Haunting Rumors

"Good morning Ian!" Patience greeted.
"Patience." Ian greeted.
"It's another beautiful day to fulfill our Junior Expedition Society duties!"
"Really? It looks like it's going to be a really stormy day if you ask me." Ian said, looking up at the dark cloud covering the sky.
"Details, details." Patience said, ignoring the mudfish's Pokemon's comment.
As the two made their way to the village plaza, a strong breeze blew past them. Causing Patience to shiver a bit. For it only being the second day of summer, it was surprisingly cool thing morning.
"Hey, is that Ampharos?" Ian aspked, pointing in the direction of the gate of the village.
"And... Flecthinder?" Patience added.
Looking at the journalist, who was holding his notepad in hand, looked like he was interviewing the lighthouse Pokemon. Ian and Patience approached the two, curious about what they were talking about.
"Thank you for your time Mr Ampharos." Fletchinder said. "It was an honor meeting you."
"The pleasure's all mine." Ampharos replied, as the journalist walked away, looking extremely satisfied. The lighthouse Pokemon noticed the two Junior Expedition Society members, and ushered them over.
"If it isn't The Hydroflames!" Ampharos greeted. "How goes your expedition duties?"
"We're doing fine!" Patience replied. "I think we're starting to get the hang of this!"
"Haha! I knew you two would be perfect for this!" Ampharos complimented. "Keep this up and maybe you might even become an actual Expedition Society member!"
Patience giggled in excitement over the compliment, Ian merely raising an eyebrow.
"Where are you heading off to?" He asked.
Ampharos sighed, frowning when he heard that.
"And this is where I must tell you some unfortunate news: It is time for me to leave the village."
"WHAT?!" Ian and Patience exclaimed, shocked at what the lighthouse Pokemon said. "B-but why..?!" Patience asked reluctantly.
"Serene Village is nice and all." Ampharos said. "But it was about time I got back to my du-" He cut himself off, rephrasing his sentence. "-I got back on the road. The Dashing Wanderer's journey must continue!"
"Will we ever see you again?" Ian asked.
"Who knows, maybe you will." Ampharos said, winking. "Anyway, it's about time I take my leave now. Farewell!"
Ampharos headed off, leaving the village once and for all, and after awhile, disappeared from sight.
"Well, there he goes..." Ian said, bummed out of Ampharos sudden departure.
Patience remained quiet, still looking on at the village exit. She took a deep breath, and exhaled.
"Welp, no time to feel down now. We got work to do!" Patience said, she turned around but was suddenly bumped into, falling over.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!"
Ian knew the familiar voice, and turned around to confirm. It was Pancham, clutching his head in pain. Next to him was Shelmet.
"Oh hey Pancham." Ian greeted.
"Yeah... Hi." The panda Pokemon mumbled.
Patience got up off her feet, flashing apologetic smile at Pancham, who simply grunted.
"So, how's your summer going?" Patience asked.
"Pretty good, we've managed to prank 10 Pokemon in just two days! A new record!" He said proudly, laughing at his own accomplishments.
Ian and Patience looked at each other in bewilderment, both disapproving of the panda Pokemon's action, but decided not to bring it up.
"Hey, have you guys heard the rumors?" Shelmet asked, suddenly gaining the interest of the two.
"Rumors..? About what?" Patience asked.
Pancham and Shelmet looked at the fire fox Pokemon in surprised, as if she had just offended them.
"You serious?! You haven't heard of it?! It's the hot topic of the village right now!" Pancham exclaimed.
"Yeah... We've been kinda busy these past few days." Ian said.
"Fine, since I'm in a good mood today. I'll tell you guys about it." Pancham said. "There's been rumors about strange occurrences happening at the school at night."
"Strange occurrences?" Patience wondered. "How so?"
"Well... People saying it might be ghosts."
"Gh-ghosts?!" Patience exclaimed, stuttering in her words.
"Ghosts? Come on Pancham get real." Ian said.
"No, I'm serious! That's everyone's best guess as to what it was! Strange voices echoing from the school, saying: So hot... So very very hot..."
"It's creepy I tell ya!" Shelmet said, shivering nervously. "I can't sleep in the middle of the night without a gust of wind scaring the heck out of me!"
Ian simply let out a laugh. Confusing everyone.
"I ain't afraid of no ghosts." The mudfish Pokemon said. "Anything can be explained with a bit of rational thinking."
"If that's what you think. I hope the ghosts don't come to your room in the middle of the night and abduct you!" Pancham said.
"I'll tell those "ghosts" to come at me. I'm not scared of them." Ian said confidently.
"Anyway, we'll be going off now." Pancham said. "We got grand schemes of pranks to plan. Smell you guys later!"
"Yeah see you later." Shelmet said, as the two Pokemon run off in the opposite direction, eventually disappearing from sight.
"What a load of bull..." Ian mumbled. "What do you think Patience?"
He awaited a reply, but the silence was his only answer. Ian turned to face his partner to see Patience, staring at the ground, her eyes twitching, her whole body shaking.
"Patience?"
Patience jumped at the voice of the mudfish Pokemon, scaring her half to death.
"Don't scare me like that Ian!" She yelled. "You almost gave me a heart attack!"
"Well excuse me! You seemed to be phasing out and you didn't answer my question!" Ian said in defense.
"Oh... I'm sorry..." She quietly almost a whisper. "I was just... thinking of something. Listen, this may seem sudden but, I don't think I have the mood to go exploring today."
"And why's that?" Ian asked.
"I don't know... Must have been something I ate..."
Ian kept quiet, half disappointed at the sudden change of plans. But he couldn't really argue, he wanted to have a little R&R to himself, it was summer vacation after all.
"I understand." He said. "Go on home if you like, if you need me I'll be at the Café Connection."
Patience smiled, happy at her partner understanding.
"Thanks Ian, I'll see you later."
With that, Patience headed back home, leaving Ian alone in the plaza once again. He didn't know why, but his body suddenly felt cold, as if the temperature had suddenly dropped.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." He mumbled.