Author's Note: Unlike some of the other side stories, this one has an extremely narrow window of time in which it can take place: after Leaf evolves, but before he and Claire head back to the past, so some time near the end of Chapter 5 in the main fic. I mostly just wanted Leaf and Dusknoir to have another encounter, though writing some more of Andrew doesn't hurt, either.

Escaping Capture

Andrew carefully glanced around the clearing as he stepped forward. He'd been tasked with looking around for supplies, as usual. Claire would be heading back to the past soon, and he wanted to hurry up and get this over with. While he'd found a decent amount of firewood, he hadn't had quite as much luck with food; that usually required venturing into dungeons and hoping some appeared there, after all. This was taking way too long…

Nearby, Leaf had settled up on a tree branch and was keeping watch. Claire would need him when she went back, but the Grovyle had wanted to spend some time with Andrew while he had the chance. Besides, a lone human going out into the wilderness usually didn't fare well; Andrew needed someone to come along with him.

Andrew frowned as he looked over a nearby bush. He'd hoped to maybe find some berries, but…the shrubbery out here appeared barren. Maybe he'd have to find a dungeon after all if this kept up.

He paused when he heard Leaf shift on his perch. Andrew looked up as Leaf growled and pointedly stared at a particular spot. The Grass-Type waved a claw down in Andrew's direction before hissing out a warning.

"There's something coming. Find a place to hide, now!"

Andrew nodded, throat going dry as he glanced around. Hopefully it was some random Pokémon by itself, but…if Leaf couldn't tell yet, then they had to be careful. Finally, he found a wide enough tree, not too far from where Leaf was keeping watch, and ducked behind it.

He sat down, trying to make himself as small as possible, and held his breath. Until Leaf figured out what it was, Andrew wasn't going to move. He couldn't make any noise, either. Andrew closed his eyes, trying to listen as closely as he could.

Finally, he heard footsteps—and it sounded like there were at least two members of the group. There was a slightly scratchy noise; at least one of them must've had claws. Andrew opened his eyes and frowned; the footsteps had suddenly stopped.

"Wheh-heh…I don't see anyone. Are you sure we're going in the right direction?"

"Of course I am, wheh-heh! The spot Lord Dusknoir mentioned is just past the forest nearby! We're getting close, you dolt."

So, they were specifically looking for them, then. But who was it? Andrew's frown deepened. Hadn't Claire mentioned a Dusknoir recently? There had been one when…when…

His eyes widened, and Andrew heard Leaf growl sharply above him. The Grovyle leapt down from his branch, and the two speakers yelped in surprise. Andrew carefully leaned around the tree trunk and spotted Leaf advancing on a pair of Sableye.

"You two were there at the cave, weren't you?" Leaf demanded. "Where's your leader? Is he nearby?"

"Wheh! Who are you?" One of the Sableye flailed his arms around in surprise. "We just saw a Treecko back then!"

His partner whacked the back of his head. "You really are an idiot, wheh-heh! Obviously, he found some way to evolve! And we're not gonna tell you where Lord Dusknoir is!"

"Oh, really?" Leaf raised his claws as he took a few more steps forward. "Well, I'm sure if he's nearby, he wouldn't have any use for injured minions, right? So I'm sure you'd want to avoid—"

"That's enough. Good job, you two. You got close after all."

A larger Ghost-Type had suddenly materialized behind the two Sableye. He curiously gazed down at Leaf, whose face was set in a deep scowl. Andrew slowly stood up and shifted. He needed to get Leaf out of there—three against one odds weren't good, but Andrew knew he wouldn't be much help in a straight fight. He needed to figure out a good plan, and fast.

But, if these were the same Pokémon who'd been at the cave full of crystals, then…

"So, you're the human's new partner?" Dusknoir was saying. "One of the Sableye mentioned you—he followed you out to the lake, you know."

"Well, he did a poor job of stopping us," Leaf snapped. "He didn't even keep Claire from finding her last Time Gear. You're too late. Claire's going back soon, so you've failed to catch her twice now."

"Twice? Ah, you really must be that Treecko, then." Dusknoir merely shrugged at the accusation. "And does it matter as long as I have you now? If I take you back to Master Dialga, then Claire will be going all alone, correct?"

