PART IV:
The World of Darkness

"Mouth so full of lies, tend to black your eyes
Just keep them closed, keep praying, just keep waiting
Waiting for the one
The day that never comes
When you stand up to feel the warmth
But the sunshine never comes
No, the sunshine never comes..."
-Metallica in "The Day That Never Comes"

Dusknoir stood before a room. The room itself was in ruins, but he never did mind that. The tower in which he served his master, was in ruins. It had collapsed years ago. Dusknoir was filled with glee and satisfaction. He was about to report a tremendous success to his Master. Dusknoir was grinning cunningly. He straightened as he entered the room room.

"I hope you will forgive my long term absence, Master Dialga." he said as he straightened a little more. "Though I was delayed, and encountered more difficulty than we first anticipated, I have succeeded in the capture, of both Grovyle, and Layne."

Before him was a chasm. A few thuds were felt in the ground, and a shape of a pokémon he had seen many times glowed. Two crimson red eyes flared to life, and the shape growled deep.

"No, master. You sense correct. I have brought a third visitor."

The shape growled again.

Dusknoir knelt his head, "I had no choice, Master. He had become an unexpected partner to Layne. I could not leave him in the past."

There was silence, before the shape growled more.

Dusknoir nodded, "Yes, Master. I fully understand what must be done. Those who seek to alter the course of history, shall be removed from history. I will see that each are eliminated...immediately." Dusknoir received one final command from Dialga, and he nodded once more. "I understand. I take my leave. After these three are eliminated, I will concentrate my efforts on relocating the Union of Planetary Investigation."

WIth that, Dusknoir bowed his head, and left the room, as his Master once again faded into the shadow. It had been too long for him, and now, he would ensure that Grovyle and Layne...would never meddle in their affairs again.

Layne was completely uncomfortable. He had no clue what had happened or where he was, but he couldn't find the energy needed to wake up. He also found it a little difficult to move earlier, but that didn't seem like a problem now at least. He was able to move slightly. Layne guessed that was good for him.

"Hey...Layne? Layne, please wake up..." he heard a familiar voice say.

Layne finally managed to open his eyes. Pyro stood there. "Pyro?"

"You're awake!" Pyro said in relief. "You've been out for a while."

He finally managed to at least sit up and shake his head. He felt terrible. He literally felt like he had been poorly handled, perhaps thrown here. Wherever here was. Layne took a look around. "Uhh, where are we?"

Pyro looked around. "I think we're in a jail, Layne."

Layne was shocked at that. "Jail? But why?"

"I don't know." Pyro said. "I woke up a while ago, but I don't know what's going on."

Layne nodded, and said, "Well let's recap. We were in Treasure Town, last time right?"

"Yeah," Pyro said. "Dusknoir had just captured Grovyle and was about to take him to the future."

"Then he called us, as if he had something to say. But he grabbed us..."

"He grabbed us..." Pyro said, And dragged us into he dimensional hole with him. But does that mean that this...is..."

"The future?" Layne asked. "I'm no longer skeptical. This has got to be the future. But nothing fits. Why did things play out the way they did?"

"Dusknoir said it was too soon for goodbye's." Pyro said, "He also said, he was doing...his duty. This is making no sense. Why are we even here?"

"No use in simply talking about it," Layne said. "We've got to find a way out of here."

"How?" Pyro asked. "The doors are locked and shut tight. I can't even budge them!"

Layne went over and tried to open the doors. He even let loose a Water Pulse attack, however as soon as he let the Water Pulse attack loose, a strange aura formed on the doors, and deflected the Water Pulse right back at Layne, and he could not dodge it.

He hit the wall hard. Pyro ran over to him. "Are you okay?"

Layne simply said, "Unbelievable. This whole thing is unbelievable!"

"I know!" Pyro said. "How...how do we get to our own world?"

Before Layne could even think of an answer, he heard laughter and the jail gates opened. There stood Four Sabeleye. One of them laughed at Layne. "Tried to break out did you? That's not going to happen from this jail."

