Layne shivered a bit as Grovyle, Celebi and him walked through the desert. They had arrived here about an hour ago with the help of Lucario. Lucario then left, which wasn't so big a deal. The guy wasn't much for talking. Though it had technically been a day or two to three days since the discovery of Fogbound Lake's Time Gear, it felt like had been ages. Layne was happy the whole fiasco with the Union was behind them. The three were together again, and this time, without any interruptions from the Union. To Layne, that was a victory of it's own.

Layne shivered a little bit more. The time paralysis had taken it's toll. Deserts were hot during the day, but at night, they were dead cold. And this desert had not seen heat for...who knew how long.

"Colder than the Arctic." Layne managed to say.

Grovyle looked at him, "I'd say we would stop for a fire, but there doesn't seem to be much flammable stuff out here.

Layne zipped up his light vest and said, "No worries, I'l manage, hopefully."

Celebi, who also looked a bit cold, looked at Layne. "Don't push yourself too hard. If you need to stop, we'll take a break." Layne offered a small smile to Celebi, "You don't look too warm yourself."

Celebi looked behind at him and said, "There is a reason this desert is as empty as it is right now. The temperatures up here can be so extreme. We are far north. I don't really understand why it is the way it is sometimes."

Layne shrugged. "Where I come from, the farther north you are, the colder it gets. Depending on what position we are in with your sun, temperatures can vary."

Grovyle spoke, "We've never seen our sun, remember?"

"Haven't forgotten." Layne said, rubbing his hands together, "But what I said, stands true. I'm not too sure how exactly the time paralysis affects the world. If the world itself stopped rotating, revolving, orbiting, whatever. Perhaps on the other side of the world, the day never leaves, and the sun's always shining."

Grovyle offered a small chuckle at that suggestion. "If only. Not a pokémon alive has seen the sunlight."

"Man, it's that out of whack? Makes you wonder what force could be so powerful as to block out the entire sun."

Layne stopped for a moment to warm himself up again. Grovyle looked at him, and closed his eyes, "Do you need a moment?"

Layne popped his neck, and rubbed his hands. "I'm good. I've been trying to get used to this cold. Reminds me of home, only colder."

"Have you picked up anything with the Dimensional Scream?"

Layne shook his head. "Nothing. If Prospero was correct, I just hope we find something soon."

"We all do." Grovyle said, looking at Celebi, who was now beginning to hug herself.

Layne looked at Grovyle, "You seem to be fairing nicely." he said, noticing Grovyle wasn't shivering at all.

"Believe me," Grovyle said, "It won't be long before I start slowing down. We will want to make our work here, fast. Let's hope to find our answer soon, and get out of this wasteland."

Layne gave a small chuckle, "Amen to that." he said.

Dusknoir was once again tracking the human and Grovyle. Dialga was growing impatient by the day, and Dusknoir was starting to worry. The human and his companions were discovering the locations of Time Gears at a fast rate. At this rate, the past would be as good as changed in no time at all.

One of the Sabeleye he brought along rubbed his claws together in a rapid motion. "They could have picked a warmer place." the Sabeleye said.

Dusknoir ignored him. He was trying to scan the area for any clue as to what direction they had gone. He knew for a fact that there had in fact been a Time Gear here before at one point. This was obviously still a mystery to Grovyle, otherwise they wouldn't have come here.

Another Sabeleye said in a shivering voice, "M-m-master Dusknoir, the temperatures here can be so extremely cold. Do you think, th-they can e-even survive here?"

Dusknoir gave a low growl and turned to his group of Sabeleye. "The next one who complains about the cold, will search for them, alone. And if they come back empty handed, they will remain here. Do I make myself, clear?"

Each Sabeleye gave a nervous laugh as acknowledgment. Dusknoir then turned to the landscape again. He then pointed, "We will start in this direction. Do not underestimate them. Even they will strive through this cold weather. If you can't find them, they aren't dead, and are still a threat."

Layne and Grovyle walked on in the cold desert. Layne was carrying a very cold, and tired Celebi, in his closed vest. He knew it didn't offer her much more warmth, but she didn't seem to care, she was very grateful for Layne offering in the first place to carry her.

"I-I'm still getting nothing Grovyle." Layne said, as he stopped to rest a moment.

