Kanto Gets Loud
Chapter 59: The Ghost of Maiden's Peak (Part 3)
The Next Morning, at the Shrine of the Maiden,
Lincoln, Misty and the gang from Royal Woods and Cerise Labs returned to the Shrine, in hopes of finding their wayward friends, "Brock! Rusty!" Lincoln called out.
"Where are you?" Misty called out. On the side opposite of them, Jessie and Meowth were looking for James, who was not with them at the time.
"James? James, where are you?!" Jessie called out, as they moved to the front of the shrine, "If you're not there, then at least come out and tell us!"
"Dat's right!" Meowth called.
"Hey Brock! Rusty!" Lincoln called, unwittingly approaching the pair. Upon noticing the other group, both sides quickly backed away.
"Yuck!" Jessie groused.
"Double yuck!" Lincoln countered.
"So, I finally found you!" Jessie declared, only to remember something important, "No, wait, you're not the one I was looking for!"
"Are you looking for someone too? And where's that blue-haired guy?" Leni asked.
"Prepare for trouble, and make it double!" Jessie said, deepening her voice for James' line. She then looked exasperated, "Doing this on my own is going to be a real pain," she said to herself, "To protect the world from devastation! To unite all people within our nation. To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!" James' muffled voiced called out.
"Jessie?"
"James!" everyone looked around, trying to find where James was hiding.
"Uh, Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light?" Jessie called out.
"Surrender now," the doors to the shrine flew open, and James was flung out onto the ground, "Or prepare to fight!"
"He looks like death!" Jessie exclaimed.
"Worse than usual!" Meowth added, just as Brock and Rusty fell out of the shrine as well.
"Brock! And Rusty too!" Lincoln exclaimed, seeing that all three of them had the same, blissful looks on their faces, "C'mon you guys, pull yourselves together!"
"You heard him! Wake up!" Polly said, as she began slapping Rusty in an attempt to wake him up. James latched onto Jessie's leg as well.
"Snap out of it, James!" Jessie broke James off of her leg, and began shaking him.
"So, things are turning out just as I predicted," they all turned to see the old woman from the day before, "It would appear that these three have all seen the ghost of the maiden."
"The Ghost of the Maiden?" everyone parroted, as Brock and James embraced on another, as Rusty did by embracing Polly by her waistline.
"They're all possessed!" Lincoln exclaimed, turning back to Pikachu, "Pikachu, can you do something about this?"
"Leave it to me!" Pikachu replied, as he then fired off a Thunderbolt, zapping all three of them, causing them to fall to the ground.
"Huh? Who am I? I am Brock, from Pewter City," Brock said.
"And I'm Rusty Spokes, from Royal Woods, Michigan," Rusty added.
"Brock's back!" Misty exclaimed.
"And so's Rusty!" Clyde added.
"And I'm James, former member of Team Rocket, now independent criminal," James said, leaping up, and skipping around.
"He's back," Jessie said, holding her head in her hands.
"But not to normal," Meowth added.
"I'll explain everything. Please, follow me into the Shrine," the old woman said, leading them all into the shrine, "You see, these three are NOT the first ones to have been bewitched by the Ghost of the Maiden. All men who pass through here fall under her spell, and it's always the same story, with them being found here with the life sucked out of them, and babbling like idiots."
"So, what you're saying is that the Ghost of the Maiden entrances all men who pass through here, hoping one of them is her love?" Tabby asked.
"Precisely," the old woman replied.
"So what? Who cares as long as I can be with her?" Brock asked, sounding like he was still in a trance. Lincoln waved his hand in front of his face.
"Man, he's still not cured!" Lincoln commented, falling back.
"I'M SO SCARED! YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!" James whined.
"Yeah. Beautiful as she is, I don't really want to be with an actual ghost!" Rusty added.
"Well, I do have one option. And that's these stickers!" the old woman said, placing a sticker on Brock, Rusty, and James' faces each, "These are anti-Ghost stickers known as Cleanse Tags, however…" she trailed off.
"'However,'? Is there something we should know about them?" Lincoln asked.
