Layne and Pyro had found a fissure opening to which they could start climbing the Plateau of what might hold the rumored Fogbound Lake. Pyro obviously couldn't get Team Skull out of his mind, but Layne did what he could to keep his partner's head high. Who knew? Perhaps something good would come out of it all.

If that wasn't enough, Layne had finally gotten that much closer to finding out just a bit more about who he really was. The vision he had did not say much, but to him, it was a start.

"Sure is steamy in here..." Pyro said.

Layne didn't know if the steam bothered Pyro due to it being water vapor, but it was kinda bothering Layne. It was too humid, and it made Layne feel very uncomfortable. "Tell me about it. I guess a small consolation for you is that it's so dang hot in here."

"It is?" Pyro asked, looking at Layne.

"Don't you feel- Nevermind."

Pyro chuckled a bit. "You're not getting cold feet, are you? We're in a place no one has ever been in before! Aren't you filled with anticipation?"

Layne shrugged, "I'm more thinking about if this place is indeed connected to my past...or even my future."

"Well, don't dwell too much on it." Pyro said. "I'm glad you're finally getting some clues as to who you are, don't get me wrong, Layne, but remember our task at hand, too."

Layne almost decided to argue that point, but decided against it, remembering that this was Pyro's dream. Of course Pyro would want it to go well, especially after failing in some areas that they already had, despite some of those times being sabotaged.

Pyro then looked over to Layne. 'Incidentally, Layne, I have been wondering."

"Wondering what, Pyro?" Layne asked.

"Mainly about you. Would you want to become a human again?"

"Human again?" Layne repeated. He stopped and gave it some thought. But he didn't know. Why? He didn't remember really all too well of what it was like to be one. "I honestly don't know, Pyro. I don't remember too much about what it was like to be a human. I can't really say which was better. Being human, or being this."

"A dilemma?" Pyro asked smiling as they continued walking.

Layne shrugged, "If you want to call it that."

Pyro smiled and said, "I hope there is just a little dilemma in that, Layne. You've changed my life, Layne, and I don't think any other pokémon could have done it. You're unique. I know you've heard it many times, but there's just something about you, that has helped me become a much better pokémon."

Layne smiled and said, "I'd be lying if I couldn't say the same about you, Pyro."

Pyro looked over in surprise a bit. "What?"

"Pyro," Layne said as they came to an area lit by sunlight. "Simply being around you is soothing sometimes. I don't know what it was like being a human, but when I'm with you, I feel strangely at peace, or happy. You make me smile, Pyro, which I want to say is more than anyone else has ever done perhaps in my whole life. And I cannot lie when I say, sometimes, smiling...just smiling...feels good at the end of the day."

Pyro smiled at that and said, "To a continued friendship."

Layne chuckled and said, "If I had a drink, I'd accept that toast five times more."

The walked on, and it was then that they could go no further...on the path they were on at least. Layne looked up. "Well, I didn't expect this."

"Should we go back and go the other way at that one point we had to split direction."

Layne didn't like that idea. "It will take up time. The sun's going down, and it's not much more to the top. I can see a narrow path over there."

Pyro looked to the path Layne was talking about. It was narrow all right. One slip, and without a doubt, one would fall.

Pyro looked unsure, but nodded. "You're right about one thing Layne, we won't have much daylight left, and we don't know our landscape here. If it means reaching the top faster, I'll follow you."

"Just don't look down." Layne said, knowing full well that both of them would look down anyway.

They began on the narrow path. For the most part they had to stay single file, but it was big enough for them to walk without hugging the wall too much.

Layne looked up, "I can see a platform up ahead. We're nearly there, Pyro!"

"I see it too." Pyro said smiling.

"Just a little further, and we can-"

A very disturbing sound was heard. A roar of some sort. Pyro and Layne both froze.

"Pyro..." Layne said, "Please tell me you heard that."

"I heard it, Layne. But what was it?"

It sounded again, and the land began to shake. "Oh come on..." Layne said and hugged the wall. Pyro followed his lead, but the ground beneath him suddenly gave way. Time slowed for both Pyro and Layne. Layne almost jumped after him, but Pyro had managed to grab onto one of the split ends of Layne's tail.

Layne shouted in pain, but managed to hold onto the wall, until the trembling stopped.

