. "And Lavender Tower is the best place to get one."

"Well, count me out," Liza grumbled. "Lunatone won't like that place, and quite frankly, neither will I."

"Me too!" Aron called. "Dat place is scary."

Drake shot both of his partners a look. "Really? You're just going to let me go in there alone? After everything we've been through together?"

"Yes," Aron and Liza chorused.

Drake sighed, looking at the Dragonite on his left and the much more purple Dragonite on his right. "Well, at least I know you two have my back."

Dragonite and Ditto looked at each other, and both collectively and silently agreed that they valued their personal safety over telling the truth.

"Fire!" Ash cried.

Kricketune raised his arm and fired a barrage of Bullet Seeds into the surrounding trees. There was a rustle of leaves; Ash spotted a tan blur dart away a second before the barrage shredded through the treetops.

"Darn it!" Ash growled. "After him! Or her! I don't know!"

"Ash," Clay panted as he rushed up behind the boy, "can you slow down? I haven't had to run this hard in years…"

Ash glanced back, realizing that Clay and Cyrus were both clearly struggling to keep up. "Sorry," he said. "It's just…I really, really don't want to lose my hat."

"I am sure you can get another hat," Cyrus pointed out.

"Yes," said Ash, "but it won't be my hat. Do you know how long I've had this hat?" He looked over to Clay. "If your hat was stolen, would you just go buy another one?"

"He's got a point, Cyrus," said Clay. "A hat ain't just something you wear on your head. It's special."

Cyrus stared at his two traveling companions. "I do not understand."

"You wouldn't," said Clay. "You don't wear a hat."

Cyrus sighed. "I will point out that, while we've been arguing about the nature of hats, our quarry appears to have snuck back into that bush over there."

Ash whirled in time to see the bush in question rattling. "Litleo!" he cried, pointing dramatically. "Get that…whatever it is!"

"LEO!" Litleo inhaled and unleashed a Flamethrower at the bush. The leaves shook madly as the creature sped off, still too fast to see. The Flamethrower slammed into the bush a second later, and Ash was abruptly reminded that ordering Litleo to use a Fire-type move in the middle of a forest may not have been the brightest of ideas.

"I still have no idea how you managed to convince us to join you," Liza muttered as she, Drake, and Aron clambered up the first of Lavender Tower's many staircases.

"Well, that's easy," said Drake. "We're partners. We stick together. That's just what partners do."

"Not here!" Liza hissed. "I don't do well against Ghost-types! I am a Psychic-type Trainer!"

"You have one Psychic-type," Drake pointed out. "And it's also a Rock-type. So doesn't that make you a Rock-type Trainer as well?"

"He's got a point," Aron admitted. "I mean, you got me as well, and I'm also Rock-type."

"I am not a Rock-type Trainer," Liza growled. "I am intelligent, lithe, and telepathic. Does any of that say 'Rock-type Trainer' to you?"

"No," said Drake. "But the two Rock-types do."

"I am not a Rock-type Trainer!" Liza yelled.

A peal of cackling laughter suddenly filled the air. All three members of Team Rocket (plus Lunatone, Dragonite, and Ditto) whipped around, but all they saw was the same expanse of walls, floors, and gravestones that had been their surroundings since they'd come in here.

"…probably just the wind," Drake mused.

"That is not the sound that wind makes," Liza retorted.

"I bet dat was a Ghost-type," said Aron. "We are in a tower whose entire selling point is being inhabited by Ghost-types, after all."

"Oh, yeah," said Drake. "That makes sense."

Liza rolled her eyes. "Let's just keep going."

"If we have to," Aron muttered.

As the Team Rocket trio began to continue up the stairs, a Haunter peeked out from behind one of the many nearby gravestones, giggling to himself. He would have cackled again, but he preferred to vary his tricks and scares.

He definitely liked these new arrivals at Lavender Tower, though. Their constant bickering was hilarious, and their dynamic was quite fascinating, with two justifiably afraid and the third much less so. And skeptic mixed with believer was always such a fun relationship to take advantage of.

Haunter almost wished he didn't have that agreement with Gastly and Gengar to, as Gengar put it, 'share the scares'. But rules were rules, and so Haunter shot into the ceiling, heading for the room where he knew Lavender Tower's other two primary Ghost-types hung out.

Ash breathed a sigh of relief. "I think that's all the flames extinguished. Good job, Tympole."

"Pole!" Tympole waved his tail happily.

Cyrus looked around. "Well, that was quite the adventure. But I am afraid whoever took your hat is likely now long gone."

