"Shiftry is a mysterious Pokémon that is said to live atop towering trees dating back over a thousand years. It creates terrific windstorms with the fans it holds."
-Ruby

It was hard not to laugh as I watched Jumpluff roll across the clearing like an obnoxious tumbleweed. He kept protesting my amusement, "Stop laughing, Chespin. This isn't funny anymore."

I couldn't help but laugh though, "Nah, it's still pretty funny. You're a sentient tumbleweed."

Jumpluff sighed, "You said that like five times now. It wasn't funny the first time, and it still isn't funny now." He tried again to stop rolling around, but the wind picked him right back up again.

"Seriously Chespin, can't you do something?" he begged.

Sighing, I stood up from my front row stump. I had had my fun. "Hold still," I commanded Jumpluff. He glared at me because of the irony of the statement. Two twin vines snaked out from my back and wrapped themselves around Jumpluff. I reeled them in so he could float safely in front of my face.

He sighed with relief. "Thanks, I owe you one."
I smirked, "You owe me, like, five. This isn't the first time I've had to save you."

"I know, I know, don't remind me." He avoided eye contact with me. "I can't help the fact that I'm so light."

Rolling my eyes, I figured I should tell him, "You realize I was joking, right?"

My vines twitched a little as Jumpluff flinched, "Uh, I totally knew you were joking. You think I'm an idiot or something?" He didn't actually know, but I let it slide. I didn't want to hurt his pride anymore.

"Please tell me you at least have the Chesto berry. Because, if you don't, then I have to try and get it." I glanced at the tree that towered above me. Dozens of bluish-purple berries lined its branches.

Jumpluff smiled, "Psh, of course I have it." He produced a berry from one of his cotton clusters. I snatched it up with my free vine before the wind could.

"Great, let's go find big bro." We set off in the direction of the tallest tree in the forest.

Thankfully, big bro loved tall trees, so there was really no "finding" involved. Only problem was actually getting to him. Shiftrys create powerful gusts with their fans, and big bro had a problem of doing it whenever he fell asleep. Unfortunately, that made it difficult to get to him if he ever decided a nap was in order. Jumpluff decide to coin the term "sleep fanning" to describe the phenomenon.

Sometimes the wind would become too strong, and we would have to hunker down behind a rock or a sturdy tree before continuing. It was slightly terrifying watching smaller trees topple over while we cowered behind another one. At any moment, we could become pancakes.

Eventually, the wind would die down again, and we would forge on. Occasionally, the wind would catch Jumpluff and make it difficult for me to stay rooted to my spot. He would flap his wings frantically and I would use bulk up to keep us from being swept away. Every time it happened, our nerves frayed a little more.

When we reached the bottom of the cliff big bro's tree sat atop, we decided to rest in our home cave for a little while. Walking miles in heavy winds was a work out, especially since I had to worry about both myself and Jumpluff.

We both tried to return a sense of normality to our adventure by fixing our appearances. He straightened out his cotton balls and I fixed my ruffled fur. After a quick rest stop, we decided it was time to climb the cliff. Against my initial will, I let Jumpluff hold the berry. I needed at least one of my vines to help me climb such an impressive cliff.

I took a deep breath at the bottom and began the enormous climb. I used my vine as a tether and my stubby arms to actually climb. It was not the best system of climbing, but it worked. Sometimes I envied the Pokemon that could do this without help from moves.

"I'm surprised big bro hasn't woken up by now. He doesn't usually sleep this long." Jumpluff commented.

"Yeah," I grunted, "I think he might have fainted."

"Ugh, then this trip will have been for nothing." Jumpluff huffed. I tried to ignore his attitude and focus on climbing, but it gradually started to affect my focus.

I noticed my tether had run out again, so I reeled it in to recast it. Jumpluff was still complaining about something when I thrust my vine out. It struck a rock and missed. Through gritted teeth, I hissed a threat, "If you don't stop complaining, I'll let you go and deliver the berry myself."

I felt Jumpluff wriggle uncomfortably in my grip, "Yeah, well, it's not like I need you either. I can just fly up there in between gusts."

With one hand still firmly on the cliff, I spun to face Jumpluff, "You'll just end up as a stupid tumbleweed again."

His face contorted into a glare. He was ready to spit an acidic comment back at me, but the wind grew strong again. It caught him, and by default, me. My stomach did flips as I fell to my death. I watched terrified as the ground rushed up to meet me. This was the end.

Except, that it wasn't. Instead of continuing to rush at me, the ground started to shrink away slowly.

"Hold still, I can only float us both while the wind is stopped and when you aren't struggling." Jumpluff said. I felt the vine that held him shake ever so slightly. It took me a moment to realize that he was flying us to the top.

With the top in sight, I felt the wind start to pick up again. My heart raced, we weren't going to make it. "Jumpluff, take us back to the cliff." I ordered.

"No, we can make it." He huffed each word out as its own sentence. I could tell he was in pain.

"You're going to get hurt. I can easily climb us the rest of the way." I said. "Seriously, take us back to the cliff."

He ignored me and kept flying. The wind grew faster as we leveled with the top of the cliff. We had begun to move towards the edge when the wind picked up in full force. With quick thinking, I threw out a vine at a sturdy rock sitting on the edge. The tornado-like winds whipped us around violently. There were moments where I thought I wasn't going to make it, but I kept holding on for dear life.

Realizing I couldn't stay out there in the air forever, I started reeling myself in. It was a slow and difficult process, but I made it safely. Jumpluff and I both clung to the rock until the wind died down again. Even after it had died down, we held to the boulder for a while more, too scared to move.

"Hey, I'm sorry for calling you a stupid tumbleweed, that was uncalled for." I mumbled.

"Yeah, that was rude." Jumpluff commented. I glanced over at him with an angry expression, and he corrected himself immediately, "I mean, I forgive you." I still stared at him, hoping he would give up his pride. He sighed, "And I'm sorry for saying I didn't need you. I would probably just end up a stupid tumbleweed without you."

He paused for a moment, "Also, I only owe you four now." It took me a second to understand his joke. When I did, my face cracked a goofy smile.

We both had a small laugh before crawling over to the base of the tree. The fear we both held had melted away during that conversation. It was another tall climb, but it was nothing compared to the cliff. Plus, we didn't have to deal with the wind this time since the source was almost directly above us.

"Race you to the top!" Jumpluff shouted as he took a head start. I unleashed my vines and flew upwards. I flew and flew, but not nearly as fast as Jumpluff, who actually possessed the ability to fly. He met me at the top with a half awoken Shiftry.

"You're so slow." He dragged out the words "so slow" to make fun of my sluggishness.

"Eh, shut it tumbleweed." I smiled, and he didn't. "I'm assuming you fed big bro the berry already?"

"Yep, no more sleepy Shiftry tormenting the forest. He won't sleep for a while now, so he can't make any more sleep fanning wind storms." He plopped down on the nest next to him, "Wow, I

didn't realize that trip was so exhausting. I need nap." He flipped over on his side, "The breeze feels nice up here, I can see why he likes this place so much."

I took a moment to take in the atmosphere. The breeze was warm, but not too warm. Windy, but no so gusty that it would knock you off your feet. As I pondered the weather, I couldn't help but notice how sleepy I became.

"Yeah, a nap sounds nice." I collapsed next to Jumpluff in Shiftry's nest. Shiftry stood over both of us, fully awake now. The Chesto berry had worked wonders on him.

"Guys come on, no sleeping now! You two are such a pain to wake up." Shiftry shouted. We giggled at his remark, "Shiftry, you have no idea." Jumpluff mumbled.