Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon Mystery Dungeon or its characters. I only own my OC characters.

Chapter 22

The Next Chapter

General P.O.V.

Future World

Grovyle sighed as he and Luna walked through the desert. He and Luna had walked through this desert for about a day, and she still had yet to tell him why he wanted to come here to see Mesprit. Even after he scolded her so much for everything that happened, she didn't cave. He couldn't figure out why she was being so secretive, but at least he knew it wasn't anything bad. She at least said that much before they left to head out to the Quicksand Desert.

They eventually reached the quicksand pits that led to Mesprit's lake. Luna smiled, looking forward to seeing one of her closest friends. She believed that if anyone could tell her what she needed to know, it would be Mesprit. After all, she was one of the first of her friends that she told about him.

She looked over at Grovyle.

"You ready?" Luna asked.

Grovyle nodded.

"Yes, but I still don't get why we're here," Grovyle said. "We could have just gone straight to Dark Crater and find Tora. Why did you need to stop here?"

Luna smiled.

"You'll find out," Luna said. "This was something I needed to do before we went there. You'll understand why when we get to Mesprit's lake."

Grovyle sighed and nodded. He could tell that she wouldn't be budging from keeping it to herself. At least he'll find out when they get to Mesprit, so it wouldn't be too long before he found out her reason for this visit.

They jumped through the quicksand and went through the cave until they ended up at Mesprit's lake. Luna smiled, admiring the lake just like the first time she came here so long ago. Luna closed her eyes for a moment as she stepped into the water, enjoying the feel of the water. She opened her eyes looking closely at the surface of the water.

"Mesprit, it's me!" Luna called. "Can you come out?"

There was a splash as Mesprit appeared out of the water. She smiled as she saw that Luna was back in her human form. She flew around for a brief moment before she came to stop in front of her.

"Glad to see you back to your old self," Mesprit said. "I see that your trip to the past did you some good."

Mesprit could see that her friend's eyes seemed to be lighter than they used to be. Almost like she finally fully let down her walls.

"Yes, it did, my friend," Luna said. "Everything is finally out in the open. His past self finally knows the truth about my past and my family."

Mesprit smiled before she turned serious.

"That's why you came here, isn't it?" Mesprit asked.

Luna nodded.

"You were the first one I told about him," Luna said. "You're the being of Emotion. You could sense his emotions and find him that way."

Mesprit nodded.

"I can, but why didn't you ask me to do the same for your father?" Mesprit asked.

Luna smiled.

"Would you be mad if I said that I didn't want to get you involved?" Luna said.

Mesprit sighed but she couldn't help but smile. That was just like her.

"That's just like you," Mesprit said, fondly. "Alright, I'll see if I can find him."

Mesprit closed her eyes and her body began to glow a light blue light. As Mesprit focused on her powers, Grovyle looked over at Luna, eyes wide as he came to a realization.

"You're looking for the Jolt that lives in this time!" Grovyle said.

Luna smiled.

"Took you long enough to figure out," Luna said.

Grovyle sighed.

"You could've told me, you know," Grovyle said.

Luna smirked.

"That would've spoiled the surprise," Luna said. "Besides, I wanted to be sure that Mesprit could find him before I said anything. Last I saw him was when I gave him the Relic Fragment, but he could've moved because of the Planet's Paralysis. I have to be sure."

Grovyle nodded. Her telepathy could only work across certain distances. If they were too far away, then it wouldn't work. This was the easiest way for her to find out where he is.

"He's helped me through so much, that letting him come with us is the least I can do," Luna said. "Besides, I did promise that both of you would go on an adventure together, didn't I?"

Grovyle couldn't help but smile. Despite everything that happened, she's still trying to honor her promise. After a few moments, the light faded from Mesprit's body, and she opened her eyes.

"He's fine, Luna," Mesprit said. "He's back in Treasure Town. When time started going out of control, he joined the guild to try to find a way to fix it."

Luna smiled.

"So he tried to figure out what I meant when I gave him the Relic Fragment," Luna said. "That is so like him."

Luna said.

"Shall we get going?" Luna asked.

Grovyle smiled.

"Sure, let's go get him," Grovyle said.

Luna smiled and nodded.

"Right," Luna said.

Jolt sighed as he looked out at the ocean from the beach. It's been so long since he's seen the sun, but he had a feeling that Glacia had something to do with it. Jolt touched a scar that he had over his right eye. He remembered exactly how he got it.

He and Electra had been working together to try to find out what their mutual friend meant by ancient relics that affected the state of the world. He thought that it might have something to do with the current state of their world. They had to do their research in secret since they kept feeling that something was watching their movements. Sora tagged along with them to help with his knowledge and to act as a medic for any injuries they had.

