Let's Play! Let's Catch 'em All in PMD Explorers of Sky! (Part 38: Zero Isles & Kecleon)

They're all working for me. Is anyone else having this problem?
Edit: Never mind I guess some are broken. I'll give it a look.
 
I fixed the ones in the most recent update; I'll get to the Igglybuff/other ones in a bit.
Edit: Everything should be fixed. Let me know if there are any more issues.
 
Last edited:
If any images are broken, let me know. They weren't on the preview window, but who knows what might happen.


Oh. Hey. I guess this is finally coming back to the forefront.


Come on! Hurry!
The guild isn't that faaaaar...


We just got told that the call went out, so we came running!
We're here now!

What's going on?
Chatot: Another Time Gear was stolen!
Oh.
I guess Uxie must have said something.

Bidoof: What?! Not another one!
Ray: From where now...?
Where was this Time Gear stolen from?
aaand here it comes

Chatot: W-well, it...
Bidoof: Uh... what's the problem?
Did it happen somewhere you don't want to talk about?
Answer that question for yourself Bidoof.

Ray: Wait! It wasn't the one from...
Sunflora: Yes... it was!

Aaaaaand here it is.

Bidoof: Huh?!
Ray: B-but, how?!
The Time Gear that was at Fogbound Lake...
Only we knew about that, right?
Just because we were the only ones who knew of it doesn't mean someone else couldn't find it, though.

So, how could this happen?!
Chatot: ….....................
Ray: It couldn't be... that a member of the guild talked, could it?!

ray u dun goofed

Corphish: Hey, hey, hey! Don't trust your fellow members?!
its not a matter of trust it's a matter of dumbassery at times tho

Ray: Urk! Sorry! That was uncalled for, you're right...
No one would break our vow of secrecy... It'd just never happen!
I mean, clearly Alti wasn't the only one who figured out the secret of the Groudon statue, because she had a vision of someone else figuring it out, so it's clearly not impossible for other Pokémon to get there.

I should have thought before I spoke... I'm sorry!
Sunflora: Well, it's no wonder that you'd leap to that conclusion!
I mean, this horrible thing did happen right after our expedition.
True I guess???


Oh hey I forgot you were here.

There was a Time Gear at Fogbound Lake? I did not know that...
Yeah I mean we kind of outright lied to him about it so

Did I not hear quite a different tale about your recent expedition?
I recall being told that your expedition to Fogbound Lake ended in failure.
<chicago>what are you gonna believe, what you see or what i tell ya?

Wigglytuff: I apologize, great Dusknoir.
We made a promise. So we couldn't tell even you, Dusknoir.
Who knows? Maybe he would have stolen the Time Gear!!!

Chatot: Anyway... A lone intruder slipped into Fogbound Lake...
knocked out Uxie... and made off with the Time Gear.
Ray: Uxie?!
Is Uxie all right?!
I'm glad for your concern but uxie is a legendary i'm sure he fine.

Chatot: Yes. Uxie is fine.
He's under the protection of Magnezone's squad. No need to worry.
yes because i trust magnezone and friends to protect A LEGENDARY from further harm

Ray: Whew! I'm glad to hear that!
Chatot: Wait, there's more. According to Uxie's victim statement...
The intruder's identity has been revealed.
I guess the game is finally catching up with what we the players know.

Bidoof: Then fess up! What kind of critter are we dealing with?
Chatot: There's already a wanted poster up for the thief.
That was fast. Where y'all print these things anyhow?

See for yourselves.

And his face is revealed.
Music: Rising Fear

Bidoof: Oof! That's one nasty piece of work!
Alti: (Grovyle...)
(So this is the Pokémon...)
(… the thief who's stealing the Time Gears.)
Grovyle is like a really good Pokémon to have chosen for this thief persona but also the fact that Treecko is a starter/partner option can be weird sometimes if you're using one lol

Chatot: This wanted poster just arrived.
from where

It was issued based on Uxie's statement. It arrived as part of an all-points bulletin.
Bidoof: Oh, that figures! That's why all those Pelipper were flying around!
Except they didn't seem to be going anywhere???

Chatot: Officer Magnezone obviously doesn't want to see things worsen.
They've put a remarkably high bounty on the thieving Grovyle.
well what is it???

Ray: We promised Uxie...
We promised not to reveal the secret of Fogbound Lake.
And we didn't! Probably!

