(All Ghosts deserve a good Cemetery)


    <hr>


    Poppy sat on a fence and pointed out, over the grasslands. "Deerling," she said.


    "Deerling." Linh nodded. His hands hovered in the air, halfway between gripping the fence and bracing behind Poppy. Right next to him, Tinkie was doing the exact same thing. Her hammer laying beside her, digging divots in the road. Running over that hammer and into and out of the tall grass, were the rest of their Pokémon. Riolu and Casket and Kaolin and Klefki and Varoom. Everyone except Menace, who had picked up Shadow Sneak at some point, and rolled into Linh''s shadow with sleepy grumbles.


    Linh and Poppy were watching a moving forest in the distance. Slow-walking deers with bright green fur on their backs, hides fused with chlorophyll. The herd moved slowly, at a grazing-crawl. And in the outer rings of the herd, Pokémon taller then deers moved. With great antlers spreading wide, and suspending masses of vibrant leafs.


    Striders over the long grass. The young forest walks.


    "The big ones are Sawsbucks, right?" Linh asked to Poppy.


    She nodded. "Mm! Summer form!"


    Linh closed his eyes and leaned back—he took a deep breath of the air. "Alright—ready to go? Levincia—"


    "No." Poppy stared at the Deerling''s a little longer. Really engraving them in her mind. Linh huffed, and just as he was about to speak—"Okay! Now let''s go!"


    Linh watched as she twisted and stuck her arms out—"Downies!" Poppy asked.


    Tinkie obliged first, arms under her armpits and letting her down. Poppy hit the ground and was moving.


    Linh shook his head, and followed. "Come along," he said back to their Pokémon, who left their busy game to chase at Linh''s heels, and explore curious things on the roadside. Such as twigs. And pebbles.


    The road ahead was long—naturally. Artazon''s still in sight. And this is one circuitous wild-route. They passed down that winding road, in between old moss-grown ruins from which Pawmot and Pikachu watched curiously. They—


    "Oh, wait!" Poppy shouted, and Linh was forced out of his spacing out. "I wanted to find a Gimmighoul!"


    "Oh?" he asked. "Pure Ghost type. You thinking about stepping into my turf?" he teased.


    Poppy stopped him by walking in front of him and staring up at him, "Linh! You know Gimmighouls evolve into the steel type."


    "Okay, okay. And I know they either roam around the country at blinding speeds, or hide away in remote corners in their chests." Linh jerked a thumb towards the ruins, a Pichu gasped, and ducked behind the weeds. "Think there''s one in there?"


    "There might be! We should check." Poppy smiling, marched into the ruins.


    There were no Gimmighoul in those ruins. There were no dusty chests that peaked open for golden coin-eyes to leer out from. There were no little grey stick-figures watching around the corners.


    There was, however, a single Ceruledge. The ruins lord. The ruins lord, that is, until he found Poppy presence detestable, and was promptly knocked head over kettle by Riolu''s Dark Pulse.


    Poppy and Linh left the ruins, dust on their shoulders, and went back to the road.


    They crossed an old stone bridge over an old slow river. One that made muddy banks Oinkologne herds wallowed in. A very curious damp and floral scent. Rotting things in the moist mud suppressed by their skin oils.


    Then the road ended at a crossroads—to the right, the highway to Levincia. To the left, a small old graveyard. One nothing has been buried in for decades.


    "Hey Poppy. Want to go this way?" Linh pointed.


    "...Why?"


    "Well. I''d like to see what kind of Ghosts are there. And it''s been a long time since Casket played with other Ghosts." In his shadow, a single doggy tail poked out. Wagging furiously.


    Poppy mulled that over, she crossed her arms and tilted her head in a very mimicry way. "... Okay!"


    They walked down that path, with the tall grass becoming shorter grass, and sparser. The road turned to old cracked cobble and the air grew a chill. One that made Poppy stick her hands in her pocket, and Linh to smile wider.


    There should be Ghosts here—past the brick and iron fence, in between the white-bleached head stones. Linh''s hair stands on the back of his neck, and when Kaolin splashed its tea on seemingly empty patches of land, tombstones appeared. Illusions broken.


