On the first basement level of Spirit Tower in Lavender Town, bell-like laughter rang out without pause.
With Gastly and Haunter keeping her company, Caitlin was having a wonderful time.
Those two little troublemakers really did have a knack for entertaining people.
Gary and Gengar leaned back on the sofa, eating popcorn and watching a comedy routine. Whenever a particularly funny bit came up, they burst out laughing.
Gary's Pokémon joined in too, riding the little train and the carousel, occasionally laughing themselves silly at Gastly's funny faces.
Even Rhydon found a huge balance ball and sprawled over it, refusing to let go.
"Whew~ That was so much fun." Caitlin flopped onto the sofa beside Gary with a satisfied sigh.
"Yeah, these three are a riot. Playing with people is their favorite thing." Gary tugged Gengar's ears while Gengar pulled all sorts of silly faces.
"I've decided!" Caitlin clapped her hands and wrapped her little arms around Gastly and Haunter. "I'm going to catch them!"
Gary wasn't surprised at all. He looked at Gengar. "What do you think? Want to travel with me? There'll be all sorts of fun, exciting things to do. And when you're tired of traveling, there are plenty of Pokémon in my backyard to play with."
For once, Gengar fell silent, considering Gary's offer.
Meanwhile, Haunter quietly stuffed the bomb back into its mouth...
Watching the three adorable ghosts whisper among themselves, Gary interrupted with an amused smile. "Actually, it's simple. There are just two ways this can go."
The three adorable ghosts raised their heads to look at Gary.
"First~" Gary held up one finger. "You think being with us is fun too. You already know what I have to offer, and Caitlin will have to visit all sorts of places for her research. Go with her, and you can roam all over the world~"
Gastly's eyes lit up in an instant!
Gengar and Haunter still hesitated, but they nodded along. Gary and Caitlin really were both good choices.
"Second~" Gary raised an eyebrow. "If we've set our sights on you, but you don't want to be caught that easily, then~ we'll just have to beat you into submission." He clapped his hands.
Caitlin's Gallade and Alakazam stepped forward, itching for a fight, their Elite Four-level pressure unleashed!
We've been sick of these little ghosts trying to charm our boss for ages~
Gallade extended both blades, its icy gaze seeming to ask Haunter how many pieces it wanted to be sliced into.
Alakazam spun both spoons, ready to fire a Psyshock at Gastly at the slightest provocation.
Cold sweat broke out on Gastly and Haunter's foreheads. They immediately put on ingratiating expressions and stuck out their huge tongues to lick Caitlin.
Pop~ Two Poké Balls appeared in Caitlin's hands, right where Gastly and Haunter's tongues landed.
After a flash of red light, the Poké Balls didn't even dare wobble. They locked shut immediately, then followed the rules governing how many Pokémon a Trainer could carry.
The miniature Transport System inside each Poké Ball activated. Both balls were automatically transferred to the nearest Pokémon Center, then sent on to Caitlin's family castle in the distant Unova Region.
The elderly butler, Gu Lan, was polishing the Poké Balls in the storeroom when the transport machine beside him lit up.
Amid a descending white glow, two Poké Balls arrived in the old butler's hands.
"Oh my, the young lady has caught new Pokémon! How wonderful." Moved, the old butler wiped away his tears, then opened the Poké Balls.
Haunter enthusiastically spat a bomb with a lit fuse out of its mouth.
Boom!! Three soot-blackened faces appeared in the storeroom. Haunter and Gastly exchanged looks and cackled mischievously.
The old butler wiped his face. Ignoring the venom dripping from Gastly and Haunter's tongues onto the floor and eating little holes in the carpet, he beckoned affectionately. "Oh my, just what I'd expect from the young lady's Pokémon. So lively! Come along, I'll get you something delicious~"
Gastly and Haunter stared at the luxurious furniture around them, their eyes nearly popping out. Our new Trainer is seriously loaded...
Back at the tower, Gengar curled its lip at the two brothers who had surrendered. Traitors!!
Gary took out a Poké Ball and smiled at Gengar. "Come see the world outside. It's a lot of fun."
Gengar thought for a moment, pulled a funny face at Gary, then reached out of its own accord and tapped the Poké Ball's button.
