Wow! Up to 87 already!

Disclaimer: See last part. I’m too tired to write in a new disclaimer. *Yawns*

Notes: Italics indicates pokemon speech, <> indicates telepathy, ** indicates thoughts…

Xaero – thank you.

Ranma – I think Ash is clueless…

Digifan1 – ‘kay, I’ll keep writing!

Fire Eevee – yes, the conversation is Lance n’ dragonair.

Hell Flame Vulpix – thank you!

Episode 89: Haunted investigations

“RISE AND SHINE!” Pika-chan yelled.

Two very tired trainers peeked out from beneath their blankets.

“It’s five A.M.” Lance commented. She and Ash were sharing a room, but with separate beds. “I’m tired.” She pulled the covers back over her head and tried to go back to sleep.

Ash didn’t even stir.

Pika-chan sighed. “But guys, if we want to go to pokemon tower, we have to go before the guards get up!”

This caught Ash’s attention. He yawned and climbed out of bed, pulling on his dark pants and jacket.

“Wake up, Crystal.”
There was no response.

Ash reached over and yanked off the blankets. Lance glared at him.

“Come on, let’s go!”

Lance grabbed her clothes and stalked to the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, she emerged, looking slightly more awake.

“I’m ready.”

“Let’s go!” Pika-chan said as she munched on some blueberry muffins. Ash was finishing up his own breakfast (milk and three chocolate chip muffins).

Lance selected an apple, milk, and a banana muffin. “Okay, let’s go.” She said as she walked along, eating.

They managed to make it to Lavender’s pokemon tower without any incident.

“Okay, let’s go.” Pika-chan whispered. “Let me think… the grave should be on the top floor.”

“Creepy.” Ash muttered. “How many floors are there? I only remember two…”

“There are six.” Pika-chan said. “Let’s go.”

Third Floor….

“Nothing.” Ash said, looking around. They dashed up to the fourth floor. The area was quite bereft of ghost pokemon.

Fourth Floor…

There was a group of Channellers discussing whose Gastly was better. Ash and Lance snuck past, trying not to draw attention their attention. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out.

“Who goes there?” One rasped in a hollow voice.

“More souls?” Another asked.

Ash looked freaked. * This does not seem good. *

“They must be evil spirits!” One shrieked, hair flying wildly.

“Begone!” Shouted another as she sent out her Gastly to attack.

Pika-chan zapped the Gastly into oblivion. “I think we’re screwed…”

More ghost pokemon appeared to join the fray.

“You only realized that now?” Ash asked sarcastically as he released Eterneon. He didn’t use it in normal battles, but this was an emergency.

“Eterneon, use Sunbeam!” Eterneon nodded and collected golden energy in the sun on its forehead, before releasing it in one explosive burst of golden light.

Many of the channellers screamed and began to fade away.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“DIE!” Another one shouted, throwing what looked like a sacrificial knife (coated with dried blood) at Ash.

Ash ducked as it flew over his head.

“Charmander, Fire Spin!” Lance said, throwing out her pokemon and directing the attack at some of the ghosts.

They cowered back.

“Ghosts are afraid of light!” Pika-chan said. “Use that to your advantage, Ash!”

Ash thought quickly. “How do I get more light?” Eterneon shrugged as it used Light Ray to send more flying.

< Where are all of these ghosts coming from? >

< I don’t know! >

< Um, a little help would be nice… > Lance said as she tried to pry a dead Kingler off Charmander. Charmander couldn’t attack if it was being choked. Unfortunately, her hands simply slipped through its body. However, its claws weren’t composed of mist, clearly evidenced by the show of Charmander turning blue.

“Key that hides the power of the stars, reveal your true form before me! Your master under the seal of contract Ashura commands you, Release!” His staff materialized in a glow of bright shimmery bits of light.

“Of course!” Pika-chan said. “Magic worked last time.”

“Card created by Clow, please accept this new star power and take on your new form! Your new master Ashura commands you, Release!”

“Fire or grass types.” Ash muttered. “Okay then. Victreebel! Gloom! Use Solarbeam!” The two pokemon collected in sunlight, although nobody knows where it came from, and fired it off at the attacking ghosts.

The ghosts screamed in agony and vanished. A hole appeared in the side of lavender tower, letting the natural sunlight in.

Ash breathed a sigh of relief.

“That was close…”

He turned around and saw Lance and Pika-chan still trying to detach the Kingler ghost from Charmander’s neck. His jaw dropped.

“I used Solarbeam and it still didn’t drive it away?”

“Actually, I think it’s stuck.” Pika-chan said helpfully.

“Did you try shocking it? Water is weak to electricity after all…”

“It twitched, but hung on.” Lance said.

“Hmm… Crystal, how about using Articuno?”

“Right!” Lance said, releasing Articuno. “Blizzard!” But the freezing chunks of ice didn’t even make the Kingler flinch.

“This is one determined ghost.” Ash muttered. “Great.”

Charmander looked insanely panicked. Help! The little lizard squeaked out. Both trainers felt sympathetic.

“We’re trying to think of a plan, Charmander.”

I’m going to suffocate and die!

“Well, you’re not dead yet.” Lance said as Ash released Arcanine, who tried to Bite the Kingler in half.

The kingler flinched and let go.

“Oh, I should have used a psychic type, or another ghost.” Ash said in understanding. “Or a dark type.”

“Let’s just go up to the next floor.” Lance said. She shivered.

“Oh, sorry, Crystal, I forgot that you’re not used to exploring dark towers.” Ash said sympathetically.

< I think she’s scared. > Pika-chan told Ash.

< Well, maybe. Or maybe she’s just cold. > Ash handed Lance one of his extra jackets. Lance put it on over her t-shirt and stopped shivering as much.

“Where’s the staircase?” Pika-chan wondered as they looked around.

“There are so many graves…” Ash said. * This is creepy. Shoot, now I’m getting scared! *

“Oh, an item.” Lance said. She dashed over and picked it up. Opening the little capsule, she saw that it was a potion.

“Cool.” Ash said.

“Might as well look for items. Maybe we’ll find the staircase.” Pika-chan said.

Ash pulled out his Itemfinder and began scanning the area. He soon discovered a Carbos and an Awakening.

“I FOUND THE STAIRCASE!” Pika-chan proclaimed an hour later.

“Thank goodness.” Ash said. “Let’s go, Crystal.”

Lance nodded and followed him towards the dusty staircase. “Is it working?”
“Doesn’t look broken.” Pika-chan muttered. “Not sure though.”

They began climbing up the marble stairs. Fortunately, no ghosts attacked.

Ash let out a long-held breath. * We ought to be okay now. *

They climbed up. After about five minutes, they reached the fifth floor.

“It’s not as creepy here.” Pika-chan said. “There’s a kind of feeling.”

“I think… light type magic.” Ash said. “But who put it here?”

They looked around and soon saw a glowing square in the floor pattern.

“Don’t worry, dears.” A crackly voice said, making them all jump. From the shadows emerged another channeller.

Ash gulped.

“I sealed this place with white magic, long ago.” She informed them.

< She’s blind! > Pika-chan said in telepathy. < She’s telling the truth, too. >

< Oh. >

“What are you here for?”

“We’re trying to find the grave of a powerful magician who is rumored to rest here.” Ash said.

“Ah, so you have come to seek the White Wizard.”

“The White Wizard?”

End Episode 89! Yes, I know it’s a cliffhanger! Review or else I won’t update! And if I get any flames or complaints, they will be used to form Sand, who will trap Nelvana in quicksand!