The Mismagius looked formidable, making Cole hesitate to act rashly. As more magical flames materialized around it, he had no choice but to speak:
"Alright, alright, we'll leave. Just calm down, calm down."
As he spoke, he began backing away.
The Mismagius showed a peculiar kindness — just as Cole and the others took two steps back, a black vortex materialized behind them.
When the group entered the vortex and emerged, they found themselves outside the supply station.
The station now appeared completely transformed, cloaked in darkness as if existing in another dimension. Cole recognized this as Mismagius's illusion — anyone entering the station would unwittingly fall into this phantom space.
Mismagius's behavior suggested it harbored a grudge against the station's staff. Why else would it spare Cole's group while keeping the station's people captive?
Before they'd discovered the station's strange condition, the Ghost-type Pokémon hadn't meant to cause them trouble — they'd simply wanted to control the staff and usher Cole's group away quickly.
Only Daisy's shout had startled the Ghost-type Pokémon into becoming defensive.
Cole couldn't decide whether these Ghost-type Pokémon were friend or foe.
Gazing at the shadow-draped station, he turned to Daisy and the others, "Why don't we look around and gather some information?"
Leaving without investigating didn't sit right with him — he needed to understand what was really happening inside the station.
"Garde~"
"Brio~"
"Helio~"
...
The Pokémon all nodded — resolving this without fighting would be best. Besides, they likely couldn't defeat Mismagius anyway.
Though the supply station staff were the only people living on this island, many Pokémon called it home. Sometimes gathering information from Pokémon proved easier than asking humans.
Cole and his Pokémon split up to investigate around the supply station. However, when asked about the Ghost-type spirits inside, the wild Pokémon became extremely hesitant.
They explained that the Ghost-type Pokémon at the supply station were too frightening — they didn't dare go near, let alone gather information.
According to some knowledgeable Pokémon, these Ghost-type Pokémon had appeared on the island about half a month ago. Shortly after their arrival, the supply station began showing signs of abnormality.
Since few people visited this island, no one had noticed anything amiss.
Just as Cole's group was losing hope, a Chatot landed on a nearby tree branch.
"Cha~ Cha~ Cha~" — Hello there!
Cole's group, lost in thought, jumped at the bird's sudden appearance.
"Hello there."
"Cha~ Cha~ Cha~" — Are you looking to learn about those Ghost-type Pokémon? If I provide you with information, could you give me all your berries?
The bird had been watching as the group offered berries to wild Pokémon in exchange for information.
"Really? You really know?" Cole asked excitedly.
"Cha~ Cha~" — Of course, of course!
"If you tell us, all these berries will be yours!" Cole said, pulling out a pile of berries from his spatial backpack to show it.
When Chatot saw the berries, its eyes sparkled. It fluttered down from the branch, snatched up a small berry, and devoured it in two bites.
"Cha~ Cha~" — Delicious! Delicious!
After savoring its treat, it had Cole store the remaining berries, then took to the air, beckoning the group to follow.
"Cha~ Cha~" — Follow me! Follow me!
They hurried after Chatot until they reached a road. After walking for some time, they came to a fork.
Chatot flew ahead, urging them onward.
"Cha~ Cha~" — Hurry up! Hurry up!
Wiping sweat from his brow, Cole asked, "How much further?"
"Cha~ Cha~" — Almost there, almost there.
Cole pulled out a water bottle from his spatial backpack and took a long drink before continuing. He silently thanked Alfred for his foresight in packing it — he would never have thought to bring one himself.
Following the fork, they entered a forest. After walking for some time, they came upon a white building.
The building's surroundings were eerily deserted, with vines creeping over every surface.
"What is this place?" Cole asked.
"Cha~ Cha~" — Research facility, research facility.
"Research facility?" Cole approached the white building, puzzled.
When he pressed a button by the entrance, the main door opened with a click.
Strange, he thought. Shouldn't a research facility have better security?
Though the door stood open, no one emerged from the building, and an unsettling silence hung in the air.
With growing unease, Cole entered alongside Daisy — only to have a Shadow Ball come hurtling straight at him.
Daisy quickly moved forward, using Psychic Power to control the Shadow Ball and throw it back. A Gastly cried out in pain before falling to the ground.
"More Ghost-type Pokémon!"
When Cole asked Chatot about the Ghost-type Pokémon in the research facility, it explained that they had taken over both this facility and the supply station.
The answer he sought lay within the research facility.
With no other choice, Cole and Daisy ventured deeper inside. They encountered increasing numbers of Ghost-type Pokémon and discovered more facility staff — all under ghostly control, just like at the supply station.
Fortunately, none of the Pokémon here matched Mismagius's power level, or they would have been defeated instantly.
As they reached the facility's depths, Cole initially thought it was a weather research center. However, he soon realized there was more to it.
Following Chatot's lead, they discovered a hidden door that seemed to hold secrets.
He eyed the bird suspiciously. "How do you know so much? You're not working with the Ghost-type Pokémon, are you?"
"Cha~ Cha~" — No, no.
Chatot quickly shook its head in denial.
'Then it must be connected to the research facility.' Cole thought.
Beyond the hidden door stretched a long white corridor. The ceiling lights blazed to life as they entered.
Perhaps because of the bright lighting, Cole walked through without any Ghost-type Pokémon attacking.