"Yes. For you see," the old woman said, pulling out a cash register, "These stickers do offer protection against spirits like the maiden, but they aren't for free, you know?" this statement caused everyone to fall over in anime fashion.
A little later,
Everyone was hard at work, placing Cleanse Tags all over the Shrine, "We can't be too careful, you know?" Misty commented, as she helped Lincoln and the others place tags on the outside of the shrine. Inside, Jessie and Meowth were sticking stickers on the inside of the shrine as well, even on Rusty, James, and Brock.
"Do you really think this will work?" James asked.
"Shut your mouth!" Jessie said, slapping a sticker over James' mouth.
"Ok, that's the last of them!" Lincoln called from outside.
"We've got the entire shrine covered from top to bottom in Cleanse Tags," Ronnie Anne added.
"So now, all we have to do is wait," Liam added.
"Hey there!" they turned to see the rest of the Louds, Sam, and the Monster Royals heading towards them, "We were wondering where you all danced off to," Rita commented.
"What's going on here?" Lola asked.
"Well, this may be a bit hard to believe, but it would appear we've got an actual ghost on our hands," Lincoln replied.
"Wait, you mean a for real ghost?" Sam asked.
"That's right. More specifically, the Ghost of the Maiden," Goh replied.
"We're placing these Cleanse Tags all over the shrine to help ward her off. She's apparently bewitched Brock and Rusty, and that blue-haired guy from Team Rocket," Margo added.
"Oh my, that's quite the pickle!" Lillianna commented.
"Indeed. And we can't risk any of them being taken," Misty replied.
"Well, there is one other thing you should know about the Ghost," the old woman said, as she emerged from the shrine.
"And what's that?" Lincoln asked.
"She only appears at night," the woman said.
"At night, huh? Kind of fitting for a ghost sighting," Clyde commented.
"Especially considering this shrine might be haunted by her spirit as well," Bobby replied.
"Well, seeing as how we have until nightfall till the ghost reappears, why don't we do something to take our minds off of this matter?" Lucius suggested.
"Y-Yeah, you're probably right. I think some time at the festival might be just what I need," Rusty replied, as he got up, and exited the shrine.
"Just be sure you come back here by nightfall so that I can perform the ritual to expel the Ghost's influence!" the old woman said.
"Will do," Misty replied, turning to Brock, "What say you, Brock? Want to come take in some fun at the festival?"
"S-Sure," Brock replied, as he got up as well.
"C'mon James! We need to go prepare as well. Not to mention come up with a new motto and team name," Jessie ordered.
"Coming," James replied.
Later that night,
Brock, Rusty, and James were sitting inside the shrine, alongside their friends, while the old woman was waving a priest's wand before a roaring flame. Outside, some of the others were waiting in the bushes, waiting for the Ghost of the Maiden to appear, "Do you think she'll come?" Jessie asked, as she was waiting off to the side inside the shrine.
"Oh, she'll come alright," Meowth replied.
"This has got to work," Bobby commented.
"Lets hope," Lincoln added. Outside, a powerful wind whipped through the forest, and cliffs, causing all of the Cleanse Tags to blow off the shrine.
"She's here!" the old woman exclaimed, turning to the Shrine Doors, as they flew wide open, allowing the powerful wind to whip through. The Ghost of the Maiden then appeared before them.
"What the…?! Why aren't the Cleanse Tags working?!" Ronnie Anne exclaimed.
"It's you!" Brock said to the Ghost.
"I've been waiting for you," the Ghost replied.
"Yes, and I've been waiting too," Brock replied.
"I'M SCARED! REALLY, REALLY SCARED!" James whined, crying fountains.
"Uh, guys? Any time you want to jump in and help out would be greatly appreciated!" Rusty called to his friends.
"I've wanted to meet you," the Ghost stated.
"And I you," Brock replied, as he, James, and Rusty began floated towards the Ghost.
"Brock, no!" Lincoln exclaimed. James latched onto the railing on the Shrine Alter, while Rusty was grabbed by Bobby and Leni.
"What's going on?! Why aren't the Cleanse Tags working?!" James exclaimed.