Their worries were proven right when their research led them to Treeshroud Forest. They were attacked in the night by a Pokemon shrouded in darkness that threatened them to stop their research. When they refused, he tried to attack Electra but Jolt jumped in front of her and took the attack. Sora managed to save his eye, but he still had the scar from the encounter. They never saw the Pokemon after that, but he had a feeling that Pokemon had targeted someone who got closer than they did in their research.

What he knew was that the Pokemon wasn't just a run of the mill pokemon. It was far stronger than the usual Pokemon they've come across. That was a legendary pokemon, of that he had no doubt. More than likely, the one that Glacia warned him about.

Jolt was just glad that Lia showed up when she did, or he and the others may not have survived the encounter. She managed to chase him off and healed him the best she could before she took off after him. After that, they became more cautious of their surroundings in fear of another attack but it never came. Then the light returned to this world, so he knew that someone had to have found a way to restore time to this world.

Jolt heard footsteps and turned to see Electra and Sora coming towards them. He smiled when he saw Electra.

"I figured that you would be out here," Electra said.

Jolt nodded, looking out at the sea.

"Yeah, I can't help but wonder how she is," Jolt said. "She had to have known that the darkness would happen, but I still have no idea what happened to her. I still remember the golden light that shined down on us when the darkness hit. While everyone else turned evil from the world's effects, we didn't even after the light faded."

Electra nodded.

"Maybe our friend had something to do with it," Electra said. "You said that she had some powers she didn't tell you. Maybe that light was one of them."

Jolt nodded.

"Maybe," Jolt said.

What they didn't realize was that their conversation was being watched by Luna and Grovyle, who were up on the cliffs above them. After a moment, Grovyle looked over at Luna.

"One thing bothers me," Grovyle said. "You said to Seren that you would only be able to protect those on Temporal Island from the influence of the darkness. So how did others like Mesprit and these three gain that protection."

Luna sighed.

"About a month before I gave you that letter, I found a way to increase my influence," Luna said. "Just sealing my human form and the majority of my temporal powers was enough for Temporal Island, but if I wanted to protect Jolt, Electra and Sora, then I needed more than that. So I chose to take away my strength and it gave me enough to be able protect them and the rest of my friend that lived off the island. It was a big gamble, but one that paid off and kept him safe from the darkness' influence."

Luna sighed.

"I just wished that I could've kept him safe from Darkrai's attack," Luna said.

Grovyle sighed.

"How do you know it was him that did that to his eye?" Grovyle asked.

Luna sighed.

"It was Lia, who sent a message to me through telepathy," Luna answered. "She had tracked him down to Treeshroud Forest where Jolt, Electra and Sora were looking into the relics I talked about. Their search led them there, and that posed a threat to Darkrai's plans just like our plans to go into the past interfered. He attacked them in the cover of night so they wouldn't be able to see what he looked like, just like he did when he covered the portal that father and I traveled through. He tried to threaten them into stopping their research into the time gears. When they refused to stop their research, he went after Electra to try to get to Jolt like he did when he tried to attack you during or time travel."

Grovyle narrowed his eyes.

"He knew that Jolt cared about Electra," Grovyle said.

Luna nodded.

"Yes," Luna said. "He likes to hurt his targets emotionally before he goes after them. He wanted Jolt to feel guilt about not being able to help the one he cared about before he got rid of him, too. However, he didn't anticipate that he would step in the way to take the attack just like I took the attack for you."

Grovyle nodded.

"You'd do anything for the one you love," Grovyle said. "Even if you get hurt protecting them."

Luna nodded.

"After Jolt stepped in the way, he was going to go after Electra again," Luna said. "It was only thanks to Lia getting to them in time that they survived. She chased him off before he healed Jolt as much as she could. Thanks to Sora, he didn't lose his eye but that scar is a permanent reminder of what happened."

Grovyle nodded.

"Did he ever go after them after that?" Grovyle asked.

Luna shook her head.

"No, he became more interested in us," Luna said. "He found that we were the bigger threat, since he knew I had a way to get to the past due to my friendship with Seren. With Dialga the way he was, and with that part of my temporal powers sealed I wouldn't have been much of a threat if he didn't know I was friends with Seren. So he chose me and you over Jolt, and waited until we were traveling through time. Seren warned me about the possibility when she pulled me aside, but it was for that reason I kept a portion of my temporal powers for emergencies like that one."

Grovyle nodded.

"So, aren't you going to let him know you're here?" Grovyle asked.

Luna smiled.

"Yeah, I was just deciding what song to use," Luna said. "I used it for greeting him all the time from this cliff, so I don't see how it should be any different. This song is just going to be a bit more cheerful than any other song he's ever heard from me."

Grovyle nodded, knowing what she meant. She was so close to finding her father. She had a right to be happy.

"Go for it, I'll stay back a little for the moment," Grovyle said. "Just call me when it's time to introduce me."

