Life outside the guild has not been easy for Pyro or I lately. Pyro has been thinking a lot about what happened on our graduation day. The whole charade about the space around us being distorted. I haven't given it much thought. To be honest right now, I couldn't care less, how my space is distorted. My partner probably doesn't like that, but I mean...it seems like ever since I set foot into this world, all this crazy stuff has started happening left and right. Why? It never happened back home. I was a guy living in the streets, literally having trouble keeping himself alive. Palkia finds me, I meet Grovyle, restore time, all of a sudden, here I am. Some story.

The past few days have been fairly uneventful for both Pyro and I. I mean, I have never thought, I would one day hope, for someone to run down the hole of our current home, and just do something that would make me jump up in action and react in some certain way. The bulletin board was literally cleared the past few days. It would seem that we gave a good restoration to peace all right. No one was getting in trouble, and those who were, were taken care of by the apprentices at Wigglytuff's Guild.

Luckily, I have a partner. A partner who sometimes has to remind me that explorers are what they are. A partner with a mind for adventure, and if I didn't have him, I think I would have died in that cave. Died of absolute boredom...

Layne and Pyro had heard the commotion from the café, and had gone to investigate. Layne had fond memories involving this café. It was a place he and many of his friends at the guild relaxed at after a day of exploring, rescuing, or whatever they did. The drinks made here were nothing short of relaxing. They tasted good too. Layne's personal favorite was a nice glass of iced Wacan Tea, but he liked to keep an experimental tongue. He tried what he was offered.

However, the café was more than just a café. It was a haven to explorers of the world and region. The owner of the café, a Spinda, loved exploring, despite not being a true explorer herself. . She loved serving explorers, and loved listening to them talk about their explorations. But since setting up her café, she had always dreamed about helping explorers in some way. And finally, she was.

That day Layne and Pyro walked in to be treated to a place neither of them had heard about. A place called Sky Peak. All they learned in the café about the peak itself was that it was a tall peak in the east. One pokémon they heard said it was so big that it was said to reach beyond the sky. Layne smiled a bit at the wording. Beyond the sky...

However, due to the path being lost, the mountain was greatly shrouded in mystery. That was where Spinda came in. Her café was behind a project, known only as Project-P. And that project was a help to explorers. And it found the lost path, and a lost village at the base of the mountain. Spinda said, the village housed rare pokémon known as Shaymin, but the name lost Layne. Layne still was no expert on this world. Even after a year of living here...

Pyro was very interested, and after a persuasive discussion, Layne shrugged and saw no problem to go and at least check it out. So he and Pyro packed their bags, and set out east in search of this Sky Peak. Layne could not deny that it felt good to be out in the wilderness again. He felt free, and even felt a little alive. As they left Treasure town, he ever stretched and popped random joints in his body, that had gone stiff. Much to Pyro's, confusion.

But they were off. And after about three days of traveling, they finally saw the mountain. And it was indeed quite the mountain. Looking at it from a far, he could see why they said it reached "beyond the sky." The mountain went into the clouds, but he didn't see a peak...it simply just...vanished.

"Well there it is..." Layne said crossing his arms, and looking to his friend.

"Indeed." Pyro said, smiling. Pyro looked over to Layne and chuckled.

Layne looked over to his partner, "What's so funny?"

"You are."

"Me?" Layne asked in confusion.

"You're starting to get shaggy." Pyro said.

"What? What do you mean?"

Pyro pointed to a small pool of water. Layne went over and looked inside. His Buizel face stared back at him. Though he could see what Pyro meant. The fur on his head was starting to get a bit longer in one particular area. Also his chest was getting thicker in fur. He could also see in the back of his head, beneath his two rudder-like formations, there was more fur growing beneath. He gave a small smile and scratched his head. "Nature will be nature, I guess." He could not say he didn't like it. He could get used to it. At least now people could tell who he was perhaps a bit easier.

But it wasn't important. "Let's get to this peak. Wonder if any of the other exploration teams came." Layne would not deny that it would be nice to see Autumn again. It had been a week or so since they last saw each other, and well, they were not used to not seeing each other in so long. Not since Layne was trapped in the future.

