*Not a part of the actual story. This is not how Eragona and her friends meet the Elite Four or Champion. Just a special. Enjoy!*

"Ooh, I can't believe it's already Halloween!" Nina said excitedly.

"Yeah! It was really nice of your grandmother to invite us to her Halloween Party, Era." Eric said.

"She throws one every year. The rest of the Elite Four and the Champion will also be there." I said.

"I don't think we've ever been to your grandmother's house, have we?" Kat asked.

I promptly shook my head with a grin.

It was Halloween, Grandma Eli was throwing her Annual Halloween Party, and she was kind enough to invite my friends. Every year, with the help of Klaus and her Pokémon, she would decorate the house for this spooky day. She also hosts games and challenges for all who wish to participate, and at the end, there's a grand prize for the top three winners of all the games. I can't wait to see what Grandma Eli has in store!

"By the way, your costumes look amazing!" I said.

"Thanks, Era! Yours, too!" Nina said.

Nina was dressed up as a Mismagius, Eric was a Scrafty, Kat was a Sylveon, and I was an Eevee. I couldn't help but smile at Libby and Angel's costumes; they suited them very well. Libby was a Skitty, and Angel was a Liepard.

"Your Pokémon don't look half-bad either." Eric commented.

Libby and Angel both let out happy cries at Eric's compliment.

"So, do you know who else is gonna be at the party besides the rest of the Elite Four and Champion?" Nina asked.

"Some of my grandmother's friends and their kids," I answered, "They're a bit older than us, but they're cool."

As we approached the hill that led to my house, we heard a mighty roar from above.

I know that roar anywhere!

Looking up, I saw a familiar Pokémon fly down.

"Dragonite!" I cried happily.

Grandma Eli's Dragonite let out a friendly cry as he greeted us. Angel and Libby returned that cry.

"Oh, my gosh! His Snorlax costume is so cute!" Nina squealed.

Dragonite blushed and let out a bashful cry. Looking behind him, I saw that the house was perfectly decorated for Halloween.

"You and Grandma Eli did an amazing job decorating the house!" I complimented.

Dragonite let out a cry before leading us to the house.

"Wow! Your house is incredible, Era!" Kat said.

"Thanks. It's an estate, actually," I said, "The woods behind the house belong to my grandmother."

"Wow! And think, not only will we finally meet your grandmother, but the rest of the Elite Four and the Champion!" Nina cried excitedly, "This is gonna be so much fun!"

I chuckled at my friend's excitement. Dragonite knocked on the door before flying over the house. When the door opened, I smiled when I saw my grandmother. She wore a beautifully made Flygon costume.

"Eragona!" she cried happily.

I didn't waste any time throwing my arms around her. Libby hopped on Grandma Eli's shoulder and nuzzled her cheek against my grandmother's.

"Hello to you, too, Libby!" she said, patting Libby's head.

I stepped back when Libby hopped back on my shoulder.

"Grandma Eli, I'd like you to meet Kat, Nina, and Eric." I said.

Grandma Eli smiled and happily shook their hands.

"It's such an honor to meet you, Ms. Elise." Eric said.

"Oh, the honor is mine," Grandma Eli said, "And please, dear. Call me Eli. It's nice to meet you all in person."

"Likewise." Kat said.

Grandma Eli stepped to the side, and we all walked into the house. The inside was just as decorated as the outside; cobwebs and Zubats hung from the ceiling, fake Litwik and Lampent adorned the small tables, Pumpkaboo-O-Lanterns were everywhere, and a Chandelure-inspired chandelier hung from the ceiling. That's when the chandelier started moving. I soon realized that it was Klaus's Chandelure.

"Nice to see you again, Chandelure!" I called out.

The Chandelure turned around and smiled as it let out a friendly cry.

"Ms. Eragona, welcome home!" said a familiar voice.

When I turned around, I smiled when I saw Klaus dressed as a Noivern.

"Hi, Klaus!" I said, "I love your costume!"

"Yours as well," he said, "And you must be Ms. Eragona's friends. Welcome to her home. Any friend of Ms. Eragona is a friend of mine."

Klaus took hold of his cape and bowed.

"Thank you. It's a pleasure to meet you as well." Nina said.

That's when I heard a familiar cry. I smiled when I saw Grandma Eli's Altaria waddle up to us. She was dressed up as an adorable Honchkrow.

"Altaria!" I cried happily.