But then this happens...
Sunflora: We didn't leak the secret, but...
I'm ashamed to show my face in front of Uxie now!
tbh I'm surprised uxie allowed the treasure town police force to help him out after he thought it was our fault grovyle found the lake

Corphish: Hey, hey! Here's what sticks in my craw! The view there has been ruined!
this is true :(((

And, hey, hey! I just can't forgive that!

OH GOD NO STOP TALKING WIGGLYTUFF IS UPSET

Chimecho: Hey! Guildmaster...!
Wigglytuff: Urr... Urrrrrr... Urrrrrrrr...!
Chatot: G-G-Guildmaster!

what you can't see is that the guild has started to shake because wigglytuff is about to explode the place again

Wigglytuff: YOOM... TAH!
oh okay he just screamed loudly

Loudred: WAH!
Chatot: Squawk! Squawk!
Wigglytuff: Everyone! We'll catch Grovyle!
Music: Wigglytuff's Guild

We'll catch that thief! I vow it upon the name of Wigglytuff's Guild!
AWWWWWW YEAAAAAAAH ITS OUTLAW HUNTIN TIME

Chatot, if you will!
Chatot: Y-yes!
OK, everyone!
From here on out, we are putting our full focus on capturing Grovyle!
its time to Plot!!!

Do your best to bring Grovyle to justice!
by arceus we will!!!!

Loudred: It goes without saying!
Corphish: Hey, hey, hey! There's no way we can let any more Time Gears be stolen!
Sunflora: C'mon, everyone! Let's pull together! Let's do it for Uxie!
DO IT FOR HER HIM

Dusknoir: Wigglytuff...
Oh yeah I forgot you were here. Again.

I believe I understand the situation now.

Oh hey!!! With Dusknoir on our side there's no way we can fail. He knows so much

Wigglytuff: Th-thank you, great Dusknoir!
Bidoof: Golly! Having the great Dusknoir in our corner is mighty heartening!
yes indeedy!

Corphish: Hey, hey! We're honored!
Dusknoir: No, no! It's my honor entirely.
Chatot: At present, the Guildmaster and I shall confer!
We will devise a strategy for finding Grovyle.
In the meantime! You should all start preparing to go on searches!
aww yissss new dungeon time!

Return here when you are ready to leave.
OK, everyone! Let's outdo ourselves! ♪
Everyone: HOORAY!
Everyone heads off to prepare, and so do we.


When we return, it is time for a meeting.

First and foremost! This should go without saying...
Grovyle appears wherever Time Gears are located.
… yes, that seems to be his modus operandi, yes.

But where are the Time Gears?
that's the question of the day now isnt it

That is the question! But we have no answer.
And, therefore, we have relied upon the great Dusknoir for ideas.
Well he does know a lot. Even though he didn't (seem to) know there was a Time Gear at Fogbound Lake so can we really trust him to help?!

Together, we've identified several locations where the Time Gears may be found.
We ask that everyone split into groups and investigate each of these potential sites.
new dungeons new dungeons!!

First, Loudred and Corphish! I'm assigning you to the Eastern Forest.
That's the huge forest far to the east, of course.
REALLY. THANKS

Loudred: Got it!
Corphish: Hey, hey! We'll do our best!
Chatot: Next, Bidoof, Dugtrio, and Sunflora! We'd like you to search Crystal Cave.
no fair i want to go to a place called crystal cave that sounds rad

Bidoof: Yup yup! Will do!
Dugtrio: Understood.
Sunflora: Oh my gosh! I'll search hard!
i'm sure you won't find them because we the protagonists aren't there but have fun!


of course its a desert level

Ray: The Northern Desert?
Chatot: Correct. Open your Wonder Map.
Ray: OK.

Soooo the land nobody has been to. Ever. And we're looking for Time Gears. Great

The area on the map is obscured by clouds...
But the dry terrain starts in this area here.
That's why it's rumored that a vast desert extends from that point onward.
… and has nobody, like, seen it? has nobody gone to the edge of this dry terrain and LOOKED and SAW that a desert stretches from there on???? Ok

We suspect that a Time Gear is hidden in the depths of the desert.
I'm not sure how exactly it could well be hidden in a desert but all right

That is where we're sending you to investigate.
Ray: OK! We understand!

oh rip

Chatot: Diglett will remain at the guild.
We can't very well leave the guild completely unattended.
what about you and wigglytuff tho

Chimecho: Croagunk and I are staying behind at the guild too.
The work we do at the guild is important too. Let's make sure we keep up our good work!
but do you guys ever go on explorations :C

Diglett: Y-yes!

