As Riolu and Xaira traveled upwards through the cave, Xaira noticed something odd. Despite all the traveling she and Riolu had been doing that day, she felt very energized. In fact, she felt more refreshed than she did that morning. Riolu noticed Xaira's newfound energy as well. He struggled to keep up with her fast pace as they navigated the cave.

"Hey!" he called. "Wait up!" Xaira slowed her pace.

"Hurry up!" she replied, looking over her shoulder.

"Easy for you to say," Riolu said as he caught up to her. For a moment, Riolu thought he saw a bluish green sparkle in Xaira's eye. It disappeared quickly, so he wrote it off as his imagination. "Where did you get all this energy from anyway? We've been walking all day with few opportunities to rest."

"How should I know?" Xaira asked. "Maybe I'm just anxious to reach the top."

"We've been travelling for a while," Riolu commented. "It can't be too much farther to the top!" Xaira opened her mouth to say something, but stopped when she heard a low noise.

"GRROOOOOOH!"

Xaira's ears twitched, and she looked around.

"What was that?" she asked.

"What was what?" Riolu asked. The noise sounded again.

"GRROOOOOOH!"

"That!" Xaira said. "Don't tell me you didn't hear anything!" Riolu shook his head.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't hear a thing." Once more, Xaira heard the noise, but this time it was louder.

"GRROOOOOOOOOOH!"

"Please tell me you heard it that time," Xaira said.

"I did hear something," Riolu replied as he glanced around the cave. "It sounded like a roar!"

"What do you think that noise is?" Xaira asked, "I haven't heard anything like it." Riolu shrugged.

"There's no telling what's ahead," he replied. "But we have to tough it out! Not far to go now. Let's do this!" Riolu sprinted ahead. Xaira walked behind him lost in thought.

(We are nearly there. And when we reach the top, we may meet Uxie at last. He may answer my big question Who am I?) She glanced at Riolu, who had just finished fighting off a Magmar. (That reminds me. I still haven't said a word about this to Riolu.)

"Hey!" Xaira called, "Riolu!"

"Is something wrong?" Riolu asked as he walked back to her.

"Do you remember what Chimecho said about Uxie?" Xaira asked.

"Yes," Riolu said "What about it?"

"I think that he could be the key to unlocking my memories," Xaira explained, "You see, when I first got here, I had the strangest feeling that I have been to this place before, and after I learned about Uxie from Chimecho-"

"You got the idea that Uxie took your memory," Riolu interrupted. Xaira nodded. For a moment, Riolu seemed lost in thought. "In that case," he said with a smile, "We have an even bigger reason to reach the top that getting that treasure. Let's get moving! You're not the only one who's curious about what you were like. You know, you could be some sort of an explorer. Or maybe even a…" Xara listened to Riolu list off the possibilities, chuckling at some of the more out there ideas. But, as she thought of what could possibly be at the top, her smile faded. Whatever that roaring was, it definitely was something dangerous.

For a moment, she even felt the ground tremor. Xaira took a deep breath. Whatever was up there, she wouldn't allow it to get in the way of her uncovering her past.

...

Meanwhile, at the Groudon statue, Chatot and the apprentices gathered.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Corphish said as he led the others to the statue. "Check this out everyone!"

"This is it?" Chatot asked as he examined it. "The Groudon statue?" Corphish nodded.

"Chatot, do you know about Groudon?" he asked. Chatot scoffed.

"Well, of course!" he exclaimed. "Just what do you take me for? I'm only the head of intelligence for our guild! Groudon is a legendary Pokémon spoken of in myths passed down through generations. The myths say that he raised land from the sea. And that he built up the continents!"

"Hoo-boy! That sounds like a colossal Pokémon!" Corphish exclaimed. "What would happen if you were to face Groudon in battle?"

"Battle?!" Chatot interrupted. "Out of the question! If anyone were foolish enough to face Groudon in a battle… Well, it would be like throwing your life away! He is that strong! Like all legendary Pokémon!"

