"Girantina's Reverse World works in a symbiotic relationship with our own: Any imbalance in ours directly affects its state. I can't begin to imagine what's happened to it because of the distortions in time and space. However, the Axis seems to indicate that it is somehow filtering damage. Maybe it's nothing, but it's just strange, and it makes me worry what that could mean for the link between dimensions as a whole."

The information we got from Sheena and Kevin is leagues beyond the crumbs we've had to go by so far. It's enough anyway to pinpoint multiple targets for our investigation. If what's happening to the Reverse World is simply the affect of what's happened to ours, then there isn't much we can do there except wait for Dialga and Palkia to finish their recoveries over their domains. If not, then it might be worth paying them a visit when we get back home. Either way, it sounds like most of the destruction is leaking from our side of the mirroring realms.

They were also able to give us some exact locations to explore rather than follow the general clues Dusknoir gathered alone. Now, instead of aimlessly wondering through each set of ruins we reach, we actually know what we're looking for and how to find it. For one location, we'll have to double-back and head to the peak of Mt. Coronet after we've regrouped with the rest of our team. The duo also gave us some good tips for the next stop on our journey: The Solaceon Ruins.

In return, we told them as much as we figured we were free to tell. Again, anything about the isolated regions was off-limits and I didn't want to go too far into my own backstory. Thankfully though, the pair of humans were far more interested in hearing about the time-space legendaries' domains than anything else. We summarized what happened to the best of our ability, explaining what the Time Pieces were and who we are as two of the Guardians of Light.

I didn't really mind revealing those last bits of information—if only because I want to make sure history doesn't repeat itself. We've been lucky to gather the limited knowledge that we do have, thanks to the years of research Grovyle, Ri's older self, and I did in the Dark Future. There isn't much written down anywhere and what is is scattered. The more people who know how to brace for these types of catastrophes, the better. And seeing as how much work they've already done on their own, I do think Kevin and Sheena will strive to do just that.

Honestly, it was also nice to just have someone listen to us so wholeheartedly. It's hard to come to terms with our own situation sometimes, nevermind find others who can understand or even believe it. I wonder how much more of their credulity was thanks to the woman's unique power or their own experience…

Ri and I left the ancient city before dawn the next day. We got more than we wanted there and it was just too risky to stay around for long with so many Upsilon members running around. At a constant, swift pace with just enough of a break for a modest rest, we make it to Solaceon Town within two days after. Its ruins are just east of it.

While the town is big enough to have its own contest hall, the area is mostly ranchland. There's a ton of open, fenced space and the closer you get to the ruins the further you leave civilization behind you. Surprisingly though, there's a decent variety of Pokemon around other than the common species that would usually crowd farms; like Girafarig, Aipom, and Bidoof alongside Ponyta, Tauros, and Miltank.

Better yet, we don't see any sign of trouble. We might have to watch out for the Unown that inhabit the ruins, but there's no Regi for us to chase after this time either. This should be our easiest stop so far.

The ruins sit on a grassy plateau overlooking the nearby mountains, with evenly set, grey pillars standing in contrast to the warm-colored background of the distant treeline. This place looks pretty well-maintained, the millennia-old stonework surrounded by a mowed field. Despite this, we may as well have the entire area to ourselves: We barely came across anyone else on our way over.

Two opposing statues of Dialga and Palkia greet us at the entrance. While pretty impressive compared to the low scale shrines in the Grass Continent, they're smaller than the legendaries themselves. It's strange to see them after meeting both in-person. The awe I should feel is overshadowed by the memories of our battles and just how close we came to dying each time.

There are matching inscriptions carved into the platforms beneath them. Ri reads it aloud, "'When every life meets another life, something will be born…' What do you think that means?"

"Something to do with fate, probably," I answer as we make our way in from a large staircase. When the future reset after we saved Temporal Tower, Dialga explained a bit about it to me: That history may change, but strings of fate stabilize each timeline in the form of the connections we create with others. The phrase is likely referring to those strings.

Ri looks thoughtful for a moment, "In that case, do you think we'll ever run into some of the other Pokemon from the Dark Future again? Spiritomb, the Sableye, the Resistance members…"

"We've already met some of the Pokemon who would've been on the Planetary Investigation Team, so I'd say there's a good chance. There's no telling what kind of people they'll be though." Any of the Sableye that travelled with Dusknoir to the past will have kept their memories of the separate timelines like us, but everyone else's would be completely different.

"What about some of the friends you made in the normal future?" he asks, almost hesitantly this time.

Although the answer's still the same, I understand his concern. As certain as I was in my decision to return to the past, it's not the easiest subject for us. I was worried I'd have to leave Grovyle behind, but it isn't like there weren't any costs at all. For Max and Gardevoir, especially… as soon as my choice was set, their memories would've been altered. They won't know a future where I grew up with a Lucario on my team: All they'll know is what I told them and how all they got was a letter before I disappeared with a near stranger.

