There was a bit of panic in the room. Layne could feel it, and so could Grovyle and Celebi. Voices everywhere were in worry.

"Dusknoir? Here?"

"How? How after all these years could he have found us?"

That was when one of the council members looked at Layne. "If he does have the Dimensional Scream, it's power must have been detected by Primal Dialga! This human has spelled out our doom!"

That comment gained a good amount of support from the council members, except for the one center figure. Layne still had yet to see any of these emmbers, but he trusted Grovyle would not let anything too bad happen. He hoped at least.

The center figure spoke up. "Now is not the time to point fingers. If the human does indeed possess the Dimensional Scream, there is no doubt that Primal Dialga picked up it's power when it came to such close contact. But we are also at fault for bringing it here. And what's more...it would give Grovyle reason to continue what he did."

One of the other members spoke up, "How can you be so sure, Prospero?"

"I'm not. But now is not the time for this. We must prepare an immediate evacuation of the Union." Prospero turned his attention to Electabuzz. "Electabuzz!"

The yellow and black pokémon straightened and said, "Yes?"

"Take your forces and hold off the attackers as long as you can. The council and I will begin evacuation procedures."

Electabuzz nodded and ran out of the room.

Grovyle watched him go. "Funny." he said to himself.

Layne heard and asked, "What's that?"

Grovyle just said, "Last time I saw Electabuzz, he was just a grunt, and now they've gone and made him an officer."

Layne simply said, "Maybe he's not as dense as you thought."

The council members returned their attention to Layne and Grovyle. Prospero spoke up, "The game has changed, Grovyle and Celebi."

Celebi and Grovyle looked at Prospero.

Prospero continued. "You two are to ensure Layne's safety through this attack. If he does indeed posses this gift, and if you indeed have discovered the locations of three Time Gears, then Layne's safety and survival is crucial right now, and a top priority. You know him better than all of us, and he trusts you. Keep him safe, we will begin evacuations immediately. Escort him to the main cavern."

Celebi saw where this was going. Grovyle did too, but Celebi was looking further ahead. Perhaps things were finally looking up for everyone. "You got it, Mr. Prospero!" she said in glee.

The council members looked to Prospero, "Are you sure you are making a wise decision?"

Prospero closed his eyes, "These are desperate times, brothers. And right now, we don't have the time to think otherwise. We have a Union to evacuate. Let's not waste anymore time. All of you, carry out your orders."

The council members started to adjourn. Grovyle and Celebi grabbed Layne and began to pull and push him out of the dark room.

"Whoa, easy guys. I'll just follow you."

Dusknoir stood outside the cave. His arms were folded. A feeling of approaching victory was near. Judging by the commotion going on deep underground, and the reports of his Sabeleye, and mercenaries he managed to bring along with him, they had finally found the Secret Headquarters belonging to the Union of Planetary Investigation. If they managed to capture the council members, and Layne, they could pretty much put behind them any fear of time being restored.

He looked to the rest of his minions, and spoke, "The place is yours. Remember, the human is to be left unharmed. Dialga has special plans for him. If you come across any of the council members, feel free to bring them up wit you as well."

The minions charged down into the cave. Dusknoir simply strolled into the cave at his own slow pace. This would be a day long remembered...

Grovyle, Celebi, and Layne ran through the cavern halls. Pokémon everywhere were scrambling. They came across a bigger room, which was full of pokémon battling. Sabeleye, and many other pokémon Layne had not seen in t his world were battling full scale. Perhaps he'd misjudged Grovyle's war a bit. Because looking into the room, reminded Layne of the wars he used to hear about back home. The War in Iraq, Afghanistan, and several other wars around his world. The thought was shook off as Grovyle spoke up.

"We need to get through this room in order to get to the next hall which will lead us to the main cavern."

Layne spoke up. "Uh not to be the critical person here or anything, but if pokémon are fighting here, what makes us think the main cavern is any safer? They could be coming from that direction."

"That is not the case." a voice came from behind, and the three turned to see Electabuzz standing there, with a group of pokémon, ready for battle. "The main Cavern is only accessible through a secret door. Grovyle and Celebi should know where it is. We will provide cover while you get across the room. Be careful, human."

