Ash was tapping his hand on the bed anxiously, his concern evident, the Chansey's healing abilities not able to ease him much, if at all.

Nurse Joy reentered, tentatively holding an incubator in her arms, the device containing a soft red egg with orange wisps-like mark dotting the shell.

Seeing Ash's eyes fall on her, she paused in response, as the said-patient asked immediately, "Is Pikachu alright?"

Joy hesitantly replied, her words softer, "He's... He is..." It was strange how uncomfortable she felt under his eyes, desperation for some answers evident.

Ash felt his dread start growing, but Joy attempted to alleviate the concern with a smile, "He's just fine... but... it's taking time for him to recover..."

Oh... kay...?" His voice came off as being unsure of her answer, his feelings not believing her, 'something feels wrong...'

Resting the incubator in Ash's arms, she requested "... But I'd like you to care for this while you're here."

Ash blinked, "What?" He was genuinely confused, staring at the egg inside with care. His mind bitterly returning to how a certain redhead cared for an egg-like Pokémon.

Joy explained, "An Ace Trainer gave up this particular egg to the Pokémon, I'd like for you to care for it for now."

Ash looked at the egg awkwardly, "Okay...?"

As Nurse Joy retreated immediately, her smile fall into a very concerned one. She knew that things were only going to get worse the more she visit him, she needed to consult an older Joy about what to do.

Gary stared up at the mask trainer, as he asked, "Are you Indigo?"

The person tilted their head, and obvious voice modifier replying, sounding like that of a younger girl, "I suppose you could call me that, I've heard enough trainers refer to me by different names, the general consensus is to refer to me as a color of some sort, so yeah, Indigo works." Their mannerisms and movements, from the way their head shifted to the jagged jerks of their limbs outright made Gary uneasy

Gary shot up, pushing his uncomfortable feelings for bravado, outright demanding, "Well then, I challenge you to a battle!"

Indigo asked, their mask tilting creepily, their neck bending to and intimidating angle, "You sure? You don't need a breather after the ghosts humiliated you?"

Gary snorted lightly, his pride showing outright, "Of course, nothing is going to shake me for long!"

Indigo giggled lightly, their chords with the strange modifier setting goosebumps lit up through Gary, "Of course... we'll use. . ." After a moment, like they were listening to someone. They ultimately replied, his voice sounding gravelly, like an old man. "Three Pokémon each."

Gary nodded, as the fog around them grew so thick, the only visible individuals being Indigo and Gary. When it cleared, Gary looked around, outright alert. As the fog cleared up, Gary found them both in a clearing, surrounded by tombstones now. "What the...?"

Indigo elaborated, "Some Ghosts can have... unnatural abilities when they unite their powers, so foreign to the rules of our world, they've chosen our battlefield for us..." Gary's eyes flicked around, seeing wisps of numerous beings, glowing eyes filling the literal dead air. Even several Vulpix and Cubone were watching from tombstones that covered them.

Gary shook off any feeling he had, "Alright! ghosts or no ghosts, I'll take you out!" As he slid himself back surprisingly far from Indigo, who merely whistled at the act.

"Wow, that's impressive. Do you have those roller-things under your shoes? Or did you practice that a lot?" Funnily enough, the question from them came out as simultaneously perplexed and mocking if anything, the angsty teenager's voice was not helping.

Gary took out a ball, "Alright!" With a quick peck to the device, he called, "Arcanine! Go!" As the large canine landed, releasing a guttural roar.

Indigo's head rocked to the sides repeatedly, as they cheered lightly, the voice of a young boy echoing, "What a wonderfully trained canine!" Clapping their hands together with enthusiasm matching their current voice.

Gary blinked in perplexity, surprised by the shift in character, "Uhh... thank you? Don't you think you should...?"

Indigo nodded, "Right, right!" With a Friend Ball in hand, they called, "Larvitar! Showtime!" As the Rock-type Pokémon materialized, it's eyes glaring at Arcanine

Gary took out his Pokédex, as it read out,Larvitar, the Rock Skin Pokémon, a Rock and Ground type. These Pokémon are born deep underground, it assumes it's pupil phase after consume an entire mountain's worth of dirt.

Tucking it away, Gary stared at Larvitar for a moment, "THIS is a Larvitar, it's so small, I was expecting something bigger..." A tick mark formed on Larvitar, his form tightening response, as Arcanine let loose a roar on Larvitar, a faint red glow forming for a moment, resulting in yet another tick mark forming.

Gary ordered, "Alright, this should be a piece of cake, Arcanine, Double-Edge."

Arcanine lurched forward, slamming into Larvitar hard. Gary cheered, but stopped when he noticed Arcanine struggling to move Larvitar, red steam emanating from the smaller Pokémon. Indigo grinned through their mask, as Larvitar was pushing Arcanine back with his head, "Larvitar, use Strength." As Larvitar begun forcing Arcanine back a full yard, before slugging the fire-type in the side of the head rather viciously.

