Chapter 11

"Are we there yet?" Fennekin sighed. She had grown tired of continuously walking after a few hours, as had the rest of her friends.

Chespin smiled back at her. "Sorry, pal, but we've still got a long way to go before we even reach the Hollow Canyon! But I don't mind because that just means we have even more of an adventure to experience!"

Fennekin laughed at this. "You're all talk, Chespin. I bet you're tired, just like the rest of us. You don't always have to play the tough guy, you know."

Chespin knew his best friend was only joking, but he wondered how Fennekin would feel if she knew he only played the tough guy for her benefit, to make her admire him. Somewhere deep down, Chespin had an intense longing for the approval of Fennekin.

Froakie was behind them, talking to Slowpoke and hearing stories about Treasure Town and the Guild. Chespin was happy to see his new friend taking in the history of his new home, and knew that this would bring them all closer together.

Now, if only there was some kind of action on this mission… Chespin thought to himself. He was used to intense fighting missions, not dull, boring tours of the landscape. Sure, the Hollow Canyon was supposed to be dangerous, but Chespin wondered if it was called "Hollow" because it was devoid of activity and life. He sighed, hoping this wasn't the case.

Meanwhile, Granbull and his team of cronies followed, awaiting the time to strike. The large Fairy-type was excited to bring down the fools who crushed Linoone and sent him to jail. Purrloin nuzzled up to her master as they walked. Granbull only put up with Purrloin because she was stealthy, powerful and loyal. Her futile attempts at flirtation were wasted on Granbull, as he would never give her the light of day. Granbull's heart had been broken several times in the past due to his somewhat ugly appearance, so he had no confidence with girls. Even if he did, Purrloin was too sneaky for him.

"I can't wait to see their faces, contorted with pain!" Granbull snorted with laughter at the thought. Behind him, his cohorts laughed with him. Purrloin cackled menacingly beside him.

"Purrloin, I want you to lay a trap ahead. Pretend to be a wounded Pokémon on the road, and those do-gooders will probably try and help you. That's when you strike, and then the rest of us jump in and back you up. Those silly "heroes" won't know what hit 'em."

"Yes, Master Granbull," Purrloin purred contentedly, "A most cunning plan."

Chespin and friends were now ascending up a hill. Slowpoke seemed to be getting tired, but when Chespin asked if he wanted to stop for a rest, he diligently refused. This was the first time Chespin had ever seen his friend determined to do something. It was surreal, but also quite uplifting to see.

As they pressed on, all four of them grew tired. These winding greens were taking their toll. Chespin started to grow impatient, and wanted to get to the Hollow Canyon more than anything else. Why hadn't they arrived there yet? They'd been on the road for hours, but the repetitive nature of going up and down hills and crossing small streams started to get to Chespin's head. This was so boring.

Do it for Slowpoke… Chespin told himself. He wants nothing more than to evolve and get stronger…

Chespin then thought of his own desire to become strong and make a difference in this messed-up world, and started feeling empathetic towards Slowpoke. Besides, all of these missions were small steps towards his goal of becoming a hero. He looked around at Fennekin and Froakie, who were dragging their feet along the flower-covered grasslands. The smell of the flowers was intoxicating. It made Chespin want to sleep. He then remembered that they had to keep going for Slowpoke's sake, so he kept pressing on.

The group came to a stop when Chespin was walking along and heard a squeal.

"Ouch!" A tiny voice rang out.

Chespin looked around. He couldn't see anything or anyone that could have been the source of the sound. All that was there were flowers.

"Down here!" The voice squeaked. Chespin looked down and saw a tiny little hedgehog-like creature with flowers on its back.

"How very rude of you!" The little Pokémon said gruffly.

"Wh-What did he do?" Fennekin asked, watching the scene confusedly.

"Uh… Chespin… Who is this?" Slowpoke slurred.

Froakie's eyes gleamed with recognition. "I… I know you!"

The Pokémon looked from face to face.

"How dare you step on the legendary Shaymin?!"

"Shaymin? Never heard of you…" Chespin said blankly. "Sorry for stepping on you, though!"

"You should be!" Shaymin said irritably. "If I had my Gracidea right now I would destroy you!"

Fennekin tried to get Shaymin to calm down. "He's sorry for stepping on you, it's just that… You blend in so well with all these pretty flowers, because you're so pretty too!"

Shaymin's eyes grew wide, and she smiled widely. "Y-You think I'm pretty? Wow, thank you!"