I didn't want to return to the human territories in this or any timeline, but I would've at least made plans to apologize to them somehow. It's years too early and I have no idea where they'd be, but someday, I'll have to. It's not right to cut them out of my life anymore than anyone else who cared for me. As for anyone else, that really will be up to fate.

The interior stone has a rich brown color and looks just as preserved as the outside. As soon as we reach the top step, I can feel as though several eyes are watching us: The Unown, no doubt. We don't plan to antagonize them, ignoring their hidden gaze. If this place is safe enough for people to maintain it, it's unlikely that they'll attack us anyway.

My partner continues, "Well, if we do meet anyone from either future, I hope it's on good terms. There shouldn't be a reason for us to fight them, and I know there's got to be more people that you and the others miss."

I smirk, "I don't know… Something tells me the Sableye won't exactly miss Dusknoir barking orders at them all the time."

He laughs, "I'd at least like to see Arcanine's family again. I want to know how they're doing."

I'm thankful that there's at least a little light filtered throughout the ruins since we have to go in pretty deep. Similar to the Snowpoint Temple, the frontmost chambers are the best kept and have more modern amenities. Especially on Dialga's side of the ruins, there's plenty of offerings—and it looks like the Unown have helped themselves to them as the guards of this place. It's emptier the further we go, but the occasional mural and set of etchings on the walls keep our attention.

Whereas Arceus was the main focus of the last ruins we visited, Dialga and Palkia take center stage here. There are signs of all of them, but like before, Giratina's presence is noticeably small and in the worst light. I actually start to feel sorry for him.

Eventually, we make it to a big, square chamber near the heart of the large, multitier building. Structurally, it's similar to many of the chambers we already passed. Here though, the narrative that the other murals told takes an obvious shift. Rather than depict the Creation Trio's origins or show off their immense power, these tell a story we know well: The War of Creation.

It's nothing grisly, but having a solid image to put with the devastating tale is rattling. The scene stretched around is nothing if not pure mayhem, legendary against legendary with a hoard of disjointed, unidentifiable figures taking either side. There are only bits of broken landscape hidden in the background of the swarm of bodies. It all seems to crescendo onto the ceiling, where the battle is consumed by a mass of swirls depicting a violent haze.

Meanwhile, beneath us, consuming almost the entirety of the floor is a design that matches the geometric details on Ri's Relic Fragment.

We were never able to find that pattern in the Spatial Rift, so I definitely didn't think we'd just stumble on top of it here. I can only assume that a previous Guardian of Light or someone that knew them had a hand at making this, because I don't see how any of the legendaries would allow it in such a public place. Noticing a tiny notch at its center, my heart nearly stops in recognition, "Ri…"

He sees it to: He already knows what step to take next. He grips his treasure in anticipation before removing it from its cord, kneeling down, and gently placing it inside the hole. Like before, the reaction is almost instantaneous: The pattern ignites in a bright light and we feel the ground subtly rumble beneath us as something activates.

The feeling of being watch becomes even more intense and I cast a glance over my shoulder. While a few mismatched, black shapes dip behind the cover of the entryway, the Unown aren't really bothering to hide their presence anymore. They keep a respectable distance back while eying us curiously.

We move back as the floor opens up, the pattern breaking apart as a circular stairwell quivers into place. If not for the still overwhelming strips of light, we'd be swallowed into complete darkness as we descend. Only a few steps down, I spot a cluster of shadows bob after our two canine ones.

I'm no expert on architecture, but the bricks look pretty thick here and I can barely tell where each of the individual pieces slide apart to create this passage. Whatever's at the bottom, whoever designed this did so with the intent of ensuring it stayed secret. Even with the best of today's technology, if someone were to seek it out normally, they'd probably just think it was a series of small cavities in the earth or a part of the ruins that collapsed on itself long ago.

The one thing they didn't take into account though was the earth's natural, minute changes over the countless years. Much of the work looks untouched, but there are some massive cracks in the rock, partially blocking some of the new murals we run across. Not that it really matters: We can't make sense of most of them. I think the first few might describe the tale of the first Guardians of Light, but the rest showcase a series of disasters and adventures I've never heard of. Are all of them apart of the same journey from one set of Guardians or pieces from multiple generations?

The air quickly begins to go stale. I find myself seeking out Ri's hand, his fingers gently slipping around mine as he pulls me along after him until we reach the lower level: A single room that can't be any bigger than the one above. To my disappointment, it's also just as empty. No artifacts, just another big mural for us to inspect.

Etched into the floor this time is another image I've seen off and on during our adventures: A sun with five vague figures encompassing it, the symbol of the Guardians of Light. It shines just as vividly as the ruins' now split design of the Relic Fragment, brightening the otherwise suffocating space. I was hoping a hidden chamber meant that there was something left behind for us to find. And there is, in a sense, but not a physical artifact like I imagined. It's a secret.

