Hello, everyone! Sorry, sorry, sorry for being so late with this update! Ugh, It took me long enough. I've had friends come over left and right. And now I have to go to Wisconsin for family troubles... Maybe I'll have the next chapter out within the next week or so. Perhaps I can get some writing done during the sixteen hour drive. But since I'm a licensed driver now... that may be an impossibility. Anyway, enjoy the chapter.

Ch13: Honor For All

We were deep in it. We knew that all to well. Several times the rest of the guild tried to apprehend us. And I had to fight them. Even if they were my friends, I couldn't care less about the rest of them. The only ones I care about are Lina, Alana, Vincent, and Team Meteor. When they saw me fight of the others, and not even touch them. The look in their eyes was just empty... When they looked at me, or when our eyes met. I saw nothing, but disappointment in their eyes. I'm forcing myself to keep going. As I walk through the dark dripping cave with Grovyle at my back. Sadness weighs at my heart. I wish with all my heart that my friends were doing this with me.

But I guess these friends of mine will come and go. I'll be the first to leave and last to know. I clutched Alana's relic fragment within my paw, the only thing I still have of here. Keep going. I told myself. I can't stop now. I must see this through to the end. "Are you ready, Sinclair?"

"As I'll ever be..." I said dismally. Nothing was more deathly silent than it was inside this cave. I clambered along through cold and sullen puddles. Stupid confining spaces, good thing I'm not claustrophobic. I stood up after slipped through the not-so-tight fit. It was Grovyle who had it hard. I watched him BARELY squeeze through a hole that was taller than me. We reached a large clearing. We must be close to the exit. I stared down through the dismally lit area.

"There!" Grovyle shouted.

We ran through, towards the exit. Nothing will stop us now! I raced across, my heart spilling over with zeal. I was ready to grasp and throw down with the next trial I was to face. I wasn't alone! I had someone at my side. I can do this!

"SINCLARE!"

xxxxxx

I couldn't believe this! This was insane. I stared everyone else. They wouldn't move or do anything. This was my time. I turned to Pandora and said, "Both of you wait for me here." Pandora nodded slightly in agreement.

"Please don't go Nano." Vertigo squeaked.

I looked at her with gentle eyes and said, "Don't worry my little torch bug. I'm coming back. He won't hurt me."

Vertigo's expression changed. "How do you know that?" She asked.

"Even though we haven't known him all that long. I know that Sinclare would never harm or let anyone of the pokemon he cares about come to harm. Sinclare would sooner fight Darkrai before he or any one of us came to harm." I firmly believed in those words. I know who he is, and he would never harm me. I made my way through quickly. My tiny body squeezed through the hole with ease. I ran as fast as my little legs would carry me. I could smell him. I could hear his voice. I ran faster than I have ever ran before. As soon as I left the hole I shouted.

"SINCLARE!"

I watched him turn around in surprise. His so called companion was with him. I glared at the Grovyle, but not Sinclare. My gaze softened as it landed upon his blank, yet somehow refreshing visage.

"Nano," he said, with surprise in his voice. "I hadn't expected to see you here. I was thinking more along the lines of... Team Necro, or Team Syndicate for that matter." I furrowed my brow at his statement. The curiosity that built with my brain broke the dam. I had to ask.

"Why do you speak as if you are no longer apart of the guild?"

He sighed loudly. "I've been branded a traitor and a fugitive, have I not?"

"Give yourself up and I'm sure that (somehow) you'll be pardoned for your crimes."

"I have done nothing wrong!" He responded. His words were spun with venom and anger. I felt my chest tighten in response to his harshness. "I'm saving you all from the atrocities that await us if I don't finish what Grovyle started."

"Do you truly feel what you are doing is right?" I asked.

His mouth opened wide, then fumbled. I felt him take the time to think it over. Maybe... some part of him still has doubts. "If you saw, what I saw Nano. You would do this, too." I wondered very much about what he had saw. What in world could have caused him of all pokemon to choose this path? "Nano."

"Huh?" I watched Sinclare take stance. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He was going to attack me!

"I'm sorry..." He came at me with charged Aura Sphere in hand. My body froze. I watched him come at me, his movements blurred. It was quite clear the difference in our power was great. "...for dragging you into this!" I shut my eyes, and braced myself for the pain that never came. I opened them again to find a fainted Omastar before me.

"Grovyle did you take care of the Kabutops?" He asked.

"Yeah!" He responded moving into the next room.

"Sinclare." I said.

"From one team leader to another. We both protect, and we both serve. Which do you put first?"

"With blood on my hands, and dirt on my knees, I will protect the pokemon I care about with my last breath. For my friends, I will fight until my last breath." That's sorta what I wanted to hear. I watched him turn his gaze from me. And with the stride of a strong man, he walked away into the darkness. Willing to rend it, with his voice.

I made my way back as well. They were waiting on me. When I saw them, Pandora spoke first.

"What happened? I felt your mind cry out for help." He said. "Did Sinclare try and harm you?"

"No." I responded. "Simply put: He needs our help."

"What?!" Vertigo cried. "Are you crazy, Nano? You want us to help a fugitive?"

"NO!" I shouted. "I want us to help a friend." They both stared at me as I was crazy. That look drove me to the furthest depths of anger. "He needs us! I could see the pain in his eyes. He needs someone that is not that Pokemon with him. He needs his friends." I began to sob. "Sinclare is so hurt that we, Team Meteor, and Team Syndicate, and Vincent, most all, betrayed him."

