<h4>Chapter 573: The Adventures of Ribombee and the Combees (Part 3)</h4>


    Ribombee and the Combees had just entered the light gate when Vulpix, Ralts, and Hoothoot followed suit.


    Emerging from the light gate, Ribombee and the Combees found themselves facing a sinister ancient castle.


    "Combee, Combee,"


    I heard thr owner had recently created two new Sub-Ecopark, and this appeared to be one of them, known as the Haunted Manor.


    Feeling the chilly breeze on their bodies, the Combees couldn''t help but feel a bit scared.


    "Ribombee, Ribombee," Ribombee eximed.


    Look down below, the sea is so beautiful!


    Ribombee excitedly pointed towards the Ghost Sea below the castle and then quickly flew above it, pping its wings.


    Ribombee cupped a small cluster of seawater in its hands, finding it surprisingly warm as the water didn''t cling to it but slipped back into the sea.


    "Ribombee, Ribombee,"


    Come down quickly! It''s so much fun here!


    The Combees, upon hearing this, happily descended, eager to join Ribombee in the water.


    However, as soon as they arrived by Ribombee''s side, eerie blue mes began to float on the surface of the sea, looking both beautiful and mysterious.


    As Ribombee and the Combees reached the Ghost Sea, Vulpix, Hoothoot, and Ralts also entered the Haunted Manor through the light gate.


    Staring at the towering, majestic, and eerie castle, all three of them couldn''t help but shiver involuntarily.


    Due to their small stature, they couldn''t see Ribombee and the Combees, who were in the Ghost Sea below the castle. Even Hoothoot, who could fly, chose to stay on the ground out of consideration for Vulpix and Ralts.


    "Vulpix, Vulpix!"


    Those two must have gone inside. Let''s go find them quickly!


    Vulpix pointed towards the towering castle as it shivered.


    "Ralts, Ralts."


    Is it really necessary? It looks quite frightening up there.


    With teary eyes, Ralts bit her delicate little finger, trembling slightly.


    "Hoothoot, Hoothoot, Hoothoot!"


    Don''t worry, I''ll protect you if anything happens!


    Hoothoot came forward, tapping its tiny chest in a brave yet slightly trembling manner. Of course, it did so while trying not to look at its own shivering feet.


    "Vulpix, Vulpix!"


    That''s right! If anything happens, we''ll be there to protect you!


    Vulpix also stepped forward, showing off her proud demeanor in front of Ralts.


    Compared to Hoothoot''s braveness, Vulpix was truly fearless. Even though she felt a tiny bit of fear deep down, she refused to admit it rationally.


    As a Fire-type Pokémon, Vulpix possessed an inherent aura of fearlessness, and her parents had always been strict with her, making her stronger than other Pokémon her age. These factors contributed to her self-confidence.


    Perhaps influenced by Vulpix'' courage, Ralts hesitated for a moment before summoning her own courage and nodding.


    So, Vulpix crouched down and carried Ralts on her back, while Hoothoot, despite his fear, boldly dered, "Let''s go inside!"


    As they ventured further into the castle, the chilly wind blowing from all directions grew stronger, as if it was seeping into their bones.


    Even Vulpix, usually so confident, couldn''t help but shiver in the relentless cold.


    "Ralts, Ralts!" Ralts eximed, her eyes filled with tears, "Shouldn''t we go back?"


    Vulpix'' back was stiff with tension, and her fur bristled, but she tried to remain resolute.


    Vulpix thought, "We can''t be scaredy-cats. I''m a Fire-type Pokémon, after all."


    Hearing Vulpix use the word "scaredy-cats," Hoothoot gulped down the words he was about to say.


    Hoothoot thought, "I may be small, but I have my pride. I can''t let myself lose face!"


    So, the three of them persevered, braving the chilling winds as they continued deeper into the castle.


    After an unknown amount of time, they reached the second floor of the castle. In the center of the second floor was an abandoned garden, filled with withered flowers, dead trees, and an overall sense of decay.


    Standing on the corridor beside the abandoned garden, Hoothoot said, "Where could they have gone? We can''t find them anywhere."


    "Vulpix!" Vulpix eximed in frustration, "I''m so annoyed!"


    Vulpix, seething with anger, began hopping up and down, her sparks flickering wildly.


    Just then, clusters of eerie blue mes ndle lit up within the abandoned garden.


    Upon seeing these candle mes, Hoothoot was so scared that it sprinted away, and Ralts was even more terrified, falling off Vulpix'' back.


    "Vulpix, Vulpix!"


    Wh-what is this ghostly thing!


    Vulpix eximed, her voice trembling with fear, though herpetitive spirit overpowered her dread. She opened her mouth and unleashed a methrower, targeting the swaying candle mes.


