The Quartet soon continued traveling throughout the forest as Aaron was reading the map.

"We should reach Eterna City by tomorrow afternoon, we can settle in and then challenge the gym the day after." Aaron said to his companions.

"Sounds good, it could give me time to look for some new Pokemon as well." Cynthia said as she stretched her arms out.

However soon, her stomach began to rumble indicating her hunger, however the rocky hilltop that they were walking on wasn't the best place to set up camp for the night.

However suddenly, Cheryl felt a mysterious chill pass down her spine as she saw the Old Chateau in the distance. However, before she could tell them to avoid the place Dahlia noticed it.

"Hey! You wanna see if the owner of that Chateau is willing to lend us a place to stay for the night?" Dahlia asked.

"I won't recommend it, that is the Old Chateau and it filled with a lot of temperamental Ghost-type Pokemon. We have better chances with finding a place to camp out here in the forest." Cheryl said to them.

At the mention of Ghost-type Pokemon, Cynthia, Dahlia and Aaron did a collective shudder… however they also knew that it was getting late and that they needed to find a place to eat soon enough.

So unfortunately for Cheryl she was outvoted three to one as they decided to head to the Old Chateau.

"Hey don't worry, I am sure that we have expended all of our bad luck when we encountered that Murkrow and Misdreavus earlier." Cynthia said trying to reassure her.

Only for her to not know how wrong she would be.

Soon the four of them entered the Old Chateau and looked inside it, it was fairly unclean like it hadn't been cleaned in many years. Soon they stepped inside… only for the door to close by itself shocking everyone but Cheryl.

"Um… hello!? Is anyone here? We would like to stay here for the night if that is ok with you." Cynthia called out but to no avail.

Soon the four began to explore the Chateau, especially the ground floor, Dahlia found a kitchen were she began preparing their dinner while Cynthia and Aaron soon released their Pokemon to feed them and give them an opportunity to catch some air.

Gible and Shellos soon ran around, excited to explore this new place while Budew seemed slightly scared as Cynthia went down and comforted her.

"Don't worry Budew, this place may seem unnatural, but I promise that nothing is going to happen to us." Cynthia said to her.

Budew smiled having been reassured by her trainer… when suddenly they heard a loud crash in the floor above.

Soon Cynthia and Cheryl ran up and saw a girl with green clothing and orange and black hair fall down with a Budew and Turtwig by her side. Cheryl said as she went up to the girl, seemingly knowing who this was.

"Gardenia, I thought I see you here. But I didn't think you would be this reckless." Cheryl said as she approached her childhood friend.

Gardenia soon picked herself up and was surprised to see Cheryl.

"Cheryl? Cheryl is that you!? Man, I can't believe you are back!" Gardenia said as she hugged her.

As Gardenia was hugging Cheryl, Cynthia brought out her Pokedex and scanned Gardenia's Turtwig to see what kind of Pokemon it was.

"Turtwig, the Tiny Leaf Pokemon. A Grass-type, Made from soil, the shell on its back hardens when it drinks water. It lives along lakes."

Gardenia's Turtwig soon smiled as Cynthia's own Budew smiled back.

"By the way, this is Cynthia Shirona: a Pokemon Trainer I met in Orebaugh City. I am traveling through the forest with her and her friends currently." Cheryl said introducing Gardenia to Cynthia.

Gardenia soon went up to Cynthia and inspected her a little before smiling and holding out her hand.

"Well howdy, nice to meet you." Gardenia said.

Cynthia smiled back as she saw their respective Budews greeting each other.

Soon the three of them and their Pokemon soon went downstairs where Dahlia and Aaron had made dinner. Introducing Gardenia to them as they sat down and began to have dinner.

"So Gardenia, what are you doing here?" Cynthia asked her as she spooned some of the stew into her mouth.

"Oh well you see I was searching for some cute Grass-type Pokemon that I could catch and impress my sister with." Gardenia said smiling.

Cheryl soon rolled her eyes as if she had dealt with her antics many times before.

"You know what Leonia would say if she caught you sneaking out to the forest again right?" Cheryl asked as Gardenia pouted at that.

Cynthia soon heard that name and became curious.

"Leonia?" Cynthia asked.

"Yes, Leonia Rosen. She is Gardenia's older sister and the gym leader of the Eterna City Gym." Cheryl said to them.

Cynthia was floored that the person they met, was not only Cheryl's childhood friend but also the Eterna City Gym Leader's younger sister.

She wanted to ask her more about Leonia but before she could, she heard a crash in the distance.

Getting she soon saw several Ghastly making their way to them, not pleased by the fact their 'home' had been invaded by several humans.

Cheryl and Gardenia soon screamed and hid behind the three of them due to their own fear of Ghost-types. And despite their own fears, Cynthia, Dahlia and Aaron agreed that they needed to deal with the Ghastly immediately.

"Alright Gible use Dragon Breath, Budew use Stun Spore and Shellos use Water Gun!"

"Meditite use Confusion, Lotad use Bubble Beam, Torchic use Ember and Pachrisu use Discharge!"

"Skroupi use Poison Sting, Combee use Gust, Trapinch use Sand Tomb and Heracross use Night Slash!"

All of their Pokemon soon launched their attacks at the Ghastly, and despite a majority of them connecting, them just kept coming.

Cynthia cursed as they began firing Shadow Balls at the group's Pokemon making them unable to launch a single attack back.

Budew soon saw this and decided to take matters into her own hands as she charged forward.

"No Budew stay back!" Cynthia said to her Pokemon but it was in vain.

Soon Budew countered one of the Shadow Balls with her own attack, one she learned on the spot: Magical Leaf. And soon Budew's body began to glow.

Suddenly everyone, Cynthia, Dahlia, Aaron, Cheryl, Gardenia and even the Ghastly stopped to see what was going on with Budew.

"No way… your evolving Budew." Cynthia said in shock.

Soon Budew's body soon grew as it became slimmer with her growing hands and having roses be on those hands as the glowing stopped and in where Budew stood, was a confident Roselia.

Cynthia was in awe as she took out her Pokedex to see her new evolved Pokemon.

"Roselia, the Thorn Pokemon. A Grass and Poison-type and the evolved form of Budew, Its flowers give off a relaxing fragrance. The stronger its aroma, the healthier the Roselia is."

Roselia soon turned around indicated to Cynthia that she was stronger now as Cynthia smiled.

"Alright show off one of your new moves, use Mega Drain!" Cynthia commanded.

Roselia nodded as she soon emitted a green energy that washed over all the Ghastly and drained them of their energy. Taking advantage of this, the five of them and their Pokemon soon ran out of the Chateau and far away from it.

As they were outside the Chateau, Cynthia couldn't help but marvel over Roselia's new form as did Gible and Shellos.

"I am glad we made it out alive, that could have turned out to be very bad." Dahlia said as she panted.

"Yes, yes it could have." A unknown voice said.

Everyone looked up as they saw what appeared to be an older version of Gardenia walking up to them with her Roserade by her side.

"Um hi sis…" Gardenia said shyly as she looked away.

"Hello sis, Cheryl it is good to see you again. As for you three, I thank you for helping my sister. Why don't head to Eterna City and we can talk about what just happened later?" Leonia said.

Soon everyone agreed and recalled their Pokemon while Cynthia was still in awe of Leonia and the confidence she exuded when she walked up to them.

No doubt about it, her gym battle against her would be tough… but she was certain she could still win.

Soon Cynthia joined as they walked to the beginning of Eterna City as their journey continued.