    But there were no Ghosts here—at least none that Casket could sniff.


    "Strange," Linh commented. He allowed Poppy to get a little further away—Tinkie holding her hand and her gaze flitting about.


    He took a few steps back, his back turned to the greater part of the graveyard—with the most headstones behind him. "Dip a bit deeper down Casket, and disappear Kaolin," he muttered. Both Pokémon melted away from notice in their own ways. Leaving Linh seemingly alone.


    A moment. "Hey, what was that! Who''s there?!" he cried. Voice with a panic he did not display.


    Another moment, quiet.


    "Eh. Probably just the wind." He told the air, and listened carefully for any silence—a sign of something stalking.


    Nothing, just the quiet sounds of wildlife. Linh frowned, confused. Was this graveyard haunted, or not?


    "LINHHH!" Poppy came running back to Linh, dragging Tinkie along. Her hammer carved a groove in the dirt. "Linh Linh Linh Linh!"


    "Yes, si, hai, da." He nodded four times.


    "Look look look!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him forwards, along with Tinkie. Both man and Pokémon stumbled after her. Half-dragged across the cobble until they came to another crossroads in the road.


    A single chest stood in that road. Red-painted wood veneer. Thick brass fittings around the edges. A large silver buckle holding a black strap running vertically around the chest.


    Gimmighoul''s chest. It could not be any other—no one designed containers that way.


    "Oh wow," Linh said. "That''s a Gimmighoul."


    Poppy nodded, "That''s right!"


    "Want to catch it?"


    Poppy nodded, "That''s right!" She pumped her fists.


    "Well—I can''t say it doesn''t want to be caught." Linh gestured. "Else, why drag that massive chest to a place this obvious? One second, Poppy."


    He approached, and knocked on the chest. "Hello? Sorry to bother, but you there?"


    The chest''s lid cracked open with a rusty creak. Two small golden coins glinted in the dark. A blink as the ghost peaked out.


    "Hey there—just to confirm. You do want a Trainer, right?" Linh gestured around.


    Gimmighoul nodded, smiling, before pointing towards Linh. Specifically, the Pokéballs at his waist.


    "Me? no." Linh gestured towards Poppy. "Her."


    "Hello Gimmighoul!" She waved excitedly, "I''m pleased to meet you!"


    Gimmighoul looked her up, then down. It scoffed, and the chest thumped shut.


    Poppy scowled, and snapped to Linh. "Knock again!"


    Linh knocked again, bemused. The chest lid opened a crack, just so Gimmighoul''s


    "Gimmighoul—you do not even know what I can offer you!" Poppy tried again. "I have many coins—"


    Gimmighoul blew a raspberry at Poppy. The chest slammed shut again.


    She gasped. "Tinkie, I need your help! PRY THAT CHEST OPEN!"


    Poppy growled. Tinkie and Linh shared a look, before they came closer to her.


    "C''mon Poppy, you can''t just jump to violence at the slightest insult. That''s what bullies do! You don''t want to be a bu—"


    Tinkie babbled something. She set her hammer down just so she could gesticulate.


    "—And think about it, Tinkie''s proper E-four material. Kinda overkill don''t you think? Didn''t you want to make a new team?—"


    Tinkie gestured with her hands, one fist smacking into the other, and the other shaking like it''s crying.


    "—There''s plenty of Gimmighoul''s out there, you don''t need to fixate on this particular one. And, hey! Maybe—"


    "Fine! Fine!" Poppy pouted. She stamped her feet too. "Tinkie''s too much. Fine." She shoved a finger at Linh, "But I want this Gimmighoul! We won''t find another for a while."


    "Well." Linh knocked on Gimmighoul''s chest again. No response beyond a gutterly clinking sigh, echoing from inside. "You''re going to need to figure out a way to talk to it, ''cuz it''s ignoring me now."


    Tinkie mimed taking a key and unlocking the chest.


    "What she said—how will you open it up?"


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    Poppy stayed silent, she tapped her foot and made exageratted humming sounds.


    They waited patiently. This was better then Poppy demanding squishing the ghost under Tinkie''s hammer.