"I'm Fennekin, by the way. These are my friends Chespin, Froakie and Slowpoke."

They all introduced themselves to the legendary Pokémon.

"I'm Froakie!" Froakie said. "I've only heard tales about you, Miss Shaymin!"

"Aw, you don't have to call me miss. Shaymin is just fine!"

"But… You're heroics are so noteworthy and the stories of your bravery and prowess have reached the ears of even me. I was born in a far-off land."

Shaymin clearly was a Pokémon that liked to be complimented. She smiled happily when Fennekin and Froakie discussed the legends of Shaymin, who had once stopped a battle between Dialga, Palkia and Giratina. Shaymin was known as the Sky Warrior.

"Sky Warrior? How can a flightless little flower-hog get an alias like the Sky Warrior?" Chespin said unwittingly.

"I am not flightless!" Shaymin blustered.

"You're really digging yourself a hole here, Chespin." Froakie muttered.

"You idiot!" Fennekin said, "Stop disrespecting Miss Shaymin!"

"Uh, you might want to, um… Quit while you're, um… Ahead, Chespin!" Slowpoke said slowly.

"I'm sorry, Miss Shaymin!" Chespin said sorrowfully.

"You'd best be, young one," Shaymin snapped. "Anyway, I am known as the Sky Warrior because I become extremely powerful when I enter my Sky Forme!"

"Sky Forme?" Fennekin asked.

"Yes. If I touch a Gracidea Flower, I enter my Sky Forme. Then, I am extremely powerful, and taller, and I can fly. Boy, do I miss my Sky Forme…"

"Why can't you turn into it anymore?" Chespin asked.

"Do you see a Gracidea Flower anywhere?!" Shaymin hissed wickedly. She really didn't like Chespin. The feeling was starting to become mutual, though.

"But, Miss Shaymin, how do you find a Gracidea Flower?"

"There's this place called the Hollow Canyon near here. Around this time of year, Gracidea Flowers grow there. It's a desolate place, but the Gracidea never fails to grow there on one occasion every year. That time, by my calculations, is… Tomorrow!"

Chespin and his friends looked at each other. They then moved away from Shaymin and had a team huddle.

"Do you think we should, uh… Offer to let her travel with us?" Slowpoke asked.

"If the legends are true, she'd be really useful if we had to battle any enemies!" Froakie added.

"Plus, she's so nice… I'd love to make friends with her!" Fennekin chimed in.

Chespin looked at all his friends to make sure they weren't joking.

"Are you guys… Serious?!" Chespin couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You guys want to let that uppity little brat join us? She probably isn't even the real Shaymin. Lucario and Luxray met Shaymin before, and they didn't describe her as anything like that…"

"Well, Chespin, I'm sorry but… You were rude to her first. Anyway, majority rules. So let's take her with us."

Chespin opened his mouth to protest but knew it was futile. Once Fennekin's mind was set on something, there was no changing it back. The four of them returned to Shaymin.

"Miss Shaymin, we're actually headed across the Hollow Canyon, too… We're meeting a certain Pokémon on the other side of the canyon. We'd really like to travel with you, and maybe hear some of your stories?" Fennekin asked politely.

Shaymin considered this for a second, then smiled widely. "Sure!" She said happily, "I'd love to travel together and get to know you young heroes! It's always refreshing meeting new friends!"

"We're glad to have you along, Miss Shaymin!" Froakie said kindly.

When his friends all had their backs turned towards the horizon, Shaymin gave Chespin a devilish smile.

"You're stuck with me now, little hero!"

Chespin tried to contain his anger.

"Let's be sure to get along!" The annoying little hedgehog said sweetly.

As the day passed, they crossed even more grassland, with Shaymin telling stories of her past and all the other Legendaries she'd met. The sun was starting to set, creating a beautiful pinkish sky.

"Entei is a nice guy," she started what felt to Chespin her thousandth story, "Although he's a bit hot-headed! Get it? Because he's a fire type!"

All of Chespin's friends laughed at this terrible pun. Chespin wondered how they could ever get along with that bratty little creature.

"Pardon me for asking, Miss Shaymin," Chespin interrupted before she could continue her Entei story, "But have you heard about the recent events about Darkrai and Arceus?"

"Ah, yes…" Shaymin's tone grew sad, "That's a nasty business. That's why I'm heading to the Canyon. I need something to defend myself with if Darkrai tries to attack me."
"If he tries?" Chespin asked.

