Chapter 32: Lavender Town
~Azure S. POV~
[Kanto Region, Later, Lavender Town – Pokémon House]
After making it here, I had Pikachu and Growlithe out of their Poke Balls and walking around by my side. Reason?
Dratini was exhausted from the Bike Race taking the chance to rest up. When I explained to the team that we were heading into a haunted town, they didn't seem phased.
Pikachu seemed unfazed since he was confident in taking them down. Growlithe isn't afraid since it can burn the ghost down.
Left with only Pikachu and Growlithe, I shrugged, seeing that I at least had protection. Although I could do with the people giving us the odd look. Recalling how people are untrusting, I simply shrugged them off, although some did offer to visit the Pokémon House first.
I wasn't here for them. Having the time given, I explained to the two, pointing at Pokémon Tower. The Pokémon Tower houses hundreds of graves of deceased Pokémon on all seven of its floors.
Many people visit the building daily to pay their respects to the fallen. On all floors other than the first two, though, the possibility of being attacked by wild Pokémon is present.
The wild Pokémon in the tower appear disguised as ghosts, although their disguise can be revealed by using a Silph Scope. Any Pokémon that attempts to fight a ghost that has not been revealed by the Silph Scope will be too scared to move.
Hearing my explanation, the two scoffed as Pikachu cried proudly with his cheeks ready with electricity. Growlithe scoffed at the notion, jabbing his thumb at himself for being the one who could take them on.
Smiling, I rubbed their heads, giving them affectionate attention, "Thanks. I feel safe with you two by my side."
Both cried out happily, being brave. But before we proceeded, we decided to visit the Pokémon House here in Lavender Town.
The Lavender Volunteer Pokémon House, located in central Lavender Town, was founded by Mr. Fuji to care for abandoned and orphaned Pokémon. Many members of the organization live in the safe house, looking after the abandoned Pokémon. Many Pokémon have stayed at the Volunteer Pokémon House over time, including Psyduck, Nidorino, and, after the Team Rocket attack on the Pokémon Tower, Cubone.
A newborn Cubone has been Mr. Fuji's biggest concern ever since the attack on the Pokémon Tower and the death of its mother at the hands of Team Rocket, with him praying for it every night and caring for it every day in the Volunteer Pokémon House. After going through the Pokémon Tower and defeating Team Rocket, Mr. Fuji will give the player a Poké Flute in gratitude.
While I'm certain this is the Pokémon Adventure world, I just must make sure everything is right. Arriving at the Pokémon House, I let myself inside as I asked out loud in a confused tone, "Anyone here?"
Then I heard a girl's response as she replied, "Yes."
Entering the Pokémon House, I couldn't help but ask in a dumbfounded tone, "So, what exactly is this Pokémon House, anyway?"
The girl seemed surprised as she answered my question in a surprised tone, "Oh, so you mean that no one told you? This place is where abandoned or orphaned Pokémon are taken care of."
My Pokémon caught her attention as I muttered, "Abandoned Pokémon?"
The girl nods as she leads the way to another room to the side of the house, responding, "I'll show you. This way, please."
Showing me deeper inside, revealing neatly clean dens for the Pokémon. Listening to the Pokémon gibbering around the volunteers, I couldn't help but say, "I had no idea there were so many abandoned Pokémon."
The girl smirked as she explained to me about the owner of the Pokémon House in a happy tone, "You should talk to the founder of the Pokémon House. His name is Mr. Fuji. He says that lots of people around the world think of Pokémon as nothing more than tools or even some kind of accessories. Did you know that this house used to be Mr. Fuji's own home? He remodeled it like this so it would have facilities just for the Pokémon."
Sighing in awe at the people interacting with Pokémon, I couldn't help but comment in an impressed tone, "Sigh… This Mr. Fuji sure seems like a really kind person."
The girl smiled as she replied happily, fond of Mr. Fuji, explaining to me, "You're right, he is. That's the reason a lot of people in town started helping out Mr. Fuji as volunteers here at the house. I'm one of them. My name's Reina."
Smiling, knowing the girl's name, I introduced myself in a proud tone, "And my name's Azure Sky. Hey there."
Finishing our greetings, I looked around, seeing the Pokémon with a sly smile on my face as I muttered, amazed, "All the Pokémon look very happy, ugh. What's with this one?"
