Chapter 28: Never Truly Alone

After spending about a half hour gathering information I had a pool of dread in my stomach. I made my way back to Sharpedo Bluff and slipped under the fake bush. I walked in, "I'm back."

Grovyle stood up from where he had been sitting, "What's the word?"

I shook my head, "Not good. After we went to the future, Uxie and his friends put back the Time Gears in their original places. Everyone thought that time would return to normal after that, but it stayed frozen. Even worse, it's spreading. Time is stopping in more and more places."

Grovyle tensed up, "Is that true?"

I nodded sadly, "Everyone's restless because no one can figure out why this is happening. Do you know what's going on, Grovyle?"

He paused before answering, "If time is stopping in a spreading area… it can only mean one thing. Temporal Tower is starting to collapse."

"Temporal Tower?"

"Correct. Temporal Tower gives structure to time. So if it is starting to collapse… time itself will collapse in ever-widening areas. This is bad. The problem is accelerating. The planet's paralysis is coming on fast."

I grit my teeth, "Well, we'll just have to move faster! Where's the next Time Gear? We'll get moving right away!"

Grovyle nodded, "That's right. If we don't hurry, the planet will become fully paralyzed. There's only one way to stop the destruction of time now. We need to gather the Time Gears. Then the Time Gears must be put in place in Temporal Tower where Dialga lives. But there is a problem. Temporal Tower is located in a place called the Hidden Land. As the name suggests, no one knows where the Hidden Land is."

I rubbed the sides of my head in frustration, "But there isn't any time!"

"That's right. That's why I think we need to split up for now. I'll collect the Time Gears. In the meantime, Rio, I want you to search for the Hidden Land."

I was a little uncomfortable having to work alone, but I nodded, "Got it."

"Okay, then. The Hidden Land is supposedly somewhere in this world. Unfortunately, there are no clues as to where it is exactly. Considering that no one has discovered it yet we should probably assume that it is quite far away. We must even consider crossing the sea and discover the means to do so."

Cross the sea…

"I'm sorry I don't have knowledge about how to do that. I'm counting on you." I just nodded in response. "Well, I'll be off to gather the Time Gears. Good luck."

He left up the stairs and I heard the bush be lifted and then placed back down. I guess I should start searching too. Now, where to start…? I happened to glance outside of the mouth of the bluff. I guess a good start would be to find a way to cross the sea, should it become necessary.

I left the bluff and snuck through Treasure Town, and made my way to the beach. I looked out over the waves, but no inspiration struck.

Sheesh… It seems like finding a way to cross the sea is easier said than done.

I picked up some sand and gently flung it into the waves, only to have it be washed back to the shore in front of me. I scowled in frustration.

I know I said that I'd find a way to the Hidden Land, but… How exactly am I supposed to do that?! And alone?! If only Meowth were here… He could probably figure it out… How am I supposed to do this by myself?! And within such a short time too?!

Ya ain't alone, Rio.

I wheeled around, "Who said that?!" I looked around back and forth, but saw no one. That voice. That way of speaking. It sounded just like…

Meowth. Dat's right.

I looked around hopefully again, but still saw nothing. That's when I realized that the voice was in my head. I moaned and put my hand to my face, "Great. Two minutes alone and I'm already hearing voices and imagining that Meowth is here with me."

Hey! Figment or not, ya need a fresh look at tings one way o' anotha; take it or leave it!

Well, I suppose it's the best I'll get. Well, "Meowth", the problem is that I have to find a place called the Hidden Land. I have little to no information to go on, no time to waste, and I have to do it all alone!

Well, look at it dis way. Some information's better dan none and you're not alone!

I'm not?

Didja forget already? Our good buddies at da guild! Bidoof, Corphish, Loudred, Sunflora, everybody! If ya asked, they'd be happy ta help!

But… we- I mean I disappeared right in front of everybody! I mean, I'd like to see everybody… Goodness, they must be worried half to death… But if I tell everything that happened to me to the guild… The future… Grovyle… Dusknoir! How could they ever believe me?!

I dunno, but tell 'em anyway! Ya don't exactly have a lotta options, Rio. If you wanna find a way ta dis "Hidden Land" ya gonna need everybody's help! Ya can't do it alone, but never forget dat ya don't hafta! Ya'll always have friends to help! Me, Grovyle, and everybody in da guild!

My thoughts stopped for the moment, I realized that "Meowth" or whatever part of my mind was creating this voice was right. Even if the guild may not believe me, I still have to try. If I don't have everybody's help, then I'll never find the Hidden Land in time.

All right then, I'll do it! I'm going to Wigglytuff's Guild! Thank you!

Why ya thankin' me? I'm just a parta your mind…

Oh, right… Uh… Thank… me… you… Aw, just thanks!

