Location: Serene Village Plaza
Date: June 20th

Shelmet came and announced that Pancham has called a meeting on the big tree hill for all us kids. I have a feeling I know what this is about…the adults made it clear they don't want us to go into the school at night, but Pancham's a sucker for making other kids break the rules in order to "prove they have guts". He's likely going to challenge everyone else to sneak into the school at night and take a photo of any ghosts as proof while he and Shelmet hide in the safety of their homes.

Honestly, after yesterday I kinda saw this coming. Pancham is such a predictable coward…funny that he mocked Lyra for not knowing when to quit before when he's clearly the same.

Well, off to the hill.

Location: Big Tree Hill

Well, my feeling was mostly correct.

Pancham immediately started lighting into Lyra about "being wimpy" and how we all need to toughen up. So, we're gonna sneak into the school (all of us, including him) tonight to see if there's any ghosts. He said it as if we'd all unanimously decided…but Lyra was trembling while he and Espurr were talking and agreeing they should do it. Pancham turned to Lyra and started shouting at her saying that when she's beat, she's beat and she should just suck it up and agree to the plan.

I snapped. I'd had enough of that sniveling snot-nosed little runt. Lyra was on the verge of tears from fear, and here he was acting all tough and mighty just because she had a weakness.

I ran up to that kid and freaking headbutted him. He was so startled, he stumbled back and fell onto his rear. I called him everything from a pathetic coward to a meaningless speck of dust. Frankly, Lyra and I had "proven our mettle" a thousand times over compared to this stupid kid who'd done nothing but bark orders from the moment I stepped into the village. And he thought he had the nerve to tell us what we were gonna do?

Then he looked at me with that smug-ass sneer. That 'I know exactly what I'm gonna say to you next, and it's gonna make you sooo mad' look. I decided to take the wind out of his sails.

"Why don't you just grow a pair and admit you have a crush on Lyra already?"

His smug expression dropped into horrified shock immediately, and his face turned beat red. The other students, Lyra included, stared directly at him as they waited for him to reply, and it was my turn to wear a smug expression. Hit the nail right on the head.

It was obvious, though. Pancham always lit into Lyra the hardest whenever they were in the same room together. Lyra could take a step towards him and Shelmet, and Shelmet would be totally fine. Pancham, however, would erupt into a flustered flurry of "Get away from me", "It's hot enough without you being all over me", and "You're so annoying!" That was a typical kid reaction, especially when they don't know how to express how they truly feel to someone they like. A tsundere, if you will.

Flustered and trying to regain a fraction of his shattered confidence, Pancham merely got up and told us to just be at the school tonight before rushing off, Shelmet soon following.

Deerling and Espurr were impressed and asked how I knew. I told them it was obvious given how everyone else is kinda…neutral regarding Lyra, whereas Pancham is always unnecessarily hostile. If he truly didn't like Lyra, he wouldn't bother talking to either of us or including us in things...but he does. So, if he didn't like Lyra, why talk to us?

Goomy looked confused. Maybe he's too young to understand what a crush is? He is a little younger than the rest of us.

Lyra had an interesting expression on her face. She wasn't terrified and trembling anymore, but she didn't look happy or confused or even angry. She looked…thoughtful. Maybe she was recalling past interactions with him and applying my accusation to the situations? Or maybe she was mentally figuring out how to prepare for tonight?

Well, she held that expression after the others left. I had to shake her a bit to get her attention. She said she wasn't in the mood to go on an expedition, so we went home. On our way, we agreed to travel to the school together tonight. I reassured her by saying she could stick to my side "like a bad stain" as Nuzleaf had said to me before. That made her happy, and we went our separate ways.

Location: Home.

I told Nuzleaf that ghost stories have Lyra in a tizzy, so we decided to skip going out on adventures today. He seemed relieved and we decided to work on doing house chores together.

Even though I kinda knew the answer already, I decided to ask him why he asked me all those questions before. He admitted that I'm the first "child" he'd ever raised, and it never occurred to him that he should know the answers to them. He decided to ask Carracosta for advice on what questions to ask and was given a lengthy list as well as a good scolding for not knowing this much about his child already. Nuzleaf thought it best to get them out of the way as soon as possible.

