creepy encounter

Growlithe who say how Machoke manhandled the Nidoking that had been terrorizing the local Pokémon was shocked stiff. Machoke came back before patting Growlithe's head and returning to Rex's side.

Growlithe took his eyes off Machoke and turned his gaze towards Rex who was now sitting against the trunk of a tree with a piece of grass in between his lips. He looked like he was one with nature as he sat there leisurely without care.

Rex smiled and waved his hand signalling Growlithe to get closer. Growlithe seeing how strong Rex was did not hesitate as it would be able to escape anyway.

Rex "You don't need to worry little one, we were just looking for a brave little Growlithe like yourself, I just didn't think I would find such a resilient and tough one," he said with genuine praise.

Growlithe raised its head proudly and barked happily at the compliment. Rex chuckled softly before taking out a poke ball and placing it on the ground in front of Growlithe.

Rex "I know what it feels like to be weak and defenceless, having to be forced to run away from others. I also know how much you want to get stronger which I can help you with." He said truthfully as he recalled memories from his previous life. Awakening from his melancholic state he stared expectantly at Growlithe.

Growlithe looked at Machoke who was next to Rex with a questioning look. Machoke chuckled just like Rex would and walked forward before patting his head.

Machoke "What he said is true, after all, I was trained by him and look how strong I have gotten," he said in the Pokémon language as he began to flex his muscles. Rex laughed at the scene since it reminded him of bodybuilders posing when competing.

Machoke heard him laugh and turned around and throw a rock at his head which Rex nodded while giving him a thumbs up.

Rex "10 points for effort, 0 for accuracy," he said with an even louder laugh. Growlithe was astounded at how they behaved as he observed Machoke throwing increasingly larger things to make up for his lack of accuracy. Rex could be seen bouncing all over the place as he dodges while laughing.

Growlithe looked at the Pokeball that was still on the ground and walked up to it before tapping its head on the button. Soon it was sucked inside and before long it was captured effortlessly. Rex and Machoke froze mid-movement and turned mechanically to look at Growlithe's ball. They turned to each other and laughed as they walked over with a hand over each other's shoulders.

Rex picked up the Pokeball and threw it up before an orange Growlithe appeared and landed on top of Machoke's shoulder and sitting down comfortably.

Rex turned around and scanned Growlithe for its stats.

name: Growlithe the puppy pokemon

o level: 20

o bond: 70%

o height: 0.7m

o hp: 80

o attack: 100

o defence: 65

o sp. atk: 100

o sp. def: 70

o speed: 90

o ability: intimidate, Flashfire

o moveset: morning sun, ember, leer, howl, fire fang, agility

Rex was quite happy with the stats and move sets. He was especially happy with the Flashfire ability since it would be very helpful against Blaine on Cinnabar Island. Nodding its satisfaction Rex Machoke and Growlithe walked back to the camp where all of the Pokémon got acquainted with Growlithe. After that Rex took Growlithe away for some training. Rex would focus on its speed and energy manipulation.

Arcanine was a powerful and very fast Pokémon, so he wanted to prioritise these. He would strap Weights to Growlithe and make him run around with them. He started off light and would increment it as he got stronger. For energy manipulation, it was a mixture between mediation and using fire moves while under Gyarados's rain dance so that it's harder.

He also got Machoke to teach Growlithe about energy manipulation as he was very gifted at it.

After a couple of days of training, Growlithe was settling in very nicely and Rex thought it was time to reach Lavender town. He heard about team rockets antics in lavender town which made him angry. One thing is to be annoying, and another is to tarnish the resting place of dead Pokémon.

He promised himself that he wouldn't kill them, but he would disable them for life. With a foul mood at the thought of team rocket, Rex recalled all his Pokémon and cycled towards lavender town at a faster pace. By sundown, he had made it to the Pokémon centre and had nurse Joy heal up Growlithe.

Man "Have you heard? There is mention of a ghost appearing in the Pokémon tower lately."

Women "really?" she exclaimed in surprise.

Man "Yeah that right and a lot of people have said that they have seen it," he said while shaking his head. The conversation between the two caught Rex's attention.

Rex 'A new type of ghost Pokémon maybe?' he thought while trying to recall anything. He walked over and asked the couple anyway.

Rex "excuse me! Is what you said about the ghost sightings real?" he said sceptically.

Man "mhm, I haven't seen it myself but everyone is talking about it," he confirmed.

Rex looked at the couple with a glint in his eye.

Rex "where is this Pokémon tower exactly?" he asked, he didn't want to run around aimlessly.

Women "here I'll show you," she said while waving her arm at Rex signalling for him to follow. They walked to the Pokémon centre's window and the women pointed towards the tower covered in fog. It was several floors tall with each one getting slightly smaller the higher you look up. With grey coloured walls and its peak covered by clouds, Rex was surprised and curious.

Rex "so the ghost you mentioned, is it a Pokémon then?" he asked.

Man "seems like it, buts it's really just a rumour," he said not confirming nor denying, which only increased his curiosity.

Women "so do you actually believe in ghosts?" she asked jokingly.

Rex "not really there hasn't been a confirmed sighting of one before," he said truthfully. As far as he knew anyway.

Women "maybe not, I guess that white hand resting on your shoulder isn't real either, huh?" she said with a smile.

Rex's face changed colour as he turned around only to see empty space.

Rex "funny. Very funny," he said sourly before turning back around only to find no one there anymore. Rex rubbed his eyes in shock before looking around for the couple. He even used aura and nothing. He pulled out Machoke and asked him to sense the area and still found nothing. Rex actually almost shit himself at the revelation. He was talking to actual ghosts.

Rex "fuck me dead," he said as he shivered involuntarily before going to pick up Growlithe.