"Maybe it's because…" Meowth began.
"We got them…" Jessie continued.
"For free," the two of them finished.
"'Free'? What do you mean?" James asked.
"It was a two-for-one deal. We got a free set for every set they bought," Jessie replied, pointing towards Lincoln and the others, who were desperately trying to stop Brock and Rusty from floating out, "It was a real bargain, you have to admit."
"You're telling me you used freebies?!" James asked indignantly.
"Oopsie," Jessie said sheepishly.
"I can't believe you're both letting that ghost get just because you're so cheap!" James exclaimed.
"Hey, in our defense, we're flat broke!" Meowth argued.
"This is so not fair! I DON'T WANT TO GO!" James whined, absentmindedly letting go of the railing and floating out with the others.
"Brock, wait!" Lincoln exclaimed, as he and Misty grabbed onto his ankles.
"Keep a hold on him!" Misty exclaimed.
"Huh? Hey, let go!" Brock demanded, as he was pulled back.
"I DON'T WANT TO GO!" James screamed, just as a fireball was shot straight through the ghost, causing the ghosts hold on all three of them to break. James, however, was over the side of the cliff, and plummeted into the ocean. Lincoln and the others then saw Jessie holding a bazooka.
"Hey girl, you can't take him! You haven't got a ghost of a chance!" she proclaimed. James then scrambled up the side of the cliff.
"You really do care?" James asked gratefully.
"It's not because of you! Girls like her disgust me! Always waiting around for her man like she's some kind of pet! There's more to life than some pitiful romance with some guy! But if you're that desperate for a relationship, then let me just say that there are plenty of fish in the sea!" Jessie proclaimed.
"I sure could go for some fish," Meowth commented.
'Man, she sounds just like Lori,' Lincoln and friends all thought.
"I've been waiting for too long for my love! I will no allow you to interfere!" the Ghost said, as she began whipping up an ominous whirlwind towards the forest. In seconds, a cluster of ghostly skulls appeared, cackling all the while.
"Whoa, what are those?!" Misty exclaimed, hiding behind Lincoln.
"I doubt they're any kind of Pokemon I've ever seen," Lincoln replied, as he attempted to scan it.
"No Pokemon Entry Found," Dexter stated.
"You're saying they aren't Pokemon?!" Giggles exclaimed, as the skulls began flying around, causing the gang to run around in panic.
"This is nuts!" Lincoln exclaimed.
"Pokemon detected. Searching the area," Dexter then said. Lincoln pointed Dexter all over the vicinity, before finally pointing it at the Maiden's Ghost, "Pokemon Entry Found: Gastly, the Gas Pokemon, a Ghost and Poison Type. Poisonous gasses make up roughly 95% of its body. It is rumored that the remaining 5% are the souls of those who died from the gas. Although it's barely visible, whenever Gastly is nearby, a faint sweet scent often lingers. This Male Gastly is Level 50, and knows the moves Hypnosis, Dream Eater, Shadow Ball, Night Shade, Dark Pulse, Hex, Nightmare, and the Egg Move Fire Punch."
"'Gastly'? So, you're an actual Ghost Type Pokemon?" Clyde asked.
"So, you've finally figured it out. Sometimes I'm the Ghost of the Beautiful, 2,000 year old Maiden," the ghost then morphed into the Old Woman, "And sometimes I'm the mysterious Old Woman! But no matter what form I take on, I'll always be…" the old woman then morphed into the true form of Gastly, "Awfully Gastly!"
"Alright guys, we need to stop Gastly!" Lincoln said to the others. He then turned to Pikachu, "You ready to go, Pikachu?"
"Whenever you are, partner!" Pikachu then dashed forward.
"Go, Fennekin!" Girl Jordan then sent out Fennekin. The others sent out their Pokemon as well.
"Please, you honestly think your Pokemon stand a chance against me? My hypnotic powers are great enough to cast illusions into the minds of Pokemon as well, including little rodents like a Pikachu!" Gastly stated.
"What are you on about?" Pikachu asked.