Grovyle stopped too. Their pace had been slowing greatly, but they had come a long way into the desert. "Wanna call it?" Layne asked.

Grovyle closed his eyes. "This isn't the first time we've been wrong on a Time Gear location. We've gone far enough. If we spend much more time here, we'll only endanger ourselves."

Celebi, who was barely awake, simply said, "Fun..."

Layne sighed and turned around with Grovyle. They had barely taken three steps, when Layne suddenly felt his foot sink into the ground, which made him lose ground and fall to his knee, for a moment.

"Whoa!"

That woke Celebi up, "You okay?"

Layne nodded. "Quicksand maybe?"

Grovyle looked over, and began to walk over. "Need help?"

Layne struggled to pull his foot out of the quicksand, but to no avail. "Either Time's Paralysis makes Quicksand that much more difficult, or the desert likes my foot oh so much."

Grovyle nodded, "Hold on. I'll get you out of there."

Layne sighed and sat on the sand...which proved to be a very big mistake. As soon as he sat down, his whole body disappeared beneath the sand. He and Celebi were there, then they weren't. Grovyle saw this, and with wide eyes, jumped into the air and readied a dive into the quicksand while using Dig. As soon as he hit the quicksand, he fell through...and landed right on top of Layne.

"Ouch! Get off me!" he said.

"Sorry. Are you okay?" Grovyle asked, getting up slowly, as the place they had fallen was pitch black. Wait a minute...

Place?

Layne slowly got up, dusting himself off. "Celebi, you okay?"

She stirred, "That was a bit nerve-racking."

Grovyle tried to focus. He saw well in the dark, but sometimes places like this got the best of him.

Layne leaned on the cavern wall, and said, "Well, that was annoying. We have a plan for getting out of this?"

Grovyle was getting the feel around him, and looked up. "I'll use dig to get us out of this. Hold on."

"Good. I don't want to spend another minute in this desert. It's even colder down here than..."

Layne suddenly fought off a feeling of head-rush. But it quickly returned.

Grovyle nodded as he looked around the room, "I know, it's colder down here. I think I found a good point to dig up. Hopefully the sand doesn't make things anymore difficult."

Layne wasn't paying attention. He was walking through the darkness of the cave. But he finally came to a very lit room. He didn't know how he got here, but there was a huge underground lake in front of him now. And at the center of that lake, was a beam of light, which was the reason the room was so well let. Layne, as if in a trance walked towards the light, into the water, and made it to the point where the Water was just up to his knees, when he heard a voice.

"Layne? Layne, you okay?"

Layne slowly awoke from his vision. Celebi thankfully had not been disturbed by anything. "Yeah, I'm fine." Layne sat up. "I hate to say it, but I don't think our work here is done."

Grovyle chuckled, "I figured as much."

Layne stood up, "Celebi, you hear all that?"

Celebi wasn't responding. Layne bundled her up a bit tighter. "We should make our business here as quick as possible. I don't think Celebi likes the cold anymore than we do."

Grovyle nodded. "What did you see in your vision?"

Layne gave an annoyed sigh. "The vision was too brief. I just saw an underground lake, and the Time Gear out in the middle of it."

Grovyle pondered this for a moment. "Underground lake. It wouldn't surprise me to find one out here. Sometimes a desert is what's left of what once was a body of water, and further north of here, we would have run into the ocean. This underground lake was probably part of that body of water at one point. But where to start looking, is beyond me."

Layne sighed, and rubbed Celebi's body, trying to produce at least some heat for her. "Hang in there, Celebi."

It had been hours, and Dusknoir's Sabeleye finally found one of the many entrances to the secret cavern which at one point held the Time Gear, Layne and Grovyle were looking for. Dusknoir would catch them here and now. This cavern's entrances and exits were known to very little. And those who stumbled into them, very rarely lived to talk about it.