They soon found a village, which indeed had other explorers in it. In fact they were everywhere. This somewhat concerned Layne. With Sky Peak finally being rediscovered...would there be any collateral damage? The only other pokémon he saw were strange pokémon, much smaller than him. They looked like walking bushes almost. But more mole-like in appearance. They must have been the Shaymin that Spinda had talked about.

"This is the village..." Pyro said.

Layne crossed his arms, "Yeah...I guess those are the Shay...things."

A voice giggled, "You mean, Shaymin?"

Pyro and Layne looked over. One of the walking mole bushes was walking towards them with a big smile on it's face. "Welcome to the Village of the Shaymin! My name is Shaymin, and it's a pleasure to meet you!"

Layne gave a chuckle. "Named after the village, eh? Must be nice."

"Well," Shaymin giggled, "All the residents of the village are named Shaymin. It makes us hard to tell us apart, doesn't it..."

Layne and Pyro gave each other a friendly laugh. Pyro then said, "We're Team Hydro Pyro, it's a pleasure to meet you!"

"Hydro Pyro?" Shakmin asked. "You mean THE Hydro Pyro?"

"Pardon?" Layne asked.

"You know...the team that all the other explorers are talking about. The one who recently restored balance to time!"

Great. Now the story had reached here...

Layne couldn't complain. He had told Pyro to tell the world the story to ensure that what had happened, never happened again...

"The very same..." Layne said a bit unsure.

"Wow!" Shaymind said. "Team Hydro Pyro! In our village! It is an honor! Tell me, have you come to climb Sky Peak too?"

"Yes." Pyro said. "You know about the mountain and it's secrets?"

"I should hope so!" Shaymin said. "We of the Shaymin Village have lived up here for a very long time! We have guided many climbers up this mountain! But since the path was destroyed, we haven't done so in a very long time. Ever since the earthquake destroyed the path, explorers had a hard time finding the village, and eventually we were forgotten. You can imagine our surprise when the team sent from Spinda walked into our village."

"That explains why nobody's come to visit, and why this place has only been talked about in legend." Pyro said. Then he brightened, "Which reminds me, we got hint that there was an incredible treasure hidden on this mountain that rivals all other treasures! Is this true?"

Layne may have gotten a little annoyed there, but if he was, he didn't show it. He was used to Pyro's motivations of exploring, and discovering treasure was a big motivation. At least he wasn't one to look for treasure in keeping it all. Hopefully.

The Shaymin giggled. "What do you think?" She asked. "We're not only here to act as your guides up this mountain, but you see those who climb the mountain themselves must discover things themselves...We just assist in the said discoveries."

Now it sounded like this whole trip up a mountain was a journey into one's spirituality perhaps. Perhaps it was. Perhaps words were words. Layne wouldn't know until they climbed.

"It would seem like there's more to it than that..." Pyro said.

"There is." Shaymin giggled. "You'll just have to figure it out on your own! But, now that we've discussed all this, if you're so interested, why don't I be your guide? I cannot deny that talking with you, I've become more and more interested to go climbing with you. What do you say?"

"I don't see why not." Layne said.

"Yeah, it is a very nice offer, and I was thinking the same thing." Pyro said.

"Cool!" Shaymin said. "I'm going to climb with Team Hydro Pyro! This is so cool!"

Layne chuckled and simply thought as they got themselves ready for the journey up, just how nice it felt to feel the wild earth beneath him again. Team Hydro Pyro was finally doing something! He would make the best of it.

Sky Peak's climb was no joke. Though the trio ran into very little trouble as far as pokémon were concerned, but the trail was intense, and Layne could see it. It was very smart of the Shaymin, who had guided in the past to have put up stations of resting. But he was hoping they would make it. The journey back would of course be a lot easier than the journey up. And he'd rather not backtrack. At one point, Layne had to help another explorer with supplies because he had forgotten some of his own. The Shaymin they were traveling with had heavily complimented him.