"To stop a mouse," Gastly then morphed into a giant mousetrap, "Use a mousetrap!" Pikachu ran away to avoid getting caught by the mousetrap.
"Fennekin!" Girl Jordan called out.
"Tepig!" called Liam.
"Torchic!" called Zach.
"Chimchar!" Margo called.
"Cyndaquil!" Leni called.
"Fuecoco!" Bobby called.
"GROUP EMBER ATTACK!" they called out. Their Pokemon all fired off Ember at Gastly.
"If you play with fire, you're bound to get extinguished!" Gastly then turned into a fire extinguisher, and snuffed out the Ember attack, and began chased the Fire Pokemon around.
"This is totes not good! Return, Cyndaquil!" Leni called, recalling Cyndaquil. The others did the same as well.
"Go, Arbok! Bite attack!" Jessie then sicced Arbok on Gastly.
"A snake's natural enemy is a mongoose!" Gastly then morphed into a giant mongoose, "Dinner time!" this was enough to get Arbok to back off, and slither back to Jessie in a panic.
"You know, you can help too, James!" Jessie yelled.
"Oh, right! Koffing, use Smog!" James called to Koffing, who began spewing Smog, only to get stomped by Gastly, who was still in the form of a mongoose, but was now wearing a gas mask.
"Smoking is prohibited!" Gastly stated.
"Alright, now it's our turn, you guys!" Sid called to the remaining trainers, who sent in their Pokemon as well.
"I wish I could almost feel bad about how you're making this far too easy for me!" Gastly then conjured up several Pokemon that looked like larger forms of the remaining trainer's Pokemon, which included the following;
A long, white snake like Pokemon.
A large, juggernaut like Pokemon with spikes on it's arms and back.
A Pokemon that looked like a mix between a mermaid and a sea lion.
A bipedal, owl like Pokemon with it's plumage of feathers wrapped around its head like a hood.
A quadruped otter Pokemon with seashell like armor.
A large, green sauropod Pokemon with a flower around the base of its neck.
A muscular, blue crocodile Pokemon.
A tall, slender lizard like Pokemon that looked like a secret agent.
"Serperior, Chesnaught, Primarina, Decidueye, Samurott, Meganium, Feraligatr, and Inteleon, the fully evolved forms of each of these little runts! And for a bit more fun, I think I'll take Feraligatr and Chesnaught, and merge them together into one super Pokemon; Feralinaught! Try this one on for size!" Gastly said, as he merged Chesnaught and Feraligatr together into a fused Pokemon that had qualities of both Pokemon. This scared off the smaller Pokemon back to their trainers.
"Oh man, we lose! It's… just too powerful!" Lincoln commented.
"Not quite! Why don't you try this!" Misty exclaimed, holding a cross.
"Uh, Misty? Isn't that…?" Lincoln asked.
"That's right! It's a cross! I also have garlic, a stake, and hammer!" Misty replied, pulling out the aforementioned items.
"Where'd you get those?" Lincoln asked.
"Don't question it," Misty retorted.
"What am I, a vampire or something?" Gastly asked, sounding put off by the items Misty had on hand.
"No, but I happen to know that you're quite a troublemaker!" Gastly froze up, and turned to see Yurei approaching them. She looked very angry, "So, up to your old tricks as usual, I see, Gastly?"
"Y-Yurei, you're back already? I thought you were enjoying the festival with your friends?" Gastly nervously asked.
"I forgot something at the Shrine, and what do I come and find? You, causing trouble for esteemed guests AGAIN!" Yurei yelled.
"I-I can't help it if I have a flair for theatrics. Besides, it's a great way to promote tourism, right? And also to keep the old legend of the maiden alive," Gastly asked.
"Even so, that doesn't excuse your behavior towards these people!" Yurei snapped, causing Gastly to flinch.
"Man, she is good!" Liam commented.
"You might have your work cut out for you when you battle her, Lincoln," Ronnie Anne commented.
"'Lincoln'? As in, Lincoln Loud, the American that's been blazing through Gym Battle after Gym Battle, who also is one of the lucky survivors of the St. Anne sinking?" Yurei asked, looking towards the boy in question.
