Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 26: Old Static

We were almost ready to leave Eterna City when Mom called.

The bicycles from the Cycle Shop waited beside us, and Route 206 stretched ahead like the next clean road after Team Galactic's building. I had one foot on the pedal when the Pokétch call flashed, and Mom's face appeared with a worried look that made me stop smiling.

"Ash, Lillie, are you both still near Eterna?" Mom asked quickly.

"We are still in the city," Lillie answered. "Is something wrong?"

Mom glanced away from the screen as something crackled behind her. "The house near Eterna Forest is having strange trouble. The lights keep flickering, the television turns on by itself, and several appliances started making noises when nobody touched them."

Dawn leaned into view with Piplup beside her. "That sounds haunted already."

"That is what I was hoping it was not," Mom said.

A burst of static interrupted her voice, and for a second the screen showed a jagged grin made of electricity. Then Mom returned, frowning at the device as the call steadied again.

Pikachu's ears shot upward in alarm.

Pikachu's meaning sparked with worry. "That laugh came through the wire."

Mom sighed softly. "I heard rumors that the Old Chateau nearby has been active again. I do not want anyone going alone, but I thought you should know before you left."

I looked toward the road, then back toward Eterna Forest. "We will check it out before Route 206."

Gladion was already turning his bike around. "If it is affecting electronics outside the mansion, the source may not stay contained."

Tox adjusted his medical bag. "And if a frightened Pokémon is involved, ignoring it could make the disturbance worse."

Dawn swallowed and looked at Piplup. "Do we really have to check the haunted house before Cycling Road?"

Piplup puffed himself up, but his flippers trembled slightly.

Piplup's meaning came with forced bravery. "Haunted houses should fear us politely."

That made everyone laugh just enough to keep the worry from taking over. We secured the bikes near the Pokémon Center, promised Mom we would call once the disturbance was handled, and headed back toward the edge of Eterna Forest.

The path felt familiar after Amber Castle and Gardenia's field challenge, but the trees around the Old Chateau seemed darker than they had from a distance. Their branches bent over the path like they were trying to listen to us.

The building waited behind an iron fence, old windows staring out from cracked walls. Vines crawled over the roof, and the front door looked as if it had been closed for years and opened yesterday.

A small shape darted between the roots near the gate.

Lillie turned toward the roots. "Did you see that?"

A wild Buneary peeked from behind a tree, ears raised high. She looked different from Dawn's Buneary, leaner and more used to slipping between old roots and shadowed paths. She watched the mansion, then glanced toward us like she was deciding whether we were another problem.

Dawn's Buneary stepped forward gently.

The wild Buneary flinched, but she did not run.

Buneary's meaning came in a frightened twitch. "Bad light bites the trees."

Before Lillie could answer, a familiar voice called from near the steps.

"Hiya! Were you intrigued by the rumors going around too?"