A/N: I've decided to discontinue my other PMD Explorers fanfic, "A Dark Heart Healed," for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest ones is that I feel like its very nature rushes Darkrai's redemption to the point of being unrealistic, especially considering that he was a very vile and foul-hearted villain during the main storyline. Also, I have a different player-partner team now and writing based on the old one feels too weird.

Instead, I'm going to give you an entirely new PMD Explorers fic. One that features our favorite Pokémon from a restored future and what will happen when past and future Pokémon reunite. Enjoy, but don't read unless you've played the full storyline of PMD AND Special Episode 5 of Sky!

I'm not sure whether there will or won't be pairings, but if there are they won't be a main feature of the story. I'm receptive of pairings for all three of Grovyle x Celebi, Player x Partner, and Grovyle x Partner, but in this fic the first two will be the ones I potentially use.

Chapter 1 – Dusknoir's Debt Repaid

"Lyceus!" Grovyle shouted atop the Vast Ice Mountain. "Aine! Can you hear me? We are alive!"

Dialga bowed his head reverently. "A BEAUTIFUL GIFT HAS TRULY BEEN GIVEN TO YOU," he said solemnly. "BECAUSE OF THE COURAGEOUS ACTIONS OF POKÉMON OF THE PAST AND FUTURE ALIKE, YOU MAY NOW FINALLY LIVE THE LIVES THAT YOU WERE DENIED TO YOU IN THE PAST."

Dusknoir looked up at the lord of time. "Master Dialga," he bowed. "Throughout my entire existence, I devoted my service to you when your sanity was destroyed and your mind corrupted by darkness."

Dialga nodded, understanding what his faithful servant was asking. "YOU MUST FIND YOUR OWN PATH NOW, DUSKNOIR," he instructed, "ONE MORE WHOLESOME THAN SERVITTUDE TO A DERANGED BEAST. I KNOW THAT MANY WILL DISTRUST AND POSSIBLY DESPISE YOU FOR YOUR ACTIONS, BUT YOU HAVE THE WILL AND STRENGTH TO ENDURE AND BECOME GREAT."

"I will vouch for you, Dusknoir," Grovyle agreed, offering his former enemy a hand. "If Aine and Lyceus share our story as I'm sure they will, then I will be remembered as a hero just as much as you will as a villain. And with my word supporting you, the latter can easily be changed."

The Ghost-type extended his own hand and shook Grovyle's. "I've been given a new life, Grovyle, thanks to you. I do not yet know what I will do with this gift, but I will devote my very being to finding a new purpose for the benefit of all," he promised.

A female giggle interrupted them. "Tee hee...that's all well and good, you two!" Celebi exclaimed. "But nobody is going to find anything up on this freezing mountain! I say it's time for us to return home!"

Dusknoir looked quizzically at the pink legendary. "Just where exactly is home now? The Hidden Land?"

"Wherever we want it to be, Dusknoir," Grovyle replied. "Wherever we want it to be."

/

As soon as the trio of friends completed their descent down the Vast Ice Mountain, they were immediately set upon by the group of Sableye. All of them were looking much happier than Dusknoir had seen them in living memory.

"Wheh-heh-heh! Master Dusknoir! Grovyle! Celebi!" one of them exclaimed. "You've returned! You won!"

"We have indeed, Sableye!" Dusknoir proclaimed. "And we bring wonderful news! The future is saved…and all of its Pokémon are still alive!"

"Wheh-heh-HOORAY!" all of them exclaimed as they swarmed Dusknoir like eager children greeting a long-lost father.

Grovyle smiled nostalgically. "They almost remind me of Wigglytuff's Guild, the way they cheer like that," he commented with a trace of wistfulness.

Celebi placed her small hand sympathetically on his shoulder. "You miss them, don't you? You want to see them again?" she asked softly.

Grovyle nodded without saying a word. By now, Dusknoir had noticed his friend's sadness as well. "Hmm…" he thought, "I owe Grovyle many things. An apology for betraying his trust, a show of gratitude for restoring the world…if only I could offer my assistance in some way. Celebi," he called to the Time Travel Pokémon. "How long has it been between the past of Lyceus and Aine and now?"

Celebi sighed. "Decades, at the very least. Lyceus, Aine, and indeed any Pokémon Grovyle might have met in the past, are all either very old or have passed on to Giratina's domain by now. And something tells me that Grovyle wouldn't want to see them at the brink of their end."

Dusknoir shook his head. "That was my guess as well." He turned to Grovyle. "Grovyle…tell me something. Do you wish to see Lyceus and Aine again? Them…and everyone else you've met and grown to care for in the past?"

Grovyle sighed. "I've earned a new life for myself, Dusknoir, we all have. I need to work on that first, now that I actually have it. But once I've settled down and cleared everything out…"

"…you do, don't you? I see." Dusknoir finished. As Grovyle and Celebi gave him melancholy looks, he looked up at the sky and the sun that now glowed in its blue vastness. "I just hope, Grovyle," he thought to himself, "that Master Dialga feels enough gratitude towards us to transform your most heartfelt dream into a reality."

