Grovyle and Dusknoir trudged through the darkness. The journey for the most part was very quiet, with them both doing little to no talking. The only talking they ever really did, only ended up in arguments and squabbles, which once again made them silent towards each other. Not that Grovyle cared, really. He had little to no need of speaking with Dusknoir.

However, he did have to say one thing. "Once we make it through this wasteland, we'll have made it to Temporal Tower's ruins. Let's pick up the pace."

Dusknoir then said, "Compose yourself. We cannot just rush into Temporal Tower. You should know this. We need a plan. Rush in in your condition, and you'll surely fail your goal of buying anyone any time at all. Your impatience be your downfall."

Grovyle simply said, "Don't lecture me, Dusknoir. You've forgotten that should Layne and Pyro succeed, none of this will matter."

"'Should they succeed'?" Dusknoir asked. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were starting to lose hop in your friends completing the mission, Grovyle."

Grovyle was angered by that statement, but composed himself to simply say, "I will not lose hope. I've learned time and time again, that hope is the very last thing to lose."

With that, there was silence between the pair again.

Grovyle wouldn't deny that traveling with Dusknoir had it's advantages. Dusknoir was a much more experienced fighter than Grovyle when it came to fending off the occasional rogue pokémon here. But still, Grovyle couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable by the fact that he was now traveling together with the pokémon that had been hunting him down, and had caught him, twice, for the past 20 or so years.

They continued on. Dusknoir was rambling to himself about how impossible it was for Master Dialga to just cast him aside the way Grovyle implied he would, and how he had been faithful to Dialga all this time, and Grovyle was about to turn and tell him to shut up, when he thought he heard something. And it sounded...rather suspicious.

"Dusknoir, quiet yourself for a moment." Grovyle said.

"Why should I-"

"Dusknoir, please!" Grovyle said, "I think I heard something!"

Grovyle and Dusknoir, took refuge behind a big boulder. They managed to sneak a peek around the boulder to see a Sabeleye looking around. Grovyle knew this Sabeleye was just a scout. On routine patrol. He had encountered these Sabeleye numerous times before, even with Layne, and most of the time, they took to hiding, but this time...they needed answers. They hid themselves again.

"A scout." Dusknoir said.

"Yeah." Grovyle said. "Do you think he knows anything?"

Dusknoir nodded. "All Sabeleye, though underlings, are not ill on knowledge of current happenings. It would know of anything concerning what we faced not long ago."

Grovyle nodded and said, "Then we should catch him."

"I agree, but how would you go around to doing that?" Dusknoir asked.

"Follow my lead." Grovyle simply said, and he dug into the ground.

Dusknoir smiled as he saw what Grovyle was doing. Grovyle's Dig indeed came in handy when it came in handy.

The Sabeleye was walking around, keeping cautious. Dusknoir remained hidden for a while, as the Sabeleye did it's patrol. When the Sabeleye determined all was fine, it turned around. Then Grovyle popped up in front of it, scaring the Sabeleye to the point of losing footing. "Gr-Grovyle!"

Grovyle began. "I've got some-'

The Sabeleye turned to run, however he was caught in the back, by Dusknoir's hand. He lifted the Sabeleye up to meet the pokémon's gem-like eyes. The pokémon began to shake.

"M-m-m-master Dusknoir!"

"Hello, Sabeleye..." Dusknoir simply said.

Grovyle came over, and repeated himself. "I've got some questions for you. "If you'll please...bear with us."

The Sabeleye was obviously afraid now. Grovyle turned to look at Dusknoir and said, "Let's go, we can't stay here. More scouts will likely patrol this area soon."

Dusknoir nodded and said, "I know, Grovyle. Don't forget that I was the one who set up these patrol routes..."

Fifteen minutes later, the trio were in a shallow alcove. Dusknoir, who still held the Sabeleye, threw him to the ground, and blocked his exit. The Sabeleye was very afraid. It knew it was in trouble, and it knew it was at a huge disadvantage should it try to do something stupid and make a break for it.

Grovyle stepped forward. "We need information from you now. It's become obvious that I'm not the only one you're targeting now. Last time we met, you Sabeleye also attacked Dusknoir, and we wish to know why."

The Sabeleye trembled and showed a slight dislike to the question. Dusknoir also came forward.

"You're a Sabeleye!" Dusknoir said. "You are trained to follow my orders! Yet you have the guts to attack me?"

The Sabeleye, seeing Dusknoir's displeasure simply trembled more. "I...I-I-..."

Dusknoir sighed and said, "Keep this in mind Sabeleye. You know what happens, when you or any other Sabeleye displeases me."

The Sabeleye began to shake and even show some tears.

"And Sabeleye..." Dusknoir said, "I am beyond displeased..."

Dusknoir floated forward, and his fists began to glow. Sabeleye, seeing this cringed and said, "Okay! I'll talk! I'll talk!"

"Then start talking!" Dusknoir shouted. "Why did you attack me?"