Watching the Poké Ball rock gently twice before its indicator light slowly went out, Gary smiled and nodded. "Here's to getting along, Gengar~"
Gary already had six Poké Balls on him, so his Pokédex began beeping.
After a moment's thought, Gary tapped Rhydon's portrait, sending Rhydon back to Professor Oak.
It was a good opportunity for Rhydon to get a thorough physical examination and learn a move or two from the old Kangaskhan.
Having caught the Pokémon they wanted, Gary and Caitlin didn't linger. They restored everything in Spirit Tower to its original state, then left.
Perhaps new Ghost-type Pokémon would move in someday.
Once they left Lavender Town behind, the surrounding mist cleared completely. Looking at the dazzling sunlight, they felt as though they had returned from another world.
Despite all the time they'd spent playing in Lavender Town, it was only just noon.
They made a quick lunch of the sandwiches they'd bought earlier, then continued on toward Saffron City.
Along the way, Eevee and Growlithe cleared the path while Caitlin floated beside Gary, utterly bored.
Growlithe had been training especially hard lately, and Eevee naturally didn't want to lose out.
To prepare for his challenge against Sabrina, Gary had devised a targeted training plan.
That meant strengthening Bite! That move really hurt Psychic-type Pokémon~
Whether it was a Geodude or a Gloom, any Pokémon the two little ones spotted along the way was bound to end up with two extra sets of teeth marks...
With Gary training as they traveled, the two spent the day making their leisurely way along.
At last, just as night fell, they reached the outskirts of Saffron City.
Before they even approached the entrance to Saffron City, a little girl's laughter suddenly rang in Gary's ears.
"Hehehehe~ Come play with me~" She wore a little Lolita-style dress, with long hair hanging over her shoulders, a bloodless face, and scarlet eyes.
Gary's mouth twitched. You're way scarier than the ghosts in Lavender Town!!
Seeing that Gary hadn't reacted, the little girl took another two steps forward.
Hum~ The air visibly warped.
Two rainbow-colored forces pressed against each other in midair.
Caitlin smiled with interest. "Now this is interesting~ But a doll isn't qualified to play with me!"
Boom! Blue light blazed around Caitlin, and a shock wave erupted outward with her at its center!
With a clatter, the doll lost its power and fell to the ground. Then it vanished in a flash of light.
Gary only felt a gust sweep past him before he found himself hanging from a high tree branch...
Inside the Saffron Gym, a girl with long, straight black hair looked at the doll before her with interest. This was the first time someone had gained even a slight edge over her in psychic power.
Although her carelessness had played a part, the feeling of meeting someone like herself moved Sabrina so deeply that her whole body trembled.
"I want to~ meet them soon~"
Back with Gary, Caitlin dusted off her little hands and proudly lifted her chin. "All done. Young Master Mao, let's head into the city. Young Master Mao?"
Hanging from the tree, Gary sighed helplessly. "Could you let me down first~?"
"Oh! I forgot. Sorry." Caitlin's face reddened. With a gentle wave of her hand, a soft psychic force supported Gary and floated him down.
"That really is convenient~" Gary was tired of saying how envious he was...
With Sabrina's doll no longer blocking their way, the two entered Saffron City without trouble.
However, the moment they entered the city, Caitlin pursed her lips and waved her hand in displeasure. A ring of blue psychic energy enveloped them both.
"What's this?" Gary asked, puzzled.
"That woman's psychic power covers the entire city. I'm not in the habit of letting people watch me." Caitlin shrugged.
"All right. Let's find a hotel and rest for today, then. We can visit the Gym tomorrow~" At Gary's suggestion, they checked into the most luxurious hotel in Saffron City.
Although Gary had finally booked two luxurious suites this time, seeing Caitlin sitting on his bed with a pillow in her arms after he washed up still shattered his composure.
Caitlin held up the game console. "Um, just one round?"
Gary gritted his teeth. "Fine!"
Watching the two lying side by side on the bedroom bed, controllers in hand as they played some shooter, Golduck looked up at the moon and sighed mournfully. "Gol~ duck~ (Since ancient times, love has left only regret; this sorrow stretches on without end~)"
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