Dusknoir stood inside Crystal Cave's internal walls. The room he and his Sabeleye had just reached, was a large room, with three very large crystals. Dusknoir was looking at an inscription engraved on the wall. "Hmm..." he thought to himself.

The inscription was talking about the three spiritual elements of willpower, knowledge, and emotion. It wasn't important to Dusknoir. He already knew that this was the last place the Time Gears were located.

He chuckled. The inscription was a riddle. a riddle on how to proceed. Thing was, Dusknoir already knew how to proceed. Grovyle and Layne, hopefully, did not. Hopefully if Layne and Grovyle got this far, they would be stuck here. For the trap he was now setting for them. He had almost had them last time. If not for the interference of that surprisingly strong Growlithe, which had disappeared from him as well, Grovyle, Celebi and Layne would have already been dealt with.

He looked over at his Sabeleye. "Is it ready?" he asked them "Are preparations done?"

One of the Sabeleye ran over and nodded, "Y-yes, Master Dusknoir."

"Good." he said. "Stand back."

"Pardon, master Dusknoir, but do you think this a wise move? This is awfully risky."

"We are about out of options." Dusknoir said. "I am willing to accept my master's price for this."

"As you say...Master Dusknoir." the Sabeleye said as it ran behind Dusknoir to join the rest of the Sabeleye.

Dusknoir focused, and drew in power. A portal began to open. Two glowing red eyes were seen at the end of the portal. Dusknoir knelt and said, "I require your assistance, Master Dialga..."

A couple days later, Grovyle and Layne found themselves at the entrance of Crystal Cave. Celebi was not present with them, a she was sent to get a certain thing ready. That's all Grovyle called it. He and Celebi had talked the day before, and he said that certain preparations had to be taken care of before the next step in their mission. Layne wasn't certain he was comfortable with that slow piece of information, but went with it. He would probably find out what it was all about, in time.

The cave itself looked desolate, and empty. Layne stood in front of it, and wind went past him, and it almost sent a chill down his spine. Something didn't quite feel right about this place.

"This cave cave is as empty as the desert was." Layne said.

"We've never been this close to our goal." Grovyle said as they stood outside the cave. "The last one has to be here. If the connection was correct, this is where it logically should be."

"So what are we waiting for?" Layne asked, and started inside.

Grovyle held Layne up, "Whoa hold on. There's a reason this cave looks as desolate as you say."

"What's that reason? Are there superstitions of it being haunted or something?" Layne asked, popping his neck.

"I don't know if you remember Growlithe talking about the lake or not, but what he talked about has brought certain things back to my mind, that I haven't thought about for a while." Grovyle said.

"What? I'm not sure I'm following you." Layne said.

Grovyle sighed and said, "Legends say that the Time Gears each had one guardian. Each guardian was in charge of making sure each Time Gear remained in place, undisturbed from intruders."

"So?" Layne asked.

Grovyle looked at Layne, and said, "There are rumors that this cave houses a very powerful spirit that at one point guarded something very valuable here."

Layne chuckled. "So it is haunted. You gotta take a skeptic's approach to that kind of stuff, if that is true, then that gives us even more of a reason to explore this cave. That valuable thing could just be Time Gear number five." Layne stretched his arms and continued, "As you said, we've not been this close before. And the longer we wait, the longer the darkness remains."

Grovyle sighed and said, "Perhaps you're right. But let us remain cautious."

"No doubt." Layne said. "I won't deny, this place for some reason right now is giving me the creeps."

Grovyle pointed to a cavern crystal and said, "Why don't you see if you get any visions from the Dimensional Scream?"

Layne nodded and went over and touched the crystal. The crystal was cold to the touch...but it also felt...as if it were pulsing. Layne frowned. "What?"

Grovyle looked over to Layne. "You say something?"