Grovyle then spoke. "I thought you were against our mission, Electabuzz."

Electabuzz growled and looked at Grovyle. "I don't trust you, Grovyle, but I do trust the wisdom of the council, and I follow their orders. They have ordered the human be kept safe. I will do what I can to ensure the human lives to see another day."

Layne gave a small smile, "Thanks I guess."

"The time for that will come later." Electabuzz said, returning the smile. He then turned to the group behind him and said, "Let's show these intruders to the door!"

With that, they charged to the battlefield. Grovyle looked at Celebi and Layne and said, "That's our cue! Keep up Layne. Once you are seen, you will most likely be the target of the field."

"A running bulls-eye. Wonderful..." Layne mumbled to himself.

They then began to run. The battlefield was indeed large, and as Grovyle predicted, once they entered it, Sabeleye and other pokemon turned their attention to him. Luckily Layne managed to hear Electabuzz shout, "Defend the human! Defend him with your life!"

As pokémon charged Layne, other pokémon intercepted and fought off the pokémon. The thrill of battle was so thick in the air, Layne probably could have tasted it if he tried. Grovyle fought off a few enemies himself while Celebi managed to distract a nearby group of Sabeleye and confuse them with a confusion attack.

Layne stayed close to Grovyle. "This is tense!"

"We've not been in this kind of situation here before." Grovyle said. "We're gonna need to stay ahead of the game. We're almost out of the room, from there, we should be fine!"

Grovyle had probably spoke too soon, because as they neared the exit, three pokémon blocked their path. One came from under the ground and blocked them. It was in the shape of a huge snake, made of connecting boulders. It's roar was deafening, and shook the foundations. Another pokémon was a dragon shaped pokémon, orange in color, extremely confident, with a flaming tail. The third took the shape of a large snake, resembling a King Cobra.

"Well this complicates things a bit, doesn't it." Layne said. Celebi floated next to Grovyle.

Grovyle looked at her. "Mercenaries, most likely. We don't have time for this. Can you teleport us beyond them?"

"Not a problem!" she said. She touched both Layne and Grovyle and teleported them past the three pokémon. The pokémon turned in anger and began to give chase. But Electabuzz entered the picture. With a high jump, he kicked the large rock pokémon against the wall, causing it to collide with the cavern wall, and be buried somewhat underneath falling rock. From there he charged a thunderpunch attack into the cobra pokémon, and then summoned electricity from his body to shock the snake pokémon out of consciousness.

Layne watched in wonder and said, ""No wonder you call yourself 'the fist!'"

The dragon pokémon went after Layne in a fury, but Electabuzz jumped on it's back and began to wrestle with it. Electabuzz managed to say, "Go!"

Before focusing his full attention on the large dragon.

Grovyle grabbed Layne again and they ran out of the room, leaving the huge battle. The trio ran down a hall, and stayed out of sight from three running Sabeleye. Grovyle and Celebi waited until the Sabeleye were out of sight before moving again. "Man, they really went above and beyond for this attack." Grovyle said as they ran.

Celebi nodded as they moved, and said, "My only guess is that Primal Dialga indeed detected you Layne. The Dimensional Scream's power must be that strong."

Layne shrugged, "It would seem so."

Grovyle stopped them, and approached a section in the wall. "It should be here somewhere..."

With that, he pushed a rock, and the floor rumbled. A section in the cave opened up. Grovyle nodded, "Quickly inside, before it shuts again."

Grovyle wasn't kidding, as soon as Celebi and Layne went through with Grovyle, it shut almost immediately, probably to shut out any enemy who tried to follow them.

The room inside was well lit with torches. Layne finally saw the pokémon known as Prospero in full for the first time, and once he saw Layne he approached.

"By now you must realize how big a role you play now in life." he shrugged at the pokémon that only stood to his hip in size. "I guess the army who's trying to hunt me down outside is giving me that answer."

Prospero continued. "You have the Dimensional Scream, a gift so rarely given to beings. I must say, that the one who sent you, chose rather curiously."