    "What better," she started slowly, "Way to open a chest, but with a key? Go, Klefki!"


    Klefki appeared with a flash and a jangle of various metals clanging together.


    "So, going to try those keys?" Linh pointed to Klefki''s key ring. Klefki looked down, confused. "Or maybe the one up top?" He pointed, and Klefki tried to follow. He couldn''t, because it was his head.


    "I have a plan," Poppy grinned, "Klefki! Astonish on the chest. Scare the Gimmighoul open!"


    The chest lid cracked open a bit, and two golden coins glared out. This went unnoticed, as all were watching Klefki hype himself up. With increasingly dissonant jingles.


    Before Klefki reared back, and charged towards the chest—a terrible cry whistling up his hollow body. And—


    —The chest lid burst open, and a wave of golden coins slammed out! Gimmighoul used Astonish first!


    Klefki halted in the air, petrified by the descending coins. They spilled down onto him and past him, hitting and bouncing on the cobbles. Before the Ghost energy that made them faded, and the coins melted in between the cobbleseams.


    Klefki shrieked like metal scraping at the attack, and flew and hid behind Poppy.


    Poppy spun around and gently grasped Klefki, "Hey. No—there''s nothing to be scared about. Ok? I know you can do it, you just need to help me, okay?"


    Klefki stopped peering fearfully around Poppy, and met her gaze. He visibily firmed himself up and moved towards Gimmighoul. The chest lid slowly opened as Gimmighoul readied itself,


    angrily.


    "Klefki, Flash Cannon!"


    Klefki cried cutely, and the light shining on his body refracted. A laser beam reflecting off, and scraping across the brass and wood.


    But Gimmighoul acted itself—the lid snapped fully open for but one moment. A single coin flicked into the air with a metallic chime. And as it tumbled down, light came out of the chest''s buckle. Striking the coin and the laser reflected towards Klefki. It''s own Flash Cannon!


    "DODGE!" she barked, and Klefki reflexively darted out of the way of the light. It raced towards Poppy before Tinkie held up a hand and it sizzled harmlessly on her palm.


    Poppy did not flinch. "Klefki—Imprison!" she commanded.


    Klefki, properly miffed about failing twice, and no longer fretful, gave a chiming cry.


    Gimmighoul scowled, and flicked another coin up. But no fell light shone. The coin bounced on the cobble with a dwindling clink as Gimmighoul made a confused noise.


    Imprison does that—it prevents the use of moves known to both Pokémon.


    "Now, Fairy Lock!" Poppy shouted. "When it starts, Gimmighoul shall be locked. When it stops, Gimmighoul will be unlocked!"


    Strange energies formed around the keys in Klefki''s keyring, light pink and distorting the air. One by one, each key turned in turn, from facing in, to facing out. From facing out, to facing in. A timer, until the lock engages.


    "Does it work like that?" Linh leaned over.


    Tinkie shrugged.


    The Fairy Lock triggered, and with the sound of it engaging, Gimmighoul flinched. Trapped, unable to flee.


    The glow continued around the keys, and they turned in turn again. A timer until the lock disengages.


    Fairy Lock ticked down, key by key. Rusted, new, iron, copper. Each key reversed to their original orientation—each snapping into place with mechanical clicks. Louder and louder. Gimmighoul''s chest rattled even as it huddled inside. Tension rising and rising until—


    —With the sound of a door breaking open, lugnut tearing through the frame, hinges straining with stress, Fairy Lock ended.


    Nothing happened. Poppy scrunched her tiny fists together, and then called out, "Klefki, use—!"


    "That won''t work dear," a female voice, speaking from the side. "The ghoul won''t leave its chest unless you interest it."


    Poppy and Linh turned. A woman walked towards them. One in a purple dress that flared wide and loose. And wild black hair unkempt and wavy—curling in every direction. She had white wrappings, bandage like, wrapped tightly around her hands, and loosely around her neck.


    "Oh, hello," Linh began. "Can I—we help you?"


    "Mmm, no." The woman came closer. One of her hands was rubbing the wrappings hanging from her neck. The other crossed over her stomach, and held nothing. "Rather. I believe I can help both of you. I''m Christie."