"I'm still learnin' bein' a parent," he'd said. It's not always easy, but it's a lot more rewarding than he'd anticipated. He pat my head, saying he was grateful to have his first try be a good kid. That…ahaha...if only he knew just how not good I really am.

I don't think he'll keep that opinion if I get caught tonight…

Location: Ancient Barrow B1F

Well, Lyra and I snuck out of our homes and arrived at the classroom without any issues. Hopefully, we can have as smooth of an arrival as our departure.

On our way to the school, I asked Lyra what she thought about Pancham having a crush on her. She kinda gave me a look and said the feeling was most certainly not mutual. Folks who tear others down because of their own problems aren't folks she wants to be involved with. It's a shame Pancham can't be nicer because he might truly enjoy going on expeditions with us. Talk about a lost potential friendship.

Once we got to the school, we took our usual seats and just…waited. Of course, we weren't about to spend the entire night just waiting for the ghosts to appear. Thus, our "squad leader" decided to do an incredibly smart thing and began mocking the ghosts, daring them to reveal themselves to us.

Pancham really stepped in it now.

His bravado was enough to draw out the spirits that'd kidnapped Farfetch'd. Lyra had passed out before they arrived, so she didn't see what happened. Those blue flames arrived, as did a dark shadowy figure that loomed over us. We all sorta blacked out from the fear. According to Espurr, who'd only pretended to black out so she could see what would happen next, the blue flames surrounded Pancham and Shelmet and then some unseen force dragged them to the Ancient Barrow.

The others say the adults really don't want us going in there. Wouldn't you know it though? The being who Pancham gave the hardest time to piped up and spoke out against her fear, saying that saving them was more important than following the rules or cowering in fear.

"They're still our classmates, even if they aren't perfect!"

Ladies and gentlemen, Lyra the Torchic. Savior of assholes in need everywhere.

All joking aside, I've never been more proud of her. She's the most afraid of ghost stories, yet she's the one facing her worst fear to save Pokémon who're considered the worst among us. Man…what a hero! Pancham and Shelmet should feel honored to know someone as incredible as her!

The rest of us knew we weren't about to let her face this dungeon alone, so we all prepared to dive right in.

And here we are.

Honestly, I don't know what to expect of this place…but we're all traveling as a group. We should be okay…I think.

Here goes.

Location: Ancient Barrows (return trip)

Ah. All's well that ends well.

Turns out that shadow we saw was Giratina's. Or rather…Giratina the illusion! A Pokémon named Solosis was helping four Litwicks scare villager Pokémon because that's how they get their energy – the fear of others. The Litwicks were traveling from village to village scaring villagers to get their food. After a bit when their old tactics weren't working, they met Solosis who took pity on them and made the Giratina illusion to really amp up their pranks.

Before fighting them, "Giratina" had offered to let us leave if we sacrificed Pancham and Shelmet. Despite how terrified she was, Lyra said not on Giratina's life. She said Pancham and Shelmet are our friends, and we'd never leave them behind.

I don't know about "friends", but…leaving those two kids behind wouldn't be right. No matter how angry I got at them or how wrong their actions were, leaving them behind would be no better than the scummy things they'd pulled themselves. I don't always like them, but I…won't leave them here to perish, either.

After we fought them and they told us their story, the Litwicks begged us not to say anything to the other villagers so they don't get kicked out. Lyra had agreed on the condition they only do little pranks every now and then, and that they do something good but discreet to make up for it. At first, Deerling was put off by Lyra making all the choices, but the rest of us were on board with it. She had been the most terrified throughout this whole ordeal, yet she'd demonstrated the most bravery with every step.

With Pancham and Shelmet returned to us unharmed (and crying like freakin' babies, might I delightfully add – serves 'em right), we left and are now on our way back home.

I…feel pretty good. Not only did we help out the Litwicks and Solosis, but we solved the mystery of the haunted school and rescued our classmates all in one night. Serene Village will no longer panic from nightly paranormal phenomena and everyone will be able to sleep much better knowing there's no dangerous Pokémon (that they know of, I can't exclude the Beheeyem) out to get them.

And Lyra. Dear, brave, Lyra can rest knowing Pancham will have no more ammo to tease her with given the terrors she braved in favor of rescuing him. If he truly does have a crush on her, maybe he'll tone that crap down from now on. He'd better if he wants to continue being "friends" with her.

Now for the "fun" part of sneaking back home.