I threw my arms around the Pokémon when she got close enough. That's when Kaiba leaped out of her Pokéball with a friendly cry, to which Grandma Eli's Altaria returned.

"Altaria has been eagerly waiting to meet Kaiba in person." Grandma Eli chuckled.

"Looks like they're already getting along." Eric commented.

The two Humming Pokémon soon waddled away, letting out friendly cries to one another, making the others and me laugh.

I'm glad they got along. Much quicker than Jet and Charcoal...

"Elise!" cried a stern voice.

Grandma Eli smiled when she turned to see who had called her.

"Kids, I'd like for you to meet some very special friends of mine." Grandma Eli said.

When she stepped to the side, three people walked up to us, and I immediately recognized them.

The other Elite Four members. Aaron, the Dark-type Elite Four, who was dressed as an Absol; Ezra, the Normal-type Elite Four, who was dressed as a Persian; and Raven, the Poison-type Elite Four, who was dressed as a Roserade. I can't believe I'm meeting them for the first time...

"Ah, so you're Elise's granddaughter, huh?" Raven asked, holding out her hand, "Raven. Nice to finally meet you."

I smiled sheepishly and shook her hand.

"I'm Ezra. It is such an honor to meet you, mini Eli!" Ezra said happily.

"Aaron. A pleasure." Aaron said firmly.

Ezra looked at my friends and smiled.

"Are these your friends, mini Eli?" Ezra asked, "Nice to meet you all!"

"Nice to meet you, too, Ezra." Kat said.

"Everything's ready out back, Elise." Aaron said.

"Thank you, Aaron," Grandma Eli said, "Make sure everything's in order. I'll be there soon."

Aaron nodded firmly before walking away.

"I knew Aaron was serious and stoic, but I never thought he was that serious." Eric commented.

"Oh, don't mind that old Trevenant," Raven said, "Deep down, he's just a Tirtouga hiding in its shell."

They must've known each other for a long time for Raven to say something like that about Aaron...

"Why don't you kids head out back?" Grandma Eli suggested, "My friends will be here soon, so you can explore the backyard."

Nodding to my grandmother, the four of us walked into the backyard. In front of us was a wooden stage, to the left was a giant hedge maze, and to the right was a bounce house.

Wow! This place looks fantastic!

"Darius, with all due respect, please leave the candy for everyone else." said Aaron.

Looking against the wall, there were three tables filled with candy and sweets. We saw Aaron prying away a person wearing a Blazekin costume.

Did Aaron call him Darius...?

"Relax, Aaron! There'll be plenty left by the time I'm through!" said the man.

Aaron groaned and placed a hand on his temple. Aaron soon looked up at us and sighed.

"Well, at least say hello to Elise's granddaughter and her friends." Aaron said before walking over to the maze.

The person in the Blazekin costume turned around, and my eyes widened.

"You're Darius!" I said in surprise.

"That's Darius?" Eric asked, "Champion of the Ezonia region, Darius?"

"Yup, that's me!" he said, "And you must be Elise's granddaughter. Eragona, was it?"

"Y-Yes, that's me." I stuttered, "I-It's such an honor to meet you, D-Darius."

Darius chuckled as he popped another piece of candy in his mouth.

"No need to be frightened, young one," Darius said, "We're all friends here. Just think of me as your everyday Pokémon trainer."

The others and I nodded, still slightly shy around the champion.

Gonna be kind of hard to act normal around him. He's the champion, for goodness sake!

"Eragona, your grandmother wants you." Raven said, calling from the house.

Nodding, I walked into the house to meet Grandma Eli. That's when I saw some other people and Pokémon wearing costumes; a Florges costume, a Milotic costume, a Banette costume, and so many more.

"Era, there you are," Grandma Eli said, "You remember Ms. Havery and her son Oliver, right?"

Looking ahead, I saw a woman dressed in a Vespiquen costume, and beside her was a boy who wore a Weavile outfit.

"I do, as a matter of fact," I said, holding out my hand, "It's nice to see you again, Ms. Havery."

The woman smiled and shook my hand.

"Likewise, Eragona," she said, "So, how's your journey coming along?"

"Great! I already have a full team and will catch many more Dragon-type Pokémon in the future!" I said excitedly.

"Glad to see your spirit never changed." Oliver said, patting my shoulder.

Libby let out a cry and rubbed her cheek against his hand. Oliver smiled and placed his hand on my partner's head.