The Sabeleye trembled. "We-we didn't want to do it either! Honest! Attacking Master Dusknoir...to us it was unthinkable, but..."

Dusknoir gave a look of disbelief, and the Sabeleye saw it. Sabeleye spoke up, "It's the truth! I swear!"

Grovyle spoke, "Then why did you attack?"

"We were ordered to!" The Sabeleye said. "We had no choice in the matter!"

"Ordered?" Dusknoir asked angrily. "By whom?

"Master Dialga's newest agent, and the replacement of to Master Dusknoir." the Sabeleye said.

So it was true. Dialga had indeed found a new replacement. Dusknoir heard this and showed the signs or exploding like a dormant volcano would erupt violently after years of silence. "My replacement? Master Dialga has replaced me with a new agent?"

"Yes!" The Sabeleye shouted in fear. "Master Dialga's newest direct subordinate now, replacing Dusknoir. This new agent has proven very resourceful, and he will be the final agent to be sent to the past in an effort to stop both Pyro and Layne!"

So it was true. Grovyle had assumed true. Dialga was indeed going with a Plan B, and sending a new agent to the past to stop Layne and Pyro from changing history. Dusknoir however heard this, and let out a shout of fury and Shadow Punched the Sabeleye. Grovyle saw this and said, "Dusknoir, calm yourself at once!"

Dusknoir ignored Grovyle and continued to shout to his former underling. "That was who ordered you, wasn't it? Some replacement? He ordered you to attack me?"

"Y-yes!" The Sabeleye said in fear and tears. "'M-master Dusknoir has failed a third time, and is no longer useful to me...' Those were Dialga's words. We were ordered to eliminate you. Please, believe me! We didn't want to, but we had no choice! We didn't have the choice to stand up to Master Dialga!"

"Didn't have a choice?" Dusknoir shouted in fury. "You fool! Eliminate me...Master Dialga...I cannot believe this!" Dusknoir grabbed the Sabeleye and held him above his head. "Who is this new lackey of Dialga? Tell me!"

Grovyle could not believe how sensitive Dusknoir was getting over this whole thing. Dusknoir had been serving Dialga a good amount of his life, so it was understandable, but...

The Sabeleye began to cry. "I...I can't say..."

"You will tell me!" Dusknoir said.

"N-no! Please! I can't!"

Dusknoir shouted in frustration and threw the Sabeleye to the ground, and threw another punch to the Sabeleye. The Sabeleye shrieked and dodged the attack, which made Dusknoir punch the rock wall behind the Sabeleye, cracking the wall, and even splintered off a few small rock fragments, that shot out, but simply remained suspended in the air. The Sabeleye saw this, and began to run off. Grovyle, did not chase, and neither did Dusknoir. They had learned what they needed to learn. Dusknoir was furious, and Grovyle knew it. "If Master Dialga wishes to eliminate me, he's got more to deal with!"

"Dusknoir," Grovyle said, "Please...calm yourself."

However, Dusknoir began to laugh. "I know what you're thinking, Grovyle. I must be a rather pathetic sight to you right now. The once proud servant to Master Dialga, has been betrayed, and cast aside. Left to rot. Laugh. Go ahead and laugh!"

Grovyle shook his head. "Laugh or do as you like, Dusknoir. It doesn't matter to me. I'm more concerned about this new agent Dialga has. If that Sabeleye is correct, then my current mission could be much harder."

Dusknoir then said, "I no longer have a choice. I must go to Temporal Tower's ruins myself, whether I am to be eliminated, or not. I can't be sure either way. I must know the truth, Mater Dialga's true intentions."

Grovyle sighed. It looked like he and Dusknoir would be traveling together a little longer. Grovyle was starting to get used to it, but would none the less, keep his guard up. Grovyle wouldn't still remind himself, that though fighting alongside Dusknoir gave him great advantages, Dusknoir still looked to Dialga as a superior, and that meant that when the time arrived, Grovyle would likely have to face both him and Dialga...not to mention the new agent. Whoever that was.

"Are we leaving for Temporal Tower or what?" Dusknoir asked.

Grovyle simply shook himself to his senses. "Let's go." When that time would come, he would be ready to take on all three. All he had to do was buy Layne and Pyro enough time to complete the mission. That was it...

The remains of Temporal Tower were easily reached within the hour. Upon arriving, Grovyle only thought of Layne and Pyro, who were probably climbing the tower as he thought right now. He once again prayed for their success, as Dusknoir looked at Temporal Tower's remains.

"Magnificent, isn't it?" he asked.

"It was..." Grovyle said.

Temporal Tower, though it still stood, would easily fall to the ground, if time had allowed it to. Entire chunks of the building were missing, some of the building appeared as if it were already falling, and simply floated in the air due to the total paralysis. The tower slanted in unnatural angles in several locations, and of course, the damage internal and external was easily seen. Had time been flowing naturally, the building would be a death trap for anyone stuck inside. Hell, it could probably be one now. It would not be an easy climb.

"Never thought I would come here to Temporal Tower, during this time, so willingly." Grovyle said.