Luna nodded. Grovyle dropped back to watch the scene unfold. Luna took a deep breath and closed her eyes and smiled.

"Gonna fly high

Spread your wings and leap into the sky

Leave all your worries behind

You can make it, make it, come on

You're gonna fly

Fly high

Soar into the distant sky"

The group looked up into the cliffs and saw Luna there singing with her eyes closed. Jolt couldn't help but smile in relief.

"She made it through the darkness of the world," Jolt said.

Electra nodded, glad their friend was alright. Sora, however, noticed what the other two didn't notice.

"Is it just me or does she sound happier?" Sora asked.

That caught their attention and they paid closer attention to her voice.

"A little baby bird still new to the world

Bruised and hurt, it glares at the sky

Those other birds flying in low altitude

Just let them laugh away

They'll never get to say that they were right"

Jolt and Electra's eyes widened.

"Yeah, you're right," Electra said. "This is the happiest she's ever been when she's sung."

Jolt nodded. It sounded like she was almost at peace.

"Let the wind blow through your soul

Let it fill your lungs and fuel your heart

You're ready, set, go

Hop, step, take the leap"

Luna's body started glowing gold, catching their attention. It was the same light that surrounded her the day the world turned to darkness.

"Gonna fly high

Spread your wing and leap into the sky

Leave all your worries behind

You can go anywhere that you wanna go

And though you're green, you are free

Instinct telling you to come and fight

No matter what lies ahead

Know that you can make your, make your dreams come true

And fly, fly high

Soar into the distant sky"

Grovyle watched as he saw the scene change in front of the trio. He saw her at the Rainbow Stoneship glowing that same light, but no voices came from it like during their trip to the Old Ruins. He saw that the group was rather confused at what was going on.

"The rain came pouring down from blackening clouds

And suddenly my wings were useless

On the path ahead, that dark storm awaits

It's one you can't escape

But you'll rise in its wake to see the light"

The scene changed to show her human form and Seren surrounded by that golden light, then it showed him with Autumn and Alexa. Then it changed to show it with Drake and his friends, and then it showed Diamond and her mother Angela. Then it showed other legendary Pokemon that were surrounded by that golden light.

"What is this?" Electra said.

Sora shook his head.

"I don't know, but it appears to be showing various Pokemon who were surrounded by that same light," Sora said. "Some of them appear to be regular Pokemon, but there's even legendary Pokemon too."

Jolt narrowed his eyes in thought.

"The approaching, rolling thunder

Like crashing waves, the sound

Like the applause from the crowd

Count down with me now"

Jolt looked up at Luna as the scene changed to show him, Electra and Sora surrounded by that same light. He quickly looked back down as the scene changed to show Luna in her human form, exhausted as the light faded from her and Seren, and then it seemed to show every other Pokemon that was surrounded by that light at once fade from their bodies at the same time.

Jolt's eyes widened in shock as he came to a realization.

"Gonna fly high

With this fire burning in your heart

And shine from within and

Light the way, light of dawn breaks

Watch the blossom of your talent bloom

So then 'til you reach the end

And you overcome the limits

And you will fly"

Jolt quickly looked back up at Luna, who finally opened her eyes as the scene faded from around them. Her body still glowing and her eyes shined with the same light that surrounded her body.

"It was her," Jolt said, catching Electra and Sora's attention.

"What do you mean?" Electra asked.

Jolt sighed.

"She was the cause of the light that day," Jolt said. "She saved us and everyone close to her from the darkness' influence. That was the reason we haven't felt the effects after the light faded. It was like a vaccine for us, protecting us from the negative effect so that we would stay safe."

Electra and Sora's eyes widened in shock as they looked back at Luna, onto a nearby rock, with a smile on her face.

"Gonna fly high

Spread your wings and leap into the sky

Leave all your worries behind

You can go anywhere that you wanna go

Though you're green, you are free

Your instinct telling you to come and fight, yeah

You can make it, make it, come on you're

Gonna fly high

With this fire burning in your heart

It shines wherever you are, so let it guide your soul

And shine from within and

Light the way, light of dawn breaks

Watch the blossom of your talent bloom

So then 'til you reach the end

And you overcome the limits

And you will fly, fly high

Soar into the distant sky"

The light from her body faded and her eyes went back to their original color as she landed on the sand. She sighed and began walking towards them with her usual grace.

"It's good to see that you three survived," Luna said.

Jolt smiled and walked over and put his paw on her shoulder.

"It's all thanks to you," Jolt said.

Luna smiled softly.

"I did have help," Luna said.

Luna sighed, confusing Jolt.

"I just wish that I was there to protect you from getting hurt," Luna said.

Jolt sighed but smiled.

"I guess that Lia told you what happened?" Jolt asked.

Luna nodded.

"I found out through telepathy," Luna said. "I'm just glad she got there before he could much more."

