I've loved 1st generation Pokemon when I was a girl, and I was gonna write this after my MLP fic was done, but decided to get a head start.
Beware readers! Cuteness ahoy! And some creepy settings.
BTW, Zoryn is pronounced 'Z-or-n' And as far as I know there's no Cemetery or Town in Pokemon called that. I just made it up for the story.

EDIT:
Whoa guys! I just found out today when I went back to edit some early chapters this story made it into a Fanfiction Community like a week ago called 'Pokemon's Best of the Best' where apparently the group picks out Pokemon stories they feel are the best ones and post them, and this story made it in! I want to thank all of you who've ever read it and reviewed, and whoever suggested it to the founder or whatnot. I don't exactly know what it means when a story was put into a community, but I'm guessing it's a good thing.
To the founder and staff members of the community, thank you!

Pale Moonlight

It was a cold, lonely night in the Zoryn Cemetery. Darkness and shadows fell all around, and it was a full moon that hung over the Cemetery. The moon's eerie pale light only illuminated the fog that creeped over the graves, lighting the area.

A small Eevee stared up in fear at the large metal gates that hadn't been attended to by human hands in what looked to be years. It was so dark and cold that it made her light brown fur tingle. How she hated the night time. All she wanted to do was curl up in her warm bed and go to sleep.

She glanced behind her to the pack of snickering Eeveeloutions. There was a Leafeon, a Flareon, and a Jolteon, all giggling at her, giving her teasing looks.

"Well?" Flareon smugly asked, "What are you waiting for?"

"Yeah?" Jolteon mocked, "You gonna go in? Or are you a wimp like we thought?"

Eevee looked back to the metal gates, then to them, "Well, I-" she hesitated. She was really scared, and she really didn't want to go in there.

Leafeon let out a loud laugh, interrupting her, "See! I told you guys she wouldn't do it! She's too scared! Little Eevee's afraid of the dark!"

They all started to laugh at her, causing her to flush with embarrassment. Yes, she was scared-no-terrified of going in there. Not only had the young Pokémon been afraid of the dark since she was born, but if there was one thing she hated were graveyards. She had heard enough about this particular one next to the forest where she lived with her mother to know what it was used for.
Not only that, but her mother had warned her to never go there because of the dangerous ghost Pokémon that could be lurking about. They were not only poisonous, but if you weren't careful they could steal and devour your soul!

From then on she was terrified of the Zoryn Cemetery and swore to herself she'd never step foot inside of the horrible place, especially at night when the ghosts were about.

That is…except for tonight…

Puffing up her small chest, she stated as boldly as she could to the group, "I'm not afraid! And I'm going in there to prove it!"

Their laughter died down to snickers when Flareon mused, "Remember, you gotta stay in all night, at least until dawn. You wanna get back home before mommy wakes up and finds out your missing, don't you?"

Eevee bit her lip and looked at them in a small pout, feeling embarrassed at being looked at as a 'momma's girl'. Though she loved her mother, it was so humiliating sometimes.

Puffing up again, she said in a loud tone, "I will!"

When Eevee turned around, she heard Leafeon hum, "See you in the morning…" she meant to tease her, probably knowing full well the youngster wouldn't be able to make it through the night.

Shaking, the tiny Pokémon squeezed through the bars of the gate, a simple thing to do for one so small and fluffy. Once she was through the rusty metal and stepped onto the long unruly grass, a shiver hit her body like nothing she felt before.
It was an icy, unwelcoming feeling of dread and death that made the baby's stomach turn. The foggy Cemetery had rows upon rows of what seemed to be an endless supply of tombstones, mausoleums, and statues. She glanced behind her to the trio, who only waved their paws at her in a cruel motion of teasing.

Her determination and anger overwhelming her fear, she straightened herself up and forced her legs to start moving her forward. She walked into the Cemetery past the first few tombstones, the grass on her padded feet cold and wet. Eevee wasn't going to let those jerks push her around anymore! She was going to prove she could be just as brave and tough as the big kids!

But as she went on, further and deeper into the Cemetery, her fear began to return. The pale moon shined down on her in a less than comforting light and made her more scared than before. The light made the fog stand out and the shadows bigger than they needed to be. It didn't help with the conditions of the old graveyard either.
The tombs hadn't been attended to in so long vines had begun to grow around them and cracks appeared on the stony surfaces. The words were faded and the flowers at the bases were dead or covered with weeds. It just furthered gave the place a feeling of death and neglect.
Getting more frightened every step, she started to hang her head and keep her body low to the ground, as if the long grass would hide and protect her.