At this point, Dusknoir wasn't all that concerned about Layne and Grovyle finding the lake where the Time Gear was once housed. Even if they did, how would they get out? Celebi's teleportation was limited, and the cavern was huge. Any room could lead to quicksand pits, endless caves, or just dead-ends. Grovyle had not discovered this area in the past to Dusknoir's knowledge. Therefore if they had stumbled into it, they would have a very hard time. As for Dusknoir and his Sabeleye, exiting this cavern would not be a problem for them. Dusknoir could phase through the walls. As for the Sabeleye, well, this was basically their natural habitat, were it not so cold. Never the less, Sabeleye knew their way around these caves, and saw excellent in the darkness. They'd find their own way out.

All that mattered to Dusknoir right now, was capturing Layne and Grovyle. Celebi then entered his mind. She had broken Grovyle out once before. Dusknoir simply smiled. He'd make sure she wouldn't do that again. Perhaps even better, she could be with Grovyle and Layne right now. Her capture could finally be in range too.

Dusknoir was careful not to get too excited. He had a task to do. His group of Sabeleye gathered. Dusknoir looked at the cavern bottom. There were footprints. The sand made it difficult to tell, but, thankfully due to the Paralysis of time, the sand was somewhat shaped in the form of both Grovyle, and human footprints.

He spoke up. "We all know our targets. Let's make our business here quick."

Four of his Sabeleye broke into a run in the direction of the footprints.

Dusknoir was about to follow at a slower pace when something else caught his eye. Another set of footprints. He didn't recognize them, but they were fresh enough. "Well well, we may have another guest to deal with perhaps..." he mumbled to himself.

The cold was cutting down beyond the bone now. Layne sat in a huddled form. Grovyle saw this, and walked over and knelt. "Come on, Layne. I know it's cold, but we have to find this lake you're talking about.

Layne gave a small chuckle. I would, grovyle. But I'm beginning to lose feeling in my feet."

Grovyle could tell that Layne was starting to lose his battle against the ever-growing cold air. And Celebi didn't look too well herself, as though she was still stirring, she had stopped talking hours ago.

Grovyle, though he still had some life in him, sat down with Layne. "Did you ever see the sun rise, Layne? Where you came from?"

Layne, shivering, looked over and managed to say, "Not all the ti-time. I-I kinda...slept in most mornings." Layne squeezed in tighter, trying to get as warm as possible. "Saw plenty of...s-sunsets though."

"What were they like?"

Layne closed his eyes. "Remember...what I said about water?"

Grovyle looked at him. "About the sea? You told me it never ceased to calm you."

Layne chuckled at that. "The sunset, against the ocean was always a sight to marvel at. Full of color...motion..."

"Layne, I understand you are weak right now, but we need to keep moving."

To Layne's surprise, Grovyle lifted his arm around his neck and lifted Layne up. They had barely walked three steps when a smell in the air entered Layne's nose. The same for Grovyle.

Layne simply said, "I must be going crazy. Is that smoke I'm smelling?"

Grovyle stopped, "I smell it too. But I don't understand. Why would it be down here?"

"Maybe we're just delirious." Layne said.

He took that back when another voice said, "Who-Who's there?"

Grovyle nearly dropped Layne at the sound of the voice. The voice sounded like it was no more than 10 years old.

Grovyle spoke, "Friends. We mean no harm. We're just passing through, and are a little lost. If you could help us, we'd greatly appreciate it."

Layne looked up just in time to see...a dog wander around the corner.

"I didn't know they had dogs in your world." Layne said.

Grovyle looked at him, "That is not a dog, Layne."

The dog-like pokémon gave a very friendly laugh. "That pokémon's funny!"

Layne was too tired to mention the fact that he wasn't a pokémon. But managed to give a small smile.

Grovyle meanwhile said, "We are very tired and cold, is that a fire we smell, by chance?"

The dog pokémon smiled and said, "You bet, I always have one going down here."

"Always?" Grovyle asked. "What do you mean, 'always?'"

The pokémon simply beckoned them. "We'll talk when you guys are warming up. This is so cool! I never thought I'd see another friendly face again!"

Grovyle was curious to this pokémon's story. Layne managed to stand up by himself, "Thanks for the left, but I think I can manage a few more feet." Layne said.

Grovyle gave a small smile and nodded. Layne and Grovyle followed the pokémon down the cavern hall. The room beyond was flickering, like a fire was lit. Layne, at the sight of that, picked up his pace just a bit. "Hold on, Celebi." he said out loud.

