Chapter Nineteen: Tower of Terror

Previously, Crash and friends had finally reached Saffron City, where Crash challenged the mighty Sabrina, the strongest psychic in Kanto.

Sabrina proved to be too ruthless for the boy from Pallet Town, and threatened to end the life of Crash and friends, until a strange man appeared and saved them from a telekinetic demise.

Despite the man's warnings and his own telekinetic power, Crash expresses his desire to try and battle Sabrina again.

Eventually, the boy's willpower is able to stand up to the man's psychic abilities and he relented, saying that Crash would have a chance if he were to use a Ghost Pokémon from the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town.

Now, Crash turns his sight to Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower, in hopes of catching a Ghost Pokémon to best the psychically superior Sabrina.

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"So this is Lavender Town." Brock said as they stepped foot in the townscape.

"They sure do like purple…" Misty commented.

Crash looked around and sure enough, the walkways, the famed Pokémon Tower, the street, even the roofs of buildings aside from the Pokémon Center and Mart had a purplish hue to them.

"Wow! You're right. They really like the color purple here, huh?" Crash replied.

"That just means we'll find the Pokémon Center more easily." Said Brock.

"Let's head to the Pokémon Tower." Crash said impatiently. "The quicker I can catch a Ghost type, the quicker we can leave!"

"Crash we just got here." Misty said. "We've been walking for the last 5 hours! We need a break!"

"And I need to catch a Ghost type and beat Sabrina!" Crash snapped back.

"Well I-" Before Misty could finish, Brock stepped in.

"Crash," Brock chidded. "I understand that you want to rematch Sabrina as soon as possible, but we just got here. Besides, we're short on items, so we have to restock."

Crash sighed. "Fine… but we're going to Pokémon Tower after."

"Deal." Brock nodded.

The Pokémon Center was near the western exit, so it didn't take them long to find it. Once they retrieve their Pokémon and head to the PokéMart to restock their supply of healing potions, when a girl around Crash's age is struggling to carry multiple baskets full of medicine, Pokémon food, and even toys.

The baskets are piled high with items, and so their contents spill out. This catches the group's attention, and they're all too happy to help her pick up her dropped items.

"Oh… Th-thank you." The girl bowed.

"No problem." Misty smiled. "I was happy to help." She looks at the absurd amount of items. "But that's a lot of stuff you're carrying."

"Yeah. With all the Pokémon that we take care of, I need a lot of it." The girl replied.

"You're going to carry that by yourself?" Brock raised a brow. "Are you sure you can handle that?"

"Y-yep… I sure can-" the girl stops a few feet from the door, her arms weighed down by her groceries. "Then again… I wouldn't mind the help, hehe."

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The trio each took their share of the items and helped the girl carry them to her destination.

"Thank you for your help." The girl said, noticeably embarrassed. "I was eager to do this myself but…"

"You bit off more than you could chew?" Brock asked.

"Yes. But I'm glad you three stopped to help." The girl nodded gratefully.

"We're happy to help anyone who needs it, so it's not a problem-" Misty stopped as she realized that she hadn't gotten the girl's name.

"Oh right!" Said the girl. "I hadn't introduced myself. My name is Reina."

"Nice to meet you Reina. I'm Misty, and these two are Brock and Crash."

The boys introduced themselves to Reina.

"It's a pleasure to meet you three. Welcome to Lavender Town." Reina smiled.

"Same here," Crash said, eyeing the basket of supplies. "But what's with all the stuff?"

"Just follow me and I'll show you." Reina said, speeding up. She led the trio to a house, and as she opened the door, they were greeted by the sight of numerous people tending to different Pokémon.

"Everyone, I'm back." Said Reina. The people inside quickly greet her.

"Welcome back Reina!" Said a man. He looked over her shoulder and noticed the trio of trainers behind her. "Who're they?"

"Oh! They helped me bring the supplies in." She replied as she and the others set the items down.

"Whoa, look at all the Pokémon." Crash said, looking around the house and noticing the pens separating the Pokémon. He turned to Reina. "Who do they belong to?"

"We don't know." Reina answered. "That's why the Pokémon House exists."

"Pokémon House?"

"Yep." Reina nodded. "This place is where abandoned Pokémon are brought when they have nowhere else to go. In fact, this place used to be the home of Mr. Fuji."

"Mr. Fuji?" Brock mused.

"Mhmm. He founded this place to care for any abandoned Pokémon he found, even going so far as to remodel this place to better fit the Pokémon." Reina said.

"That's so nice of him!" Misty exclaimed.

Reina nodded. "I know! In fact, that's why people like me chose to volunteer to help."

Crash's eyes wandered around the room. "Not to mention the Pokémon all look happy." His gaze fell to a Cubone that seemed overly tense. "Except for that Cubone."

Crash approached the skull wearing Pokémon. "Hi there. I'm Crash, nice to meet- Ack!"

He was cut off as the Ground-type Pokémon threw its bone at his face, knocking him on his butt.

"Crash!" Misty and Brock ran to him. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah…" Crash rubbed his nose

Reina began to bow repeatedly. "I-I'm sorry!" She turned to the pen the Cubone was in. "That Cubone is only friendly with Mr. Fuji."

