"Haha, no need to be upset; we're here to keep you company. Misty, May, Brock, don't worry; they're just playful Pokémon who enjoy having fun. Since no one has come to the Pokémon Tower for a long time, they just want some company," Ash said as he looked affectionately at Haunter and the others.
These ghost Pokémon might be mischievous and sometimes enjoy scaring people, but they're not truly bad-natured.
"Oh… really?" Misty and May opened their eyes hesitantly, and immediately, Haunter and Gengar started making funny faces.
"It's true! They're so playful. I'm actually not that scared anymore."
"No way… I still…"
The fear of Ghost-type Pokémon isn't something that can disappear instantly, but Brock adapted quickly and wasn't afraid anymore.
Ash and Brock spent some time playing with Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar, and the Pokémon were thrilled. It had been ages since anyone played with them. They even had a special room in the Pokémon Tower just for games, and now everyone was resting in that room.
Ash was teasing Haunter, saying, "Haunter, it must be so boring for you in the Pokémon Tower. You wouldn't seek company otherwise, right? How about traveling with me? We'll encounter many interesting things on our journey, and I think you've noticed that there's something different about your body compared to Gastly and Gengar. I think I can help you resolve it."
Ash already had a plan in mind to help Haunter with its limited power. He remembered the haunted port where a Gastly, over a thousand years old, lived—a Pokémon of immense strength! That Gastly might be able to solve Haunter's issue.
Haunter was momentarily stunned, trying to process what Ash was saying.
"Well, think about it," Ash said.
Gastly and Gengar came over to discuss with Haunter. The three of them had been friends since they were young, so Ash didn't intrude and instead watched Misty and May having fun. These two, who were previously so scared, had completely warmed up to the playful ghost Pokémon.
Haunter indeed seemed fond of Ash's company, so things should go well.
"Pika, Pikachu!" Pikachu, perched on Ash's shoulder, seemed to be asking if Ash planned to reunite with more of his old companions.
Ash looked at Pikachu in surprise, gently pinching its cute little face.
"Haha, Pikachu, you're right; that's exactly what I plan to do. You really understand me."
"Pika-pika!" Pikachu responded proudly: Of course!
Finally, Haunter agreed to Ash's invitation. Gastly and Gengar also encouraged Haunter to go out and see more of the world. Since Haunter had only been helping Ash before, Ash hadn't officially caught it. He used a Heal Ball from his system inventory to capture Haunter. The Heal Ball shook briefly and then clicked shut—capture successful!
"Yes! I caught Haunter!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu cheered happily, thrilled to have a new friend.
With Haunter now on his team, Ash and his friends decided to spend the night in Lavender Town, continuing their journey the next morning. Their next destination, the Second Battle Facility, was close to Saffron City, which wasn't far from Lavender Town.
Early the following morning, Ash went for a run with Misty and May to train, while Brock prepared a delicious breakfast. They released all their Pokémon, shared breakfast together, and then set off toward the Battle Arena.
The journey was calm, though Haunter occasionally escaped from the Heal Ball to give Misty and May little scares, which they soon got used to.
As they continued, they came upon an unusual town—a town with empty buildings but no people. It was what's commonly known as "Oldale Town."
As night fell, Brock sighed, "Looks like we'll have to stay here overnight."
"What? No way!"
Misty and May shook their heads, clearly uneasy, as they realized Oldale Town was even more intimidating than the Pokémon Tower.
But just then, raindrops started to fall from the sky…
"There's no other choice; we'll have to stay here for the night. It's raining."
"Pika pika!"
Ash made the final call, partly because he knew that Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokémon in the area needed help.
In the original story, the residents of this town left after mining operations ceased, leaving many Psychic Pokémon behind. Human interference had destroyed the Ghost-type Pokémon's home, disrupting them with mining, while the Psychic Pokémon's loud music annoyed the Ghost-types, causing conflict between the two groups.
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T/N:
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