"Cute little one, she is." he said.

"But very strong," I countered, "Follow me. I want to introduce you to the friends I've made on the way."

The two of us left the adults to talk as we went to the backyard. Looking around, I saw the others conversing with the other Elite Four members.

"Hey, guys!" I called out.

The others turned to face me before walking up to Oliver and me.

"I'd like you to meet Oliver," I said, "He's the son of one of my grandmother's friends."

"Nice to meet all of you." Oliver said, bowing his head slightly.

"You, too." Nina said.

Oliver nodded with a kind smile.

I honestly thought they wouldn't get along. I need to work on that...

"So, when are the festivities going to begin?" Kat asked.

"That's a good question," I answered, "I don't know."

"They will begin momentarily." said a familiar voice.

Turning around, I saw my grandmother walk out of the house with her friends close behind.

"So, what games and challenges do you have planned this year, Grandma Eli?" I asked eagerly.

"You'll see," she said, "I have some friends coming from Hoenn and Unova to help."

Hoenn and Unova...?

"That would be us!" said a cheerful voice.

Turning around, my eyes widened at the sight.

"Everyone, please welcome Phoebe, Elite Four of the Hoenn region, and Shauntal, Elite Four of the Unova region!" Grandma Eli proclaimed.

Everyone applauded and cheered. Phoebe was dressed as a Dusknoir, and Shauntal was a Frillish.

Not only are they both Elite Four members, but they're also both Ghost-type trainers.

"Is Shauntal really a member of the Unova Elite Four, Eric?" I whispered.

"She most certainly is," Eric answered, "She's a novelist, always looking for a new story to write. She would often battle trainers to gain inspiration for a new story."

"I called them over to help with the festivities," Grandma Eli said, "Now, everyone gather around as I explain the first challenge."

Grandma Eli, Shauntal, and Phoebe hopped onto the wooden stage as the guests gathered around.

"First off, I would like to welcome you to my Annual Halloween Party!" Grandma Eli announced, "I see many new and familiar faces, but that matters not. New or old, let all those that enter as guests leave as friends."

A small round of applause erupted from the crowd.

"Now, the first challenge will be in the maze," Grandma Eli began, "You will have to make your way through the maze connected to the woods in the back. That is where the next challenge will be. Your goal is to make your way to the center of the woods where Phoebe, Shauntal, and myself will be waiting."

Sounds easy enough. I thought there was going to be some twist to it.

"However, there is a twist to this." Grandma Eli said.

There it is...

"Throughout the maze, there will be some ghoulish friends at every corner, so watch out!" Grandma Eli said, "Some might lead you in the wrong direction or bring you back to the beginning. However, there is one Pokémon that will lead you to the end if you come across it."

"What is the Pokémon, Elise?" Raven asked.

Grandma Eli only grinned.

"That's for you to find out," she said, "The bright side to it is that you will know when you encounter it. Now, there are some rules you must follow: you are allowed to bring only one Pokémon if you wish; you cannot attack the Pokémon that roam the maze; cheating by any means necessary is strictly prohibited. My Dragonite and Salamence will be flying overhead. If you are caught cheating, you are disqualified from the challenge."

Sounds fair.

"Now, Phoebe, Shauntal, and I will be in the center of the woods waiting for you all," Grandma Eli said, "Those who wish not to partake and watch, please follow Shauntal."

When Grandma Eli whistled, her Dragonite came in a heartbeat. She then threw up a Pokéball and out came the Salamence she mentioned. Phoebe didn't waste any time hopping onto Grandma Eli's Pokémon.

"When you hear the roar of Salamence, the challenge will begin," Grandma Eli said, "Good luck to you all!"

The two of them soon took to the clear afternoon skies; some people and children followed Shauntal into the woods. Smiling, Eric, Kat, Nina, and I headed toward the maze entrance and waited.

"You ready, guys?" I asked.

"Absolutely!" Kat said.

"This is gonna be so much fun!" Nina cried happily.

"See you at the end!" Eric said with a challenging grin.

I grinned and glanced at my partner.

"You ready to win this, Libby?" I asked.

Libby let out a determined cry as she pumped her paw into the air. That's when we all heard a mighty roar in the distance.

Let's do this!

With a smile on my face, I raced into the maze without hesitation, hearing the other people behind me.