"Why's that?" Brock asked?

"It's because of Team Rocket." Said a downcast Reina. Crash, Brock and Misty gazes hardened.

"It was a while ago… From what Mr. Fuji told me. Team Rocket was capturing Pokémon for profit, and Cubone was caught in the middle of it. Cubone ended up losing its mother, Marrowak, to Team Rocket."

"You don't mean…" Misty put a hand over her mouth and gasped. Reina nodded sadly, confirming Misty's fear.

"Mr. Fuji found Cubone and took it in. And since then, it hasn't trusted anyone except Mr. Fuji."

"I can't believe how cruel Team Rocket can be..." Crash balled up his fist. "They won't get away with this!"

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"Thanks for showing us around the Pokémon House, Reina." Misty said gratefully.

"It's no problem at all. It's the least I can do to thank you for helping me bring that supplies back here."

"The Pokémon here are cared for really well." Brock said, looking impressed.

"That's because Mr. Fuji knows a lot about Pokémon." Reina beamed with pride as she explained. "He even teaches us things, like a Pokémon's diet, how to tell if one is sick, and even how to properly clean and groom Fire-type Pokémon."

"That's amazing." Brock said. "I plan to become a Pokémon breeder, so I'd like to ask Mr. Fuji some questions. Which one of these people is Mr. Fuji?"

Reina's face turned into a frown. "Well that's just it."

Before Brock could say another word, a man burst through the front door.

"Everyone! I found out where Mr. Fuji is!"

The other volunteers approached the man. "Really? Where is he?"

The man's face darkened. "The Pokémon Tower." The crowd of volunteers all gasped in unison.

"That's right. Someone said that they saw him enter the tower yesterday, but didn't say anything until they found out he didn't come out."

"Why would he go into the Pokémon Tower though?" Misty asked.

"Team Rocket." A woman said, her body shaking with fear as she held her hands together. "Mr. Fuji must've gone into the Pokémon Tower to put a stop to their schemes in the Pokémon Tower."

"But people like Team Rocket won't listen to reason," said a volunteer. "So the only reason why he hasn't returned is that he's been kidnapped."

"But what's Team Rocket doing in Lavender Town? Let alone the Pokémon Tower?" Brock asked.

"They came here a while ago without warning…" Reina began. "They stormed the tower and made it their base. Since then, no one's been able to even enter the tower to pay their respects to their fallen Pokémon."

"Why not call the police?" Misty suggested.

"The police tried but they came back out, saying that there was a ghost."

Crash went white with fear. "A g-g-g-ghost?"

"It's true! I saw it!" Said the woman from before. The crowd turned to her.

"One night, I managed to sneak into the Pokémon Tower and I made it to the fifth floor. That's when I noticed the room filling with a purple haze and I felt a chill run up my spine. I felt a hand on my shoulder and when I turned around… something long and slimy wiped against my face."

The woman's breathing became more labored as she began convulsing. "I ran out of the tower in fear of my own life, and never looked back."

"Ah… I see." Crash said, trying his best to hide his fear.

"If people can't pay their respects at the tower, Lavender Town is through!" Said another volunteer.

"Then why don't we all head to the Pokémon Tower and rescue Mr. Fuji?" Reina said, standing up.

A volunteer shook their head. "There's no way we can battle against Team Rocket!"

"Team Rocket is pretty strong for a group of petty thugs." Said another.

"And there's a ghost in there! I'm not going anywhere near that place again!" Said the shaking woman.

"Then what're we supposed to do? Mr. Fuji went into the Pokémon Tower to stop Team Rocket for our sake! And we aren't going to try to save him?" Said a furious Reina.

"Well no but…" The other volunteers stammered. "I'm sure they'll release Mr. Fuji someday. We'll just have to endure until then."

"What're you saying?" Reina shouted. She began to bicker with the other volunteers about what to do. Crash, Brock and Misty looked between each other and nodded in understanding.

"We'll go!" The trio said, shouting over the bickering crowd of volunteers. They all turned to them.

"What? You'll go?" A man asked. "But… you're just children. If us adults couldn't do it…"

Crash pulls out a small case and opens it, revealing his three Gym Badges. "I got three badges."

"Three badges? I see why you're so confident…"

"Not to mention, Misty and Brock have acted as Gym Leaders before." Crash said, noticeably more confident. "So we're more than ready to face them!"

"But are you three sure you'll be ok?"

"We've fought Team Rocket before," Brock said. "So we're more than prepared!"

"And besides… after what Team Rocket did to Cubone's mom…" Crash's face hardened. "They need to be stopped!"

The crowd could do nothing but admire their determination.

"You mean… you'll really go and rescue Mr. Fuji?" Reina asked.

Misty smiled. "We sure will."

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It was a foggy night when Crash, Brock, and Misty stood before the tower.

"I've heard stories about unsettling the tower is," Brock said as he looked at its incredible height. "But those stories didn't do it justice."

"You're not wrong." Misty gulped. "This place is creepy, isn't it Crash?" She turned around and saw him tiptoeing away. "Crash! Where do you think you're going?"

He jumped and turned to face Misty. "I forgot my Pokémon?" He said, grasping at straws. Mark shook his head disappointedly and pointed to his trainer's belt.