The apprentices whispered amongst themselves.

"In any case, are you really sure you that you saw the Guildmaster, Corphish?" Chatot asked. Corphish nodded.

"Sure, I'm sure!" he replied, "Bidoof and I saw him when we were scuttling back to base camp. The Guildmaster dashed past, all willy-nilly, in hot pursuit of a Perfect Apple! I gave him a shout and a wave, but he seemed too occupied to holler back." Bidoof glanced around.

"I guess that Riolu's team went ahead. So I'd bet that the Guildmaster went up after them, don't you think?" Before anyone could reply, the ground began to shake slightly.

"Hmmm? The ground…" Diglett trailed off.

"Uh-what? It's shaking!" Loudred exclaimed.

A faint roar rang through the air.

"What…whatever could that be?!" Chimecho exclaimed.

"Something is going on up there!" Corphish cried, glancing upwards. "Let's head up! Hurry!" The apprentices, save for Diglett and Dugtrio, rushed ahead. Diglett just stared in the opposite direction that the others had run. He had heard a strange noise that was quite different than the roaring that everyone had heard earlier.

"Diglett, what is it?" Dugtrio asked.

"Did you hear something?" Diglett asked. "Like moaning and groaning? It sounds like someone's hurt." Dugtrio listened for a moment, but everything was silent.

"Oh, you just imagined it," Dugtrio assured his son. "Now let's hurry."

...

"We've climbed way up!" Riolu said as he and Xaira emerged from the cave. Xaira glanced around. It was beginning to get dark. She shuddered.

"What is it, Xaira?" Riolu asked.

"I don't really know how to put it words," Xaira said quietly. "This place…It feels… strange somehow. It's making my skin crawl…all over. I feel like I'm being crushed by a terrible sense of danger."

"GRROOOOOOOOH…GROOOOOOOOH!" Riolu jumped at the noise.

"Eep! It's that sound we heard earlier, Xaira!" Riolu exclaimed. "I knew it! It was roaring!"

"GROOOOOOOH!" The noise was getting louder. As it did, loud footsteps could be heard. The ground shook with each one.

"S-s-something is… is coming!" Riolu cried, frantic.

"Keep it together!" Xaira ordered, "We didn't come all this way to-" She trailed off when she saw what was approaching. It was an enormous, red Pokémon with gleaming gold eyes. Spikes went down the sides of its body, and it possessed long, sharp claws. The Pokémon unleashed a deafening roar, revealing sharp white teeth.

"Wh-what is that?!" Riolu exclaimed.

"Groudon," Xaira said as she stared at the Pokémon.

"What?!" Riolu exclaimed. "Th-that Pokémon…really exists?"

"Apparently," Xaira replied, still examining the Pokémon. "But something about him doesn't-"

"YOU!" Groudon bellowed. "HAVE YOU COME TO DESECRATE THIS PLACE? DEPART NOW!"

"B-but…" Riolu stammered, stepping forward. "We just want to go to Fogbound Lake!"

"WHAT?!" Groudon roared, causing Riolu to retreat back. "FOGBOOUND LAKE!? I AM GROUDON, THE GUARDIAN OF FOGBOUND LAKE! YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE HERE ALIVE, INTRUDERS!"

"Whaaaat?" Riolu exclaimed.

"Wait," Xaira said. "I thought Uxie was-" She was cut off by a roar.

"SILENCE!" Xaira didn't even flinch at the noise.

"Listen," Xaira said.

"Xaira," Riolu whispered, "Don't-" Xaira ignored him.

"I walked a good distance to get here, and let me tell you, it was a giant pain."

"Xaira…"

"Do you have any idea how hard it was to get through that fog?"

"Xaira."

"Point is, I'm not going to move a solitary step back until you-"

"INSOLENCE!" Groudon roared, "YOU DARE-"

"Oh, lower your voice!" Xaira exclaimed, "I get enough of that back at-"

"Xaira!" Riolu exclaimed. Xara snapped her head in his direction.