Okay, I have to be careful. Grandma Eli said that there were Pokémon that would either lead me in the wrong direction or bring me back to the entrance. All I need to do is find the Pokémon that will lead me straight to the center of the woods. But what is that Pokémon anyway...?

When I turned down a corner, I was met with a dead end. Groaning slightly, I turned around and backtracked my steps.

Wait, did I make two lefts and then a right, or did I make two rights and then a left...? Ugh, this is so confusing!

When I felt a gust of wind overhead, I looked up to see Grandma Eli's Salamence.

They're watching out for cheaters. At least they don't have to worry about catching me.

When I turned down another corner, I was met with another dead end, only this time, there was a Sableye. It looked up at me and let out a cackle-like cry. It then skipped ahead of me and gestured its claws to follow it.

This is probably one of the Pokémon that Grandma Eli told us about. I have a feeling that it's going to lead me in the wrong direction... At this point, what do I have to lose...?

I glanced at Libby, and she tilted her head with a concerned look.

"I know, Libbs, I know." I said.

I breathed out a heavy sigh before following the Darkness Pokémon. After walking for a short while, the Sableye stopped and pointed down a corner. Reluctantly trusting the small Pokémon, I turned the corner to find myself at another dead end.

"Ugh, seriously?" I groaned.

When I turned around, the Sableye was gone.

Great, now I don't know where I was and wasn't...

"Do you think you can get us back to where we were, Libby?" I asked.

Libby hopped off my shoulder and started sniffing the ground. She then let out a cry and shook her head.

"Nothing, huh?" I asked in defeat.

I picked up my partner and cradled her in my arms as I turned the corner. As I walked along a path, I soon encountered a fork in the maze.

Well, they say right is always right...

Trusting my instincts, I turned down the right path. Turning down another corner, I ran into a dead-end, but this time, there was a Haunter. The Haunter let out a laugh-like cry and zipped down the corner I came from.

I know how crafty, cunning, and mischievous Ghastly, Haunter, and Gengar are, so I'm not going to follow it...

Backtracking to the fork, I went down the left path to see if I could find better luck with it. Walking down the path, everything around me started growing darker. Looking up, I noticed that I was under a thick canopy.

I'm nearing the forest! Perfect!

When I turned down a path, I was met with another dead end, but a small, flickering light was in front of me.

A candle...?

Curious, I took out my Pokédex and scanned the candle.

"Litwik, the Candle Pokémon. While shining a light and pretending to be a guide, it leeches off the life force of any who follow it."

My eyes widened at the entry.

Okay, that is definitely not the Pokémon I want to follow. Just gonna back away slowly...

Backing away from the Pokémon, I turned down the corner and started venturing through the woods, trying to find the exit.

It's been a while since I've been in the woods. Almost all the trees I remember are grown up.

That's when I heard a faint, little cry coming from a tree. Looking up, I saw a pair of red eyes staring back at me. Swallowing a lump in my throat, I whipped out my Pokédex and scanned the Pokémon.

"Phantump, the Stump Pokémon. By imitating the voice of a child, it causes people to get hopelessly lost deep in the forest. It's trying to make friends with them."

I backed away slowly from the tree as the little Pokémon floated out. It then let out a cry and smiled. Libby returned that cry and smiled.

"What is it, Libbs?" I asked.

The Phantump soon floated down a path and let out a small cry.

"Are you the Pokémon that's supposed to help us?" I asked.

The Phantump smiled and let out a cry. Smiling myself, I sprinted after the little Pokémon. Weaving around every corner, Phantump soon led us to the woods center where Grandma Eli, Shauntal, and Phoebe were waiting; even Klaus was there.

"Eragona! Congratulations on making it out of the maze!" Grandma Eli said.

"Well, it was all thanks to the little Phantump here." I said, gesturing to the small Pokémon.

The Phantump smiled and soon zipped back into the maze.

It is probably going to help the others.

After waiting a few minutes, I smiled when I saw Kat, Eric, and Nina emerge from the maze.

"You made it!" I said happily.

"Yeah, finally..." Eric sighed.

The girls both nodded with tired smiles.

"You didn't find the Phantump?" I asked.

"That's the Pokémon that was supposed to be helping us?" Nina asked, "I followed a Litwik, and now I feel exhausted..."

I cringed and winced.

"Yeah... Litwik are known to drain your life energy..." I said regrettably.

"Good to know..." Kat said.