Then, as if out of nowhere, she was started to come upon what looked to be a very large tower with a huge bell on top. A big wooden door was at the bottom, bolted and rusted shut.

She frowned. Even though this was a horrible place, there was a hint of sadness that crossed her. How could the humans that lived in the town only a few miles away have left this place so decimated? A place that held their forever sleeping elders? She felt pity at how it had seemed…abandoned.

Suddenly, a loud hollow laugh rang out into the night air.

Eevee's breath was sucked back and caught in her throat, as if her lungs had stopped. Too gripped by fear to breathe, she darted her big brown eyes around frantically for the source of the laugh. It was to no avail and she eventually inhaled.
It nearly caught again though when she felt a chill run up her spine, a very unfamiliar one. The young Pokémon looked all around her at any sign of movement, her heart beating a mile a minute.

Then, it started to get cold, really cold, like winter. It was an icy vein that penetrated her skin through her fur and caused her to squeeze her legs together and wrap her poofy tail around them, shivering.

On the verge of a breakdown, she pathetically squeaked, "Mommy…" she didn't know why she said that. Just something to make her feel a little better.

The chill suddenly moved up and down her spine so violently it caused her to shake wildly, barely in control, when she heard it.

Breathing.

Short, slow breaths were coming from behind her shoulder, practically in her right ear. Spinning around in fright, she choked out a yelp when she came face to face with large sinister eyes with tiny black slits. Squeezing her tail around her even tighter and drooping her long ears, she wiggled in fright as the anomaly before her started to float up.

It looked to be a black floating sphere surrounded with a dark purple ghostly aura. It had large slit eyes that looked at her mischievously and a stretched grin across it's 'face' with what looked to be very sharp teeth and fangs. It was a Pokémon all right. She had no idea what it was called, but she defiantly knew this was a Ghost Pokémon.

The ghost floated higher over her, making itself seem bigger than it was and she only recoiled back, too scared to move. She had no idea what the thing was going to do, but she braced for impact. If this guy tried to attack her, it could most likely be fatal as it could steal her soul.
Its look went from that of mischievous to a leer. If it was trying to make her more frightened by changing expressions, it was certainly working and she expected her heart to stop at any moment.

Without warning, the Pokémon did a small lunge in the air at her and made a loud but short scream.

The sudden move made Eevee shriek and fall onto her back, scared out of her mind.

Unexpectedly, the Ghost Pokémon didn't attack, but instead rolled back in the air cackling. It was amused by her reaction. It was laughing at her!
Unable to control herself, the sudden adrenaline rush coupled with the embarrassment and fear caused the baby Pokémon to burst into tears right in front of it.

The ghost stopped laughing almost immediately and watched as Eevee pulled herself into a small ball on her side, facing away from it, and continued to sob uncontrollably. Tears were rapidly rolling down her face and she buried it into the grass, completely forgetting the danger she was currently in with the Ghost Pokémon right behind her.
She didn't care though. She wanted to go home. She wanted to go back home to her mother and crawl safe into bed, snuggled up against her warm pink fur instead of being outside on the damp ground, sobbing like the biggest crybaby in the world.

She curled up tighter, unable to contain her fear of the surrounding darkness and began talking to herself, "I-I-I a-adm-mi-midt i-it." She sobbed, crying so hard she began to hiccup, "I-I-(hic)-I'm n-no-not bra-a-ave(hic). I j-just wa-an-anna go h-ho-(hic)-home! M-mo-momm-(hic)-mommy!"

The Ghost Pokémon behind her drooped in the air and it's brows furrowed into a confused, then saddened gaze. He didn't mean to make the little Pokémon cry, he was just trying to scare her.

Eevee's sobs stiffened when she felt a nudge on her back, followed by her muscles tightening when she heard a male voice say, "Don't cry."

She twisted her neck slight to see the Ghost Pokémon looking down at her, guilt apparent on its face. It-or he judging by the voice-had spoken to her?
He seemed to try to smile at her, but that did nothing to comfort her as his fangs were revealed and she once again felt tears still flow down her cheeks.

His smile vanished into a big frown, unsatisfied.

He pondered for a few seconds before he suddenly floated upwards a bit towards her front. When she scooted away from him, the ghost suddenly grinned and stuck its tongue out at her.