Jolt nodded, before deciding to come clean.

"Lia told me the truth," Jolt said.

Luna's eyes widened in shock and she pulled away slightly.

"The truth?" Luna asked, nervous.

Sora and Electra nodded.

"She told us when she was healing Jolt," Electra answered. "Who you really are and why you never told us."

Luna sighed.

"Did she tell you who it was who attacked you?" Luna asked.

Jolt shook his head.

"She didn't have time to say anything about that," Jolt said. "She only had enough time to say what she did before she took off after them. Who was it?"

Luna sighed.

"Are you sure you really want to know?" Luna asked, testing him.

Jolt nodded, a fire blazing in his eyes. It seems despite what happened he still had that fire burning inside him that caught her interest in him in the first place.

"He's the one who's caused you pain all of your life," Jolt said. "I think after everything that's happened, I deserve to know."

Luna sighed, knowing that he was right.

"His name is Darkrai," Luna said, shocking them.

"Darkrai?" Jolt asked, just to clarify.

Luna nodded, making Jolt sigh at the news.

"I read out of one of Sora's books about Darkrai during our research," Jolt said. "He's the legendary pokemon that's known to cause nightmares to nearby sleeping Pokemon. That was what you were warning me about when you left, wasn't it? If I was having a nightmare, then it meant I was in danger."

Luna nodded.

"Yes, Darkrai thrives in conducting his work from the shadows," Luna explained. "It's how he caught me and my father by surprise on our way through the portal to the Pokemon World. He created shadows and hid most of his true form within so we couldn't see him except for his eyes. He rarely ever comes out into the open to conduct his work."

Jolt looked confused.

"How did he create shadows when the portal from the human world is full of light," Jolt asked.

Luna sighed.

"As a legendary Pokemon, he represents a certain aspect of this world," Luna explained."He represents the element of darkness, which allows him to create darkness where none exists. Being Darkrai's opposite, Lia represents the element of light, creating light where none resides, and able to wake up those trapped in the deepest sleep. This ability allows her to track him more easily than anyone else, which is why I ask for her help in keeping tabs on Darkrai."

Jolt nodded.

"Why did he go after Electra, though?" Jolt asked. "It was obvious from the start of that encounter that he was after me."

Luna sighed.

"Darkrai loves to torment his targets before he goes in for the kill," Luna said. "He knew that going after you would torment me, but he also wanted you to suffer before he killed you. So he went after the one who meant the most to you, but you stepped in and protected her, which was something he didn't anticipate. So he decided to attack her after hoping to get a similar reaction to what he wanted you to feel, but Lia's appearance foiled his plans."

Luna sighed.

"By this point, I had gotten my boyfriend all the knowledge he needed to be ready for the task ahead," Luna said. "So he thought that we were the bigger threat, since I had knowledge that no one else did concerning how to fix the problem and the means to do so."

Jolt nodded.

"We managed to piece together that the relic you mentioned were the time gears, and the reason that time went out of whack was because Temporal Tower collapsed," Jolt said. "We figured the only way to prevent time from collapsing was to go back in time. Does that mean you knew a way to do so?"

Luna nodded.

"Yes," Luna answered. "I've had a friendship with Seren, the legendary Pokemon Celebi. She's known as the Time Travel Pokemon, so she had a way to go back in time whenever she wished. I couldn't go to Dialga because of what the collapse of time did to his mental state and his sense of being, and my own temporal powers were mostly sealed to protect the ones I cared about from the influence from the collapse of time. That left me with no way to open a dimensional hole on my own, so I wouldn't be seen as a threat. Unfortunately, he knew about my friendship with Seren, so that made me a top priority to get rid of."

Luna sighed.

"He attacked us while we were traveling through time," Luna said. "He tried to attack my boyfriend and I took the blow while maintaining a time shield to protect myself from possible effects of being attacked while traveling through time."

Luna smiled.

"Despite everything, we managed to complete everything we set out to do," Luna said. "With the help of your past self, who found me when I got separated from my boyfriend from that attack. He even managed to help us foil Darkrai's plan for good."

Jolt's eyes widened.

"Really?" Jolt asked.

Luna nodded, looking over toward the cliffs. She nodded her head, confusing Jolt, Sora and Electra. Then, a moment later, Grovyle appeared and jumped down to join her.

"This is my boyfriend, Grovyle," Luna introduced.

After everyone greeted him, Luna looked back at Jolt.

"Thanks to your past self's help, I also managed to find out where he's kept my father all of these years," Luna said. "Would you like to join us on the journey?"

Jolt's eyes widened.

"You mean it?" Jolt asked.

Luna smiled and nodded.

"Absolutely," Luna said. "After everything you've done for me, it's the least you deserve. So, what do you say?"

Jolt nodded.

"Count me in!" Jolt said.