"It has indeed been a while since I myself was here last. But we cannot waste anymore time. I must find Master Dialga."

Grovyle wasn't so sure about this, but said, "Let's get on with it."

The Climb up Temporal Tower was a bit tougher than Grovyle anticipated. The damage to Temporal Tower was total. Entire passageways that at one point had been accessible, now lay buried beneath rock and rubble. Dusknoir normally, as a ghost pokémon, made easy trips to the top, but since teaming up with Grovyle, and to avoid Grovyle from getting too suspicious, he decided to help escort Grovyle through the tower of ruin. At one point they had to make a makeshift ladder to simply ascend to the next floor.

They continued to work together to make it through the tower, and though there were delays, Grovyle wished there were not, they made good timing. "We've come pretty far..." Grovyle said. "Are we near Dialga?"

Dusknoir nodded. "Yes, we are very near the pinnacle. There we will find Master Dialga."

"Right..." Grovyle said, contemplating his earlier thoughts. He had been mentally preparing himself to take on three enemies, he just hoped he would buy Layne and Pyro enough time to complete the mission.

"Grovyle," Dusknoir said as they walked on. "When we reach the pinnacle, do you plan on fighting Master Dialga immediately?"

Grovyle looked at Dusknoir. "I don't know. But the second i see trouble, I will make my move."

Dusknoir said, "Before you do that, I would like to ask you to give me some time to talk with Master Dialga. I must know his intentions behind his actions."

"No way!" Grovyle said. "Once you start talking with Dialga, there's a good chance you'll side with him once again. That will leave me to deal with you, Dialga and this new agent, since he is likely to be there as well. I may not be expecting to win, but I will not just walk n the room to be willingly executed in less than a minute."

Dusknoir showed a sign of great displeasure and simply said, "Fine. Have it your way. But believe it or not, I don't think I will be making easy friends with this new agent at all. I will not fight you, or Master Dialga. I will stand aside while you battle him. And once Master Dialga finishes you, I will talk with him."

"Do as you will." Grovyle shot back. "I just hope by then, Layne and Pyro will have done what needs to be done."

Dusknoir was correct about the pinnacle being so close as it was. Because five minutes later, they came across it.

This was it, Grovyle thought to himself, as they entered the room. He would now buy as much time as needed for Layne and Pyro.

...

But something didn't feel right. It was...too quiet.

"This is the place..." Dusknoir said.

"Then..." Grovyle began, "Where is Primal Dialga? Or his new agent?"

The room was completely empty. The room was a mess, to say the least, and provided excellent cover for anything, but...Grovyle could feel it. Dialga was simply not here. Dusknoir sensed this too.

"This room is empty!" he said in surprise. He went to where he always stood when receiving a command from Dialga and said, "Dialga always resides right here. This is very strange."

Grovyle felt a hint of sorrow come up from within him. Had perhaps, Dialga been successful? Did he already send the agent back in time? Was Grovyle too slow in getting here? "Then why isn't he there now? The Sabeleye said he'd send one final agent to the past. But in order to do that, he'd need to build up enormous amounts of power in order to send someone back. Dialga would need to surrender all mobility to generate such power."

"Your assumption is correct," Dusknoir said. "I thought he would be here too. Yet...if he needs to send another agent to the past, there is another method."

"Another method?" Grovyle asked, turning to look at Dusknoir. "To go to the past?"

"Yes." Dusknoir said. "And you should know it well, Grovyle, as you have used it twice to escape me."

It hit Grovyle. "You can't be serious!" he said. "Dialga will try to activate the Passage of Time? But...that would require..."

Dusknoir nodded. "Yes. Rather than wait for Master Dialga to store up such power to transport beings to the past, Dialga may be gone looking for Celebi, to force her to activate the Passage of Time. It's the only logical solution."

Grovyle was suddenly struck with worry for his old friend. Dialga was looking for Celebi. Grovyle tried to calm himself. He remembered how Celebi was always cunning when it came to escapes. She was not easily caught. "I...I don't think it will be easy to catch Celebi. Even for one such as Dialga."

"Then you heavily underestimate Master Dialga." Dusknoir said. "The Sabeleye may have no chance at catching one like Celebi, but you forget that Dialga is the being that governs time. Celebi's power over time is no where near as great as Dialga's. I assure you, Master Dialga is more than capable of catching Celebi. And we cannot put out of the picture, this new agent. We know nothing about him. He could be just as cunning as Celebi."

Grovyle deep down, knew Dusknoir was right. Which meant only one thing. "Then we need to get to Dusk Forest, and fast. That was where the Passage of Time was, and where the likely chance would be if we were to meet with Celebi."

The board was set and the pieces were moving. Dusknoir and Grovyle ran from Temporal Tower. If Celebi was in any danger, Grovyle would assist in any way he could. He owed a lot to Celebi, and he would not just stand by and let his worst enemy catch her, and use her to ruin everything they had worked for. Not now. Not when everything was finally starting to look up...