"Wait for me!!!"
Gathering all his courage, Clemont quickly turned to the old man Lon.
"Sir, please, can you think carefully? Where would they most likely have gone? Those are my closest friends—and my sister!"
Trembling but determined, Clemont spoke from the heart.
Lon rubbed his forehead as though struck by a headache, then suddenly remembered something.
"Oh yes, I do have a basement in this house…"
He led Clemont to a hidden trapdoor. With only a lantern in hand and Chespin at his side, Clemont descended the creaking stairs into the dark abyss below.
The basement was pitch black. The silence pressed down on him like a heavy weight. Every step he took echoed in his chest.
At the very end, Clemont's eyes widened. There stood a massive, rusted bronze door!
The surface of the door was covered in strange talismans, their ink faded but still ominous.
"Th-this… Chespin, listen carefully. Doesn't it sound like… like Bonnie's voice is coming from the other side of that door?"
Sure enough, faint voices—Ash, Bonnie, even Serena—filtered through from behind the barrier.
Summoning all his courage, Clemont braced himself and pushed with everything he had. The heavy door groaned open, and at last, he and Chespin reunited with the others.
Inside the dimly lit room, Bonnie was clutching an old notebook she'd just found.
As the group climbed back upstairs, Bonnie eagerly flipped it open.
"My name is Lon, and ever since I was a child…"
It turned out the notebook had been written by the old man himself when he was young.
"Oh, so that really was mine!" Lon chuckled warmly. "I used to love writing things down, though I hardly remember it now. Must've been when I was very small."
The truth spilled out—this so-called "Scary House" was infamous only because Lon enjoyed telling scary stories to guests. The crumbling state of the house was intentional, a backdrop to enhance the chilling effect.
And the ones who had helped him put on the frightful show? His three mischievous partners: Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar.
The three Ghost Pokémon appeared, cackling playfully.
As Bonnie kept flipping through the notebook, suddenly a photograph slipped free and fluttered to the ground.
"Oh! This must be a picture of you when you were young, Lon, with your parents, right?" Bonnie said as she picked it up.
"Most likely," Lon said with a sheepish smile. "I've lived so long I've forgotten much of my past."
Clemont accepted the photo from Bonnie—but when he turned it over, he froze.
"There's… writing on the back. It's a date… Wait… this date is… over two hundred years ago!?"
At those words, something strange flickered in Lon's eyes. Then his lips curled into a wide grin.
"Ah… now I remember. That's right. I actually died long ago…"
"AAAAAHHHH!!!" Clemont shrieked before collapsing on the spot.
Serena fainted alongside him, her face pale as chalk.
Ash and Bonnie, however, remained perfectly calm. Lon let out a hearty laugh.
"Hohoho, just teasing you! Don't take an old man's jokes so seriously!"
By the end, everyone was in good spirits again. Ash and Bonnie even took a commemorative photo with Lon and his Pokémon before leaving the house.
When Clemont and Serena woke the next morning, both of them rubbed their temples, groggy. The memories of the night before were hazy, like half-forgotten nightmares.
Ash and Bonnie didn't bother explaining. With the sun high, the group continued their journey.
And ahead lay their next destination—Laverre City!
Laverre City, home of the Laverre Gym.
The Gym Leader, Valerie, wasn't just a powerful Trainer. She was also a famous Pokémon-style fashion designer, celebrated for creating outfits for both humans and Pokémon alike. Fashion, design, and elegance were her true passions.
"We've arrived in Laverre City! Ash, let's head to the Gym first," Serena said happily.
"First?" Ash asked curiously as they walked. "Then what are you planning after that?"
"Of course I'm going to check out the Pokémon fashion boutiques! They have so many outfits for both Trainers and Pokémon. I've always wanted to see them!" Serena giggled mischievously.
Ash chuckled. "That works out. The Gym itself doubles as Valerie's fashion house, right? We'll get both in one trip."
When they finally reached the Gym, the place was buzzing with activity. Women staff members hurried back and forth, carrying costumes, fabrics, and equipment. Not one stood idle.
"Make way, make way!"
"Hurry! Valerie's fashion show is about to begin—we're running out of time!"
The lobby was chaotic, except for the reception desk, where a green-haired boy was anxiously pleading with the receptionist.
"Please, I rushed here as quickly as I could! Isn't there any way I can challenge Valerie today?"
The receptionist shook her head apologetically. "I'm very sorry. It's impossible. But tomorrow, Valerie will be free to accept challengers."
"What? Why not today?" Serena stepped forward, curious.
"Because Miss Valerie will be hosting her weekly Pokémon fashion show later today. It's a major event—many guests are coming to watch."
So that was the reason.
"Well then, why don't we all watch the fashion show in the meantime?" Ash suggested.
Everyone agreed.
The green-haired boy, however, suddenly turned and ran up to Clemont, eyes shining.
"Wait a second—aren't you Clemont, the Lumiose City Gym Leader? Why are you here? Are you on a journey too? That's incredible! Even as a Gym Leader, you're still out here training yourself!"
"Oh, it's you, Sawyer," Clemont said in recognition. "I remember your Treecko—it left quite an impression on me. And yes, I'm traveling with my friends now. He's also here to challenge Valerie."
At that moment, Clemont realized something. Ash and Sawyer were both here for the same purpose. If they battled each other before their Gym matches, both could learn and grow in ways they might never expect…
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T/N:
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