    "Charmed, Linh," he said. He stood up a bit straighter under her gaze—no pupils in those wide eyes, only broken swirls. Like a fingerprint. He stared hard at them—tracing the contours with fascination.


    "And I''m Poppy!" she chimed in, "What''s wrong with Gimmieghoul?"


    Christie nodded. "I wouldn''t say anything is wrong with Gimmighoul. It''s just selective. It wants a strong Trainer, who can bring out the Ghost in it." She gestured to Linh, "That''s why Gimmighoul''s more interested in him—he''s stinking of incense, and you''re not. To it''s eyes, he''s the stronger one."


    "I''m strong." Poppy fumed, arms crossed. "I''m an Elite Four!"


    "I know, dear. I saw you on the telly. But Gimmighoul''s only interested in those strong like Ghosts. And are you not strong with Steel?"


    Poppy fumed harder.


    "So, Gimmighoul will never want Poppy?"


    Christie shook her head, "No—if she were to prove that Steel can match Ghost. Then perhaps Gimmighoul will be interested. Interested enough to be your friend."


    "And how can you do that?" Linh questioned.


    "A battle." Both Poppy and Christie spoke at once.


    Poppy faced Linh, "I challenge you—then!


    "That''s good, yeah? If I beat Linh, then that proves to Gimmighoul that I''m stronger!" she asked Christie.


    "Perhaps—however. A battle with low Badges isn''t exactly impressive, no? Strong tactics, perhaps, but not strong Pokémon."


    Linh jolted, a bit alarmed. "How do you know that?"


    Christie pointed down, at her feet, Casket was begging. "You have a remarkably agreeable Greavard, Linh." She rummaged through her pockets and came out with a clenched fist. It opened, and clumps of wet dirt fell. Scattering on the floor and onto Casket—scattered like fish-feed.


    "Casket!" Casket wagged her tail, and ran back to Linh. She pawed at his trousers and ruffled her fur. As if to proudly show off the treats (grave dirt) she got.


    Christie paused. "Also either way you''re going—Artazon or Levincia—you''re likely near the start of your Journey."


    Poppy stared at Christie.


    "I mean—it''s not a weird assumption, right?" Christie scratched her cheek, she looked away.


    Poppy interrupted. "Battle me."


    "Me?!" Christie reared back, surprised wide eyes.


    "Is that not what you wanted?" Linh asked. "I thought that was what you were implying."


    Poppy complained, "I thought so too."


    At that, Christie grinned. A wide grin without teeth, the lips simply did not peel back far enough. "I just want to help Gimmighoul, is that so wrong?"


    Linh was forced to concede, no. But also. What the hell woman.


    Christie leaned forwards, hands behind her back, "Now—Linh, will you referee?"


    "Uh. Sure." He glanced between Poppy and Christie. "The stage."


    "Here," Christie offered, "Take care not to damage the gravestones, now."


    "The stakes?"


    Poppy frowned, "I want Gimmighoul."


    "If you can convince it, I have nothing to say."


    Linh coughed, "The sides?"


    Poppy wordlessly pointed to Tinkie—stepping forwards with her hammer and a wide-grin. Christie held up four fingers, also eager.


    "Alright." Linh took a few steps back, standing right by Gimmighoul. His Pokémon lifted out of his shadow, interested spectators. And Gimmighoul''s chest slid open. "With all that out of the way, all I can say is: Begin!"


    "Tinkie!"


    "Mummify, Taphonomy!" With those words, A Cofagrigus appeared. Sarcophagus lid grinning. Rough linen strips spilling out the sides and forming loose piled feet to stand on.


    Suddely, they knew what the bandages Christie wrapped her hands in were. Tinkie and Taphonomy started moving at once—neither needing instructions.


    Tinkie threw herself forwards, into a forward roll—hammer tucked—and as she came up she revealed a fist. A fist she cast out pebbles she grabbed. These pebbles flew not towards Taphonomy, but around her. Enlarging in seconds into octohedral prisms, floating in the air.


    Stealth Rock. While still approaching at great speed, hammer twitching to be used.