"What matters is that you guys made it safe and sound, as well as everyone else." Grandma Eli said, gesturing to the crowd behind us.

When everyone was out of the maze, Dragonite and Salamence flew down from the sky with the maze Ghost-type Pokémon in tow.

"Welcome, everyone! I congratulate you on making it thus far," Grandma Eli said, "Now, we will play a game of hide-and-seek."

I love hide-and-seek! I would play it all the time with Grandma Eli and her Pokémon.

"However, you will be playing with these ghoulish friends of mine." Grandma Eli said, gesturing to the Pokémon beside her.

The Pokémon all let out cackle-like cries. Grandma Eli turned to Klaus and nodded. Her butler nodded back and tossed up a Pokéball. Out came an Alakazam.

"Barrier, please." Klaus said politely.

The Alakazam nodded, and its eyes began to glow. A light blue barrier came crashing when the Pokémon raised its hands. It then went invisible.

"Thanks to Alakazam, its barrier will limit the playing area to make it fair. However, with every person found, the barrier will gradually shrink and limit your hiding spots," Grandma Eli explained, "If you aren't found within the half-hour time limit, you proceed to the next challenge."

Now, this is going to be a bit more challenging...

"You have exactly 5 minutes to hide. When you hear Salamence's roar, that means the Ghost-type Pokémon will start to look for you," Grandma Eli said, "The whole game is half an hour. When you hear Salamence's roar again, the game is over."

Everyone around her nodded in understanding.

"And your time to hide starts... now!" Phoebe cried excitedly.

With that, everyone scattered into the woods.

On the one hand, I should be good since I know these woods like the back of my hand, but on the other hand, I never played hide-and-seek with Ghost-type Pokémon...!

I eventually came across one of my childhood hiding spots: a den under a large tree. Looking up at the sky, I watched as the sky gradually turned a light orange. Breathing out a sigh, I ducked under the tree and sat on my legs. Libby hopped off my shoulder and let out a soft cry. I smiled and placed a hand on her fuzzy head. That's when I heard Salamence's mighty roar.

It's time... I hope the others don't get found...

As the sun began to set, one of its rays entered the den, illuminating the tiny space. I quickly pulled Libby into my chest and scooted back into the shadows where the sun couldn't reach. I then heard a familiar, cackle-like cry.

That sounds like Sableye...

Pressing my back against the wall, I made sure that Libby and I couldn't be seen. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the Sableye coming. Covering my mouth and Libby's, my breathing quickened when it stopped in front of the den. It then let out a cry and left. Until I couldn't hear its footsteps anymore, I breathed out a heavy sigh and lowered my hands.

"Are you okay, Libby?" I asked.

Libby nodded with a soft cry. Sighing, I peeked my head around the corner and could see a Gengar in the distance.

Gengar is going to be problematic. It can be someone's shadow, and they paralyze them with Lick... I don't want to be caught by that Pokémon...

Shuffling back into my spot, I breathed out a silent sigh. Libby stepped off my lap and let out a soft cry. I grinned and glanced out the den.

I could move to another spot, but it'd be smarter to stay put... Ugh, what do I do...?

That's when Libby chirped out a cry and pointed ahead of us. Looking ahead, Alakazam's Barrier gradually started shrinking.

Okay, now I really need to move...

Having Libby hop on my shoulder, I crept past the Gengar and started jogging in the opposite direction.

I have another fail-safe spot, but where was it...?

When I came to another clearing, I stared at the large tree in the center, its leaves and vines bowing in reverence. Breathing out a sigh, I grabbed one of the vines and started pulling myself up. Once I reached a thick branch, I stepped onto it and had my legs drape over on the sides.

Probably not the best idea to be out in the open like this...

Looking behind me, I carefully moved back until I was under a curtain of leaves.

"We should be safe here." I whispered, looking down at Libby.

My partner chirped out a soft cry with an equally soft smile.

I hope we're safe...

I breathed out a heavy sigh as I leaned against the tree's strong trunk. I looked up and smiled at the bits of the orange sun bursting through the cracks in the curtain of vegetation. That's when I saw the barrier shrink once more.

How much time do we have left...?

Then, I saw a shadow float by, causing me to jump back in surprise.

What was that...?

That's when the shadow stopped before the curtain of leaves, blocking the light from filtering in.

I trapped! What am I going to do...? Please don't find me; please don't find me!

