After forfeiting to Sabrina's Psychic Pokémon in Saffron City, our friends learn from a mysterious bearded man how they might defeat her. Now they're on their way to try and capture one of the Ghost Pokémon that haunts the dreaded Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town.

Yeah, it sounded spooky. Laoise was admittedly curious not only for their abilities as pokèmon, but for what this meant.

Ash noticed, "The fog's coming in, and that's not good. We better be super careful, we gotta make sure we don't get separated."

"Am I glad to be wearing a hoodie." Laoise said.

Misty feared, "Maybe this is an omen. Maybe we should forget about catching a Ghost Pokémon."

Brock said, "We've come too far! Everybody, let's hold hands and stay together."

"Okay." Misty took Ash's right hand.

Ash agreed, "Right!"

Laoise took ahold of Misty's left. "Got it."

But with the growing fog and the sun beginning to set, Brock cannot find them. Brock reached towards Ash's left hand, but mistakenly grabbed Pikachu's tail and is shocked with Thunder Shock. His resultant screams frightened almost everyone.

Laoise nearly jumped out of her skin from both the noise and the thought of them being attacked, "Augh! What is it?!"

Then she saw Brock on the ground twitching with a mortified Pikachu sitting on his chest.

Misty had yelped and clung to Ash from behind, "Brock! Don't you know how scared it makes me when you yell like that?!"

"Well, you guys, you sure scared me!" Ash laughed in a spooky way.

"Say what?!" Misty moved away with a whine.

Brock got up with Pikachu on his bag.

"I'm feeling like a ghost myself." Ash turned with a silly skeleton mask on.

Everyone screamed and panicked - except Laoise who was rather unimpressed.

"Sorry, guys! I was just testing you." Ash chuckled and took off his mask. "If we're gonna try to catch a Ghost Pokémon, we gotta learn to deal with fear. That's the only way we're gonna become great Pokémon trainers."

However, Ash's friends except Laoise were rather annoyed and furious.

Misty snarled, "You must be crazy!"

Brock growled, "Don't ever do that!"

Pikachu glared, "CHUUUU!"

Ash gets shocked by both Pikachu intentionally, sending him falling to the ground.

"We've got enough things to scare us without your boneheaded jokes!" Misty grumbled.

Pikachu scolded, "Pika Pika!"

Ash twitched from his spot on the ground, "I'll just save the masks, till next year's Halloween."

Laoise poked the mask and rolled her eyes. "Puh-leaze. I've seen scarier stuff on Sick, Sad world. Plus HBO's Crypt keeper is scarier than this old thing."

Pikachu and Ash were confused for a few minutes. Misty and Brock slowly turned to Laoise in shock.

"You watched Tales from the Crypt?!" Brock demanded. Being an older brother to his younger siblings in Pewter City, he knew some programs weren't just meant for younger eyes.

"How is it you didn't get any nightmares?" Misty questioned. From what she glimpsed of that show it had plenty frightening moments, even if it was somewhat moralistic about punishing bad actions.

"Sick, Sad world?" Ash blinked in confusion. He knew it was some a bizarre tabloid TV "news" show full of quite weird or paranormal twists bent to them.

Laoise shrugged, unfazed by their surprise. "I seriously didn't understand half of the stuff that went on til later. Sometimes I quietly sat with Shae with alot of munchies if the episodes were interesting enough."

"But still that was rated R for a reason!" Brock protested.

" 'The Thing from the grave' episode and 'Korman's Kalamity' weren't so bad." Laoise explained, "But like I said, 'Tales from the Crypt' was WAY scarier than this!"

And she looked at the sky, "Come on guys, quit bickering. If we wanna reach Lavender town, we gotta get a move on." With that, she strode confidently ahead, leaving the others no choice but to follow.

"She has a point, guys," Ash conceded. The onset of dusk pressed them onward to Lavender Town.

Misty whispered to Brock, "That Laoise sure is brave to watch such spooky shows!"

Brock nodded slowly. "Or maybe she doesn't scare easy. Could be an asset dealing with Ghost Pokémon..."

They hastened to catch up with Laoise, trudging through thickening mist. An eerie choir of owl cries arose in the woods around them.

Laoise paused, listening intently. "Sounds like a creepy place already. Think that's where we'll find our ghostly allies?"