    Cofagrigus raised herself up, and then came down. A slam into the ground with a crunch that echoed in the mind. A purple wave came out from underneath, and spread throughout the graveyard. Seemingly to no effect—none seen. For, in the background, a low shfffff spilled. The shff of falling sand. The hourglass.


    A single moment as that idea crossed the mind, and then the sound reversed.


    "... I never saw that before!" Poppy exclaimed.


    "Trick Room—I removed the walls because someone figured out a way to run up them." Christie shook her head, "Regardless—Shadow Ball!"


    Taphonomy, Cofagrigus, gasped—a desiccated groan. And above Taphonomy, a thicksome tricksome ball of shadows, bulging and writhing against grey hieroglyphics constraining it. The sound of unfalling—not rising—sand was met with the sharp clack of wood striking, the hourglass turned and slammed down.


    Tinkie started to dodge—foot on the ground, swinging wide, pivoting.


    The Shadow Ball shot out and hit her, before she could move.


    Tinkie was flung back, up and high and spinning. Her hammer went higher, twirling in the air. She landed, and revealed that the Shadow Ball was caught in her hands, rolling and writhing and rubbing the pink skin pale.


    It exploded around her, and from the fading smoke Tinkie burst out—catching the hammer.


    "Gigaton Hammer!" Poppy ordered.


    The hammer came down, square on Taphonomy''s sarcophagus. Taphonomy creaked and groaned, but did not move. Instead, Tinkie back flipped away as a shadowy hand lashed out.


    "Now, Bag of tricks!" Linh perked up—he''s never heard Poppy say that.


    "Stop her—Ball again!" Christie snapped.


    Taphonomy built up another whirling, antique ball of Shadows, and it slammed into Tinkie unnaturally fast—before she can even react.


    Tinkie, however, did not flinch. She ducked behind her hammer and let the metal warp under the blast. She crouched behind it, glancing between her hands and the head. Over and over, until she grinned, and red hot fingers parted the metal.


    Taphonomy prepared another Shadow Ball, and with the power of Trick Room, it flung forwards before it was time. Yet, now, it did not hit Tinkie, nor the hammer.


    As it approached Tinkie finished her work, a crescent chunk of metal sheared off. The hammer now had a divot, an empty half-sphere on its face. And she swung it into the Shadow Ball.


    And then past, and around her body—the Shadow Ball spinning inside the curves.


    Around and around, she leapt and swung—the Shadow Ball turned back!


    "PROTECT!" Christie hissed. A hexagonal sphere formed around Taphonomy.


    Too late. Taphonomy collapsed, eyes swirling.


    Christie puffed. "Really taking me seriously, huh?" She grinned, lips stretched thin. "Remarkable—Go, Resonance!"


    Tinkie rested her hammer on her shoulder—the head glowing red and slowly melting itself back together—as she watched a Bronzong replace Taphonomy.


    Linh watched too—he watched as Poppy commanded Tinkie with vague sweeping commands and tight micro—direction and precision blended into the precise movements needed to dodge and retaliate against Bronzong''s slamming Body Presses. Interspersed by fluctuations in the air—traps laid by Future Sight, to launch her into the bell.


    Linh watched Christie as well, her movements bold, sweeping. Her commands, vacillating between hisses and laughs, yet all bright and eager. Hungry. The way her fingers flared as she laughed. The way her hair cascaded over her eyes as she hunched forwards—focused. The way that dress...


    Linh paused. He repeat that paragraph back to himself.


    "Oh." he said. Fist against his cheek and pushing it up the cheekbone. "She''s pretty."


    A soft woof from below him. Casket was curiously looking at him, head tilted.


    "Keep that quiet, yeah?"


    Casket''s head tilted the other way.


    "There''s a stick in it for you," he bribed. Holding one up.


    Casket''s tail wagged, she stood on her hind legs and gently took the incense. She then dropped it and stared at it, slavering.


    "Silly dog," Linh shook his head, he looked away, "You can just eat it, y''know? No need to make a produc—"


    Someone else was staring at him.


    A floating blob of dark green gelatin—acidic and poisonous. Inside, a small fetus like creature. Massive head, tiny arms. Black pin-point eyes. That diamond-shaped red mouth that opened and closed rapidly, like a fish''s. Duosion.