"Pyro! Are you okay?" Layne shouted, through pain and worry.

Pyro was short of breath, but said, "Y-yes!"

"Hold on!" Layne said. "I'm just about there! I''ll pull you up momentarily!"

This was a true test. Layne was summoning adrenaline from all parts of his body. His grip improved, as did his strength for the moment. He managed to keep balance, despite not using his tail, and edged his way to the platform.

Upon reaching it, Layne fell forward and crawled to get Pyro up. As soon as Pyro was up, Layne lay on his back. Breathing heavily. "Perhaps next time, we should just double back..." Layne said as he panted.

"Are you okay, Layne? Sorry about that."

"You don't have to apologize for anything, Pyro. I'm glad you're alive. Thats' all that matters."

It was then that the roar sounded again...only from about 30 feet away. Both Layne and Pyro scrambled to their feet as the ground trembled. Layne looked up. A pokémon, red in color was approaching them. It looked very familiar...it looked just like...

"It can't be..." Layne said. "That thing really exists?"

Pyro was in shock, "It's Groundon!"

Groundon let out an other deafening roar. Layne and Pyro cringed in fear. Then strangely, it began to speak. "YOU! HAVE YOU COME TO DESECRATE THIS PLACE? LEAVE NOW, AND DO NOT RETURN!"

Layne was a bit surprised at that but managed to say, "Look, we didn't come to desecrate anything! We're just looking for a mystery lake, that's all!"

"YOU'RE SEARCHING FOR FOGBOUND LAKE?" Groundon shouted.

"I never mentioned a name..." Layne simply said rubbing his ears.

"I AM THE GUARDIAN OF FOGBOUND LAKE! YOU WILL NOT LEAVE HERE, ALIVE!"

"Oh come on!" Layne shouted. "Now you're just over-reacting!"

"Layne!" Pyro shouted in a warned tone. "It's not worth it, we should leave!"

Layne knew when enough was enough and turned with Pyro. However their only way of escape was blocked by Groundon, and the way they came in was now a danger.

"THERE IS NO ESCAPE OR MERCY FOR INTRUDERS! PREPARE FOR YOUR END!"

Layne and Pyro straightened. Layne looked over, "Pyro, if we ever needed to put our full force into anything, it's right here, and right now."

Pyro nodded and said, "I'm with you all the way, Layne. I won't back down!"

Groundon stomped the ground, and the ground shook in what appeared to be an attack. Layne got on all fours while Pyro struggled to stay standing. Groundon definitely showed great power, and though Layne knew the odds were heavily against them, he would not be easy prey. Layne didn't know why he felt this way. This was a pokémon talked about only in myths, and Layne barely knew anything about normal pokémon! What made him think at all that he and Pyro could take this guy down?

Layne shook his head. They probably both knew they had no chance. But they wouldn't make it easy.

Layne jumped and charged up a Water Pulse attack, and aimed for Groundon dead in the face. The Water Pulse barely did anything.

Layne landed next to Pyro, looking up, "He certainly lives up to his reputation. That barely did anything!"

"I don't understand." Pyro said. "Legend said Groundon lived in a volcano. what's he doing here?"

"We'll ask ourselves that after we defeat him." Layne simply said as they both dodged another attack.

"There's more! Groundon is obviously a ground type. Why didn't your Water Pulse do more damage?"

"Why don't you try some attacks?" Layne simply said as he ran in a circle around to the back of Groundon. Pyro nodded and did an attack he had recently learned, called Fire Spin. Flames engulfed Groundon, and Layne was on Groundon's back. Groundon was thrashing. Layne looked around. It seemed the fire attacks were doing more damage. But why? Layne suddenly felt more heat from the sun. Layne looked up as he fought to hold on to Groundon. The sun was shining intensely. Was this a key to the battle?

Layne had no clue, and he charged up another Water Pulse attack and brought it down in the back of Groundon's head. Groundon, finally thrashed, and got hold of Layne and threw him a stone wall. Layne felt the wall and he fell down hard. Layne rubbed his head, and Pyro ran over. "Layne, you okay?"

Layne slowly nodded, "Pyro. The fire's doing more damage than I am. Keep fighting!"

"But that doesn't make any sense! Why would my fire attacks be so effective? He should be used to extreme heat."