Layne looked at Grovyle. Layne kept getting these comments. The comments along the lines of 'not quite what I expected' and related lines. Layne simply said, "You're a little short for the head of a council."

Prospero shook his head, "You misunderstand. You presume I judge by appearance."

Celebi floated to Layne and said, "Prospero is very wise, and he can see into your mind."

"My mind? You mean he's a telepath?" Layne asked.

"I guess you could say that, Layne." Prospero said. "Only I don't look into the personal life unless it's serious, so stop your worrying."

Layne simply shrugged. He had no idea how to behave in front of a telepath. Then again, who did?

Prospero continued. "Your heart is doubting. You question your own abilities. You were very conflicted from where you came from."

"Earth? Well I like to say I've found...purpose here." Layne said.

"At what cost?" Prospero asked.

"The cost to me isn't that much." Layne said. "Earth was a hellhole for me, and I did not really have any friends there."

"That's not quite what I meant." Prospero said. "I'm sure Grovyle has told you his plan to discover the locations of the Time Gears."

"Quite a bit. It's a complex plan, I must say." Layne said.

Prospero looked at Layne. "You would know then, why some of the council remains against it."

Layne sighed. "You're talking about disrupting the time continuum." Layne said. "That our actions in the past, will drastically change the future."

"In ways you may not know." Prospero said.

"I think I got the idea for the most part. Before my parents kicked me out, I did watch the Back to the Future trilogy."

"Excuse me?" Prospero asked.

Layne shook his head, "Never mind. I understand what you say. You're basically asking me if I am ready to go as far as perhaps sacrificing myself for the future of this world."

"Are you?"

"What makes you think I'm not?"

"You're not from this world, Layne. What I can't seem to understand is why you are willing to pay such a price, for a place that itself means so little to you."

Layne sighed. Grovyle and Celebi were very interested in this conversation. Layne looked at them, then back at Prospero. "To be honest, I don't know that answer. I didn't know a lot of answers when I came here. I came here to find out perhaps, why I would do it. Palkia said I have a heart willing to help, and it remains hidden from me. So perhaps all these answers will come in time."

"How touching." Dusknoir's voice said as he faded into the room, phasing through the wall.

"Okay..." Layne said. "Didn't know he could do that."

Grovyle and Celebi assumed a battle stance in front of Layne. Dusknoir chuckled. "So hostile. You all fight gallantly, but it's over. Your headquarters will be taken, and you are out of places to run. Let's make this easy, and surrender."

Layne cracked a smile, "I'll give him one thing. He is confident."

Dusknoir's eye glowed, and several Sabeleye were teleported into the room. Grovyle began to store an orb of energy in the pal of his hands. Celebi's eyes began to glow as she focused. Layne once again found himself wishing he had the powers these beings had, but he backed off in a defensive stance.

Prospero spoke, "Celebi, can you transport yourself, Grovyle and Layne out of here?"

Celebi looked and shook her head, "We're too far underground. My teleportation is limited."

Prospero closed his eyes, "The council and I can teleport the people in this room, within the bond we form, out of danger, but we need time."

Grovyle spoke, "I'll buy whatever time you need."

Layne looked at Grovyle. "Grovyle what are you saying?"

Grovyle looked at Layne. "From here on out, I think you and Celebi will be on your own on finding the rest of the Time Gears."

Celebi looked at Grovyle. "No...Grovyle..."

Layne also felt his heart skip a beat. "Grovyle, we've only made it this far with your help."

Grovyle simply looked at Layne, "You're very wrong, Layne. Without you, we never would have gotten as far as we have. And for that, I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you properly. Perhaps you've already found your helping heart, and just don't know it yet. But I can't let Dusknoir take you or anyone in here to the Stockade. I will fight every one of them off until you are safely away."

Dusknoir chuckled. "How very humble. You don't stand a chance. You are greatly outnumbered."

"I know," Grovyle said, "Who said I expected to win?"

"Fair enough..." Dusknoir said. He then pointed his finger at Grovyle, and his Sabeleye charged.

