Challenges come and go, but the journey continues.

2 weeks have passed since the attack on the S.S Oceana, meeting Melia, Ren and Venam, fighting against Team xen and finally taking on the Aevium gym challenge.

The brown-skinned boy had grow through all the hardship and finally become a true trainer.

Evenings in Sheridan village were cold so Ray walked into a huge building on the right side.
As he stepped foot in the Cherry blossom inn, he was greeted by the Elder of the village, a strict old lady.

"Boy, seems you've had a bit of a solo adventure, Aelita's upstairs packing what you'll both need for tomorrow's journey, it would be wise to join her up there" Eldest said sternly.

"Sure thing Granny!" The boy said happily and marches upstairs.

Eldest took a glance at his back and thought to herself (I sure hope they'll be okay out there).

Upstairs
Aelita is packing the essentials into her pink backpack, such as healing items, fruits, protein bars etc.

The lilac haired girl then turns to a Kirlia, picks it up, then proceeds to hug it tightly.

That doll was a gift to her from her late father Keta.
She was nervous about leaving the place she was born in, and venturing into the unknown.

'Rat-tat-tat' the sudden knocking on her door brought her back to reality and she opened it.

Ray smiles at the sight of his new friend and soon to traveling companion as he was allowed through the door.
"Hey, how are you doing?" Asked the brown-skinned boy.

"Yeah... Just packing up for tomorrow, got the directions memorized... But... I can't shake the feeling, something bad is gonna happen on journey..." Aelita spoke her mind.

Ray knew exactly how she felt, it was the same way he felt when he was separated from Nancy.

"Don't sweat it, from now on, I'll have your back, and you'll have mine, together we'll show the world what we're made of!" Yelled Ray, the power in his voice touched Aelita's heart once again, filling her with confidence.

"Hai! Look out world! Ray and Aelita are gonna rock yah!" The girl smiled widely and proclaimed.
The two then continued to pump each other up until they both got sleepy, Aelita slept her bed while Ray stayed with her there to comfort her and decided to sleep on the couch later on.

"Nighty night Ray," the lilac haired girl said softly.

"Sleep tight Aelita, we've got a long journey ahead of us" said Ray already drifting in dream land.

As the two friends slept off, not so far away underneath Gearan city in the abandoned sewers, a bright light appeared supernatural out from one of the sealed doors, the event shook the entire city as if it was an earthquake....
THE MADNESS BEGAN...

The next day

Ray awoke from his slumber and yawned, walking downstairs he sees both Aelita and Eldest looking shocked by something playing on the television in the parlor.

"Ray... The news..." Aelita said solemnly.
He's attention was now on the News.

After a catchy jingle, a blonde woman wearing glasses in a blue denim jacket was reporting news about a strange occurrence in Gearan.

"Welcome to GNN! I'm your lovely host Volta, today I'm reporting a mysterious case of ghost forestation! It seems that around 3am in morning ghost vegetation erupted from the ground and covered the entire east side of Gearan.
The trees and shrubs may look transparent but they are super solid, thanks to this many locations in the city are now blocked off!
Authories are have started evacuating the people and currently no one is allowed into the city until this ghostly predicament is cleared." said Volta holding the microphone close to her mouth as she moved around showing what had happened to the city.

Ray was in disbelief, the place he met Melia, the first friends who accepted him, his starter was given to him here, he met a bunch of extraordinary people there as well.
Venam, someone who he respected a lot was now in trouble...
Before he knew it he was already half way through the door.

"Sorry Aelita, but I'll have to push our journey to Golden leaf back a bit," Ray said, he's usual big smile now turned into a stern frown.

"Ray... I'm going with you" Said Aelita.
"You have my back and I have yours right? We'll help out your friends together".

"Aelita..." The boy knew he couldn't tell her it was too dangerous, they've been through a lot already.

"It's even more dangerous than I expected, I've got no idea on how to deal with this... So you both be careful out there" Eldest added while looking at the two kids intensely.

"Got it!" The duo then headed to route2 train station where a bunch of people from gearan had come to seek shelter in, one in particular being Venam's mom Chasity.

Ray went over to confront her and she immediately said "Ray... You've gotta help my daughter, she went to the sewers to fix the ghost problem but now I can't contact her through her pokegear, please help her".

"Don't worry ma'am, she's a tougher trainer than me, I'll go support her over there and we'll be back before you know" Ray gave a thumps and with Aelita behind him they went straight towards the train only to be stopped by an officer Jenny.