I ran off of the beach and started running to the crossroads to head up to the guild. When it was brought into sight, I stopped short of the grate and stared at the entrance, brought back to memories of when I first stepped in front of it. That seemed like such a long time ago. I hesitated for a moment, but decided that I wasn't going to get anywhere unless I moved forward.

I stepped onto the grate above the sentry post and heard Diglett calling out, "Pokémon detected! Pokémon detected!"

Loudred shouted, "Whose footprint? Whose footprint?"

"The footprint belongs to… The f-f-footprint belongs to…"

"What's wrong Diglett?! Respond! Respond! What…? HEY, Diglett! Where do you think you're burrowing off to?"

"That… That footprint… It's Rio!"

I started hearing the others' voices and then Diglett popped out of the ground. "It is Rio!" Soon after, the gate opened and I was rushed by the other members of the guild. I smiled as they all said how glad they were to see me and how worried they were about Meowth and me.

I was nearly reduced to tears, "Everyone… It's good to be back."

Chatot and Wigglytuff came up next and everyone parted as the Guildmaster walked forward, saying, "Welcome home! Rio!" Then he looked around, concerned, "Where's Meowth? Isn't he with you?"

I grimaced slightly, holding the Relic Fragment on the Treasure Bag. "About that… I need to tell you all what happened after we disappeared."

-3rd person POV-

While Rio was telling the tale of his experiences in the future and of the truth about Grovyle, Dusknoir and Meowth's fate, a presence vanished from the room. Being forced to return, a certain blue-haired individual woke up in another world with a smile. Being glad to have made a difference, even under an assumed identity, he began to get ready for the day.

-Rio's POV-

"…and that's what happened," I finished with certainty.

Chatot went ballistic, "What?! What was that again? Just… hold on for a moment. Let me get this story straight!"

I nodded, "Okay…" I understood that it was a lot to take in. I saw it myself and didn't believe it until Meowth convinced me.

Chatot cleared his throat, "Let me summarize your story so far… First, Grovyle is actually a good Pokémon…? And he was collecting the Time Gears to save the world?"

"That's right."

"And the great Dusknoir only pretended to be kind and helpful…? But he was actually a heinous and wicked villain?"

"Yes, but I didn't exactly phrase it as "heinous and wicked"…"

"Also, you were really Grovyle's partner?"

"Correct."

"So Dusknoir wanted to get rid of both you and Grovyle, so he took you two to the future?"

I nodded, "And Meowth too."

"And then… at some point when you were unconscious, Dusknoir hypnotized Meowth and used him to try and apprehend you in the future? But you managed to escape from Dusknoir and Meowth by the skin of your teeth…? And you barely made it back home from the future, even though Meowth is still back in the future, assumed to still be under Dusknoir's influence?"

I nodded again.

"And finally, this planet will soon become paralyzed… and to prevent that… Grovyle has started gathering Time Gears again? Meanwhile, you are looking for a place called the Hidden Land? Is that your story in its full entirety?!"

"Yes, that's all of it."

Chatot paused for a moment then let out a laugh, "Rio… that was a good one! You can tell Meowth that he can come out from wherever he's hiding!"

I shook my head, "What?!"

"Why don't you two just go to your room and get some rest?"

"Wait a second! You think I'm lying?! I'm telling the truth!"

He nodded, replying, "I'm sure… I'm sure… I'm sure that you're suffering from exhaustion! A good nap will fix that! Meowth can come down when he's ready!"

I put my hand to my head. Even though I knew this might happen, I couldn't take it, "That's not it, Chatot! Meowth's gone! You think I'd lie about that?!"

Now Chatot was angry, "That's quite enough! So tell me! Is there any part of your story that's even remotely plausible? A place called the Hidden Land?! I'm the head of intelligence here, and I've heard of no such place. Besides the great Dusknoir is far too kind to do anything like you've alleged!"

"Listen, I couldn't believe it at first either… But the facts remain-"

"I'll hear no more of this! I don't care what you say! The great Dusknoir, the villain?! That's simply unbelievable!" He turned to the others, "Seriously, don't you all feel the same way? How can anybody seriously think of the great Dusknoir as a villain?!"

"We hold Dusknoir in high esteem," I heard Dugtrio say. "We cannot believe it."

Chatot turned back to me, "See? Everyone shares the same opinion!"

"But…" Sunflora added. "There is something I don't understand. That time… when the great Dusknoir was about to return to the future… What Dusknoir did then… It was strange, any way you look at it."

Chatot tilted his head, "Really? Do you think so? Don't you think that Meowth and Rio fell into the Dimensional Hole by accident?"

"NO WAY!" Loudred shouted, "Dusknoir grabbed Meowth and Rio and YANKED them in!"

"Hey, hey! That's right!" Corphish chimed in, "It looked that way to me too! Hey, hey! What happened was really weird!"

