Chapter 3
The End of the Cycle
"Everyone, I wish for your attention!" Evie said once they returned. Grovyle and Gardevoir helped assemble a crowd. "First, I'm sure you noticed the change in our friend Treecko. Everyone, meet my partner Grovyle." Evie said. The crowd cheered for Grovyle. "Next, I have even better news. Grovyle did not get his new form for nothing. I give you, an old friend." Gallade then came out, and everyone's cheers could be heard a mile away, and some even started crying out of relief and joy for Gallade's safety. "I'm sure you all are happy to see our old friend and guardian, and we have no one to thank but Grovyle and Gardevoir. I think I speak for us all when I say: thank you." More cheering sounded from the crowd. "Lastly, some very long awaited news. I am proud to say that we have now found one location of a Time Gear!" The cheers for Gallade paled in comparison to the cheers of this news. The whole town was more alive than it has ever been.
"We can finally be saved!" Golem pounded his chest.
"It's been two years in the making!" Charmander laughed.
"Alright, settle down, everyone!" Evie shouted over the cheers. Slowly, the cheers died down. "As such a discovery, you may expect me to go on an expedition. As such, I entrust the leadership of this place to Gallade and Gardevoir. Do as they say. Grovyle and I will set out once everything is prepared." Everyone then went to help prepare Evie and Grovyle for the journey ahead.
"Partner, I have to ask. How do you know the foggy forest has a Time Gear?" Grovyle asked.
"I saw it in a vision. I don't know how it happened. It might have been the excess energy from the lake that caused the vision. That's really the only sound logic I have right now." Evie said.
"Perhaps. No matter, we should be getting ready." Grovyle said. Evie nodded, and grabbed her journal.
'If the vision occurs again, I may want to record the events prior. So that I can activate it again for future research.' Evie thought, putting the journal in her bag. It didn't take long before the two set off, the people wishing them luck on the journey. They had no doubt that if they encountered Dusknoir, he wouldn't let them off easy. So they were cautious on the road, wary for any patrols. But strangely, it seemed like this part of the continent was clear of patrols. And the only thing they had worry about were the Pokémon that wandered the areas. In this region, however, they seemed to be more willing to fight. Evie guided a Grovyle through every maneuver, and every attack was landed with brilliant accuracy.
They ventured through the mountain range between them and the forest, and made it through with little effort. But the forest was a different story. It was almost impossible to navigate. Eventually, they had to call a rest.
"I think I see a little cave over here. We can rest there." Grovyle said. Evie nodded, and they snuck into the cave. Fortunately, it seemed empty. "I didn't think the fog would be this bad."
"I don't remember it being this thick. Maybe… no, never mind." Evie said.
"Alright then. We should be going soon, though. Never know where the Sableye patrols are." Evie said.
"Evie, wait." Grovyle said.
"What is it, Grovyle?" Evie asked.
"Why… what is the real reason why you want to change the future? I know you don't want to live here anymore, but what drives you?" Grovyle asked.
"Uh… I… I don't know. I always thought of the others besides myself. What about you, Grovyle?" Evie asked.
"The reason I fight for a better future is this: I won't truly disappear. Sure, my spirit may fade from existence, but as long as I make a difference in the past, I won't be forgotten, right? So I won't truly disappear." Grovyle said.
"Wow. In the short time you've existed, you've already come up with a reason to push on and never give up. You know, I really do envy you, Grovyle." Evie sad.
"Why's that?" Grovyle asked.
"Because the moment you were born, you knew what you wanted to do. That's an extraordinary thing to be capable of." Evie said.
Grovyle shrugged. "Well, when you're born in a future with no light, naturally one would want to see such a thing."
Evie snickered. "You really are stubborn."
Grovyle laughed as well. "Learned it from the best." The two laughed together. "You know, even if we do disappear, I hope I'll never forget the moments we have together."
"I hope so too, partner." Evie said. She leaned back and placed her hand on a stone. Then she felt it again. The sensation of dizziness. "It's happening again."
"What is?" Grovyle asked.
"The… vision…" Evie said. Then the flash took her vision, and she now saw a world with light, and three Pokémon. The forest was not foggy at all, but perfectly clear.