"Wait you two, I can't let you go to Gearan without knowing your power levels, now how many gym badges do you have".

"Ray has 2, but I'm not even taking the gym challenges"

"That's far too weak, go back to where you came from, don't you know how dangerous..." But the officer could finish a hand touched her shoulder.

It was Karrina wearing are usual brown dress and high heels.
"That's enough Officer, Ray and his friend have helped me and my gang a couple of times, they can come to Gearan".

"If you say so ma'am" Jenny said as she backed down and Ray, Aelita and Karrina entered a train cart heading to the city.

"Man Karrina you really saved us back there, by the way this is my friend Aelita". Ray sighed in exhaustion, the serious atmosphere was really taking a toll on his wacky character.

"Hey nice to meet you" Aelita said cheerfully, she was so excited to see the city "Thanks for helping us".

"Don't sweat it, I owe ray for helping me out so much, that time with mad scientist and the hooligans, he's a real dogooder" Karrina said remembering all the weird events that had happened before.

"Wow! Ray you really love helping people", Aelita said, her eyes sparking with admiration.

"That's just my trainer way", the boy said while rubbing the back of his head.

At this point the thoughts of Team Xen's involvement entered Ray's mind but that quickly disappeared as he saw the glowing trees and ghostly Shrubs and vines.
It was like straight out of a horror movie, the trees emerged from the ground and blocked several paths in the city, however the path to the sewers was still intact and that's exactly where our heroes were heading.

Abandoned sewers entrance
As the three reached the entrance with shrubs blocking it, they see a familiar face that hasn't appeared in a while standing there looking at the vines.

"Amanda?!" Ray called out to the brown-skinned lady with long black and red hair.

"Ray? Katrina?! And... Lavender... I guess?" Amanda said giving a nickname to the girl she didn't know.

"Um. It's Aelita" the martial artist corrected.

"Amanda these kids want to go down to the sewers and help out" Karrina told Amanda briefly

"No way... Ray, looks like he's got 2 badges that's good enough to use {HM}Cut at least but then the girl would have to stay behind".

Hearing this Ray turned to Aelita, he knew she wanted to help but...

"It's okay Ray, I'll wait here until you get back" Aelita smiled at him.

"... Alright, I won't take long..." Before he could even turn his head Amanda's fingers closed his lips.

"Hold on cowboy, I'll let you through... If you beat me in a battle, I wanna know if you truly earned those gym badges" Amanda took out a heal Ball from her pouch.

"Huh, bring it on!" Ray smiled.

The battle began with Karrina as the referee it would be a 4v4.

"Pip let's go!"

"Bronzor showtime!"

The eager penguin was up against an iron floating disk with a face.

"Bronzor! psybeam attack!".

"Dodge pip!"

The penguin slips away from the purple light beam by sliding on his belly on the slippery ground.

Seeing this gave Amanda an idea. "Bronzor, use Sunny day!". The disk obeyed unleashing a mini sun from it's face that transforming the humid terrain into a rainbow field.

"What? What going on?" Ray said in confusion.

"Ray! That's a Rainbow field! It increases all element special attacks!" Yelled Aelita but it was too late.

"Bronzor use Psybeam again!"
"Broooooooooon!" The disk shot out an even more power beam of psychic energy thanks to the new terrain. The attack hit it's target sending the penguin flying backwards.

"No! pip!" Cried the brown-skinned boy.
The penguin stood back on his feet and charged ahead angrily.
"That's my boy! If they can take advantage of the field, so can we! Use Bubblebeam!".

"Prinnnnplup!" The penguin releases his own signature elemental beam, the field supercharged the attack and Bronzor took the powered up attack to the face knocking it out instantly.

"Can that even be called a bubblebeam?! Looked like a bloody hydro pump" Amanda looked amazed and frightened at the same time.
(I better take care of it right now). "Weepinbell I choose you!" She sends out her next pokemon, one ray is very familiar with.

(A Weepinbell, not good) "Pip return" Ray recalls his starter back and then...
"Cinder you're up!" Scorbunny, the newest member of his party jumps out from her Cherish ball and onto the field.
"Flame char..."
The boy was then shocked by what happened next.

Scorbunny was currently his fastest pokemon, even beating Swoobat in speed however...
Weepinbell was faster!
"Weepinbell, use toxic!" Amanda ordered.
The pitcher plant proceeded to throw up purple liquid on the bunny poisoning her badly.

