Lavender Town
A thin mist blanketed the small town all year round.
Aside from the towering Pokémon Tower that stood solemnly in its center, Lavender Town also had a Pokémon Center and all sorts of small shops. It was not as isolated from the world as Nozomi had imagined.
He stepped into the Pokémon Center.
"Welcome to the Pokémon Center! How may I help you today?"The Nurse Joy of Lavender Town was as beautiful as any other Joy across Kanto, but perhaps due to the town's eerie atmosphere, she carried an air of quiet mystery that made her stand out.
"Please heal my Pokémon," Nozomi said, handing over his Poké Balls.
However, his Haunter refused to return to its ball—it kept slipping in and out of Nozomi's shadow, playing gleefully as if nothing around it mattered.
While operating the healing machine, Nurse Joy glanced at Haunter and asked casually, "Are you here to take part in the Ghost-catching Festival too?"
"Ghost-catching Festival? What's that?" Nozomi asked curiously.
He had only stopped by Lavender Town on his journey. This was the first he'd heard of such a thing.
Nurse Joy smiled faintly. "To explain that, I'll have to tell you a bit about the origin of Lavender Town."
"Decades ago, people built Pokémon Tower to honor their departed Pokémon. They buried them there and came back every year to pay their respects."
"As time passed, more and more trainers came to grieve, and a tradition was born. Many who couldn't bear to part with the memory of their lost partners chose to settle near the tower. That was how Lavender Town first came to be."
"Perhaps because so many Pokémon were laid to rest in the tower—or for reasons no one truly understands—more and more Ghost-type Pokémon began to appear within it."
"At first, it wasn't much of a problem. The Ghost-types were few and mostly playful; they'd just pull harmless pranks on visitors. But as their numbers grew, some became more aggressive—attacking mourners and causing injuries."
"The League had to step in," she continued seriously. "A few years ago, they passed a regulation—"
"A regulation? About this festival?" Nozomi interrupted.
"Yes," Joy nodded. "The League decreed that every year around this time, a three-day Ghost-catching Festival would be held. Trainers are invited to enter the Pokémon Tower to capture Ghost-types. This helps regulate their numbers and also brings economic life to Lavender Town. It's a win–win: safety for visitors, and prosperity for the town."
She seemed genuinely supportive of the League's decision.
"But… doesn't that disturb the rest of the Pokémon buried here?" Nozomi asked thoughtfully.
Joy paused, then said firmly, "Letting wild Ghost-types run rampant would disturb their rest far more than a few captures."
As she spoke, she returned Nozomi's Poké Balls with a gentle smile. "Your Pokémon are fully healed."
Nozomi smiled back. "That makes sense."
Just as he was about to turn away, he caught the faintest whisper—a soft hum, followed by a flash of white behind Nurse Joy's shoulder.
"Did you hear something just now?" he asked.
"No?" Joy blinked, looking confused.
Ever since awakening his psychic senses, Nozomi's perception had grown razor-sharp. He knew he hadn't imagined it.
"Haunter," he said, pulling the mischievous ghost out from his shadow, "was there a Ghost-type Pokémon just now?"
"Haun~ter!" Haunter nodded vigorously, then made a face at Joy and cackled.
"…"
Nozomi sighed. Ever since evolving from Gastly, his Haunter had gotten cheekier by the day.
Joy, however, had turned pale. She suddenly remembered all the stories—of people who mocked Ghost-types and were later attacked in the night. Her Chansey was by her side, but it wasn't much of a fighter.
Seeing her expression, Nozomi felt a little guilty.
After all, she'd only told him about the festival—and now she might have drawn a ghost's ire because of it.
"Don't worry," Nozomi reassured her. "I'll handle that Ghost-type. Besides, I'm curious about this festival myself."
Joy blinked, then smiled gratefully. "Thank you… truly."
"No problem. Haunter, can you track where that Ghost-type went?"
"Hunterrr~!" Haunter pounded its chest with ghostly pride, assuring him it was on the case, then floated out through the door.
"See you later," Nozomi said as he followed.
"Please be careful!" Joy called after him, silently awarding him a "Good Person" card in her heart.
The streets of Lavender Town were livelier than he'd expected. Mist drifted among streetlamps, and the air smelled faintly of incense. Trainers with Poké Balls clipped to their belts filled the town—clearly drawn by the Ghost-catching Festival.
Haunter led the way, zigzagging through alleys until it slipped into a narrow, dimly lit side street.
Its grin faded, replaced by sharp vigilance.
Sensing danger, Nozomi tightened his grip on Metagross's Poké Ball and called out calmly, "Come out. I know you're there."
If Haunter had stopped, their opponent was close.
A soft, bell-like laugh echoed through the fog.
"Ke-ke-ke~!"
Nozomi turned toward the sound—and saw a Misdreavus, its body shimmering in hues of black and indigo, perched atop a crumbling wall, smiling at him with mischievous glee.
At the same time, behind him, a towering Dusknoir materialized, blocking his escape route.
"Misdreavus and Dusknoir, huh?" Nozomi muttered. He wasn't worried—they weren't strong enough to truly threaten him. What puzzled him was something else. "Aren't Ghost-types usually solitary? Why are these two working together?"
It was odd. Aside from sharing the same typing, Misdreavus and Dusknoir had no real relation.
But there was no time to think further—both Ghosts lunged forward at once.
"Haunter, take Misdreavus! Metagross, use Psychic on Dusknoir!"
Even though Metagross's Psychic-type moves were at a disadvantage against Ghost-types, Nozomi didn't hesitate.
He trusted his team—and more than that, he was curious to see what these ghosts were hiding.
(End of Chapter)