Leaving the complicated atmosphere of Saffron City behind especially delicate for Ash the group followed their plan toward their next destination. Located north of Saffron City, they headed for Lavender Town, a place famous for the Pokémon Tower and shrouded in an air of mystery and sorrow.
Before they even set foot in the town, a faint, ethereal chill began to cling to them.
The air was filled with silence, but it was a heavy, stifling sort of quiet, as if even the wind was intentionally lowering its voice.
"So this is Lavender Town... it feels... creepy," Misty said, unconsciously shifting closer to Ash. As a Water-type Trainer, she was exceptionally sensitive to this kind of spiritual atmosphere.
"Yeah, this is the Kanto Region's famous resting place for Pokémon. The Pokémon Tower stands in the center of town, enshrining the souls of those who have passed," Brock said, glancing at his travel guide with a solemn tone. "We need to pass through here to reach Celadon City."
Using his Aura Power, Ash could sense a spiritual energy similar to that of Maiden's Peak, yet far more massive and complex.
Countless weak, calm, and occasionally lingering fragments of consciousness some lost, some obsessed drifted through every corner of the town like silent whispers.
Gastly, perched on Ash's shoulder, seemed unusually excited. It took a deep "breath" of the air, narrowing its eyes in pure intoxication.
"Heh heh heh... the 'flavor' here is excellent! It's filled with the scent of old friends!" Gastly spun joyfully through the air. "It's much more lively than that lonely place back at Maiden's Peak!"
As they entered the town, the streets were sparsely populated, appearing exceptionally desolate. They headed straight for the towering silhouette of the Pokémon Tower.
Inside the tower, the light was dim, and candlelight flickered weakly. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense and candles. Rows upon rows of tombstones stood in silence, marking the boundary between life and death.
Ash and his companions moved forward in respectful silence.
Misty gripped Ash's arm tightly, her eyes darting warily toward every shadowed corner. Brock kept his hands together in prayer, expressing his grief for the souls represented by the tombstones they passed.
Just as they reached the upper floors of the tower, a rustling sound echoed from the shadows ahead. Suddenly, a purple ghost with a wicked grin lunged out, waving its hands and letting out a bizarre shriek!
"Eek!" Misty screamed, ducking directly behind Ash.
It was a Haunter!
Watching the terrified Misty, Haunter doubled over in laughter, its body trembling in the air. It was clearly a fellow that lived for mischief.
"Another Haunter!" Brock exclaimed, though he quickly regained his composure.
Ash remained calm. Gastly drifted off his shoulder, eyeing this younger member of its kin with great interest.
"Hey, kid, what kind of skill is it to scare a little girl?" the Thousand-Year Gastly said, adopting the air of a senior, its voice filled with age and playfulness. "If you want to play, play at a higher level."
The Haunter froze, surprised to see one of its own especially one with such an ancient and powerful presence. It quickly put its hands on its hips (if it could be said to have any) and snapped back defiantly, "Higher level? Who are you, old timer? If you've got the guts, let's see who's better at scaring people!"
"Heh, you're on!" Gastly's interest was piqued. Its body began to twist and warp, instantly manifesting the cold, frozen face of Sabrina holding her doll. Its eyes were hollow, and its voice was a haunting wail: "Stay... and play with me..."
The illusion was so lifelike that even Ash and the others, who knew the truth, felt a shiver run down their spines. The Haunter was even worse off, shrinking back from the soul-piercing "acting."
"No, that doesn't count! You're just copying someone else!" Haunter shouted, trying to stay calm.
"Then how about this?" Gastly transformed again. This time, it became a colossal Tentacruel erupting from the waves in a frenzy. Accompanied by the pressure of a mental roar, the candles throughout the entire floor flickered violently!
The Haunter was so terrified by the realistic momentum that it nearly dissipated. It waved its hands frantically. "Stop, stop, stop! You're the best! You're the best, okay?!"
Gastly smugly returned to its original form, chuckling darkly. "Kid, scaring people is the lowest form of fun. Follow us, and there are far better things to do out there. For instance... playing tricks on a pathetic trio called Team Rocket. Now that's real entertainment!"
Haunter blinked, its interest clearly sparked. "Team Rocket? That sounds like fun..."
Ash watched the exchange and felt a spark of inspiration. He stepped forward and spoke to the Haunter. "Your talent for mischief is high, but trapped in this tower, you're limited in who you can scare. Why not travel with us instead? The world outside has countless people and Pokémon for you to show off your 'talents.' And..."
Ash paused, letting a slightly "cunning" smile touch his lips. "We often run into villains who 'need' to be pranked, like Team Rocket. They are the perfect targets for a joke."
Haunter looked at Ash, then at the powerful Thousand-Year Gastly, and finally at the girl behind Ash who seemed so easy to scare (Misty: "Hey!"). Its eyes darted back and forth.
It felt the Aura Power radiating from Ash a power that felt very comfortable, even if it didn't quite understand what it was. Besides, following them sounded much more interesting than staying in this tower forever!
"Heh, sounds good to me!" Haunter rubbed its spectral hands together and floated in front of Ash. "Alright, human, I like the look of you, and it seems like there's a lot of fun to be had following you! This master will condescend to accompany you for a while!"
Typical of the Gastly line, the "this master" catchphrase never changed.
With that, it proactively tapped the empty Poké Ball Ash held out.
A red light flashed, and the capture was successful!
[Ding! Host has captured Haunter. Reward: 150 World Origin Points.]
[Current World Origin Points: 11450.]
Ash held up the Poké Ball and smiled. "Great! I caught a Haunter!"
Gastly nodded with satisfaction from the side. "Mm, having a junior around to run errands isn't a bad idea."
Misty finally recovered from her fright, huffing crossly. "Honestly... as if having one prankster Gastly in the team wasn't enough, now we have another one!"
Brock laughed. "Well, with them around, the journey certainly won't be boring."
Having gained a new companion, Ash and his friends left the silent Pokémon Tower, carrying their respect for the departed with them.
The supernatural leg of their trip to Lavender Town had come to a close. Their team had gained a new Ghost-type member who loved mischief and possessed limitless potential.
Since they had encountered a Haunter that fit the style of the original series so well, of course Ash had to catch it!
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