PART VI:
A New Dawn

"Run, run 'til you drop
Hide, everyone knows
We all trade in never befores
Selling out for the storm...
It seems you prophesized, all of this would end
Were you burned away when the sun rose again...?"
-Alice in Chains in "When the Sun Rose Again"

(The following takes place 136 years after the collapse of Temporal Tower, yet before the events described in Chapters 39 and 40...)

Grovyle was in immense pain. His world was black and the familiar cold and emptiness of the darkness once again surrounded him. He was trying to remember what had happened. His eyes were heavy and closed, but he was fully conscious. He was at the ruins...and he was talking to Layne. He finally managed to turn over and look up at the black and empty sky. This...had to be a dream... His thoughts drifted back to Layne. He was telling him how much it hurt...parting.

Then it hit him! Layne!

It was still dark! It wasn't a dream! He stood up, though regretted how fast he had stood up. He was still in pain. Grovyle looked around. Then he saw Dusknoir, a few feet away, face down. Grovyle sighed. This was the future. The world of perpetual darkness.

He was back. So why hadn't he and Dusknoir disappeared yet? The future remained the same. But why? He, Layne, and Pyro had worked to prevent this from happening! He could only draw one conclusion from this all. Did Layne and Pyro...fail? Did they fail to prevent the collapse of Temporal Tower?

Grovyle quickly dismissed that thought. It couldn't be. They would not fail. They simply had to be delayed. They had not changed it yet. Grovyle had to keep faith. They would succeed. And once they did, the effects of that success would show soon. Grovyle gave a quick prayer for Layne. "Layne...you and Pyro can do it. Please...be successful..."

And now. What would he do? Grovyle shrugged at that thought. The only thing he could do now, was do what he could to ensure that success. He would have to...

Sharp pain suddenly kicked into Grovyle. It was obvious that he and Dusknoir really went at it, but he had not realized just how much energy had actually left him during that struggle.

Grovyle simply massaged the area, and thought about his next plan of action. His thoughts were however interrupted when a lone Sabeleye ran in his direction. He turned to face the Sabeleye, and the Sabeleye froze.

"G-Grovyle?"

Grovyle stood, and took a few steps to the Sabeleye, but the Sabeleye ran off in fear, leaving Grovyle standing alone with the unconscious Dusknoir. So they had managed to find Grovyle already. Grovyle would have to start leaving now.

He was just about to leave, when suddenly Dusknoir groaned and got up. The two of them locked eyes. Dusknoir clenched his fists. "YOU!"

Dusknoir began to charge, but once again fell to the ground. Grovyle crossed his arms. "It would seem that you're still pretty injured yourself from our last battle. Don't push yourself."

Dusknoir's anger did not fade. "Grovyle...here we are. In the future." Dusknoir was beginning to smile, as if he were in a worried panic. "I knew I'd come right back here to this world." He laughed, which added to Grovyle's confusion. "After all, I lost to you both. Grovyle and Layne. I failed to defeat the worlds two most wanted outlaws."

Grovyle simply gave look as if to ask Dusknoir "Are you finished?" But he said nothing.

Dusknoir spoke again. "But...why, Grovyle?"

"What do you mean?" Grovyle asked.

"Why are you acting in such a way?" Dusknoir asked. "I...I just don't want to disappear. That's all. I just don't want to disappear. So...why did you-"

Grovyle crossed his arms. It would figure Dusknoir would think that little selfish thought right there. "Dusknoir, you saw the world of the past for yourself. The beauty of a sunrise, the peace in a gentle breeze, the motion of water. We are so accustomed to this world of darkness, but there is nothing here. It's enough to break my heart. Grovyle closed his eyes. "I didn't...and still don't want to disappear, either. However, if history could be changed, I was willing to pay whatever price. Even with my life. For the sake of everyone who lives in the future, everyone and everything would be given the gift of a new life."

"A new life..." Dusknoir repeated.

"Not that I'd expect you to understand." Grovyle said. "It took a while to gain the support of everyone within the Union of Planetary Investigation. Everyone now, except perhaps those few with the fear as you now have, are in agreement with what Celebi, Layne, Pyro, and I have done. We were all for the first time, in agreement to change this life. We were ready." Grovyle then turned around. "So do the right thing, and surrender."

Surrender?" Dusknoir asked.