"O-oh! There they are!" He nervously chuckled. Misty and Brock shook their heads disappointedly.

"What happened to 'We'll go and stop Team Rocket'?" Misty asked in a mocking tone.

"C-can't we come back some other time? Like during the day?" Crash asked. "Maybe in the daytime?"

"We can't Crash." Brock answered. "If we did, Team Rocket would be guarding the front door, so it's easier to sneak in at night."

"Besides, you said that you wanted to catch a Ghost Pokémon, right?" Misty said. "Then you have to conquer your fear of ghosts, otherwise you'll never be a Pokémon Master."

Crash looked at the tower and gulped before taking a deep breath. "You're right." He walks back up to his friends. "Let's do this…"

They step into the building, realizing that it's nearly pitch black inside. They pull out their flashlights and begin to search the tower until they come across a shadowy silhouette.

Crash jumps, flinching in fear only for the figure to speak up. "There's no need to be afraid, I'm not a ghost." The figure got close and was revealed to be an adult woman.

"O-oh…" Crash let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

"But what are you doing here?" Misty asked. "Team Rocket has control over the tower."

The woman chuckled. "I managed to sneak in and pay my respects to my Nidoran. What about you three? Have you come to pay your respects as well?"

"We're here to stop Team Rocket, free Mr. Fuji, and capture a Ghost Pokémon." Brock answered.

"Well, the Ghost Pokémon don't appear until further up, and Team Rocket is stationed on the seventh floor." She answered. "I'll wish you luck."

The trainers continued their trek up the tower, soon reaching the fifth floor.

"We haven't come across a single ghost or Ghost Pokémon." Brock mused. "That woman said she made it here when that ghost scared her out."

"Maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her?" Misty pondered.

"But what if she really did see a ghost?" Crash asked.

"Crash, we've made it to the fifth floor, and haven't seen a thing." Misty said, trying to reassure her friend. "We'll be fine."

"Our lights blew out…" Misty said,

Just as she said this, their flashlights stop functioning. They try to turn them on and off again, but to no avail.

Misty reached for a Pokéball. "Starmie, light up the room with Flash!"

"Agni! Help out!" Crash said, joining his friend.

The two Pokémon are sent out and light up the room with a bright flash.

"Aah! Too bright!" Misty exclaimed as she shielded her eyes.

"Y-yeah!" Tone it down you two!" Brock agreed.

The two Pokémon tone down their lights to a more bearable level.

Crash sighed in relief. "That's better. Now we can-"

Crash's face pales as the room begins filling with a purple haze. "The purple haze!" Crash shook with fear. "It's real!"

"Everyone, in a circle!" Brock said, thinking quickly. The trio kept their guard up as they scanned the area, though their vision was impaired due to the haze.

They all shuddered as they felt a chill run up their spines, Pokémon included. The trainers looked around for any signs of trouble when Misty felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Quit it, Crash." Misty said, waving the hand away.

"But I didn't do anything." He replied.

The hand taps her again, irritating her more. "You're the only one behind me, Crash!"

"Well I'm not the one touching you!" Crash barked back.

"Stop it you two," Brock chidded. "We're here to stop Team Rocket, not argue with each other."

The two turn to the Rock specialist and their faces switch from anger to shock as Brock's eyes were now wide open. Secondly, his mouth was now much wider with two fangs.

Crash and Misty jumped back, much to the older trainer's confusion.

"What's wrong?" He asked, genuinely confused. "You guys look like you've seen a ghost."

"B-Brock! Your face!" Crash stammered as he stumbled to the floor.

Brock raised a brow and touched his face. "My face? What's wrong with my face?"

"Starmie! Water Gun!" Misty commanded. The starfish Pokémon sprayed Brock in the face with water. Once the spray finished, Brock's face was revealed to have gone back to how it normally looked.

Crash breathed a sigh of relief. "Whew. It's back to normal."

"H-hey! What was that for?" Brock sputtered as he glowered at Misty. "I'm all wet now!"

"Your face looked weird." She defended. "It freaked us out!"

"Well you didn't have to spray me." He retorted.

Misty apologized to Brock as Crash dusted himself off and stood back up.

"But you know, those eyes and fangs looked familiar…" Crash said as he rubbed his chin with his hand.

"Yeah it did." Agreed Misty. "I don't remember where though."

Brock sighed. "Well enough dwelling on that, we have a job to do."

Crash and Misty nodded in agreement and followed Brock to the next floor, though Crash looked back, feeling as if he was being watched.

"Hey Crash!" Misty called from the sixth floor. "Are you coming or what?"

"I-I'm coming!" Crash immediately sprinted up the staircase after his friends.

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"Brrr…! It gets colder for each floor", Misty shivered.

"It must be because of how tall the tower is", Brock said, looking around cautiously. "Watch out for Team Rocket. They're on the next floor."

The other two trainers nodded and continued until a chilling voice caught their attention, the purple haze from before was now thicker and harder to see through, even with their Pokémon lighting the way.

"Get out…"

"Huh?" Crash looked around, utterly terrified. "Who said that!?" Mark hopped off his trainer's shoulder and next to Agni and Misty's Starmie all stood on guard, sensing a threatening aura.