YOOM... TAH!
Everyone: HOORAY!
it time to go!!!
So we all head off.

Before we leave, though...

Wait how do you know this if WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S A DESERT OR NOT
Please, do take care!
Ray: Will do! Thank you!
Alti, let's do our best!
it is Time!!


This already looks like desert terrain as it is now.

If a Time Gear really is here...
Grovyle should show up here for sure.
is it gonna be Fight Time!!!

Let's do our best and find that Time Gear!
YEAH


Music: Northern Desert

Recruits: Baltoy, Cubone, Aron, Cacnea, Larvitar, Sandshrew, Trapinch, Carnivine, Rhyhorn, Lairon, Cacturne


Now if only you could find Larvitar at around level 20 in the normal Pokémon games. (I mean, as you're playing, not as late as Mt. Silver.)
Named Savannah.
She's level 22, and Alti and Ray are 20 and 21, respectively. Look at that! We're underleveled again!! Hooray!


In this game you can just find Grimy Food in dungeons at time. A nice touch – I doubt there would have been fresh Apples in the middle of a desert anyhow lol


That doesn't really explain why there are Gummis here though.


Named Simon by the bf. Simon is level 23 so we are still below the level curve and I appreciate that


man im just getting all the recruits today. named Cake because something something Just So Stories


I decide not to take it because Scratch has more PP and is not so situational.


After 15 floors we wind up at the end of the dungeon.
Also Ray what do you mean “deepest part” of the desert, how can there be a deepest part. Is it just like the pole of inaccessibility except for the desert? How would you even judge that though?? and would it even be the best place to hide a Time Gear just because it's the center, was there not like a cave or something somewhere else you could have used??
I'm overthinking this

Watch out! It's quicksand!
the quicksand is like several feet away


They're like sand whirlpools, and we'll be pulled in if we get close!
It's dangerous here!
So don't get close. Not terribly hard

I don't see anything around here that remotely looks like a Time Gear!
lol you think it'd just be sitting out in the open??
… then again I guess it might have been in that one forest location

Maybe there's nothing here.
Oh? What's the matter, Alti?

(This feeling...)
(It's like the one I got at Fogbound Lake...)
(I... I know this place!)
(Maybe I have only heard of this place... but it seems like I've been here before...)
(I can't tell which...)
(Either way, I do know this place...)
Well either way you also thought you knew Foggy Forest and there turned out to be a Time Gear at Fogbound Lake so maybe that means there's one here too

Ray: Listen, Alti!
What's the matter? You were off in your own thoughts there.
dude i was trying to puzzle out THE SECRET OF THIS PLACE do u really need to be mean about it

Well, there seems to be nothing here. How disappointing!
did you even TRY to look??? some explorer

Let's report our findings to the guild. Let's go home.
tch
fiiiiiiiine


oh good I guess we know there's a desert there now?? helpful lmao


So everyone's back from their searches...
But nobody found anything?
… welp I guess we are screwed

Dugtrio: Disappointing.
Sunflora: That's what happened, all right!
Corphish: Hey, hey! We went out to the Eastern Forest, just like we were told!
But, hey! There's nothing really there but the forest!
Well, do you really expect there to be Time Gears in two separate forests??
Think about it. It's a video game.

Bidoof: As for Crystal Cave, yup yup, it was chock-full of crystals!
Mighty pretty cave, I tell you!
It was so pretty that I just couldn't help... helping myself to a crystal.
… that's what you were focusing on. Not the Time Gear???

Sunflora: Ooh! When did you pick that up?
I was with you the whole time! I never noticed!
Dugtrio: Bidoof...
Our objective was to find a Time Gear.
We all failed to achieve our objective...
But you had the nerve to collect a souvenir, totally unrelated to the mission...
Who do you think you are?!
Hey man crystals are cool don't be mean

Bidoof: Oof! Gosh, I'm sorry!
I just wanted a tiny treasure for myself, that's all...
who can blame him :c

Chatot: Dusknoir, sir, I regret to say it.
Our search efforts ended fruitlessly.
Dusknoir: Ah, this is vexing.
I thought the search locations we chose held promise.
Maybe we're all just shit at exploring mang