Layne didn't hear him. His mind was racing. His body felt like it was flying. Flying through the tunnels. Suddenly it came into a large room. There was dark water below him, he was floating in the air. "What is this?" he asked himself. That was when a bright light formed in front of him. The Time Gear? No. It was no where near big enough. It warped into the form of...some pokémon Layne had not seen before. "You bring something here that is not welcome. Turn back now!" it simply said.

Layne shook his head, "What? What do you mean?"

The pokémon ignored him. "You are not welcome here! Turn back, now!"

Layne fell to the ground. Grovyle was there at his side. "What did you see?"

"Nothing like I've seen in the past." Layne said, frowning. "That vision was completely different than any other vision I've experienced before."

"What did you see?" Grovyle asked.

"A pokémon. A blue pokémon, had a weird head, two tails, with a red jewel. He gave me some sort of 'get out' warning."

"Sounds like you saw...perhaps a pokémon by the name of Azelf."

"Azelf?" Layne asked.

"Legend tells of it being the being of willpower. I unfortunately don't know much more than that. It hasn't been seen for a very long time now."

"Well, I just saw it." Layne said looking down the cave. "Think it's still got some life left in itself? Those crystals are pulsing, with...some energy."

Grovyle walked over and touched the Crystals. "I feel nothing, Layne. It must be part of your vision. I won't be one taken by surprise, Layne. If Azelf lives, I wouldn't be surprised if it detected your Dimensional Scream."

"It warned me to stay out of the cave. It said I brought something unwelcome. I don't understand."

Grovyle contemplated. "The Dimensional Scream doesn't work unless a Time Gear was held in the area. That means that the Time Gear was at one point, held here. Perhaps you should remain outside while I investigate inside."

Layne shook his head. "It can't be helped. I will take the chance and investigate with you. Perhaps those last few lessons will help me out here."

Grovyle chuckled, "Keep on your guard. Who knows what we'll find in this cave."

They entered the cave. A few steps in, Layne sighed and said, "Grovyle, what exactly did you send Celebi out to do? I know you said not to worry about it, but I can't get it out of my mind. You guys seemed...so secretive."

Grovyle said nothing for a few seconds, which prompted Layne to return his focus to the matter at hand. Grovyle then said, "This cave, is very close to the location of a portal, known simply as the Passage of Time. Once we discover the location of this Time Gear, we will go there, and initiate the next step in our mission."

"What's that?" Layne asked.

"Going to the past, and collect each Time Gear. I will explain more after our business is done here."

"Right." Layne simply said. They had a job to finish. Layne would see it finished. He wasn't sent here for nothing...

Palkia was very pleased. Layne was indeed showing progress in his mission. Palkia was satisfied in his choosing. "Well done, Layne. Soon the real journey however, will open up to you."

Palkia was suddenly distracted. Someone was entering his haven. Before he could see who it was, a familiar voice entered his head.

"For the love of God, Palkia, if you were gonna go as far as transporting help from other worlds, would it have killed you to at least let me help you?" the voice said.

The voice belonged to the pokémon called Giratina. Palkia turned to look at Giratina. Times had changed for them. Normally, they didn't get along so well, like Palkia and Dialga didn't get along so well. But with Dialga's madness on the line, Giratina and Palkia had formed what one would call, a temporary truce.

Palkia growled in annoyance with Giratina. "I did not have enough power to transport both myself and you."

"Like hell." Giratina said. "When did this human arrive?"

Palkia sighed, "About a month and a half, ago. I must say, he's gained extraordinary progress in his time here."

Giratina nodded, "I can see that. I've been watching him the past few days, and have been trying to get a hold of you. I was about to think you'd gone and disappeared again, without telling me."

"I should not have to report to you every time I travel through space." Palkia said angrily.

"You are blind to consequence!" Giratina shot back. "You're lucky that disaster hasn't come upon your haven due to this human's presence here! Or mine!"

"Relax, Giratina." Palkia said. "I was well aware of the risks of transporting a human from another world here. And though there is slight space distortion to his presence here, it is nothing to be concerned for. It was the same for other human visits here in the past. The only difference, is that this human, knows nothing of us."