A shadow with red eyes glowed in the foggy darkness, catching their attention.

Misty pointed at the shadowy figure, shaking with fear. "Um, Crash? What Pokémon is that?"

Crash pulled out his Pokédex and pointed it at the silhouette.

"Data not found." Dexter said.

Crash paled. "D-d-data not found? That means…"

"Get out…! Leave this place!" the ghost screamed.

"It's the ghost!" The trio shouted in unison.

"So it was real the whole time!" Misty added.

"Looks like we'll have to fight our way through." Brock said reaching for a Pokéball. "Everyone ready?"

Misty nodded. "I'm ready!" Brock sends out his Geodude, ready to battle the ghost.

The two type specialists soon found that their Pokémon were not affecting the spirit at all.

"Starmie, use a Water Gun!" Misty commanded.

"Rock Throw!" Brock commanded.

Starmie fires a jet of water at the irritated spirit, while Geodude summons a rock into its hands and throws it, but the attacks pass through the unidentified form of the ghost.

"Darn it, our attacks aren't doing anything…" Misty sighed frustratedly. "Crash, how are you doing?"

But as she turned to him, she found that he was gone.

"Crash?" Misty looked back confusedly. Mark and Agni look around for their trainer, as he had run away from the ghost. A worried Mark and Agni immediately began to go search for him.

"Mark, Agni! Where are you going?" Misty asked. "Come back!"

"BEGONE INTRUDERS!" The ghost echoed from behind them.

Misty turned back to face the ghost. "We can't turn back now, not when we're this close…"

"They'll find Crash." Brock said. "Let's just try to keep the ghost at bay."

All Misty could do was reluctantly nod and continue fighting the ghost.

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(Crash's POV)

I couldn't face that ghost. I just couldn't.

So I ran. And ran. And ran.

But a ghostly figure popped out of nowhere and scared me, causing me to lose my footing and fall down the stairs.

When I woke up, I was greeted with the sight of a disembodied head with hands that I recognized as a Hunter, causing me to scream.

"Wow, you really are afraid of ghosts…" The Pokémon snickered.

"What did you do that for!?" I shouted angrily. I blinked, realizing that understood what the Haunter said. "HOW ARE YOU TALKING?!"

The ghost type chuckled. "Well, for one you kicked the bucket, so I turned you into a ghost. And two, you're a ghost, and I'm a ghost type."

I blinked in disbelief, trying to understand what the Haunter said. "I… kicked the bucket?"

"When you fell down that flight of stairs, you sorta… died."

I felt the color drain from my face. "What?"

"I mean that you're a ghost now kid, what else?" The ghost said it like he was talking about the weather.

I looked at my hands and the rest of my body. They were… see-through. I immediately began to panic. "Where's my body?"

The ghost type pointed downward, so my eyes followed. And I saw my lifeless body lying at the bottom of the staircase. I then noticed that I was levitating.

"Good grief…" I said, feeling breathless. "I really am a ghost." I felt my arm being grabbed as Haunter led me toward a wall.

"Follow me!" It said happily.

"Hey, wait!" I said as I tried to pull away from its grip, but failed to. I closed my eyes and braced for impact, but it never came. When I opened my eyes, I was… flying above Lavender Town.

"Pretty cool huh?" Said the Haunter, letting go of my arm.

"Woah… this is awesome!" I stretched my arms out like bird Pokémon and let myself soar through the skies with Haunter, which was, admittedly, very fun.

"Wait! My friends! I gotta go back to 'em!" I immediately soared back to Pokemon Tower.

"Hey! Where're you going?" I heard the Haunter call out from behind me.

"My friends need my help with that ghost!" I found my way back to where Brock and Misty were, and they weren't doing so well.

"Darn it! None of our moves are hurting it!" Misty grit her teeth in anger as her Starmie attempted another Water Gun at the ghost, but it just phased through it.

"Get out…! Get out!" the ghost kept repeating over and over again.

"Ugh! That's all you say!" Misty shouted. "Why do you want us to leave?"

That's what I wanna know too… I took a closer look at the ghost and…

Was that a… Marowak? "That Marowak… that's gotta be Cubone's mother!"

"There you are!" I heard the Haunter say from behind me. "There are better things to look at than this musty old-"

"I need to go back to the Pokémon House!" I flew to the floor below where my body was, but I felt a hand grab my leg.

"Wait! Where're you going?" The Haunter asked in a desperate tone.

"Back to my body!" I said as I struggled in the Haunter's grip. "Now let me go!"

"Why not stay here and with me instead?" It begged.

"No!" I barked back as I struggled to free myself. "I still have to become a Pokémon Master! I can't become a ghost yet!" The Haunter let go of my leg, but the force of my pull sent me flying to a previous floor.

I hovered over my lifeless body and prepared to reenter it until I saw the Haunter sadly float toward me.

"You're gonna leave?" It hung its head like how a younger mopey kid would.

"I'm sorry but I really have to go now. My friends need me."

"I get it… it's just… really lonely here." The Haunter sighed sadly. I raised a brow at that.

"You're lonely?"

The ghost type nodded. "Since those humans wearing black came, there haven't been any ghost types but me here…"

I thought for a moment before coming to a conclusion.