A Few Months Later

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Celebi asked as she sat down next to Grovyle. The two watched the sun slowly creep over the horizon. "Seeing the sun rise every morning?"

"I've watched it rise every time I can get an opportunity, Celebi," the Wood Gecko agreed contentedly, "and it remains as lovely as the day when we first saw it together."

Celebi sighed. "It's a shame Dusknoir missed it, my dear Grovyle. He can see all of the ones that come after, but he disappeared before he could witness that one moment when the world of darkness truly became one of light. Then again, he DID try to trap you and almost tried to rip your spirit out of your body, so maybe that was Arceus' way of punishing him?"

Grovyle shook his head. "He made the right choice when it mattered most, Celebi, you know that as much as I do. It doesn't do any of us any good to dwell on the wrong ones he made before that. Besides… he's been trying his hardest to make up for it since then."

"I know…" Celebi muttered. "You know, come to think of it, lately we haven't seen Dusknoir for quite some…"

"Grovyle! Celebi!"

The two of them whirled around to see the subject of their conversation floating towards them. What really surprised them was the fact that, contrary to his usual stoic and commanding personality, he seemed almost excited and was moving at a speed unexpected for one with his massive bulk.

"Good morning, Dusknoir," Grovyle greeted him. "You seem unusually energetic today. Did you catch a particularly powerful outlaw?"

"Never mind that," the ghost brushed the question aside. "You need to see Master Dialga. Immediately."

"Dialga?" they both got on their feet (or in Celebi's case, took to the air). "What does he want?"

Dusknoir's voice was impassive, but he couldn't hide his smile. "You'll have to wait for him to explain it himself."

Temporal Tower, an Hour Later

"Huff...huff…" Grovyle grunted as he dodged away from a Salamence's Zen Headbutt. He retaliated with a Quick Attack and Dusknoir followed through with an Ice Punch that knocked the dragon out instantly. "I forgot just how tall this tower actually is when it's not collapsed."

"You've been through much worse," his friend replied in a deadpan tone and pointed at the stairs. "That will lead us to the Temporal Pinnacle."

The two of them and Celebi reached the stairs and climbed to Dialga's Sanctuary. As Dusknoir had said earlier, the legendary of time was waiting for them.

"I SEE DUSKNOIR DELIVERED MY MESSAGE IN A PROMPT AND EFFICIENT MANNER," he commented approvingly.

Dusknoir bowed respectfully. "A pleasure to serve you as always, Master…er, Dialga."

Dialga nodded and turned to Grovyle. "YOU ARE PERHAPS WONDERING WHY I HAVE SUMMONED YOU. A YEAR AGO, DUSKNOIR REQUESTED AN AUDIENCE WITH ME ALONE HERE AT THE TEMPORAL PINNACLE. HE WANTED TO ASK ME A FAVOR, WHICH I HAVE DECIDED TO GRANT NOW THAT MY POWER HAS BEEN FULLY RESTORED."

Grovyle raised an eyebrow at Dusknoir. "A favor?"

"Yes," Dusknoir confirmed. "Grovyle…you are the savior of the future. All Pokémon, even those with tainted hearts, hold you in high esteem and respect. But even now, your thoughts constantly turn to the past…to two Pokémon specifically. And that is why…"

"I WILL GRANT YOU PERMISSION TO RETURN TO THE PAST."

Grovyle and Celebi both gasped. "WHAAAAAAAAAAAT?"

"AND I WILL SEND YOU THERE AS SOON AS YOU WISH. IF ANYBODY DESERVES THE RIGHT TO TRAVEL THROUGH TIME, GROVYLE, IT IS YOU. AS FAR AS THE POKÉMON OF THE PAST KNOW, YOU EXIST ONLY AS A MEMORY OF A TIME WIPED FROM EXISTENCE. THAT IS NOT TRUE JUSTICE, AND I WILL SEE TO IT THAT THIS IS CORRECTED."

Dusknoir turned back to Grovyle. "To see Lyceus and Aine, and all of your friends in the past. That is my gift to you."

The Wood Gecko stared stunned at Dusknoir. "I…" he stammered, his calm and collected composure completely shattered. "I…I don't know what to say, Dusknoir. I can't just repay this with a simple thank you, this goes far beyond anything I could have expected!"

"It is nothing, Grovyle," he replied calmly. "I don't need to hear what you're trying to say to know how you feel."

"Won't the two of you come with me?"

Dusknoir shook his head. "I do not think that would be a very good idea," he said dryly. "I think you're forgetting that just as much as you're the savior of the future in their eyes, I'm the monster who tried to keep it on the path of destruction. I doubt I'll receive a warm welcome if I were to return."

"I'll fix that, Dusknoir," Grovyle promised, "I swear." He turned to Celebi. "And what about you, Celebi?"

The time traveling legendary sighed. "They were your friends far longer than they were mine, my dear Grovyle. It wouldn't be right for me to intrude." She suddenly giggled. "Besides, you know how busy we've been lately! Everyone will go crazy if all three of us suddenly disappeared out of the blue."