"Yes," Shaymin replied, "I'm hardly going to try and fight against him by will! That would be suicide! If the Creator himself didn't stand a chance, what makes you think anyone else-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Chespin yelled viciously.

"Chespin, don't shout at Miss Shaymin!" Fennekin scolded.

"How can you listen to her, Fennekin?! She, a Legendary Pokémon, won't even assist in the world's efforts against Darkrai, while our friends—"

"I'm sorry, little hero." Shaymin said. "I didn't mean any offence, but I don't mean to throw my life away. I don't believe in heroism anymore."

This shocked the whole group. Chespin was furious.

"You're so powerful, and a great hero of legend, but you don't believe in heroism?! Don't you listen to yourself? Two of my best friends are off heading towards the Hall of Light to face Darkrai themselves! Two Pokémon you met! Do the names Lucario and Luxray mean anything to you?"

"Ah, yes, I do remember those two," Shaymin said, "One of them was a human. They're headed for the Hall of Light? How foolish of them, to just throw their lives away like that!"

"They are not throwing their lives away! They're actually doing something for the world, while you're looking for a powerful item just to protect yourself? I thought you were a hero, not a selfish fool!" Chespin couldn't hold back his rage at Shaymin's words. He looked like he was ready to try and fight her.

"Chespin, calm down," Fennekin said, gently touching her friend's arm. "Miss Shaymin didn't mean anything by it…"

Froakie had noticed something while all that commotion was happening, and walked over to whatever it was he had seen. Slowpoke followed him, probably wanting to stay out of this argument.

"Ordinary Pokémon like those two are risking their lives while a Legendary like you only cares about herself?! What gives you the right to abandon this world?!"

Shaymin had had enough, and unleashed a Seed Flare, her most powerful attack. Chespin hurtled backwards, screaming in pain.

"You… Brat…" He glared at the Legendary Pokémon.

"I abandoned this world a long time ago. It was my choice, and I won't have some little kid playing hero try and tell me otherwise." Shaymin whispered.

Fennekin was helping Chespin up, and trying to get them both to calm down. Chespin tried to launch a counterattack, but Fennekin held him back.

"Miss Shaymin, I know it is your choice to fight or not, but you went a bit over the line when you said that about Lucario and Luxray." Fennekin said to Shaymin. She nodded and muttered an apology.

"And Chespin, I know you feel strongly about becoming a hero and saving the world and stuff, but Miss Shaymin has a right to choose whether to put her life on the line for the sake of the world, and you just have to respect that choice. I want us to travel together and have a good time, so I want you both to promise me that you'll stop fighting."

"I promise." Chespin said reluctantly. Fennekin let go of him, albeit still worried he might try to attack Shaymin again.

"I promise, too. I'm sorry, little hero, I truly meant no offence."

"I… I shouldn't have overreacted."

A moment later, Froakie returned with Slowpoke, holding a small Pokémon in his arms.

"Froakie, who is that?"

"I don't know, but she looks injured!" Froakie said worriedly.

"We, uh… Should help her! Isn't that, uh… What Explorers do?" Slowpoke said dutifully.

Chespin, Fennekin and Shaymin approached Froakie. In his arms was a small, feline Pokémon who was fainted.

"Let's stop for the night," Shaymin said. "I can heal her wounds overnight. We still have a ways to go, but we can afford to rest tonight."

"Okay," Chespin said, "Let's set up camp here and get some rest. Shaymin, get ready to heal her."

Quite a bit behind, Granbull smiled around at his underlings.

"She's got 'em…" Granbull said. "Tonight, when they're sleeping, Purrloin will give us a signal. Then, we get revenge for the imprisonment of our old buddy Linoone…"

The group of outlaws laughed evilly.

"Did you, uh… hear that?" Slowpoke said to Froakie while their friends set up camp and Chespin collected berries for them to eat.

"Hear what?" Froakie asked.

"I thought I could hear some, uh… Evil laughter."

"Oh, well, I didn't hear anything." Froakie assured his friend.

"Oh, uh… Okay." Slowpoke replied, "It must have just been, my, uh… Imagination."

A/N: Chapter 11 is another longer Chapter. I love this Chapter too, and the new character introduced is one I have quite a bit planned for. We also get some minor development for other characters, as that's what I wanted this Chapter to be about. The Hollow Canyon storyline is only really beginning, so get ready to see what happens next now that Granbull has laid his trap. Enjoy Chapter 11, and be sure to leave a review telling me what you thought.