Viridian forest was a very beautiful place.

At least that was what Ash kept hearing for most of his life. Granted, he had been there before, but not this deep. It was… well it was pretty much as forest-y as you always imagine a forest being. Green, leafy, and filled with life. Life, in this particular forest, being Pokémon.

Pidgey were flying above them, while the Ratata scurried around them. The Kakuna were nesting comfortably in the treetops, guarded by smaller swarms of Beedril, and the Caterpie were trying really hard not to be seen by the Pidgey and Spearow.

And not a Ghost-type in sight. Ash expected that, of course, Ghost-types rarely, if ever, inhabited forests. He put his hands inside his pockets and continued walking, swatting a small stone to the side with his foot.

A gust of wind picked up just above the ground, taking the small rock and propelling it farther than it normally would have went.

The rock landed in some tall grass with a small thud. A second later a Spearow looked up from it, a tick mark on its face and a small bump on its head.

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"How did this happen?" Ash yelled as he ran away from the flock of Spearow attacking him as fast as he could, followed by his floating Gengar.

"Gengar! Gengar gen Gengar!"

"Is not."

"Gar gen."

"Is not."

"Gar gen."

"Not."

"Gen."

"Alright, now's not the time for this. Use Hazeto hide us." Gengar let out a thick black smoke from her mouth which enveloped both trainer and Pokémon, hiding them from view of the Spearow. "Now use Hypnosis. Try to hit at least a few of them." Gengar's eyes started glowing purple, appearing in the smoke. A couple of the Spearow's eyes also glowed, and they turned on their feathered brethren, attacking them with their beaks. "Great. Now let's go before the featherbrains get a grip on themselves."

The two slowly slinked away from the flock that was now having an internal struggle.

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"That was way too close for comfort." Ash huffed when the two managed to get away from the Spearow.

"Gar." Gengar agreed with her trainer.

"You think they'll be a problem for someone else?"

"Gen."

"Yeah, you're right. What's the worst that could happen?" Ash grinned. "Now… do you know where we are?"

"Gar? Gen gar gar Gengar."

"I didn't bring a map."

"Gar! Gengar gar!"

"It was a short walk along Route 1! I didn't expect to have to run away from angry birds!"

"Gar Gengar!"

"Will you two SHUT UP!" An orange haired girl broke through the bushes. She was dressed in shorts, suspenders and a shirt, and was carrying a fishing pole in her hand. She walked up between Ash and Gengar and clonked them both on the head. "You're scaring the water-type Pokémon away!"

"Ow! Yeesh, how rude can you get."

"Gargar Gengar."

"Rude! I didn't ask you two argue in the middle of a forest!"

"Yeah, whatever. You know the way to Viridian?" She glared at him but pointed north. "Thanks. Let's go Gengar." The ghost-type floated next to him, making a face at the girl behind her trainer's back. "Later girly."

"Why that guy!" The orange-haired girl steamed as the Pokémon-trainer duo walked away.

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It had taken most of the day, but Ash and Gengar managed to find Viridian city, due north of their previous location (more or less).

Only to be stopped by an Officer Jenny at a checkpoint.

"Stop right there." Ash and Gengar glanced at each other.

"We're not moving."

"Why is that Gengar out of its Pokéball?"

"Eh?" Ash shrugged. "She didn't feel like it."

"And just who are you?"

"The name's Ash. Nice to meet ya." Jenny blinked as the boy shook her hand. "Well, I gotta get going. Later." He started walking towards the Pokémon Center.

"Wait!"

"Now what?"

"Identification." She glared at him. "Now."

"Oh, right. Here." He handed her his Pokédex.

"I see…" Jenny muttered as the Dexter identified Ash. "I'm sorry about that." She bowed in apology. "It' just that there are these Pokémon thieves operating in the area, and we can't be too careful."

"Don't worry 'bout it. No harm no Foul Play." Jenny blinked in confusion as the Pokémon and trainer shared a chuckle.

"Right… Well, anyway, would you like a ride to the Pokémon Center in apology?"

"Nah, I'll walk, thanks. Later." He gave a small wave and set off to the Pokémon Center again.

"Gengar gen Gengar?"

"Yeah, she is pretty."

"Gen gen gargar gen gar?"

"Nah, she'd have to stay here. She wouldn't travel with us. And why are you asking me that anyway?"

"Gar gen gar Gengar."

"Wait, what do you mean 'girlfriend'?"

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"Ash Ketchum?"

"Yeah?" Nurse Joy walked up to the black-haired trainer, handing him Gengar's Pokéball.

"I'm pleased to say your Gengar is in perfect condition." He let out his Pokémon, who floated next to him with a giggle.