When Grovyle and Layne entered the room, they were not only amazed at the fire that was burning, which was easily the size of a small bonfire, but at the room itself. This pokémon had stored both in the sand and above, food that would probably last up to maybe ten or more years!

"What is this place?" Layne asked the pokémon in wonder.

The dog pokémon smiled and said, "I live here, silly."

grovyle entered as well, "You live here? Surely you didn't gather this all yourself?"

The pokémon, for a brief moment, lost the cheer it had possessed upon meeting them, "Well, I didn't gather any of it. My parents did a long time ago, before they died."

Layne knelt down by the dog pokémon. "Sorry to hear about your parents, little guy."

As if the cheer had never gone away, the pokémon retorted by saying, "Look, my name is not 'little guy.' My name is Growlithe, Pleased to meet you!"

Layne smiled at the little guy. He indeed was able to make him smile on the inside. Not many people could do that to Layne. Growlithe spoke again, "Warm yourselves up! What's your name?" he then asked Layne.

Layne took off his vest, with the sleeping Celebi inside, and , while wrapping it around Celebi, put it near enough to the fire as to warm Celebi, but not too close where any sparks would catch the vest on fire. "My name is Layne." he said to Growlithe.

Growlithe looked at Layne, "I've never heard of a pokémon named Layne before."

Grovyle spoke before Layne could. "That's because Layne's not a pokémon. He's a human."

Growlithe lit up in excitement. "You're a human? Wow!"

Layne simply smiled as he warmed himself by the fire. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask, how you made this fire. It's a big fire. Bigger than what I've been able to make."

Growlithe smiled. "Oh that? That was easy! All I had to do was find the appropriate fuel for the fire, and then..."

Growlithe inhaled and upon exhaling, a rather intense stream of fire came from his mouth. In a way that made Layne grab Celebi in the vest, and dodge out of the way. Layne simply said, "Yup, that would explain it."

Growlithe gave a small laugh and said, "Sorry, I can get a bit carried away sometimes. I've very rarely had visitors down here before."

Celebi finally stirred and woke up. "Where are we?" she asked.

Grovyle sat beside Layne, and said, "We're underground at the moment, Celebi."

Celebi saw the Growlithe and gave a wave and said as happily as she sounded in the past, "Hey, how you doing?"

Growlithe simply smiled and said, "Hey!"

Minutes passed, and they were breaking into small talk with the Growlithe, eating some of the food he had, and warming up even more, when Grovyle stood up.

"Your generosity has been much appreciated, but we cannot stay, we need to move on."

Growlithe seemed a little bummed at this, but nodded, "Aww, where you going?"

Layne looked at Grovyle, who simply nodded. Layne then looked at Growlithe, "We are aware that there is or was an underground lake here at one point. We are trying to find that location, and then hopefully, find an exit."

Growlithe lit up. "I know where that lake is!"

Grovyle looked at Growlithe, "You do?"

"Yeah. Why you trying to find that place?"

Grovyle closed his eyes, "Unfortunately, that is our business."

Layne could understand why Grovyle wouldn't say much more to Growlithe. Growlithe was still young, and if he knew details on their mission, and the risks, well, perhaps he would react in a bad way, or simply refuse to assist. Layne knew they couldn't afford that.

Growlithe remained silent for a moment, then said, 'I'll take you there. No big deal, to be honest, it's not that far away. You guys ready to go?"

Layne looked at Grovyle, and the now fully warmed up Celebi, and then back at Growlithe, "Your assistance and hospitality is greatly appreciated, Growlithe. Lead the way."

Dusknoir followed his Sabeleye down the cavern. At the end of this cavern, was a room, lit by a rather big fire, and filled with food and supplies. "What do you make of it?" one of his Sabeleye asked.

Dusknoir looked on the ground, noticing all three sets of footprints were present in the sand. "I'd say Grovyle and Layne are receiving help. We are getting close. We cannot let them escape this cavern and go in search of the last location of the Time Gears."

One of the Sabeleye was shaking in the cold and said, "M-mind if we w-warm up a bit first?"

At that suggestion, Dusknoir simply glared at the Sabeleye, and the Sabeleye then nodded, "What are we waiting for?"