"You said he was weak to water, and now he's sensitive to fire, and perhaps the sun is helping us somewhat. "I'd say try and go for a stronger fire attack!"

'I don't know flamethrower yet. Perhaps you can buy me some time while I perhaps make fire spin a bit better!"

"Works for me." Layne said. "Don't keep me waiting too long. Something tells me we just may stand a bit of a chance for some reason."

Layne then ran straight for Groundon. Groundon saw him coming an aimed a punch for him, but Layne jumped and ran up the arm and jumped above, and charged up a sonicboom attack...at least that was what he wanted to use. Instead, his tail glowed brighter than he ever could have thought, and it suddenly hardened. Layne brought the tail down, and it impacted with Groundon's head hard. Groundon roared in unpleasantness.

"What kind of attack was that?" Layne simply thought to himself. He had never been able to do that before! Whatever it was, it had done a good deal of damage to Groundon, and very little damage to Layne. His tail didn't even seem sore.

Layne landed on the ground and Pyro who was turning up the heat with his Fire Spin simply said, "Layne! That was a great Iron Tail move!"

"Iron tail?"

"Yeah! It's created an opening in his defense too! Perhaps one more Water Pulse will bring him down!"

Layne looked a bit skeptical, but said, "It's worth a shot. Layne charged up a water pulse, unlike any other water pulse attack he had ever used and shot it, and it impacted with Groundon just under the chin. Groundon looked very phased and the fire spin attack from Pyro finally died down.

Groundon didn't move. "Layne and Pyro looked tense. "Come on you brute..." Layne said quietly. "Fall, so Pyro and I can get out of here."

Groundon stood before them, then with a flash of light, he suddenly vanished. Simply vanished into thin air.

Layne and Pyro stood looking at each other. "What...what just happened?" Pyro asked.

Another voice then called out, "You're much tougher than I thought. What you just fought was not Groundon, but an illusion of Groundon, that I conjured."

"An illusion?" Layne asked. "That was one hell of an illusion..." he simply said. It certainly didn't feel like one.

Pyro looked around, "Who...who are you?"

The voice continued, "As I said earlier, I am the guardian of Fogbound Lake, and I cannot allow you to pass."

Pyro simply said, "But, all we want is information! We didn't come to cause trouble!"

"Information?" The voice asked.

"Yes!" Pyro said. "Honest!"

Layne looked at Pyro. Was he taking a stand for Layne? Layne didn't know how to react. He knew Pyro would have wanted to leave with at least a little treasure, especially after coming this far, but Layne couldn't help but smile at his partner.

Layne however then said, "Look, I don't know about Pyro, but I don't like talking to stone walls. Please, show yourself!"

There was silence.

Then the voice said, "If all you've come for is truly information, let me...welcome you." The air around a certain point warped, and a pokémon materialized. A spirit pokémon of some sort hovered in front of both Pyro and Layne. He was blue in color, say for parts of his head and face, which were yellow. "I am Uxie, guardian of Fogbound Lake."

Both Pyro and Layne were shocked. "You're Uxie?" Layne asked in shock.

"Yes." Uxie said. "What I guard, is something extremely special. And it lies within the depths of Fogbound Lake. Please...follow me. You have both earned my trust, and have both proven yourselves to at least lay eyes on it. Perhaps I can answer a few of your questions, on the way..."

Layne and Pyro said nothing as they followed Uxie. Layne could only wonder if this Uxie had any answers for him at all...

They followed Uxie with little to no words at all. The cave they followed him through was dark, and Layne could only guess that by now, daylight had gone as well. His guess was correct for as they exited the cave, very little daylight remained.

"We are here..." Uxie said. Before them, lay the lake itself, in all it's glory. Pyro was fascinated by the sight. Layne stepped a bit closer. The lake was massive, taking up a good amount of the plateau, and overflowing.

"This is incredible! I can't believe a lake this big is up here!" Pyro said.

Layne was more focused on the center of the lake. There was something lighting up the lake in a certain area, and many pokémon were flying around it.

Pyro then said, "Those Volbeat and Illumise, they're adding so much color to the scene!"

"Water constantly flows up from deep in the earth here. It flows up so heavy, that it has long since formed this lake." Uxie said.

Layne then raised his paw, "I have a question. What is that light in the center of the lake? That blue and green radiating light."