"They're both awake." another one said. "Convenient."

"Shut up," Another said. "Let's get this over with."

"Get over what?" Pyro asked.

They approached Layne and Pyro quickly, and before Layne had a chance to defend himself, he was punched in the stomach, and a bag was put over his head. The same for Pyro. Layne had no choice but to follow their lead down a very uneasy road to follow. He was pushed and shoved and tripped once. But they immediately got him back on track. Layne did not like what was going on. He had no sight, heard nothing but their cackle, and footsteps, and sometimes Pyro's voice.

Finally,they shoved Layne's back against a wall...or pillar of some sort. Layne was held in place, and he felt the grip of several roped being tied to him and whatever he was tied upon. They tied the rope and covered him in rope, again, and again, until his legs, and entire torso was covered literally with rope. Layne could barely breath, but said nothing. Words he knew would not help him.

Finally they removed the bag, but Layne strangely...still saw almost nothing, but outlines. Finally a light was shown on Pyro. He was tied to a pillar, the same type, Layne was tied to.

"You okay, over there, Pyro?"

Pyro simply said, "I...can't move."

"Hang in there." Layne said as light was shown on him and his pillar.

Pyro said, "I'm glad to see you okay."

Layne managed a shrug, and said, "It can't get much worse than this, can it?"

Then a voice said, "Oh if only. You're both clueless on what's about to happen. That would explain why you're so nonchalant about this whole ordeal."

Layne knew that voice. So did Pyro. "Grovyle?"

The light showed on no one else, but Grovyle. He too was tied to a pillar, but looked rather angry and annoyed.

Grovyle looked over. "Well, well..." he said. "if it isn't Team Hydro Pyro. We meet again. Do you two have any clue about where you are?"

Layne looked to Pyro, who shook his head, "N-no..."

"This is Dusknoir's Stockade. A prison. And well, they're about to get rid of us, permanently."

"Ge-Get rid of us?" Pyro asked in shock.

"Kill us." Grovyle said.

"That doesn't make this sound any better..." Layne muttered.

"Wait a second!" Pyro said. I can understand why they'd want to get rid of you, Grovyle. But why us? What did we do?"

Grovyle simply looked forward. "Humph. I cannot care any less. You've obviously done something that they couldn't tolerate. Otherwise, you wouldn't be tied to a pillar."

"What?" Pyro said in some anger. "We are innocent! Don't even imply that we're like you!"

Grovyle only replied, "I don't care. You waste energy by losing your cool, Charmander. Meanwhile, our executioners have finally arrived."

Into the light, walked six Sabeleye. Each had a look of coming joy in their faces.

"Sabeleye?" Layne asked.

Grovyle nodded. "Yeah. Sabeleye. The jailers and underlings who do the dirty work for Dusknoir."

"Underlings," Pyro asked. "Of the great, Dusknoir?"

"Please..." Grovyle said. "Dusknoir, is anything but great."

"Both of you knock it off." Layne said.

Before either of them could reply to that, in walked Dusknoir. The Sabeleye saw him and said, "The three have been tied to the pillars. Our preparations are complete."

Dusknoir nodded. "Good."

"Dusknoir!" Pyro shouted. "It-It's us! Pyro and L-"

"Don't waste your breath...Pyro." Grovyle said.

Dusknoir came forward, and examined the pillars, before stepping back behind the Sabeleye. "Very good. Begin the process. Eliminate them."

"What?" Pyro shouted in shock. But...why?"

Dusknoir ignored Pyro and said, "Pay no attention to any pleas they have. Prepare for the executions."

"Dusknoir!" Pyro shouted as the Sabeleye walked forward, brandishing some very sharp claws. "W-wait! Why are you doing this?"

"Again," Grovyle said, only a bit quieter as to not to let the Sabeleye hear too much. "Don't waste your breath. Your words are falling on deaf ears. Keep your voices down so they cannot hear us."

"Why?" Layne asked, looking over.

