"What do you need, Dusknoir?" Celebi was going for the tactical, diplomatic approach. I wish I could say I would've, too, if I had known what was going on, but my first thought once I recovered from shock was to throw myself in a futile attempt at an attack at Dusknoir. I stayed where I stood, a good thirty or so feet from Dusknoir, Celebi, and Treecko. Oh, also the Sableye. "We've done you no harm. Treecko left Dry Bluff."

"Yes, but there is another matter, Celebi. He watched my Sableye train. Since my offer was denied by him, I have to assume the worst," Dusknoir replied politely. There was a bad hinting that lined his words.

"Offer?" I blurted. "What was the offer?"

Dusknoir faced me. I liked very few ghost-type Pokémon, caught even fewer, used them never. His gaze was so strict, so unreadable, I fought a shiver that threatened to run up my back and returned the gaze. I won't be intimidated. I have the power of the legendary Pokémon at my will, even though it would be painful. Fire seems to be my element, that must've been why I turned into a Charizard at that last battle. That means I have a few, good, strong choices I can have if I ever need them. There is no reason I should be afraid. Dusknoir's answer brought me out of my thoughts. "I once offered Treecko to join my ranks. He refused." Dusknoir changed the subject so fast, it startled me for a moment. "Yet, you and I have never met, Ruby." Dusknoir seemed to be thinking. I got the feeling he was going to offer the opportunity to me. I scowled.

    "Well, I've been here for less than the time of a week," I retorted, not letting my surprise show. I waved my right hand, then put it on my hip, throwing caution to the wind. Celebi and Treecko tried to silently will me to be quiet or at least careful, but I ignored them. "So far Celebi and Treecko are the only ones I've met." I glanced behind me at the two Sableye, who were getting up dizzily, the ones who attacked me. "I guess you could say I met those two and yourself, but we all know that's untrue. Something must've interested you to have come to this 'teaching a lesson' job you gave the Sableye."

    "There is something that interested me, indeed, Ruby. You are the only human seen for eons. And yet, you suddenly appear out of thin air, the way my scouting Sableye described." So they were watching Treecko before I got here four days ago. "And even with your saying you've been here less than the time of a week, you skillfully countered my Sableye with minimal training here. I suggest you join my ranks under Master Dialga's rule. The offer is quite an honor, and I'm sure Master Dialga would approve."

    I shook my head. "I will join none," I said simply, a threat lining the words. "I have no desire to be used for someone's gain other than my own and those who I deem appropriate."

    The look in Dusknoir's eyes made the shadow of a lopsided smirk; I got the feeling the smirk would be on his face had his kind been created with a mouth. "Then let's take a little walk, shall we? It will be a while until we get to our base of opperations."

    Treecko finally broke his uncharacteristic silence. "And what makes you think we'll go with you, Dusknoir?" There was a challenge in his voice and a scowl on his face that made him seem like he was acting. I knew better.

    Obviously, so did Dusknoir. With an awkward snap of his fingers, five Sableye surrounded us each, in the end fifteen surrounding us three once we were rounded up. I growled under my breath and I started looking for any way to escape. Treecko must've either thought the same thing in a similar situation before, or my face was being more readable than I liked, for he interrupted my thoughts. "Don't even think about it, P- Ruby. It's useless." To hear the last few words from Treecko was surprising. I never would have thought him one to give up, but then again, maybe he was thinking. Afterall, we were going to Dusknoir's base. If there's any knowledge of the Time Gears, it would be there. All we had to do was get to the information, find the info about Time Gears and their locations, and get out, back to Dusk Forest and the Passage.

✦ ✦ ❦ ✦ ✦

When we got to the camp after four days of Dusknoir's annoying slower-than-Celebi's set pace, I saw it was full of Sableye. And I mean full. I love the color purple, but now seeing as it is almost the only other main color I saw in the gray world, it started to make me sick. I started missing Kevin and Bill, heck even the Teams. I liked my world of color. I patted the journal I slipped into my pocket. I still had the books back in the forest. We would go back there soon.

Dusknoir and the fifteen Sableye—it seemed the number grew as we walked on—walked us through their base as if it were an impressive procedure, and as if we were captured outlaws. The only thing missing was being tied up and stripped of our items. I shot Celebi and Treecko a questioning glance. They shrugged, obviously trying and ultimately failing to understand what I wanted to ask them. I hissed silently to myself and looked around. The only items I had on me were my Poké four leaf clover necklace, the tracker bracelet, my watch, my small journal, and the piece of charcoal. Our little trio of course had the option of fighting our way out, and we could do that if I transformed, but I would rather just be a normal human. We seem to be rare enough here. I don't need to stick out anymore than I already do.