"We'll be fine, Grovyle," Dusknoir reassured him. "Returning to the past means far more to you than it does for either of us."

The two shook hands once more and Grovyle turned back to Dialga, his excitement rapidly rising. "How soon can I go, Dialga?"

"AS SOON AS YOU WISH," the legendary of time answered.

"Then I'd like a few moments to prepare before going."

Dialga nodded in understanding. "I SHALL CREATE A DIMENSIONAL HOLE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO YOUR HOME. IT WILL BE PREPARED BY THE TIME YOU RETURN, AND IT WILL LAST ABOUT ONE DAY IN CASE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND." His body began to glow. "I WISH THE THREE OF YOU GOOD FORTUNE," he declared before vanishing in a tremendous flash of light.

Dusknoir gave Grovyle a quizzical look. "I would have thought that you would seek to depart as quickly as possible," he said, confused. "Why did you ask Master Dialga for time to prepare?"

His friend smirked. "Because Lyceus and Aine deserve to see me first more than anyone else," he replied with a calculating tone, "and I know exactly the items that can make sure that happens."

/

One descent down Temporal Tower and a few hours later, Grovyle was busily rummaging through Team Vitality's storage of items and treasures, tossing unneeded items behind him. Celebi yelped and ducked as a Soothe Globe sailed past her head, which Dusknoir managed to catch before it smashed into the floor.

"Careful, Grovyle!" he protested in annoyance. "That Soothe Globe took us a lot of time and energy to find!"

"Sorry, you two!" Grovyle called back. He suddenly reached in and grabbed some items. "Excellent! I knew we still had a few in here!"

Celebi saw what Grovyle was holding. "Invisify Orbs? Vanish Seeds?"

"I believe he intends to conceal his presence from Treasure Town until he can find Lyceus and Aine," Dusknoir deduced, "and reveal himself to them alone. Given the temporary nature of vanishing items, he may need a few to ensure his concealment. Is that correct?"

"More or less," he confirmed. "And now I'm ready."

Dusknoir and Celebi followed their friend outside of their home. And just as Dialga had promised, a Dimensional Hole was ready and waiting to take them to the past. The six Sableye were also waiting.

"Wheh-heh-heh! Grovyle's here!" As soon as the one closest to them announced those words, they instantly all waddled towards their hero to give their farewells.

"See you later, Grovyle!" one of them shouted.

"Wheh-heh, they're gonna get a shock!"

"Tell us all about it when you get back, wheh-heh!"

"Please clear our name! I don't want Team Forblaze to think badly of us!"

The Wood Gecko sensed the nervousness from the Sableye who had asked this. "They won't after I tell them how you all Fury Swiped Primal Dialga himself!" he assured them.

The Sableyes grinned and backed off as their master and Celebi approached Grovyle. Celebi hugged him tightly across the neck. "I'll miss you, my dear Grovyle," she said almost in a whisper before finally letting go.

"You act like we'll never see each other again," he joked reassuringly, though his eyes betrayed a slight hint of concern. "I'll just be gone for a few days at most, and then I'll be back. You'll see."

Dusknoir barely managed to conceal a knowing smirk as he pat Grovyle lightly on the shoulder. "Enjoy your trip to the past, my friend," he offered before gesturing to the Dimensional Hole. "Your dream awaits."

Grovyle nodded and faced all of his friends from the future. "Just a year ago," he began, "we were the bitterest of enemies, willing to fight each other to the death." He held his arms out wide. "Look far we've come since then, in a beautiful future where we can live without the darkness."

"Here, here!" one of the Sableye exclaimed.

"And now," Grovyle declared, "the time has come to share the wonderful news of our future to the Pokémon of the past!" With these last words, he turned around and dove into the Dimensional Hole. The last thing he heard before the sensations of time travel overwhelmed him was the final cheers and farewells of his companions from the future as he journeyed toward the companions of his past.

/

I really love the special episode "In the Future of Darkness," it really wrapped up Grovyle's story arc quite nicely in my opinion. Although I wish Grovyle could have visited my team in the past after the disaster was over.

I believe that when Grovyle convinced Dusknoir to sacrifice himself for the sake of saving the future, he also unlocked his redeeming qualities as well. Regardless of what you can say about Dusknoir before he saved Grovyle from the electric ice pillars, he is infinitely more heroic and likable (based on his dialogue) during the ascent of the Vast Ice Mountain and the final fight with Primal Dialga. Add the fact that his biggest fear about disappearing is no longer a concern, and Dusknoir is very capable of becoming a genuine hero. Your call whether you agree with me on this or not, but in this fic, as you can tell by what he did for Grovyle, that is what has indeed happened.

So Grovyle, Celebi, Dusknoir, and the Sableye are all close friends now. But what exactly have they done with their new life? And what will happen when Grovyle finally meets up with the player and partner (in this fic, Lyceus and Aine)? More details to come in the future.

Read and review please!