You go see the place

After Yellow accepted your offer, you guys decided to go see the place later that afternoon.

Yellow still had to handle a couple more visits at her clinic, so while waiting for her, you went to get the other three girls.

In the early afternoon, Yellow closed her clinic and you guys started walking toward the place.

After less than half an hour of walking, you finally arrived there.

Just like they told you, it truly looked like a little corner of paradise: a valley protected by high rocky walls, filled with trees, small grassy plains, and colorful flowers blooming almost everywhere. At the center of the valley there was also a beautiful lake connected to two rivers.

"We are not entirely sure how this place formed. Some believe a meteor crashed here centuries ago..." Yellow starts explaining as you all enter the valley.

You walk through the peaceful landscape while Yellow happily explains everything like a passionate guide.

"...And here we have the lake. It's not as big as the Lake of Rage in Johto, but its waters are so clear they almost look like crystal. The two rivers connected to it are its inlet, which we think originates from the top of Mt. Silver, and its outlet, which eventually reaches the sea. There are also underwater caves inside the lake that work perfectly as homes for water musus. The same is true for the rocky walls surrounding the valley; there are many caves there as well for musus that naturally live underground" Yellow explains proudly.

"Damn... this place is simply incredible" you say while looking around in amazement.

"It's like it was made so everyone could live together," Midori says softly.

"That was exactly the purpose... my grandpa's dream," Yellow replies with a gentle smile. "Now, let's go see the main building."

She guides you around the lake and soon you arrive in front of a large building near the shore.

The structure is old but surprisingly solid, built with pale stone and dark wood that had resisted the passing of time remarkably well. It has two floors, wide windows, and a few balconies overlooking the valley and the lake. Part of the walls are covered by climbing vines, giving the place a slightly abandoned yet peaceful charm. On one side of the building there is even a smaller greenhouse connected to it, probably once used for botanical research.

"Wooooooah! So we will live here now?!" Charlie says excitedly.

"A residence worthy of the magnificent Lady Marine" Marine proudly declares while striking one of her dramatic poses.

"Let me just open it" Yellow says as she approaches the entrance.

She pulls out a strange metallic object shaped like a short rod with a circular grip at the end. Thin glowing lines run along its surface, while the pointed tip makes it look more like an ancient magical artifact than a normal key.

"That's quite the strange key" Leaf comments.

"That's because it isn't just a key" Yellow explains.

She channels mana into the object, making the glowing lines shine brighter, then slowly pushes it toward the door. A magical sound echoes through the entrance before the heavy doors unlock and slowly open on their own.

"Ta-da" Yellow says proudly.

"That's quite the security system," you comment.

"I know, but a normal lock wasn't enough for a place like this," Yellow replies.

You all finally step inside and start looking around.

The place is rather dark and mostly empty, with only old tables, shelves, and chairs scattered around the entrance hall. Despite being abandoned for years, though, the place is strangely... clean.

"It's a nice base, and it definitely has enough room for everyone. You came here recently to clean it, Yellow?" you ask.

"N-no... I haven't entered this place for years..." Yellow says nervously. "S-so how is it possible that it's all so clean...?"

As everyone looks around suspiciously, some of the furniture in the room suddenly starts floating.

Then a loud ghostly voice echoes through the hall.

"Leeeeave this plaaaaace... this is my hoooome noooooow..."

At the same time, the front door slams shut behind you.

"Aaaaaaah! This place is haunted!" Charlie screams while instantly hiding behind you.

"S-so scary..." Katy shivers.

"Wait... if you want us gone, why did you lock the door?" Leaf suddenly points out.

"Ah... well..." the voice suddenly loses its ghostly tone for a second.

"It's... to punish yoooouuuu! Scram, humaaaaans!" the voice quickly continues before a chair suddenly flies toward Leaf.

You catch it midair before it can hit her.

"Hey, that wasn't very nice, miss ghost," Midori says.

"I don't careeeee!" the voice shouts again while more chairs begin flying around the room.

Thankfully, they're pretty easy to dodge.

"Too easy. You're such a lame ghost," Marine mocks her.

"Hey, fuck you, bitch! Do you know how hard it is to haunt a place properly?!" a frustrated voice suddenly snaps.

A figure finally appears high in the room.

It is a Gastly musu.

Her messy purple hair float in the air, and her body is surrounded by a floating purple mist that gives her an eerie appearance despite the annoyed pout on her face.