"You're very nice, Layne. Climbing here is very much, give and take. It's nice to see you helping others."

Layne simply shrugged at the compliment. "I just kinda do what I have to do, I guess." he said with a small smile.

He didn't know why he did what he did. Perhaps it was a reflection of what he thought others should have lived from where he came from, or perhaps living here made him feel such passion for others in exploring.

The path led them through caves, chasms, the mountain was so big that it even led through a meadow. Layne was impressed by the size of the mountain. Pyro walked beside him and asked, "What kind of treasure do you think is in store for us?"

Layne shrugged. He honestly didn't care too much about treasure. Of course, in the past year he had been here, he had also become more critical in thinking perhaps because he cared so much for his friends. He defended them, loved them. Everything he did, he did for them. He wondered how the guild was doing now. Who knew.

"Layne you in there?" Pyro suddenly asked sipping some water. they were currently sitting in a rest area, enjoying some water from a recently made stand, and enjoying the shade.

"I'm okay." Layne said. ""Just feels like we haven't really been doing this in a long time. Feels like it's been months almost."

Pyro chuckled. "It hasn't been that long."

"Oh I know, but I mean...just it's almost been a week. Nothing has been throw in our direction. Nothing. It's kinda worked me up a bit on the inside I guess."

"What about what happened at the spring?"

"Huh?" Layne asked sipping again.

"It's been on my mind Layne. What we experienced at the spring. About the space around us being distorted."

Layne finished his drink and put his glass down, almost annoyed. "To be honest Pyro, I really don't want to talk about that right now."

"Why?" Pyro asked. "You can't say that it hasn't been on your mind."

"Of course it's been on my mind." Layne said, putting his head on his arms. "But I mean...we restored time. We were told that would restore world peace. Now look at us. Space distorted? It's like we failed maybe in a way."

"Or we're just not there yet, Layne. Perhaps there's just some unfinished work to do. You were the one saying n the past that things aren't always as easy as they seemed sometimes."

"Yeah, I guess." Layne said shrugging. "Still, I wish-"

Layne was interrupted, when suddenly an explorer, Layne had run into a few times before in Treasure town named Octillery, came running in, screaming for help. One of the station's occupants, a Mawile stopped her and asked, "What's wrong?"

"An explorer has been getting harassed by a strange group of pokémon further on up the road! I could not defeat such a group on my own, and neither can he. He needs help!"

Layne, sat up as Pyro stood up. "Duty calls..." Layne mumbled. "Pyro, you hear that?" He asked louder.

"You bet I did. Let's make haste!"

Shaymin nodded. "Yes! We must! Near this area...we cannot stop. He will need our help!"

Layne, Pyro, and Shaymin took off running in pursuit of other explorers who had also decided to help out this other explorer. Layne smiled. It felt like old times. Running to the rescue of some poor soul, protecting them from some danger. It reminded him of the rescue of Azurill. That day was harsh, but filled with plenty of thrill. He had not heard from the Drowzee since, but didn't care to. It had knocked him out cold last they met, but Pyro had managed to defeat him, back when he had so little confidence about himself. Pyro today still managed to surprise Layne with all he did...

They kept running and finally saw a disturbance up ahead. The other explorers had reached there first, but Layne and Pyro also came in. Shaymin nodded. "I knew it!"

"Knew what?" Layne asked.

The pokémon harassing the explorer, which was a Sneasel, looked their way. "Wha-? Who are you?"

One of the explorers spoke up, "We represent Team Frontier! We won't let you cowards gang up on one pokémon!"

"Sounds delicious." one of the other pokémon said and they approached the team.

Layne stood up beside the team and said, "They're NOT alone!"

"Who are you?" another pokémon asked. Layne had no idea what these pokémon were, but they almost looked like talking cactus pokémon. "I am Layne, member of Team Hydro Pyro!"

Pyro stood beside him. "And we won't let you do that either!"

"All this talk is boring!" one of the cactus pokémon said. "Let's show them just how coward-like we are!"

"Wait a minute!" the Shaymin called out.

"Get 'em!"