"If you want to get out of this alive, you must do everything I say, and give me your full cooperation."

"What?" Pyro asked as the Sabeleye came closer. "H-help you?"

"There's no time to discuss this!" Grovyle said. "It's me, or them. Take your pick."

Layne sighed and looked over. "What do we do?"

"You are wise to listen." he said to Layne. "Tell me what you can do right now."

"What I can do?" Layne thought fast. "Well..."

"Anything, basic..." Grovyle said. "I'd say a move, but not too many will help us out here. We're tied tight to these pillars, and cannot access some moves."

"The only thing that comes to mind, is...well attacking somehow. But-"

"Good enough." Grovyle said.

"Just a regular attack?" Pyro asked.

"Yes." Layne said.

"Then I can help too." Pyro said.

"Good."

"Dusknoir smiled and said, "Farewell...old friends. I shall miss the fun. Kill them. And be wary. Be vigilant to the end. Show no mercy, and don't take your eyes off them, until you're absolutely sure they are dead...especially Grovyle."

The Sabeleye gave a cackle that chilled Layne's very spine to the core.

"Here...here they come!" Pyro said a bit loud.

"Listen carefully..." Grovyle said as the came closer brandishing and sharpening their claws. "The Sabeleye use their claws to strike, but are clumsy when they strike. They are not always accurate in their strikes. This gives us one slim chance of escape."

"Care to explain?" Layne asked as one came very close to him.

"Once they unleash Fury Swipes, in a frenzy, our chance will become clear. If their attacks hit the ropes binding us..."

"I get it!" Pyro said. "Perhaps they'll come loose!"

"Precisely." Grovyle said. "When that happens, lash out with an attack, and flee."

Layne looked over, "And if the ropes fail to come loose...got a Plan B?"

The Sabeleye all stopped and extended their claws, which made Layne close his eyes, as if to welcome peace.

Grovyle simply said, "You better start praying they do come loose. Because if they don't...we're done.

That's when they started.

One of the Sabeleye got Layne right in the face and continued to go away at him, swipe after swipe. He did manage to see one of his rope bindings come loose, but that was just one of many. He hoped Grovyle was right, because it wouldn't be too long before this body of his would fail.

"Hold on!" Grovyle shouted under intense pain. "En-ENDURE IT!"

It was then that Pyro's bindings came loose. Pyro swiped back at the Sabeleye and followed with a powerful Fire Spin attack. The other Sabeleye saw this and stopped attacking Grovyle and Layne. Dusknoir saw this, and said, "What?"

Layne then noticed that his bindings also were loose. Grovyle then said, "Now, Buizel!"

Layne didn't bother correcting his name. Now was not the time. He simply kicked the rope and he came off the pillar, and attacked also with a Water Gun attack. Grovyle joined and knocked the rest of them back. Dusknoir was furious. "What trickery is this?"

Grovyle then spit something from his mouth, into his hand and threw it on the ground. A blinding flash blinded both Layne and Pyro. Grovyle however, grabbed Layne and Pyro and jumped up. Upon hitting the ground, they simply...entered the ground. Grovyle then said, "Don't make any sudden movements, and don't say a word. Either of you."

Layne barely breathed. He couldn't, but he was also trying not to. He didn't know what happened, but he could only guess grovyle had somehow gotten them underground.

"Compose yourselves!" They heard Dusknoir's muffled voice say. "Who let Grovyle in with a Luminous Orb?"

A few seconds pass, and they heard a Sabeleye say, "Th-they're gone!"

"Blast!" Dusknoir shouted. "They could not have gone far! Seal off the Stockade! They won't get away from us again!"

Again? Layne didn't know what that meant, but didn't bother asking. Grovyle waited a few more minutes before standing up. Dirt fell all around them. Layne stood himself and brushed himself off. Pyro spat out some dirt from his mouth and reignited his flame a bit, as his tail flame had died down underground.

"We're...safe." Layne said.