Bidoof nodded, "Gosh, I really had to wonder why Dusknoir did something like that!"

"If… If what Rio said is true…" Chimecho said, "Then what Dusknoir did suddenly makes perfect sense! And it would explain why Meowth isn't at Rio's side right now!"

Chatot jumped up, "What? Wait a minute! So is that what you think now? Are you actually saying that you now believe what Rio is claiming?!"

The room was silent for a moment, before Bidoof sheepishly said, "Uh… I… believe him…"

Chatot turned to Bidoof in shock, "What?! What did you say?! So, Bidoof, you're now claiming that the great Dusknoir is a villain?"

Bidoof looked uncomfortable, "Oof! Golly, I sure did think highly of the great Dusknoir. The whole idea sounds troubling when you put it that way. But there's something more important here! Yup yup! Rio and Meowth are more important! That's why… I believe what Rio has to say! "

"Wh-wh-what?!"

I was moved by what he said, "B-Bidoof…"

"Hey, hey! I believe too!"

"Me too! Oh my gosh! He's our guild colleague, after all!"

I turned to them, "Corphish, Sunflora…"

"I believe them!" Loudred shouted.

"Me too!" Diglett added.

"So do I!" Chimecho said.

"Casting doubt on our colleagues is wrong! Trust is a must!" Dugtrio proclaimed.

Chatot was speechless and I felt so happy that I could cry, "Thank you, everyone… Thank you for believing me!"

Wigglytuff spoke up for the first time since the conversation started, "Well, hiya! Sounds like we all agree!"

Everyone shouted, "HUH?!"

Undetered, Wigglytuff continued, "We all believe our friend! That's great! Then let's begin searching for the Hidden Land!"

Loudred stepped forward, "Whoa! Just hold ON there, Guildmaster!"

Wigglytuff looked over, "Hm? What's wrong?"

"We're not ALL in agreement yet, are we!"

Wigglytuff seemed genuinely confused, "Huh?"

"We're all good with the story… But I suspect that Chatot isn't convinced."

Wigglytuff laughed, "Oh? Is that all? You don't need to worry about Chatot."

Again, everyone let out a collective, "HUH?!"

Wigglytuff turned to Chatot, "Chatot is convinced… right?"

Everyone shouted, "HUH?!" for the third time in the space of five minutes.

Wigglytuff smiled, "Because Chatot believed Rio's story all along! Right, Chatot?"

Chatot turned around and started chuckling, but to be honest, I couldn't tell whether he was laughing or crying.

Loudred was the first to react, "WH-WHAT?"

"How peculiar!" I heard Sunflora add.

Chatot cringed and said, "Well, Guildmaster, there's no fooling you. I admit it." He turned back to us with a smile, "Yes, I believed Rio right from the start."

"HUH? REALLY?"

"But if I would have said that I believed them right away… Everyone would have just gone along with what I said. That's why I was so contrary! I wanted to put your friendship to the test!" He said the last part in a rushed manner.

I heard some of them murmur doubtfully, but Chatot continued, "But without a doubt, I was convinced from the get-go! I knew everyone would surely believe their colleague!"

"…Says you…" Sunflora mumble.

Chatot laugh/cried some more before Wigglytuff continued, "Rio! I believe you! You're my good friend in guild membership! Meowth too! If finding the Hidden Land will lead to him somehow… Then we'll find it!"

He turned to everybody, "Now listen, everyone! Time is stopping in more and more places. From Rio's story… We know our world is in danger. That means we have to do something! This is our time. In the name of Wigglytuff's Guild… We'll combine all our efforts! We'll discover the Hidden Land! Let's do this, everyone!"

"HOORAY!"

Wigglytuff abruptly turned to Chatot, "Chatot!"

"Y-yes, sir." He turned to us, "Okay, everyone! From now on, we're shifting all our efforts to locating the Hidden Land! We also have to let everyone know what is happening in our world. It's going to be busy. We'll all have to work hard!"

Everyone answered in affirmative. Bidoof and Diglett offered to run down to Treasure Town to let everyone know.

"We have to let Azelf and his friends know too!" Sunflora added. "If they're back at their lakes, they may try to stop Grovyle!"

"Hey, hey! Then I'll go tell them!"

Chatot nodded, "Okay. Everyone else, search for the Hidden Land, please."

"YEAH!" Loudred cheered.

"Bidoof, Sunflora and others, once your errands are done, gather information on the Hidden Land."

Each of them agreed and Wigglytuff said, "We'll find the Hidden Land together! YOOM…TAH!"

"HOORAY!"

Okay, okay, it's official. I have two tests and an essay due this week, so I need to concentrate on my studies this week. I'll see you all next week. Well, not "see" in that sense, but you get the point!