Ash was brought back down to earth in an instant. His head drooped. "Darn it…I really liked that hat."

Litleo looked similarly dejected. Tympole was quick to sidle up and pat him over the head with his tail. "Tym…"

"Lit," Litleo murmured in response, sounding a tiny bit better.

"Begging your pardon," said Clay, "but isn't that your hat over there?"

Ash looked up to see a spindly brown arm sticking out of a nearby copse of bushes, the hand attached to the end of the arm clutching his hat. As Ash looked over, the bush rattled as the arm's owner turned and once more ran away.

"Oh, now it's just toying with us!" Clay growled.

"Not this time!" Ash cried. "Hisuian Growlithe, use Fire Spin!"

Unlike Litleo, Hisuian Growlithe was far more controlled with his flames. At Ash's command, he lunged into the bushes; a second later; a loud bark sounded, followed by a whoosh of fire and a shriek from a foreign throat. Ash wasted no time in charging after HIsuian Growlithe, surging through the copse with his team, Clay, and Cyrus close behind.

And on the other side of the bushes, Ash's hat in one hand and the other raised in a clenched fist, was a slightly scorched, very angry-looking Mankey.

Who promptly evolved into Primeape.

"APE!" the newly-evolved Fighting-type roared, stomping on the ground and glaring at the trio of Trainers.

Arceus stared at the monitor, then gave the console a kick. "Is this thing broken?"

Dialga shook his head. "I think," he said, "that what's going on here is a simple display of one of randomization's many quirks. No matter how many elements one includes in a randomizer, there is always a chance, however minute, that an element will randomize to itself. Thus, Ash's Primeape appears to have been randomized into…Primeape."

Arceus blinked, then kicked the console again. "I still think it's just broken."

"Careful, Ash," Clay warned. "An angry Primeape's no joke - once it gets going, it's hard to stop."

"Prime!" The Primeape seemed to agree with Clay's assessment. It stomped down on the ground and shot a challenging glare at Ash.

Ash frowned. "I need my hat back…"

The sound of metallic footsteps on the grass came from Ash's right. Ash looked over to see Scizor approaching from behind, eyes fixated on Primeape. The Steel/Bug-type laid a claw on Ash's shoulder. "Zor."

Ash glanced at Scizor, understanding the Bug/Steel-type's intent. "Oh, right, I forgot! You're really good at negotiating."

Scizor nodded.

Ash grinned. "Well, go negotiate my hat back!"

"Sci." Scizor stepped forwards and began to speak to Primeape. "Zor. Scizor. Sci. Sci. Sci."

Primeape blinked. Beside Ash, Genesect also blinked. After a few moments, Primeape let out a low growl, then tossed the hat to Scizor.

Scizor turned on his heel and stepped back to Ash's side, handing him the hat, as Primeape turned and stomped into the undergrowth.

"Awesome job, Scizor!" Ash cried. "I knew I could rely on your negotiating skills!"

Scizor smirked. "Zor."

Ash glanced over to Genesect. "By the way, just out of curiosity, what did he say to convince Primeape to give back my hat?"

Genesect stared at Scizor with newfound respect and just a trace of nervousness. "YOU - DO - NOT - WANT - TO - KNOW."

As he strode through the trees and bushes, grumbling to himself, Primeape couldn't deny he was rather confused.

Before he'd evolved, anything he encountered generally got out of his way or got crushed. It had been part of the reason he'd stolen that Trainer's hat; simply put, he'd been bored, and wanted to have some fun until the Trainer got bored and left. So it was rather strange that, even after he'd evolved and ordered the Trainer and Pokemon to go away so he could explore his new evolution, they had not, and nor had they gotten crushed. In fact, they'd stood up to him.

And that Scizor…Primeape shivered slightly. Let's just say he was very persuasive.

Though Primeape didn't entirely understand what the Scizor meant by 'half-wit fuzzy-brained pig-nosed overgrown Mankey'. What was a pig, anyway?

Primeape realized then that he'd stopped walking. It took him a few moments to realize why. That Scizor and his Trainer kept sticking in his mind - he was curious about them.

He wanted to know more.

It only took him another few moments to make his decision. Primeape turned and began to move back in the direction he'd come from, back towards the Scizor and his Trainer.

With any luck, he could satisfy his curiosity soon enough.

Liza glared at Drake. "This is your fault."

"I'm not debating that," Drake admitted. "But I am confused. How did we let ourselves get tied to a spinning carousel? I have a Dragonite."

"It was offscreen," said Aron. "Anything can happen offscreen."