Slowly, Andrew reached down and grabbed a small rock from the ground. He threw it out towards the middle of the clearing, and it echoed emptily as it hit the ground. It had missed all of the assembled Pokémon, but Andrew hadn't been aiming at any of them. He just needed a distraction, and that had worked. They all paused, glancing in his direction as he walked over to Leaf.

"Don't listen to them," he said to Leaf, though he kept his eyes fixed on Dusknoir. "Claire needs you, but she's already escaped from them once. I'm sure she can do it again if she has to."

"You speak so confidently, human," Dusknoir replied coolly. "Shall I take you to the prison as well? I'm sure you could be of use, too."

"I'm not even the 'good' one," Andrew retorted. "I don't even have the Dimensional Scream, so if you're trying to capture your threat, you didn't do a very good job. There's only one thing I want to ask you, anyway—are you the one who killed my mother?"

"Your mother?" Dusknoir repeated. A look of understanding flickered through his eye soon enough. "Ah, you must be that woman's son. The girl's brother, I assume. And no, that was one of the Sableye—and he's not here with me now. So, who's doing a 'poor job' now, hmm? You didn't find the right one, either."

There was something about the taunt that made Andrew snap. It wasn't the denial, really. Nor was it the fact that he'd been refused 'proper' revenge. No, it was the casual way he said it. Andrew found himself raising a fist and charging towards Dusknoir until—

"Oh, Andrew, dear, this really is unlike you!"

There was suddenly a small hand on his shoulder, and Andrew breathed heavily as he lowered his arm. Celebi had materialized next to him, and the other four Pokémon looked at her in surprise. She giggled as she twirled around in the air, settling near Leaf as she spoke.

"You silly darlings were taking so long to come back that we got worried! I came out to find you, and what do I see?" Celebi sighed and shook her head. "You get yourselves into such trouble, don't you?"

"Which is something I appreciate," Dusknoir commented, a smirk crossing his stomach. "It brought you to me, did it not? I may not have the correct human, but she needs you to open the gate for her. If I can capture you now, Celebi, then she won't be a threat regardless."

"Oh, Dusknoir, dear? You forget one thing…you can't catch me," Celebi sang. "Andrew, Leaf…be good boys and hang onto me now, won't you?"

Andrew quickly grabbed onto Celebi, and Leaf scrambled onto Andrew's shoulder. After he touched a claw to Celebi's head, they were all together. Then, Celebi closed her eyes and started to glow, and there was an awful twisting sensation in the pit of Andrew's stomach.

"No, stop them, you fools!" Dusknoir snarled. "Go on—catch them now before—"

"Wheh! Yes, Lord Dusknoir!"

The two Sableye dashed towards them, and Andrew's breath hitched in his throat. They were getting closer—too close—and—

Celebi hummed as the light around her intensified, and the three of them vanished just before the Sableye would've reached them. Teleporting still felt terrible, though, and Andrew didn't think he'd ever get used to it. He wheezed and staggered around awkwardly as they reappeared in their new destination. At least they'd gotten out of that all right, but…

"Oh, you two," Celebi chided as she fluttered away from them. "What will I do with you? You go out for a quick supply run, and you get yourselves into a mess!"

"Well, excuse us, Celebi," Leaf groaned. "Did you expect me to sit by and restrain myself so soon after…well, you know?"

"It would've helped, yes." Celebi sighed and shook her head. "But…I can't say I blame you, either. Now, come on; Claire's waiting for us. I'll let you have a short rest, dear Leaf, but we should make our way to the Passage of Time as soon as you're ready."

Leaf nodded, and Andrew bit his lip. With Dusknoir searching for them, they'd have to move quickly. Still…this would be the last time he'd see Claire, and Andrew wished he could've prolonged the trip somehow.

Eventually, he shook his head as well. He knew there was no use in putting it off. They were so close, and Andrew couldn't be selfish now.

But…he glanced over his shoulder as Leaf sat down nearby. If he ran into that Dusknoir again…well, it would take a lot more willpower to hold himself back.