    The crimson fire consumed the dried grass and trees along the way, but the candle mes showed no reaction. Vulpix hadn''t yet remembered the concept of fire-resistant creatures.


    Seeing that those candles didn''t react at all under his own methrower, she suddenly started to murmur in her hearth : Could there really be ghosts here?


    This thought sent shivers down Vulpix'' spine. He decided to pick up Ralts and make a run for it, and Hoothoot, no longer hopping around, pped its wings to follow Vulpix.


    As they fled, the Litwicks from the abandoned garden emerged one after another, bouncing and chasing after them. Ghost-type Pokémon often enjoyed teasing others, and these Litwicks were no different.


    With the cold wind at their heels, Vulpix andpany rushed towards the third floor of the castle. Meanwhile, Chandelure led Ribombee and Combee down a corridor in the opposite direction. They coincidentally met the fleeing group of Vulpix, Hoothoot, and Ralts.


    "Vulpix!"


    It''s you!


    Vulpix eximed angrily upon seeing Ribombee and Combee. As they ran, Vulpix continued to shoot mes, this time towards the two neers.


    Vulpix and the others were followed by arge number of Litwicks, running all the way towards the third floor of the castle.


    Ribombee and Combee were baffled by the situation but instinctively used their Dazzling Gleam to deflect the iing methrower.


    "Chandelure?"


    What''s going on?


    Chandelure questioned upon noticing therge number of Litwicks behind Vulpix and the others.


    Seeing their boss appear, the Litwicks quickly stopped their chase.


    Vulpix and the others were startled again when they saw the Chandelure. They were neither able to move forward nor to retreat.


    It was only after Ribombee exined the situation that Vulpix and the others realized that the Litwicks were not ghosts but living Pokémon like themselves.


    Once they were escorted out of the Haunted Manor by Chandelure and the others, Ribombee, Combee, Vulpix, Ralts, Hoothoot had became good friends.


    Children''s emotions are truly simple. After Ribombee''s exnation, Vulpix and his group understood that Ribombee and Combee didn''t intend to scare them.


    "Hoothoot!"


    It''s so exciting!


    After leaving the Haunted Manor Sub-Ecopark, Hoothoot be energetic and lively again, revealing its yful nature.


    "Phew, that was thrilling!" Vulpix eximed, his heart racing as he looked back on their adventure.


    "Hoothoot, Hoothoot, Hoothoot."


    Yes, yes! By the Way Don''t we still have the Desert Sub-Ecopark that we haven''t visited yet? Let''s go on adventures!


    "Are we really going there?" asked Ralts, her voice trembling with anxiety.


    "Why not? It sounds like a fun idea!" Ribombee enthusiastically suggested, pping its wings in delight.


    Combee reluctantly agreed to join their friends on this new adventure, figuring they would stick together no matter what.


    So, following the majority vote, the five little creatures passed through the portal and entered the Desert Sub-Ecopark.


    The entrance to the Desert Sub-Ecopark was located by theke in Oasis No. 1. As they entered, they spotted a sleeping Snox by theke, resting beneath arge tree.


    "Ralts, Ralts."


    That white belly looks sofy.


    Ralts mused, absentmindedly voicing her thoughts. She blushed when she realized everyone was looking at her.


    "Hoothoot, Hoothoot?"


    Shall we give it a try?


    Hoothoot suggested.


    The idea got everyone''s approval, and they approached the sleeping Snox.


    Ribombee and Hoothoot used their appendages to poke Snox''s belly, which had an extremely stic texture, making them all eager to y on it.


    "Vulpix, Vulpix, Vulpix."


    Vulpix yelled as he poked Snox''s ears, then extended his ws to push Snox. Seeing there was no reaction from Snox, which excited everyone further, and they began bouncing on Snox''s belly.


    Once Snox was well-fed and fast asleep, it would be challenging to wake it up. So, the yful creatures used its belly as a springy trampoline, jumping up and down.


    As they had their fun, they didn''t notice a small Kecleon that look like just born hiding in the treetops nearby, watching them with envy.


    However, when Combee started to bounce energetically, a white thread suddenly shot from the treetops above, catching Combee.


    Luckily, Vulpix reacted swiftly, releasing a methrower that burned the thread, freeing Combee.


    The group then noticed the Shiny Ariados hiding in the treetops. When Shiny Ariados realized it had been spotted, it withdrew into the foliage.


    Shiny Ariados didn''t intend to harm Combee; it simply couldn''t resist the urge to yfully entangle them in its web. Perhaps it had a touch ofpulsive behavior.


    Seeing Shiny Ariados retreat, Ribombee and the others lost interest in the trampoline and decided to leave for the desert outside. Together, the five Pokémon exited Oasis No. 1.