Chương 41: Chapter 39

It was so cool to have an evolved Ghost Type nearby. Like Gastly, Haunter didn't have an obvious method of propulsion. If he willed it, he could move in that direction in the air. There was no obvious cloud of poisonous gas around him like there had been in his previous form, but the fur on his body was closer to matted hair. Faint wisps of darkness occasionally drifted out. When Haunter let Sam touch his body, he felt surprisingly silky.

At times, Haunter would float off to poke and prod at nothing at all within the thick creases of the bark of nearby giant trees. While nothing physical was there, Haunter's newly acquired fingers would cause shadows to ripple like the surface of a pond. Sam desperately wanted to learn more about that ability, especially when Haunter seemed to gain a sudden realization and zipped into Sam's shadow.

He felt a chill as if someone had just walked over his grave, but as Haunter popped in and out, cackling, the feeling became more and more mundane. The only form of insight he obtained was when Mankey tried to jab his rapidly improving Fire Punch into Sam's shadow. It was an attempt to follow after Haunter and light up the pool of "liquid" he kept diving into, but it turned out that diving into a shadow turned that shadow into a medium vulnerable to attack.

So, entering shadows wasn't a great defense, but it was a great technique for a surprise dodge or hidden movement. So many ideas and strategies filled Sam's mind, but he couldn't afford to worry about it. Cyndaquil still frequently experienced moments of tense strain, and Sam was also pretty sure they were actively being watched. Someone or some thing kept leaving Apricorns in their path. Teddiursa was a Pokémon adept at locating them, too.

Since his species was inherently curious, they were said to have the "Pick Up" ability. With ease, his eyes picked out piles of leaves and mounds of dirt on the ground, and he would walk over, scrounge around, and come back with a freshly-picked Apricorn to hand to Redi. When he brought back a green Apricorn—the fifth time he had brought one of those fruits back—Redi thanked him, put it away, and glanced over to Sam.

"I know that I said I wanted to get Apricorns, but this feels weird, right? It's like someone is trying to leave us gifts. Or mess with us."

"Like that Misdreavus?" Sam offered. She shivered.

"I really hope not." Despite nothing being around—Haunter would have alerted them—Sam still felt the hair on the back of his neck as if he was being watched. Thankfully, this last day within Ilex Forest went uneventfully. That wild Misdreavus was the stand-out encounter, but both the size of their group and Haunter's evolved strength was more than enough to scare any other wild Pokémon off. At most, they accidentally approached a tree full of Kakuna but thankfully noticed it before it was too late.

They took a wide, wide berth around it to ensure no swarm of Beedrill chased after them for daring to approach the swarm's home. The junior nurse had been slightly wrong when she had told Sam three days to get through Ilex Forest. Instead, it took three full days to get through, and they found the exit late morning of the fourth. The woods opened up, and the trees became smaller around them.

Light peeked through much more frequently, and when they finally managed to break free, Sam found himself staring over Azalea Town from the top of a hill. He wasn't surprised that Azalea was sometimes called the most peaceful town in Johto. The town was situated right at the edge of Ilex, protected by rolling hills covered by trees. On one side of it was a series of rocky slopes that likely hid the entrance to Union Cave—the easiest method of traveling north to Violet City.

Next to those slopes was a large, calm lake with crystal-clear, blue waters. While the view was beautiful, Sam did not want to delay Cyndaquil's check-up any longer. He descended the hill, carefully placing his steps so as to not fall, using the height he had to locate the red roof of the Pokémon Center and head straight towards it.

"So I did some reading back in Goldenrod," Sam started as he walked. Redi snorted.

"Back before we got distracted with all of... this," he continued, gesturing at nothing specific all around him.

"Azalea's pretty unique in that it doesn't have a dedicated Gym Leader. Even with Ilex Forest being nearby, there usually isn't a need for a single, strong individual down here. Instead, the local Gym follows a more hive-like structure, with a group of Ace Trainer-equivalents running the place. It's a source of pride for them, apparently."

"But don't hives have queens?" Redi interjected.

"I mean, yeah, if you're in Sinnoh and are dealing with Combee and Vespiquen," Sam said.

"But down here, they're taking inspiration from Beedrill. That specific Bug Type works in swarms to protect their vulnerable Kakuna and Weedle."

"Huh." Redi grunted. Her eyes scanned the buildings of the town as they approached.

"And over there? That section with all that smoke?" A row of houses churned out black plumes from their chimneys.

"Probably the Pokéball-makers, I think?" Sam asked. Redi hummed, obviously committing that to memory. She and Sam reached the streets of the town itself.

"So since Cyndaquil needs a check-up, we'll wait to explore the town after," he said, reassuring himself.

