The script had already been mostly finalized during yesterday's discussions, and by this afternoon, the revisions were completely done. As for the ending, Vincent Stone ultimately chose the bleak first one.
The second ending belonged to the "horror upon closer reflection" category, but it didn't align with Vincent's vision. This time, he aimed for sheer terror, using an entirely new horror film to establish his reputation in the Pokémon world and pave the way for future movies.
With the script work wrapped up, Vincent found himself with free time. Now, he only needed to wait for casting auditions to finish before filming could begin.
Before that, though, he wanted to investigate the mysterious mansion in Petalburg Woods.
"Young Master Vincent, are you interested in purchasing that mansion?" The old butler, having received Vincent's call, promptly drove over and smiled warmly at him.
How rare. The young master was actually taking the initiative to express interest in something.
Ever since Vincent was born, he had never asked for anything on his own. Even his Mimikyu, Little Mimi, was only acquired after his father, Mr. Kaoru, had asked if he wanted one. Now, the young master was actively inquiring about a property.
No matter what, the butler felt it was his duty to secure that house.
"No, I just heard rumors that it's a haunted house with ghostly occurrences." Vincent rubbed Little Mimi's head and chuckled as he got into the car.
Then, he noticed a document on the back seat. Puzzled, he picked it up and glanced at it. It was a property deed registered under his name, and the listed property was none other than the mansion in Petalburg Woods.
Vincent's mouth fell open in disbelief. He realized he had once again underestimated the wealth of the Stone family. He had merely mentioned the house casually, yet the butler had already bought it.
"Young Master Vincent, the mansion is now yours." The butler smiled kindly. Though the young master didn't seem intent on owning it, the dilapidated mansion wasn't expensive. After consulting with Mr. Kaoru, he had swiftly purchased it and completed the transfer procedures.
"Then, are there any rumors about this place?" Vincent pinched the bridge of his nose. Judging by the butler's demeanor, the house must have been dirt cheap, so much so that his father hadn't even bothered calling to tease him about it.
"Yes. Here are the rumors I've gathered." The butler handed Vincent another document, which he opened and skimmed through.
[Petalburg Mansion was originally owned by a fallen noble family. After the entire family died out, the mansion was left abandoned and gradually fell into ruin.]
[It is said that a traveler once heard a woman's mournful weeping in Petalburg Woods. Following the sound, he arrived at the mansion and saw a ghost inside the empty building, which frightened him into a heart attack.]
[Other rumors suggest that the mansion is inhabited by mischievous Ghost-type Pokémon that enjoy scaring visitors.]
[According to the League's investigation, there are no actual ghosts inside Petalburg Mansion, but it has become a playground for Ghost-type Pokémon.]
Vincent scratched his head. After reading the official report, the mansion's air of mystery seemed to vanish instantly. The ghost stories were reduced to nothing more than a gathering spot for Ghost-type Pokémon.
"Is that overlord in Petalburg Woods not residing in the mansion?" Vincent thought of something and quickly asked.
He was referring to a secret known only to a select few in the League. It wasn't exactly classified, but that particular overlord disliked disturbances, so it remained undisclosed.
Vincent only knew because his father was the president of Devon Corporation.
"No, that one does not live in the mansion." The butler shook his head. He, too, knew who Vincent was talking about.
Vincent nodded. As long as it didn't involve that overlord, things were fine. Though his older brother was now a Champion, needlessly provoking a dominant-tier Pokémon—especially one that wasn't ordinary—wasn't worth it.
"Take me to see the mansion." Now that he knew the overlord wasn't involved, Vincent decided to visit the mansion. He might even find a Pokémon that caught his eye.
Vincent wasn't picky about the species of Ghost-type Pokémon. With the existence of Awakening Values—an incredibly overpowered mechanic—he only cared about whether he took a liking to one.
Besides, he had no plans to become a Champion. Having enough strength to protect himself was sufficient.
"Of course, Young Master." The butler smiled and got into the car. Soon, the black sedan left Rustboro City and arrived at the entrance to Petalburg Woods.
At the entrance, they had to exit the vehicle, as cars were not permitted inside the forest.
Vincent didn't mind. He followed the butler into the lush, nature-filled Petalburg Woods.
Unlike the version in the games, which could be traversed in a minute or two, the real Petalburg Woods was far larger and more expansive. It was home to countless Pokémon and many trainers.
Novice trainers often came here to hone their skills, and it was also a paradise for Bug Catchers.
"Little Mimi, do you want to battle some wild Pokémon?" Vincent chuckled and rubbed Little Mimi's head. Little Mimi immediately shook her head and burrowed deeper into Vincent's arms.
Vincent didn't press further. With Little Mimi's temperament, battling ordinary Pokémon was indeed troublesome.
After commanding Little Mimi in a few battles, Vincent had given up on the idea of pitting her against regular Pokémon. Nowadays, her opponents were either Steven's Metagross or Gym Leader Roxanne, as only such powerful trainers could restrain her.
"Young Master Vincent, it's best to avoid letting Little Mimi battle in the wild." The butler also reminded him.
Inflicting severe injuries on wild Pokémon was strictly prohibited by the League. Trainers were expected to stop once the battle reached a reasonable conclusion.
"Right, I know." Vincent nodded. Little Mimi curled up further, her tiny eyes flickering with a mix of curiosity and fear as she observed the surroundings.
As Vincent and the butler made their way toward his newly acquired property, the surroundings suddenly fell silent. The chirping of birds and insects that had filled the air moments earlier vanished in an instant.
Vincent narrowed his eyes.
"Kekekeke... Brat of the Stone family, I heard you bought that mansion?" A massive figure pushed through the trees, its shadow swallowing the light around it as it emerged.
Vincent took a deep breath.
Before him stood a towering, purple-black behemoth, easily two stories tall.
This was the overlord of Petalburg Woods.
The Dominant Gengar!
(End of Chapter)