The abstract haze that consumed only the ceiling in the chamber above now covers almost every inch of the walls, weaving around frightening images of humans and Pokemon alike. The cracks here almost look intentional, a literal destruction of forms to show how devastating the mysterious force was or is. Some of the bodies—five of them—are suspended higher than the others with their eyes carved out, the mist looping around their limbs like puppet strings.

Five… That number seems to come up a lot for us: Five guardians, five Time Gears, and now five puppets. I suppress a shudder, unable to get the horrible conclusion out of my mind.

For a full minute, Ri and I don't move: We just take in the awful sight in and try to rationalize it. I compare the image on the walls with the well-acquainted one on the floor and find a second symbolism to it—the latter as a light source itself. We're too far down for much to seep in from the level above, so the only thing keeping the chamber's oppressive darkness back is that sun-like etching. That likely refers to our purpose as Guardians.

Still, while the Guardians of Light may have been given a role as protectors over this world, they weren't perfect. They were all ordinary people first, just like our team is. They were just as susceptible to darkness as any person is… Is that what it means? Did a generation of Guardians fail and end up becoming puppets of something evil?

Or, maybe, were they used like puppets to stop it? By the legendaries…?

Out of nowhere, Darkrai's words echo back to me as they did only days before, "The Guardians of Light were formed because they cannot even protect this world from themselves… To them, you and your companions exist as tools that can readily be disposed of."

I shake my head to chase his voice away, rubbing my arm. Darkrai was lying! He was only trying to manipulate me into joining him! However… I'm scared of just how much truth he mixed in with all of his lies.

Sensing the presence of the Symbol Pokemon as they keep watching us from the stairs, I force myself to take a deep breath to relax. Ri can probably feel the bones in his hand scraping together from my unconscious, tight grip. I mutter an apology and he gives me a faint grin, then tugs me into a sudden embrace.

"It sure isn't a pretty picture…" he whispers. I feel like he meant to follow those words with something a little more optimistic, but he doesn't. He's keeping his aura in check, as always, but he can't put a positive spin to the scene before us either. So, instead, we hang onto each other until our initial dread has passed.

There's got to be something we're missing. Pulling myself away with my mouth drawn into a determined, firm line, I look toward our audience who, at this point, have made themselves so glaringly obvious that they can't retreat back in time. Under our combined gaze, they stumble back into each other as they race to hide themselves once more.

I call after them, "If you're going to tail us, do you mind translating? Do any of you know the story behind these?"

This makes them pause, but after looking to one another in silent conversation, they bob in a way that looks like they're shaking their heads. Right; Unown typically stick with each other in their own dimension and communicate using electromagnetic waves. It's rare for them to have much to do with other species outside of their connection to various ancient sites. On the off-chance any of them had been around when this chamber was built, they still likely would've stayed out of anything that was happening at the time.

We continue to inspect every inch of the space. I try using the Dimensional Scream without much success. At last, Ri and I try channeling our aura through the stone just to see if there's a reaction.

There is. A secret hidden within a secret, the light emanating from the pattern on the floor expands to where—finally—an inscription begins to appear along the upper perimeter of the walls:

'I am one drop in a Sea of Shadows,
We are a tide that cannot be contained,
The more of you fall, the more of us rise
Til not even memory of life remains.'

"It's a warning," I say aloud, more relieved than I should be. Still, I'd rather it be this than a grim prophecy.

Ri recites the text to himself, folding his arms across his chest. "'One drop in a Sea of Shadows, a tide that can't contained; the more of you fall, the more of us rise…' Cresselia talked about a force of energy that sometimes clung to people when it tried manifesting. Darkrai might have given it a way into our world, but what if it can't use him anymore? What if it finds someone else?"

"Then we're back to square one," I reply, "I'm more worried about it being strong enough not to need a host at all." Fighting a person isn't the same thing as fighting a force of nature.

"If so, I hope it's not Giratina. If he enters his Primal state, his mind already won't be right."

That would make him an easy target… If Giratina was turning Primal though, someone would probably know it. He may not get as much attention as other legendaries, but that doesn't make him any less of a powerhouse. Chances are, he'd live up to that Renegade title of his and go on a full rampage across every realm.

As my gaze roams over the mural again, I can think of a few other targets: Five of them. Thankfully, that guess is pretty baseless since no one on our team has shown any sign of corruption like what Cresselia sensed in Darkrai. There's also a chance she simply could've been wrong to start with, not seeing how he'd changed from whoever he was before until it was too late.

"What about the first part of the warning?" I offer.

For all of the foreboding this visit gave us, Ri smiles, "I don't know, but maybe the others will have some ideas. Until then, since there's not much left for us to do after this, let's stop thinking about the worst-case scenario and enjoy the rest of our trip. After all, we've got more than one mission to do here."