That's when I heard a mighty roar.

Thank you, Salamence!

Chuckling to myself, I picked up Libby and emerged from behind the green drapes. I then smiled when I saw the little Phantump.

"You almost got us, little guy." I said with a smile.

The Phantump smiled and let out a chipper cry. Using Psychic, the Phantump helped Libby and me get down from the tree. It soon floated us back to the clearing where we had started. When I looked around, I was happy to see Kat and Angel but sad that I didn't see Nina and Eric.

They must've got caught...

I jogged up to my friend and smiled.

"Glad you made it!" I said happily.

"Same," Kat said, "A shame that Nina and Eric were found."

I nodded and let out a heavy sigh.

"Well, may the better contender win." I said, holding out my hand.

Kat raised a brow at me with a sly grin.

"Right back at you." she said, shaking my hand.

Taking her hand, we walked up to the front where Grandma Eli, Phoebe, and Shauntal were.

"Congrats to all! We're so glad you've made it this far," Phoebe said, "And now, we've come to the final challenge. Whoever wins this challenge will win the entire game. Please, follow us back to the yard."

Following her command, we followed the three Elite Four members back to my house. Upon our arrival, we saw all the tables flipped and all the candy scattered across the lawn.

What happened here...?

My grandmother stepped forward before looking around the lawn.

"Eragona!" she cried.

When she called me out, I walked up to her side and looked up at her.

"Y-Yes, Grandma Eli?" I asked, my voice a bit shaky.

"Have you encountered Team Xenon on your journey?" she asked.

My heart nearly skipped a beat.

How does she know about Team Xenon?

"Yes. They stole some of my Pokémon in the past, but I managed to get them back," I explained, "Why?"

Grandma Eli breathed a heavy sigh and looked back at the concerned crowd with a stern look.

I've never seen her this serious before... It's almost frightening...

"Apologies, everyone, but there is an urgent matter at hand that I must take care of immediately," Grandma Eli said, "Everyone, please wait outside. I'd much appreciate it if you could help clean."

"Of course, Elise," Shauntal said, walking forward, "Go; you can count on us."

Grandma Eli nodded before looking down at me.

"Eragona, follow me." she said.

Nodding, I followed her back into the house. My eyes widened at the sight. The living room and foyer were in shambles. I then saw Klaus tending to his wounded Chandelure. I ran up to them and kneeled next to the Chandelure.

"Klaus, what happened?" I asked.

"Some goons in blue came in and demanded that I give up my Pokémon," Klaus said, "When I refused, they drew their Pokémon and attacked us. They got away with my Alakazam and your Altaria, as well as your grandmother's Altaria."

Kaiba... Not again...

Grandma Eli walked up to us and placed a hand on the Chandelure. She reached into her pocket and handed a Sitrus Berry to the Chandelure. The Luring Pokémon let out a trained cry before eating the berry. Grandma Eli stood up and looked around her messed-up home.

"Eragona, are you willing to come with me?" she asked, turning back to me, "We're going to get our Pokémon back."

I blinked in confusion before nodding firmly.

"Yes!" I said boldly.

Grandma Eli nodded before walking out of the front door. I looked at Libby, who had the same determined look as me.

"Let's do this, Libby!" I said.

Libby let out a cry with a firm nod.

"We'll get your Alakazam back, Klaus." I said.

"Thank you, Ms. Eragona," Klaus said with a smile, "Good luck."

Nodding, I sprinted out of the house to see my grandmother standing in the driveway. I watched as she drew out a Pokéball. Gripping it, she then tossed it in the air.

"Salamence!" she cried.

Upon her command, her Salamence appeared. Once it was on the ground, Grandma Eli hopped on its back and held out a hand to me.

"Hop on." she said.

Smiling, I took my grandmother's hand, and she yanked me onto Salamence's back.

"You know where Salamence is." Grandma Eli said.

The Dragon Pokémon nodded before taking off into the dark-colored sky.

"Eragona, I want you to tell me everything you know about Team Xenon." Grandma Eli said firmly.

"Well, when I first encountered them, they stole my Gabite. Our second encounter was when the others and I went to visit the Pokémon Nursery in Maidbury City," I began, "Then, after Kaiba evolved into Altaria, they ambushed us and stole her. I was able to get them all back, thankfully. But every time I went to an outpost, they always had other Pokémon. From what I remember, they were all Pokémon that could mega evolve, from what Team Xenon says, anyway."