"That's why you took my soul from my body when I fell and why you scared that woman before! You just wanted a friend."

The ghost type nodded. I looked back at my body and noticed Mark and Agni nuzzling against my body as Brock and Misty came down the stairs.

"Mark!" Misty said, kneeling down to my starter. "What happened? Why's Crash on the floor?" Mark could only look up at her sadly before nuzzling closer to my body.

"No… don't tell me." Misty began to tear up. "Is he?"

I quickly re entered my body, though it felt like I was in a dream.

"Hey guys…" I sat up, causing Mark and Agni to jump back in shock.

Mark and Agni perk up and are quick to nuzzle closer to me, being extremely happy that I'm OK.

"Crash!" Misty wrapped her arms around me tightly. "You're ok!"

"Yeah… I am." I said, hugging her back. "And… sorry for running away. I-"

"We know." Brock put his hand on my shoulder. "We didn't make much progress against the ghost either."

"Our attacks just passed through it." Misty grumbled. "And it just kept telling us to 'Get out'."

"I think I know why!" I quickly stood up, returned Agni to his Pokéball and ran down the stairs and out of the tower.

"Wait Crash! Where're you going?" I heard Misty call from behind me.

"I have an idea!" I shouted back. "Wait here! I'll be right back!"

(Crash POV end)

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Crash made it back to the Pokémon House and rapped on the door relentlessly. Reina opens the door.

"Crash, what's wrong?" She asked.

"I think I know how to deal with the ghost in the Tower." Crash pushing his way past her. "Is Cubone still here?" Crash looked in the pen that he last saw Cubone in.

And, to his delight, it was still in the pen, grimacing at the trainer as he approached.

"Ok Cubone!" Crash said, opening the pen and approaching the orphaned Pokémon. "You're coming with me."

"Ow!" The Cubone threw its bone at Crash's face causing him to recoil from the pain. Reina ran over to see if he was OK.

"Crash are you ok?" She asked, looking at the mark that Cubone had made on the boy's face.

"Yeah…" Crash rubbed his nose. "I'm OK. I just forgot that Cubone does that." He approached the ground type and extended a hand out to it. "Come on Cubone."

The Lonely Pokémon bats his hand away with its bone, causing Crash to cradle his wrist.

"Hey, I'm trying to be nice!" Crash said angrily. The Cubone gave a firm harumph as it crossed its arms, clearly meaning 'I don't care.'

"Why're you trying to pick up Cubone?" Reina asked curiously.

"I know what the mysterious ghost is at Pokémon Tower." Crash explained. "It's a Marowak! And I don't think it's just any Marowak, I think it might be Cubone's mom."

"Really?" She gasped. "You think so?"

Crash nodded. "Yeah! I bet if I bring Cubone to the tower, it'd calm Marowak's ghost down."

"That's a great idea!" Reina said happily. "I'll help you take Cubone to the tower."

"Thanks!" They both turn to the pen and see that Cubone is nowhere to be seen.

"What? Where'd it go?" Crash gasped. Mark tapped on his shoulder and pointed at the front door, which was now wide open.

"It must've gone through the door when we weren't looking." Said Reina. They both run out the house and look around, noticing that Cubone left footprints leading towards the tower. "But why go towards the Pokémon Tower?"

Crash turns to Reina. "Did it hear us talking about its mother being in the tower?"

"If it did, we have to hurry!" Said Reina. "We can't let Team Rocket take Cubone."

Crash nodded, and not wasting another second rushed back to the tower with Reina not far behind him.

Crash made it back to the fifth floor, now with Reina to meet up with his friends.

"Crash! And Reina too?" Misty raised a brow. "What're you doing here?"

"No time to explain, but Cubone's in the tower now!" Reina said.

Brock and Misty gasped. "It is!?"

Crash nodded as he ran up to the stairs.

"Hey! Come back here!" Misty said, chasing them up the stairs, with Brock right behind her.

When the trainers made it back to the sixth floor, they found the sight of Cubone hugging the ghost.

"What?" Misty blinked. "H-how?" The ghost's shadowy body shifted into a different shape as Cubone embraced it. It took on the form of a Marowak, dropping its bone to embrace her child

"Is that…Marowak?" Misty mumbled in disbelief.

"It is." Brock answered. "Her spirit must've been in great turmoil for her to have remained here."

Marowak nodded. She let go of Cubone as her spiritual body began to lose shape, the ground type now being at peace. Cubone wailed for its mother before it stopped sobbing. It wiped its tears before picking up the Thick Club it's mother had held and holding it close.

"Marowak must've been so worried about her baby she didn't want to leave until she was sure Cubone was okay." Reina mused.

"And Cubone has a little memento from its mom now." Misty smiled. "That's so sweet…" she then blinked as she realized something.

"Wait… Crash, how did you know that the ghost was Cubone's Mother?"

Crash's eyes widened. Reina nodded with recognition. "Yeah, how did you figure it out?"

"Uhh… I did some soul searching?" Crash shrugged. Misty shook her head at the joke, while Reina giggled.

"Anyway! We still have to save Mr. Fuji!" Crash said, changing the topic. Misty and Brock nodded and ran up the stairs to the seventh floor.

"Good luck you three! I'm rooting for you!" Reina said. Cubone gave affirmative cries of its own.