    Duosion was staring at him like he just found a gold mine. Like he had just overheard a scandal. Like he was privy to a great secret.


    "... Would you also accept a stick?" Linh waggled the stick.


    Duosion''s gaze snapped to the stick, before he shook his head and snapped back to Linh. He scowled, and the gelatin bubbled and hissed a denial.


    "... Two?" Out of options against such a harsh negotiator, Linh spread his fingers, revealing the second incense stick behind the first.


    Duosion eagerly took the incense sticks. But denied the lighter''s flame. He just clacked them together in light-purple glows. Enjoying the crumbly sound they make.


    "Heheheh........." Christie slumped forwards, her wide grin at odds with that vacant stare and her defeated posture. "I didn''t expect everyone to go down so quickly... But I still have Trick Room, and this one''s guaranteed to be slower then your Tinkaton—go Mitosis!"


    The Pokéball hit the dirt, empty.


    "Uh." Christie blushed. An action that immediately grabbed Linh''s attention. "Where''s—Mitosis? Mito! Where are you?" she called out.


    Mitosis, the Duosion, perked up, and he sped towards Christie. Proudly showing off his incense sticks.


    "Oh! You found something?" Mitosis shook his head, gelatin copying his movements wobbly. "You were given them?" Mitosis nodded, acidic liquid spitting happily. "Make sure to thank Linh, then!" Mitosis spun around, and gave a great big fizzing smile to Linh. Christie grinned as well, waving happily. Then she froze, and turned to Poppy, hands working at her bandages again.


    "...Uhhhhh." Her smile twitched, "I concede? Mito doesn''t want to fight now."


    "Gmmgblre," Poppy grumbled. "Fine! Tinkie, here."


    Tinkie laughed, her hammer skewed in several pieces—sharp stakes splintering off the hammer. As she walked back, pink-red energy emanated from the metal, softening it molten, and melding it all back together. Poppy turned to Linh, "Did Gimmighoul like this?"


    Linh blinked away the vision of Christie waving at him, and then knocked on Gimmighoul''s chest. "Well. Thoughts?" he asked.


    Gimmighoul''s chest clamped shut with a slam, and then it opened again. Fully. The small ghost inside the chest standing up and tall—meeting Poppy''s eyes. It gestured, and coins spilled down from the chest, forming many-jointed worm-like legs. That carried Gimmighoul towards Poppy.


    "Great!" Poppy cheered, she held out a Pokéball. Gimmighoul stared at it, measuring.


    It made it''s decision.


    It slapped the Pokéball away and slammed the chest lid shut. A second later, it cracked open. Gimmighoul''s signature eyes gleaming.


    "What?" Confusion, the beginnings of outrage.


    "That means that Gimmighoul''s still deciding," Christie explained. "But it''s interested!"


    Poppy didn''t stop fuming, but she didn''t speak up about it.


    Linh huffed, and came close, he knelt down, arms on top of the chest. "Well—what are you going to do now, Poppy?"


    Her face scrunched up, thinking and seething. "... I''m so close now! I don''t want to leave without it."


    "Can''t stay here forever. We do want to get to Levincia someday. And we''ve only so much food to get there."


    (Linh forgot about the various ways they could get food.)


    "Actually," Christie began. "You can."


    "Beg pardon?" Both of them turned to her.


    "My house is nearby," She said. "I''ll be willing to house both of you, until Gimmighoul makes it''s final decision."


    Linh and Poppy reacted differently. Linh slumped forwards, neck like a turtle, one eye squinting, the other wide. An incredulous look.


    Poppy brightened up, stars in her eyes. "Can we, Linh? Can we can we can we?"


    Linh shifted to look at Poppy, and then Tinkie.


    Tinkie shrugged, then nodded.


    "Well, who am I to turn you down?" Linh told Christie. "We''d be happy to stay at your abode—your heavily isolated, ghost-infested house. As we all know, nothing bad has ever happened by entering secluded houses home to uncannily knowledgeable strangers."


    Christie paused, then laughed. Linh found it a very pretty laugh, even as her shadow shivered.