Ash gripped his Pokeballs. "Only one way to find out! Let's check it out!"

Dark shadows shifted among the trees as they proceeded. Were those specters flitting past...or merely passing shadows of the local wildlife?

They arrived at the Lavender Town before dark. In the distance loomed the Pokémon tower. However, by the time our heroes reached the Pokémon Tower, it had gotten dark, though it was still the middle of the day. And the tower looked like a decrepit castle tower up close.

Misty remarked, "Looks like it's always dark around this place."

Brock said, "This is the Pokémon Tower, where Ghost Pokémon hang out."

Ash joked, "I like what they've done with the place."

Misty quipped but her tone lacked its usual bite, "Okay, Ash. It's time for you to show us what a great trainer you are!"

Brock added, "We'll let you and Laoise handle this one alone."

Ash was speechless at what he heard. "Hey, wait a minute! You guys promised me you'd help me and Laoise catch a Ghost Pokémon when we got to Lavender Town!"

"I don't remember promising that!" Misty replied in a singsong tone.

Ash noticed that everyone but Laoise is still standing near him while everyone else stepped back. About six feet way back.

Brock said, "You know how to deal with fear, Ash!"

"And Laoise watched all those creepy shows, she can handle it." Misty added.

Ash folded his arms, "Ha! Run away if you want to!"

"I'm going in with him." Laoise said pointedly.

Pikachu decides to take a quick nap, getting into a little futon with lightning bolts. Ash followed suit and got into his sleeping bag, but Misty wakes them up by smacking a gong.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket watches them through one of the tower's windows. James ran off, but falls through a hole in the floor. Meowth then noticed an armoire door open nearby, revealing a Gastly that just awakened, which scares him. Meowth pointed at Gastly, but it disappeared before Jessie sees it. Gastly reappeared over Jessie's face, mimicking Jessie's speech, and Meowth scratches Jessie. Jessie retaliate by angrily knocking Meowth into the hole with James. Jessie soon joins James and Meowth after looking at herself in a mirror and screaming at the sight of Gastly. Team Rocket fell through several floors, screaming. Team Rocket gets back up, but Gastly scares them again, knocking them out.

The others heard the echoing screams from outside and were afraid. When the screaming began a second time, Brock could've sworn he heard a different voice.

Ash and Pikachu were thoughtful, "Those voices are familiar. I feel like I heard them all before."

"Why don't we go inside and find out who they are?" questioned Brock.

"You two go in first." Misty and Brock start pushing Ash and Laoise.

Misty and Brock urged. "Go! Go!"

"We're going! We're going!" Laoise said.

Our heroes entered the Pokémon Tower. Ash looked through first. "Hello there? Anybody home?" He called nervously.

Misty followed, "It's kinda dark in here."

The door then closed shut right behind them.

Misty gasped "Now it's pitch black! Do something!"

"I know I got a flashlight in here somewhere," Laoise began fumbling with her hiking bag.

"Charmander, I choose you!" Ash called out Charmander.

Charmander materialized, he used Flamethrower to illuminate the area, but quickly tired.

Misty wondered, "Maybe we should come back tomorrow when it's daylight."

Ash pointed out. "Have you ever heard of a ghost that comes out during the day?"

Brock found a candle and Charmander used Flamethrower to light the candle, accidentally burning Brock in the process. Laoise pulled out her flashlight, and it turned on after she hit it a few times.

Everyone followed Brock as he and Laoise lit the way. Misty warned, "Watch where you walk! There's a hole in the floor."

Before they could theorize the cause of it, creepy laughter is heard echoing as they explore.

"Did you just hear laughter right now?" Laoise questioned, freezing. She hoped it was ghost pokèmon, and not the other frightening possibilities.

"Y-yes." Ash nodded.

Misty froze, "Where are those voices coming from?"

Soon they reached a door at the end of the hallway, and opted to check it out.

Brock joked. "Hey, ghost Pokémon?! If you're in here, say hello!"

Ash said nervously in a sing song tone, "I'm gonna capture you!"

Misty said fearfully, "Don't say that! If they know you're trying to capture them, they won't come out of hiding."

"You're right."

"But what if they want a challenge?" asked Laoise.

