When I opened my eyes again it was the next morning. Pip was still sleeping next to me. I stood and walked out from my room to the mess hall. Everyone smiled and cheered as soon as the door shut behind me. It opened again as Pip came in and everyone cheered again.

Sunflora pushed some food toward us as we sat at the table. "Eat up!" She smiled.

Everyone started eating except me. All I could see was Grovyle's face peering up at me, glaring hatefully at me but not able to harm me badly.

Pip touched the scratch on my cheek snapping me back into reality. "Does it hurt?"

I shook my head. "No." I smiled.

The sirens in the guild went off. I had to cover my ears so it wouldn't give me a headache. "What the heck?" I looked at Chatot as the sirens calmed.

"We installed them in case Magnezone needed everyone at Treasure Town. We have to go. Everyone lets go. Out, out, out!" Chatot led the way to the middle of the town. In front of the statue was Dusknoir and the police.

"What's going on?" I whispered to myself as Pip and I made our way to the front of the square. Mesprite, Azelf, and Uxie all had their own little reunion, dancing in the air around each other, happy that their siblings were safe and sound without a major scratch on them. Azelf only had a patch to cover whatever scratch he had on his face.

Magnezone got everyone's attention. "Everyone! Please settle down. We simply have to say thank you, Azelf, for making sure Grovyle didn't get the last Time Gear." Everyone applauded. Azelf looked almost embarrassed at the attention.

When everyone calmed I looked at Dusknoir. "Grovyle knew you…how?" He was close enough to us for me to whisper.

"I'm about to explain." Dusknoir whispered then looked around at everyone. "Ash had an excellent question just now. Do I know Grovyle. The answer is yes. I have been after Grovyle for a very long time but he has escaped again and again. The truth is Grovyle is from the future." He paused to let it all sink in. Everyone started in with questions at the same time but Dusknoir raised his hand to silence everyone. "I, too, am from the future. I have been after Grovyle because he is trying to cause the world's paralysis."

"The world's paralysis?" Pip tilted his head. "What's that mean?"

"Well…In a world that is paralyzed the wind never blows, morning never comes, the world is in total darkness forever."

I couldn't imagine it. A world in darkness forever. The words echoed through my head like a drum.

"We have to catch Grovyle!" Someone in the crowd called. It sent everyone in conversation.

"Dusknoir, sir." I heard Mesprite's small voice. "I have an idea. We should trap Grovyle by spreading a rumor that we're taking the Time Gear and storing it away so it's safe."

"Oh!" Dusknoir sounded pleased by the idea. "But I will ask you to actually take the Time Gear so the rumor can be true. Will you be okay with being bait?" I didn't look away from my conversation group to see what happened. "Everyone!" Dusknoir's booming voice got everyone's attention. "I will trap Grovyle. I only want you all to spread a rumor far ad wide that Mesprite, Azelf, and Uxie are storing away the Time Gear away from Crystal Cave."

Nobody was pleased that Dusknoir insisted on doing it alone but nobody objected in front of him.

It was days until we heard from Dusknoir again. Once again we were gathered in front of the statue. A black hole was opened up in a space where it wouldn't disturb anyone.

"I can't believe he's leaving." Pip started to tear up. I laughed and pat his head. "Everything will be fine now…. Hey, what do you think the future is like?"

Pip mulled it over. "Hmm..I don't know. Maybe kind of like this but more futuristic!"

I couldn't help but laugh at the vague details.

"BE CAREFUL! DON'T TOUCH!" I heard Officer Magnezone yell at Bidoof. "If you touch the Dimensional Hole you'll be sucked in."

Pip and I laughed at Bidoof's curiosity. He turned bright red.

Soon some Sableye came, escorting a too familiar looking Pokémon. Grovyle tried to struggle and yell out but they had him tied and muzzled well. Dusknoir followed behind.

They stood in front of the black hole. "I have captured Grovyle the Thief!" He waited for the applause and cheering to settle. "It is unfortunate but I have to leave for the future. With the thief captured your future is saved."

I watched Grovyle trying so hard to struggle and yell. His eyes were pleading when they fell on me. He was so desperate that whatever hate he had for me was gone. The bronze pendant around his neck shined against the sunlight. I could see that there were tiny details etched into the oval shape.

The Sableye took him into the black hole and disappeared. "It is time to say good-bye…Exploration Team Pokémon, can you approach please?"

Pip grabbed my hand. His cold tears hit my hand as he led me to Dusknoir. "I guess this is good-bye." Pip whispered.

"Yes…" Something in his voice shifted. I heard the evil undertones bubbling to the surface.

Run away!

"It is time for you to say good-bye!" Dusknoir grabbed mine and Pip's still linked hands. He painfully squeezed my hand with Pip's flipper. I grimaced against the pain. "You two are coming with me!" And with that we were dragged into the hole. The last thing I saw was Chatot running after me. I tried to reach out desperately but we were surrounded by total darkness before I could touch him.