For Some reason, I had a really hard time with this one.
The next few days were uneventful. Riolu spent his free time among the residents of treasure town socializing. Xaira spent most of her mornings and evenings in Spinda's Café, ordering various drinks and gathering information from other explorers. Some days, she would stay so long that Riolu would have to drag her out of the café.
"Come on Xaira," Riolu said one morning, "We have work to do."
"In a moment," Xaira said as she sipped her drink made from a White Gummi. "I might get one more after this.
"But this is your fifth one!" Riolu argued.
"So?" Xaira said. "It's free! What's on our schedule today, anyway?"
"I was thinking we could go to one of those places you found the directions to at the bottom of your drinks," Riolu said. "I still wonder how they got there." Before Xaira could respond, Spinda walked to the center of the room.
"I've got some happy news for everyone today!" he announced. "Has anyone here ever heard of a mountain called Sky Peak?" Whispers filled the room. "Sky Peak has not been fully explored, so it still holds many mysteries and according to legend a great treasure rests there. And thanks to Project P, a path to the mountain has been cleared!" The Pokémon in the café cheered. "Furthermore," Spinda continued, "at the base of the mountain, we found a small village with a path that leads up the mountain nearby! It's called Shaymin Village, and the residents have offered to guide us up the mountain! I invite you all to check it out!"
"What do you think?" Riolu asked. "Do you want to check out Sky Peak?"
"Sure," Xaira said with a shrug.
After ours of travelling, the duo reached a small green area covered in flowers. Small homes made out of plants and branches were scattered throughout the area.
"So this is the Shaymin Village?" Riolu said, looking around. " It's pretty peaceful." A small green and white Pokémon approached the duo.
"Welcome to Shaymin Village!" she greeted. "It's nice to meet you. My name is Shaymin. Then again, all the residents of this village are Shaymin. It's kind of hard to tell us apart."
"Nice to meet you!" Riolu grinned. "I'm Riolu and this is my friend, Xaira."
"Did you come to climb Sky Peak?" Shaymin asked.
"Yep!" Riolu nodded. "I take it you know the mountain well?"
"That's right," Shaymin answered. "We've lived here for a very long time. We're here to guide travelers up the mountain, but we haven't done that since the earthquake hit and blocked the path."
"Is it true that there's an incredible treasure here?" Riolu asked. Shaymin laughed.
"What do you think?" she asked. "Anyway, our job is not simply limited to being guides, but in the end, those climbing the mountain must discover some things for themselves. We are merely assigned to assist in those discoveries. If you are in need of a guide. I would be more than happy to help!"
"That would be great!" Riolu said. "Thank you!"
"Alright then!" Shaymin said with a smile. So the trio of Pokémon began to climb the mountain. After quite a bit of climbing through a very green area of the mountain, the group of Pokémon stopped at a place where several other exploration teams were gathered.
"This is the first station clearing," Shaymin said. "There are nine in all before you reach the summit. Rest here for a moment before continuing up the mountain."
Riolu, Xaira, and Shaymin continued their climb up the mountain after a short rest. Along the way, they met am exploration team called Team Frontier, whose members consisted of a Mawile, Breeloom, and Machoke who were setting up facilities that explorers could use at every other station clearing.
Eventually, the trio reached the fourth station clearing, meeting up with Team Frontier again. They were in the middle of a conversation when there was a cry for hel.
"Help!" an Octillery shouted rushing to the two exploration teams.
"What's wrong?" Mawile asked.
"The explorer Sneasel's getting picked on by this strange group near the fifth station clearing!" Octillery explained, out of breath. "I tried to help, but they were too strong!" The members of Team Frontier exchanged glances, nodding.
"Move out!" Machoke ordered.
"Roger! Let's go!" Breeloom said.
"We should hurry too!" Shaymin said as Team Frontier walked off. "I think I have a good idea of who's attacking." The Pokémon scaled the mountain as quickly as possible. Eventually, they reached Sneasel who was surrounded by a group of Carnivine. Team Frontier was already there.
"Are you alright?" Mawile asked, rushing forward. " We came to help!"
"You came to help?" one of the Carnivine asked. "What do you think you're doing?"
"We're Team Frontier!" Mawile declared. "Only cowards would gang up on one Pokémon! This time we're you're opponents." The Carnivine exchanged glances.
"Sounds good," one of them spoke up. Just as the two were about to clash, Shaymin ran between them.
"Hey! Wait a minute!" she exclaimed. "Everyone wait a second!" The Carnivine starred at the little Pokémon before grinning.
"Oh! A Shaymin from the village!" he said. "It's been a while!"
"You haven't changed a bit, Carnivine!" Shaymin said. "We've asked you before to stop bothering the explorers, haven't we?!"
"Sneasel started it!" Carnivine said. "We found some treasure earlier, and he snatched it right from under our noses!"
"And you didn't think to bring that up earlier?" Xaira spoke up. The Carnivine said nothing, but turned to where Sneasel was. The Pokémon was nowhere to be found.
"Where'd he go?" one Carnivine asked.
"He ran off in the confusion!" another exclaimed.
"I apologize for reacting too quickly," Mawile said. "We thought you were the bad guys."
"Well, you can't exactly say that they're the good guys either," Shaymin sighed, shaking her head.
"Hey!" the lead Carnivine exclaimed. "We haven't seen you in so long, and this is how you treat us?!" He stared at Shaymin for a moment, shaking his head. "But since it's you, it's fine. You guys can climb the mountain if you want. See ya!" With that, the Carnivine went off to some other part of the mountain. Team Frontier followed after them.
"Sorry about the trouble," Shaymin said. "The Carnivine have marked this as their territory. They're really nice, but they can be a little rough when they speak."
