Chapter 9: Fogbound Lake- no longer fogbound!

"I- I don't understand." DarkEH stammered. She and G had stopped outside Steam Cave for G to use the Kanghaskhan rock.

"What don't you understand? This seems to be the entrance to fogbound lake." G said, stuffing a box in storage.

"Not about that! Why did you suddenly change emotions back there?! Usually when you're furious, nothing can stop you!" DarkEH exclaimed.

"We have to be strategic while our powers are limited like this." G said calmly. "Besides, it's best to hold off on a direct confrontation with Team Skull. They use too many dirty tricks."

"That's not what you said earlier!" DarkEH argued.

"I didn't think Wigglytuff would come. We can't confront them while Wigglytuff doesn't know the truth." G replied. He finished his preparations. "That's over. We'll deal with Team Skull later. For now, let's keep up the expedition."

"F- fine..." DarkEH muttered. The team entered Steam Cave.

Xxx

Meanwhile, Skuntank and Koffing were preparing their attacks.

"Hey, Wigglytuff!" Skuntank shouted.

"What is it?" Wigglytuff wondered, turning around.

"Take this! Sorry, but we're taking you down!" Skuntank and Koffing unleashed their attacks on the unsuspecting guildmaster...

Xxx

"Whew. That wasn't so bad." G and DarkEH had made it to the midway point without much trouble at all. Only a Numel or two had given them any problems, and that was fixed with Oran Berries.

"Looks like we're halfway there." DarkEH noted. "...! What was that?!"

There were roaring sounds.

"Whatever it is, I don't like it at all." G commented.

Xxx

"Finally." Flash groaned. He was standing in front of Steam Cave.

"Flash-Kun!" Flash tensed up, but to his relief, it was only Toxic and Fox.

"I think this is the entrance to the lake." Flash explained.

"Can we work together now?" Toxic frowned. She secretly didn't want to get stuck alone with Fox, but was too nice to say anything.

"Sure, as long as Nan and Alicia aren't here." Flash deadpanned.

"They aren't!" Toxic said cheerfully.

"Then let's go..." Flash stopped short.

"Something wrong?" Toxic blinked.

"Yeah, what is it?" Fox wondered.

"I should tell you two something... I know this place." Flash said, turning around.

"Wut?! Plot twist!" Toxic gasped.

"I think... Uxie may have messed with our memories and put us in this whole situation." Flash frowned, closing his eyes.

"Hm... It's one theory..." Toxic looked determined. "Let's get to him and ask him!"

Xxxx

G and DarkEH had a bit more trouble, and DarkEH seemed to not be doing as well as G anymore.

"DarkEH..." G finally growled in aggravation.

"Sorry!" She yelped.

"It's fine, just let me handle the enemies." G said, taking down a Granbull that had gotten her HP low. "And eat Oran Berries when you're feeling weak."

"Yes sir."

With that, they got through Upper Steam Cave and reached the top.

"...! Something's off here..." G murmured.

Whatever DarkEH was about to say was drowned out by loud roaring. Then there were quick, loud footsteps.

"Something's coming! Get ready!" G hissed. DarkEH also prepared herself.

Xxx

"Here, hey hey!"

Corphish led the guild members other than G, DarkEH, Wigglytuff, Flash, Toxic, and Fox to the Groudon statue.

"No one's here." Chatot said dryly.

"I saw the guildmaster walking in the woods on my way back, but he didn't notice me." Corphish shrugged. "And I told Team DarkEHIsASkrub to go on to Fogbound Lake."

"Maybe the guildmaster went after them." Nan suggested.

"Perhaps."

There was suddenly a loud growling sound.

"What was that?!" Sunflora gasped.

"It's coming from the lake. Let's go." Chatot led the group off, but Diglett stopped Dugtrio.

"Dad, do you hear something?" He wondered.

"You're imagining it. Let's go." Dugtrio replied. They followed after the group.

Nearby, Team Skull lay completely defeated.

"Wigglytuff... Is way too strong..." Skuntank groaned. "To think he beat us... Dang..."

Xxx

Groudon stomped into view.