"Then why did you choose him?"

"To be honest, you'd have to watch him more to answer that question. But I am satisfied with my choosing."

Giratina spoke up again. "That reminds me. That human possesses power unlike any human I've ever seen before. How is this so?"

Palkia looked at Giratina. "The power you refer to is most likely the Dimensional Scream."

"The Dimensional Scream?"

"I provided the human with it. To aide him in this mission I provided him with two gifts. The Dimensional Scream, and the ability to understand the language pokémon speak."

Giratina was silent. "That's it? That's all you gave him?"

Palkia looked to Giratina again. "Do you disagree with my decision making, Giratina?"

"Those gifts were necessary, Palkia. But you didn't give him any gift to defend himself with!"

"I am not able to bestow power in humans, Giratina, and you should know that."

"Then you improvise." Giratina said. "There is power in the land now, that I have not felt for a long time, Palkia. Power that belongs to one certain pokémon, and each day, my suspicion of that pokémon increases. Dialga feeds off the darkness, but he wasn't the cause of Temporal Tower's collapse. You and I both know that."

Palkia sighed, "Get to the point."

"The other day, I saw the pokémon, Darkrai, wandering the land. He was pondering something, and my guess is he's caught onto the rumors spreading throughout the land of your human visitor, Palkia. We have nothing to show for our suspicion of Darkrai, but if Darkrai encounters this human-"

"You assume too much, Giratina."

"You are not preparing yourself for what could happen, Palkia! If Darkrai encounters this human, the human stands no chance! He has no defense mechanism!"

Palkia shook his head. "The human is not completely defenseless as you say he is, Giratina. His companion, the pokémon Grovyle has taught him rather well in the arts of defense."

"Grovyle is a fool!" Giratina said. "And so are you! If either of you think that simple training in defenses will be enough for him in this world, you disappoint me, heavily. Humans are weak! Their bodies are not as durable as us! They are fragile beings. Even if they prove their usefulness both for us, and us for them, without us, they are easily killed!"

There was a moment of silence. Palkia sighed, "What would you suggest we do, then?"

Giratina came next to Palkia. "You are right. We cannot bestow powers in humans like we possess. But as I said, we can improvise. I think we should give him one final gift, Palkia. He may not like it as much, but these are desperate times."

Palkia sighed. He understood what Giratina was getting at. "We must hurry with the preparation then." Palkia said. "Their time here is almost done, and Celebi is already preparing the Passage of Time. Once they go through, we will be out of contact with them completely."

Giratina smiled, "Then let's begin."

Hours passed as Layne and Grovyle wandered through the caves. So far, nothing out of the ordinary had happened, but three times, Layne had already received visions from the Dimensional Scream, all repeating the same thing. For him to turn back.

Grovyle was aware of it too, and they were hastening to find the location of the last Time Gear, and get out of this cave.

They finally came into a big room. They could not go on. In this room, there stood, three giant crystals. Two green, and one yellow. The cave had been coated with Crystals, but not like these. The room also felt different to both Grovyle and Layne. Grovyle spoke, "There is something about this room. Something different."

Grovyle went across the room, and touched one of the green crystals, examining it. He however stepped back in shock as the color immediately changed it's color. What was once a green crystal, was now a deep red.

"Wasn't expecting that to happen." Grovyle said.

Layne stepped forward and touched the yellow crystal. It turned into an orange color. "It's a puzzle." Layne said.

Grovyle looked around, and then spotted an inscription. Layne touched the crystal again, and again, changing the crystal's colors from purple, to blue to pink, and more.

Grovyle read aloud. "Three crystals, three elements. This is the guardians lament. All of which are necessary, to make life seem merry. Knowledge is passion, it helps us take action. Emotion is what binds us, without it, would be blackness. Willpower is what drives us, to earn a great bonus, but it also is what unifies, and makes life on the rise. The path is hidden, but not without a bargain. Identify the color of the crystal therein, to match the color of the spirit within."