And to their confusion, all the lights in the dining room turned on, Pikachu and Charmander hugged each other in alarm. When the lights turned on, the area revealed to be a dining room with a fully-set table.

Brock commented, "It looks like some kind of fancy restaurant!"

"Maybe it's a party? Or some kind of reception?" Misty hoped.

"And who would hold a reception in an old place like this?" Laoise inquired.

Brock replied, "I don't know. But who's it for?"

Ash's attention turns to a dangling rope, with an instructional note attached. He quickly runs up and pulls it, which releases confetti and streamers fall, with a welcome sign following.

"Are we...?" Ash wondered.

Misty continued, "Being welcomed?"

"By who?" Brock wondered.

Laoise quipped, "All that's missing now is for our ghost hosts to say, 'Welcome mortals'."

Misty then noticed the items on the dinner table start to move. "Look!"

Everything at the dining table and the chairs around it start levitating into the air, scaring our heroes.

"We got poltergeist activity!" Laoise yelped.

Soon, Brock, Pikachu and Charmander are swept off their feet and into chairs while some of the Pokémon are put on the plates and platters. Ash and Misty glanced around at the spooky sight in fear then run out of the room. Brock and the Pokémon jumped down and run for their lives.

"Guys, wait! We still gotta-" Laoise cried after them, only to be abruptly tackled by a chair that looked suspiciously like a Doombuggy.

Laoise can only sit back and hope not to fall or crash, as the chair raced through the hall after her friends. "Whoa!"

Once the four trainers and their pokèmon were out of sight, the poltergeist activity stopped. And the three Ghost Pokémon responsible for the scene appeared and laugh.

Outside, our heroes are catching their breath after their frightening experience before noticing they're short one person.

"Where's Laoise?"

The doors abruptly opened, the chair carrying Laoise flew right out the door and tipped over, sending the autistic girl face-first into the grass.

"There she is!" Brock cried as Laoise spilled out of the chair onto the grass.

They hurried to help her up as the tower door slammed shut behind.

Ash hurried to her side. "Laoise! Are you hurt?"

Laoise sat up slowly, brushing grass from her hair. "Ugh, just my pride I think." She scanned the dark Tower warily. "But I reckon those ghosts weren't too keen on company."

Pikachu cooed softly in agreement. Misty shivered. "Then maybe we should listen and leave them alone?"

"But we came for a ghost Pokémon!" Ash insisted.

Misty shook her head, "There is no way I'm going back in that tower! It's just too scary in there!"

Brock agreed, "Me neither!"

"What are you saying? There's no way we can capture a Ghost Pokémon if we don't go back in there." Ash looked at his pokèmon, "Right, Pikachu? Charmander?"

Pikachu shook his head no and in his fear, Charmander launched a Flamethrower at all four trainers, knocking those who were hit down.

"Ouchies!" Laoise groaned painfully.

Ash got up full of fiery determination, "Hold on! Are you two really cowards?! How do you expect to beat Sabrina's Psychic Pokémon if you don't go back in? Do you want to lose again?"

Pikachu gets a flashback to when he first battled Kadabra. And he slumped over knowing Ash had a point.

Ash then kneeled down in front of Pikachu and Charmander. "Listen. If you're ever gonna beat Psychic Pokémon, you've gotta learn to overcome your fear. Understand?"

Pikachu and Charmander nodded.

Ash said, "I say it's time to give it another try! Pikachu, Charmander, are you with me?"

Pikachu and Charmander nodded again, both looking more determined.

Laoise stepped forward. "I'm going with him, we both need a ghost pokèmon if we're ever gonna defeat Sabrina."

Ash prepared to enter the Tower once more, only to notice Misty and Brock were just standing there. "Come on, guys! What about you?!"

"We'll all be waiting for you right here." Brock said crouching to make himself comfortable.

Misty waved sheepishly "Have a nice time!"

Those going back in the tower nearly fall over in disbelief.

Soon, Ash, Laoise, Pikachu and Charmander were once again in the tower searching the place.

"Hello, everybody! We're back!" Ash half-heartedly called. "We'd love to meet you! Feel free to introduce yourselves whenever you like!"

"Yeah, we're all mostly curious." Laoise held up her hands to show she's unarmed.