"Oh no, I bet that Weepinbell has the chlorophyll ability, making it faster in sunlight" Karrina stated.

"And the rainbow field helps it's ability as well, Ray watch out!" Cried Aelita.

"Scorrrrrr!" Cinder cried in pain as the poison took a huge chunk of her HP.
"Cinder! Headbutt! If we knock it out before the poison spreads we'll win!" The boy yelled.

"Score!" The rabbit tucked back her head and delivered a heavy blow to the plant however.
"Constrict!" The Brown-skinned woman yelled. The plant then wraps countless vines around Cinder, immobilizing her.

"Scorrrrr... Rrrr....." The bunny tries to escape the vines but along with the squeezing and poison her strength was completely depleted, "she faints after two pain squeezes.

"No! Cinder return! I'm sorry I didn't plan this well, Bell let's get revenge for her!" Ray pulls out his own Weepinbell to counter her own.

"Mine is still faster! Use Constrict!" Amanda orders.
Her Weepinbell grabs Ray's tightly however.
"Weeeeeeeeee!" The pitcher cries in pain instead, tiny green particles could be seen climbing it's body from Bell's.
"What?!" Amanda was confused.

"Hah! You fell for it! Infestation! Don't think I just thought him grass and poison moves!" Ray smirks.
"Now then vine whip and slam it into the ground.

"Beeeeeeellllllll!" Bell lifts the distressed pitcher into the air and slams it into the ground hard knocking it out! 'Bamm!'.

"Yay! Go Ray! You can do it! Weepinbell is such a strong pokemon!" Aelita cheered for her friend on the sidelines

"Weepinbell return, you're definitely a lot smarter than last time that's for sure, but I'm not done yet! Miltank mow him down!!" Sending out a huge bipedal pink cow, Amanda reassess her strategy.

"Infestation, go!"not changing strategy , Ray decided it was best to eat at the cow's HP slowly however.

"Miltank milk drink!" Amanda commanded and her cow drank it's own milk regaining the health infestation had taken.

"What?!" Ray was dumfounded (it drank milk from it's own udder!!) If wasn't a pretty sight to him.

"Stomp on the plant Miltank!"

"Dodge it Bell! Then use acid!"

The blank narrowly escapes the cow's hoove and spits out purple water bubbles at the cow damaging it and reducing it's defense stats.

"Milk drink!" says Amanda, the cow once again drinks from it's udder recovering the lost HP.

"What the hell Amanda?!" shouts Ray.

"Hey! Don't hate me, hate the milk drink strategy" she waved her hands around.

10 infestations and acids later

Both pokemon had tired themselves out fighting a battle of stalling.
Both fainted leaving the two trainers with their final pokemon (except Ray, but he didn't want to bring out pip for this).

"Hantenna I choose you!"

"Pia! Shock her"

As soon as the boy sent out his Pikachu he noticed he didn't recognize Amanda's ace.(wasn't it a Litten before?)
This one looked like a tiny creature with big pink hat on it's head and tiny feet supporting it's head.
He pulls out his Pokedex

"Hatenna, the calm pokemon.
Hatenna likes to stay in environments with few people since it can sense emotions from the top of it's Antenna. It's a psychic type.

"Word of advice, it's best to analyze your opponent's pokemon and figure out where it's weakness lies. Whether it be weak to special or physical attacks" Amanda explained.
"Now then Hatenna, use disarming voice!", "Hatttttteeeeeee!" The hat pokemon shouts releasing a sonic wave that damages Pikachu.

"Tch, I already know that... But sometimes weaknesses don't matter, sometimes all that matters is the power to back it up!" Ray yells.
Pikachu's body begins to glow with electricity.
"Pia! Show her what all the trainings been for! Discharge!". "Pikaaaaaa chuuuuuuuuu!" A huge wave of electricity sweeps Hatenna away, wiping it out instantly and giving Ray the ultimate victory.

"Return, WOW! You've improved in such a small amount of time! Yep I have confidence in you" Amanda smiles widely.(I never expected him to beat me like this) "here's the HM for Cut, with this any pokemon you have with claws can cut down vines and trees".

"Thanks Amanda! Pia you were awesome girl!" Ray praises his mouse.
"Pikaaaa❤️" Pia jumps on his shoulder and rubs her face against his.

