The battle ended with Kaori's victory; however, he was more concerned about the sudden change in Haunter after he evolved.
'I don't understand. Shadow Pokémons are something that shouldn't be in Kanto, so why, why on God's name…is Haunter a Shadow Pokémon?! System!'
[Answer: The energy of a Shadow Pokémon can sometimes get imprinted in their DNA, given that, I come to the conclusion that Haunter was born from a Shadow Pokémon]
'Is that even possible? Shadow Pokémon have their hearts "closed" and became mindless battle machines! Does this mean that…Haunter will become the same?'
[The result totally depends on the Host's abilities and nurturing]
'Mark my words System, I will not allow Haunter to become a Shadow Pokémon!'
[Noted. On another subject, the Shadow-Type moves will become Ghost-types but have the effect of damaging neutral the Norma-Type]
'Noted, thanks system.'
Kaori then walks towards Erika to retrieve the badge.
"Is your Haunter okay?" Erika asked worried.
"To be honest, I don't know but, I will do my best to help him overcome this situation." Kaori.
"Hope you can succeed. This is proof of your victory: The Rainbow Badge." Erika.
Kaori takes the badge and puts it in his badge case.
"Speaking of bad omens, are you familiar with Team Rocket?" Kaori.
"I am indeed familiar with the group, why you ask?" Erika.
"Before coming here, they were harassing this special Eevee." Kaori pulls out Eevee's Pokéball.
"Have you battled a trainer known as Red?" Kaori.
"I have not." Erika.
"I believe that he is the best choice to take care of this Eevee. Please, when he comes to challenge you, test him if you will but, give this Eevee to him." Kaori.
"Why don't you give it to him yourself?" Erika.
"I have no idea where he is."
"Hm…Very well, I shall follow your request. Despite meeting you for the first time, I can see that you are a good person."
"Thank you, I'll be off then. Also, be careful of Eevee, it has a trauma with humans."
"I'll keep it into account."
Kaori leaves the Gym and goes to the Pokémon Center. While being there, he asked the system about ways to prevent Haunter from becoming a Shadow Pokémon.
[Haunter's nature itself is not evil or savage like a Shadow Pokémon, however, the energy that was born from said nature is merged with his whole self. Rather than suppress or eliminate the energy, the correct procedure would be for him to control it, otherwise his body may experience even worst changes]
'*SIGH* Got it, but he is alright now, right?'
[Showing Haunter's status window]
[Haunter (Black)]
[Level: 27]
[Potential: 55%]
[Trust: 30%]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Ghost/Poison]
[Ability: Levitate]
[Nature: Quirky]
[Status: Tired]
[HP: 69]
[Attack: 40]
[Defense: 37]
[Sp. Atk: 75]
[Sp. Def: 43]
[Speed: 64]
[Moves: Disable, Sludge Wave, Psywave, Smog, Hypnosis, Perish Song, Haze, Clear Smog, Confuse Ray, Lick, Mean Look, Payback, Spite, Grudge, Curse, Poison Gas, Hex, Astonish, Night Shade, Will-O-Wisp, Sucker Punch, Shadow End (NEW)]
'Well, nothing really abnormal here. Guess I'll have to do something about it in the future. Next destination…Saffron City!'
Kaori receives his team back from nurse joy and leaves towards Saffron. Haunter was still tired so Kaori let him rest in his Pokéball the whole journey.
While traveling, Kaori saw a familiar figure walking towards him.
"Blue?!" Kaori called out for him.
Blue snaps from his daydreaming and saw Kaori jogging towards him.
"How are you man? Haven't seen you since the S.S. Crash incident." Kaori.
"I'm fine. I've been training my Pokémons to never lose again, what about you?" Blue.
'Again?'
"I just got my 4th Gym badge. I'm planning to get the 5th in Saffron." Kaori.
"I see. Well, you know what is about to happen, right?" Blue.
"Sure, to be honest, I was aching to ask the same."
"It will be a normal 2VS2 battle, ok?" Blue spoke and made some distance from Kaori.
"OK!" Kaori gave him a thumbs up.
"Charmeleon, Machoke!"
"Monferno, Beedrill!"
The 4 Pokémons are send out and get into their battle stances.
"So that's what Chimchar's evolution looks like." Blue.
"And your Charmeleon looks quite strong may I add."