"You all have no idea how much he needs us." I looked at Vertigo and Pandora, and then some.

xxxxxx

I felt Nano's words echo in my heart. I wonder...what I should do after I finish this excursion? I wonder...? I won't go back to the guild. Well, not until I'm ready. Shall I stay near? Shall I go far? Or shall I wonder? I have yet to earn myself a title in this world. I wonder... what shall it be? Sinclare the Wayfarer? Sinclare the Pilgrim? Sinclare the Believer? Sinclare the Crusader? Or Sinclare... the Hopeless Wanderer?

"Yeah..." I muttered staring up at the bedazzled sky. "That has a nice ring to it."

"What has a nice ring to it?" Lapras asked, intruding on my thoughts. Then again, I was the one who spoke his mind.

"I was just wondering what I will do when this is over." I relaxed, my head was cradled by my arms and his neck. I gazed upon the open ocean for time being. Maybe this will put my mind at ease.

"What are you thinking about doing?" He asked. He certainly seemed to be intrigued by my thoughts, but I just couldn't tell why. I grasped Alana's relic fragment tightly within my fist. Then decided what I was to say.

"I'm going to wander." I muttered low enough only for him to hear, so not to wake Grovyle. "I was thinking about the title I was to take for myself. And I decided."

"On?"

"Sinclare the Hopeless Wanderer."

"A bit forlorn don't you think?"

"I like it. And I'm not exactly in my right mind as of now." I yawned loudly, and smacked my lips, resting my head peacefully on Lapras' head.

"You better go to sleep." He said in a fatherly voice. "We should reach the Hidden Land by the early morning." I nodded in acceptance. My eyes closed. Fatigue soon came to claim my coiled mind. My slumber was interrupted by the jerk of a neck.

"Did you here that?" Lapras asked. I opened my eyes and looked around. I was late to notice his wide-eyed expression.

"Hear what?" I asked with concern.

"Nothing, never mind." Lapras went back to his rested gaze, that was strewn about the ocean before him. It was odd indeed. I swiped the errant dirt from my shoulder and rested my eyes once again. I hoped this time I would not be disturbed.

xxxxxx

Morning's virgin light came calling. I awoke with loud yawn, and long stretch. Grovyle wasn't a morning person. He kept mumbling about it's too early in the morning for this shit. I had no idea what he was talking about. Though it was quite apparent he did not want to wake. "Your keeping me awake." He grumbled, rolling over in the shadow of Lapras' head.

"Here we go..." Lapras said uneasily. He rose from the water in the most genie-like manner. The aquatic pokemon floated like a magic carpet over the mirroring waters. I breathed a deep sigh. It was time.

"Sorry to drop in like this!" The cackling voice came from Arceus knows where. I just know that I was suddenly enveloped by the wing of a bird. Its soft feathers tickled my nose to no end. I managed to cock my head to left, trying to get a clear view of our assailants.

"Dawn, hold onto this giant-ass turtle like there is no tomorrow, understand?" He asked.

"Rodger!" the bird squawked.

"Let go of me!" Lapras shouted, as he rose higher into the air. I glared daggers into the sun-blurred forms.

"Dawn?" I asked. "I assume that you there same Pidgeotto that attacked Vertigo awhile back, huh?"

She sneered. "That's right. And I assume that your the same Riolu that helped the damn parasite?"

"Don't you talk about Vertigo like that, you bitch!" I growled.

"Oh," came the voice. "So you are the one that harmed my underlings. Well, I be sure to repay you in full. My son is still recovering thanks to you!"

"The Mankey that died in the forest deserved what he got." I shouted.

"Not the Mankey! You imbecile!" The black blob shouted. "My son Terance! The Pawniard!"

"So what? You came here for revenge?" I asked.

"Well, that's one reason." I raised my eyebrow in a questioning manner. "I'm also here because... Well this is our story now!"

"Say what?" I asked in surprise.

"We are going to be the heroes! While you sit back and watch us from the shadows! Besides, who knows what powerful artifacts are hidden within the Hidden land?" By this time Lapras was completely airborne. I struggled against our feathery binds and shouted loudly to the sky.

"Well this one certainly has a fire in his belly." Cackled the blob.

"What the hell is going on?" I heard grovyle ask.

"Apparently we are being hijacked." I retorted. "Just wait until you let go, you bastards! I'll beat you into the ground!"

"Sir, it appears that we have arrived in the Hidden Land." I observed the pokemon that spoke. I watched the Hitmonchan hide his gloved hands behind his back. His etiquette was strange, he spoke as if he were a servant.

"It appears so, my good butler. Dawn." said the Pawniard.

"Yes?" the bird asked.

"Detach," The newly focused pokemon turned to me. His face contorted to a cheshire grin, revealing his sharpened triangulated teeth. "I'll be seeing you, I'm looking forward to our fight." he dipped his fedora down over his eyes. I watched them fly away, as I held my fists clenched tight.

"Lapras please make haste!" Grovyle asked.

"It seems we were hijacked, yet they did not ask us to change course." Lapras mused. "I wonder..." His mouth went silent. The Hidden Land, this was it. I look upon the eldritch clouds as they thundered with red lightning, the trees with leaves flowing in within the frozen wind.

"The Temperal Tower..." Lapras spoke. "See it in the distance?"

"Ah, there! It is!" Grovyle croaked.

"Yes, I see it..." I repeated. "In the distance."