"Woah! You two, look up!" The Pokémon to the right exclaimed. The two others looked up, and saw a large rock formation, balanced on a narrow spire of rock, with numerous waterfalls pouring down from the top. Then she saw the statue on the ground, which was similar to the one she saw in the first vision. The only difference was that there was a red stone in the chest.
Before she could question it, the vision faded, and she was brought back to her time.
"Evie! Are you alright?" Grovyle said.
"Yeah… I had another vision. There's a statue at the end of this forest. I think it's connected to the Time Gears." Evie said. "And above it… no, above us, is a giant rock formation. The structure seems impossible in a time period where time wasn't stopped."
"Woah. Well, let's see if this rock formation is as you say." Grovyle said. They set off again, and were making good time, when Evie tripped on a large rock. "You alright?"
"Yeah, I just tripped." Evie said. She looked back to the rock, to see it looked like some kind of jewel. She touched it, and another vision occurred, showing her the statue before, but the chest had a hole etched into it, as if something could fit in there. She then saw her hands putting the jewel inside the hole. And a white flash ended the vision. "I see. We should take this jewel with us."
"What for?" Grovyle asked.
"It will be useful for activating that statue." Evie replied, leaving Grovyle more confused than before. But he shrugged, and followed Evie. "I also think I figured out my visions. They all occur after I touch something or someone."
"We should try this theory more. Perhaps we can test it near the beach." Grovyle said.
"Indeed, we shall." Evie nodded. Then, after a thick fog layer, they saw the giant stone statue. "Here we are."
"That's a big Pokémon. I wonder what it is." Grovyle said.
"I did some research on the legendary Pokémon of ancient times, and this one looks like Groudon, the legendary Ground type Pokémon, who rose the continents from the ocean" Evie said.
"That sounds like one powerful Pokémon." Grovyle said.
"And there's many more, some more powerful than others. Dialga was one of them, too. He was the legendary dragon who controlled Time itself. But one day, he went mad, reverting to his primal instincts. He is now a vile entity known as Primal Dialga." Evie said.
"Why would he go mad, though?" Grovyle asked.
"Because of the collapse of Temporal Tower." Evie asked.
"Temporal Tower?"
"Yes, it was the spire that kept time in balance, with Dialga ruling from the top. But when it collapsed, he fell with it, becoming what he is now."
"And that's why Time is stopped."
"Correct. And the only way to stop time from collapsing…" Evie said.
"Is to take the Time Gears to Temporal Tower! So that's why we're collecting them!" Grovyle said.
"You catch on quickly. Yes, that's the only way we can stop the planet's paralysis." Evie said.
"So then what does this Groundon statue have to do with the Time Gears?" Grovyle asked.
"Let me see." Evie said. She placed her hand on the statue. The vision occurred, and she saw the top of the rock formation, and it was a beautiful lake, surrounded by a beautiful cerulean light. Then she saw it. In the center of the lake was a light blue Gear with strange patterns. Evie nodded.
"I see. The Time Gear is here! Way to go, partner!" Grovyle said.
"It's… not right here. It's… above." Evie said.
"I see. It's in the lake." Grovyle said. Evie nodded.
"And in order to get there…" Evie said. She reached for the jewel in her bag, and looked at the chest of the statue. She pushed the jewel into the chest, and it emitted a bright white light. When it faded, the fog around them was gone, and all was revealed. Grovyle looked up and was stunned at the lake.
"You weren't kidding. This rock formation is crazy." Grovyle said.
"It won't be easy to get up there, I assume. My guess is that there will be a guardian in the past who will do anything and everything in their power to stop us from taking the Time Gears." Evie said.
"Why is that?" Grovyle asked.
"My guess is the same as to why the planet became paralyzed. It's because the people of the past saw the Time Gears as sacred, and to interfere with one's function would disrupt time itself. That much is true, but from my research, the time paralysis in the area of a Time Gear would only be temporary." Evie explained.
"So you're saying that they believed the Time Gears to keep time stable, when really it was Temporal Tower. Guess they can't be blamed, after all. I assume Temporal Tower was a thing of legends back then." Grovyle said.
"It would seem so, if none dared to attempt restoring the tower. But that just leads me to more questions: if the Time Gears weren't always on the mainland, then why did no one question why?" Evie said, resting her chin in her palm in thought. "Perhaps... no, forget I said anything."