"Yes, that's me. I'd like to formally challenge you to a Gym Battle," Lincoln respectfully replied.
"Very well. I accept your challenge. But it'll have to wait until the day after tomorrow. The Gym is closed during festivals such as this, and no exceptions are ever made," Yurei replied.
"That's fine," Lincoln replied.
"I look forward to our battle, Lincoln," Yurei said, before turning back to Gastly, who looked like he was trying to sneak off, "As for you! I think I have a way for you to redeem yourself for all of the trouble you've caused," she said, somehow grabbing hold of Gastly.
"P-Please have mercy on me!" Gastly was now crying fear induced buckets of tears, as he was dragged off.
The Next Night, at the riverbank,
Lincoln, his family, and friends were now seen by the riverbank, placing little boats with candles in the water, "At the end of the summer, the visitors sendoff these little boats with the hopes they can help guide any wandering spirits home," Officer Jenny said, as each of the Monster Princesses placed boats of their own into the water.
"That's kind of romantic, if you look at it from a certain point of view," Charlie commented.
"This'll make for a great chapter in my next novel," Rita commented, as the boats passed by Maiden's Rock. Above one boat in particular, Gastly was hovering above it.
"This summer is over, but your legend will live on. I swear it," he vowed to the spirit of Maiden's Rock, who then made an appearance.
"Thank you, Gastly," she said.
"It's my pleasure. After all, I enjoy keeping alive ALL of the old legends that people have forgotten over the years. And if I do a good job of it, I make a few bucks whilst doing so," Gastly replied, as he conjured up the same cash register from before.
"I'll be waiting for you until the next festival, where I hope my true love will return to me at last," the spirit of the Maiden said.
"Well, I am a Ghost Pokemon. If I happen to come across his spirit, I'll be sure to tell him that his maiden is still waiting for him," Gastly vowed.
"Thank you! And goodbye!" the maiden said, as she returned to the rock. Standing by a tree, looking out at Maiden's Rock, Brock could only sigh sadly.
"If only you were 2,000 years younger. Maybe next year," he commented.
"I'm sure you'll find the right girl for you, Brock," Lincoln reassured.
"Thanks, Lincoln. I hope to," Brock replied.
"I know you will. For now, why don't we go and enjoy the festival?" Misty suggested.
"Sounds good, I…" Brock then noticed the Monster Princesses, all in their human disguises, "WOW! WHAT KNOCKOUTS!" Brock wasted no time in rushing over, and flirting with them.
"Well, good to know he's back to normal," Misty commented.
"Yep. Though we should tell him about Charlie, Milt, Verosika, and the others," Lincoln replied.
"Well, we don't have to worry about him putting any more moves on them. Looks like they're turning him down," Misty replied, noticing how Charlie and the others were politely turning him down, "How much you want to bet he'll be more jealous of you when he finds out you're engaged to them?"
"I'll find a way to make it up to him," Lincoln replied, as the two went back to the festival grounds with the others. Up atop a large, wooden structure in the middle, the Ex-Rockets were playing taiko drums, while Meowth was playing a flute.
"A nice way to forget all the scary stuff that just happened, wouldn't you say?" James asked.
"Now we can just focus on drumming up some fun!" Jessie replied. Down at one the benches, Lincoln was talking with his mother, sisters, and fiancés. They were all wearing kimonos.
"And that's what went down at the shrine," he said, showing them the entry for Gastly.
"Didn't you say the Maiden's Peak Gym specializes in Ghost Pokemon?" Charlie asked.
"That's right. Fortunately, I've managed to devise a strategy to help make things easier. I just wonder what the Test of Character will be?" Lincoln pondered.
"What's a 'Test of Character'?" Milt asked.
"It's a special task all Gym Leaders give challengers to see if they're worthy of challenging the gym for a badge," Misty replied, as she walked up to them, wearing a pink kimono with bubble print. She also had her hair down, "In short, it's something that's meant to weed out all the unworthy trainers, so that only the most qualified trainers can make it into the Pokemon League."