A short brawl then started. The cactus pokémon were out of control and though it seemed like a fight was about to break out, Shaymin unleashed a beam into the sky and shouted, "WILL EVERYONE JUST WAIT A SECOND?"

Everyone froze.

"Wh-what?" Mawile asked.

"What is- Oh! A Shaymin from the village? I-it's been a while."

Layne was a little confused. "Do you guys know each other?"

"We owe you... We-we've asked you before in the past to stop bothering the explorers, haven't we? You haven't changed at all!"

"Hey! The Sneasel started it! Don't blame us!" the cactus pokémon said. "He snatched our property right from underneath our noses!"

Another cactus pokémon nodded and said, "That's right and...hey! Where'd he go?"

"He ran away!" another said!

"Well this certainly changes the game." Layne said.

"We thought you were bad pokémon!" Mawile said.

"Please...you can't exactly call Carnevine good guys either." Shaymin said.

"You haven't seen us in years!" one of the Carnevine said. "Yet THAT is how you treat us?"

"Okay." Layne said speaking up. "Let's all not get in over our-"

"Easy, Buizel." a Carnevine said. "It is Shaymin. We can let it go."

"Wait, what?" Layne asked. Pyro looked a bit confused at the scene too.

Carnevine simply said, "The decision to climb Sky Peak is yours. We just don't like letting anyone just do as they please, though. But, if you'll excuse us, you're wasting our time, and Sneasel is only getting further away." After they said that, the group of Carnevine wandered off.

Team Frontier, and Hydro Pyro stood there. Only Shaymin wasn't so confused.

"You must pardon them. Carnevine here have marked this as their territory. They're nice pokémon, but can be rough when theytalk with outsiders."

"Well, we're also to blame." Mawile said. "We were slow to listen and we almost got into a big fight. Someone could have seriously been hurt."

A member of Team Frontier, named Breloom simply said, "I guess you gotta remember you just can't judge by appearance."

"Yeah...sorry." Machoke, also from Team Frontier said.

"As long as you all understand." Shaymin said with a smile. "I think we all should get back to climbing!"

"What about the Sneasel?" Layne asked.

Pyro shrugged. "He did something wrong. He's on his own right now. If we come across him, we come across him."

"That doesn't sound very..." Layne sighed. "I guess he did dig himself into this one."

The continuing climb was starting to get slower. The peak certainly lived up to it's name. Had anyone even really been to it's peak? Layne was starting to wonder. The green grass below his feet soon vanished to be transformed into dead dirt, and snow. The hot air soon went colder and flakes started to fall. Layne started to see his breath and breathing sometimes was painful. Pyro looked fine...as always. Shaymin on the other hand...no. Even she looked fine. "I don't know how you two can take this weather."

"Oh, are you cold, Layne?" Shaymin asked.

Layne shrugged. "I'll live. I've live in colder climates. I just don't dig the cold weather."

"He never has." Pyro said catching up to Layne to offer him some warmth from his tail fire.

"He knows." Layne said with a chuckle. A chuckle that was cut short at the sight of Team Frontier, gathered around a body up ahead. "Wonder what that's about."

"That Team Frontier...they sure are quick, aren't they?" Shaymin asked.

" I think we got a bigger problem on our hands." Pyro said.

The body of Sneasel was on the ground. When that was noticable, they all ran over.

"What happened?" Shaymin asked in worry.

"We don't know." Breloom said. "He was unconscious before we got here. It may have been the cold, or the fact that he was not prepared for this cold weather."

"Exploring." Layne said. "There's always a danger."

"This isn't good." Shaymin said, examining the body. "I should go get help."

That was a little unexpected. "Shaymin," Layne said, "We're pretty high up. Just who were you gonna call?"

"Up ahead, there's some help. We don't always call to him for simple things, but emergencies are a different story. Team Frontier, could you please keep an eye on him, while Hydro Pyro and I get help?"

Mawile nodded and said, "Don't be long."

Pyro smiled and said, "Just like old times."

Layne popped his neck and said, "Rescue party. I haven't done that in a while. I guess we better get going."

"Let's make haste then!" Shaymin said.

