The Determined Flower

In the large northern landmass called Sinnoh, there were many exotic and beautiful things you can see. There were Pokémon and plants that were endemic to the region. It even has its own legends and myths. But our story doesn’t go with the whole of Sinnoh but just one special Shaymin from her kind that has experienced the hardship and adventure that a certain human boy has caused.

It all started from one simple incident that led her to the care of that boy and his friends. During that time, she was interested to be free from them. She saw them as people who should never have seen her. But through the small adventure and even trying their best to help, tolerating her obnoxious and annoying attitude, she grew to like them and to see them as friends. Unfortunately, she saw that one boy be more than just “a friend” to her. In her mind, she knew she wanted to be with him. But her attitude and demeanor blocked all those thoughts away. She was so high with pride, the irony of being a Gratitude Pokémon. This morning, they all started to walk their way through the forest.

“Why are we here again?” She asked the closest Shaymin in their group. “Didn’t you know? We have to go back from where we went off to.”  The other Shaymin said. “We’re supposed to go back. Fall is coming and the north won’t be nice to us in winter.” The other Shaymin added.

Shaymin felt defeated, knowing the knowledge behind the group’s decision about going back. (But then, I wouldn’t see him…) Her thoughts trailed but as she realized what she had just said, she shook her face. “What am I thinking?! That’s just not possible.” She said as she continues to follow the Shaymin group. Just like everyone of their group was a Shaymin. To add to the purpose why they are a group was thanks to their little size.

Through the perks of travelling in a group, they have kept themselves safe, healthy and intact. But that one special Shaymin still had recurring thoughts that would play once in a while as they traveled on foot to find the gracidea flowers that grow especially in the Sinnoh region. As their group traveled, they saw many other Pokémon, some just as small, others smaller and even the larger ones appeared in front of them. Thankfully, their sheer number could scare even a Garchomp if ever they used the same move.

Shaymin, on the other hand, wanted to finally find the flower to give them the ability to fly like a bird, free from any kind of restraint and boundaries. Before she could complain, their whole “flock” stopped for a rest to feed them and take breaks. They all went their separate ways as they all have different tastes and agendas.

Our heroine was taking a walk over to a small lake she happened to see when they passed by a second ago. She stared at the water. Leaning down, she saw herself in the water’s reflection. Her white body was clean except for the dirt marks on her legs from the walking. Her green, grass-like fur on her back was looking healthy and clear even from the tiresome walking. She took a sip from the water and taking a dip wasn’t so bad. She plunged in as if it was a pool just for her. Unfortunately, her group members had also found the lake she did. Before she knew it, they were all there, swimming, cleaning themselves and even playing with the younger ones.

“How annoying.” She said as a few giggles and splashes have disturbed her in record time. She was about to exit out of the water when a portal opened above them all. Everyone was shocked to find such a thing happening, the young ones were afraid while the other experienced ones were ready to defend the group if it came out as a threat. Before anyone could decipher if this was a threat, a Celebi emerged out of the portal.

The Celebi flew over them, looking at each one. The portal soon disappeared as the Celebi flown over the Shaymin in hearing distance. “Hello there!” The Celebi, sounding female, greeted the Shaymin. The Shaymin had relaxed over this occurring event and greeted like a chorus. “HI!” they all cheered except for our one Shaymin. “Um… Do you Shaymin know what time is it?” The Celebi asked as if embarrassed to not know where she was. “What historical event do you know of?” asked one of the Shaymin to find the answer to the lost Celebi.

“Well… The Legendary Arceus has finally asked “The Chosen One to be her mate for eternity.” The Celebi said while she pondered over the thing she just said. The whole Shaymin flock, even our Shaymin was shocked to hear the soon enough prediction as if it could really happen without them. “LADY ARCEUS ASKED A MALE!?” Everyone shouted as if that was impossible. “I guess I’m back in time” joked the Celebi, seeing the many “WTF!” and shocked faces. “The only major event here was that ‘The Chosen One’ averted the doom of us all!” Another Shaymin shouted within the group.

“Is that so? Then I really am in the past.” She laughed and squealed after knowing when she was. “Well, I guess you really are from the future.” Another Shaymin within the group answered. “Then I thank you for the info. I don’t suppose you Shaymin are looking for a patch of Gracidea plants around here?” The Celebi answered. By the mere mention of what the Shaymin were trying to find, they all shouted in unison, even our Shaymin, “Please tell us!”

“There’s a patch of them just half an hour’s walk from this lake to that direction.” She pointed to where her knowledge knew. Every Shaymin felt relieved to know, they’ll be flying home soon and once more in unison, “Thank you!” They all said.

As the Celebi left and the whole Shaymin group relaxed themselves, a break to hear how close the patch of flowering plants they were looking for. They all decided to have fun. Before long they all went splashing and playing about in the lake. Our Shaymin, on the other hand, was busy relaxing close by.

