Timothy, Kristina, and Mina ventured into the dense undergrowth of the Twisted Forest, the air growing cooler and light dimmer as they progressed. Towering trees with gnarled branches seemed to lean inwards, their shadows casting long, tangled fingers across the path. The forest was alive with the sounds of chirping insects and rustling leaves, yet there was an eerie, almost palpable sense of foreboding in the air.

Kristina, who was walking beside Timothy, glanced over at him with a thoughtful expression on her face."You know," She began, her voice tinged with nostalgia, "My mother once told me about a time she had a terrifying encounter during her journey across the Amoxa Region. It was a story she shared with me to emphasize why trainers need to be at least twelve years old before embarking on their adventures of course that was a new chance made before your mother became the new professor after the older one retired and moved to Alola almost three years before they contact your mother to be new professor."

Timothy raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Kristina ."Oh? What Pokémon was that given I don't know all the history of the region?" He asked.

Kristina narrowed her eyes in thought as she recalled the story, "It's a Pokémon known as Spectroar. My mother encountered one during her journey. She told, me that Spectroar is notorious for its ability to mess with trainers by casting illusions that lead them astray."

Intrigued, Timothy pulled out his Pokedex, scanning the area for any sightings of Spectroar. The device emitted a soft, electronic beep as it retrieved information. The screen displayed a detailed entry about the Pokemon in question.

[Spectroar, the Ilusion Bear Pokémon. A Ghost type. Spectroar is a ghost-type Pokémon that dwells in a dark, twisted forest. It is known for its eerie ability to cast illusions, leading unsuspecting trainers astray. Legends say that it wanders these forests in search of lost souls to play tricks on, delighting in the confusion it causes. Spectroar is shrouded in a misty aura, with its body resembling a spectral bear. Its fur is semi-translucent and flickers with ghostly lights, giving it a hauntingly beautiful appearance.] The Pokedex said in a male robotic voice.

Timothy looked up from his Pokedex as he tucked it away back in his jacket pocket."So Spectroar is a phantom bear that creates illusions to mess with trainers?" It sounds pretty unsettling, but it makes sense for a Ghost-type."

"Pikachu!" Mina cried in agreement, her tiny ears perked up as she looked around warily.

Kristina nodded."Yes, exactly. My mother, when she encountered it, was lost in the forest for hours, unable to find her way out. However, it was when a young boy arrived and battled Spectroar that she was finally able to find a way out. That boy was my father she said it was his bravery to save her when she fell for him and convinced him to travel with her throughout the region."

As they continued deeper into the forest, the tree seemed to grow even more twisted and shadows darker, playing tricks on their eyes. Every rustle of leaves and crack of twigs seemed to magnify the oppressive silence.

"This forest is said to be full of all sorts of strange phenomena, given the name Twisted Forest," Kristina said, scanning the information on the map in her Poketablet.

Timothy glanced at Kristina and Mina."We should care and stay sharp. Let's keep moving for now before setting up camp for the night until let's be prepared for anything."

The two trainers and Pokemon pressed on navigating the increasingly confusing landscape of the Twisted Forest. A dark purple mist began to grow and thicken around the path. The trees soon shrouded in darkness as they appeared closer around the three their branches reaching out for the three as a sinister smile formed on the trees as they laughed.

"Ahh!" Kristina screamed startled by the face on the tree reaching for her.

~~~

Meanwhile elsewhere in the forest...

A 12-year-old boy with cream skin, short light blue hair, and light green eyes wearing a blue unzipped jacket with lighting bolt emblems, a green shirt, blue sweatpants, and brown and green shoes was walking through the forest.

Next to him was a beautiful and cute shiny Shinx that was snacking on some berries in the boy's hand, when both of them heard a scream of fear.

'That scream... someone is in trouble. Must be from one of those ghost Pokémon. The sign at the entrance of the forest warned about it.' He thought as he recalled reading a sign to beware of a Pokemon called Spectroar.

Determined to help, the boy picked his pace, his Shinx nicknamed Nala by his side, as they headed towards the scream's source. The forest seemed to grow darker and more oppressive with each step, the air thick with the promise of danger. He could feel the presence of something eerie, an unsettling sensation that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

~~~

Back with Timothy, Kristina, and Mina, the atmosphere grew more ominously as the illusions seemed to intensify. The dark purple mist swirled around them, and the illusions seemed to intensify. The faces on the trees became more defined, their mocking laughter echoing through the forest.

