Grovyle stood cooly, leaned against the wall, examining the dirt on a pendent he had around his neck. He looked at Pip then his eyes lingered on me. His grassy eyes looked into mine like he had a sarcastic comment towards me. His sarcasm turned to anger quickly.

"I am here for the Time Gear, Mesprite!" He walked toward us, his demeanor didn't change even when Mesprite attacked him. He simply back handed her, which threw her against the wall.

"I won't let you!" Pip and I both attacked. He was suddenly forcing Pip back toward the cave's entrance and then he had me pinned before I could take another breath. He was faster than I could imagine. His fist was raised to punch me. I stared bravely at him, not blinking, refusing to let him have a fun at watching me cringe. Even as his fist came down I didn't flinch. He punched the dirt next to me as if some invisible force kept him from harming me. He reached into my bag and took a sleep seed from it and forced it down my throat. He wouldn't let me breath until I swallowed the seed. He looked like he was both angry and apologetic. Did I remind him of someone dear?

"Oh good, you're awake, Pip!" I heard Sunflora say to my partner.

Pip groaned. "What happened?"

"You sustained some injuries but Ash…was simply put to sleep."

I stirred and opened my eyes to let them know I was awake but they were already gone. I was sleeping in my room with nobody around me. At the door I heard a knock and Dusknoir popped his head in. If he had a real smile on his face I think I would've seen it. Instead the mouth on his tummy smiled for him.

"Good you are awake."

Slowly I stood up and walked out. Everyone was gathered, waiting for me and Dusknoir.

Chatot ran over, flapping his wings at me in a worried manner. "Are you okay? I cannot believe you went up against Grovyle!"

"I would hardly say I went up against him. If anything we were beaten senseless." I looked over at Pip who was standing behind Chatot. He had bruises over his face and body while I simply had bruises from the beating Mesprite gave. His wounds were worse than mine after all.

"Pip told us what happened. I am amazed that there was a hidden lake underneath the quicksand!" Chatot flapped his wings excitedly. "Do you know what this means? There has to be more!"

"More likely the next Time Gear will be in a lake as well." Dusknoir chimed in thoughtfully. He sounded like he was thinking out loud. "So if Mesprite and Uxie were guarding the last Time Gears then…Azelf has to be as well!"

"Who are these Pokémon, Dusknoir?" Pip asked.

"They are said to be three legendary beings that the spirit is composed of. Uxie is Knowledge, Mesprite is emotion, and Azelf is willpower. Say, Bidoof." Bidoof looked excited to be called by someone so famous but scared at the same time. "I need to borrow your crystal."

"M-my precious crystal? No way!"

"Do not worry, my friend, I will not take it away. I simply need to borrow it to use Ash's Dimensional Scream ability. It may help us find the Time Gear if it resides in Crystal Cave." Upon everyones confused looks Dusknoir continued, "Ash has the ability to see the past and future via objects she touches. We will give it back, I promise."

"I see! So using this ability we could save Azelf!" Chatot concluded.

Everyone stared at Bidoof. He started to sweat under the pressure. Finally he sighed and handed me his red gem. It felt heavy in my hands, like a burden. Pip came next to me and pat my shoulder as if to say 'you can do it'.

I closed my eyes as the dizziness started and opened them again when that flash of light appeared. I was at a lake surrounded by the most beautiful crystals. A blue Pokémon stood defeated.

"No!" He cried. "You cannot take the time gear!"

"I have no quarrel with you. I am sorry things had to end this way." Grovyle apologized.

I snapped back suddenly, back into the present, surrounded by friends. I didn't even realize I was leaned up against Dusknoir's large hand. "Did you see something?" Pip caught my attention. I nodded.

"Yeah. Grovyle was there. And so was another Pokémon…I suspect it was Azelf."

"So tell us," Chatot tilted his head, "past or future."

I hadn't given it any thought on how to tell the difference between the events.

"It has to be future or else Mesprite would've told Pip that Azelf had warned him." Dusknoir chimed. "We must make our way to Crystal Cave and help Azelf!" He declared.

Crystal Cave was just as it sounded, a cave with crystals everywhere. No wonder Bidoof was so tempted to pick up a crystal. I was surprised that Pip didn't even look at the crystals let alone pick one up.

He's grown up. He used to be so timid…he still is but it's not like now. Have I grown up like that? Have I become stronger?

At the end of the cave stood three giant crystals all different colors. Pip touched a crystal and it changed to yellow. "Whoa! Try it!"

I touched a crystal. It changed to blue. "Wow! Amazing!" I touched it again and again until it came back to blue. My hand slipped as the world spun around. Hoping to see an image I closed my eyes.

"Amazing! So then how do we get inside to the lake? It's guarded by Azelf, you said? He is the being of willpower. So we had Mesprite and Uxie already…all we need to know is what is Azelf's aura color?" It sounded like Grovyle but his voice was nicer and more determined.

I opened my eyes and looked around. Pip was the only Pokémon with me. "Turn it blue." I told him while I changed the other crystal to blue. Pip did the same. The earth beneath us rumbled as a giant crystal came from our feet.

Pip and I ran for cover until the earthquake stopped. "Did I mention you're a genius!"

I grinned at him. "Let's go see Azelf!" We both ran inside.

We followed the path of crystals much like a yellow brick road. Pip and I couldn't help but stop as the lake came into view from our right. "Wow!" We said in unison. The lake looked so much like a crystalline version of Fogbound Lake. The Time Gear lit up the crystals from underneath the water. Near that light was a small island connected to the path at the end.

"I hope we aren't too late." Pip whispered as we ran to Azelf's aid.

The picture in front of me unfolded like my Dimensional Scream vision. Azelf refused to be beaten but the deed had already been done.

"Grovyle!" Pip yelled as we ran to Azelf. I had never heard Pip yell so angrily as I did in that moment.

I checked Azelf's wounds. They were superficial, nothing to worry about. I handed the Pokémon an oren berry. "Rest." I stood next to Pip. "Are you ready?"

"I don't have a quarrel with you children." He closed his eyes and sighed. Then attacked. He was just as fast as he was before. In the first few seconds of the fight he grabbed my bag and rummaged through as he dodged our attacks. He found my last sleep seeds and threw one at Pip as his mouth opened to shoot bubbles from his beak.

Pip swallowed so he wouldn't choke and fell asleep quickly. Step by step Grovyle back toward the lake. He came at me and cut me with the leaves he grew from his wrists. I couldn't move. He slipped something in that attack that I didn't see. My body felt heavy and I hugged the ground. I could move. It felt as if my energy had been drained from me.

Azelf had already finished off the berry. "You will not get that Time Gear!" His lake blue eyes flashed and crystals came up from below and covered the lake making it as solid as ice. Azelf smiled before he fainted.

"No!" Grovyle punched the ground.

"I have finally found you!" Dusknoir's voice came from behind.

"You! You're a sneaky devil aren't you? I won't let you take me. We aren't done yet." He threw a Luminous Orb on the ground and a flash of light came and passed. Dusknoir said something under his breath and disappeared. I closed my eyes and let myself be taken by the silence.