Clang, clang, clang—
The massive sound of bells spread in all directions.
The clamor of the temple festival climbed to its peak at this moment. The tide of people, as if attracted by an invisible magnet, surged one after another toward the temporary high stage built in the center of the square.
Now was the focal point of everyone's attention.
The light of the lanterns gathered here.
Illuminating this area very brightly, yet casting flickering phantom shadows at the edges.
Every year, the temple festival has to retell the story of Maiden Gorge.
The little girl "Mengmeng," transformed from some unknown Ghost-type Pokémon, gently tugged at Ash and Misty's sleeves.
Ash felt she was either a Misdreavus or a Mismagius.
Or possibly a Shuppet?
Mengmeng's soft, slender finger pointed toward the high stage.
They saw an old woman, wearing complex, retro shrine maiden robes, her face holding wrinkles deep enough to clamp a Berry, and holding a primitive bell staff, trembling as she walked to the center of the stage.
Her figure appeared somewhat stooped under the lights, yet she possessed an indescribable majesty.
Hmm... this is the literal weight of a thousand years.
After all, it is an old ghost starting at two thousand years old.
"That is our Leader transformed," Mengmeng's voice was suppressed extremely low, carrying the excitement and caution of a child sharing a secret. "Every year at this time, it has to personally go on stage to tell the story of that 'waiting maiden'."
Hearing this, Ash and Misty couldn't help but carefully size up that "Old Witch."
Although they knew it was an illusion, that lifelike demeanor and the temperament that seemed to have walked out of the dust of history still made it hard to distinguish real from fake.
Well.
Not walked out of the dust of history.
For the Thousand-Year Gastly, that wasn't history; those were its past experiences.
Only those eyes, which occasionally swept over the crowd flashing a trace of almost imperceptible playfulness and knowingness, faintly revealed its non-human essence.
Although this old ghost pretended to be a serious old witch.
It was only suppressing its nature for a short time.
It would probably show its true colors if it went on a bit longer.
Taking advantage of the gap while the crowd was quieting down before the story began.
Ash couldn't help but bend down, leaning close to Mengmeng's ear, and asked the doubt hovering in his heart: "Mengmeng, before... your Leader seemed to have a pretty good relationship with Professor Oak?"
Mengmeng's small head tilted, and a tangled expression mixed with helplessness and "why are you asking this" appeared on her face.
She (It) stole a glance at the "Old Witch" on the high stage who was clearing her throat and preparing to speak, before saying in a hushed, timid voice: "Oh my... about this... speaking of it, it's all Professor Oak's fault!"
Mengmeng was very conflicted.
Finally, she changed her method of communication.
Her voice appeared directly in Ash and Misty's ears, obviously not wanting to be discovered by the Thousand-Year Gastly...
Only...
This behavior was indeed still too mischievous, right?
It fit the death-seeking nature of Ghost-types perfectly.
Mengmeng: So exciting~
Her small hands gestured, seemingly finding it somewhat difficult to speak: [The Leader... it used to have a really good relationship with Granny Agatha, one of Kanto's current Elite Four!]
[You could call them... hmm... like-minded old friends, right?]
[But later, I don't know why... the Leader and Professor Oak had a fight... we don't know exactly what happened either, but they fought pretty hard...]
[Then, then Granny Agatha seemed to get angry, feeling the Leader was too reckless, or... maybe she also had an unpleasant falling out with Professor Oak? Anyway, since then, Granny Agatha hasn't paid much attention to the Leader...]
Mengmeng spoke with only half-understanding.
Clearly, she (it) didn't actually know the specific situation; this was spreading gossip.
One could tell from her (its) excited attitude.
Mengmeng's small face scrunched up in a feigned manner, as if recounting an old regret: [The Leader is so depressed about it! It feels that not only did it lose the fight, but it also lost an old friend... so as soon as it hears Professor Oak's name, it... it feels a bit guilty plus depressed! After all, Granny Agatha is now an Elite Four member, she's very powerful!]
This was the story from Mengmeng's perspective.
As for the specific situation.
Ash felt that if there was a chance in the future, he could ask Professor Oak. What could be clearer than asking the person involved?
Misty hadn't expected there to be such an old story behind this, involving the past of the current Elite Four Agatha and Professor Oak.
No wonder that Thousand-Year Gastly slipped away faster than a shadow after hearing Professor Oak's name.
It turned out there was both the "old grudge" of being defeated and the "new hatred" of losing a friend.
Uh... compared to Ash, Misty was much simpler.
Misty actually believed the story told by this [Little Ghost].
Sure enough, she was still as easy to fool as when Ash tricked her out of her fishing rod back then.
Just then.
The "Old Witch" on the high stage forcefully struck the bell staff in her hand.
"Ding—" The crisp sound of the bell was like magic, instantly suppressing all the noise.
Her aged and distant voice sounded, beginning to narrate that legend of the maiden, regarding waiting and regret, that had circulated for two thousand years.
The storytelling was extremely infectious, the voice at times mournful, at times ethereal, accompanying the ancient shakuhachi music that sounded from who knows where—like weeping and complaining—and the mist illusions carrying a faint dampness and scent of sandalwood that quietly permeated the air, pulling the minds of everyone present into that distant era.
Ash: This definitely uses Hypnosis, right?
Considering this temple festival itself was shrouded in illusion techniques.
It seemed only natural for the Thousand-Year Gastly to use Hypnosis.
The story finished.
The stage fell silent for a moment, then erupted with enthusiastic and lasting applause and sighs.
Many people were still immersed in the lingering charm of the story, wiping the corners of their eyes.
The climax of the temple festival also came to a close with this.
The crowd began to slowly disperse like a receding tide, carrying satisfaction and emotion, walking toward the port or the hotels.
The lanterns extinguished one by one, the clamor gradually subsiding.
Only the mess on the ground and the scent of food remaining in the air proved the grandeur and jubilation just moments ago.
However, not everyone left.
Ash noticed that there were about twenty or thirty people who looked like Trainers, including Brock, who had reappeared at some point with a face full of satisfaction.
Seeing Ash and Misty, Brock nodded and waved his hand, signaling them to come over together.
Instead of leaving, the group tacitly walked toward the rear of the square, in the direction of that ancient shrine.
Their expressions were no longer the relaxation of sightseeing, but carried a kind of faint anticipation and seriousness.
"Mengmeng" tugged at the corner of Ash's clothes and explained in a whisper: "After the temple festival ends is the 'real' activity."
"Although the Leader loves to play, it also keeps its promises very well, and it really likes young people with potential."
"Those of us taught by the Leader... if we are willing to contact Trainers, we can also follow humans out to see the world."
"Because the Leader is here to preside and restrain us."
"For humans, there is absolutely no need to worry about being pranked too hard or encountering danger!"
"For us, we also don't need to worry about being attacked because of bad reputations."
"This can be considered our... annual reserved program here!"
Mengmeng was a little excited after finishing speaking.
Ash, Misty, and Brock exchanged glances, and all saw the interest and eagerness in each other's eyes.
The opportunity to contact wild Ghost-type Pokémon in a safe environment, and even gain their recognition, was undoubtedly extremely attractive to Trainers.
The three hesitated no longer.
They followed "Mengmeng" toward that shrine which appeared even more deep and mysterious in the night.
____
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