Layne wanted to know because simply looking at it, was making his pulse race with anticipation. But why? He didn't know what it was or why he was reacting so strangely to it. Was this perhaps another key part to his past?

Uxie was silent for a moment before answering that. "That is the Lake's special treasure. This lake houses what we call, a Time Gear."

"That's a Time Gear?" Pyro exclaimed.

"Correct." Uxie said. I am the guardian of the Time Gear. It is the sole reason I'm here." Uxie turned to face both Layne and Pyro. "See, others before you have tried to trespass here. But most of the time, I'd use the Groundon illusion to ward them off."

Pyro was curious, "That's right? How were you able to conjure up such an advanced illusion?"

"It uses up much of my energy." Uxie said. "I use my psychic power to create an illusion, but the only reason it is able to attack the way it does, is because it uses my power. But in the same way, as it can attack, it too can be attacked, and the attacks it takes, are redirected back to me."

"You mean we hurt you?" Pyro asked. "We didn't mean anything-"

"Please." Uxie said. "I did not fight to my full extent. I was doing my job, and you were doing yours. There's nothing to apologize about. And I still am able to access my full power."

At that moment, Groundon appeared, startling both Layne and Pyro. Layne fell back and fell into the lake. He surfaced spitting out water. Pyro simply backed off.

"Do not be startled, as stated before, it is merely an illusion."

"A dangerous one..." Layne said climbing out of the lake, shaking off excess water.

"More than yourselves have been capable of defeating me and my illusion, and they made their way to this exact spot."

"What happened to them?" Layne asked.

trespassers "They were trespassers." Uxie said. "Therefore, I took their memory, and protected this lake, for all this time."

Pyro then looked up, "That's right! We needed to ask you something, Uxie!"

"What is that?" Uxie asked.

Pyro pointed to Layne and said, "This is my partner, his name is Layne."

Uxie eyed Layne and said, "A rather peculiar name for a Buizel..."

"Well," Pyro continued. Layne would have liked to speak for himself, but Pyro was actually doing a pretty decent job of addressing the point. "He may be a Buizel right now, but at one point, he was a human!"

That was the first time Pyro had really claimed Layne to be a human. Perhaps Pyro was finally beginning to trust Layne's story to a bigger level.

Uxie looked at Layne again, "A human? How...interesting."

"Yes." Pyro said. "However, Layne is having a hard time remembering his past, and doesn't remember anything about being human. We heard a legend that you took memory, and we were wondering, if you and Layne had possibly met before. Did you meet, and possibly take away his memory? Did it happen? Did Layne, perhaps as a human, ever come here?"

Layne met eyes with Uxie, and after a brief moment, Uxie said, "No. No human has ever come here in my lifetime. Perhaps I should explain further. I only erase the memories bound to Fogbound Lake. I cannot fully erase a full memory from a living creature. I had nothing to do with Layne's memory loss. Or his mysterious transformation into a pokémon."

Layne thought for a moment, before nodding in understanding. "I guess that's a good thing." Layne said offering a smile as he looked back on the lake."

"How so?" Uxie asked.

"It's good that I wasn't a trespasser. I try to stay on the good side of most...pokémon or people I know. Perhaps it's a little disappointing that I still don't know too much about myself, but none the less, we've made progress."

'Oh what's that? A Time Gear?" Wigglytuff's voice called from behind Layne and Pyro. They turned to see Wigglytuff standing there, smiling, but in thought. "That's a big too bad. But for obvious reasons, we cannot take a Time Gear."

"Guildmaster?" Layne simply asked.

Wigglytuff, in his usual mood, ran to the lake's shore and simply exclaimed, "Fantastic! What a sight to behold!"

Uxie looked at Pyro and Layne, "Who is this?"

Layne gave a chuckle to Pyro and said, "Uxie, meet Wigglytuff, our Guildmaster."

Wigglytuff turned to Uxie with a big smile and said in joy, "Glad to meet you friend!" He chanted the word 'friend' over and over, and even went to the illusion of Groundon that was still standing there, and repeated "Glad to meet you, friend! Amazing! Friend!"

He then resumed his gaze to the lake. Layne began to ask, "Guildmaster, what happened to Team Sku-"

"Gaze upon this amazing view!" Wigglytuff said, cutting Layne off. "I'm delighted we are able to see such an amazing view!"