Soon, more sounds are heard, slightly frightening the group and stopping in front of the hole Team Rocket had created earlier, unaware of the cause.

Ash wondered, "What was that?"

Laoise pulled out Dixie to know more. "Ghost Pokémon often appear in a vapor form. Their true nature is shrouded in mystery."

Ash gulped, "Oh well. Guess we'll try to solve the mystery.

There was a commotion from the floor beneath them, causing them to think the ghost Pokémon are down there. Ash ordered Pikachu and Charmander to attack, but this causes a fire. Ash threw a Poké Ball, but it hits Jessie in the face. Jessie gets angry then her hair caught fire. She runs around, creating a fireball from Ash's view, but it soon disappears, much to his disappointment.

Then Laoise's foot hit something. She looked down to see her flashlight. "Huh, I thought I'd lost this." And she flicked it on. "Good thing it's still working too."

Suddenly, without warning, Laoise's flashlight goes out, she flicked the switch several times.

"Aw nuts." Laoise mumbled. "Me and my big mouth."

Haunter suddenly appeared, Pikachu turned and saw it. As expected Pikachu was frightened. "Pika Pi!"

Laoise turned and pointed in surprised excitement. "I see one! I see one!"

The Haunter was a purple Pokémon with a gaseous body. It had a round head flanked by three large, spiked protrusions on either side. It has triangular eyes with small pupils and a mouth with a long, pink tongue. The gases composing its head curved into its mouth to form several pointed teeth. Disembodied hands with three clawed fingers each floated in front of its body. Its body tapered into a jagged tail.

But the ghost pokémon disappeared before Ash could see it.

"You two must be seeing things."

"But it was there!" Laoise said earnestly. "It was this big purplish creature with three fingers."

Ash turns and sees the Haunter staring him and the others in the face.

"See? See?" Laoise pointed right at the ghost pokèmon.

The Haunter then pulled a face – bulging eyes and waggling tongue around- frightening them.

"Is this a ghost Pokémon?" Ash yelped, and he out Dexter as the Haunter floated about.

"Haunter, a Gaseous Pokémon. No further information."

"Huh?! Is that all?!"

"You've got to be kidding me!" Laoise cried.

She stared back at it, unnerved but refusing to panic. Far more horrific things had transpired on her late-night watches, and she faced each new fright with steely resolve.

"Well, we're not gonna lose to some stupid Ghost Pokémon! Go, Charmander!" Ash declared.

However, before Charmander can go into battle, the Haunter had disappeared.

"Where'd it go?" Laoise wondered. "Can it turn invisible?"

"Not helping." Ash grumbled as he, Charmander and Pikachu nervously sweat dropped.

The Haunter reappeared behind our heroes, starting to tap on Ash's shoulder without him knowing.

"Don't bother me now, Pikachu. Quit it!"

Laoise turned to see the Haunter. "Uhm, Ash?"

Haunter tapped on Ash's shoulder again.

"Not now, Laoise. And Pikachu, cut it out!" He then grabbed Haunter's hand, thinking it's Pikachu, only to get a fright when he sees he's holding on to the Haunter's hand.

"I'm not afraid of you! You just surprised me a little bit! Charmander, you're on!" Ash said, trying to keep up his bravado.

Ash had Charmander use Leer. They both pulled off fierce looks, but Charmander suddenly made a funny face, making Haunter laugh.

"What are you doing, Charmander? You're not supposed to make it laugh!"

Charmander scratched his head, "Mander?"

Haunter then Licked Charmander, paralyzing it.

"Oh, this isn't working! Charmander, return!" Ash said recalling his pokèmon.

Charmander returns to its Pokéball while Haunter pulls another funny expression.

"Do you really think we're afraid of you?" Ash challenged, trying to keep calm.

Laoise was about to comment, but then something from the floor just a few inches from her. "WHOOAAA!"

A Gengar, another ghost pokèmon emerged from the shadows, it was a dark purple, bipedal Pokémon with a roundish body. It had red eyes, a wide mouth that is usually curled into a sinister grin, and pointed ears. On its back were numerous spikes and it were smaller spikes on top of its head similar to tufty fur. Its arms and legs were short with three digits on both its hands and feet. It also has a stubby tail.