I blame my lack of knowledge. I am truly chastened.
buddy ur locations are better than anything we could have come up with thats for damn sure

Chatot: My goodness, no! You mustn't blame yourself!
Why, it was thanks only to your vast knowledge that we came up with our plan, Dusknoir!
the plan FAILED so whats that say about YOU dusknoir huh

Dusknoir: Nonetheless, our efforts have ended in failure. That's a fact.
But being hard on ourselves is pointless.
fair enough i guess

Let us reconsider our plan. We'll devise a different strategy tomorrow!
lookin forward to it

Chatot: Yes, let's do that! And may we find success together!
That's how it stands, everyone! That's enough work for today. Rest up! Prepare for tomorrow!
Everyone: UNDERSTOOD!
So we go to bed with no more fanfare. The next day...


Presently, the great Dusknoir and I are working out a new strategy.
what about Wigglytuff though!!

While we develop this strategy...
We ask you to search for the Time Gears on your own initiative.
That is all.
All right, everyone! Work hard again today! ♪
Everyone: HOORAY!
So they all head off. Alti and Ray, however, need to figure out what to do.


Where should we go?
Alti: (Hmmm, I wonder...?)
(We can search all we want, but we don't have a clue...)
does bidoofs crystal count

(Oh! Wait a second!)
(Yesterday... when we were out there...)

(It's like the one I got at Fogbound Lake...)
(I... I know this place!)

Finally, we may have figured out that the fact that Alti knows the place is probably relevant, as it was with Foggy Forest!

(Yesterday at the quicksand pits, we assumed that it was a dead end for our search...)
(But maybe there really are secrets there...)
Ray: What's the matter? Are you off in another daydream?
ffs stop this and let me THINK without you INTERRUPTING ALL OF THE TIME

What? You want to go back to Quicksand Desert?
But we were there yesterday! We didn't find anything!
we barely TRIED to find anything!

What?! When we were at Quicksand Desert...
You experienced the same sensation that you had at Fogbound Lake?!
Well then, that's settled, Alti. What you say must be true.
Let's go there again! Back to Quicksand Desert!
lets do it!!!

But first, diary snooping


Looks like I've got two entries to catch up on.

10: Oh My Gosh! Dusknoir!
Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh! The famous Dusknoir came to our guild! Yippee!
And... and... and...! He plans to stay in Treasure Town for a while! Yippee!
I got to talk to him! He's wise! And courteous! And handsome! And oh my gosh... yippee!
Yip-yip-yippee! That's what it feels like!
11. Where's Grovyle?
The whole guild is now searching for that thieving Grovyle.
Bidoof, Dugtrio, and I searched Crystal Cave.
But our search turned up nothing.
Where could that Grovyle be...?
i thought we were looking for time gears not necessarily grovyle himself

But he must be caught, no matter what!
For Uxie's sake too, we'll catch that criminal!
P.S. That silly Bidoof... Oh my gosh, he was no help looking for Grovyle...
Not only that, he even brought home a crystal as a souvenir! Eeek!
how terrifying!

That reminds me... When we were leaving Crystal Cave, I caught Bidoof grinning to himself...
Now that I think about... Oh my gosh, that was him grinning about that crystal!
Oh my gosh, I never suspected Bidoof could leer in such an icky way! Eek!
It's another new discovery! Eek!
… lmao

Bidoof's diary!

10. No Sleep!
Oof... I'm feeling foggy from not getting my fair share of sleep.
I share my room with Loudred and Corphish, but...
Lately, Croagunk's taken to slipping into our room for some shut-eye every so often.
Well, that Croagunk, he usually beds down by that Swap Cauldron of his... But lately he's taken to sleeping here...
but why tho

Just the other day, I was surprised to find Croagunk sleeping nearby, by golly...
And then he murmured, “Meh-heh-heh! Morning there, Bidoof!” I mean, I don't want my day to start that way!
thats just plain creepy ngl

That surely put a scare in me. Yup yup! Now I can't sleep because that Croagunk might want to hang out again... Oof...
P.S. The great Dusknoir is sure mighty wise.
Not only that, he shows respect to everyone. Even me! By golly, you have to respect someone like that back!
nice

11. The Guild at Night
Thanks to Croagunk, I haven't been able to get a good night's sleep lately.
There's nothing to do if you're awake at night, so I took a stroll through the guild. Yup yup!
I glanced in Ray and Alti's room, but they were deep in sleep, by golly.
I reckon they must be exhausted from their daily training, yup yup.
I'm sure we all are tho

I didn't peek into Chimecho and Sunflora's room. That'd be downright rude. Yup yup.
… but it's ok to peek into ours??????????