Layne almost jumped to Grovyle. He had to help Grovyle somehow, but before he moved, the hidden door to the cavern shattered, and who would stand there, but Electabuzz, and his warriors. "Hold fast, Grovyle, you won't stand alone!" he said out loud.

Layne fought the urge to cheer, but could not hold it back when he saw allies arrive to Grovyle's aid. Prospero and the council members joined in a circle, and began to focus. Each of their eyes glowed. Layne looked at them, then at Celebi, and then joined her gaze at Grovyle. This would be the last time he saw him in action. Grovyle was already paying a price he shouldn't have had to pay so soon, and it almost...no it brought a tear to Layne's eye. Grovyle looked back as he fought alongside Electabuzz.

Layne simply said, "Take care of yourself, Grovyle..."

Grovyle nodded and fought more. The bond of the council members began to glow brighter.

Electabuzz saw this and saw Grovyle and said, "Why are you still here?" He grabbed Grovyle by the chest, to Grovyle, Celebi, and Layne's surprise, and threw him to the edge of the bond. "You have a mission to complete!"

The group teleported, leaving Electabuzz and his warriors to fight off Dusknoir's forces. Electabuzz smiled. Perhaps Grovyle's mission wasn't so suicidal after all. There was something about that human, that just made him think so. And he was satisfied, knowing that even if he fell or was captured today, the human was now safe with Grovyle and Celebi...

Layne felt the ground beneath his feet again, and a second later, Grovyle landed on top of him. For Grovyle's size, he was actually pretty heavy, and Layne was on the ground in seconds. Grovyle slowly got up, "Sorry..." Layne and Grovyle both looked up. They were outside what appeared to be Treeshroud Forest. Celebi floated over to both of them. She seemed somewhat happy that Grovyle was still with them after all.

Layne would not deny it, he too was happy, but he looked beyond the forest. And looked at all who had been teleported from the room they were just in. He walked over to Prospero, "What will happen to the others?"

Prospero looked up at Layne. "The headquarters had more than one evacuation room. As we speak, others will be teleporting to different locations we have set."

"And Electabuzz?"

Prospero closed his eyes. "We can only hope for the best. He was a great warrior, and what he chose, was a very noble thing to do. You have my word, that we will try to help him out of there very soon." Layne wasn't so sure, but nodded as Celebi and Grovyle also came over. Prospero continued, "You on the other hand, need to continue as well. We now have seen reason for Grovyle's mission to continue, with our support."

"That was fast." Layne said, offering a small smile.

"It isn't official." Prospero said, "But I think you all should have nothing more to worry about when it comes to us. Lucario!"

The pokémon that had earlier taken them to the headquarters appeared. "You called, sir?"

Prospero nodded. "I want you to escort these three to the Northern Desert."

Lucario nodded, "I will do as you say."

Grovyle cocked his head, "The Northern Desert?"

Prospero nodded. "Grovyle, we never researched much into Time Gear Locations, but we do have our suspicions, that at one point in that area, one Time Gear was housed there. Perhaps you will find more information to your mission there."

Grovyle nodded, "Prospero, this really means much to me."

"It should mean much more to more than just you. The success of this mission is lies within the three of you. And I wish you the best fortune on it. You should not waste anymore time here. Northern Desert is Northwest from here. I'd start there before Dialga's forces catch up with you again."

Layne knelt down in front of Prospero and said, "I should thank you for everything you've told me. You've really made me think."

"You should not thank me or anything. You've forced the council and I to open our eyes, and for that, we cannot repay you. We hope for the best. We are all counting on you."

Lucario looked at the group, "Are you ready to go?"

Layne looked at Grovyle and Celebi, all who shared a smile of determination. Each was now more ready than ever to finish what they had begun. Celebi said, I'll teleport us as close as we can, before we start walking. Lucario nodded, and said, "Let's not waste anymore time.

They all touched as Celebi began to focus. Layne looked at Grovyle, who looked back, and said to his partner, "I will not deny, I'm glad you're still with us, Grovyle."

Grovyle chuckled, and said, "We have work to do."