The Eevee froze, knowing full well that Ghost Pokémon's tongues were poisonous and getting licked had a high chance of causing paralysis or even death.

Instead of using that attack, the ghost opened its mouth and made a loud, "GAAAHH!" sound. It wasn't a yell, it was just a weird noise.

She cried still, but she cocked her head, unsure what that was for.

Disappointed, he pulled its tongue back in and tried something else. He rolled so that he was upside down and grinned very goofily, making more ridiculous noises.
Her fear turned into more of confusion, tears slowing and she started to sit up.

What in the world is he doing? She wondered. Is he…trying to make me laugh?

Smiling wildly, he started to do all sorts of loops and spins around her in the air to a point he was starting to get dizzy.
Without meaning to, a small grin was tugging at Eevee's lips.

Becoming more satisfied, the ghost stopped spinning and used the purple aura around him as 'hands' to tug the lids underneath his eyes downward, sticking his tongue out again and making a big, "NEEEEEHHHH!" sound.

That caused Eevee to break down into giggles this time and her ears perked up again, not as frightened as before.

When she laughed, the ghost smiled at her, happy to have cheered the Pokémon he scared up.

Her laughing stopped though when he floated down to her and asked, "Are you okay?" his voice was resonating and lost, the tone of death, "Will you be fine?"

Not knowing how to answer, as the fear was still there, she mumbled a little, "I…think so." Her hiccups had at least gone away, but the brown fur on her cheeks was still wet with tears.

He nodded, or moved his body back and forth since he didn't really have a neck, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry so bad. I was only having some fun, I meant no harm."

She didn't believe him at first. After all, he was a ghost and she knew they could be very tricky. The way he spoke and looked at her though was so genuinely apologetic it was impossible to think he had any other intentions. Slowly, she frowned, "Fun? By scaring the daylights out of Pokémon?"

"Yeah!" he suddenly beamed, making her eyes widen, "It's a whole lot of fun to see someone screaming all the way home! Come on it's just a harmless prank! It's not fun when your victim has a breakdown though."
His happiness faded back down into guilt, "Again, I am really sorry. I didn't mean to scare you so bad, honest and for truly."

She perked up a bit. 'honest and for truly'? This guy didn't speak like a grown up. In fact, now that he was practically level with her he did look kinda small. His round body was only as big as hers.
Was he maybe a baby? A youngling like her?

"Uh, who are you? Or…what?" she managed to ask, looking the orb up and down again.

He grinned wide, "I'm Gastly! What are you?"

She leaned on her side a bit, "You don't know?"

"No, not really." He admitted, "To be honest, I've only seen a few other 'normal' Pokémon around here, and none have looked like you. All the others were ghost Pokémon. I'm not that old so I haven't really learned a lot about the outside world."

She knew it, he was defiantly a kid just like her! A scary one at that, but still one.

She nodded slightly and said, "Well, I'm Eevee."

"Hi Eevee!" Gastly exclaimed, making her flinch slightly.

When he started to float around her for no reason, she couldn't help but ask, "Gastly, how long have you lived here?"

"I've lived in the bell tower all my life!" he said, "So that'd be about 6 years in Pokémon life, I think."

He's two years older than me.

"What about you?" he got in her face again, "Where do you live?"

She hesitated, not exactly wanting to tell Gastly where she lived, "Uh, in the forest nearby…in a tree with my mother." Something hit her suddenly and she became apprehensive, "Hey, do you...erm…live with your parents?" When she said that she looked around cautiously.

He moved side to side in a shake, "Nope. Been on my own since I hatched."

She gawked at him, "Huh?"

"Ghost Pokémon like me tend to look after themselves. We already have our powers and defenses, so we don't really need a caretaker when we're born." He said it nonchalantly, as if it was no big deal, but the news was appalling to her. How sad it was to not have parents! It seemed cruel to leave your baby behind, ghost or not. He smiled at her, "But there are a few Ghost Pokémon living here in the graveyard that I talk to. They're pretty friendly once you get to know them."

"B-but, if you have no family and only a few ghosts are around here and most of the other Pokémon you scare away, don't you get…a little…lonely?" she had no idea why she asked that, it sorta came out. Pity perhaps?

He frowned a little and looked away slightly, "Well, a little. None of the grown Pokémon here want to play, and it's hard to make friends with other Pokémon when most are too scared of either you or your home…" he then focused on her, "In fact, you're obviously terrified of this place and my kind. Why are you here on this lovely moonlit night? Did you get lost? Do you need me to guide you out?"