Layne, Grovyle and Celebi, now fully revitalized with warmth, followed the Growlithe through the underground cave until they came to an even bigger room. Layne held a torch, which helped him see in the darkness. Despite the paralysis of time, Layne could feel the humidity in the air, and knew that the lake was in the general area.

Growithe sat down and said, "Here we are."

Layne entered the room, and held the torch up. Sure enough, the lake he saw in his vision lay before him. He walked a bit closer as Growlithe spoke up. "My parents told me once that this lake used to be very special. They said that it used to be so special, a very powerful pokémon had to guard it from intrusion."

Layne knelt down at the lake's edge, and touched the water. It surrounded his hand as water normally did, but as it did in this world, as he withdrew his hand, the hole remained in the shape his hand had made. Layne sighed and stood up. His vision replayed in his mind. Out in the center of that lake, at one point, the Time Gear had rested. It's beam of light shot up in front of Layne again. He then turned to Grovyle, and said, "I think we're done here."

"And so is your mission." Dusknoir's voice rang out. Layne gave an annoyed sigh. Dusknoir always seemed to come in at the most convenient times. Dusknoir spoke again as he too entered the room with his Sabeleye. "Each one of you is going to come with us now."

Growlithe was confused. "Who is that guy?"

"A pokémon who really likes to make our lives harder." Layne said in annoyance.

"I am Dusknoir, young one. And you are in the presence of three criminals." Dusknoir said.

"Criminals?" Growlithe asked, looking at Grovyle, Layne and Celebi.

Celebi simply said, "As if."

Layne said to Growlithe, "Growlithe, don't let him get to you-"

Dusknoir said to Grovyle, "Have you told him of your mission?"

Growlithe was getting confused. "What mission?"

Dusknoir laughed. "The lake was indeed special in the past. It housed what was once called a Time Gear. The three beings you have housed, are on a mission to find the five locations of each Time Gear. They now have found four locations, Growlithe. If they find the last one, life as we know it could be in danger."

Layne saw what Dusknoir was doing, and simply said, "Oh that is a load of-"

Grovyle interrupted him, "You and I both know, Dusknoir, that our missions is for the good of the world!"

"If only." Dusknoir said. "You wish to sacrifice everything this world currently holds, for something you're not even sure will work."

Grovyle looked at Growlithe, who was getting a bit worried and scared. "On the contrary. I know it will work. And I do it, so pokémon like him will live in a much better world. Why you have failed to see that for all these years, I will never know."

Layne approached the Growlithe slowly, "Listen Growlithe-"

Growlithe growled and said, "Stay away from me!" He even went as far as o attack Layne wish a small ember attack, which drove Layne back, and right into the arms of two waiting Sabeleye. "Wha-? Let go of me!"

Grovyle saw this and went for Layne. "Layne, hold on!"

Dusknoir's eyes glowed, and it's fist glowed a bright blue, and it used an Ice Punch which brought Grovyle to the ground. Celebi, was about to help out, wen two Sabeleye grabbed her as well. "Don't even think of teleporting, sweetie." one laughed.

Dusknoir laughed. "You gave us all a good run for our money, but now it is finished. Master Dialga will decide your fates. Now, please. Don't give us anymore trouble. Let's get a move on. We have a long trip to take back to Temporal Tower." Dusknoir then looked at Growlithe. "Good work, young one. You've assisted us with the apprehension of three very dangerous criminals."

Growlithe still looked a bit confused. "Dangerous?"

Dusknoir nodded. "Had they been able to finish their mission, things for us al would be very difficult."

"How so?"

Dusknoir simply sighed. "I'm afraid you wouldn't understand at your age. Run along now."

Layne gave a look of sorrow over to Grovyle. "I feel like I've let you all down. Sorry guys."

Grovyle shook his head, "Don't apologize, Layne. Something good will happen."

Growlithe listened o these words. He listened to the tone of everyone who was speaking. He remembered just a short while back that he, Grovyle, Layne, and Celebi were all having a grand time in his cave. His father had once said, that only the guilty run away. They didn't run. Or if they did, were they perhaps simply being harassed by this group? Dusknoir was simply blowing him off. He didn't care.

"No, I won't run along." Growlithe said, straightening up. "You tell me exactly why they are wanted criminals."