"Ray that was an amazing battle, give me your pokemon let me heal them real quick" Katrina says while taking the four Pokemon he used in battle.

Aelita was overjoyed "Ray you're awesome, I knew you'd win, I also believe you can stop this ghost phenomenon!" She smiles and grabs his hands.
"Ray... We believe in you, even if no else does... Just know I always will".

Hearing these words gave Ray the confidence to go. "Thanks Aelita! I won't let you down".

"Alright here, knock em dead Ray you've got this, I'll wait here with Aelita till you get back" Karrina gives him back his pokemon and the boy heads down into the sewers.

Abandoned sewers

Pip cut down any roots, vines and trees in the way allowing ray to move across the white platforms.

Ray could see the ghost forest getting denser around the right side of the sewers however a strange screeching noise got his attention.

"Noooooiiiiii noiiiiiiii!" He turns around to see 5 bat pokemon picking on a small strange looking bat pokemon.

"Wait a second... Is that?! No way!" He couldn't believe his eyes. "A Noibat! A shiny Noibat!" Ray was elated. A bunch of Zubats were attacking a pokemon Ray had wanted for a long time.

"Get away from there you filthy bloodsuckers! Swoo I choose you!" Ray shouts throwing a PokeBall at the bats however.

"Poof!" The ball opens up to reveal it was empty... "What? Like what the actual fuck?!" Ray yelled in disbelief. Where was his Swoobat?

Back at Sheridan

"How nice of Ray to leave Swoobat behind to help around the village" Eldeast said sipping a cup of tea.

Swoobat was flying around helping the villagers with various tasks happily unaware of the danger it's trainer is in.

Back to the sewers

The Zubats had set their sights on Ray and we're now chasing him instead of the grounded Noibat.

"Stay back you pests! Repel!" Taking out a green spray can from his back, Ray sprays the Bats forcing them deep into the sewers.
"Phew, Can't believe I forgot about swoo. now then the Noibat, Pip I choose you!".

Now with Prinplup by his side he prepared to fight the bat however...
"Noooooooiiiiiiiii!" The bat began to cry and run around in fear.

"Huh... Sheesh" Ray took out a strange looking brown and yellow ball. "Go level Ball!".... The ball hit the shiny Pokemon and encapsulated it...
'Shake... Shake... Twink!' it was caught on the first try.

"Hell yeah I just caught my first shiny Pokemon! I didn't want to accidentally faint it since it looked weak, good thing I got a level ball from Katrina... Now then" the boy continues to move until...

A single doorway with glistering yellow light emitting from it caught his attention, the ghost plants seemed to surround.

"Well... It's now or never" steeling his resolve, Ray enters the door of light...

Chrysalis courtyard

The sky was dyed a dark hue of blue, the grass looked stagnant on the ground. A huge mansion stood defended by two huge walls of hedges surrounding it.

Standing by the first gate was Venam the poison type gym leader, Luka the hyperactive battler and... Lenny.

"Can someone explain to me what an entire courtyard is doing in my sewers?!" The purple-haired rocker yelled.

Luca rubbed her chin, "Who knows? Maybe the courtyard was here first , then in that case, why is there a sewer in their Courtyard".

Lenny interjects. "Impossible, I've been through this very same door many times before, it should lead to a backroom storage.

"Well whatever's going on, we've got to stop it... Huh well looky here, didn't expect to see you here" Venam says in surprise as a portal of light appears dropping off a disgruntled Ray in the courtyard.

"Venam! Thank goodness you're safe" Ray said.

"Ray, Nice! I was just talking to Lenny about our rematch!" Luca said while punching the air in front of her.

"Not now Luca, ray probably doesn't even remember you", said Lenny nonchalantly.

"No, she's Venam's friend" ray pointed out, making Venam smile a little.

"I'm more than just her friend! I'm Luca!" The energetic girl takes a pose.

"Enough horsing around, Ray none of my pokemon can damage the Hegde or the gate, can I count on you to help find a key or something?" Venam asked.

"Sure thing, give me a second" Ray agres and starts looking.

"Wait a second, what if by unlocking the gate, we release some evil ghost? Or thirteen demons?!" Luca said ominously.

"Don't say shit like that! I'll freak out!" Lenny started spasming out.

"I've found the key!" Ray yelled happily.

"Nice job Ray! Now then let's go beat this hunted mansion!" The punk girl girl clenched her fist and prepared for a challenge...

To be continued