She shook her head, "No, nothing like that. I, uh, it sounds so silly now…" she chuckled a bit uneasily, "Um, I was dared to come in by three kids near my home."

He tilted his body to the side, as if he was cocking his head, "Dared?"

"Uh huh." She continued, "They're Flareon, Leafeon, and Jolteon. They used to be Eevees like me, only older, but they transformed eventually by finding some stones. It's the only way Eevees can evolve, else we'll be like this forever. Because I'm still little I haven't been able to find a stone to make me transform, so they make fun of me for it."
Eevee was starting to get upset again and tears were forming in her eyes, "Not only that but I scare easy. I'm really afraid of the dark, and Cemeteries, and Ghosts…and they know it. They're always scaring me and picking on me, saying I'll never be brave or evolved like them or my momma so I came here to prove it and-"
She choked out some tears and looked away from him, embarrassed that she was once again crying, "M-maybe I am a-a crybaby…"

"Oh no! Don't cry!" she heard him say, but didn't turn her head back.

Then she felt something, soft and cold as mist, brush against her right cheek and wiped her tears away.

She looked back to him and he was frowning, not just out of pity but anger, "Those big jerks!" he used the unknown misty force around him to wipe her left cheek free of tears, "It's one thing to play a little prank on someone with a good scare, but it's just mean to scare someone just to make them cry!" she was surprised by the boy's anger and he floated up, looking around, "Where are they? I'll scare them so bad they'll join the afterlife!"

He was a prankster, but not a bully, and the thought of bullies picking on someone just cause they haven't evolved yet was so mean!

Eevee awkwardly bowed her head, "Oh, please don't. I don't think my mother would approve."

He huffed and floated back down to her, "But don't feel bad." He said, trying to sound as reassuring as his ghostly voice would allow, "I mean, I know it's pretty tough to have only one other evolve form and have others tease you for it. I mean, when I'm old and experienced enough, I'll turn into a Haunter someday, but I could never turn into a Gengar on my own. I have to be traded by a trainer for that, but there isn't away way I'm getting caught. So I'll most likely remain a Haunter for all my life. Or afterlife...or...I don't know..."

He grinned a bit, and she only nodded her head. She had no idea what a 'Haunter' or a 'Gengar' were, but if they were scarier than even him she was wary.

He suddenly beamed, "Besides! Why would you wanna transform anyway! You're adorable!"

His sudden compliment made her smile a bit, feeling a little prouder of herself.

He meant it though. The little Pokemon before him was small and all fluffy with tan fur. She had a large amount of cream colored fluff around her neck and tiny slender legs, straight long ears that stuck up and a big poofy tail with a small cream color on the tip. Her eyes were big and brown, much like mud. He liked the color of mud. So brown…
Did he mention she was adorable? How she could have confidence issues was beyond him.

Gastly smiled wider, "Hey! The sun's not gonna come up for another few hours! Do you wanna play with me around the graveyard? It'll be fun!"

Eevee doubted that playing in a graveyard was fun at all, but it was obvious just how lonely he was and she couldn't keep from refusing, "Uh, sure. For a little while."

She could have sworn he was going to explode when he twirled around in the air, "Yay!" Gastly then turned around, "Come on! I wanna show you the bell tower first!" he flew toward the bolted door and fazed right through it.

Eevee only stared, knowing she couldn't do that. After a few seconds, Gastly popped back out, "Oops, sorry. I forgot you're not a Ghost Pokémon. That's okay! I got another way." As if by some unknown force, the door creaked open on its own. To say it was creepy was an understatement.

He flew back into the dark tower, "Come on!"

Eevee took a deep cautious breath and walked in. Gastly was floating next to her side, so at least she wasn't alone as they ascended the stone stairway.

It wasn't a very tall tower, and when they reached the opened top there was the large rusted bell hanging there. It was the biggest bell she'd ever seen, and she reached a paw towards it in fascination.

Gastly suddenly appeared in front of her out of thin air, "Don't touch it!" he exclaimed.

She gasped and nearly fell back down the stairs, "Wh-why?"

Gastly turned towards the enormous bell, "This is the Bell of Death. It's said to be an object of incredible power, only to be rung in times of great desperation. According to legend, if you ring it a total of twelve times at midnight, you will summon some kind of creature capable of devouring souls. It's supposed to be used on the graveyard for evil spirits, problem is the last time it was used the creature kinda devoured every soul trapped here, Pokémon included. Even living ones."
He floated around it, "Hasn't been used since. Although it's way past midnight and it's just an old ghost tale, better safe than sorry."