"What?" She asked.

"You're making him mad!"

"He's standing between me and-"

"That isn't an excuse! You can't just-" Groudon roared once more.

"YOU! YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR INSOLENCE! PREPARE FOR MY WRATH!" Riolu took a step back, swallowing. Xaira prepared a fighting stance.

"We can't back down now," she said, "Not when I'm so close."

"Are you crazy?!" Riolu exclaimed, "He's enormous! How are we supposed to-"

With a mighty roar, Groudon ran forward, swiping at the two Pokémon. They jumped swiftly away.

"Listen Riolu," Xaira said, "You want to be an explorer, right?"

"Yes but-"

"Then you have to face this!" Xaira continued, "It's an explorer's duty to face these kinds of things! You've been very brave throughout this expedition! You can't stop now!"

"There's brave and there's reckless!" Riolu argued as he dodged another swipe from Groudon. "I say we go back and meet up with the others! They can help us!"

"It's too late for that," Xaira replied as she launched an attack on Groudon's foot, causing him to stumble slightly. "Besides, if they are on their way, it's best that we continue this fight." Xaira narrowly avoided being stepped on and ran beside Riolu. "We can at least make him waste his energy so that if the others arrive, it will be much easier to take him down."

"And if they don't?"

"It's best not to think about it," Xaira said quickly. Groudon swung at her once more, this time hitting her and causing her to fly into a wall nearby.

"Xaira!" Riolu cried. Xaira slowly stood up. Surprisingly, the impact didn't hurt as much as it should have.

"I'm fine!" Xaira said as she shook the dust off. "Now help me! You're stronger than I am!" Xaira attacked Groudon's foot once more. Riolu followed up the move with a Quick Attack, which didn't seem to have as much of an effect.

"Are you sure about that?" Riolu asked. Xaira shook her head.

"Let's not focus that now! Follow my lead!" She began to run around Groudon's feet, attacking as she did. Realizing what she was doing, Riolu did the same.

"Are you sure this will work?" Riolu asked.

"This is all we can do right now," Xaira explained, "so this is our best bet. If you have any Sticks or Iron Thorns, use them."

"Alright," Riolu said, pulling out an Iron Thorn out of the Treasure Bag. Quickly he plunged the thorn into the side of Groudon's foot. Groudon roared, lifting his foot up to stomp on the blue Pokémon.

"Riolu!" Xaira cried. "Watch out!" Riolu didn't respond. He was frozen in fear. Reacting quickly, Xaira rushed to him and pushed him out of the way, causing the both of them to tumble out of the way.

"T-thanks," Riolu stuttered as he stood up.

"Don't thank me yet," Xaira replied, as Groudon charged at the duo. They jumped out of the way.

"What do we do?" Riolu asked.

"Toss an X-Eye Seed!" Xara ordered. Riolu nodded, hurling the seed directly at Groudon's face. It had no effect.

"What!?" Riolu exclaimed. "I don't get it! Is he immune?" Xaira groaned. It seemed like only physical attacks would work. Xaira's eyes widened. She had an idea.

"How many Blast Seeds do we have?" she asked. Riolu quickly looked through the Treasure Bag.

"Quite a few," he replied as he pulled out a handful.

"Give me one and scatter the rest at his feet!" Xaira ordered.

"What?!" Riolu exclaimed.

"Just do it!" Riolu nodded, tossing Xaira one of the seeds, and running up to Groudon, avoiding his attacks as he scattered the seeds around. Xaira chewed the Blast Seed quickly, signaling Riolu to get out of the way. The moment Riolu was out of range, Xaira spat out a fireball, which flew at Groudon's feet, hitting the other Blast Seeds, setting them off. Riolu and Xaira watched as each seed exploded. Suddenly, there was a bright light. When it cleared, Groudon was nowhere to be found. In his place as a small, grey and yellow Pokémon collapsed on the ground.

"What? Where did Groudon go?" Riolu asked, glancing around.