Arcanine shifted back up, astonished from the hard hit, "Arcanine, are you good?" Arcanine looked back, nodding, albeit shaking heavily. "Alright, use Extreme Speed."

Larvitar tensed, ready to take Arcanine on, before said-canine blipped out of existence. The confusion was met by several strikes to his back, before he swiped his fist, missing the blur,

"Reversal." Before Larvitar could react, he felt a massive hit stomp him down. Moving back up, Larvitar glanced around, feeling hits land on his body, as the Rock-type glanced around, unable to figure out where Arcanine was now.

Gary felt smug, looking for a reaction from Indigo, who was looking rather sporadic, looking like they were having a seizure if anything. The confusion evident made Gary realize what they were doing, 'Are they... watching Arcanine's movements?'

Indigo finally shifted back to Larvitar, calling out playfully, "Lil' buddy, Stealth Rock." Larvitar slammed his fists together, cracks form on his body, as he screamed with rage, as energy shot out, Arcanine forced to stop as a result of jagged stones hit the ground, sticking out a few feet.

Gary glanced around in confusion, "Rocks? That may be troublesome..."

"Hidden Power." Gary's eyes widened, returning to the Rock Skin Pokémon, who was charging a sphere of pure energy between his palms.

Gary yelled, "Arcanine, Flamethrower!" The canine snarled, launching a massive blast of flames, as Larvitar launched the energy, now resembling water. The two Attacks collided, as Hidden Power broke through the flames, hitting Arcanine and covering them in steam.

Gary eyes tried scanning the area when the steam cleared, "Where'd it go?" When he realized what happened, he called, "Arcanine! move it!" Arcanine tried moving. But the attempt was halted it's unintentionally dragging against one of the short spires, resulting a pained yelp to resound from the his throat.

Indigo gave a snap of their fingers, as Larvitar burst out of the ground, spinning in a ball, before slamming downward on Arcanine's back. Without any word, Larvitar began to stomp downward viciously on Arcanine.

Gary threw his hand forward, recalling the canine back to his ball before Larvitar could hurt his fire-type any further.

Indigo scratched their head, evidently apologetic, while Larvitar turned away, more out of disrespect, "Sorry about that, Larvitar's not open to being... sporting with others... yeah, that's the right word." As they nodded in agreement with their statement.

Gary gave a glowering look at the Rock--type, who ignored it. With his second Pokéball in hand, a teardrop on it. "Alright, time to show my partner!" As he threw his last partner for the fight, as Blastoise landed with a thump, before roaring, cannons jutting out of his shell. The rocks from Stealth Rock jutting into Blastoise, leaving jagged scratches on the shell, as the Shellfish shrugged off the damage.

Indigo tilted their head with a curiosity, "Would you look at that, a Blastoise, so early in game... Larvitar! Hidden Power!" The Rock-type begun charging energy, as the energy gaining an grass-like quality.

Gary called, "Not this time! Blastoise, Hydro Pump!" Blastoise released a guttural roar, releasing two massive blasts of water, the two attacks meeting, shortly before Hidden Power was overpowered. Larvitar went stiff for a moment, before practically breaking a hole under him, as the Hydro Pump sail straight past the gap.

Indigo, barely being grazed by the high-powered jets of water. Without reacting to nearly being blasted out of existence, they felt their whole form for a minute. Apart from several nicks on their mask, they sighed, "I... am good... I'm good."

"Blastoise! Protect!" As Larvitar erupted out of the ground, Blastoise withdrew into his shell, the Ground-type attack hitting a green barrier, inflicting no damage. Landing on the shell, Larvitar frowned, confusion evident at never encountering Protect before, as Gary yelled, "Rapid Spin!"

"Strength!" Sadly, Larvitar could only try clinging to the shell, failing to hold on after several high speed rotations, being thrown off into the air, simultaneously shredding the rocks that limited the movements of Gary's Pokémon.

"Hydro Pump!" Blastoise rose up, his cannons trained on the reptile.

As blasts of water erupted at the airborne Rock-type, Indigo yelled, "Project out of the way with Strength!" With what energy had built up, Larvitar launched himself downward, flinching from being grazed by the water. "Now, Hidden Power!" Hitting the ground hard (and making a large crater where he landed), Larvitar launched a blast of pure electricity at Blastoise.

"Ice Beam!" Blastoise opened his jaw, launching three arcing bolts of ice energy made contact with Larvitar, trapping him and the surrounding area in ice, as the pure electricity hit the Blastoise.

Blastoise shook his head, stunned at the pure energy made contact, while Indigo sighed through their mask, recalling the frozen Larvitar back to his ball, "Wonderful performance, lil' buddy."

Gary laughed, "Hah, down you go, you damn Rock-type, good job Blastoise!" The Water-type roaring, still raring to go.

