Chapter 139: Praying to the Mother-in-Law

As Brock pondered over his thoughts, a flash of purple hair caught his attention. Startled, he turned his head quickly and spotted the beautiful woman he had seen earlier—Stephanie.

"It's her!" Brock's heart raced with excitement. He hadn't expected to find her again so soon. Without hesitation, he started to chase after her.

However, just as he was about to catch up, he felt a tug on his sleeve. He hadn't noticed at first, but when he turned, he realized an elderly woman had appeared beside him.

She looked ancient, at least over eighty years old. She was barely a meter tall, wore a long purple robe, and had pale, waist-length hair. A wooden staff supported her frail frame, yet there was a sharpness in her gaze that made Brock pause.

"Young man, I have something to tell you," she said in a raspy voice.

Although Brock was eager to follow Stephanie, he couldn't ignore the elderly woman. He nodded politely and asked, "Is there something I can do for you, ma'am?"

The old woman looked him up and down before shifting her gaze in the direction where Stephanie had disappeared. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and then she shook her head.

"You seem like a decent young man, so let me give you a word of advice—stay away from that girl," she said cryptically.

Brock was taken aback. "Stay away? Why?"

The woman didn't answer directly. Instead, she sighed and said, "If you value your life, you'll listen to me."

Her ominous tone sent a shiver down Brock's spine. He frowned, puzzled by her words. He turned back toward where Stephanie had gone but hesitated.

The old woman slowly turned and walked away. Brock hesitated for a moment before making up his mind—he had to find out more. He followed her at a steady pace, determined to understand what she meant.

After a short walk, they left the bustling town behind and entered a quiet stretch of land. Nestled in the wilderness was a small, weathered hut, looking like it had stood there for decades.

The old woman pushed the door open and stepped inside without a word. She left the door ajar, silently inviting Brock to enter.

Brock hesitated, but curiosity got the better of him. He stepped inside and found himself in a modest, dimly lit room. The air smelled faintly of incense, and a kettle of tea sat warming over a small fire.

"Sit down," the old woman instructed as she knelt on the floor.

Brock removed his shoes and followed her lead, sitting opposite her.

"Since you've come here, it means fate has brought us together," the old woman said as she poured herself a cup of tea. Strangely, she didn't offer Brock any.

"What do you mean by that?" Brock asked, growing more confused.

The woman took a slow sip of tea before speaking again. "Earlier, you saw a girl with long purple hair, didn't you?"

"Yes!" Brock perked up, suddenly excited. "Do you know her? Is she your granddaughter? Are you trying to introduce her to me?"

The old woman sighed, shaking her head. "You young men never change... always thinking about love," she muttered. Then she looked Brock in the eye and said, "She is not my granddaughter. In fact, she's not even human."

Brock froze. "...Not human?" His voice came out shaky.

"That's right," the old woman confirmed. "Think carefully—haven't you seen her somewhere before?"

Brock frowned. He replayed the image of Stephanie in his mind. Her beauty was unforgettable—he was sure of that! "No way! If I had seen a girl like her before, I would definitely remember!" he insisted. "I can tell apart every single Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy in Kanto—I would never forget someone as beautiful as Stephanie!"

The old woman stared at him, then sighed again. "Young people these days..." she muttered under her breath before continuing. "Alright, let me ask you this—have you ever heard the legend of Maiden Gorge?"

Brock nodded. "Yeah, I've heard of it."

As realization dawned on him, his eyes widened. "Wait... are you saying...?"

The old woman nodded solemnly. "Exactly what you're thinking."

Brock swallowed hard. "You mean... she's a ghost?!"

At that exact moment, a shriek came from outside. "A ghost?!"

Brock and the old woman turned in surprise to see Ash and Misty standing at the doorway. Pikachu sat on Ash's shoulder, looking equally startled.

"Misty?!" Brock stood up. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We saw you following the old lady and got worried," Ash explained. "So we decided to check on you."

"Hello, ma'am," Ash greeted politely. "Sorry for intruding."

"Pika, pika!" Pikachu waved its tiny paw.

The old woman studied them briefly before nodding. "It's fine. Come in."

Misty, however, was still shaken. "A g-g-ghost?!" she stammered, clutching Ash's sleeve tightly. "What ghost are we talking about?"

Ash and Brock exchanged serious glances.

Ash frowned, racking his brain. Something about Maiden Gorge felt familiar, but his memory was hazy. He vaguely remembered a ghost being involved—perhaps a Gastly?

The old woman sighed and gestured for them all to sit down. "It's time you hear the full story," she said gravely.

The room fell silent as the group leaned in, waiting for her to speak. The flickering light of the lantern cast eerie shadows on the walls, making Misty shudder.

The old woman took another sip of tea before beginning her tale.

"Two thousand years ago, there was a young woman who lived here. She fell deeply in love with a soldier who was sent away to war. She promised to wait for him—no matter how long it took."

The group listened intently, their expressions serious.

The old woman continued, "Years passed, but he never returned. She stood by the harbor, waiting every day, refusing to give up hope. But in the end, she turned to stone."

A chill ran through Misty. "You mean... the stone statue at the harbor?"

The old woman nodded. "Yes. That statue is the young woman who waited for her love in vain."

"But what does that have to do with Stephanie?" Brock asked.

The old woman sighed. "She is the spirit of the woman who turned to stone. Her soul lingers here, still searching for her lost love. Every so often, she appears, looking for someone to take his place..."

Brock felt his stomach drop. "Wait... does that mean she was trying to... take me?"

The old woman didn't answer right away. Instead, she glanced toward the window, where the moon had begun to rise.

"You're lucky I stopped you," she finally said. "Otherwise, you might not have returned."

A heavy silence fell over the group. The weight of her words sent shivers down their spines.

Misty grabbed Ash's arm. "Can we please not stay here tonight?" she whispered.

Ash frowned, deep in thought. If what the old woman said was true, then Maiden Gorge was more than just a place of legend—it was haunted.

And Stephanie... wasn't human.

Brock swallowed hard. He had been infatuated with a ghost.

Pikachu's ears twitched as if sensing something outside. It turned toward the window, its fur bristling.

Then, in the distance, a soft voice called out—

"Brock..."

Everyone froze.

The old woman narrowed her eyes. "It seems she hasn't given up yet."

To be continued...