"Ditto," Ditto agreed.

"How are you even tied up?" Liza asked. "You're an amorphous blob!"

"And how is there even a spinning carousel in Lavender Tower?" Drake queried.

"And where do a trio of Ghost-types get ropes in the first place?" Aron wondered.

Liza sighed. "This place makes no sense."

The Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar who had captured them continued to laugh at the trio.

"Well, that was certainly an adventure," Cyrus murmured. "I do believe my legs will need several days at minimum to recover."

"You ain't kidding," Clay commiserated.

"At the very least," said Cyrus, "our rapid movement left a fairly obvious trail to follow back to the route. The last thing I would want is to end up stuck in this forest."

Clay stopped. "Do you two hear jetpacks?"

Ash frowned. "Now that you mention it…"

Cyrus blinked. "How would you two know what jetpacks sound like?"

Before he could answer, the source of the jetpacks became visible, as down through the treetops floated none other than Korrina and Falkner, the devices adorning their backs.

"Oh, great, you two," Clay muttered.

"First a giant robot, now jetpacks?" Ash asked. "Where do they get all that stuff?"

"We have a lot of resources," Falkner answered.

"Stop holding polite conversations with the enemy!" Korrina cried. "And as for you three…thanks to you, the boss has recalled us all the way to Johto! We've been humiliated! And it's time we avenged that humiliation!"

"Oh, does this mean we're getting Drake and Liza back?" Ash asked.

"Darn," Clay grumbled. "I liked these new Rockets. They were so much easier to beat."

Korrina looked like steam was about to start coming out of her ears.

"Aaaaand this just got even more humiliating," said Falkner.

Korrina spoke through gritted teeth. "You. Have five seconds. To hand over. Each. And. Every. One. Of your. Pokemon."

"Or what?" Ash asked cockily.

"Or," said Falkner, but he didn't get any further before Primeape leaped out from the undergrowth and punched him in the gut.

"Falkner!" Korrina cried, throwing out her Lucario. "Lucario, take down that Primeape!"

"Genesect!" Ash called as the two Fighting-types leaped for one another. The artificial Legendary emerged from its Pokeball, already priming its cannon.

Primeape slammed a Karate Chop into Lucario, sending him stumbling backwards, though the latter was quick to raise a hand and blast Primeape backwards with a rapid Aura Sphere. Falkner, still gasping for breath, managed to release his Pidgeotto, who at once began to form a Gust with its flapping wings.

"Primeape, look out!" Ash called. "Genesect, blow them away with Techno Blast!"

Primeape, though angry and clearly wanting to jump at Lucario again, was clearly not stupid; he saw Genesect readying his cannon and instantly ducked. Korrina twisted to see Genesect charging up. "Lucario, Quick Attack and Force Palm! Stop that thing before-"

"EX-TER-MIN-ATE!"

"…that," Korrina finished lamely. "Brace for impact!"

A second later, Genesect's Techno Blasts slammed into the Team Rocket duo, sending them flying away and out of sight.

Primeape blinked, then stared at Genesect. "Ape. Prime?"

"What's he saying?" Ash asked.

Genesect half-turned to Ash. "HE - WANTS - TO - KNOW - HOW - I - GOT - SO - STRONG."

Ash grinned. "Well, he is an artificial Legendary," he said. "So it came naturally. But, Primeape, if you want to get as strong as Genesect someday, then come join my team!"

Primeape tilted his head - which in his case also encompassed his torso - quizzically. He didn't seem to be the only one confused.

"Wait, what?" Clay asked.

"I have to admit," said Cyrus, "did he not steal your hat?"

"Yeah," said Ash, "he did. But he also came back to help fight those Rockets! Which…actually, why did you come back to help fight those Rockets?"

Primeape blinked, then whirled and jabbed a fist towards Scizor. "Prime."

"You want to fight Scizor?" Ash asked. At a nod from Primeape, the boy looked at Scizor, who clearly seemed interested. "And…if he wins, will you join my team?"

Primeape nodded again. Ash's grin grew wider. "All right, then!"

Primeape dropped into a crouch; Scizor stepped forward in response, claws glinting with energy. The rest of the clearing's occupants stepped back to allow the two Pokemon space. Primeape glanced at Ash, waiting for him to give the first order.

"Scizor," said Ash, "start off with a Fury Cutter!"

Scizor lunged forwards, energy gathering across his metallic claw. Primeape responded in kind, meeting Scizor's claw with a powerful Karate Chop. The two attacks came together with a loud thwoom of contesting energies; both Pokemon held, neither one giving even as the other attempted to push them back through sheer strength.