Huh, diary? You wanted me to peek?
I surely can't do that. It's just not done. Who could live that down?
bidoof

And sneaking into the Guildmaster's room was too scary. So I gave that a pass and kept nosing around elsewhere. Yup yup.
Now, that Chatot! By golly, that one gave me quite the start!
So, diary, where'd you reckon that Chatot sleeps at night?
Well, surprise, surprise! He sleeps on the top rung of the guild's entry ladder!
He is a bird.
I like that, it's a nice little bonus touch.

When I crept nearby, he thought I was trying to run away, by golly...
So he wildly attacked me! I'm still sore all over from that, by gosh!
P.S. Crystal Cave sure lived up to its name, being full of crystals and all.
It surely was a pretty place! Yup yup.
It was so pretty, I couldn't help... helping myself to a crystal!
It's my own precious treasure! Yup yup!
But when everyone found out about it... All I got was a bunch of grief... Sigh...
lol rip

All right dungeon time!


Well, first we get this.
I skipped the textbox immediately before this, but it said “Huh? There's something written on the bottom of the glass you just drained.”

It's a secret exploration spot that now only you know about. Nobody else!
… okay but who wrote its name on this glass then??


So yeah, this is part of how you unlock new dungeons here: by random luck when drinking in Spinda's Café. That's why I do it so often.


lol ok what is

Thanks to everyone's recycling efforts, Project P recently made a new discovery!
This time, treasure was discovered, so...
We're offering a higher grade of recycled items!
Oh, that's all. All right. I was hoping for a new location :c


lets go!!!!


Music: In the Depths of the Pit

But it still seems like there's nothing here.
u just arent Trying hard enough!!

Just this white sand stretching out in front of us.
And quicksand pits... obviously!
Obviously.

Is there something more here?
I dunno, but is there nothing past the pits?

What kinds of secrets are hidden here?
Alti: (…............)
(It's very faint...)
(But I can still feel it...)
(This place... I know it somehow...)
spoopy

(But looking out over this... I have to admit Ray is right...)
(There really is nothing here but the desert and the quicksand pits...)
(And aside from those pits... there's nothing...)
Again. Maybe what you're looking for isn't here.

(Wait! Wait a second...)
(If there's only quicksand...)
(That's the key to this mystery!)
… what?

(There's no way forward... or is there?)
Ray: What do you think? Where should we look, Alti?
What? What did you say?!

WHAT???

Are you serious, Alti?!
we gonna die!

Are you seriously suggesting that we should jump in?!
…...............
OK, I trust you, Alti.
tbh I'm not sure you should but ok

I have faith in you, Alti.
It's all thanks to you that I've come so far, Alti.
During our first exploration...
Flashback to Waterfall Cave. Except that time Alti had a Dimensional Scream that revealed the secret and this time uhhhhhh we're about to blindly jump into quicksand

I put my faith in you that time too, Alti.
I was able to go on then because you helped me courageous, Alti.
My feelings haven't changed since then.
So let's go for it! Let's jump into that quicksand pit, Alti!
how about dont

Are you ready?!
One... two... three! Go!

welp they're dead


or not???

Wh-where are we?
Is this a cave?
We fell through from up there...
You were right, Alti!
You were right! The secret swirled within the quicksand!
I'm as amazed as you!

Let's move it! It's time to go exploring, Alti!
Let our Time Gear search begin!
it Go time


Music: Quicksand Cave
As you can see I have Savannah and Simon here. Since this dungeon basically picks up where Northern Desert left off I always like to bring my recruits from Northern Desert into Quicksand Cave. Just a personal quirk, I guess. It doesn't really change much because of the improved recruit mechanics, so I don't need to worry about this preventing me from recruiting anything else.

Recruit options: Sandshrew, Nincada, Vibrava, Pupitar, Skorupi, Sandslash, Mawile, Tyranitar, Hippopotas, Ninjask


I take this Nincada (nicknamed Illinois even though I think I used that one last time) over Simon.


I opt to take it over Counter for boss fights.


After 10 floors we reach the midpoint. Let's continue!