Pointing at the Cubone that grumbled at me. Reina explained in a sad tone about Cubone's story, making me freeze, "It's a baby Cubone. It's only friendly to Mr. Fuji. But it's very nervous around anyone else. Because of Team Rocket."
I turned my head, muttering in a saddened tone, "Wait, Team Rocket?"
Reina frowned as she explained in a saddened tone about Cubone's past, "One day, Cubone was being chased by Team Rocket close to town… Because of Team Rocket, Cubone lost its mother, Marowak. Ever since that day, Cubone hasn't opened to anyone except Mr. Fuji."
Cubone grunted as I clenched my fist tightly and muttered in silent anger, "I can't believe Team Rocket. What a horrible thing to do."
Growlithe clenched his paws as Pikachu did the same over my shoulder. I can feel their anger hearing the news, as Dratini in her Poke Ball shook lightly, feeling the same about what Team Rocket did to Cubone.
Taking a deep breath, I sighed out loud, calming my emotions as I said thankfully to Reina, showing me around with a light smile, "I wanted to thank you for showing me around here. It all makes a lot more sense now why people come here first."
Reina smiled as she explained happily to me while my Pokémon calmed down, "Mr. Fuji is not just kind, you know. He knows everything there is to know about Pokémon and teaches us all kinds of things."
Smiling at this, there was one thing I had to know first. I asked curiously, wishing to see the man himself, "Really now? Is it possible for me to meet with Mr. Fuji to learn more about Pokémon?"
But that was when Reina showed an uneasy expression as she said, "Well, that's just... I'm not sure how to say this…"
*Thud*
Before Reina could finish, one of the volunteers entered the room in an alarmed tone and said in a concerned tone, "Everyone, I found out where Mr. Fuji is!"
Everyone rushed to the guy's side, and one of them asked hurriedly, "Where? Where is he? Tell us."
The Man replied in a defeated tone the location, "He's in the Pokémon Tower."
All exclaimed in shock, "Pokémon Tower?"
The man nodded as he explained to the group in a worried tone, "That's right. Someone saw Mr. Fuji heading that way yesterday. Then he saw him go into the Pokémon Tower. Why would he go in there?"
It was when the woman, clasping her hands, said in an assured tone, "Team Rocket. That's the only reason. He must've gone there to convince Team Rocket to leave the Pokémon Tower, but then he was captured and..."
She lost her words to speak as one of the guys spoke in a disheartened tone, "I'm afraid those kinds of people won't listen to anyone else."
Not understanding the situation, I decided to ask in a confused tone, briefly introducing myself, "Excuse me. Huh? The Pokémon Tower? What happened there? My name's Azure Sky, I'm on a journey. I was hoping to learn everything I could from Mt. Fuji."
The guy understood quickly as Reina explained to me the situation in a defeated tone, "One day, Team Rocket showed up and made the top floor of the Pokémon Tower their base. It was completely out of the blue, with no warning. They came by truck, and before we knew it... Worst of all, they chase away the people who come to visit the Pokémon Tower. Since that day, not a single person has been able to go inside the Pokémon Tower."
Remaining silent, I absorbed the information carefully as the woman spoke up next in a scared tone, "And on top of that, a ghost appears. It's the truth, believe me. I saw it clearly with my own eyes. The other night, I sneaked into the Tower when Team Rocket wasn't looking. And that's when... the ghost appeared, controlling the undead! It was unbelievably scary."
Simply understanding with a light nod, Reina suggested, teaming up in a desperate tone, "Hey, let's all go together and rescue Mr. Fuji."
However, her words didn't encourage anyone. It was clear from the voices that they tried but only failed to listen to them.
"Look, there's no way we can battle against Team Rocket."
"Some people challenged them to battles, but they're really strong for a bunch of petty thugs."
"And there is a ghost there. I can't go to that place again."
Reina raised her voice in a frustrated tone, looking at the adults, "Then what are we supposed to do? Mr. Fuji went to Team Rocket's base to protect all of us. Are you saying we should just abandon him?"
It was clear they didn't want to abandon Mr. Fuji, with Reina yelling in a defeated tone, "I can't believe you'd act like this."
They looked down as if they had been scolded. Man… we can't trust adults to do anything right in the Pokémon World.
