Hours trekking through the woods and I've still yet to see a sign of civilization, or life period. I have no idea where Dialga dropped me off at, but so far I'm starting to think I would've been better off lost in the dark future. At least there I had just a small idea about what I was doing. Whoever the girl was that existed in this future, she's not me; not anymore. That girl lost her parents too, but she didn't experience all of that extra loss and heartbreak. We both share the title of a Guardian of Light, we're both the same person, yet she was born in the sun, where I was born in darkness. How much has that changed me from the person I was, or the person I might have been? If I had just forgotten it all like the rest of the world…

Sighing, I sit down against an oak and remove the pack from my shoulders. The sun is going down now; it won't be long before dark and I might as well see what I have to keep me going. Inside, I find items that of any typical trainer might have. I lay them out as follows: a Pokedex, a few potions, vitamins, a first-aid kit, a compass, couple of maps, some food stuffs and dishes, a half-gallon container of water, basic cooking equipment, hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, two extra sets of clothes, a pair of tennis shoes, a sleeping bag. It's a crowded mess in the pack when I put it all back in, but I really don't care. Frankly, after what I've been used to carrying around, most of this stuff seems a little unnecessary- just extra weight. Funny how before I got by just fine with some seeds, fruit, and a bandana.

There's some Pokemon food and a small case of poffins among the food items. I pop one of the latter into my mouth and grin as the sweet taste hits my tongue. They're almost as good as Chimech-

…Oh… Yeah…

I busy myself then with looking at what's in the side pockets. I'm surprised when I find not only three Pokeballs, but badge and ribbon cases as well. I recall briefly what they're for from stories my parents had passed on to me before they died. Dad had been a trainer; Mom had been a coordinator. They'd told me that's how they had met. So which had I been in this future?

I take one of the badges in my hand, flipping it around in between my fingers. As expected- and hoped for- voices begin to dance in my mind.

"I gotta hand it to you; talk about tough. You and that Pokemon of yours sure got fighting spirits. You two deserve this. As the Rustboro City Gym Leader, I present to you the Stone Badge."

"This is so cool! Thank you! What do ya think, Treecko? Our first one! And to think we're just getting started."

"Tree! Treecko!"

I smile. Looks like Grovyle and I had quite the history in this time as well. The course of fate couldn't do a thing to change that, just like Dialga said. Still, I wonder what happened. That one vision wasn't anywhere close to telling me everything. And besides, there's no order to the badges in their cases, each one being incomplete; same goes for the ribbon cases. There's got to be more to this. And why didn't I try to finish what I started with any of them? I pick up a ribbon next.

"What a surprising and outstanding victory! Congratulations to Lira on the win! And now, our own Nurse Joy will present her the Lilycove City Ribbon!"

"No sweat, huh? See? Who needs grace and poise? You're awesome anyway, and now we've got this to prove it. This is all thanks to you, Dusknoir."

Dusknoir?! Why was he on my and Grovyle's team?! After everything he's done! I could never forgive someone like him.

But that might not have been him, another side of me reminds my angered self, He could've been different in this future, just like you were. Still, that fact doesn't make the pain of his betrayal any less infuriating, or the bitterness I feel toward him any less loathly. After what he did to Ri, after he tried to kill all of us just for the sake of saving his own skin and that miserable future, there's no way he'd get any sympathy from me.

So why do those words feel so empty?

I need some answers. But then, there's no one to ask. Or maybe… Grinning, I take the three Pokeballs and toss them into the air, "Okay, if anyone's in any of these, please come out!" But they all just crash to the ground, popping open empty. "Well… it was worth a shot anyway." Two of these Pokeballs must belong to Grovyle and- dare I say it- Dusknoir. I have no idea who the third one belongs to. Until I find them, I guess I really am on my own.

The last thing I find is a pouch full of money, which is a relief. It's not Poke, but human currency. Still, I think I can figure it out; it can't be that different. Another voice appears as I start counting the lot.

"All this is for me?"

"Of course! Everything you're parents saved up goes to you. Just contact me whenever you need more and I'll send it right away. Here's the number in case you forget."

Deep in the pouch is a small slip of paper with numbers written on it. I don't know what they're for just yet, but I keep the paper anyway. It's got to be important somehow.

Well… that's that. Nothing more to be said or done now, and the day's coming to an end. I guess the only thing left for me to do is get some rest. I tuck the pack back behind my head as a pillow; it's too warm a night for a sleeping bag anyway. "Never thought I'd miss that old pile of hay…" I say to the lonely wind. And somehow, I manage to sleep.

…

You will pay! All of you will pay!

Ruined! Everything ruined because of YOU!

And now you're mine! Your friends aren't with you now; they can't protect you now, little Guardian! Little worm! Insolent worm!

You will pay, pay, PAY!

…

I sit up with a gasp, finding myself drenched in cold sweat. Not again; not those nightmares all over again. I've already remembered my past in the dark future, or at least most of it. And the danger of that is gone now, so why are these still happening? Just what was that? Or more importantly, who, and why did their voice sound so familiar?

The sun's up. I need to get moving again. I can think about it on my way, but I shouldn't waste time by just sitting around. So once more, I start walking.