"Maybe we can get a nice meal once this is all over?" Mankey's eyes went unfocused as his fur-hidden mouth dripped with drool. In the middle of the day like this, Haunter remained in Sam's shadow, making the most of his newfound capability. Although, Sam could occasionally see the Ghost Type's red eyes peek out to glance around at their surroundings. Cyndaquil stayed in her Pokéball to rest.

Here, the buildings were old-fashioned like the buildings of Ecruteak, but there was far less focus on aesthetics and more greater focus on practicality. They were all made out of the bare minimum number of materials required and were much more spread out. Overall, the population of Azalea was likely the same as Dewford, but without tall cliffs restricting its size, this town had grown wide. Sam moved quickly from street to street, following the fastest path he could find to reach the Pokémon Center.

He barely bothered to look more closely at the town around him. Sure, there were a surprising number of specialty shops that advertised charcoal goods and herbal remedies, but he was more focused on finally getting Cyndaquil the care she needed. Finally arriving at the Pokémon Center, he found it was wooden like all the rest. This building had a touch of modernity to it with its red-shingled roof and tall glass windows.

He headed inside, stepping into a room that felt more like an open, cozy lodge rather than the lobby of a medical facility. There was a front counter like usual, and he immediately rushed over to the nurse on duty.

"Hello, and welcome to the Pokémon Center," the pink-haired woman said.

"Here, we can—""Please take my Cyndaquil!" Sam shouted. He bowed his head and held his Pokéball forward.

"Please! She's constantly under strain, and no matter how much we rest, nothing seems to help her!" The nurse blinked before a soft smile appeared on her face.

"Of course. We'll make sure your Cyndaquil is in perfect health!" Sam breathed out a huge sigh of relief. He passed her Pokéball over, handing the nurse his trainer ID as well. Stepping back to allow Redi a turn, Sam numbly wandered over to a nearby couch. A Chansey brought Cyndaquil into the back. Redi quickly asked for keys to a set of rooms for the pair and hurried over once the nurse provided them.

"Sam, I—" Redi paused when she glanced at Sam's downtrodden face.

"Let me take your stuff. I'll put it down for you, alright?"

"Yeah," he breathed.

"Thanks, Redi." She smiled at him and headed into the back. Sam all but collapsed onto the couch's soft cushions, allowing his head to rest on the couch's back and stare up at the ceiling. Mankey hopped up next to him, sitting and kicking his legs off of the edge. There weren't many people here. One person quietly made a call in the back, but no other trainers lingered in the room. Azalea was a rather small town, after all, even with its Pokémon League Gym.

Based on how quiet it was, Sam had a feeling most trainers stopped by, challenged the Gym, then immediately passed through. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. As he was waiting, he let his mind go blank. He just needed to try to rest. Cyndaquil would be just fine now that she was in a proper facility. I don't know why she would try so hard to convince me that she's fine even though she was obviously not. Maybe she got injured against Whitney?

And then she tried to hide it from me to save me from the guilt? But then why would the nurses not be able to find anything? It feels almost entirely physical. It's the weirdest sickness I've ever seen. He didn't react to the sound of the side door opening up, and he didn't react to footsteps entering the room. What he did react to was the sound of a voice.

"Can you check over my Pokémon?" It was familiar, and Sam couldn't help but frown.

"Certainly! I'll make sure they're in perfect health. No sense in risking any lingering injuries after a harsh training session, right?"

"Right," the familiar voice said humourlessly. Sam watched a certain boy walk over and collapse onto a neighboring couch. Xavier looked tired. It was clear he had been pushing himself lately. He leaned back and covered his face with an arm. Sam stared at the boy, waiting for him to say something— anything —but no words ever came.

"... Hey," Sam said. He wasn't sure why he said that. Something about being ignored made him annoyed.

"What? Do you need something?" Xavier asked, removing his arm to glance at Sam. His voice dripped with politeness. Sam wanted Xavier to react and recognize him. He wanted Xavier to realize who he was. Yet, the other boy just stared with a blank look of unfamiliarity. It seemed like all Xavier was doing was trying to get some rest, and Sam was struck by a realization. Xavier thought him to be just a "stranger" bothering him.

"Really?" Sam asked, annoyance leaking into his tone.

"You really don't recognize me?" He felt his voice hitch. Xavier raised an eyebrow with a slight hum.

"Huh? Oh. You're that boy from the boat." Xavier brought his arm back down to continue covering his eyes. Sam stuttered, unable to find his words due to sheer disbelief.

"... That's it? Just that boy from the boat?" Sam said.

