A/N: I have decided that I'm going to write my version of Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia. But I'll do that after I have a substantial number of chapters for this story uploaded, so I won't feel too stressed because I'm trying to multitask by writing two stories at the same time.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE! I appreciate all of you for reading my story, even though I don't get many comments or loves, it's just enough to know that someone's actually reading it!~

Murph's eyes grew as big as saucers. "A mansion just north of here?" Murph asked. "Well, it's a good place to start. I'm going to declare this a mission!"

I struck my Ranger pose, then I held out my arm for the Swablu and it landed gently, making sure not to dig its talons into my arm. "Thank you for performing with me, but I have to release you now." I informed it.

The Swablu, understanding my words, flew up into the sky with a happy "Swa-swabluu!"

I smiled as it flew off and motioned for Murph to follow me. "Come on, we have no time to lose!"

I sprinted north, ignoring a sign that looked kind of important. I could hear Murph panting behind me, but I never slowed my pace. Until I reached the gate, that is. The cobblestone path was beautiful and the iron gate was magneficent, with its spiraling pattern. Though the gate was beautiful, it was also locked.

Murph finally caught up and gasped for breath. I rolled my eyes at him. It wasn't even that far of a walk. "H-How does a... scrawny girl... Like you... Run so fast?!" He asked between pants.

I crossed my arms and glared. "I am not scrawny." I growled. "I'm svelte! How many times do I have to tell everyone that?"

"Probably until we actually bother to look up what svelte means." Murph admitted.

"Just try to open the gate." I snapped.

Murph tried the lock, but the lock held tight. "That lock is pretty sturdy. I guess there's only one thing that we can do!" He said with an excited grin. "A human Target Clear! Stand back!" He commanded.

I did as I was told, even though I doubted that Murph could break the lock.

"Target... CLEEEAAAAR!" He shouted as he charged the gate. He ran into the lock but he fell back from the impact. He laughed nervously and brushed himself off. "Well, that didn't work."

"Only Barlow can pull that off." I reminded him, thinking of the time that I saw Barlow charge the door to my house when my dad accidently locked us out.

"I guess you're right." Murph muttered. "Well, what do we do now?"

I looked around. "There has to be another way into the house." I grumbled.

Yuka and Jet started looking, too. Moments later, I heard Yuka and Jet call for us. I went over to where they were, as did Murph.

"What is it? Are you hungry?" Murph asked. "If you haven't noticed, we're busy trying to find a way into the mansion."

Jet narrowed his eyes and used his water gun on Murph. "Zel!" He growled, jerking his head to where a grove of trees were.

"That wasn't nice!" Murph grumbled. "You're obviously not hungry... So, what? Do you want us to play with you?"

Even Yuka looked like she was about to shock Murph. Jet, seemingly deciding that it was hopeless to show Murph, he nudged me toward the grove. I followed them and found a path through what looked like an abandoned garden.

"Nice going, Jet and Yuka! This might be our alternate route to the mansion!" I told them, rubbing Jet's head and giving Yuka a hug.

Jet looked proud of himself for finding it. Why wouldn't he be? Yuka started to walk through the oddly shaped garden and ran into a Dusclops, which teleported Yuka back over to where we were.

Navi beeped. "Dusclops are highly territorial and will teleport anyone they deem as threatening back to where they came from in an effort to deter them from what they are doing."

I nodded. "So we're just going to have to proceed with caution."

The Dusclops that teleported Yuka walked off in the direction that it came from and another passed by it, as if they were guards patrolling the area. I guess that they were, in a way. As soon as the other Dusclops turned away from where we were, I grabbed Yuka and made a break for it. Jet kept up with my pace and Murph slightly lagged behind. A Dusclops made its way around a tree, so I hid behind the tree. After he left, I continued to run past the Dusclops. I looked towards my destination: the cobblestone path looped around the garden and stopped at an opening through the trees. I started weaving my way through the trees and found myself at the end. Right as I was about to walk out, I ran into something. I saw a flash of gray and purple. Crap, was I really going to be sent to the beginning of the garden when I had just gotten to my destination?

I jumped back and pulled out my Styler. I wasn't going back to the beginning without a fight. Then I looked up at the Pokemon I knocked into and saw that it was just a Duskull. The Duskull gave me a distant glance, as if it was staring through me like I was the ghost Pokemon. Putting my Styler away, I slowly walked around the Pokemon. I wasn't going to capture a Pokemon unless the situation called for it.

I made it out of the garden! I turned back to see if Murph was behind me. Sure enough, he was. And, upon further inspection, so was the Duskull.

"Murph," I started.

"What?"

"I think that Duskull is following us."

Murph turned to look behind him. "Um, Summer, there's nothing there." He informed me, turning back to face me.