As they went to find this help, Layne looked to Shaymin and asked, "Who is this...help we're looking for?"

"He's a former explorer of the mountain. He once explored this peak as you do now, but made residence near the peak and has since retired from exploring."

"So that means we're near the top?" Pyro asked in hope.

"Well, I could be mistaken." Shaymin said shrugging. "It has been a very long time since any of us have really gone up here, or seen him. He doesn't come out often."

"Well...that's good to know..." Layne said softly, wondering if he should at all be worried.

They continued walking when they came to a mouth of a cave. Shaymin nodded. "This is where he lives."

"Who?" Layne asked.

Shaymin didn't answer, but went straight for the cave. Layne and Pyro looked at each other then followed. Inside, Layne saw...a giraffe like pokémon or something. Yellow, and older looking.

"Ampharos!" Shaymin called out.

The yellow pokémon turned to look at the guests now entering his cave. He was a bit confused by the sight of Layne and Pyro, but smiled when he saw Shaymin. "Ah! A Shaymin from the village! I was wondering who it was. I don't get too many visitors now-a-days. I hope everything has been going well for you!" he said heartily.

"Seems like a nice guy." Pyro said smiling, to Layne.

Layne chuckled and popped his neck. "Yeah. I guess when you're a hermit, you welcome just about anyone from time to time."

"It has indeed been a long time, Ampharos." Shaymin said, paying no heed to the small conversation between Pyro and Layne. "But we have no time for chat. We are in need of your help."

"Really?" Ampharos questioned. "Did something happen?"

"Yes." Shaymin said. "A little further down the road."

Ampharos sighed. "And here I thought I was going to have company for the first time in a long time. But I guess this will have to wait. Can you take me there?"

"Follow us!" Shaymin said.

Upon reaching the sight, Team Frontier let Ampharos look at the beaten Sneasel. They let him work and Ampharos finally declared that they would be safer at his cave. So they ended up taking the Sneasel to the cave and let Ampharos work. Everyone else enjoyed some hot tea to help them battle the outside cold. Ampharos also had a roaring fire going on his floor. There was some small talk going on when suddenly a few groans were heard from Sneasel.

"He'a waking up!" Shaymin said.

Everyone gathered though gave him enough room. When Sneasel finally opened his eyes, Shaymin asked, "Are you okay?"

Sneasel rubbed his head and said, "What happened? Where am I?"

"You've had a rough journey." Ampharos said. "You're currently in my residence."

"I'd be thankful, Sneasel." Breloom said. "Had Ampharos not found you when he did, you may have been in deeper trouble than you were."

"Y-You brought me here?" Sneasel asked Ampharos.

"You credit me too much, young one." Ampharos said. "Everyone here helped in your rescue. I didn't even know about you until Shaymin and those two came and alerted me."

"I see..." Sneasel simply said. "I..." Sneasel said before rubbing his body, in pain.

"Don't say anything." Shaymin said. "You don't have to. It's best that you take it easy and rest right now."

Ampharos nodded. He then looked at the teams and said, "I will continue to take care of him. You all may continue your climb to the mountain's peak if you desire."

"Pardon?" Layne asked, looking up after finishing his drink.

"You were headed for the summit, were you not?"

"Yes." Pyro said.

"It's not too far away. If you are well prepared, and ready for the climb, you should go before a mountain storm kicks in."

"B-but-" Pyro began, but was cut off.

"You all accomplish nothing staying here, young one. You don't know what is up ahead. And I think it's well worth it. I will take care of Sneasel. You all may go on ahead."

"Are you sure?" Breloom asked.

"Beyond sure." Ampharos said.

"Then, we leave him in your care." Breloom said.

The two teams then left, leaving the retired explorer, and the silent Sneasel in the warmth of the cave.

The two teams went on as one but would eventually split up to cover more ground. it didn't matter to Layne. Team Frontier was kinda weird to him sometimes. Perhaps he was just used to working with the guild so much and working with outsiders was strange to him. Even Shaymin was strange to be traveling with them.

