After refusing to release Butterfree, Ash completed the system's hidden mission. His Pokémon Affinity reputation increased again, and it also triggered a new quest involving the Gastly trio of Lavender Town.
[Mission Description: Watch the comedy performance of the Gastly trio and establish a Ghost Comedy Troupe.]
…Wasn't this mission a little too easy?
"Ash, why did you come… here?"
Misty shrank back slightly, her heart racing as she instinctively moved closer to Ash.
The streetlights in Lavender Town flickered dimly, casting shifting shadows across the road and adding an eerie atmosphere to the place.
"I heard that the Pokémon Tower here is home to Ghost-type Pokémon," Brock said after asking a passing trainer. Lavender Town had always been full of legends about Ghost Pokémon.
With my thousand-year Gastly in hand, who would dare mess with me? Ash thought.
"I brought Gastly here to visit some relatives."
Seeing Misty trembling slightly, Ash didn't push her and said seriously, "If you're scared, you can go wait for me in Saffron City."
"W-Who's scared?" Misty stammered.
Before she could finish, a blood-curdling scream suddenly echoed from inside Pokémon Tower. Startled, she grabbed onto Ash's shoulders.
"Ah—!"
Ash immediately felt a sharp pain in his arm.
"Don't you think that scream sounded a bit familiar?" Ash asked.
Misty and Brock both shook their heads.
You can't even recognize Team Rocket's voices? Ash thought. Even the original Ash would have found that voice familiar.
"Let's go inside," he said.
Ash released Charmeleon, using the flame on its tail like a candle. The blazing fire illuminated the dark interior around them.
More screams echoed from above. This time Misty and Brock recognized it immediately—especially Meowth's unmistakable voice.
"Team Rocket?" Misty said uncertainly, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes.
Suddenly, the screaming stopped.
The entire tower fell silent.
Ash felt the Gastly Poké Ball at his waist shaking slightly. It seemed the Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar trio had arrived.
"Why do I suddenly feel colder?" Misty rubbed her arms uneasily as she looked around.
Brock spun in a circle but couldn't see anything unusual.
The three ghost brothers were probably gathering to prank their next victims. Judging from the screams earlier, Team Rocket had probably already been thoroughly toyed with.
"Wooo~!"
Brock suddenly froze.
A blue ghostly face appeared right in front of him. Startled, he stumbled backward and fell to the ground.
Misty had exactly the same reaction.
Pikachu and Charmeleon stared at the Gastly trio.
"Gengar!"
Gengar looked at Ash, who stood there calmly, and scratched its head in confusion.
Why wasn't this kid scared like the other two? Had its scare tactics gotten worse?
"Let's go upstairs and see what's going on," Ash said.
After the Gastly trio vanished again, Ash led Misty and Brock upstairs. Misty, still annoyed after being frightened earlier, clearly wanted to get some payback.
They didn't find the ghosts immediately—but they did run into some old acquaintances.
Team Rocket.
Jessie, James, and Meowth were wearing bizarre makeup and copying comedy skits like something straight out of a TV show.
"Kid! Hurry and save us!" they cried.
They were nearly collapsing from exhaustion. Being forced by Pokémon to perform comedy sketches like this was humiliating beyond belief.
Nearby, three Ghost Pokémon lay sprawled across a sofa, laughing hysterically.
"Gastly! Haunter! Gengar!"
The trio watched Team Rocket's performance neatly lined up like an audience enjoying a show.
Now that they knew the ghosts were behind everything, the fear in Ash's group disappeared.
After discussing something among themselves, the Gastly trio started directing Team Rocket to perform even more ridiculous comedy routines.
Although Misty had initially been annoyed with them, she couldn't hold back her laughter at the absurd scene.
Ash originally felt nothing about the trio's comedy. But when he saw Team Rocket perfectly copying the ghosts' exaggerated expressions and movements, he finally burst out laughing.
The three ghosts had worked hard for their performance. Seeing Ash finally laugh, they felt proud of their comedic talent.
Ash released the Thousand-Year Gastly, hoping it might help recruit the trio.
Unfortunately, this ancient Gastly wasn't exactly serious either.
At first, the trio were a little intimidated by the unusual Gastly. But after chatting for a while, the Thousand-Year Gastly happily joined their comedy act.
Seeing this, Ash rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"You like performing comedy so much," Ash said, "why not form a comedy troupe, like the Squirtle Squad? You could make a name for yourselves for Pallet Town."
Ash hadn't expected the Thousand-Year Gastly to get involved too. It seemed it had found some like-minded companions.
"Gastly?"
(Really? We actually have a chance?)
Haunter excitedly rushed forward and hugged Ash, sticking out its long tongue and licking his face.
"H-Hey, wait—!"
Ash felt something slimy all over his face.
"What did Haunter do?" Misty asked, backing away cautiously.
Not only Haunter—Gastly and Gengar also gathered around Ash.
"They're probably interested in Ash's idea about the comedy troupe," Brock explained.
The three ghosts nodded vigorously, staring at Ash with wide, hopeful eyes.
"Well then, come with me first," Ash said. "Someone over there will help arrange things for you."
Ash tossed out three Poké Balls, capturing Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar one after another. All three Poké Balls were immediately transmitted to Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Sending three Ghost Pokémon in the middle of the night…
Ash wondered if the professor might get the scare of his life.
"What about me?" the Thousand-Year Gastly asked.
"We'll talk about it tomorrow when we reach Saffron City," Ash replied, recalling Charmeleon and the ancient Gastly.
"Nice work, kid…"
Team Rocket lay on the ground gasping for air. The ghost trio had tormented them for hours.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Suddenly, the communicator at Professor Oak's Laboratory began beeping.
"Did Gary send another Pokémon back?" Oak muttered.
He ignored the instant noodles boiling over the alcohol lamp and walked toward the glowing machine.
"Hmm? These were sent by Ash?"
Professor Oak picked up the three Poké Balls. After hesitating for a moment, he released them all at once.
It shouldn't be something enormous like that Gyarados again… right?
Three purple Pokémon appeared before him.
"Gastly… Haunter… Gengar."
Three Ghost-type Pokémon—the entire evolutionary line.
Where did Ash even get these?
Professor Oak's expression grew complicated. He decided he'd ask Ash about it tomorrow.
Is this kid traveling by trading away his lifespan for luck or something…?
"You three can stay in the backyard for now," Oak said, pointing toward the corridor leading outside.
The Gastly trio floated happily toward the backyard. Seeing so many Pokémon gathered there made them ecstatic.
Professor Oak watched them leave with mixed emotions.
Receiving the entire Gastly evolutionary line at once would greatly help his research—honestly, it was almost comparable to the forty-plus Pokémon Gary had sent back.
Ash focused on quality.
Gary focused on quantity.
…That actually worked out pretty well.
As he continued thinking, Professor Oak suddenly frowned.
It felt like he had forgotten something important.
"My instant noodles!!!"
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