Dusknoir turned, and gave an annoyed look. "Look, it's confidential. Secret, okay? You're lucky I don't just drag you along with us, for housing them."

Grovyle looked at Growlithe. "Don't get yourself into any trouble, Growlithe."

That was enough to convince Growlithe that the three had done nothing wrong. Dusknoir had no reason, which meant it was probably personal favor to arrest them, and if Grovyle were really a wanted criminal, why would he bother giving a warning to Growlithe not to pester Dusknoir any further.

Growlithe was greatly angered by this. "Hold on guys!"

He jumped into the air and fired a powerful flamethrower attack at the Sabeleye holding both Layne, and Grovyle. Layne was taken by surprise by the whole thing, but Grovyle quickly recovered and attacked the Sabeleye holding Celebi.

Dusknoir was enraged.

"Get them!"

Growlithe then inhaled and let loose a thick curtain of smoke which covered the area in a matter of seconds. "Guys, quick, follow me!" he said.

Layne felt Growlithe tug on his cloths, which made Layne get up and run with him. Grovyle and Celebi joined quickly after as well.

They ran out of the room through another tunnel. They continued running, following the young Growlithe, until Growlithe said, "Hold on, in here!" He ducked behind a small wall, which barely fit them all, and waited, as some Sabeleye ran past them down another tunnel. They waited a brief minute before coming out again. Layne asked the Growlithe, "What made you change your mind about us all of a sudden?"

Growlithe shrugged with a small smile. "Gut feeling."

Layne gave a small chuckle at the usual smile Growlithe made, then said, "Know where the exit is?"

Growlithe scoffed, "Like I wouldn't know where it is. Follow me!"

Grovyle, Celebi, and Layne followed the young Growlithe through more caverns, until finally they were out of the cavern, and actually facing a forest.

"It's hard to think we missed this entrance in the first place." Layne said, popping his neck. "All those desert miles we did. I think we made our job harder."

Celebi giggled at Layne. "Hey, we made a new friend in the process, didn't we?"

Grovyle nodded and knelt down to the Growlithe. "You have our most sincere thanks."

Layne knelt down and gave the Growlithe a few strokes on the head, which pleased the Growlithe, but made him say, "What are you doing?"

Layne chuckled as he petted Growlithe, "Well where I come from, we like to do this with animals. Makes them happy, and us happy as well. To be honest, I don't know why. It's just a way we do things where I come from."

"Feels good." Growlithe said.

Layne chuckled, then looked at Grovyle. "He helped us out of a tough situation, do you think he has the right to understand what we're doing, and what could happen?"

Growlithe put up a paw. "Please. I don't need to know. I just have a good feeling that something great will happen once you finish, so please...finish what you started."

Layne looked at Growlithe and nodded. "We guarantee, we won't stop until the job is done."

Growlithe nodded, "I hope you stay true to that. It was awesome to have visitors, but I shouldn't keep you any longer."

Grovyle cocked his head, "What about you? What will you do now?"

"Me?" Growlithe asked. "Oh don't worry about me. I know my way home."

With that, Growlithe gave one last smile and then walked back into the cave.

Layne, Grovyle, and Celebi stood for a moment before they started walking.

"We now know the location of four Time Gears." Grovyle said in a bit of triumph. "But...to be honest, I have no more leads or clues on where to look for number five."

Layne sat down on a rock. "Let's go over where we found each one."

Celebi smiled and said, "Good idea, we found the first one in Treeshroud Forest."

Grovyle spoke, "We found the second one at Limestone Cavern, and the third at Fogbound Lake."

"The fourth here..." Layne said.

Grovyle shook his head, "Nothing's connecting. It's all random."

Celebi lit up. "Not entirely! You two are forgetting where exactly they sat."

Layne was a bit confused. "What do you mean?"

Celebi giggled, "Silly! Each one was sitting in a pond or a lake of some kind!"

Grovyle's eyes widened. "Do you think the fifth could have been in a lake as well?"

"Not just any lake, Grovyle. The lake would have to be hidden. There's one lake that comes to mind as far as hidden goes that we haven't looked yet."

Layne stood up, "So where are we going?"

Grovyle looked at Layne and said, "We're going to Crystal Cave."