"That was," the Pokémon said, levitating upwards, "not Groudon. That was nothing more than on illusion that I conjured." Xaira took note that the Pokémon's eyes were closed.

"Who are you?" Riolu asked

"As I said earlier, I am the guardian here," the strange Pokémon replied. "And I cannot allow you to pass."

"As I said earlier," Xaira replied, getting into a fighting stance, "I'm not taking a step back the way I came until I get what I came for. So if you would kindly-"

"Wait!" Riolu interrupted, standing between the two, "We didn't come to make trouble! We came only to get some information! That's all! I promise!"

"Information, you say?" the Pokémon asked.

"Yes!" Riolu said quickly. "We're an exploration team, sure…And it'd be nice treasure for coming all this way! But if you have a problem with that, we'll walk away with nothing! We'll have to be satisfied with just making it this far!" Xaira nodded, stepping forward.

"He's telling the truth," she said, "If you will just listen, you will see why I am so…insistent." The Pokémon was silent for a moment, as if he were deep in thought.

"Very well," he said, "I believe you. Let me welcome you, then. I am Uxie, the guardian of Fogbound Lake."

"Did you say Uxie?!" Riolu exclaimed. Xaira stayed silent. If this Pokémon really was the source of her memory loss, she was going to have words for him.

"Yes, truly," Uxie said with a nod, "I stand guard over something special that lies in Fogbound Lake. Please, come this way." Uxie lead the duo down a narrow path. As they walked, Xaira noticed that it had grown rather dark out. Uxie eventually lead them to the edge of a giant lake.

"It may be a little difficult to see at night," he said, "but…Behold! Fogbound Lake!" Xaira's eyes widened. With the moonlight and the lights of Illumise and Volbeat reflecting on the water, it was a beautiful sight. Xaira also noticed a glowing light that was a similar color to the ribbon she wore at the center of the lake.

"Wow!" Riolu exclaimed, "Who'd ever expect to see something like this way up here!"

"Water constantly wells up from far below this place," Uxie explained, "It flows up so heavily that it has long formed this enormous lake. Now cast your eyes to the glowing area at the lakes center."

"That blueish green light, right?" Riolu asked.

"Step forward to get a closer look." Uxie said, Riolu and Xaira did so. As she did so, she noticed something odd in the light. It was a small gear of the same color. As she stared, her pulse raced, and she couldn't help but feel drawn to it somehow. She had to stop herself from stepping any further and falling into the water. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Uxie staring as much as he could with his closed eyes.

"What is that?" Riolu asked, "It has such a mysterious quality!"

"That is…" Uxie paused for a brief moment, "a Time Gear."

"What?!" Riolu exclaimed. Really?! A Time Gear?!"

"It's the sole reason I'm here," Uxie explained, "I guard the Time Gear. Others before you have tried to trespass here. But I used my Groudon illusion to chase most of them off."

"How'd you do that?" Riolu asked.

"That is something I create using my psychic abilities," Uxie replied, "Like so…" Uxie extended his arm, and an image of Groudon came into view. However, unlike the previous one, it didn't appear to be solid, and it flickered. With a cry of alarm, Riolu jumped back. "There is no need to be startled. As I've said, it's just an illusion. What you fought was no more than that. There have been others before who defeated my Groudon illusion. They managed to make their way to this spot. But they were trespassers! So I took away their memories…And, thus, projected the lake."

"Took away their memories?" Riolu repeated before lighting up. "Oh, right! We need to ask you something, Uxie! Meet my partner, Xaira! At present, a Pokémon! At one time, a human!"

"Oh, really? A human?" Uxie asked, surprise evident in his voice.

"It's true," Xaira said with a nod, "You can see why I felt coming here was so important."

"Yep!" Riolu said with a nod, "Did a human ever come here, Uxie?"

"Or do you possibly know what could have caused this?" Xaira asked.