But the Duskull was there moments ago... Shrugging it off, I turned back to continue. And I came face-to-face with the Duskull.

"Skull!"

I jumped backwards, startled. Jet rushed to my defense, snarling at the Duskull menancingly. The Duskull stuck its tongue out at Jet mockingly in response.

I calmed Jet down and looked at the Duskull. "Hey, there, little guy." I said soothingly.

The Duskull cocked its head to the side.

"Why are you following us?"

The Duskull turned and headed off in the direction that we were headed, glacing over its shoulder occasionally to look at us, as if beckoning us to follow it.

I exchanged a look with my Pokemon before running after the Duskull.

"Summer, where are you going?" Murph called out.

"Just follow me!" I called over my shoulder. I kept the ghost Pokemon in my line of sight and I finally caught up to it.

In front of me was a large brick house that had vines growing over it. It was beautiful. Murph caught up, once again, and gawked. "It's bigger than it looked from when we were at the gate. But it sure is scary..."

I tried the handle on the door. It was locked. Duskull floated over and phased through the door. I heard the lock click and the door slowly opened itself. The Duskull stood on the other side, looking proud.

"C'mon, the door's open." I told Murph.

Murph stayed behind me as I walked in. "H-Hello? Is anyone there?"

I stepped onto the expensive-looking carpet and drank in my surroundings. The floors were made of a hard wood that started to rot and the walls were covered in spiral wallpaper. I heard the door closed behind us.

"S-S-Summer, did you c-close the d-door?" Murph stammered.

I shot him a look. "I'm standing right beside you. What do you think?"

Murph panicked and tried the door. "Summer, it's locked!"

I looked at the Duskull, who seemed to give me a look that said 'It wasn't me, I swear!'

"I guess that means that we have no choice but to continue on." I muttered. "Let's just focus on the book, okay?"

Murph nodded.

We heard a noise coming from one of the many hallways.

Murph cowered behind me. "T-That's definetly a g-g-g-ghost!"

I rolled my eyes. I didn't think the old mansion was creepy, I thought it was beautiful and amazing. I headed off in the direction of the sound. When I turned into a hallway, I saw a Dusclops use his psychic powers to move a bookshelf in front of a doorway. Whatever he was blocking off was worth checking out. As soon as the Dusclops teleported away, I went to move the bookshelf. But, being the bookworm that I am, I surveyed the shelf before taking two books that looked interesting.

Murph gave me a confused look. "What are you doing? If you're going to steal something, steal the silver candleholders! Don't take books!"

I narrowed my eyes. "First of all, the person who lived in this house is no longer among us. Nobody has lived in this house in years, so I doubt their biggest concern is that I took books that have little to no value to anybody else. Besides, Leanne might be able to use these for her studies. And I like reading." I informed him.

Murph held up his hands in defeat and didn't say anything else.

"Now help me move the bookshelf." I grumbled, trying to push the bookshelf. It didn't even move an inch.

Murph laughed. "Ben was right! You are weak!"

I growled and glared at him, which he seemed oblivious to. I like Murph. I really, really do, but I want to punch his lights out right now.

"Then you try, Mr. 'Macho'." I snapped, crossing my arms and giving him room to push it.

Murph frowned at my tone and stepped up to the bookshelf and tried to push it. He couldn't get it to budge, either.

"Okay, point taken." Murph finally said.

"I'm going to look for a Pokemon to assist us. Stay here and don't move." I told him.

He looked nervous. "A-Are you s-sure that you don't w-want me to go with you? Y-You might get frightened by the g-ghosts."

I started to walk away with Jet and Yuka at my heels. "Oh, I'm not afraid, Murph. Far from it. This house is amazing and beautiful, while you see it as creepy. Arceus, I'd probably live here if they'd let me! I'll be fine. If I encounter a ghost, I'll make sure to mention your whereabouts to him."

Murph shifted his weight from foot to foot. "C-Can one of your Pokemon stay with m-me?"

I stopped. "Why?" I pressed.

"I'm afraid." Murph finally admitted. "I'm terrified of the thought of ghosts."

Fair enough, I suppose. I looked down at Jet and Yuka. Jet pressed himself against my leg, making sure that I didn't get any ideas about leaving him with Murph. I looked to Yuka. "Yuka, will you protect Murph?"

"Chuu?" Yuka asked, pointing to herself.

"Yeah. I'm leaving you in charge of protecting Murph."

Yuka nodded and trotted over to Murph. "Pi-pichu!" She said with a little salute.

And with that, I turned and walked away into the mansion with Jet. I looked down at Jet. "I've got your back if you've got mine." I told him.

The Buizel grinned back up at me.

We were scouring the halls of a deserted mansion in hopes of finding a Pokemon to assist us. What could go wrong?