"Jeepers, these guys are a lot bigger than I thought!" Laoise observed the sinister-grinning shadow Pokémon with curiosity untinged by fear.

Gengar smacked Ash with a fan, causing the Haunter to laugh along with the Gengar.

"I better find out about this one!" Laoise pulled out Dixie.

"Gengar. No information available."

Ash griped, "Not again!"

"Okay, let's try this out for size." Laoise said. "Leafy, let's try and settle this peacefully!"

Laoise sent out her little Oddish. The plant pokèmon shivered a little but Laoise spoke soothing words. "Don't be scared, I'm right here. Give em a batch of sleep powder."

Leafy nodded and began shaking it's leaves to release blue sparkling powder at the ghost pokèmon.

The ghost pokèmon merely grinned and shook their fingers as if scolding a child. Then the Gengar materialized a tiny mini vacuum which then sucked up the sleep powder.

"Huh?" the sight of this made Ash, Laoise, Pikachu and Leafy stare.

"Aw nuts," Laoise mumbled. Leafy deflated a little too.

Then to their bewilderment, the gengar removed the little vacuum's bag, opened it and then dumped the contents onto Leafy.

At once, the little Oddish became woozy.

"Good try, Leafy. Return." Laoise sighed, recalling her Oddish. "Guess Ghost Pokémon love their tricks and surprises."

She studied the specters, intrigued by their eerie aura. The Gengar laughed, its form rippling like smoke. Haunter simply grinned wider, tongue lolling. Clearly these ghosts saw the newcomers more as entertainment than threat.

Haunter and Gengar soon put on a comedy act to try and get our heroes to laugh (not that the trainer understood that's what they were trying to do), but to no avail.

"Well, that was...different. At least we saw what they can do!"

Ash titled his head, "I don't get it. They're weird."

The two ghost pokèmon resorted to a comedy routine, which Ash dismissed and confused Laoise.

"I'm sorry to say it, but their humor really leaves me cold."

Pikachu his front limbs like arms, "Kachu."

Saddened by their failure to entertain the two trainers, the two Ghost-types was further dismayed by the comments.

"They look pretty down in the mouth." Laoise commented.

The two Pokémon start to sink into the floor.

Ash cried, "Hey! Don't go! Wait a second!"

Our heroes start running after them, but are too late to catch them, but miss and the trio crashes into the wooden floor. The impacts cause a chandelier to drop on top of them, knocking them out. Pikachu's electricity lights the chandelier, and the Ghost Pokémon applaud the performance.

Then the three Ghost Pokémon figure that the two humans and Pikachu are unconscious. Haunter then gets an idea and pulled Ash and Pikachu's spirits from their bodies, and Gengar does the same to Laoise, and they soon wake up.

Laoise opened her eyes first. "What happened? Gengar? What? I'm no...Huh? Like...?"

Why were her hands and arms so transparent? Cautiously she glanced down.

Laoise gasped and yelped to discover her unconscious body under the chandelier alongside Ash and Pikachu's.

"Ash? Pikachu? Don't look now, but I think we're having a genuine out of body experience!"

Ash and Pikachu look down and see their bodies and panic.

"We're down there!" Ash gaped.

Pikachu was also alarmed. "Pika Pika!"

"Haunter Haunter." The Haunter said, pointing to itself and to them.

Ash stared, "You're saying that we're alike now?"

Pikachu was also perplexed. "Pika.."

Then Laoise's earlier words sank in. Ash at once became alarmed as did Pikachu. "Oh no! We've been totally separated from our bodies!"

"How're those skeptics gonna explain this?" Laoise said.

Haunter nodded, "Haunter Haunter!"

Ash held up his hands, "No way! I don't wanna be a ghost yet!"

"But I don't wanna be undead either!" Laoise expressed.

Haunter then took Ash's hand and pulled him upward.

Gengar pushed Pikachu upward and Gastly pushed Laoise upward as well and they go through every floor of the tower until they get to the roof.

"No! Wherever you're taking us, we don't wanna go!"

Laoise wailed. "I'm not ready for Heaven, let alone meet St. Peter just yet!"

The three Ghost Pokémon take them through the roof so they could see a spectacular view of Lavender Town.

"What a view!" Ash gaped.

"Pikachu." Pikachu smiled.