Our escort led us to what seemed to be the center of everything. I remembered seeing their base from Treecko's territory, how bright it was. To me it had seemed it was brighter in the middle than anywhere else. I also remembered the question I asked Treecko, Is there anyplace I could gain refuge, there? I had to say, I was glad that I didn't just wander this way. Arceus knew what I would have been getting myself into, without my party no less. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

"What did you mean to ask?" Celebi silently had moved closer to my ear so we could speak privately. "That glance wasn't for nothing."

As imperceptibly as I could, I nodded. "Is there any other trouble you two have gotten into with Dusknoir? The Dry Bluff thing didn't even come up till he found Treecko."

Celebi must have shook her head, then realized that I couldn't see her, because there was a pause. "No. Not that we know of, anyway. Luckily, you appeared before I got to Treecko; I was going to try convincing him again. If that scout Sableye were to have heard me... well, there would have been some questioning involved. The way I hear it, however, is that the Sableye saw you appear than headed back to report your appearance to Dusknoir.''

I nodded. As I was about to respond, Dusknoir's voice rang through all conversations, silencing every single one. "We have some new guests! Sableye, I expect you treat them the same way you treat all guests to our home. They are not to leave until I give permission, however. Treat them fairly, and keep an eye on them." He turned and left, leaving us three in the middle of the many, many Sableye.

I sighed. "This definitely isn't going to plan. But, since we aren't allowed to leave the camp," I lowered my voice, "why don't we try finding their information store? I know very little about this land, we might as well use it to our advantage." I started looking around for a non-threatening Sableye that was nearby.

Treecko looked semi-alarmed. "Wait–"

I spotted a Sableye. "Hey! Sableye!" I called, interrupting Treecko. He promptly facepalmed and grumbled under his breath. All the Sableye in the direction I called looked toward me, and I pointed at the one I was calling to. They all looked at me strangely, but he complied, walking through the crowd.

"Er, yes?" he asked when he came within hearing range.

"Do you have a library, or a place I could learn about this land? I don't understand so much, like why it's always dark, what your roles are. What Primal Dialga is." I started naming multiple things so it wouldn't appeal to him to tell me himself.

    "We'd have to ask Dusknoir," he said uncertainly.

    "He only said we couldn't leave this base of yours," I urged. "So as long as your library or whatever you call it is here, we aren't going against Dusknoir's order. Also, can Celebi and Treecko come, too? They told me a little of this place, and I want to be able to talk it over with them." I watched the Sableye carefully.

    "Er, okay. Escort, guard the exits to our library carefully." The Sableye started forward, then motioned for us three to follow, the escort following behind us.

    As we walked, I watched the other Sableye carefully. They didn't act strange. They all seemed fairly relaxed, casual, and carefree—for the moment. Unless I wanted to see that firsthand, there was no telling how fast that easy atmosphere would vanish. My personal guess would be quite quickly, though there would be time to see that later. I watched the campfires around, the only real source of light now. Seeing the flames made my insides go alight—a fire burned inside me. I was caught, again, but this time it was different. I had an ace up my sleeve, yes, but it was very useless. Only to be used if there is no other alternative. I thought about my situation on the way to the library of theirs.

Treecko tugged on my arm when we were within sight of the library. The library wasn't very impressive; just a cave-like place where numerous scrolls, books, and maps were.

My eyes lit up. I could look around, learn about this world. The best part was, I was learning for a purpose. I hope I can get this journal to Bill and Kevin, I thought. I didn't want to leave them to find me non-existant.

A startling thought occurred to me: if I disappeared in this world, do I change history in my own? Will I be wrecking Bill's and Kevin's and everyone's lives if I do this? I guess... I guess I get to find out. I tried to convince myself that I was here, now, that I was safe, but I couldn't believe myself. I shook my thoughts away and walked over to a pile of maps, my mind numb, and my emotions gone.

One map seemed like once it had been colorful, but its colors faded with the years long passed. On the top, it had "Wonder Map" in bold. Under it, it had Wigglytuff's Exploration Guild on it. "Strange name for a guild, that's for sure. I guess an exploration team or loner carried this around. Those clouds in the corner, though..." I started studying the map. I knew I should have been looking for Time Gear hiding spots, but the map was new, the places and biomes vast and varied. All of it was just far too interesting to focus, so I folded it up and looked for a book on Temporal Tower's collapse. "Either of you find a book on the collapse of Temporal Tower?"

"I did," Celebi said. I turned toward her voice and saw her flying toward me with a book.

"Oh!" I didn't expect her to carry the book, and it looked pretty heavy. She carried it just fine, though. I guess she's a legendary Pokémon for a reason. "Thank you, Celebi." I took the book and opened it to the back. There was a brief summary of the event there, and mentally I compared it to the short version of the event I got from Treecko that first day. "Pokémon were turning bad because of the change in time flow? That doesn't make much sense, but I guess if that were to happen back home, the people wouldn't exactly be too friendly." I continued reading the summery and pocketed the Wonder Map. "Summary of the Hidden Land, Temporal Tower, and Time Gears...? I have much to learn..."