Layne chuckled. "Puzzles, and riddles. Never was good at either." Layne touched the crystal again, and suddenly he was hit by another vision. "GET OUT!"

Layne rubbed his head. "It his me again."

"Another vision?"

"Yeah, just as regular as the last. Let's get this over with. If i can at least guess at what that riddle means, these crystals all gotta be one color."

"It would make the most sense." Grovyle said. I'd say we guess until we hit right, but who knows how many colors these have."

Layne repeated the last part of that riddle,"...the color of the crystal, to match the color of the spirit within. Do you think it could be talking about Azelf?"

Grovyle smiled. "Of course!"

Layne chuckled and said, "For a pokémon who doesn't like me, he certainly is helping us a lot right here."

"But what is his color?"

Layne shrugged, and said, "Why not go for light blue? It's the color I continuously see him in."

Grovyle touched the crystal nearest to him twice, until it showed light blue. Grovyle smiled, "We're that much closer perhaps to finishing this mission, Layne."

Layne touched the crystal nearest him to match Grovyle's crystal. Then they both headed for the third crystal.

"STOP!" a voice said.

Layne and Grovyle froze in their tracks. Layne looked at Grovyle, "That didn't sound like Dusknoir, in the least, Grovyle. Think that spirit still dwells here?"

Before Grovyle could answer, a light enveloped the room for a brief moment, and when it was gone, Azelf floated before them.

"You are not welcome here, Layne. You have brought a terror here that is feared throughout the land!"

Layne looked at Azelf, and then at Grovyle, "Who, Grovyle? I know we're technically outcasts, but he can't be all that bad."

"Do NOT attempt to humor me!" Azelf said angrily. "Your presence, has brought the unthinkable to this place! Leave here at once!"

"What do you mean?" Grovyle asked. "We are here on business that involves restoring time! We have no quarrel with you, but we will finish out business here."

"Restoring time! That is impossible! The Time Gears are no longer with us! They are gone!"

Layne looked at Azelf. "You know of the Time Gears?"

Azelf scoffed. "'You know of the Time Gears?' Of course I know of the Time Gears. Before you both were born, hundreds of years ago, I was put in charge of guarding one of the five Time Gears! Alongside my brother Uxie, and my sister Mespirit, we were three of the five guardians for the Time Gears."

Where are your brother and sister? They weren't at any of the other Time Gear locations!" Grovyle said.

Azelf was angered by the question. "Where are they? The same place they've been since Temporal Tower's collapse! Suspended in time!" Layne looked at Grovyle. Azelf continued. "I would have shared their fate, had I not been distracted by something else. Your intentions here may be good, but they are impossible, and you have drug the unthinkable with you!"

"There's that word again! The unthinkable." Layne said. "What exactly did I drag with me that's so unthinkable?

"Nothing!" a familiar voice called out.

Dusknoir materialized through the wall, a smug look on his face. "You've walked right into my trap, Layne and Grovyle. It's a pity Celebi isn't with you, but I assure you, she won't be breaking you out this time Grovyle, or you Layne."

"Who are you?" Azelf barked angrily, at Dusknoir.

"I am Dusknoir," Dusknoir said, "And I have come to apprehend these two for you."

Layne shouted to Azelf, "You don't understand, there is a way to restore time! Dusknoir is trying to prevent us from doing just that, however!"

"Your words are wasted, human. It is impossible."

"Here it is!' Grovyle said, "But not in the past!"

"Silence!' Dusknoir shouted! "You both are coming with me!"

Azelf looked at Grovyle. "And how would you get there? Time is governed y Dialga. Only he can go there."

"Not true at all." Grovyle said. "I am a friend of the pokémon, Celebi. A time traveling pokémon."

Azelf and Layne both looked at Grovyle. Layne was surprised. "You never told me she knew how to time travel!"

Azelf looked at Grovyle, "Is this true? Do you know Celebi, personally?"