At the corridor's end stood another door — automatic, sliding open at their approach.
As the door opened, pairs of crimson eyes suddenly lit up inside, all fixed on Cole and Daisy, making mother and son jump in fright.
Some of the glowing eyes belonged to Ghost-type Pokémon floating freely around the room, while others came from non-Ghost-type Pokémon locked in iron cages.
The caged Pokémon were in a disturbing state — extremely agitated, they relentlessly attacked their confines while letting out pained roars and groans.
The Ghost-type Pokémon appeared to be standing guard over them.
The sight stirred Cole's memory. These Pokémon's condition matched exactly what he'd seen before — the Excadrill that attacked Roman's ranch, and the Coalossal and Steelix that wreaked havoc in Coumarine.
The similarity was unmistakable.
When the Ghost-type guards spotted the intruders, they quickly surrounded Cole and Daisy. However, they proved no match for Daisy's powers — through her psychic link with her son, she swiftly defeated them.
After exploring the room, Cole discovered a computer. Its records revealed the facility's dark secret.
Originally, this had been a legitimate weather research facility, established to assist passing ships.
But six months ago, taking advantage of the secluded location, a mysterious group had seized control and converted it into a covert experimental base.
Under duress, the facility's staff had become unwilling accomplices, participating in the sinister research while maintaining a normal façade.
Their research centered on a drug designed to awaken Pokémon's primitive instincts and dramatically boost their power. However, it came with a devastating side effect — most injected Pokémon suffered severe mental deterioration, descending into madness.
Only a rare few — the exceptionally gifted — managed to retain their sanity while growing fiercer and more powerful.
These experiments had one goal: identifying those rare Pokémon who could withstand the drug.
The caged Pokémon Cole had seen were all failed test subjects.
The staff members under Ghost-type Pokémon control had all participated in these dark experiments.
According to the computer files, the organization behind this research facility called itself "New Life", though Cole could find no other information about it.
After reviewing everything, he turned to Chatot, "You said we'd find answers here. Why did the Ghost-type Pokémon take over this place? And why are they controlling the supply station staff?"
Could the Ghost-type Pokémon have discovered these experiments and decided to take action?
"Cha~ Cha~" — Come here, come here.
Chatot beckoned him to follow.
The bird found a hidden mechanism on the wall. When it pressed the button, another secret door appeared.
Inside was an empty room with only a transparent dome at its center. Within the dome, a Misdreavus snarled viciously.
This Misdreavus showed the same symptoms as the caged Pokémon outside, but its isolated containment suggested it was somehow special.
Misdreavus... Mismagius... The connection between them was undeniable.
Had the facility staff captured this Misdreavus for experiments, only to face Mismagius's vengeance?
"Is this the answer you mentioned?" Cole asked.
"Cha~ Cha~ Cha~" — If you can make it regain consciousness, all your questions will be answered.
Chatot nodded.
"Make it regain consciousness? How am I supposed to do that? If it were that easy, they wouldn't have spent so long researching!" Cole exclaimed in exasperation.
Hearing this, Chatot fell silent, tucking its wings as it perched on his shoulder and began idly preening its feathers.
Cole stared at the Misdreavus while furrowing his brows, deep in thought. Suddenly, inspiration struck, and he took out a Poké Ball, releasing Chikorita.
"Chiko~ Chiko~"
The moment it emerged, Chikorita bounced around affectionately, repeatedly rubbing its head against Cole's leg.
"Chikorita, can you give me one of your leaves?"
"Chiko~ Chiko~" — Of course!
With that, Chikorita began shaking its head vigorously like an electric fan until, with a snap, the leaf on its head fell off.
It must have shaken too hard — after the leaf fell, it toppled onto its bottom, head spinning and eyes turned to spirals.
Cole crouched down and patted its head, "Thank you for your hard work!"
"Chiko~ Chiko~"
Chikorita scrambled to its feet, happily nuzzling against his palm.
"Mom, when I release Misdreavus, help me restrain it." Cole said to Daisy as he stood up.
"Garde~ Garde~" — Leave it to me!
Daisy confidently assured him. Since they couldn't beat Mismagius, they might as well find some confidence with Misdreavus.
Daisy: o(╥﹏╥)o How bitter.
Cole carefully examined the transparent dome before finally managing to open it.
The moment the dome opened, Misdreavus lunged at Cole with a fierce snarl, only to be instantly pinned down by Daisy's Psychic Power.
"Gas~ Gas~"
{T/N: I'm gonna step on the gas…}
Though Misdreavus thrashed against its restraints, it couldn't break free from Daisy's powerful psychic hold.
Cole crushed the leaf in his hand, releasing a refreshing fragrance that filled the room. Even Chatot paused its preening to breathe in the sweet aroma.
It smells so good!
He carefully fed the crushed leaf and its juice into Misdreavus's mouth, then watched intently.
Gradually, Misdreavus's struggles weakened, and the wild look in its eyes began to fade.
It really worked! Cole could hardly believe it — what had started as a desperate attempt had actually succeeded!
After about ten minutes, the last traces of madness vanished from Misdreavus's eyes, replaced by newfound clarity. It looked at Cole and the others with bewilderment, as if asking:
What happened?
✲✲✲
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