"Ready…" Kaori.
"Go!" Blue.
"Charmeleon, Slash on Monferno! Machoke, Seismic Toss on Beedrill!" Blue.
Charmelon's claws glowed white and rushed towards Monferno. Machoke got into a grab stance and did the same towards Beedrill.
"Monferno, defend yourself with Thunder Punch! Beedrill, maintain your altitude and shoot some Electroweb!"
Monferno engaged into combat against Charmeleon and Beedrill maintained his distance from Machoke, he then proceeded to shoot a barrage of Electrowebs towards him.
The exchange between Monferno and Charmeleon was a little overwhelming to Charmeleon. He got paralyzed and his movement got slower, however, he also landed some critical hits against Monferno.
So, it wouldn't be wrong to say that the battle was tight between the Fire-Types.
Beedrill and Machoke on the other hand was one-sided with Beedrill being out of Machoke's range and kept firing at him, though Machoke has been avoiding the Electrowebs so far.
"Machoke, aid Charmeleon!" Blue.
Machoke stopped his assault towards Beedrill and rushed towards Monferno.
"Letting Beedrill free will be your worst mistake. Monferno, keep those Mach Punches but defend from Machoke with Iron tail!" Kaori.
Monferno's tail glows and starts defending against Machoke's Karate Chops while fist fighting Charmeleon.
The three Pokémon get pushed back and stare at each other.
"Charmeleon, Dragon Claw! Machoke, Cross Chop!" Blue.
Charmeleon's claws begin to emit a teal glow and Machoke's arms glow bright orange and puts them in a X position.
"Monferno, Focus Punch!" Kaori.
Monferno begins to focus.
'Why is he using that move now? Focus Punch requires full concentration, or else, the move will fail. With Charmeleon and Machoke targeting him, it should be a suicide to use it.' Blue changes his gaze towards Beedrill.
'Also, Beedrill is to far from Monferno to do anything, what are you playing Kaori.'
As Charmeleon and Machoke drew closer to Monferno, Kaori gave the command.
"Beedrill, get there with Aerial Ace and tie them up with String Shot!" Kaori.
Beedrill moved fast enough to reach before Monferno's focus breaks. He then uses his String Shot to tie both Machoke and Charmeleon.
"Charmeleon, Fire…" Blue.
"Too late!" Kaori.
After Kaori said those words, Blue realized that he had lost. Monferno's fists were glowing dark Orange and were full of Fighting-Type energy. With two powerful jabs, he smacked both Machoke and Charmeleon to the ground.
Both Charmeleon and Machoke were pinned on the ground and fainted.
"Alright, I won!" Kaori jumped from happiness.
"Tch! Looks like I have to step up my game." Blue.
"Come on, come on, it was a fun Battle all in all." Kaori.
"Can't argue there." Blue.
"It's getting quite late; would you like to join me in my camp or do you prefer to be alone?" Kaori.
"To be honest, if it was either Red or Ash, I would pass but you, you at least are not obnoxious so, yeah why not." Blue.
"Oddly enough, that's the name of a Pokémon." Kaori.
"Figures." Blue.
After some preparing, night came and both Blue and Kaori were talking about their goals after the Kanto League.
"It's a whole mess Blue! That region is full of despair, death and unfairness." Kaori spoke after drinking some soda.
"Sounds harsh, hope you don't involve yourself too much."
"Wasn't planning to. Just some tweaks here and there…then BAM everything might get solved by itself."
"That sounds extremely luck based."
"Being alive as an individual is already a game of luck, I'm just stretching the line a little bit further."
"If you say so."
While talking, they heard some noise from the bushes near them and got in a defensive position with their Pokémons. The sounds were getting louder and louder, and the movements were getting closer and closer until…BAM!
A person slammed into the ground near the campfire. After closer inspection of the person, Blue and Kaori noticed that it was Ash.
"Ow, ow, ow! That hurts!" Ash spoke while rubbing his head in pain.
Kaori and Blue just stared blankly at Ash for a few seconds until Kaori spoke.
"Tough day?" Kaori.
"Yeah…" Ash saw both of them and also paused for a few seconds.
"Kaori!? Blue!?" Ash replied so loudly that many wild Pokémon got woken up by his scream.
'What a bother.' Blue.
'What a coincidence.' Kaori.