The path ahead seemed to twist and turn impossible ways, leading them in circles.

"We have to keep moving," Timothy urged, his voice stead as he placed a hand on Kristina's shoulder."Don't let the illusions get to you."

Kristina nodded, her eyes darting around, and took a deep breath as she tried to maintain her focus."This haunting illusion is intense. A wild Spectroar must be hiding close by playing tricks on us."

Mina perched on Timothy's shoulder and kept her eyes peeled, sparks of electricity occasionally crackling from her cheeks in nervous anticipation.

The trio pressed on, their resolve unwavering despite the eerie, disorienting environment. The shadows seemed to move, twisting and contortions into shapes that defied logic, but they knew they couldn't succumb to the illusions. Every step forward felt like a battle against the forest tricks, but they pushed on, determined to find the truth behind the spectral phenomena.

As they navigated the maze of illusions, Timothy thought about Kristina's story. The tale of her parents' encounter with Spectroar added a personal connection to the mysterious Pokémon. It was a reminder of the unpredictable and sometimes perilous nature of Pokémon journeys. Yet, it also highlighted the moments of bravery and love that could emerge from such challenges.

The dark purple mist thickened, and the laughter of the spectral trees grew louder. The path ahead seemed to blur, but Timothy, Kristina, and Mina held onto their determination. They knew that overcoming the illusions would lead them to the heart of the forest, and perhaps to a wild Spectroar.

As they ventured deeper into the forest it seemed plate with ghostly energy as they heard the faint cry that sounded of a Pokemon laughing up ahead.

"Shock Wave!" A male voice called.

Timothy, Kristina, and Mina turned around to see a shiny Shinx jump off the shoulder of a 12-year-old boy with cream skin, short light blue hair, and light green eyes wearing a blue unzipped jacket with lighting bolt emblems on it along with a green shirt and blue sweatpants, and brown and green shoes.

The Shinx fired a powerful wave of electricity toward the bushes knocking out of them a wild Spectroar that was hiding in the bushes.

The Spectroar materializes fully, its ghostly form shimmering as it lets out a low, echoing Growl. It glared at the intruding trainer and shiny shiny Shinx. It's eyes gleaming with anger and mischief.

"Who are you?" Kristina asked, still on edge from the illusions.

"The name is Dexter Steel," The boy introduced himself with a confident smile."And this is my partner Nala." He gestured to his Shinx, who stood ready for another attack."You looked like could use help. Nala use Spark!" He commanded his attention back on the Spectroar.

Nala's body crackled with electricity as she charged at the wild Spectroar, striking it with a powerful electric tackle. The Spectroar staggered back, its ghostly form flickering as it struggled to maintain its illusion.

Spectroar let out an eerie wail, its form shifting and shimmering as it tried to confuse its opponents. The dark purple mist around them seemed to intensify, swirling with a malevolent energy. The illusions grew more intense, the trees' faces twisting into grotesque grins, their laughter echoing ominously.

Timothy quickly assessed the situation, realizing that the Spectroar was using the illusions to its advantage. "Mina, use Thundersock to help out Nala!" he commanded.

Mina leaped from Timothy's shoulder, landing gracefully on the ground. She focused her energy, releasing a burst of electric power toward the Spectroar. The combined attacks of Nala and Mina hit Spectroar, causing it to reel back. The illusions around them wavered, the oppressive darkness momentarily lifting.