"And whatever Yurei will have me do is anyone's guess. It could be some kind of Haunted House challenge, or something," Lincoln added.
"But enough of what tomorrow will bring, let's go and join in the dance!" Misty said, as she dragged Lincoln towards the middle.
"We should go join in too. Why should they have all the fun?" Verosika questioned, as she got up, along with the others.
"Lily, you stay close with me, alright?" Rita said, as she went to join the others, along with Lily.
Later, at the Pokemon Center,
After having their fill of the last night of the festival, the large group returned to the Pokemon Center, "I can't remember when I had so much fun," Lana commented, yawning a bit.
"True. And experiencing a foreign festival was a nice change of pace," Luna replied.
"At least I won't have to worry about putting Lily down for bedtime," Rita commented, holding the sleeping baby.
"Which reminds me! I bought some storybooks for Lily while I was touring the festival with the girls. I'll give them to you before you leave," Lincoln replied.
"That was very nice of you to do, Lincoln. Thank you. Could I maybe see the books myself?" Rita asked.
"Sure. Just let me fish them out of my bag," Lincoln replied, as they arrived at the room the Louds were using. Lincoln then got his bag, and began rummaging through it, "Lets see, I know I put them in here some…. Ah, here they are!" Lincoln said, as he pulled out four story books, while also unintentionally dropping the books he got from Porta Vista.
"Hmm? What are these?" Sam wondered, as she picked one up, and opened it. Upon seeing the contents, she blushed profusely, and smiled blissfully, "Images of a real-life goddess!" she drooled.
"What are you…" Luna immediately got a nose bleed upon seeing the pictures in the book, "Dang bro, you got some taste!"
"What are these books?" Rita asked, as she picked up another one. Upon seeing the pictures inside, she chuckled, "Well, nice to see that you're maturing well since coming here, Lincoln. But if I may ask, who is this woman?"
"That's Natalie, the Dragon Type Gym Leader in Porta Vista, and the one I faced for my fourth badge. And I have to tell you, she didn't make it easy on me," Lincoln replied.
"I'll say. Trying to focus on the battlefield, and keeping your line of sight above the neckline must've been almost impossible," Sam replied.
"And it doesn't help that she was dressed as a cavewoman," Lincoln added.
"I'm impressed she can even carry those things with ease! How many gallons do think each of them have?" Luan asked, looking at the pictures herself.
"I'm betting at least 6," Luna replied. The third book floated over to Charlie and the other monster girls.
"Wow, I didn't think humans could get THIS big!" Charlie commented.
"So, this is the kind of girl you like, Lincoln?" Verosika mused.
"Eh, w-well, I suppose wild women are pretty attractive," Lincoln admitted.
"Hey, maybe she's just like me!" Milt chimed in.
"What do you mean?" Rita asked.
"Her boobies are enormous, so she must make lots of milk like I do!" Milt explained. An awkward wind blew through that room.
"A-Are you saying you're a mother already?!" Luna exclaimed. The Monster Princesses couldn't help but laugh.
"No, Luna. See, minotaur women, like Milt here, come in two breeds; Warrior and Dairy. Warrior Minotaur women are focused mostly on brute strength and combat," Octavia explained.
"But Milt here is a Dairy Breed Minotaur. Dairy Breeds are pacifists by nature, and don't really like fighting in general, but still possess the same amount of strength as other minotaurs. The one trade off that Dairy Breeds have over their warrior counterparts is that they produce large quantities of milk a day. In fact, they need to be milked daily, otherwise they get pretty ornery," Miu added.
"Damn, you're so lucky, Lincoln!" Luna yelled.
"Hold on, Luna, there's more to it than that," Verosika replied.
"What do you mean?" Luna asked.
"See, while Dairy Minotaurs are able to produce large quantities of milk, they only ever allow people they truly trust to do so. Since Lincoln only just met Milt here the other day, it's still a bit early to assume she trusts him enough to take care of her that way," Loona explained.
"B-but what about machines? Don't you have milking machines?" Luan asked.