"I thought the statue couldn't be a coincidence..." G sighed. "This is gonna suck."

"Not Groudon... Why Groudon...?" DarkEH shook.

"I AM GROUDON. YOU ARE TRESPASSING IN FOGBOUND LAKE, WHICH I AM THE GUARDIAN OF. I WILL ANNIHILATE YOU." The legendary declared, preparing to fight.

"Wonderful." G grumbled as DarkEH backed away.

Xxx

"This is the only entrance!" Chatot exclaimed as they reached Steam Cave. "Let's go!" The group entered.

"Hey, Chatot... What do you know about Groudon?" Corphish wondered.

"It's a powerful legendary Pokemon that created land." Chatot said.

"What if someone fought it?" Corphish asked.

"Suicide. That's all it is. They're screwed." Chatot said.

"That sounds like foreshadowing." Nan sighed.

Xxx

Groudon immediately slammed the ground between G and DarkEH, throwing up a bunch of boulders which he turned into a rockslide.

"Kya!" DarkEH tried her best to dodge, while G expertly dodged around the boulders and leaped up, slamming Groudon twice with his tails.

"DarkEH, you don't know any ground type moves yet, so stay back!" G called. DarkEH just moaned from the rubble. Groudon slashed at G, knocking him down. G quickly got up and used sing, putting him to sleep.

"Now!" G charged forward...

Xxx

After a lot of spamming sing and attacking while he was asleep, the duo managed to take down Groudon.

"You should try to be more useful next time." G deadpanned, earning him a smack to the head.

"How did we beat Groudon?! This is against the natural order!" DarkEH gasped.

"You beat Groudon?!" Toxic gasped as she and her two friends reached the duo.

"Yup!" G grinned. Fox went over to poke the legendary when it suddenly disappeared.

"That Groudon was no more than an illusion. I am Uxie, the lake guardian, and I cannot let you pass..."

"Wait! We only want to talk! Not to take the treasure! We'd like it, but we'd willingly leave without it!" Flash shouted suddenly.

"...I see. I believe you." Uxie appeared before them. "Come, to Fogbound Lake."

After a small trek, the group could see Fogbound Lake. It was beautiful- blue waters, bright lights filling the sky, and a glowing center to the lake.

"Look closely at the glowing center." Uxie ordered.

"...!" The group gasped as they saw a glowing gear positioned in the lake. Flash felt a knot in his stomach.

"That is a time gear." Uxie explained. "My job is to defend it. Few have reached this point, and all were defeated by my Groudon illusion." He created it as he said that, scaring all but Flash and G.

"Uxie... We all used to be humans. Do you... Do you know anything about this?" He asked.

"No. My apologies." Uxie replied.

"That's too bad, we can't take a time gear." Wigglytuff came out of nowhere and walked over to Uxie. "Hello, friend, friend!" He walked over to the illusion Groudon. "Nice to greet you, friend, friend!"

"Who is this?" Uxie wondered.

"Our guildmaster." G grinned ruefully. "He's kinda strange, but he's really nice..."

At that point, the rest of the guild arrived. After panicking about Groudon, and Nan and Alexis stopping Alicia from fighting it, they all stare at the beautiful view.

"You know, what Uxie said can't be true..." Flash suddenly thought to himself. "This place seems familiar to me... And I feel strange looking at that time gear... I wonder what's going on..."

"I'll allow you to keep your memories." Uxie told the guild.

"Thank you! A second time gear was stolen recently, so we can't afford for this one to be taken. Farewell, friend, friend!"

And so...

The expedition came to a close...

But there are still many unanswered questions, especially for Flash...

End of chapter 9.

A/N: aaaaaaaw, I'm sad the expedition was only this long, I love it! Oh well. Poll time again! Please vote again! Fox, since you're in it now, you vote too! It's needed that you guys vote so I can make the next chapter! By the way, the results were this last time:

1st place- Toxic

2nd place- G, DarkEH, Alicia, Alexis

Nan and Flash unfortunately received no votes. I think they're both very funny, so it's too bad.

Vote again! Remember, it's who's the funniest character in the story! Not your favorite, and based on the story! PLEASE vote!