Spectroar let out another haunting cry, its body shimmering as it tried to recover from the onslaught. The mist began to recede, and the twisted faces on the trees faded, the forest returning to a semblance of normality. The ghostly Pokémon let out a final growl before its form dissipated, leaving behind only a faint, wispy mist.

The dark purple mist cleared, and the forest seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. The oppressive atmosphere lifted, and the normal sounds of the forest slowly returned. Timothy, Kristina, and Mina stood there, catching their breath, the tension easing from their bodies.

Kristina smiled, turning to Dexter. "Thank you for helping us. We definitely couldn't have gotten through that without you."

Dexter smiled, "Hey it's no problem, Nala and I have been here a few days now training, and when I heard a scream we figured someone could use some help," he said.

Mina, now perched on Timothy's shoulder again, squeaked in agreement, her cheeks sparking lightly.

"Well I doubt Spectroar will mess with us anytime soon again, so I suggest we continue and find someplace to rest and eat dinner," Timothy said looking at the sky as the sun was now beginning to slowly set.

"Hey, why don't you join us, and maybe tomorrow morning the three of us can get out of this forest together," Kristina said glancing back at Dexter.

Dexter nodded, smiling. "Sure, that sounds great."

~~~

The group found a small clearing near a quiet stream. They set up their tents and gathered firewood, preparing for a well-deserved rest. As they sat around the campfire, they shared stories of their journeys and the Pokémon they had encountered.

As the night grew darker, the stars twinkling above them, the group felt a sense of camaraderie and accomplishment. They had faced the mysterious Spectroar and its illusions together, and now, in the peaceful glow of the campfire, they could reflect on their adventure.

Dexter looked up at the sky, the flames of the campfire casting warm shadows on his face. "It's amazing how many different kinds of Pokémon there are, each with their unique abilities and personalities. However my goal is to become the world's greatest ice and electric type pokemon master sure it is an odd combination, but that is my dream."

Kristina nodded, smiling. "Wow, my goal is to become a top coordinator."

Mina nuzzled against Timothy's cheek.

As the fire crackled and the stars shone brightly above, the group settled in for the night. The forest, now free from the dark illusions, felt calm and welcoming. It was a place of adventure and mystery, where trainers and Pokémon alike could grow stronger together.

In the quiet of the night, with the campfire casting a warm glow, Timothy, Kristina, and their new friend Dexter drifted off to sleep, ready to continue their journey through the Twisted Forest and to Moonfall City,their hearts filled with the thrill of exploration and the bonds they had forged with eachother.

To be continued...

So here is the tenth chapter of The Challenges of Becoming a Normal-type Master. Timothy,Kristina,and Mina  travel through the Twisted forest and have an run in with a ghost type pokemon who cast an illusion on them. However with the help of an boy name Dexter and his partner Nala they get away safetly to find a place to rest.  In the next chapter, Timothy and Kristina along with Dexter will finally arrive in Moonfall City for Kristina's first Pokémon contest. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Thank you for reading!

Question of the chapter: How do you think Kristina first Pokemon contest will go?

Word Count: 2092

Timothy's team:

[Amoxan Pikachu]

Gender: Female

Shiny: No

Nickname: Mina

Moves:

● Thundershock

● Doubleslap

●Swift

● Tail Whip

● Thunder Wave

[Amoxan Vulpix]

Gender: Female

Shiny: No

Nickname: Aqua

Moves:

● Bubble

● Tail Whip

● Quick Attack

● Hypnosis

[Kitvine]

Nickname: Sage

Gender: ​​Male

Shiny: No

Moves:

● Razor Leaf

●Tackle

● Vine Whip

● Sleep Powder

Kristina team:

[Batwing]

Gender: Female

Shiny: No

Nickname:Rosemary

Moves:

● Tackle

● Bite

●Leach Life

[Cosbit]

Gender: Male

Shiny: No

Nickname: Moon

Moves:

● Pound

● Charm

● Ice Punch