Grandma Eli nodded as she listened.

"Anything else?" she asked.

"I would always stop them before they conducted any experiments on the Pokémon they captured," I replied, "Oh, and two of the commanders said that I remind them of their boss. What did they even mean by that?"

Grandma Eli's shoulders dropped.

"I... I don't know..." she said softly.

"I hope Kaiba and the others are okay. This is the second time she's been taken away from me," I said regrettably, "Ugh, I'm such an awful trainer. I should've never left Kaiba out. It's all my fault..."

I looked at the world below me and felt tears welling.

How could I have let her get taken away again...?

"Eragona, none of this is your fault," Grandma Eli said, "You didn't know this was going to happen; none of us did."

I nodded sadly, still feeling a heavy weight on my heart. Libby let out a cry and nuzzled her cheek against mine.

"Even Libby thinks so. You're not an awful trainer, Eragona. Every trainer, Elite Four members included, all have room to grow," Grandma Eli said, "We're going to get our Pokémon back and whatever other Pokémon Team Xenon may have taken. It's not like you haven't done this before, right?"

I looked up at my grandmother and nodded.

"Yeah..." I said.

Still though...

"Come now, don't think like that. You're an incredible trainer, Eragona," Grandma Eli said, "Let me see you smile."

I looked up and gave her a small smile. Libby chirped out a cry and buried her cheek into my neck.

"Come on, Libby, that tickles! Cut it out!" I laughed.

"There's that smile." Grandma Eli said.

I looked at her and nodded.

Grandma Eli's right. I'm not an awful trainer. I have more room to grow to become a better trainer!

That's when Salamence started slowing down and descending toward the ground. When it landed, I realized we were outside Grandisle City. The city was decorated from building to streetlights with Halloween flare.

"What are we doing here, Grandma Eli?" I asked.

"Getting our Pokémon back," Grandma Eli said, "Follow me."

Nodding, I followed Grandma Eli's lead as we headed in the opposite direction as the city.

Where are we going...?

We soon came across a cave with a metal door blocking it.

"Fire Blast." Grandma Eli commanded.

Her Salamence nodded and released a large, fiery blast. In seconds, it melted the metal door down to the ground.

"Come on." Grandma Eli whispered.

Nodding firmly, I followed my grandmother and her Pokémon.

I've never seen Grandma Eli so serious before. Even in battles, she's serious but still smiles, but this... this is different...

After some time walking down a tunnel, we soon saw light at the end of it. Grandma Eli didn't waste any time making her presence known.

"Team Xenon!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the space.

All the grunts turned their heads upwards and readied their Pokéballs. Walking next to her, I saw our Altaria, Klaus' Alakazam, and an Absol. That's when a man with green hair walked up and scowled.

"Who are you, and how did you find our base?" he asked.

"I am Elise of the Ezonia Elite Four," she proclaimed, "It's one thing to take my Pokémon, but taking my granddaughter's Pokémon in my household, is a completely different story."

Her Salamence growled in agreement. The green-haired man growled himself and pulled out a Pokéball, only to toss it into the air.

"Escavalier! Come out and use X-Scissor!" he cried.

Once the Pokémon showed itself, it crossed its pointed spears and charged at Grandma Eli's Salamence. I watched in horror as it drew closer and closer.

"Grandma Eli, do something!" I cried.

Grandma Eli continued to stand there undeterred. I bit my bottom lip as the Escavalier's pointed spears began to glow a bright lime green. When I was about to order Libby to attack, Grandma Eli put a hand out to stop me.

"Fire Blast." Grandma Eli said calmly.

When the Escavalier got close enough, Salamence released a powerful, fiery blast, taking out the Escavalier in one shot.

Of course! If I remember correctly, Escavalier is a Bug/Steel-type, meaning the Fire Blast was four times super-effective!

The green-haired man growled and called back his fallen Pokémon.

"Barren, sir, we're ready to conduct the experiment." said one of the grunts.

"Run it." he said.

"Eragona, can you and your Pokémon deal with the underlings and free the captured Pokémon?" Grandma Eli asked.

"Yes, I can try." I said.

Grandma Eli nodded with a slight smirk on her face.

"You can do this." she whispered.

Nodding, I sprinted across the metal bridge to the bottom. That's when two grunts stopped me and released their Pokémon: a Scizor and Cacturne. I sighed silently and drew my Pokéballs.