Eevee stared at the ominous large bell when Gastly said, "But that's not all I wanted to show you." She turned towards him and he floated around the opening of the tower, "I wanted to show you this!"

Eevee looked around her, and gasped.

It was a sight of the graveyard, and it looked beautiful. The shadows and fog that were once so scary were defined by the moonlight, ascending the Cemetery. The statures and tombstones shined under the moon's glow like bright stars, and the long grass was greener than it had ever been.

Gastly's lips stretched into a wide smile, "See? Beautiful isn't it? Graveyards aren't so bad, as long as you look at them in a different light. The older ghosts tell me it was a lot prettier once, back when people visited. Ever since the bell tower incident, people didn't come back. It's a shame really."

He snapped Eevee out of her trance with a nudge of his forehead, "Hey Eevee! Tag you're it!" she only blinked at him a few times as he zoomed back down the stairs.

Once realization hit her, she couldn't help but smile and chase after the ghost, suddenly not fearing the graveyard as much.

The two children chased and played with each other for hours around the Cemetery. Although Eevee was still a little afraid of certain areas, Gastly was always there to assure her and make her laugh. He was good at that, a real joker at heart, or spirit.
They hoped around the tombstones and up on the mausoleums in chases. At one point Eevee worried they'd bother the ghosts, but Gastly assured her as long as they don't exhume the mausoleums or bury around the tombstones they won't awake the dead.
She started to notice a few extra eyes here and there at the Cemetery, staring at her with hunger. Gastly was by her side to make sure none of the other spirits would eat her soul.

They were fellow Pokémon, and as long as they knew she was his friend then they wouldn't harm her.

They played until the sun began to rise, to which Eevee had to say goodbye.

Gastly pouted, "You're leaving already?"

She felt sad. It had been hours but in a way felt like minutes, "I'm sorry Gastly. I wanna play more but momma might worry. I gotta get home."

He nodded, "It's okay, hate sunlight anyway." He was still heavily disappointed that his playmate was going to leave.

She frowned, equally disappointed until she got an idea, "Hey, don't worry Gastly. If you want I'll come visit again tonight."

He perked up immediately, "Really? And we can play more?"

Eevee happily nodded, "Sure!"

After a happy flip in the air, Ghastly lead Eevee back up to the metal gates she came in.

They were saying goodbye when the three Eeveeloutions from the night before approached. Gastly disappeared from sight and she turned to them. They looked tired to be up so early, but even more shocked that she had been in there all night.

Proud of herself, Eevee wiggled through the bars and hopped to them, "Hey guys! Beautiful morning isn't it?" She smiled big, "I told you I was brave!"

The three gawked at her, speechless. It was obvious she had done something they never could, and they were jealous of her for it.

Finally, Jolteon regained herself and said in a snobby fashion, "What, you think spending a night in a graveyard proves anything? Just means it's the only thing you're good at, and there's no stone involved with playing around the dead. You'll still never be important."

The others started to giggle and Eevee's pride deflated faster than a punctured balloon. Her ears drooped and she bowed her head as the other girls laughed at her.

She looked back up to them when the laughing abruptly stopped. They were looking at her in horror.

She was confused at first. That is, until she felt the familiar chill return. She looked behind her to see what looked to be a purple mist with huge glowing red eyes and a mouthful of teeth. At first she was surprised, but instead only stared at him blankly.

The figure snarled, "So many living souls have come into my domain? Well, I guess I'll just have to eat you all!" the creature bellowed at the three.

The girls all shrieked and ran away screaming-and crying-to their mothers back in the woods.

Eevee fell onto her back laughing so hard. The mist disappeared to reveal Gastly rolling around in the air, laughing just as joyously.

When they were done, she got back up, "Thanks Gastly."

The Ghost Pokémon bowed a bit, "No prob." He gave a glance to the sun and shrugged away, "See you tomorrow! It'll be too bright soon."

With that he vanished from sight just as before.

Looking back tiredly to the forest, Eevee walked back home, making it back in time just before her mother awoke to the rising sun.
She would be restless after a long nap and for the rest of the day thinking about her new and only friend. Even if he was a ghost, it was nice to have someone your age to relate to.

What kind of games will we play tonight?

Stay tuned for the next chapter!