"We do, but Dairy Minotaurs, Pans, and even centaurs don't really like using them," Vaggie replied.
"It's not my fault they're so impractical and cold. Besides, they hardly ever get enough milk out," Milt defensively stated.
"Well, that's something you'll need to remember in the future, Lincoln," Luna commented.
"Y-yeah," Lincoln replied nervously, before remembering something, "By the way, could I get those books back?"
"Oh, right! Here you go," Charlie replied, as she, Rita, and Sam all returned the books to Lincoln.
"Thank you kindly," Lincoln replied, as he placed the books back in his bag.
"So, tomorrow is when you challenge that Yurei girl to a battle?" Miu asked.
"Yep. For my fifth badge," Lincoln replied.
"In that case, we should go ahead and get to bed so you'll be ready for tomorrow," Rita advised.
"Right! Well, we'll see you all in the morning," Charlie said, as she and the others went to their room, leaving the Louds and Sam to crawl into their respective, separate beds. At Rita's request, Lucius had conjured an extra bed for Sam, who was sleeping on the opposite end of the room as Luna was.
?
Lincoln didn't know where he was. The place he was in was shapeless, and almost cosmic, "This is so weird. Where am I?" he wondered out loud.
"Chosen Child," a brilliant, golden light began shining from behind Lincoln. When he turned, he saw the same, reindeer like Pokemon from the dream he had before coming to Kanto.
"It's you!" Lincoln exclaimed.
"Indeed. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Arceus, the God of All Pokemon, and the entire universe as well," the Pokemon introduced itself.
"Very nice to meet you, Arceus, but what's this all about?" Lincoln asked.
"I understand that you're planning to face one of the Kanto Gyms tomorrow, so I'll make this quick. Do you remember what I said the night before you came to Kanto?" Arceus asked.
"Yes, I do. You said 'I was worthy'. But I have to ask, what is it that I'm worthy of?" Lincoln asked.
"Well, young man, you are among a large group of Pokemon Trainers who are destined to change the world for the better, and was given a blessing as proof of your worth," Arceus replied. Lincoln blinked a few times, then remembered the Rainbow Wing.
"You're talking about the Rainbow Wing I got from Ho-Oh, right?" Lincoln asked.
"Indeed. Ho-Oh recognized you as a trainer who is capable of changing the world for the better," Arceus replied.
"Could that tie in with how I'm able to talk with Pokemon? And what about all the good luck I've been having since day one?" Lincoln asked.
"The Rainbow Wing brings happiness to those who wield it. With the hardships you faced before coming to Kanto, it was able to give you the good fortune you've been experiencing. And as for being able to communicate with Pokemon, that's an additional blessing I bestowed upon the wing myself, just to make things a bit easier for you," Arceus explained.
"And the items my friends received, the crystals, the feathers, the Silver Wings, are they all like the Rainbow Wing?" Lincoln asked.
"Indeed. For you see, your friends from your home are also destined to change the world for the better," Arceus replied.
"Ok, but if that's true, then why aren't any of them here with us?" Lincoln asked.
"The time is not right for them to learn of this matter. So, I must ask you to keep this a secret until they are ready," Arceus replied.
"Well, I'd rather not keep secrets from my friends, but if you have some sort of method to your madness, then I'll go along with it," Lincoln replied.
"I appreciate it, young man. Now, as for my reason for coming here, I must inform you that a major test in eliminating that Team Rocket group once and for all is coming up soon. When that time does come, do not hesitate to act," Arceus instructed, as the same, golden light began to shine.
"Wait! What's the test?! I need to know!" Lincoln called out.
"You needn't worry. After you're done at the Maiden's Peak Gym, you'll instinctively choose the path that'll lead you to it," Arceus replied, as the shining became more intense.
It's Trivia Question Time! The prize this time is deciding what kind of badge Yurei will give Lincoln once he's victorious. This includes the name of the badge, and what it looks like. And befitting the Ghost Type Gym Theme, the trivia question this time will be Ghost Themed. So, without further ado, here is the question:
Including Regional Variants, how many Ghost Type Pokemon were originally discovered in Kanto?