Grovyle nodded and began to walk away. "You will not stop us. Layne and Pyro are still in the past. And they will succeed. You don't have a hope to stop us now..."

"And where will you go now, Grovyle?" Dusknoir asked.

Grovyle turned and said, "The Sabeleye found me earlier, while you were still out. My guess is they will tell Dialga about your failure. That makes this your third time. My guess is, that because you failed, Dialga will go with a Plan B. However to do that, someone will have to go to the past to stop Layne and Pyro. Dialga will also need to store up power in order to send that certain someone."

"You assume too much!" Dusknoir shouted. "Dialga would never replace me!"

Grovyle shook his head. "I don't care. I am going to Temporal Tower's ruins, and I will fight him now, while he is storing that power.

Dusknoir laughed. "You...You expect to defeat, let alone fight, Master Dialga? In your condition? You most certainly are filled with surprises, Grovyle, but that is foolish. You don't have a chance of victory."

Grovyle simply asked, "Who said I expected to win? You obviously don't know me as well as I first thought."

"What do you mean?" Dusknoir asked.

Grovyle simply said, "I guess I'd expect you to think I would go fight Dialga, expecting to win, but you are wrong. Until Layne and Pyro change history, they will still be vulnerable. Therefore, I will buy them the time they need, in order to complete the mission." Grovyle once again turned away and simply ended with the, "Stay out of my way."

Grovyle then began to run off, despite the pain he felt. He managed to hear Dusknoir shout after him, "I won't let that happen, Grovyle! You hear me? I won't!" Grovyle barely heard him, for he'd stopped paying attention.

He was on his way to the ruins of Temporal Tower. He was currently in what remained of the Hidden Land, and though in the past the Stoneship was required to access Temporal Tower, now that was not the case, for the tower had collapsed out of the sky. It was easily accessible now. Grovyle entered a small cave and began a short hike through the darkness. He was a bit anxious right now. There were still no signs of change. This gave him all the more reason to get to Temporal Tower's remains, and fight. It wouldn't be much longer before Dialga acted, and Grovyle just could not let him intervene.

Grovyle exited the cave and ran into a clearing. He wasn't too far off from Temporal Tower. He still had a ways to go, but he was making progress, a bit faster than he originally thought he would. Grovyle also could not afford to stop for a rest. Time was of the essence, and there simply wasn't much of that left. One thing or the other would happen. He would disappear, or Dialga would act, and stop Layne and Pyro. And they already had too much on their plate.

Then he heard Dusknoir again. "Grovyle!" Grovyle turned to see him, though still weakened, following him.

Grovyle wasn't too surprised actually. "I had a feeling you'd be following me, so hello..." Grovyle said. He never did have a touch for humor, but he did remember Layne's unique ways of approaching certain things, and he knew that Layne's way probably rubbed off on him. Who knew. "If you don't mind, Dusknoir, I really don't want to have to fight with you again, right now. You'd be wasting my time, and you're also in bad enough of a condition."

"You're one to talk." Dusknoir said. "You're just as injured as I am."

Before Grovyle could reply, another Sabeleye entered the picture. He laughed in glee and said, "I've found him! Over here!"

It was then that four Sabeleye entered and blocked Grovyle's path. Dusknoir saw this and laughed as he always did when the tides turned to his favor. 'It would, seem Grovyle, the the situation has drastically changed! You are now outnumbered!" He turned to the Sabeleye, and said, "Your arrival is indeed, well timed. Take Grovyle away!"

The Sabeleye however...just laughed. However, it wasn't their usual affirming the command laughter. Something wasn't straight. Something was definitely off, though Dusknoir saw nothing. Grovyle, because of this, for the first time in quite a long time, felt uncomfortable.

None the less, two Sabeleye charged Grovyle. They attacked, and he dodged, but even as the Sabeleye missed, they continued charging...directly for Dusknoir!

"Wha-?" Dusknoir barely had time to say as he dodged the two. "What are you doing?" Dusknoir was then hit from behind by another Sabeleye. "What trickery is this?" He was enraged. "Explain yourselves, at once!"

The Sabeleye charged again, and Dusknoir once again dodged the attacks. Grovyle found it odd, that they were not really focusing on him anymore. They were mainly focused on attacking Dusknoir! But...Grovyle forgot about that and simply said, "Forget the explanation! Fight back!"

"What?" Dusknoir asked.