"We talked once. Battled once. What more do you want from me? I'm not bothering you, am I?" Sam was once again left struggling to speak. He had built up Xavier so much in his head that to be so utterly dismissed like this was like—"You crushed Whitney's team. You declared you were going to win the Conference. You got second place in the Beginner's Tournament, higher than me!" Xavier winced at that last one.

"So what?" he snapped.

"I have an evolved Pokémon, now," Sam said, sitting up a bit taller. A glance at Mankey.

"Oh. Your Cyndaquil, then? Congratulations."

"No. My Haunter." Xavier rolled his eyes.

"Of course it's not the Starter," he mumbled.

"You are aware I have three evolved Pokémon on my team, right?" Sam felt his hands clench into fists as Xavier leaned forward and rubbed his temples. There wasn't any time for a response—the nurse called out Xavier's name.

"Xavier! Your Pokémon are ready for pick-up!" There was something about how quickly Xavier's team was checked-over that churned Sam's gut.

"That's me," Xavier said.

"I know," Sam replied. Xavier stood up and walked away without any fanfare. Grumbling, Sam rested his face in his hands, trying to calm down. Closing his eyes, he didn't notice his shadow stretching towards Xavier until it was too late. A purple hand left the darkness to grab the leaving boy's foot. Xavier yelped, but he caught himself before he fell to the floor. He jerked around.

"What was that for?" he shouted. Like elastic, Sam's shadow snapped back to him. Both of them saw. Sam stood up to better face Xavier, and Mankey hopped up onto the back of the couch to defend Sam if needed.

"Huh? Whatever could you mean?" Sam asked. He hadn't expected Haunter to react with a prank, but he appreciated it. If his Pokémon was going to defend him, he was going to defend his Pokémon back.

"You—!" Xavier's expression was thunderous.

"You had your Pokémon attack me!"

"I did nothing of the sort," Sam said imperiously. Xavier stormed over, thrusting his finger right at Sam's chest, but Mankey hopped over to growl and threaten the older boy before he could. At Xavier's side, a flash. Apparently, not every one of his Pokémon had been handed over. A tall, tawny owl Pokémon—a Noctowl—released itself to leer at Mankey, ready to defend its trainer as well. A thump. Two hands hit the Pokémon Center's front counter.

"Boys!" Both Sam and Xavier winced at the sound of the nurse's angry voice.

"I will allow no fights within my Pokémon Center! Either take it outside and handle it like trainers, or talk it out and resolve it like adults!" Xavier scowled, pulling back and returning his Pokémon. Sam did the same, returning Mankey, and sent Xavier a smug look. A sharp glare from the nurse cowed his reaction.

"... Sorry," Sam mumbled. Xavier scoffed.

"Yeah. I guess I'm sorry as well," he said. He didn't sound like he meant it. He walked away. Although, it wasn't like Sam was able to battle anyway. With Cyndaquil in the process of being checked over, his team wasn't in the position to be involved in any fights. As the older boy retrieved the rest of his Pokémon from the nurse, Sam looked down and whispered a quiet thanks to his team. It warmed him that they were so quickly on his side.

Mankey couldn't react since he was inside of his Pokéball, but Haunter stuck out a hand and gave him a thumbs up from the floor.

"And Sam," the nurse said, "can you come here?" Sam started to walk over as Xavier moved over to the wall and leaned against it. The older boy smirked at him; the tone the nurse used reminded Sam of his mother preparing for a lecture.

"Hi," Sam said, taking on the appropriate apologetic tone when he arrived.

"I'm sorry. That guy... he just gets on my nerves. I'm just stressed. Do you have an update on Cyndaquil?" The nurse's firm expression softened.

"Not yet, but I don't think you have to worry. My Chansey is giving her the most thorough examination she can. Even if we can't immediately help her, we'll know what the problem is right away!" Sam breathed out in satisfied relief.

"But I wanted to talk to you about something else," she continued, holding out his trainer ID that he left behind.

"You have three badges, right?"

"Right," Sam said.

"I was going to challenge Azalea Gym to earn my fourth." The nurse pursed her lips as she looked down at his card. She rotated it in her hand, which made a certain part of it shimmer in the light.

"I'm sorry, but I really have to check. You are aware what this mark means too, right?" Her finger tapped on the ghostly sprite on his ID's top-right corner.

"Ah. I, uh, don't think I can say it out loud?"

"Go ahead. There's no problem if you say it here." Sam glanced at Xavier out of the corner of his eye, noticing how the older boy didn't bother hiding how he was listening in. Whatever. Really want to find out? I hope you get scared.

"Morty placed it there," Sam said proudly.

"You know, Gym Leader Morty. It signifies that I'm skilled enough to handle real ghosts. I'm a Ghost Type specialist!" Xavier coughed.