"The answer is… no." Uxie replied. Xaira's ears drooped in disappointment. "I should explain further. I erase only memories of Fogbound Lake. I would never fully erase all memories from a living being. I had nothing to do with your friend's memory loss. Nor do I know anything to do with your into a Pokémon. The cause lies elsewhere."

"All this for nothing," Xaira sighed.

"Oh, well," Riolu said, disappointment evident on his features, "OK. So it doesn't look like you've been here before, Xaira. Sorry if we bothered you, Uxie."

"You were no bother," Uxie assured him, "However, there is something I must ask your friend." Xaira turned her attention to Uxie. "Tell me, have you ever-"

"A Time Gear!" a voice exclaimed. "Well, too bad! We can't take a Time Gear." Xaira and Riolu quickly turned around only to see Wigglytuff walking up to them.

"W-Wigglytuff!?" Riolu exclaimed.

"Wow! Fantastic!" Wigglytuff exclaimed as he took in the view of Fogbound Lake.

"And who might this be?" Uxie asked.

"Our Guildmaster," Riolu explained.

"Glad to meet you, friend!" Wigglytuff said to Uxie. He proceeded to walk over to the Groudon illusion. "Glad to greet you, friend!" He turned back to the lake.

"Gaze upon this amazing view! I'm delighted we came!" Xaira heard several footsteps from behind her. She turned around and watched as the rest of apprentices approached.

"Hey, hey! Someone's over there!" she heard Corphish exclaim.

"Let's go!" Chatot ordered. The apprentices ran closer, but at the sight of the Groudon illusion, Chatot let out a terrified squawk.

"Gr-Gr-Gr-" Loudred stuttered.

"It's Groudon! Spit it out!" Sunflora cried.

"Don't eat me! I'm not tasty!" Corphish said, shaking.

"Hello to one and all!" Wigglytuff said as he walked up to the others. "So what's wrong?"

"G-Guildmaster!" Chatot exclaimed.

"Oh, never mind that!" Wigglytuff said with a wave of his hand. "Everyone, look out there! It's spouting! Pretty! Pretty!" Exchanging confused glances, the apprentices walked to the edge of the lake to gaze at the view. A geyser had erupted in the exact location of the Time Gear.

"Oh, my! So shimmering!" Chimecho exclaimed.

"Yup, yup!" Bidoof agreed, "It's some kind of pretty!" Xaira stared at the sight in awe. She had never seen anything so beautiful.

"Yes, the lake geyser erupts every now and then," Uxie said, "It sends up water just like a fountain. And the Time Gear sends up illumination from below while many Illumise and Volbeat glow upon the fountain of water. In harmony, they are the very vision of beauty!"

"The treasure!" Wigglytuff exclaimed. "The treasure…must be the view of Fogbound Lake!"

"That's kind of a rip off," Xaira stated.

"Are you looking at this, Xaira?" Riolu asked, "This is so magical! It's too bad we didn't learn anything about your past, but I'm glad we came!"

"I'm glad too," Xaira replied. (But if it's true that I've never been here before, why do I feel as if I have? And the Time Gear…. When I see it, why does my pulse race? This unease I feel…What does it mean?)

"So sorry to have disturbed you!" Wigglytuff said as the geyser died down. "I Had a fantastic time!"

"I shall not take away your memories of this place," Uxie said, "You have all earned my trust. But I must ask that you keep this place a secret."

"Surely! Thank you!" Wigglytuff replied, "We all know what we need to do! You know, another Time Gear has been stolen. This must stay safe! We won't ever say a word about this place!"

"Please hold true to that promise." Uxie said.

"OK! Let's be on our way!" Wigglytuff replied. "Chatot, if you will!"

"B-but Guildmaster," Chatot said, "What about Team Skull? I haven't seen them since-"

"Oh, never mind them!" Wigglytuff interrupted, "I'm sure they'll be perfectly fine."

"Very well then," Chatot said, "Everyone, we're going back to the guild!" With that, everyone made their way back to the base camp, and after gathering their belongings, set off for the journey home.

I'm sorry this took so long. The Groudon battle gave me massive writer's block.