Dusknoir said, "Yes he does. But I cannot allow them to go to the past."

Azelf looked at Dusknoir. "How can you say that? This land is dead! The sun is needed! As is the wind! I miss such things in the land!"

"Such things, are no longer needed by my master. Speaking of which...come forth, Master Dialga!"

He rose his arms, and the wall he had come out of expanded in a portal. A deafening roar echoed in the room, and throughout the cave. Two glowing red eyes entered the room. Those eyes were attached to a dark blue creature, which reminded Layne somewhat of Palkia. It stood on four legs. It took one look at Layne, and roared again. Layne fell to his knees and put his hands to his ears trying to protect his ears to such a loud roar. He also tried to get up, but his legs were like jelly. They were frozen in fear. Layne, for the first time in a long time, in his life, felt true fear. His life was flashing right before his eyes.

Grovyle saw Dialga, and his arms glowed green.

"Don't be a fool, Grovyle." Dusknoir said. "You know you are not a match against my master."

Grovyle's arms ceased glowing. Azelf looked at what was happening, and his eyes glowed. Grovyle and Layne's bodies glowed and suddenly disappeared with Azelf. Dialga roared in fury.

Dusknoir knew where they had teleported. Azelf would need to show them the lake. And it wasn't far off. he touched the last crystal to match it's color with the other two. As the entrance formed before his eyes, he just hoped he'd catch them all before they escaped...again. For the last time.

Layne felt the ground below him. The room was dark. He heard Dialga's muffled roar somewhere in the cave, but he slowly got up, his legs shaking. "G-Grovyle? Wa-was that-...that..."

"Yes it was, Layne." Grovyle said, helping Layne up. "That was Primal Dialga."

"Mother of God and all that is Holy..." Layne said.

Azelf floated over to them. "My apologies to the both of you. I had not been aware that Dusknoir was the one who brought Dialga here. I will assist you as quick as I can."

Grovyle looked around, as Azelf managed to light the room a bit. "This is...this is-"

Azelf nodded. You stand in the room that houses the lake that once held the Time Gear that I guarded years back. If you can truly do, what you claim to do, go back in time, and collect the Time Gears to repair Temporal Tower, I will give you my full support."

Layne looked at Azelf, but in the past, you guard them. Would you allow us to take them?"

Azelf gave Layne a long look, and shook his head. "Probably not. I cannot go back in time to tell them of your business. You may have to fight off the guardians. But if you do what you came to do, I'm sure they would understand after the job was finished. You now know where each Time Gear lies. You must leave."

A loud crash was heard beyond. "Azelf's eyes glowed, and Layne and Grovyle disappeared from the room." Dusknoir, his Sabeleye, and Dialga arrived just in time to see them disappear.

Dusknoir saw this and shouted in fury. Azelf saw him, and disappeared himself. Dusknoir had failed. Layne and Grovyle now had the locations of all five Time Gears. And Celebi was most likely waiting for them in the forest.

Dusknoir knelt before his master. "I have failed you, my Master. I await your punishment."

Dialga, strangely though, did nothing, except gave a low growl.

Dusknoir, opened his eyes as a new mental command came from Dialga. Dusknoir closed his eyes again and said, "Your humble servant, awaits your orders..."

Grovyle and Layne stood up. Azelf was no longer with them, but they were where they needed to be. They looked at each other. Grovyle smiled. "We did it, Layne. We know the location of all five Time Gears."

Layne chuckled, "Glad I could help you guys out. I will say, it beats struggling through the winter back home, any day."

Layne looked at the forest before them. "What is this place?"

Grovyle walked beside him. "This is Dusk Forest. Beyond the forest lies the Passage of Time. And Celebi is waiting for us there."

Layne looked at Grovyle. Grovyle was pondering something. Layne once again felt like he wasn't getting the full picture.

Layne shook it off for the moment, and said, "What are we waiting for? For the moment, it's all downhill from here."

Grovyle looked at Layne and nodded. "Let's go."