Is that why the Guild Master sent me here as an 11-year-old instead? You know… it suddenly made a lot of sense right now.
Shaking that thought away, I spoke up in a determined tone, "I'll go."
Everyone gasped as one of the wise older adults tried to dissuade me from attempting to try in a nervous tone, "You? But that's impossible. You're just a child. Even the adults here didn't have the strength to beat Team Rocket."
Another one of the adults added on, trying to persuade me to avoid this mission, "That's right, it's a waste of time. Even if you go there, nothing's gonna change."
Smirking at this, I revealed my three badges, flexing as I said confidently, "Heh. Well, I'm pretty confident about my skill in Pokémon battles."
Their eyes widened as they murmured, impressed by my collecting three gym badges. They seemed convinced but doubtful as I said in a determined tone, "It doesn't matter. I can't let Team Rocket get away with this. There's Cubone to think of, too. I'm going to succeed in this. You'll see. Let's go, Pikachu. Growlithe."
Both chirped happily at my declaration as we left the Pokémon House. Next destination Pokémon Tower!
/////
[Kanto Region, Lavender Town – Pokémon Tower 1F]
*Tmp*
*Vreeeee*
*Hhssshhh*
We entered the first floor of Pokémon Tower, a dark, thick fog permeating throughout the room, filled with row upon row of gravestones. The sounds of water drops that could be heard certainly give this a creepy feeling.
Pikachu was at the ready over my shoulder. Growlithe provided nice warmth and light from his fire. Dratini slithered next to my side at the sign of danger, knowing that Team Rocket was here was enough for her to come and fight.
Remaining cautious as the fog settles inside the first floor of the Pokémon Tower. While we walked down, we paused as suddenly Pokémon not native to Pokémon Tower began to spring up.
Narrowing my eyes, I gave my command in a harsh tone, getting my Pokémon's attention, "I hate it. Dratini Twister above the mist. Growlithe Ember with Dratini. Pikachu Thunder Wave above."
*Woooosh*
*Brrrr*
*Zzzzz*
They began to attack as Dratini unleashed her Twister to disperse the corpses being controlled along with the mist. Growlithe used his Ember to intensify the winds Twister was producing.
And for good measure, Pikachu is using Thunder Wave on anything in or above the gas. It didn't take long as a ghostly wail alarmed my team in a pained tone, "GASSS!!! GASTLY!!! GAS!!!"
*Thud*
What fell was a simple Ghost Type, burnt, paralyzed, and in pain. A Gastly.
Gastly has no true form due to 95% of its body being poisonous gas, with the other 5% believed to be made up of the souls of those who died from the gas. However, it consistently appears as a black, spherical Pokémon surrounded by a purple haze.
Gastly has a wide, pink mouth with two visible fangs. Though its eyes seem to extend past its round body, visible eyelids surround them.
Using my knowledge and the info that the volunteer provided, I can assume that events in the manga are happening according to what I know. The undead zombies rising was simply a reassurance that this was the case.
With Gastly gone, the mist of gas vanished, revealing a pile of dropped corpses. On the side, there was another Trainer with a Charmelon that was knocked out.
Narrowing my eyes, I gave a command to Dratini, "Dratini… Use Bubblebeam."
*SPLASH*
Dratini unleashed a powerful Water Pulse at the downed Gastly. Till I saw its eyes swirl, it finally fainted as I sighed a breath of relief.
I turned my attention to Blue, checking his pulse. I sighed a breath of relief as I felt it meant he was still alive. I placed him near the entrance of Pokémon Tower, as no doubt Red will want to check this out.
Shifting my Trainer cap, my focus was on the top of Pokémon Tower as I said calmly, taking the steps up, "Alright, guys, time to beat up the people in charge. Whoever is hiding will be a great practice for you all to grow stronger. And hopefully, capture a friendly Ghost Type while we're at it."
With that, we rose to the next floor of Pokémon Tower. Time to clash with Team Rocket once again.
/////
A/N: So yeah... I might have used the Pokémon Origin scenario in this part of the fanfic. I've read that Mr. Fuji is supposed to have had a hand in creating Mewtwo in the game source material, but in the Manga, it showed an old man recently losing his Doduo. So... I've bent the rules a bit, which is correct with the source material.