Chapter 146: Lavender Town

The next morning, Ash was woken up by Misty and Brock. Both of them seemed flustered, obviously confused about how they had fallen asleep and what had happened afterward.

"Don't worry, everything's fine now," Ash reassured them, rubbing his eyes as he yawned. "Gastly just wanted to help spread the legend of Maiden's Gorge."

"Really?" Brock looked at Ash in surprise.

Ash nodded and briefly explained everything that had happened the night before. To further ease their worries, he took out the Mega Evolution Stone that Gastly had given him. Seeing this, Misty and Brock finally relaxed.

"I have to admit, Gastly's Hypnosis is really powerful," Misty said thoughtfully. "I feel so much more refreshed after waking up today."

"Yeah, I feel the same," Brock agreed. Pikachu, who had just woken up from the sound of their voices, let out a small stretch and nodded in agreement.

After freshening up, they made their way to the restaurant for breakfast. Even though they had missed the festival last night, their experience had been rewarding in other ways.

As they ate, Misty glanced at Ash. "A Mega Evolution Stone... I never thought you'd get something like that. It'd be amazing if I could find one in the future."

"You will," Ash said confidently. He recalled that in Pokémon Sun & Moon, both Brock and Misty had obtained a Key Stone and Mega Evolution Stones for their Pokémon—Steelix and Gyarados.

After finishing breakfast, they took a short rest before setting out toward Lavender Town. Maiden's Gorge wasn't far from there; if they walked, it would take two days to reach, but if they caught a ride, they could get there in half a day.

Lavender Town: A Place of Rest for Pokémon

Lavender Town was a small settlement located in the northeast of the Kanto region. It hadn't been widely known until the Pokémon League built a massive Pokémon cemetery there. Since then, it had become a place where many trainers came to mourn their fallen partners.

At the heart of the town stood a seven-story structure known as Pokémon Tower. This was the final resting place for many Pokémon, and securing a burial spot there was expensive.

However, the real reason for building Pokémon Tower wasn't just to provide a burial ground—it was something more significant.

When a Pokémon passes away, its body eventually dissolves into pure natural energy, returning to the world. However, part of that energy transforms into Ghost-type energy, leading to the birth of Ghost Pokémon.

Because Pokémon Tower housed a large number of spirits, the lingering Ghost-type energy had made it a natural breeding ground for Ghost Pokémon. Over time, more and more Ghost-types had appeared there, making it a unique location in the region.

According to the Origin Theory proposed by Professor Aurea Juniper, the geography of the Kanto region made it likely that most of the Ghost Pokémon born there would belong to the Gastly evolutionary family—Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar.

It was precisely because of this theory that the Pokémon League had constructed Pokémon Tower ten years ago. Afterward, other regions began building similar structures to encourage the birth of more Ghost Pokémon.

At the time this theory was proposed, Professor Aurea Juniper had only been twenty-eight years old. There was no doubt—she was a true genius.

Arrival in Lavender Town

After two days of traveling, Ash and his friends finally reached Lavender Town. It wasn't particularly large or prosperous, but it had a quiet charm—like a peaceful countryside village.

Ash wasn't surprised by its simplicity. The technology in the Kanto region was still underdeveloped at this point. Even though there were companies like Silph Co., large-scale technological advancements were still a few years away.

The most striking building in the town was, without a doubt, Pokémon Tower. Though it was only seven stories high, its actual height reached nearly 100 meters. The first floor alone was more than ten meters tall, making it the town's most recognizable landmark.

Not far from Pokémon Tower stood the Pokémon Center, strategically placed to help trainers recover after training or battling inside the tower.

Although it might seem inappropriate to train in a Pokémon cemetery, the sheer number of Ghost Pokémon inside made it a hotspot for trainers looking to catch or battle them.

Not all visitors came for battles, though. Many were simply there to pay respects to their departed Pokémon.

Planning the Next Move

At the Pokémon Center, Brock checked them into a room. "Let's rest here for the day," he suggested. "Tomorrow morning, we can head to Saffron City."

Ash, however, had other plans. "I want to see if I can catch a Gastly or a Haunter."

Ever since receiving Gengar's Mega Evolution Stone, he had been considering adding a Ghost-type Pokémon to his team. Mega Gengar was incredibly strong and could become a valuable asset in the future.

Misty frowned. "I think I'll pass on this one." She wasn't exactly afraid of Ghost Pokémon, but the idea of exploring a haunted tower didn't appeal to her.

Brock, on the other hand, was eager. "I want to check out Pokémon Tower, too. Ghost-types are fascinating. If I want to become a top Breeder, I need to learn about all kinds of Pokémon."

With their plans set, Misty decided to stay at the Pokémon Center while Ash and Brock headed for Pokémon Tower.

Exploring Pokémon Tower

The tower was less than a kilometer away, and as they approached, they noticed that it wasn't as eerie as one might expect. There were quite a few trainers outside, as well as ordinary people coming and going. The activity made the place feel less gloomy.

Upon entering, they were greeted by League officials and staff members stationed on the first floor. After Ash and Brock showed their Trainer IDs, they were permitted to proceed to the second floor.

Before they went up, a staff member gave them some basic information about the tower.

"Ghost Pokémon usually don't appear in front of people," he explained. "But if you notice strange things happening around you, don't panic—it's just a Ghost Pokémon playing a prank. They're mischievous but harmless."

After learning a few precautions, Ash and Brock proceeded to the second floor.

Ghost Pokémon Everywhere

The second floor was lively, with multiple trainers engaged in battles against Gastly. Others were excitedly holding Poké Balls, indicating that they had successfully caught one.

Ash scanned the room and noted that while there were plenty of Gastly and Haunter, Gengar didn't appear to be present. That made sense—Gengar were much stronger, and the League staff likely kept them on the higher floors.

According to the guards, most Gengar resided on the sixth floor and above.

For a moment, Ash considered heading straight to the higher floors to catch a Gengar, but he quickly dismissed the idea.

Catching a fully evolved Gengar would be difficult, especially since they were known for being mischievous and tricky to control. It would be smarter to catch a Gastly or Haunter first and train it himself. That way, he could build a bond with it over time.

With his decision made, Ash turned to Brock. "Alright, let's see if we can find a strong Gastly or Haunter."

And with that, the two friends ventured deeper into Pokémon Tower, ready to face whatever tricks and pranks the Ghost Pokémon had in store for them.

(End of Chapter 146)