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"I can't believe the boss sent us here." Jessie shuddered as she looked about the room warily. "This place gives me the creeps!"

"You're not the only one Jess." James said as he hugged her close. "Why're we even here again?"

"Da boss says dat dis Mr. Fuji guy has some important research on Pokémon that he wants to steal. But if you're askin' me," Meowth replied before joining his cohorts in a hug. "I don't dink dis is worth it…"

"We've been in this stupid tower for Mew knows how long, and the old man still hasn't spilled the beans." Jessie complained.

"Quit complaining, you three nincompoops." Proton said, rubbing his temples. "Another word out of any of you and I'll have my Golbat turn you into a raisin! Is that clear?"

The trio nodded in unison. "Yes Mr. Executive Proton Sir!"

"Good." He sighed irritatedly. "If it wasn't for those brats and that Interpol agent, I wouldn't be here! If only I could prove to Giovanni that I'm not a screw up…"

"Stop right there, Team Rocket!" Crash said, as he and his friends charged up the stairs.

"It's the twerps!" The terrible trio gasped. "What're you doing here?"

"We're here to rescue Mr. Fuji!" Misty said.

"You brats don't know when to quit huh?" Proton snorted angrily. "Well, how about we fix that?" He sends out his Golbat.

Jessie and James send out their Pokémon as well. "Arbok!" "Weezing!"

Crash blinked. "Arbok and Weezing?" He quickly pulled out his Pokédex, as Proton raises a brow.

"Arbok, the Cobra Pokémon, and evolved form of Ekans. The pattern on its belly appears to be a frightening face. Arbok possesses incredibly strong constriction, even able to flatten steel oil drums."

"Weezing, the Poison Gas Pokémon, and evolved form of Koffing. This Pokémon lives and grows by absorbing poison gas, dust, and germs that exist inside garbage. Despite this, Top-grade perfume is made using its internal poison gases by diluting them to the highest level."

"Your Pokémon evolved?" Crash gasped, pocketing his Pokédex.

Proton snickered. "We had a lot of time on our hands, so I whipped them into shape."

"Doesn't matter how much you guys have gotten better, we'll still stop you!" Crash said as Mark hopped off his shoulder.

Misty sent out her Krabby, while Brock sent out his Onix.

"Ok Mark! Start this off with a Quick Attack on Golbat!"

"Weezing, intercept with Smokescreen!"

The Pikachu charges at the Bat Pokémon only for Weezing to jump in and spew out a smokescreen, causing Mark to stop in his tracks.

"Arbok! Use Wrap!"

Arbok quickly wraps around the Pikachu and squeezes him tightly.

"Krabby, free Mark with a Crabhammer on Arbok!"

"Golbat, use Confuse Ray to intercept it!"

As Krabby charges at the Cobra Pokémon, Golbat's Confuse Ray lands, causing Krabby to stop its attack midair, as if it was stunned. Krabby then began to stumble about, seemingly dizzy.

"Krabby! Snap out of it and use Crabhammer!" Misty called out. Krabby smacks itself with its pincer.

"Onix! Use Rock Throw on Golbat!"

Onix summons a rock and throws it at Golbat, but the Golbat soars above the attack.

"Mark! Free yourself with a Thunder-"

"Golbat! Confuse Ray!" Proton interrupted.

Mark is hit by the move and now visibly woozy.

"Arbok! Use Body Slam!"

Arbok whirled Mark around before slamming him into the ground.

"Krabby, do something!"

Krabby attempts to ram into Arbok, but turns and rams itself into a tombstone, causing Misty to growl in anger.

"Onix, use Tackle on Arbok!"

"Weezing, Use your Sludge attack on Onix's eyes."

As Onix charged at the opposing snake Pokémon, Weezing spat out toxic waste into its eyes, blinding it, and causing Onix to thrash around wildly.

"Onix! Are you ok?" Brock cried out worriedly.

"Finish it with a Mega Drain, Golbat!"

Golbat lunged at Onix, a green orb being pulled away from Onix and into Golbat's mouth, draining the rest of its vitality.

The Rock Snake landed onto the ground with a resounding thud, resulting in Brock returning his Onix before it could destroy the tower.

"That's one down." Proton laughed.

"Sorry guys…" Brock sighed. "Geodude is too tired, so I won't be much help for the rest of the battle…"

"Weezing! Use Sludge against Pikachu!"

"Krabby! Snap out of it and use Crabhammer!"

Krabby was finally able to snap out of it and use its pincer to swat the toxic waste away and slamming it into Weezing's larger face, knocking it back.

"C'mon Mark! Get free with a Thunderbolt!"

"Arbok! Use Glare!"

Arbok attempted to flash its belly pattern, but was too late as Mark snapped out of his confusion, and zapped Arbok with an incredible amount of electricity, paralyzing it, and loosening its grip.

"Golbat! Wing Attack on that rat!"

"Krabby! Counter with a Vice Grip!"

Golbat flies towards Mark who's unable to dodge, but Krabby grabs its wings and throws it away.

"Thanks for the save, Misty!" Crash smiled.

"No problem!" Misty smiled back.

"How incompetent are you three that you're being out played by a stupid rat and a meathead of a Krabby!?" Proton shouted angrily, causing the grunts to flinch.

