A note to any budding young rocket spies out there: never accept a job that involves tagging along with a loud mouthed co-ordinator who never stops talking. Take my advice, and live longer. Decide to ignore me and your mission will end up with you being carried out screaming on a stretcher to the nearest asylum.

Ever since yesterday night, the girl went on and on. She must have described around every single Pokémon in this freaking world, and detailed their abilities, move, TM's, HM's and where to find them so I would know what to catch. Suffice to say, the girl didn't offer me a Pokeball to catch any Pokémon with.

Just this morning we were dragged out of bed by Ketchum and told we were gone on a beneficial 'power walk' in eternal forest to keep us in shape and to lift our spirits. Perhaps it might work, unless the whole area is covered in frost, the wind is howling around, freezing you and peeling the skin of your face, and the temperatures were around sub-zero. Which was the case. Weather like this was uncommon even in Sinnoh. Just imagine what it's like up in Snowpoint. Perhaps Candice will be forced to wear her cardigan. Yes, believe it or not, that thing around her waist is a cardigan.

Trudging along behind the others, I kept an eye out for any good Pokémon I might be able to catch. Perhaps I might find a Beautifly. Poison sting is a valuable asset for any person. Rather useful for shutting up immature little kids with tiny skirts too. Looking at Dawn now, I wondered how she avoided being turned into an icicle. Possibly it had something to do with the immense amounts of heat generated by her ever moving jaws.

I was so busy thinking that I didn't notice that the others had stopped. I promptly tripped over the brats Pikachu and went flying headlong into a clump of leaves on the ground. Not very dignified and extremely humiliating.

"Are you okay?" came dawns voice from somewhere behind me. To my irritation, she sounded like she was going to burst out laughing.

"Mmmmmph," I mumbled with my head still under the mulch. Lifting myself up, I spat out an assortment of multicoloured leaves that would have made any magical leaf user jealous and looked at the building before me. And almost choked as I took it in.

It was immense, a huge abandoned mansion that oozed out a sinister aura of power and unsolved mysteries that lay buried deep under its very foundations. The clouds seemed to lie thicker over here, and despite the fact the whole forest was covered in frost, none of the grassy, overgrown area around it seemed touched by the icy temperatures. The whole building let of a feel of menacing power and dread that made you want to run, run as far away as possible and never, ever look back. It took me a while to choke out a question.

"What is this place?" I asked, trying not to sound too scared. Sadly, I don't think it worked to well. Just as well Slate answered before Ms. Berlitz could get in any smart comments.

"I think this place is called the Old Chateau," he replied, peering at his PokeGear in the gloom "Apparently its last owner left many years ago, and since then it's been abandoned. The only living things in there are a couple of ghost Pokémon. Although some people claim that they have seen the ghosts of its previous owners wandering its corridors, unwilling to leave their old home."

A few ghostly Pokémon, I can deal with. A whole population of the purple nightmares was perhaps pushing it a bit. But ancient beings floating around the place? That's just plain nasty. I'm sure Morty would love this place. Sadly. I couldn't share the feeling.

We stood staring at it until Ketchum took the initiative. Bouncing about eagerly and grinning madly like a demented Buneary, he turned to face us. He looked like exploring old, derelict buildings was a hobby of his. I hoped not. He gestured to the building as he spoke.

"So what do you guys think? I bet you there are loads of cool rare Pokémon in that place. So what do you say we check it out?" he asked us smiling broadly

Still on the floor, I closed my eyes and crossed my fingers, praying the others would disagree. And…

"That's a great idea Ash!" squealed Dawn "I bet ghost types have loads of awesome moves to use in contests too!"

I opened my eyes and glared at her. This girl takes the biscuit. She's worse than Proton, and that's saying something. I looked at Slate pleadingly, hoping for a miracle.

He looked at his pokegear and lifted his eyebrows.

"Apparently, they say a rare Pokémon lives here. It may be worth checking out," he told us.

I could just scream. These guys are so on the top of my 'to destroy' list. Just wait until I turn you lot into radioactive particles you idiots. The boss is so gonna crush you when his plan unfolds-

"Come on Kuro!"

And that's how I ended up being dragged into and abandoned mansion by a ten year old girl who by rights should have been an ice statue now.

As I was dragged along by Dawn, a cold breeze sprung up and blew a clump of red and blue petals into my face. I held one and sniffed it curiously. The familiar scent of Roses reached me. Roses. Flowers in a derelict home. Had someone died here?