Yes, this game has made it's name on being harder, darker, and deeper than your typical Game Freak Pokemon game. Being a lurker here is all too common. I can't say regarding Shelly and Aya since they've both had overhauls since I last battled them, but keep at it, you'll get through it eventually.
If you have any questions you can ask the Moderators or myself. But most importantly please read the rules. I'd also recommend checking out as many of the pinned threads as you can because they usually have very useful information you can use. Like the forum FAQ for one.
Get yourself an avatar and stick around a while.