"Are you really so dense, that you don't understand what is happening? It's very obvious, that it's no longer just me they're aiming for!"

Dusknoir couldn't believe that. "What are you saying?"

Grovyle and Dusknoir now found themselves back to back against each other, which made Grovyle a bit uncomfortable, but Grovyle said nothing. The Sabeleye closed in. It was obvious that Dusknoir was not taking this too easy. "Why...why me?"

Grovyle wasn't so sure he understood it either, but..."If this goes on, we'll both be imprisoned." Grovyle said.

The Sabeleye laughed, and once again charged. Had there been more of them, the fight that then ensued, probably would have taken longer, or perhaps would not have been easy for Dusknoir or Grovyle to complete. Perhaps it would not have gone well for either of them at all. But the small numbers were not a match for either Grovyle or Dusknoir. Dusknoir still held immeasurable power when compared to his lackeys, and though they charged fearlessly against their weakened leader, he was more than powerful enough to handle them. And Grovyle had been fighting these pokémon for years. He was more than capable of fending off such a small amount, and within minutes, they had fought off the Sabeleye to the point where they were all running away.

Dusknoir caught his breath. "I...I don't understand! Why? Why are they attacking me?"

Grovyle simply looked at him. "It doesn't surprise me at all! They abandoned you back in the Hidden Land, didn't they? I don't see what's so surprising to you."

"Even so!" Dusknoir rebutted. "They only follow my orders, or orders coming from Master Dialga. Why they targeted me like that...I can't think of a reason."

Grovyle shook his head and crossed his arms. "Man, you are dense. Can't even consider that perhaps Dialga has finally turned his back to you."

"What are you implying?" Dusknoir asked furiously. "I've been his loyal servant since before you were born! It's not possible! I've accomplished things that no other agent Dialga had would even come close to accomplishing! It's not possible! He would not just blow me away! He would not just abandon me!"

"Yeah, sure." Grovyle said, arms crossed. "I just wonder with your failure to stop Layne in the past, more than once, it's not surprising he would abandon you in this way."

Dusknoir simply snorted. "Humph!"

Grovyle gave up. "Whatever. It's not my concern. Your little family spats are fine with me, in fact, they will likely grant me more time needed to get to Temporal Tower. Go on with them. I'm wasting my time here." Dusknoir said nothing as Grovyle began once again to walk away. "I must hurry on ahead. It's clear now that Dialga is well aware of what's happening in the past, which makes time that much more precious. See you..."

Grovyle had barely taken three steps when Dusknoir called, "Wait!"

Grovyle turned, despite the act that he knew that he shouldn't. They once again locked eyes with each other. What Dusknoir said next would shock Grovyle. "I'd like to call a temporary truce, Grovyle. Would you accompany me at least for a little while?"

"Excuse me?" Grovyle asked, shocked. "Dusknoir, I'm not one for jokes."

"Who said this was a joke, Grovyle? I'm being very serious right now."

Grovyle didn't like where this was going. "You've got to be kidding me." It sounded suspicious to Grovyle, and he didn't like it. For all he knew, if they did form a temporary partnership, Dusknoir would likely turn on him when his guard was down, and then he'd take him to Dialga for a possible chance for redemption.

"Grovyle, please..." Dusknoir said. "I have no intention of attacking you during our time together. You're simply just too cautious. It's very obvious you're thinking I will not honor the truce. I am still in no condition, however, to fight. And should I try anything, I am afraid the odds would not be for me." Grovyle said nothing as he pondered Dusknoir's words. Dusknoir continued. "Additionally, I need to know why the Sabeleye attacked me. You and I both know we'll be stronger if we teamed up for the moment. Surely, you should see the logic behind this move."

Grovyle's mind now stood conflicted. There were advantages, yet there was also disadvantages. And he still felt as if he could not see the whole picture. But if it made the trip to Temporal Tower any faster, he would take the chance. Hopefully, Layne and Pyro would soon succeed.

"Understood, Dusknoir.' Grovyle said. "But know this. I will not be the victim of any of your trickery. And if I see it in sight, you will hit the ground, very hard."

Dusknoir simply said. "Whatever. Let's just get this over with."

Grovyle couldn't help but feel this was a bad move on his part, but the decision had been made. He and Dusknoir would for now, team up, and work together to reach Temporal Tower's ruins. Grovyle could only pray that this didn't have any drawbacks. He couldn't afford this...