"Thanks Nurse Joy."

"Gen gargar gen?"

"No, she wouldn't travel with us either." The nurse looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Never mind her Nurse Joy, she has some… strange ideas. Anyway, you got a room?"

"Yes, of course, feel free to use it."

"Thanks, I think I'll… expire for the night." Joy blinked in confusion as the Pokémon and trainer shared a chuckle. "Night. You coming?"

"Gar."

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Later that night an explosion rocked Ash out of a blissful sleep, sending him crashing to the floor from the top bunk of the bed in his room.

"Ow." He groaned, Gengar helping him up. "That wasn't you, was it?"

"Gar." She shook her head.

"Might as well take a look, yeah? Slink into the shadows."

There was a blackout as Ash and Gengar crept through the hallways. A nearby door opened to reveal Nurse Joy, who peered into the darkness.

"Is someone there?"

"Sh." Ash and Gengar, who rose from the shadows, appeared in front of Joy and shushed her, startling the poor nurse.

"Eep." She blushed at the low squeak. "Ash?"

"I just woke up. We're trying to find out what happened. Ideas?"

"None. Why are you creeping through the hallways?"

"It seemed like a good idea." He shrugged. "Now let's go. Back in the shadows Gengar." The Pokémon sunk back into the floor, barely managing to contain her giggle behind her hands. "At least she's having fun. Stay behind me Nurse Joy."

They crept into the main room quietly, Joy doing a pretty good job for somebody with pink hair, Ash mused to himself. Then again, he was dressed in white, but that had absolutely nothing to do with anything.

There was a loud boom when they entered, and the ceiling exploded inward, showing a balloon shaped like a Meowth's head. Inside the balloon there were two people, a blue-haired man and a purple-haired woman.

"You think anybody heard us?" The man.

"No way." A Meowth jumped up on the edge of the basket. "Nobody hoid us."

"Did that Meowth just talk?" Ash looked at the cat Pokémon. "There's no way that Meowth just talked. Right?"

"Nobody, huh?" The woman glared at the cat.

"Well…"

"Who are you people?" Ash asked. The two humans shared a glance and jumped back, looking awfully theatrical at that.

"Prepare for trouble, are we glad you asked."

"And make it double, you're in for a blast."

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To denounce the evil of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie, of course."

"And James too, par for the course."

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth, dat's right!" The three finished their rhyme looking proud of themselves. "And I did talk you twoip."

"Um… So what do you want?"

"This is a Pokémon Center isn't it?" Jessie said. "And a Pokémon Center is loaded with Pokémon."

"Chock full of Pokémon we can pilfer." James added.

"Are you two behind the blackout as well?" Joy asked. "There are many sick Pokémon here, and they all need the electricity. How could you?"

"Oh how could we?" Jessie gasped in feigned shock. "Oh, I know. Because we're thieves."

"And villains too." James piped up. "You shouldn't forget that."

"Gar!" Gengar appeared behind the three, causing them to shriek and jump forward, falling out of the balloon.

"Oi, that's cheatin'!"

"Yeah you stupid ghost-type. What's the bright idea scaring us like that?"

"And who's Gengar are you, anyway?"

"Mine." Ash grinned. "Use Mean Look, Gengar." Team Rocket gasped and hugged each other as the Gengar glared at them. "Nurse Joy, quickly, go get the power back up."

"Right." The nurse ran past the thieves and through the door.

"Now wait just one-" Gengar focused her glare on James. "Never mind."

"Ekans go!"

"Koffing, you too!"

"And don't forget Meowth, as well."

"Koffing, use Sludge Bomb!"

"Ekans Wrap!"

"And have a taste of my Scratch attack while you're at it!"

"Gengar, disappear." Gengar slinked into the shadows just as the snake Pokémon wrapped around her, causing Ekans to be hit with the Koffing's sludge bomb.

"Watch where you point that thing James."

"It wasn't me, it was the twerp."

"Confuse Ray." A purple ray hit the three Pokémon and sent them back to the two humans. "Now finish it with Shadow Ball!" A black ball of energy hit Team Rocket, sending them flying out of the hole in the roof.

"What a strong Gengar." James hummed.

"It'd make a great gift to the Boss." Meowth agreed.

"But that'll have to wait." Jessie interrupted.

"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off!"

Twinkle.

"Well that was easy." Ash grinned as the lights came on. "Everything alright Nurse Joy?'

"Yes, thanks to you and your Gengar. Thank you so much."

"Don't worry about it. I'm going back to bed. Come on Gengar."

"Gen gen-"

"Don't even think about it."