Sometime into the trek, I hear panicked voices shouting not too far in the distance. In an instant, I'm running toward them. Even if they don't need my help, whoever they are, maybe they can give me some clue as to where exactly I am and show me a way out of this forest.

"Gah! Jolteon, stop that! We need to keep moving if we're gonna make it to town by nightfall. Please get out there- yow! Cut that out!"

Breaking through the brush, I find myself standing on a dirt trail, two other humans before me; a young boy and girl. Each of them look about eleven years-old, with orange hair and bright green eyes. The girl wears a spring green summer dress with flip flops while the guy is dressed in denim jeans, work boots, a black cap and t-shirt. The Jolteon in question has dug a hole for itself in the ground, refusing to budge while the kid pulls on his tail in attempts to get him out. "I'm not going anywhere!" he says, sparks flying from his fur in his agitation, "We've been walking for an eternity now and I'm tired!"

I can't seem to muster any surprise from hearing Jolteon speak. This has become the norm for me I guess. Maybe even though I'm human, this is one of those things Dialga was talking about; the things that still cling to me genetically from being a Pokemon before. Can't say I'm complaining about it.

"What's up?" I ask, revealing myself to the trio.

"Hey," the boy says when he sees me, "Can you give us a hand? My Jolteon just won't listen to me and we're in a hurry!"

"Try any funny stuff like this one over here, human, and you'll really be in for a shock!" Jolteon says to me, a tiny bolt of lightning flying up in warning. I can't help but giggle a little at the hidden joke. Strangely enough, I think I know what to do here.

Stepping around on the other side of the small pit, I place a hand over one of the boy's wrists, "Let him go," I say calmly. For some reason, he listens. Meanwhile, the Jolteon looks at me curiously. Looking around, I find just the thing that might do some good. I'm gone for just a second, but I return with two handfuls of Oran Berries I found from a nearby bush. Talk about lucky. "Here, these'll give you plenty of energy," I say to the Jolteon, holding them out, "You'll be up and running in circles in no time until you get to where you're going for a nice long nap."

He sniffs them before tilting his head up at me for a moment longer. "Well, alright," he says, eating one from out of my hand, "At least you seem sane. Maybe you don't have any idea what I'm saying, but if you can, human, try to convince lamebrain over there to let us stop once in a while."

I nearly make him choke on the berries when I softly reply with, "I think I can talk some sense into him." I head over to the boy and offer a berry to him as well. "This should make you feel better too."

He just makes a face, "Eww, gross! Uh, thanks and all, but no thanks. I'll be fine, really," he laughs a bit, scratching the back of his head, "You could say that I'm kinda used to being zapped by now."

I just shrug, "Ok, then. More for Jolteon," and place them on the ground in front of the Lightning Pokemon. "Have you all been traveling for a while now?"

"Yeah, since sunrise. We've been trying to get to Rinshin Town," the girl replies, "How'd you know?"

"Call it a hunch," I say, "You know if you've been going none stop, your Pokemon might just need a break. As tough as they are, no one can keep going forever."

"But we need to get to the town as soon as possible!" exclaims the boy, "Or else we're going to be late for the Fighting-Type Battle Royale!"

"What in the name of Arceus is that?" I ask, confused.

"You mean you've never heard of it?" the girl asks. Seeing the shake of my head, she continues, "It's this annual competition honoring Fighting-Type Pokemon. Competitors dress up like Fighting-Types and then go against in each in ring matches. There are two different competitions going on at the same time; one with people battling each other on their own and another with people battling side by side with their Fighting-types."

"And I'm going to enter with my Medicham," adds the boy, "That is, if we can ever get there."

Well that complicates things. I'm going to need to think for a moment; I'm not sure if Jolteon's going to like needing to go all that way to this town without rest. And to be honest, I don't see these kids being able to do it either. They're too riled up over this competition that they're not thinking straight. But then, what can I do? I'm not their mother; I don't even know them.

"Ask him to battle," Jolteon tells me, "He never misses a chance to battle."

"But I don't have any Pokemon to battle with," I mutter back to him under my breath. Still, that gives me an idea. "Hey," I say in a normal tone to the kids, "I've got some knowledge about Fighting-Types. Why don't you show me what you and your Medicham can do? Maybe I can help and that way, everyone else can rest up for a moment."

"You mean battle? You're on!" the boy says excitedly.

"Told you so," Jolteon states smugly.

I make a nervous laugh, "Not quite… I'm a fighter, but I don't have any Pokemon on me…"

"You mean you're travelling alone?" the girl asks.

"Nothing I can't handle," I reply, "I used to have Pokemon, it's just…" I try to think of the best way to put it that might even marginally make sense to them, "We got separated. I know where they are though, and I'm trying to find them."

"Oh…" the girl takes a moment to herself. Then she smiles, taking out a Pokeball from a pouch at her side, "Well, you can borrow one of my Pokemon then. I don't have any Fighting-Types, but my Turtwig is as tough as they get!"

Me and my big mouth.

"Sounds good to me," adds the boy, "They've got about the same amount of experience and that means there's no type advantage for them either."

After a minute, I sigh, "Well… Why not?"