"I'll be taking over." He said, standing in front of them.

"But Sir…" Jessie stammered. Proton glared hatefully, silencing her immediately.

"Arbok, Use Bite on that filthy rat! Weezing, smokescreen!"

"Mark, use Double Team!"

"Krabby, jump over the smoke and use Stomp on Weezing!"

Due to being paralyzed, Arbok was unable to catch Mark before he made his illusionary copies, resulting in it biting nothing.

While Krabby jumped high and landed on Weezing, causing it to flinch from the Stomp.

"Ok Mark! Let's wrap this up! Thunderbolt!"

"Use Bubblebeam, Krabby!"

Before Proton could react, the two attacks collide with their targets, knocking the two poison types out.

"Nice!" Crash and Misty hi-five, celebrating their win.

"Gah! Even after training your Pokémon, they are still just as pathetic as you three!" Proton spat. The Rocket Grunts recoiled in fear as they returned their fainted Pokémon.

"Grr… I'll have to do everything myself huh? Golbat, use Mega Drain on that Krabby!"

Before Misty could give a command, a green orb was being pulled away from Krabby and into Golbat's mouth, resulting in Krabby fainting.

"You did a great job Krabby." Misty said, returning her Pokémon into its ball. She turned to Crash. "It's up to you Crash! Don't lose to this jerk!"

Crash returned a confident smile. "I won't. Not to Team Rocket."

The Pikachu and Golbat traded attacks, the battle seemingly going either way.

"Ok kid, I'll admit. You have skill. In fact, your girlfriend isn't too bad either. How many badges do you have?"

The Team Rocket trio and Crash's group were confused as to why Proton would ask such a question.

"Um… Three?" Crash answered. "Why?"

"And I'm not his girlfriend!" Misty clarified.

"Three badges? That's an impressive feat, kid." Proton grinned. "Say, why don't you join our organization?"

"Join?" Crash asked, sounding disgusted.

"Yeah! With our boss's help, you might become a high ranking member in a few months, heck, you might be my boss if you prove yourself."

"We'd never join thieving murderers like you guys!" Crash said in a venomous tone, shocking even Misty and Brock. "Mark! Thunderbolt 'em!"

Proton sighed before smiling sadistically. "Very well. Golbat! Hyper Beam!"

Crash's eyes widened in surprise and fear. "Hyper Beam?!"

Mark fires the electric attack at his flying foe, but the mouth beam tears through the attack and hits Mark directly, knocking the electric mouse unconscious and leaving Crash speechless.

"No…" Misty said, a hand over her mouth. "H-how?"

Brock sweated, completely overwhelmed by the display of Hyper Beam. "He must've gave it a TM but that doesn't explain how he got one."

"Face it kid, you don't stand a chance." Proton laughed. "Golbat. Use Mega Drain."

Everyone but Proton winces as Golbat begins draining Mark's life force, causing him to scream in pain.

"Stop!" Crash shouted. "Mark's already down!"

Proton scoffed. "Ok then. Hyper Beam, on the cap wearing brat."

Everyone went white.

"Y-you're not gonna blast da twerp wit a Hypa Beam, are ya sir?"

"Yeah, in the face, why?" Proton said casually. The Golbat prepared to fire the beam at Crash, who was too scared to move. Until Golbat fell to the ground.

"What?" Proton said incredibly confused. "Golbat get up and end this brat!"

"What happened?" Misty blinked.

"It sounds like it's sleepin'." Meowth replied.

"Sleeping? But how?!" Proton roared angrily. Ghostly laughter filled the room.

"Quit it you brats!" Proton barked at Crash's group.

"That's not us!" Misty barked back.

"Then who's laughing?" Proton turned to his lackeys, who just shrugged. Proton felt a tap on his shoulder, and turned around, only to see Crash, Brock and Misty behind him.

"Wasn't us." Brock said, predicting what Proton would have asked.

"Then who?"

"Um… Executive Proton Sir?" Jessie stammered. Proton glared at her. "Mr. Executive Proton Sir," She quickly amended. "Th-there's a… well…"

"Spit it out!" He screamed. Meanwhile a Haunter was making a funny face every time he turned his back to it.

"B-behind you!" James pointed over Proton's shoulder. The Haunter vanished as Proton turned around to look. Proton turned back to the Team Rocket trio and was met with a Haunter sticking its tongue and wagging its fingers teasingly.

"Gah!" Proton jumped back, and Haunter chortled with delight, with Crash and friends doing their best to hold their laughter back.

"Grr, Golbat!" Proton kicked his Pokémon awake. "Use Wing Attack!"

Golbat lunged at Haunter, attempting to slam its wings into the ghost, but Haunter disappeared and reappeared, landing a Hypnosis against the Bat Pokémon.

"Again!?" Proton shouted angrily.

Haunter floated over to the sleeping Golbat and began to inhale the air near it. After a few seconds, a pink mist wafted from Golbat's body into Haunter's mouth. Once all the Mist was gone, Haunter seemed to chew on the Mist and swallow it, like it had eaten food.

"What was that?" Crash raised a brow.

"I'm willing to bet that it used Dream Eater." Brock said.