"Bullet Punch!" Ash called; Scizor's other claw came around and uppercutted Primeape, sending him stumbling. The Fighting-type managed to recover swiftly; he wiped his mouth with one closed fist and then charged again, readying for a Low Kick.

Scizor darted out of the way with a Quick Attack; Primeape's foot whiffed and he stumbled, leaving himself open for Scizor to toss out a rapid Pursuit into the back of his head.

Primeape's entire body abruptly erupted in energy. "Crap, Anger Point!" Clay growled from the sidelines.

"What does Anger Point do?" Ash asked.

Primeape roared and lunged for Scizor again, who barely dove out of the way courtesy of Quick Attack. The Fighting-type's fist slammed into the ground; an explosion of dirt momentarily obscured Primeape from view, and when it cleared Primeape was standing above a very sizable crater in the earth.

Ash gulped. "Uh-oh."

Primeape lunged again, bellowing furiously. Scizor was forced to backpedal, desperately using Quick Attack to try and gain ground against the vicious Fighting-type. As Ash watched the two, he spotted a fairly large boulder jutting out from the ground a little ways away. "Scizor!" he cried. "Back, and to the left!"

"Zor," Scizor muttered, but he still was quick to obey, diving in Ash's ordered direction to evade another of Primeape's powerful attacks. Primeape charged after him, heedless of any strategy aside from 'punch harder'.

"Now duck!" Ash cried, seeing Primeape swinging another fist towards Scizor's face.

Scizor ducked. Primeape's fist slammed straight into the boulder; stone flew everywhere as the rock shattered under the strength of the blow, but Primeape staggered backwards, the pain of striking solid stone breaking through the haze of rage. "Now!" Ash cried.

Scizor hurled himself forwards and slammed a second, stronger Fury Cutter into Primeape's nose. Primeape was hurled backwards through the air, landing hard on his back. With his guard down, Ash wasted no time; he plucked a Pokeball from his belt and threw it as hard as he could at the dazed Fighting-type.

Even then, it took several seconds of mad shaking before the Pokeball finally dinged to indicate a successful capture.

"Awesome!" Ash cried, picking the Pokeball up. "I caught a Primeape!"

Scizor and Hisuian Growlithe were quick to pose alongside him.

"Well," said Liza, "that was a bust. All I got out of Lavender Tower was a bout of motion sickness."

Aron would have added his own two cents, except he was currently trying to stop himself from vomiting.

Drake heaved a sigh. "Yeah, all right. Maybe spending thirty minutes tied to a rotating carousel before the ghosts got bored and let us leave wasn't the best use of our time."

"You don't say," Liza said drily. "I'm just going to tell you right now…"

"Don't say it," Drake growled, his eyes narrowing.

Liza smirked. "…I told you so."

"Come on!" Drake yelled.

It was at this moment that the two were interrupted by yet another loud peal of cackling - the same cackling, in fact, that they'd heard on the first staircase of Lavender Tower. Whirling, all three members of Team Rocket spotted the Haunter from the tower in question, howling with laughter and pointing at them.

"Lunatone, Rock Throw at that thing," Liza growled, forgetting to use her telepathy out of sheer anger.

Haunter dodged Lunatone's thrown rock, still cackling. Liza scoffed. "Come on, let's just go. It's not worth the trouble."

The three members of Team Rocket turned and continued walking. A minute later, Drake looked behind him once again. "It's still following us."

"Why?" Liza asked, spinning again. She aimed her next words at Haunter. "What do you want?!"

Haunter cackled again and sped over to Drake. Dragonite glared at Haunter and raised a fist, but Haunter made no move to strike either one. The Ghost-type simply floated down until he was hovering atop Drake's shoulder.

Drake cocked his head. "I think he wants to come with us."

"Why would that thing want to come with us?" Liza asked.

Drake smirked. "I have a feeling," he said, "he thinks we're funny."

Haunter grinned. "Haunt!" he said, nodding enthusiastically.

Liza glared at Haunter. "Drake, don't you dare. I was all right with Ditto. But I refuse to let that Haunter travel with us."

"I think it might be a little late for dat," Aron remarked as the madly-cackling Haunter began to zoom around Dragonite's head.

Randomizers will be randomizers.

Also, what is it with the anime releasing two Gastly-line-centric episodes so close together? I get that Kanto only had one actual line of Ghost-types (for reasons I can't for the life of me understand), but it still feels odd that in the space of four episodes, Gastly heavily featured in two of them.