"Ahah! Criminal, you fell into the trap of the great Mari—woah!" Marine boasts before barely dodging another flying chair.

"Who cares?! Just get out already!" the Gastly girl whines while continuing her attack.

"Well, I guess we'll need to resort to bad manners. Leaf, can you—" you begin to say before the Gastly suddenly freezes in place.

A psychic **** completely surrounds her body.

"W-what?! What did you do to me?!" she complains while struggling to move.

At the same time, another figure suddenly teleports into the room.

It's Amber.

"Damn girl, your powers are really useful" another familiar voice says from behind you.

You turn around and see Marcy and Sigfreya entering through the now-open front door.

"Girls, what are you doing here?" you ask in surprise.

"Didn't my father tell you that you would receive some reinforcements, Drake?" Sigfreya asks calmly.

"Ooooh... so you three are the reinforcements" you realize.

"Yup! Sig's here as Sapphire City's representative, the sleepy psychic was sent by the Oracle, and I decided to join too. Pops gave me permission after you apparently made a good impression on him" Marcy says proudly.

"...Wait. I met your father?" you ask.

Marcy stares at you for a moment.

"Still haven't you noticed? That wall of muscle you met at the reunion? That's my dad."

You blink a few times before finally realizing it.

The surname "Marshall"... is also Bruno's surname.

"W-wait... you're Bruno's daughter?!"

"Ding ding ding! Finally got it, dummy" she laughs.

"I know this revelation is surprising and all, but what exactly are we supposed to do with this girl?" Midori asks while looking at the trapped Gastly musu.

"Let me go, you Abra bitch!" the Gastly complains.

Amber simply stares at her while sleeping, stuff that Abras do most of the day.

"Y-you! W-why are you hiding inside my grandpa's old laboratory?!" Yellow asks nervously while half-hiding behind Leaf.

"W-who cares?! Just let me go!" the Gastly whines.

"If you don't tell us the truth, our friend here might throw you out personally," Midori says.

"Wait wait wait! Fine, fine! I'll talk!" the Gastly quickly surrenders with a sigh. "I... don't really have anywhere else to go."

"Why?" you ask.

"About a year ago I left home after arguing with my mother... then I found this abandoned place and decided to stay here. How was I supposed to know someone actually owned a giant abandoned mansion in the middle of nowhere?" she explains.

"...Were you the one cleaning the entrance hall?" Yellow asks.

The Gastly girl blushes slightly.

"...Maybe. Look, I like abandoned places, but I don't want to live in a dump."

"Mmh... what's your name?" you ask.

"My name is Jen," she answers.

You nod.

"Then let's make a deal. I'll ask Amber to release you, and if you behave, we can discuss something that might interest you."

"Mmh... fine. Deal."

Amber slowly nods before releasing the psychic hold.

"Ugh... finally" Jen groans while stretching her body.

Most of the girls soon start exploring the building while you, Yellow, Amber, and Jen stay behind to talk.

"I'd like to propose something," you begin. "Since you like this place and you've been keeping it clean... we could let you stay here."

Jen immediately looks interested.

"But?" she asks suspiciously.

"But you'll have to help around the base as our maid."

"H-hey! Why should I become some servant?!" Jen protests.

"Not a servant. A maid," Yellow calmly corrects her. "You'd just help clean around the place."

"You'd also have a proper home and people around you instead of living here alone" you add.

Jen crosses her arms while thinking about it.

"...I preferred being alone..." she mutters before sighing. "...But I guess this deal isn't bad."

"Then welcome to the group, Jen" Yellow says with a smile.

After becoming friends with Jen, you all spend time exploring the building, which turns out to be even bigger than expected.

There are enough rooms to turn into bedrooms for everyone, so with Jen's help, you start cleaning and preparing them for the night.

You also find a perfect room for Katy to transform into a sewing workshop.

During the afternoon, you also notice Marcy constantly teasing Midori and Leaf about something, though you can't really understand why.

Everything becomes clear later that night.

You just returned to your room after taking a shower, but before you can even step inside properly, someone suddenly pushes you into the room.

"Woah—what?" you say in surprise as you turn around.

You find Marcy closing the door behind her with a smug grin on her face.

"What are you doing, Marcy?" you ask.

"Getting my share... mister womanizer," she giggles.