"Grr! You may have won brats! You will rue the day you messed with me- err Team Rocket!" Proton shouted as he made his escape. "You hear me! You will rue it!"

"Hey! Wait for us!" The Team Rocket trio said as they attempted to keep up with him, sprinting after him.

"Guess we sent those guys blasting off again." Crash smirked.

"Ok. I'll let that one slide." Misty giggled.

"Thanks for the help, Haunter." Crash said.

"Yeah! You really saved us back there." Brock

Haunter laughed, clearly delighted that it could help.

Once they found Mr. Fuji, they freed him from his restraints, and headed out from the tower.

"Thank you for coming and rescuing me", Mr. Fuji smiled.

"It's no problem Mr. Fuji," Brock said. "We were happy to help."

"Why don't we head out of the tower?" The old man suggested. "It's quite late."

Misty and Crash yawned, the adrenaline from the battle leaving them. "Yeah… that sounds nice."

/-/

The next morning, Crash and friends retrieved their from the Overnight Care Center and headed out, only for Nurse Joy to stop them and say that Mr. Fuji was looking for them.

They head to the Pokémon House and are happily greeted by Mr. Fuji.

"I've been expecting you three." He smiled.

"Did you need something from us?" Brock asked.

"Oh no, I just wanted to reward you three." He smiled, turning to Brock. "I heard from Reina that you want to become a breeder, Brock, so here."

Mr. Fuji pulled out a book and handed it to Brock. "This is a book I've written on Pokémon. It has everything a breeder like you could ever want to know."

"Whoa! Really sir?" Brock takes the book, clearly over the moon. "Thank you!"

"And for Misty, since I heard you specialize in water Pokémon," Mr. Fuji pulls out a hi-tech fishing rod.

Misty's face lit up. "A Super Rod? These are really really expensive!" She grabs the rond and hugs it tightly. "Thank you so much Mr. Fuji!"

"You're welcome. And as for you," Mr. Fuji turned away, pulling out a small box, and a flute with a Pokéball at one end and handing them to Crash.

"What's this?" Crash asked, holding the flute up.

"That's a PokéFlute, if you play that, it'll cause any sleeping Pokémon to awaken with great vigor." Mr. Fuji explained.

Crash raised his other hand. "And the box?"

"Open it." Crash opened it and saw a bracelet with a rainbow colored gem placed in the center.

"A bracelet?" Crash asked, sounding disappointed.

"That bracelet will prove useful as you get further in your quest to become a Pokémon Master." Mr. Fuji grinned.

Crash forced a smile. "Thanks…"

After packing their gifts away, they prepare to leave.

"Thank you very much for your hospitality, Mr. Fuji," Brock bowed respectfully. "And for the gifts!"

"It was no problem my boy", Mr. Fuji chuckled softly. "You and your friends are always welcomed here."

"Don't be a stranger! Make sure to visit when you can!" Said Reina.

"We will", Misty nodded.

"Thank you again for saving Mr. Fuji and our town from Team Rocket!" one of the volunteers said with gratitude.

"It wasn't a problem!" Crash puffed his chest up. "We'll always be happy to show them a thing or two!"

/-/

The trio left Lavender Town in high spirits, until Misty had a realization.

"How're you gonna beat Sabrina without a ghost type Crash?" She asked worriedly.

"I… don't know." Crash gulped. "Maybe teach my Pokémon a new move? Evolve one of them?"

"But you can't force evolution if a Pokémon isn't ready or doesn't want it." Brock replied. Crash sighed, knowing his friend was right. Until he felt a tap on his shoulder.

He turned around and was greeted by the Haunter from the Pokémon Tower jumpscaring him and his friends.

"A Haunter?" Misty exclaimed. "Where did it come from?"

"It must've followed us out of the tower." Brock surmised. The Haunter gleefully nodded.

"But why did you follow us?" Crash asked, sounding irritated after having been scared. The Haunter pointed at itself and then to Crash.

"I think it wants to join your team Crash." Brock said.

Crash to Brock, then at the Ghost Pokémon. "Really?" The ghost type nodded.

"Then, let's go!" Crash said tossing a Pokéball at Haunter. The Pokémon allowed itself to be caught without any trouble.

"Oh yeah! Crash pumped his fist in excitement. "I just caught… a Haunter!" Mark jumped up, giving a victorious shout. "We got our new sixth member Mark!"

Brock and Misty looked on at Crash as he began celebrating his new capture, feeling proud of him.

"Watch out Sabrina!" Crash roared with vigor, his Haunter's ball in hand. "With Gasper's help, I'll win that Marsh Badge and an apology!"

"Gasper?" Misty raised a brow.

"Yeah. Haunter is called the Gas Pokémon." He explained.

"Why not Gaster?" Misty suggested. Crash blankly stared at her before pocketing the Pokéball and continuing the path back to Saffron.

"H-hey! Was it something that I said?" Misty asked."

/-/

With Gasper the Haunter joining the team, Crash feels as if his victory over Sabrina is more than assured.

But is that really the case? Find out next time, as Crash's Journey continues.

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and the changes in the story so far. If you did, make sure to check out the forum for this fanfic, where you can ask questions or make suggestions for the story going forward…

Catch you next chapter Pokéfans!