"Alright then. So the Time Gear is up there?" Grovyle asked. Evie nodded, which made Grovyle grin widely. "Perfect. We're one step closer to discovering each of their locations."
"But it never hurts to be sure. Shall we look atop the lake?" Evie asked. Grovyle nodded, and they searched for an entrance. Once they did, they made their way to the top, of course after many battles. Grovyle had become much stronger along the journey to the lake, and began to learn a couple of new moves along the way. And Evie learned more about how to help Grovyle, mainly by telling him what to attack and with what move. Along with that, with every battle won, she felt their bond tighten more and more.
She felt it only natural, somehow. As if destiny were meant to have Pokémon be commanded by humans, but somehow the world took a different turn in the future.
'Is that why humans are so uncommon in this world? If so, then why am I one of the very few? Surely if humans still existed, they'd try to help Pokémon instead of trying to control them. But even then...' Evie pondered, her thought process being interrupted by Grovyle.
"You Alright, partner?" Grovyle asked. Evie nodded.
"Yeah. Sorry, I was just a bit lost in my thoughts." Evie said.
"No need to apologize. Must've been important. Anyway, we reached the lake." Grovyle said. Sure enough, in front of them was a vast lake, and when Evie stepped forward, her head spun again, and her vision was taken to the past. The lake...
A tear rolled down her cheek, as her eyes took in the beauty of the lake. So many lights... she's never seen so many in one place, and with such color. The water flowed through the lake, and absorbed the light into itself, expanding it forward tenfold. Meanwhile, the lights revealed to be Illumise and Volbeats, two types of bug Pokémon that created wonderful colors. But nowadays in the future, they could hardly make a faint light. So the sight of this made Evie overcome with emotions.
"Stop! You shall not take the Time Gear, scoundrel!" Commanded a voice from behind. Before she could look behind her, the vision ended.
"Evie!" Grovyle exclaimed. She found herself on the ground, with tears still in her eyes. "What happened?"
"I... gods, where do I begin to explain?" Evie said, picking herself up off the ground. She left her tears, however, since they had also seen the beauty of it.
"What do you mean?" Grovyle asked, then remembered Evie's ability. "Did you have another vision?"
"Of course. But... it was so beautiful. So many lights in one place- it was absolutely wonderful, Grovyle! Back in the past- they actually had running water, constant light, and they were- by Arceus, it was the most beautiful thing I've ever witnessed!" Evie rambled on, pacing back and forth. "I wish I could show you, partner! It was- This was-!"
"I understand, Evie. But, the Time Gear. Was it here?" Grovyle asked. Evie then came back to her senses.
"Right. Let me recall." She closed her eyes, and tried to see the place again. A wonderful spring of light... with one giant light in the center. "The center of the lake..." Evie mumbled to herself. She walked across the frozen water, to the center of the lake. There, split in two pieces, was the first Time Gear. A faint cerulean spark left the cracks as the last light faded in the now useless metal.
"So that is a Time Gear." Grovyle mused. "So what now?"
"Now, we make an image of it." Evie said, taking out her journal. "Memory often forgets an image, so we must make sure this is not forgotten." She quickly made a sketch of the Time Gear, tracing what she would assume it to look like if it were unsullied.
"Are we done here?" Grovyle asked.
Evie nodded. "We're done." She closed the journal and put it back in her satchel. "So, where to next, partner?"
"How about home? Rest up for a bit while we figure out where to search next." Grovyle suggested.
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Evie smirked. They walked out of the spring, unaware of a stone statue, previously a powerful entity.
[Meanwhile, elsewhere...]
"Yes. I feel the remnants of the energy as well, Master."
A soft growl, metallic and fierce. A command to the only other living being in the ruins.
"It shall be as you wish, my lord. The meddling human, as well as the Pokémon that support her, shall all perish for attempting to change your world. Shall anything spring up, I shall inform you immediately."
A content growl. The being left without another word. The red lights faded, and all was quiet.
A/N
Apologies for the overly due update! Not much inspiration to go around, and, full disclosure, I kinda forgot this story even existed for a good while. So sorry for the long wait, but it's here. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, leave a review of your thoughts and/or ideas of where I can take the story next.