"Far from it." Grovyle said. "We got out of that scrape using a cheap trick. But don't think we're out of the woods. We need to get out of here, and fast."

Layne looked at Pyro and they followed Grovyle, as stealthily as they could through the halls of the Stockade.

Grovyle looked at them, as three Sabeleye scurried past. "Quickly. This way!"

They entered a room, which wasn't very big, but it would serve the purpose as Grovyle saw fit. He shut the door behind them, and locked it.

"What's the plan, now?" Layne asked.

Grovyle leaped up to a high box to look out the window. He then nodded, and beckoned them both up to where he was. Grovyle also grabbed some rope from a nearby wall.

Pyro climbed up and finally managed to ask, "Grovyle...is this the future?"

Grovyle tied the rope, to a pole, and tested it's strength. "You catch on fast. You are in the future."

"Can...can we get back to our world?" Pyro also asked.

"Perhaps. Who knows, really." Grovyle replied in a monotone deadpan. "That's the last thing on my mind right now. Both of you come here, and listen up."

Layne reached the top of the boxes, and helped Pyro up too.

Grovyle pointed below. and looked at Layne. "You may not see it, but down there is a river. If you wish to get out of here, you'll need to dive into it. I cannot carry both you and your fire-partner with me. Understand?"

Layne was hesitant. "How far a drop?"

"Forty, or fifty feet." Grovyle said.

"And the river?" Layne asked. He could not see due to it being night out. Strangely, he also heard nothing and felt nothing, environmentally. Strange.

"The deepest part around here, my guess is thirty feet. I'd try and aim for the middle-most part of the river."

Layne sighed, and said, "Better hope I hit it." he said to himself.

"You'll do it?" Grovyle asked.

Layne nodded. "If it means escaping, I'll be a team player."

"Good." Grovyle said before looking at Pyro. "Get on my back, and try not to burn me."

"Why?" Pyro asked.

"We're going to escape this place." Grovyle said. "I have no other way of getting you out. It's now or never."

Layne looked at Pyro, and simply said, "We don't have a choice, Pyro."

Pyro looked at Layne and nodded, and said, "Be careful."

Layne put on his goggles, which had miraculously remained almost unharmed during the attempted execution, and said, "See you down there."

With that, Layne dove down. As he did that, Pyro got on Grovyle's back, and Grovyle jumped as well, managing to hold onto the rope, and ran along the walls of the stockade and managed to barely jump the river.

Layne jumped as far as he could out of the window, and angled down. The dark ground came closer. There was no wind, which Layne thought funny, but didn't think anything about, and he hit the water.

Upon hitting the water. Layne noticed something very funny. He was wet...but upon reaching the river bottom, he looked up. The way he had entered...was still open. Some water did manage to close off...or simply hover in place, but for the most part, there was a simple hole where Layne had landed. Layne let out the air he was holding and breathed from the air hole he had just made. But too a deep breath again as he jumped into the side of the hole he just made. He managed to swim in this very strange water and broke the surface. He climbed out as Grovyle and Pyro landed. "That was too weird." Layne said. Looking back at the river. The hole in which he fell through still remained. And the river's current...was gone.

Pyro looked around, shocked. "Layne...look around you."

Everywhere were floating rocks, lifeless wastelands, and no light. There were chasms that had been caused perhaps by earthquakes, and all the plant life was dead.

"There ...there can't be any way that this is our world..." Pyro said, looking on the land of the future. "This is strange...and awfully dark. It's...almost as if..."

Layne finished that sentence for him. "Everything has stopped. Everything."

"It has." Grovyle said.

"What?" Pyro asked.

"Not here, and not now." Grovyle said. "The Sabeleye will find us here, we must get far from here. Now come on!"

Pyro gave Layne an uneasy look but they then followed Grovyle out and away from the stockade. Layne could only wonder what had happened here. Everything about this world matched a description Dusknoir himself had given Treasure Town one day...what did he call it?

It came to Layne. It was as if the planet was paralyzed.