Music: Quicksand Pit


Aaaaand the Pit has Tyranitar which make sandstorms appear and are generally a pain in the ass!! Fantastic.
Despite being listed above as a recruit option they have -12% recruit rate so we can't recruit them at our current level, meaning we can't get them on our side which is sad


lolol false swipe. Unlike in regular Pokémon where it's incredibly useful for catching Pokémon it is completely worthless in Mystery Dungeon since you need to kill everything anyway!


no illinois :(
yes i know he stays on our team but it's still sad.


oh nooo
this is the first Monster House we've seen in this game! In Rescue Team they came in Uproar Forest, which I guess was a similar level to this but much further along in the story.
Can't say I was entirely expecting this!


but i'm smart and bring Petrify Orbs :p


oh
rip :(
let's go again


lolol I guess being underleveled is finally catching up to me.


oh my god hahahahaa


petrify orb time


or I could die


This is actually the first thing that has wanted to join my team in all of this pit so far.
Named Duke.


dat level difference


After ten floors we finally make it!


whoaaaa wtf we're under a desert what is This

I didn't expect to see this... this huge lake sprawling underground...
Look! Something's glowing way over there!
Could it be?!

That light... I'm sure I've seen it before...
That's it! I've got it now!
It's the same kind of light that we saw at Fogbound Lake!
If that's the case...

That means...
That light could be coming from a Time Gear!
lets go steal it before grovyle can
this makes absolute sense and isnt at all going to cause problems

We need to get a closer look at it, Alti!
on it, im a water type just let me swim out there and


oh okay

Voice: Wait!
What?! Who are you?!
Ray: Waaah! Who said that?
Voice: ….........
Why... Why did you come here?!
ffs we EXPLORE that is what we DO what do you mean WHY

Ray: Why? We just came to look for a Time Gear!
Ray I think that is the worst thing you could have possibly said

Stay away from the Time Gear!
If you won't leave the Time Gear alone... I'll stop you!
but
but you're not giving us a chance to go


Oh hey.
Now we definitely know this is a Time Gear! :V

Mesprit: I'm Mesprit!
Here at the deep Underground Lake, I protect the Time Gear!
Ray: Protect the Time Gear?!
… were you expecting anything else?

Mesprit: I won't allow you to disturb the Time Gear!
Get ready!

And fight time!

I set Duke and Savannah to go after foes so they'll approach Mesprit, while Ray moves closer to Alti.


So we end up like this.
Ray uses Screech as Alti leads with Bite and Savannah and Duke continue to close in on Mesprit.


oh my god mesprit didn't even get an attack in, it cringed the first turn and missed its attack the second and then died because of three Pokémon using Bite into -2 defense lmao
despite being “underleveled” that was Not hard


But I can't let you take... the Time Gear...
that is NOT WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR ok!!!!

Ray: Will you please listen?!
We didn't come here to steal your Time Gear! Really!
Mesprit: Don't lie to me!
Uxie used his telepathy to tell me what happened!
I know that the Time Gear from Fogbound Lake was stolen!
… and Uxie didn't bother telling you who was responsible? Just that someone did it.
This seems like an egregious oversight. Thanks, Uxie. Thanks for making our job harder.

Ray: What? You heard it from Uxie?
Mesprit: That was your doing, wasn't it?!
how about u use that telepathy power of yours to Ask Uxie Right Now whether it was a riolu and a totodile and find out

Ray: No! We didn't do it!
Mesprit: Then who's responsible?!

Oh. Look who it is! Looks like the thief is here after all anyway :B

Ray: G-Grovyle!
Alti: (Th-that's Grovyle!)
Grovyle: I must apologize... but I will be taking that Time Gear.
who are you apologizing too though


He attacked us and we went flying. Our teammates are sitting ducks it appears

Grovyle: Stand aside.
Mesprit: I... I won't!
I won't let you take the Time Gear!
Grovyle: I have no choice then...

Whoever appointed Uxie and Mesprit guardians of these Time Gears seems to have done a shit-tier job picking their guardians. Mesprit got BTFO by a team of kids and then lacked the strength to stand up to the outlaw Grovyle. Amazing.

Ray: Mesprit!
Grovyle: You lost that fight.
You sustained serious damage.
So don't push it.
Grovyle knows the score


But I guess the two randos from the guild can protect the Time Gear better than Mesprit.