"Wowee, I ain't never been this high before!" Laoise exclaimed, taking in the breathtaking vista. Ethereal mists swirled over shadowy spires as twilight's glow softened Lavender's grim edges.

"Hey! Look down there! It's the gang!" pointed Laoise.

Ash chuckled. "Now's our chance to have some fun!"

Laoise smiled mischievously. "Let's."

"Pika?" Pikachu questioned.

Misty was saying to Brock. "Ash and Laoise are taking too long. I think we better go in and see how they're doing."

As Misty talks with Brock, Ash levitated behind Misty upside down while Laoise hovered between her and Brock.

Brock nodded. "That's a good idea."

"So, Misty, you're really worried about me."

Misty turned in surprise and looks at Ash, but can't see him in his ghost form.

Brock questioned. "What's wrong, Misty?"

"I just thought I heard a voice."

Laoise then got an idea and she began to sing in Misty's ear, "When the crypt doors creak, and the tombstones quake, Spooks come out for a swinging wake! Happy haunts materialize, And begin to vocalize. Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize!"

Misty let out a terrified shriek and spun around, but saw nothing there.

"Being a ghost is a lot of fun, ain't it?"

Ash grinned, "Come for a ride with me, Misty." He then picked up Misty and lifted her up as she panics.

Brock saw this and his jaw dropped. Though, he couldn't see Ash nor Laoise only what looked like Misty is being lifted upwards by an invisible force.

"Misty!"

Misty wailed "Help! The ghost has got me!"

Laoise giggled, and continued singing, "Now don't close your eyes and don't try to hide, Or a silly spook may sit by your side, Shrouded in a daft disguise, They pretend to terrorize Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize!"

Ash laughed. "Okay! Ride's over! Catch her, Brock!"

Then Ash dropped Misty, but Brock managed to catch her, though he fell down as a result. Both Misty and Brock sat up.

"Wait a minute! Those voices! I think something terrible happened to Ash and Laoise!" Misty said.

While the others rush into the Tower to 'save' their friends, Ash, Laoise, Pikachu, and the ghost trio fly over Lavender Town, having a wonderful time.

"Yeah! We're flying!"

Now Laoise had begun happily singing 'You can fly! You can fly!' from Disney's version of Peter Pan. Pikachu and Gengar were lightly moving their hands like a conductor to the tune.

The group flew into the forest surrounding the Pokémon Tower. The Gengar took Laoise's hands and cheerfully spun her in circles, floating up and down in the air. Best part is Laoise didn't get dizzy not like when she was alive.

Haunter flew in front of the group, opens his mouth, and Ash became alarmed, thinking that he was gonna be eaten only to passes right through it.

Ash laughed, "You fooled me!"

The whole group laughs at Haunter's antics, but soon head back inside the tower and entered the ghostly trio's playroom.

"Look at this playroom!" Laoise smiled around.

Ash grinned, "Wow! Look at all these toys!"

Pikachu agreed. "Kachu!"

Haunter pointed to the small carousel "Haunt Haunt Haunt Haunt!"

The Gengar balanced on a ball. "Gengar Gengar Gengar."

Gastly began swinging on a swing. "Gastly. Gastly."

The group is taken by surprise.

"Huh? Do you mean you only wanted somebody to play with?" Ash questioned.

Laoise was pleasantly surprised, "How about that? These guys don't want to be scary at all! They just want to have some fun with a friend!"

The Haunted and Gengar smiled and nodded confirming this.

Ash smiled in relief, "Really? Was that all? You just wanted to have some fun, not scare people?"

Then Ash noticed Pikachu happily swinging on the swing with the Gastly and Laoise trying a releve ballet position on the ball as the Gengar encouraged her.

"I understand how you must have been bored for such a long time. That's tough." Ash sympathized.

"I feel that." Laoise said.

"Were sorry, but I can't stay with you and play with all these great toys. There are still lots and lots of opponents out there for me to battle. I have to fulfill my dream of becoming a Pokémon master! Sorry, but I really have to go."

"I have to participate in Pokèmon league, maybe a contest too. To prove anyone on the spectrum can do it." Laoise.

The three Ghost Pokémon are saddened by what the two trainers said.

"We'll miss you all." Ash expressed.

The three Ghost Pokémon started crying.