"At least, I'm still training to be one," Sam continued. It wouldn't do him well to brag so boldly in front of the nurse.

"... Uh-huh." The nurse leaned to the side to glance at her computer, where the members of Sam's team—specifically Mankey and Cyndaquil—were likely displayed.

"You have a Gastly?" she asked.

"Haunter, now," Sam said.

"That does demonstrate a level of familiarity..." The nurse hummed, seeming to genuinely consider something. After several tense seconds, she firmly nodded once, as if coming to a decision.

"Alright. I have an exclusive job for you." Sam's heart was already hammering in his chest. After that line of questioning, there was only one thing that job could possibly be.

"You want me to... handle a ghost?" he asked cautiously.

"Oh, no, no, no! Nothing like that!" the nurse tittered.

"No, I just want you to scout out Slowpoke Well. There have been reports of a possible spirit down there, and I need someone to confirm that's true before I submit a request for professional assistance. Jobs like that are expensive, and we can't afford to allow the Pokémon Center to waste its money!" Sam stood as tall as he could, puffing out his chest to demonstrate his confidence.

"Absolutely. Of course I'll do it. Anything to help," he said. He was just excited that he could finally put everything he had learned back in Ecruteak to use. The nurse smiled at him and started to type on her computer, likely noting that the job had been accepted. However, a voice called out, interrupting.

"Hold on!" Xavier shouted.

"How come he gets this job and not someone more qualified?" The other boy practically ran over to reach the counter.

"Sam here does have the qualifications," the nurse replied, frowning.

"And when it comes to this job—""He has three Gym Badges compared to my four," Xavier stated. Her frown deepened. Sam immediately scowled. Right when he was about to object, a better idea came to mind.

"Let him take it!" he quickly said.

"But only because I'm also taking it. Since it's just a scouting job, help would make it safer. I wouldn't mind the assistance!" Xavier sent Sam a side-eye, opening his mouth to decline. But when the nurse looked away to glance at her computer, Sam sent Xavier a wink. He blinked, surprised.

"Hm. It would help you stay safer..." she mumbled.

"He has a Noctowl!" he added.

"Noctowl are great at seeing through illusions!" Starting to catch on, Xavier nodded his head as well.

"It took me only two Pokémon to earn my fourth Gym Badge. My team is strong. I'll be able to work with the utmost care," he said. Another hum. The nurse eyed them both suspiciously before letting loose a sigh of defeat.

"Alright, fine," she said.

"But I want to be clear: leave the moment you confirm there's a wild spirit. I don't want either of you to be harmed, or worse, possessed!" Both boys quickly nodded in unison, replying with versions of, "You got it!" and, "Absolutely!" Still keeping an eye on them, she turned to head into the back room, where the Chansey had disappeared with Cyndaquil's Pokéball. The door swung back and forth and back and forth on its hinges before finally settling to be absolutely shut.

The moment the nurse was out of sight, Sam and Xavier's smiles dropped, and Xavier immediately turned to Sam.

"Explain," he ordered. Even the smallest of his movements screamed of annoyance. Sam replied with a cheeky grin.

"A competition," he said.

"Whichever one of us finds the ghost first gets the payment for the job."

"That's hardly anything." Xavier waved him off with a scoff.

"How about you put up something that actually matters?"

"Then..." Sam briefly remembered something Redi had mentioned before.

"Loser has to buy the winner a custom-made Pokéball."

"I can do that," Xavier said, nodding.

"But I want something else, too—an apology. And you have to say that I'm the better Pokémon trainer when you lose."

"When you lose, you mean," Sam said. Xavier rolled his eyes and moved to wait by the front door. Sam loitered near a couch, purposefully not even glancing Xavier's way, before the nurse came back out and called his name.

"Samuel?" she said. He nervously approached.

"How's Cyndaquil?" he asked. A soft smile. An amused soft smile.

"I'm not surprised you weren't able to figure out what was wrong," she said alongside her smile.

"It's not a common condition, I've only personally seen something like this twice before. Thankfully, there's no need to worry. I can confidently say that there's nothing wrong with Cyndaquil."

"What do you mean? But she's been a lot slower! Are you sure she's not sick?" Sam cried out. A chuckle. The nurse shook her head.

"I can say there's nothing wrong with Cyndaquil because she's the picture of perfect health. If anything, she's too healthy. She might be strained, but the strain is a symptom of a positive change. Congratulations!" The realization slowly set in, and the nurse continued to speak.

"She's been holding it back, but the results are clear. Any moment now, your Cyndaquil is due for her evolution. She'll be able to evolve into Quilava sometime very soon!"