“Hhhmmm” She said involuntarily due to having to rest. The soft grass was soft, the wind was cold but not too freezing and the day just seems so right. She closed her eyes for a second, and dreaming once more about Ash… His caring and determined face, his straightforwardness, his quick yet flimsy thinking and especially of all his amazing, well-toned body, especially his ‘package’! She panicked, snapping herself out of her day dream and breathed as if a Ghost-type had used Hypnosis the other way around. (What was I thinking?!) She asked herself as she breathed once more to relax her senses. “I can’t be that desperate.” She said to herself trying to avoid the thought once more. “Can I?”

As she was about to return to relaxing their whole group once more moved, telling everyone that playtime and rest time is finished (FUCK!) Our heroine said as she lazily got to her feet. Soon their group has gone and left, moving to the direction the Celebi from before had pointed out. True to what that Celebi said, they reached a patch of Gracidea. As they all entered, under the flowers, they started to change.

Their bodies shone a bright white light as the change was happening. The fur on their backs disappeared, making their body feel lighter for them, their feet extended providing more power on their feet, their ears grew making makeshift wings, their snouts also grew, showing their nose and muzzle has also changed finally they also had a protruding spot on their ends, depicting a tail for them. As everyone changed to Sky Forme, in a fluent and organized form, they flew as a group, hovering over the treetops and traversing the land much faster and more graceful.

Our heroine could feel the air fresh, clean, cold and refreshing. She was in joy to stretch her muscles firmly than that pathetic and puny Land Forme, all cramped and scrounged up. They traveled as far as the sun could give, following each and every other. Heading south, to avoid the chilling winters from higher north, they plan to go to the lower portion of the region. As time passed so did the sun. Before long, they had to land as the sky turned red for the sunset, and the start of the twilight.

As they all did, each and every other Shaymin checked to see if anyone was forgotten. Thankfully, no one was left behind nor forgotten. As the sun had disappeared, they all reverted back to their Land Formes, much to the dismay of our Shaymin. (Why do we have to go back to “this”?) She knew too well how harsh she can be when she complained and so kept it to herself.

Their group’s travels continued like so, walking and finding gracidea flower patches to fly. But their travels also experienced an increase of visits by lost Celebi one after the other. Some came from the past, asking what happened here and there. They kept using the recent historical event; “the Chosen One” has saved the world from Arceus’s wrath. Majority of the Celebis from the past laughed at them, considering how preposterous the Lady Arceus would ever arrive to their world.

Others believed them as a means to note how far they have gone from the future. The other Celebis that came from the future all asked the same but their historical reminder the Shaymin used were welcomed by the Celebis since they themselves has confirmed the events.

Our Shaymin was getting annoyed by how many Celebis are arriving to their time. But to her dismay she cannot stop dreaming of Ash. (Oh why is it a boy that I think to have a wet dream of?) She complained to herself, trying to persuade her mind to reconsider. (Why couldn’t it have been something more logical, like a Mew or even another Shaymin?) She asked in her sleep. As time went by, as the Shaymin tried to reach the lower lands, they again met a Celebi that’s ‘lost’ once more.

As the Celebi saw them, he was about to ask when the Shaymin all but busted out. “The world was saved by “The Chosen One” from Arceus!” Their response surprised the Celebi greatly but understood that they have met numerous Celebis recently. “Oh, I’m sorry about that. I guess you all met one too many Celebis” He embarrassingly said, scratching the back of his head. “Look, I was actually going to Seabreak Path for a certain wedding, do you Shaymin know where that is?” He said sincerely. Now they were surprised, not by the thought that he would be asking like the others but by asking for directions this time. Majority of the Shaymin did not know of where the Celebi is going.

One Shaymin was courageous enough to admit to him. “I’m sorry to say Mr. Celebi; we don’t know where you want to go. All we can tell you is that we are all in the lower part of Sinnoh.” The brave Shaymin said. “That is alright. At least I know where I am, thank you for your honesty” He bowed some and soon flew away from the group of Shaymin. The group was once more back onto their feet, walking south for the winter.

Finally, as they reach the warmth of a spring day, they are now finally way from the chilling air. There they were, large fields of flowers and a few gracidea plants scattered all and about. As they took step on the fertile land, the Shaymin burst out of the group feeling joyful with the pasture. Our Shaymin was just as joyful but her mind kept coming back to the many reminders of the Celebis traveling to their time.

“Lady Arceus asks “The Chosen One” to be her mate…” She whispered to herself, not caring who heard her. The whole pasture was plastered with the colors of green and white as Shaymin after Shaymin moved about in the pasture. They were joyous and happy.

As night fall over them, every Shaymin rested under the flowers; all were in their Land Form. All were sleeping soundly and in their spots of their choice. Our Shaymin chose to stay away from the others feeling troubled by the magnitude of Celebis that asked direction.