"We understand," Riolu said. "Let's keep climbing!" As they climbed higher, the mountain grew colder, and the ground became rockier. Eventually, they reached the seventh station clearing where thy saw Team Frontier gathered around an unconscious Sneasel. The trio rushed forward.
"What happened?!" Shaymin exclaimed.
"I don't know," Breeloom replied. "He had fainted before we got here.
"I'll go get help," Shaymin said.
"Who are you going to call to get help?" Mawile asked.
"There's a rescue expert at the eighth station clearing," Shaymin said. "Keep an eye on Sneasel. We're going ahead."
Xaira, Riolu, and Shaymin rushed up the cold mountain. Eventually, they reached a small tunnel.
"This way!" Shaymin said. When they walked in, they found that the tunnel was quite warm thanks to a small fire. A tall, yellow Pokémon sat near it. "Ampharos!" Shaymin called. The yellow Pokémon turned around.
"Shaymin!" he greeted. "It's nice to see you! It's been a long time!"
"We don't have time to chat," Shaymin said. "We're in a hurry!"
"Did something happen?" Ampharos asked.
"There's an unconscious Pokémon at the seventh station clearing!" Shaymin replied.
"And here I thought I was going to have my first guests in a long time," Ampharos sighed. "I'm on my way. Wait here."
After an hour or so had passed, Ampharos arrived with team Frontier and Sneasel. Carefully, Ampharos placed Sneasel on the straw bed in the corner of the room. After a few minutes, Sneasel began to stir. He opened his eyes.
"He's awake!" Shaymin announced.
"Where am I?" Sneasel mumbled.
"Eighth Station clearing," Shaymin answered. "You fainted and Ampharos carried you here."
"You did that for me?" Sneasel asked.
"It wasn't just me," Ampharos said. "Everyone here came to your rescue."
"I see," Sneasel muttered.
"It's alright," Shaymin said. "You don't have to say anything. Take it easy and rest."
"All of you may go on ahead," Ampharos said. "I can take care of him."
"Are you sure?" Riolu asked. Ampharos nodded.
"I'm sure," he said. "Now go, the summit awaits."
Shaymin, Riolu, and Xaira, along with Team Frontier, continued to climb the mountain together. As they climbed, Xaira got the strange feeling that something was wrong. When they emerged from the tunnel, all that could be seen was a thick, purple mist.
"This is terrible!" Shaymin exclaimed. "All this happened while I was away for so long."
"This is the Summit?!" Mawile asked. Suddenly, shadows of Pokemon began to approach the group. As they got closer, it could be seen that it was a group of Grimer and Muk.
"This isn't your home, you know that," Shaymin spoke up.
"No noooooo," a Grimer said.
"Liessssss," another hissed.
"We drive away cleanlinessssss!" a Muk declared.
"I don't think we have another choice," Xaira said. "We have to take them down!"
"I'm afraid you're right," Riolu said.
Xaira used Shadow Ball on an approaching Grimer while Team Frontier took on three others. Eventually, the battle was won.
"Have you come to your senses?" Shaymin asked. "This isn't your home! This is the mountain summit!"
"What?!" A Grimer exclaimed.
"But it's so dirty and grimy!" A Muk said. Shaymin shook her head.
"It probably fell into disrepair because nobody visited for so long," she said. "We can't leave it like this, so can you please return to your rightful home? I'll visit with a token of thanks later!" With that, the Muk and Grimer went away. Shaymin glanced around the area.
"Alright guys, stand back," she said. Shaymin closed her eyes. All the dirt and grime began to move towards her. Suddenly, there was a blinding light. When Xaira and the others opened their eyes again, the mist was gone, revealing a beautiful green meadow.
"This is beautiful!" Mawile exclaimed rushing to get a view from on top of the mountain. "This must be the treasure!"
"Of course it is," Xaira said, shaking her head.
"So Shaymin," Riolu said. "How did you do that?"
"We Shaymin have the ability to clean up the land by absorbing dirt and other things," Shaymin replied. She turned to the others. "Shall we head back to the base of the mountain?"
"We didn't think of how to get down!" Breeloom exclaimed. Shaymin laughed.
"Calm down," she said. "I'll take you all back to the base of the mountain. It's not a problem!"
"How will you do that?" Mawile asked.
"With a special flower called the Gracidea," Shaymin replied. "I just have to touch it like this." She touched the small, pink flower and began to glow. When the light faded, Shaymin looked much different. She no longer looked like a shrub and was much taller
"Are you really that adorable little Shaymin?" Breeloom asked. "You look a lot different!" Shaymin nodded.
"Not only that, I can fly now!" she said. "I'll carry you down the mountain!" Before anyone could reply, one by one, Shaymin flew the other Pokémon down the mountain.
"You know something," Shaymin, now back in her original form, said as Riolu and Xaira were about to leave the village. "That was fun!"
"It sure was," Riolu replied.
"Hey," Shaymin said. "I know it's probably a lot to ask, but may I join your exploration team."
"Sure!" Riolu said. "Right, Xaira." Xaira shrugged.
"I don't have a problem with it," she said. The three Pokémon headed back to Treasure Town together.
That evening Xaira, Riolu, and all the other Pokémon involved with the Sky Peak Expedition gathered at Spinda's Café for a party to celebrate the success. It lasted until dawn.
"When we get home," Xaira said as she and Riolu walked back to Sharpedo Bluff, "I'm going right to sleep." Riolu chuckled.
"Can I ask you something?" he asked. Xaira nodded. "Exploring is fun, right." Xaira yawned.
"Sure," she said. "Now let's get back before I decide to sleep right here."