The Lieutenant scowled at us, analyzing a path we were about to make towards the left of the tunnel. Each of us stood up with scuffed faces toward him. I certainly didn't expect Team Rocket to be this ruthless to a bunch of trainers early in but they had this place cornered from our advancement. We could run back but who knew if it was smart enough to run to the Pokémon Center? He would just ignite one of his Voltorb and cave us all in.

Yellow's Pikachu, slowly struggled to face her opponent but it was no use. She couldn't face him as her energy levels were depleting fast. Raichu, had command of the battlefield and we were all about to be electrocuted by his most fervent creature yet and with a wide smile. Raichu waddled towards us, aiming his long, spiky tail our direction.

If this Pokémon electrocutes us we will not make it out of this tunnel alive! I thought with perilous trepidation.

Sparks ignited from his tail and out of that flickering light it danced towards Yellow's Pikachu with fierce momentum that you could barely see it streak by.

Suddenly, we were overcome with a shadow that had flown with such enamoring speed. I could only pick it up from the corner of my eye. This Pokémon had taken the electrical attack in defense of the already exhausted fighter before him.

Gastly?

I was quite surprised to see him come to our aid. This attack did make him dance about from the shutter of electricity. However, this didn't seem to faze him one bit.

The sparks soon left his gaseous form and he aimed his sights toward his opponent.

"Gastly, look out! It's a trap!"

No response, he ignored my plea and charged toward his enemy with a wide smile. Determination filling this Pokémon's visage as he braced for a card up his sleeve.

"Look out!" I shouted again as Lieutenant Surge tossed a Voltorb toward him.

"Explosion!" He ruffed with anger.

The blast shook the tunnel with another vigorous quake that it caused loose stalactites and rocks to fall all around us.

This also didn't seem to disturb the black, floating orb of gas. He meandered around the objects and explosion without worry and from my observation, these physical objects would go straight through his spiritual frame, almost like he didn't even exist

"What!?" Shouted Surge with shocked apprehension across his face.

The Pokémon released his long, pink tongue from out of his mouth and approached the Raichu to engorge him with a disgusting Lick.

Raichu looked like he was about to throw up from the move as the long sticky organ stretched along his silky, orange fur.

"Ewe!" Everyone gagged in unison.

Rightfully so, Gastly's attack was really gross to watch. But it accomplished one very important thing.

Paralysis?

The Raichu's face turned purple and he was somehow struck with fear. Doing his best to hold his composure during this move, the organ retracted back into his mouth. His smile still emanating from his poised confidence. Gastly had successfully Paralyzed Raichu and with this status condition; he will be limited to fight back during turns. Sometimes an order will be difficult to receive during this encounter.

Sure enough, the Pokémon looked terrified; he tried to sense where his opponent was. As it seemed Gastly had somehow disappeared.

"Get it together Raichu! Thunderbolt the place; his form is still around."

The evolved form of my friends counterpart's did not let up on the massive electrical current being conjured from his form. The bolt had sparks that were dancing about the rock, one that nearly missed from where Red and I stood. It had begun to roll it's way up along the ceiling toward a massive stalactite cutting across it like swiss cheese.

"Red look out!" I shouted as I desperately jumped against his frame and pushed him away from the falling debris above. I landed on top of Red as the massive stalactite made impact toward the ground. Splattering bits of dust and debris from the close call we had all witnessed. I was not sure about whether sharp rock punctured him further to injury.

"Are you alright?" I inquired with concern.

".........." He said as he tried to dust off the brim of his baseball cap from the move.

"I'm okay." He reassured with a smile.

The Raichu's energy finished discharging and suddenly the room fell to a silent whisper.

"Who the hell are you Trainer's to get in my way?" Inquired Surge with a ferocious stare.

"Who's Gastly does this Trainer belong too damnit!? I demand you come out and face me; you cowards!"

Gastly had revealed his appearance from the darkest shadows of the tunnel and was about to release his tongue for another attempt at inflicting pain on his already paralyzed opponent. Raichu was hit with another lick once again and this time. The tongue seemed to wrap around him with constricting force.

"Thundershock now, Raichu!"

The ghoulish Pokémon held his tongue around him. Now that Raichu's speed was limited from the status infliction given to him from the first move. And like an organic tesla coil, the mouse jolted Gastly in his place. Shocking his ghostly form into many maniacally differing appearances, like his personalities were being manifested through a film on a projector screen.

"Enough!" I shouted as I stood up and
faced this giant of a man with as much courage as I could muster. I couldn't stand to see Gastly face on this man alone, not while he's suffering. The man looked at me with those horrendous, narrow eyes of his and grinned from my pathetic attempt at courage.

"Hmph!"

"You think you are capable of fighting one of the Triad of Team Rocket? You got another thing coming."

"W-what do you want?" I inquired with a stutter.

"Don't try to reason with him." Assured Brock to me as he gestured with a reach of his hand to halt me from facing against a powerhouse like him.

"I'm looking for a Pokémon named Cubone and you already know why I am looking for it."

"To steal it?" I gritted in anger.

"That's right!" He chuckled.

"As a member of the Triad, I can't let you people get in the way when I am on the hunt. Now, I am going to ask you one last time, little girl." He said while pointing toward the Gastly in front of me.

"Is this Gastly yours?...."

Should I do it now? I thought with anxious fright.

He's not really my Pokémon.

"Well.... Spit it out—

"He's mine!"

Everyone looked toward me in shock after I yelped that declaration. Echoing with such ferocity that even I could hear it for miles within the tunnel itself. The Lieutenant was also taken aback from my rather sudden claimant.

He smiled even wider from that explicit announcement and started a guttural laugh that could wake an entire flock of Zubat's at any given moment. Raising his pointed finger toward me, taunting my pathetic self from laying claim to a Pokémon I truly do not own. He didn't know it of course, but it was petulant of a response at best that he found it rather amusing.

"So you think you can take on the great Surge with a Ghost Pokémon like that!? Let's see where your skills lie, Trainer!" He declared with an even harsher laugh that seemed to shake the very foundation of this cave.

What am I doing? I thought with anxious intent

I don't even know this Pokémon's moves and he's not even mine!

"Leaf what are you doing!?" Shouted Blue at my insolence in challenging him unprepared with no contingency.

My frame began to waver, like I was seeping in a pool of mud staring at this menacing man. He definitely felt more powerful than Misty and Brock combined and I couldn't even move. Gastly was ready to face him and he looked like he was waiting for me to grant him a command.

"Haha! I admire one that wants to be the punching bag. What is your name, kid?!" He grinned with another taunt and cunning smile. Seeing me stand up to a macho man like him looked like something he wasn't used to seeing in his line of work.

Pulling out my PokéDex from my bag and readying the brim of my hat forward. I attempted to move my wobbly legs as best I could while pulling the strap along my bag in an attempt to restrain the fear that bellowed toward my throat.

I could not go back on my choice. I wanted to help this Gastly in any way I could. Even though I wasn't prepared, even though I wasn't ready to forgive him.

I had to try.

"I'm L-Leaf Green of Pallet Town, you've messed with the wrong Trainers....Lieutenant."