The ship sailed through the night, and by early morning, Ash and his friends stood cheering on the deck.
Their next destination, the port near Maiden's Peak, was visible on the horizon. Once they passed Maiden's Peak, Saffron City wouldn't be far.
"Great! We're almost there!" Misty cried happily.
Brock leaned on the guardrail, sighing as he watched the cheerful Ash and Misty.
"What's wrong, Brock?" Paul asked, amused by Brock's gloomy expression.
"Ah, the unintentional wind carries a hint of autumn. My summer was lackluster," Brock lamented dramatically.
"Really?" Ash looked at Brock skeptically. "But I feel like we experienced a lot this summer."
Brock gave Ash a look of disdain. "A child's summer only needs a beach. An adult's summer should be the season of love! Beaches, swimsuits, beautiful women... oh, my summer is over!"
Seeing Brock bent over in frustration, Paul, Ash, and Misty tacitly walked around him, heading towards the gangway to disembark. * It's too embarrassing * , they thought collectively, * pretend we don't know him *.
After leaving the ship, they found the streets around the port bustling with activity. Maiden's Peak was hosting its summer festival!
"Wow, a festival!" Ash exclaimed excitedly.
"A troublesome scent," Paul muttered, frowning. * He thought he detected a faint ghostly aroma in the air. Is there a powerful Ghost Pokémon nearby? *
Ash and Misty, however, paid no mind to such details and rushed into the festival grounds, eager to explore.
Brock stared blankly towards a specific point on Maiden's Peak.
"Is that?!" Paul narrowed his eyes, a spark of interest showing.
Walking alongside Ash, Paul kept his hands in his pockets, head lowered in thought.
Eventually, the group arrived at an art exhibit displaying what was called the secret treasure of Maiden's Peak.
Paul looked at the painting. * She really was a beautiful girl *. The artwork depicted a maiden from 2000 years ago, eternally waiting for her lover.
Brock stared intently at the painting, his expression vacant.
* Hypnosis. It's really quite crude *, Paul thought, shaking his head slightly in disapproval.
Leaving the others quietly, Paul went alone to the Pokémon Center to heal his Pokémon.
He realized Gyarados wouldn't have much chance to swim freely soon, so Paul decided to send the still sleeping Gible and Gyarados back to his brother, Reggie. At the ranch, Gyarados could train properly, and Gible would receive Melanie
dedicated care. After instructing Reggie to have Gible teleported back once it woke up, Reggie hung up somewhat impatiently.
Paul shook his head with a helpless smile. * My older brother has been quite pleased with himself lately *, he mused, * giggling unconsciously during calls. Looks like the family might have good news soon *.
He purchased a Dusk Ball, known to be favored by Ghost Pokémon, and then wandered the festival, sampling snacks with his hands still in his pockets.
Night fell. Around ten o'clock, Paul, chewing on a grilled octopus tentacle, arrived at the main tourist attraction of Maiden's Peak: Maiden's Rock. A small shrine stood nearby, enshrining the spirit of the maiden.
As the clock struck eleven, a spectral form resembling the young maiden floated out.
The ghostly girl looked at Paul. "I have been waiting for you. I truly wanted to see you."
Paul casually picked at his ear. "How many men have you said that to? Are you some kind of player?"
The girl ghost was speechless.
"Alright, look for yourself. Your cover is blown," Paul said, pulling out his Pokédex.
"Ding! Gastly, the Gas Pokémon!" the device announced.
"What! You saw through me!" The maiden's image shattered instantly, revealing a chubby, big eyed Gastly enveloped in black mist.
"You're being too mischievous," Paul shrugged. "Go, Empoleon!"
"What, you want to fight me?" Gastly cackled strangely, morphing into a huge monstrous shape and lunging at Paul.
"Empoleon, use Metal Claw!"
Empoleon's powerful claws struck Gastly, knocking it back and forcing it into its true form.
"Such power," Gastly muttered, frowning. "Little devil, I still have things to do. How about we call it even?"
"Your job is pretending to be a ghost here to scare people?" Paul looked at the Gastly with exasperation. * It has lived for thousands of years and can speak human language, yet it hasn't evolved. What has it been doing? *
"Hmph, what do you know!" Gastly raised its head, looking down contemptuously at Paul. "I'm here reminding people not to forget the legend passed down for millennia. Otherwise, that poor girl would be truly forgotten."
Paul scoffed lightly and sat down, placing a can of Ghost Pokémon food on the ground. "Want some?"
"Hmph. Fine, I'll try some," Gastly floated down arrogantly and began to eat. "Ah, let me tell you, people nowadays forget the past so easily. Without me..."
"It would be the same without you," Paul interrupted, patting Gastly's head. It felt cool to the touch.