In her sleep, she dreamed of the events that had occurred recently. The Celebi that asked where Seabreak Path was, the many Celebis that wanted to know the current major event and the line they kept hearing, Arceus has asked “The Chosen One” to be her mate. Her dreams soon went farther back, back when she was lost, afraid and tired. There she was accidently dragged by Giratina, thinking that she would eat her like a berry. She saw grayed visions of how she had escaped from the bitch by using Seed Flare. She stumbled upon a campsite where Ash and his friends were. She was there and introduced herself to the children. Thinking that they were just humans, they wouldn’t mind having to help a rare Pokémon like her. They did so without worry and hesitance.

There she started to feel her body heat up, heart pumping fast as she dreamed of that not-so distant past. She saw Ash as if another boy who would just help her. Seeing his Pikachu being on his shoulder, she thought about the same thing. In due time, she rode on Ash as if he was just a ride to get to her kind. But her body acted differently towards him when he was in peril. She was there, seeing the same group of children trying to save both Giratina and herself from the other human named Zero. Within her thoughts, she was about to lose another friend, a group that somehow understood her and cared for her, tolerating her obnoxious attitude. And before she knew it, she wanted to save them, save the humans, save her friends. She did so, no question and did her best.

Outside of her dreams, our heroine was tossing around, turning her body, and remembering that horrifying day. Back inside, she did her best and with Ash’s efforts saved the Reverse world and sends her back with her friends. She was happy to finally be with her kind. She cried with joy but then, the reminder that these kids, Ash, Brock and Dawn had helped her through all of the problems she experienced. She felt pained and sad to lose a family again. But the mention that it was for the best stung her to the core of her heart. She was hurt not by the words but by how Ash had said it. I belong with my kind and he was busy with his own life.

At that thought, Shaymin broke away from her dream, sweating and gasping for air. Her body shuddered and rocked as she tried to calm herself. As she somehow did calm herself, her mind kept repeating that past. “Ash…” She trailed, not knowing what she just said. “I just need a walk, that’s all.” She said to herself. The moon was high in the night sky when she walked her way out of the pasture and finding a small stream nearby.

She looks down on her hedgehog of a form, looking deep down in the reflection. As she looked she saw a faint shadow, tall, thin, human like and there was a cap like feature. In that instant she saw it. “Ash…!” Shaymin called, looking back only to find the trees making a mockery of his image. “…Just the trees…” She said defeated to find that her mind is playing tricks. The thought stung her once more. (Ash, where are you?) She thought of and started to cry, her eyes all watered and her own emotions took control. “Why did I not confess to him right there and then?! Stupid Shaymin!” She told herself, not caring who or what heard her. Her hope was crushed.

“What’s the matter, little Shaymin?” A feminine voice asked from behind. That small question got Shaymin’s attention and looked at the one calling to her. There, a Xatu stood, staring down at her as if she arrived there by fate. “Who are you?” Shaymin could only muster her courage to that one question. “I suppose I was brought here by an unknown force. I’m guessing it was you who had called for me in your sub-consciousness.” The Xatu said with truth behind her answer. Shaymin could not believe that a Xatu arrived to her aid but to be there to answer her. “Can you answer some of my questions?” Shaymin asked as if hope had arrived within her heart. “I will answer to what I can answer.” The Xatu said proudly.

“Can you tell me why there are so many Celebis arriving to our time?” Our heroine asks the knowledgeable Xatu. “The event they all seek is the coupling of not only the Goddess of all Pokémon but also the commitment as the “Chosen One”. He will not only marry one, for he is allowed by Arceus herself to take a few several others that she deems worthy.” The Xatu said in fluent and straight to the point.

Shaymin was taken aback by how Arceus is willing to allow her lifelong mate to have such a number of females to be with him as well. Shaymin could think that the “Chosen One” was another human that happen to be him. “Then, what is the name of the “Chosen One”?” Shaymin asked if the Chosen one everyone has a name he went by. The Xatu paused, her eyes all worried to answer. But in the end, she answered her with just a word. “…Ash…” She said.

By the mention of Ash’s name, Shaymin could feel her heart beat so fast and so loud that her surprise was marked off of her face. (Ash… was… The “Chosen One”…) her mind had paused and froze itself by that mention. She could not believe that she had caused so much hardship to him. Her face was one of shock; she could not believe that she has caused such a thing to Ash. “Where can I find him?!” Shaymin asked, desperate for an answer. The Xatu did answer, “The Hall of Origins” She said. Without a word, she just spread her wings and flew away from Shaymin in the midst of a sunrise.

Shaymin was left there, heart sting with regret and guilt. (I should have told him! I should have let him know!) She punished herself. (But I just can’t lose.)  With her mind set, heart bleeding and craving for the one she loves, she left the group in a hurry. She ran off towards the north, where the Hall of Origins is located, prepared to confess everything, to show how much she felt but she just can’t make it easy. She was sure about one thing. She is determined to become “The Chosen One’s” Flower.