Thinking of the guild once again brought Autumn into the equation. He wondered where she was exploring today. Did she know of Sky Peak? Was she already at the top? Why was he thinking of her so much? Well that was a stupid question. He loved her. And she loved him. Te nights they had spent together, whether they were in the Mess Hall back at the guild with everyone else, or when the guild was on an expedition and they were alone on the beach, were nights to remember. They enjoyed each other's company. Layne just hoped he could keep his end up with Pyro while they were apart. Perhaps Autumn was more to Layne's exploring than he thought.

"Hmm. Strange." Shaymin said. That broke Layne out of his train of thought.

"Huh?" he asked. "What's up?"

"Something's different from when I was last here."

"Uhh, I hate to sound cynical," Layne said, "But wasn't the last time you were here, years ago? Time should have changed something."

"Sorry." Shaymin said nodding. "It could just be me. However...we are just about to the peak! I can see it up ahead!"

They then broke into a run. The ground seemed somewhat...barren again, but Layne paid no heed. But as they began to enter a shroud...something not expected to be seen was seen.

"This...this is terrible!" Shaymin said.

The land looked...poisoned. The plants were all dying, the grass crumpled beneath their feet, and what would have been pools of water, looked thick with sludge.

"What happened?" Layne asked.

"This happened...while we were away for so long..." Shaymin said sadly.

It was then that Team Frontier approached.

"Oh, it looks like Team Hydro Pyro beat us here!" Breloom said. "But what is all this? This can't be the summit!"

Layne was about to say something to express disappointment, when Shaymin shook her head. "No. This is-"

"Icky, sticky...grimy...slimy..." a voice said. "We love this dirt and slime!"

"What the hell?" Layne said looking around. As they looked around, pokémon...Layne wasn't even sure he wasn'ted to call them anything but organisms of some kind, surrounded them. They rose from the pools of sludge, and surrounded them. Purple in color, their odor, was horrendous, and they laughed at the sight of the explorers.

"Anyone wanna fill me in here?" Layne asked.

"Grimer...and Muk..." Shaymin said. Then she looked angrily to them. "This isn't your home! You know this! Go back to where you belong!"

"No! Noooo!" one of the pokémon said.

Another nodded and said, "Lies! Liiiies!"

"A larger one said, "We drive away the clean. We live here."

Shaymin sighed and said, "What are you saying? This isn't-"

Then one attacked her. Layne barely reacted in time before hewater pulsed a Grimer away from Shaymin.

A brawl began shortly, with the group of Muk and Grimer, these sludge pokémon, attacking both Team Frontier, and Hydro Pyro.

Layne felt a little rusty. It had been a while since a group like this had attacked them. But luckily, his memory was coming back. Layne had the help of Pyro, Shaymin, and Team Frontier behind him. This hopefully wouldn't take long.

However it was harder than it looked. The pokémon were made of sludge. Layne was trying everything in his arsenal of moves, skills, and knowledge, but they didn't slow. His water attacks did not slow them, and physical attacks didn't seem to harm them either, it was like trying to separate water from water by hand.

Pyro's fire attacks also seemed to not fair up. The sludge creatures just laughed it off as if it were nothing.

Shaymin started to worry. "We can't give up! Something needs to be done!"

Pyro looked over. "Like what? These Grimer and Muk are just shaking off all our attacks! I've never fought these pokémon before!"

Layne kept evading one's attacks left and right. His mind was starting to race. How could they defeat these...things? Snow then began to fall. Layne at first paid no heed to it as he continued to keep on his feet and evade attack after attack. The snow started to fall heavier, and that's when Layne saw it. They were starting to slow. He also didn't notice, his eyes, starting to glow. A very light blue. Shaymin saw this and alerted Team Frontier and Pyro, "Get under cover, right away!"

"What, why?" Pyro asked.

Layne wanted to speak, but found he couldn't. Why? He suddenly felt energy swell up from the inside.

"It's Layne!" Shaymin shouted. Snow began to fall even heavier. "He's about to-"

Layne stopped listening. The energy swelled. It built! And he let out a huge yell. The snow began to swirl around Layne. The Muk and Grimer saw this, and were terriffied. "What's happening?" one cried out. Some of them even froze intoblocks of ice.