"Charcoal, Jet! Get out here and use Flamethrower!" I cried, tossing up my Pokéballs, "Libby, use Shadow Ball!"

When Libby hopped off my shoulder, Charcoal and Jet appeared, and they all unleashed their attacks at once.

"Bullet Seed!" said one of the grunts.

"Air Slash!" cried the other.

Their Pokémon obeyed and unleashed their attacks. When all five attacks collided, it caused an explosion, leaving a grey smoke in its wake.

"Come on!" I cried, sprinting ahead.

My Pokémon nodded and followed my lead. Once we were out of the smoke, a Houndoom and Breloom stopped us. The Houndoom used Dark Pulse, and the Breloom used Energy Ball.

"Flamethrower and Shadow Ball!" I cried.

Obeying my command, my Pokémon released their attacks. I watched as our attacks canceled out our opponents' and knocked them out. Looking back, I watched as Grandma Eli and Salamence battled Barren and his Pyroar.

You go, Grandma Eli!

Turning back around, I was met with a battalion of grunts, their Pokémon at the ready. I swallowed a lump in my throat as I tried to think of a way out of this. Looking down, I saw some grunts starting up the machine to conduct their experiment.

"Libby, use Swift on that panel!" I cried.

Libby bounced up and released star-shaped rays downward. Luckily, each ray hit its mark. That's when the panel started smoking before exploding. That's when the capsules containing the Pokémon opened. Kaiba flew up towards me and let out a cry.

"Flamethrower at the Pokémon in front of us!" I cried.

Jet and Charcoal didn't waste another second, releasing a powerful ribbon of fire, their attacks hitting their mark. Grandma Eli's Altaria soon flew over to us, followed by Klaus' Alakazam and the Absol. Looking back, I saw Grandma Eli and her Salamence standing over Barren.

"Send a message to your boss. Tell her not to mess with my Pokémon or my granddaughter's Pokémon ever again," she said firmly, "Am I clear?"

Barren growled before standing up.

"Fine..." he said, "Retreat! We got what we needed anyway..."

The grunts didn't waste any time sprinting toward the back of the cave. Barren looked back at Grandma Eli before following his underlings. I rushed down the stairs before running up to Grandma Eli.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine," she said, "What about all of you?"

The Pokémon behind me all let out friendly cries.

"We're fine." I said.

That's when Grandma Eli's Altaria fluttered over to her and nuzzled her cheek against its trainer's.

"My sweet Altaria," Grandma Eli said, "I'm so happy you're safe."

I smiled at the pair and placed a hand on Kaiba's head. Looking at Grandma Eli's Altaria, I noticed it didn't have its Mega Stone.

Did Team Xenon take it...?

"Grandma Eli, where's Altaria's Mega Stone?" I asked.

"Don't worry; I have it right here." Grandma Eli said, patting her pocket.

I placed a hand over my heart and breathed out a heavy sigh.

What a relief...

"Come on, let's get out of here." Grandma Eli said.

After returning our Pokémon, we walked out of the base with Salamence, Alakazam, and Absol close behind.

"Let's rid this city of this base once and for all." Grandma Eli said, "Salamence, Fire Blast!"

"Libby, use Shadow Ball!" I cried.

Once our Pokémon released their attacks, Alakazam used Psybeam, and Absol used Shadow Ball. When the attacks collided, they caused an explosion within the base, leaving nothing but ash and rubble.

"Let's head back to the house," Grandma Eli said, "We still have a party going on, don't we?"

I nodded with a wide smile.

"Absol, would you like to join us?" I asked.

The Absol smiled and let out a friendly cry. Hopping onto Salamence's back, the Dragon Pokémon took to the skies with Alakazam and Absol close behind.

Good thing Alakazam knows Psychic.

When we arrived home, Grandma Eli assured everyone that we were okay and our Pokémon.

The final challenge was a scavenger hunt. We had to find specific items in and around the house. Whoever found all the things was the winner of the whole game. In the end, Ezra was the winner of the game. After the festivities, my friends and I stayed behind to help clean. My grandmother didn't want us to leave in the middle of the night, so she let us stay over for the night until morning. It was undoubtedly an enjoyable Halloween, but it was still a fun one, nonetheless. I can't wait for next year!

*I will not be posting for a few days because of the heavy workload this upcoming month. I will upload whenever I can.*