Indigo held his second Pokéball in hand (a Friend Ball, big shocker), shivering with growing excitement, "Well, such a fun outcome, your Arcanine and Blastoise are well trained. But for show, the next performer is quiet the heart breaker... Dragonair, Showtime!" As the serpent materialized, square-shaped sparkles shimmering as the pink and white serpent, as Gary and Blastoise stared in shock at how brightly shining the serpent already was, the latter of which was beginning to blush at what he saw from the serpent."

Gary blinked, "What the...? What is with that sheen and color...? Dragonair are blue..."

Indigo clarified, "Some Pokémon, on rare circumstances, are born with naturally different coloration, Dragonair here is one such example. (though... Dragonair are normally indigo in color, but y'know... semantics.)" As Dragonair begun nuzzling them, nearly breaking the mask off with her strength (albeit unaware). "Alright, partner, the court is set for you."

With the Dragon slithering before Blastoise, eager to face the Shellfish, who tensed, ready to retaliate. "Blastoise! Ice Beam!"

"Agility!" With a light rattling of her tail, Dragonair zipped out of existence, the Ice Beam hitting an after image. "Now Slam!"

Gary yelled, seeing the serpent, "Behind you!" Blastoise turned around frantically taking Slam head on to the gut through his shell, the draconic energy fading from the two crystals at her tail.

"Ice Beam!/Waterfall!" As Blastoise fired the ice energy, Dragonair drilled through the blast, the gem at her neck glowing deep blue, as she lurched up, frozen water jutting from her body, launching Blastoise upward, the Shiny broke out of the ice that trapped her. Fragment clinging to her scale, as shivered uncomfortably.

Gary gawked, stunned at the Dragonair's strength, "Blastoise!?"

Indigo laughed playfully, "Alright, Dragonair, Agility at Blastoise!" Dragonair coiled her body, before lurching upward, blipping right above Blastoise. Indigo snarled with ecstasy, "Now SLAM him DOWN!"

"Protect!" Blastoise fully withdrew into his shell as Dragonair's tail hammered him down, shaking the tower from the impact of the shell hitting the ground, hard.

Blastoise exit his shell, evidently winded by the force even if blocking the damage, Gary yelled, not noticing the vibrant blue glow enshrouding the Shellfish, "Let's put everything into this, Hydro Pump!"

Indigo gave a borderline unhinged laugh, the mask making his face jerking to the side in an unstable manner, pointing his pointer and middle finger down, his their thumb bent like a finger guns, "Cook him through that shell, Thunder!" As all three gems on Dragonair shimmered with an electric blue glow, a glare boring downward on her face.

Gary yelled, "GO!" As Blastoise roared with guttural force, unleashing two massive blasts of water instead of streams, while dragonair whipped her tail downward fiercely.

Lavender Town may have been a peaceful town for both the living and dead residence, but night invited mostly the nocturnal denizens and Pokémon I the peaceful silence, many often thinking they're hearing dark music.

The peace was cut by a BOOM of lightning erupted through the Pokémon Tower, storm clouds slowly forming from the sound.

the Officer Jenny that was stationed at in the town gawked, "You've got to be kidding me, he know that people are sleeping, right now..." Before she slipped into silence, listening for something. Due to the fact the phone wasn't ringing. She shook her head, downed a cup of coffee, and sighed, "Never mind, it's late, I'll just worry about the incoming weather."

As the clouds begun forming more into an actual storm cell, making the tower look more ominous than before.

Blastoise huffed, his breathing rigid, electricity flaring regular around him, Dragonair released shivers, her scales damaged from ice and and the blasts of water, flaking off of her form.

Gary called out to his partner, "Blastoise? Are you okay?" His answer was met with a loud groan, as Blastoise fell, barely conscious.

Indigo clapped their hands happily, "Well done, looks like a wi-!" Before promptly being smacked upside te head by Dragonair's tail, damaging their mask and sending them sprawling, while she had a pout at how torn up her damaged complexion. Indigo sighed, a massive fracture on the mask, "Alright, alright, I get it, you forfeit."

Dragonair nodded like she was in the right, before giving Blastoise a light nuzzle for his performance, before slithering off. Gary noticed her body shift, as she slipped out of her scales, her scales now very bright, and a luminescent pink colour, she left up the stairs.

Indigo sighed, as Gary asked, "Is... is she always like that?"

"Nah, only when her scales are damaged by ice, burns, or toxins. Now nuzzling your partnr? That's a new one, I don't why she did that..."

Gary nodded lightly, recalling Blastoise bac o hi bll with a murmur of praise.

As they took out another Friend Ball, they inquired, "You ready for the last...?!" They trailed off, their mask fracturing more from Dragonair's move earlier, breaking apart.

The faint booms of thunder was the only noise between the two teens, one in utter shock and the other profusely sweating at being found out.

"Ash!? You're Indigo?"

"Oh, that's not good..."