Layne had no idea what was happening. He continued to let loose his energy. Until he heard Pyro scream out, "Layne!" He stopped, felt the energy fade away. He fell to his knees.

Pyro, who was under cover, rushed over. "Layne, you okay? That was something else!"

"What even happened?" Layne asked.

Team Frontier came out of cover. "I think, that was a Blizzard attack." Machoke said.

"Blizzard?" Layne asked.

"It's a very powerful attack. Ice types use it a lot. I guess you're capable of using it as well." Machoke said.

"Well...I didn't even know I had it in me..."

Shaymin looked to the Muk and Grimer. "Have you all regained our senses?"

The sludge pokemon, began to thaw. Some of them looked around. "What happened?"

One of them saw Shaymin, and said, "Shaymin! It's you!"

"Yes." she said. "What happened while we were away so long? This isn't your territory, and you know it."

"What?" They exclaimed. "Yes it is! How do you explain all this sludge and grime?"

"Aren't they a little...dense?" Layne asked, standing up.

"Hmm..." Shaymin said in thought. "No one has come here in so long...still...this is the mountain's summit."

"The summit?" one shouted.

Shaymind nodded. "It may have fallen into disrepair since no one has visited in so long. If you understand, please return to your territory."

The pokemon nodded, apologized again and disappeared, without any violence or resistance.

Layne looked at the land, which was still dead and dying. "Now what?"

"Well we cannot leave this place as it currently is." Shaymin said. "We must restore it."

Mawile was questioning to that. "How do we do that?" She asked.

Shaymin smiled and said, "Just leave that to me. We Shaymin have a very special ability to help clean up areas like this. It won't be easy, but..."

Pyro asked, "Can we help at all?"

Shaymin shook her head and simply said, "You might wanna take cover."

As she said this, dirt from everywhere began to fly towards Shaymin, and entered into the flowers blooming off it's side. The wind picked up.

Layne looked, "Come on!" he shouted. They all took cover behind a boulder as more dirt entered Shaymin. The earth shook, and when it settled, they all took a look at Shaymin. The once, green grass which grew on her back, was now dead and dying. The flowers, withered. Everything, a different color.

"Shaymin..." Pyro said. "Are you okay?"

Light suddenly burst forth, blinding everyone...

Once their vision came back however, no one could believe what they saw. The land was filled with life. The snow was gone, as was all the sludge and grime. Flowers bloomed within full beauty and the once gray sky, turned blue...

"This is the summit?" Mawile asked. It's so much different than what it just was!"

Breloom nodded, "It's so beautiful..."

Shaymin smiled to them all. "You've reached the summit! Congratulations!"

Pyro smiled and looked to Layne. "We did it!"

Layne chuckled. "Good to be back in business." He walked over, and his eyes went a little wide. "Guys, you haven't seen anything until you see what I see."

They all came to Layne. The sight was vast. The skyline was below them. Clouds covered smaller mountains below them. A few mountains topped the skyline, but not like them. The mountains below...looked nothing like mountains at all in fact. Then Layne looked up. The stars shone. It wasn't night...but he could see the stars just as clear as night. A shooting star flew past.

It made him think of Autumn. She had a goal she had said to him once, to one day touch the stars. Now, here was Layne. Standing here. Closer than he realized.

"Autumn..." he thought. "If you could only be here. You'd be so close to your goal..."

Pyro saw him in thought, smiled and nudged him. "Hey. One day, she'll see this."

Layne was a bit surprised at how easily read he was, but he smiled. "Yeah. She will." He knew she would, even if he had to take her here himself.

"Layne..." Pyro said. "Do you regret ever forming this team?"

Layne chuckled and shook his head. "Not a chance. It's changed my life, Pyro."

Whether or not Pyro knew just how much Layne's life meant to himself or not, Layne held no regrets to anything that had happened in the past year.

This was the life...Nothing got better it seemed...

Well...not yet at least..