Layne was a bit wigged by Wigglytuff's ignorance to the question, but he didn't ask. For some reason, Layne felt as if Wigglytuff had already...dealt with them. He did smell a bit strange...

"Hey, hey! There they are!" Corphish's voice called out. Layne, Pyro and Wigglytuff turned to see the rest of the Guild running over to them. However once they too saw Groundon's illusion, They all backed away in terror.

"What's this?" Chatot squawked.

Loudred panicked, "Gr-Gr-Groundon?"

Layne was about to say something when Wigglytuff walked forward, "Ah! So you all made it! What's wrong?"

Everyone looked at Wigglytuff.

"G-G-Guildmaster!" Chatot managed to finally say. "R-r-run!"

"Why?" Wigglytuff asked. But before anyone could answer, he simply said, "Nevermind that. Everyone, look out onto the lake, and behold the view. For the lake is about to spout."

"Spout?" Layne asked.

Suddenly, the lake erupted in a glory. The radiance of the Time Gear combined with the rising water in the center put on a light show to remember for the entire Guild. Autumn walked over to Layne and simply asked, "Would you like to tell me what's going on?"

Layne crossed his arms and smiled. "Maybe later."

Bidoof was in awe, "I don't thing I've ever seen anything so pretty!"

Uxie, though a bit astonished by how many there were now in his company simply said, "Yes. The lake has a geyser which erupts every now and then. It sends up water like a fountain, and the illumination from the Time Gear lights up the fountain. The local Volbeat and Illumise glow upon the fountain, and in the harmony of it all, it is a vision unlike anything else in this world."

The treasure!" Wigglytuff said. "The treasure has to be this view. And what a treasure it is!"

"This is so magical." Pyro said.

"Better than fireworks..." Layne said with a smile.

"It's a pity we didn't learn too much about your past, Layne." Pyro said over to him, but I'm glad we came."

Perhaps they didn't learn much, but none the less, Layne felt at peace for the moment. And he was with his friends. But then it hit him. If Uxie didn't know Layne, then how did Layne know about this place? Was the gut feeling...accurate? And why did the Time Gear make his heart race?Layne dropped it. He was feeling uneasy.

Autumn leaned in on Layne and said, "You lifted the fog, and found a lake that had remained hidden perhaps for centuries. Not bad for your first expedition, Layne."

Layne looked at her, "How did you know all that?"

"Corphish briefed us about what had happened for the most part. You and Pyro, Layne, are one hell of an exploration team. I envy you both."

Layne chuckled, and said, "Please, you and Pyro are the explorers of passion here."

Autumn chuckled, and said, "Perhaps, but you're good at what you do, Layne. Don't change."

Layne shrugged and chuckled a bit, as he shifted his gaze back to the fountain, and Autumn did something that surprised Layne again. She leaned...on him! In f a friendly way, just a very comfortable lean. Layne looked at her in surprise, but smiled. Autumn was his friend. She too made him feel very happy. Everyone in this Guild had a way of making him smile somehow. And now...well, he couldn't ask for a more perfect moment.

The geyser soon stopped erupting. As soon as it did stop, Wigglytuff turned to Uxie. "We are very sorry to have disturbed you. We had a fantastic time, friend!"

Uxie nodded, and said, "You all are unique in a way. I will trust you all to keep this place a secret, and will not take away your memories of this place, and what you have seen. You have earned that much. Please keep this place a secret."

Wigglytuff nodded, "Surely, and thank you! We all know what we need to do! Right, guild?"

"Right!" The guild responded as one.

Wigglytuff then said, "One Time Gear has already been stolen, and this one must stay safe! We will not speak a word of this place! In the honor of Wigglytuff's Guild, I swear this!"

Uxie nodded, and said, "I hope this promise holds true."

Wigglytuff then looked at the Guild, and said, "Back to Base Camp!" We leave early in the morning! Chatot, if you will!"

Chatot nodded, "Yes, Guildmaster! Let us head back to base camp immediately!"

Everyone got up. The talk about what had happened that night went well into the night, so barely anyone got any sleep. Layne however was satisfied. He felt at peace with himself and everyone around him. Perhaps it was for the good that he had come after all...

He chuckled as they went back to base camp. Pyro had been on a successful mission, and he was glad to be a part of it.