"Huh?" Gastly looked at Paul quizzically.
"The past holds human grief. Important figures are never forgotten. As for those unrelated, it's useless for you to force them to remember."
Gastly was stunned. "Then what have I been doing for over 1000 years?"
"Making trouble, mostly," Paul spread his hands. "I think those men you hypnotized will remember Maiden's Peak for the rest of their lives, specifically so they never step foot here again."
"What!" Gastly recoiled in shock, its form seeming to darken.
"So," Paul continued, looking at Gastly. "Have you considered coming with me?"
"Follow you?" Gastly regarded Paul with suspicion.
"People need a glorious history, something that ignites their passion when they recall it. I believe it's the same for Pokémon. You've lived so long; do you have such memories?"
Gastly frowned. * It seems... not really *.
"Exactly. I plan to become the strongest Pokémon trainer in the world. Want to join me? We can set a small goal first: evolve into Gengar."
Gastly closed its eyes, appearing to meditate deeply.
"If you're scared, forget it," Paul said nonchalantly. "I can recruit other ghosts. I remember there are some in Lavender Town. I'll go recruit one there."
"What?! Those little brats in Lavender Town!" Gastly's composure broke. * A ghost less than 200 years old, comparable to me? I'm an ancient ghost, understand? A thousand years! I could beat them easily! *
"So, what do you think?" Paul held up the Dusk Ball, looking at Gastly.
"Okay, fine! I'll go along with your crazy plan! It's only for a hundred years or so, anyway!" Gastly bumped into the Poké Ball, disappearing inside in a flash of red light.
The moment Gastly was captured, Brock, who had been hypnotized earlier, suddenly snapped awake. The cool night wind made him shiver violently.
"Help! It's freezing!"
Hearing Brock's miserable cry, Gastly popped out from behind Paul, its eyes wide as it laughed uncontrollably. It seemed that even after a millennium, Gastly was still a troublemaker.
"Little ghost, what's your name?" Gastly asked Paul.
"My name is Paul, the future strongest trainer in history!" Paul declared with a confident smile.
"I am Gastly, the future strongest Gengar in history! It's a pleasure, Paul."
As if a knot tied for centuries had been undone, Gastly's millennia of suppressed energy could no longer be contained.
"Heh heh heh. Evolution? Easy!" With a cocky expression, Gastly evolved, showing off its newly formed hands. It was now a Haunter, brimming with power.
Boom! A shadowy fist materialized and smacked Paul squarely on the forehead.
The Pokédex announced: Ding, Haunter learned Shadow Punch!
"Heh heh. Master, I am really strong," Haunter gloated.
Paul scowled intensely, clearly unimpressed by being punched.
* Whoops *, Haunter thought, observing its trainer's expression. * His face looks so sour. Maybe I should cheer him up? *
Then, perhaps thinking it was being affectionate or playful, Haunter floated directly towards Paul. Before Paul could react or step back, Haunter leaned forward and unleashed its Lick attack, swiping its large, ghostly tongue directly across Paul's face!
The effect was immediate and unwelcome. Not only was Paul's face now coated in Haunter's sticky, blue-purple saliva, but the move's secondary effect triggered instantly, Paralysis! Paul froze, unable to move, his anger momentarily replaced by stunned horror at the feeling of the saliva and the sudden inability to control his own body. He completely lost his composure.
"Haunter, you idiot!" Paul finally managed to yell, his voice strained by the paralysis and fury. "Quickly, cure this paralysis!"
* Huh? * Haunter wondered, tilting its head, seemingly oblivious to the violation.
* Did I lick wrong? Maybe the technique was off? Let me try again! *
"This is torture!" Paul yelled, likely horrified at the thought of Haunter attempting another lick while he was still paralyzed.
Fortunately, whether through Paul's yelling or some dawning comprehension, the clever Haunter eventually understood it needed to reverse the effect and used its abilities to cure Paul's paralysis.
Holding Haunter's large, disembodied face firmly between his hands, kneading it angrily this way and that, Paul sternly laid down three essential rules. "First, only use telepathy in front of people, no talking aloud. Second, absolutely no licking me. Third, no licking anyone else either!"
Haunter's body was held firm by Paul, but its detached paws floated freely, giving Paul an enthusiastic 'okay' gesture.
Having solved the haunting problem of Maiden's Peak and recruited a ghost powerhouse potentially useful against Sabrina, Paul felt satisfied. He took out his sleeping bag and walked into Gastly's old shrine to spend the night. The Pokémon Center would have been locked long ago.
He had Haunter quietly leave a note for Ash and the others, informing them of his departure. Paul decided he would leave the next morning.
Sabrina of Saffron City, formidable in both strength and reputation within Kanto, was someone Paul decided he needed to face alone.