"There, there, it's okay." Laoise hugged the Gengar. She even held the Haunter's hands and petted the Gastly.

Meanwhile, our heroes have dragged the apparently lifeless Ash, Laoise, and Pikachu out from under the chandelier and were trying to revive them.

Misty was shaking them gently, "Ash! Pikachu! Laoise!"

Brock spoke next, "Come on, wake up!"

"Oh, Ash, Laoise, can't you hear us?!"

"Please say something!"

Above them, our three ghostly heroes and their spooky new friends appear.

"Ash, open your eyes! Please, Ash!" Misty pleaded.

"Laoise, you've got to wake up!"

"They do look worried." Laoise remarked.

Ash said to Laoise and Pikachu, "Huh. I guess it's time to go back."

"Yes, but this one experience I'll never forget." Laoise said.

Our three heroes return to their bodies and awakened.

Ash opened his eyes first, "Hi, Misty."

"Hello, everyone. Wow, what a crash." Laoise stirred next.

Misty gasped "You're alive!"

Pikachu sat up.

Brock said in relief, "Pikachu!"

Ash said, "Hey, guys. Sorry to worry you."

Brock replied, "No sweat. Glad to have you back."

Misty wiped the tears from her eyes with a light blush.

Ash looks at the three Pokémon hovering above as did Laoise, they chuckled.

Soon, the dawn comes and our heroes depart from Lavender Town. Laoise is cheerfully whistling 'Joyful, Joyful'.

Misty then questioned, "But Ash, Laoise, what about the Ghost Pokémon?" The two looked too chipper for someone who failed to get a ghost pokèmon.

Ash shrugged. "Ah, it's impossible to catch them."

Brock was stunned. "What?! Then how are you ever gonna beat the Psychic Pokémon?"

"Maybe I'll have to use my sense of humor." Ash grinned.

Laoise winked. "Guess we're gonna have to get cunning and think out of the box."

Everyone is puzzled by what they said. Soon, Pikachu spots something behind them. "Pika!"

They all turned to sees Haunter following them, which frightened Misty and Brock by trying to be funny, except for Ash, Laoise, and Pikachu who laugh as the others run away.

"Good one, Haunter!" Laoise giggled.

Haunter laughs with them both. Then to their surprise the Gengar and the Gastly appeared.

"Hi, came to say goodbye personally buddy?" Laoise asked brightly.

All she got were winks and the Gastly nodding to the others. The Gengar reached a ghostly hand into her hiking bag and yanked out an empty Poké Ball.

For a split second Laoise was alarmed. "Don't touch tha-"

Ignoring her, the Gengar smacked the ball against its own head, getting sucked up inside. A stunned Laoise watched it drop to the ground and hearing it click.

"Maker Almighty..." she said, breathed, staring at the ball in her hands. She broke into a surprised laugh at the irony. "I caught a Ghost Pokémon!"

Ash pumped a fist. "Alright, Laoise! We're one step closer to beating Sabrina now!"

Pikachu agreed eagerly. "Cha!"

Gengar phased out and lunged at her, tackling her in an excited hug. She laughed and hugged it back. "C'mere, you lovable little trickster!" Then she remembered, "But what about you Gastly, won't you be alone?" Laoise asked.

"Gastly!" The Gastly materialized a suitcase, a bowler hat on it's head and a large map.

"Oh, so you're going out to see the world?" Ash laughed.

The Gastly nodded before bidding it comrades luck and vanishing, placing a sign saying 'Free board and rooms for ghost pokèmon'. Back inside before departing for a trip, the Gastly laughed as it watched Team Rocket, who are tied onto the spinning carousel.

Well, it seems it was so much fun playing with Ash and Laoise that Haunter decided to follow along on his Pokémon journey and Gengar caught itself right into Laoise's pokeball. Maybe, together, their comedy act will knock out Sabrina's Psychic Pokémon.

To be continued…

Author's note: Yep, even kids would sometimes sneak to watch spooky shows too. Back in the 90's Tales from the Crypt was one of them. Plus I had the chance to read the EC comics most were gruesome other were tearjerker/righteous anger fuel too especially segment 3 in that 1972 movie with Peter Cushing.

Surprised, aren't you? Been planning it out for a while since I planned for Laoise to journey and battle for badges.