Grovyle: All right...
Sorry for this.

Oh okay I stand corrected

Grovyle: Forgive me. I have no quarrel with any of you.
But I'm taking that Time Gear!

… he can swim??
Well. All right then.

Ray: Ugh... the Time Gear... That thief is taking it...
Mesprit: I... I'm sorry...
Uxie must not have been talking about you...
… you don't say!!!

It was that Pokémon...
I'm sorry for doubting you.
Just blame Uxie and be done with it


The ground starts shaking.

Mesprit: We have to get out of here!
Ray: Wh-why?

The cave is freezing in time as we speak that's why

Ray: Waah! What's happening?
It's happening because the thief took the Time Gear!
So time in this whole area...
Time will stop all around the Underground Lake!
Well shit. That's. That's unfortunate.

Ray: What?!
Mesprit: If we don't hurry, we'll be trapped in time!
… THAT SOUNDS HORRENDOUS

Hurry! Run with all your might!

So we start to leave... incredibly slowly.


Oh, hey. I guess there was more to uncover.

Anyway, it's been a while since I updated so I'm going to go ahead and cut it here, saving the upcoming exposition for next time.

Upcoming recruits: Graveler, Seviper, Beldum, Wormadam-Sandy, Riolu (after credits), Cranidos, Donphan (after credits), Shieldon, Golem, Floatzel, Wormadam-Plant, Bagon, Glameow, Absol, Glalie, Froslass

21/525: 4%
Caterpie (Xander)
Butterfree (Papillon)
Weedle (Bean)
Beedrill (Bumble)
Sandshrew (Simon)
Machop (Jon)
Rhyhorn (Cake)
Tangela (DayumBoy)
Spinarak (Catallia)
Mareep (C3PO)
Hoppip (Alma)
Elekid (Firegg)
Larvitar (Savannah)
Lotad (Orchid)
Nincada (Illinois)
Electrike (Direction)
Barboach (Dojo)
Starly (Merel)
Budew (Sprout)
Combee (Hexa)
Hippopotas (Duke)
 

Mowtom

I'm truly still meta, enjoy this acronym!
is a Forum Moderatoris a Community Contributor
Shuckle/Spiritomb/Carnivine: Worm/Pact/Twig respectively. Those are the names of three web serials by the same author, so I picked a bug, a ghost, and a grass that weren't already part of a conceptual set of Pokemon.
Well, said author has started Ward now, so let's give that to a Shieldon.
 
Seviper name for David after the VA for Snake.

I like how Uxie mentioned there was a thief but never brings up what that Thief looked like. Was Mesprit just supposed to be Paranoid of every Pokemon it saw for the rest of the story?
 
So according to this game, if you're in an area when time stops you're trapped in time. Fair enough, that makes sense. And yet if you enter an area with stopped time, you can apparently still move, as if time is stopped for everything except you?

Also, apparently time only stops relative to the location itself, since clearly the cave (lake, forest...) still stays on the Earth while it's moving through space.

Eh, screw it, I'll just call it a bunch of wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff.
 
Mowtom: Will do, thanks!
pika pal: Yeah Uxie didn't really think this one through did he. Also thanks for the nickname!
lucariomaster2: The time stuff doesn't make any sense. I haven't been able to find any way to justify it. It's cool as hell but unrealistic so yeah wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff is the best explanation lmao


Sorry this is so late! I was rather busy with schoolwork and then since last Tuesday I've been visiting the boyfriend and have had no time to do anything with this LP. We should be back to regular-ish updates now though!


Well. That's a little frightening.


ZZZT! We have Mesprit under protection. Her safety is assured. ZZZT!
all right now can we warn Azelf and protect the other time gear
cmon man azelf is totally guarding the other one

ZZZT! We are dedicating all resources to the pursuit of Grovyle. ZZZT!
ZZZT! If you come across any information related to this case, please let us know. ZZZT!
lol nah we gonna take all the glory for solving this. GO TEAM

ZZZT! We must all cooperate to bring this criminal to justice. ZZZT!
ZZZT! That is all. Now please excuse us! ZZZT!

ok bye

Chatot: My, my! I'm absolutely astonished!
So there was a lake deep under the Northern Desert?
trust me we are as surprised as you

And that wasn't all? A Time Gear was also down there?
Ray: Yes. But about that Time Gear...
… it got stolen. Don't we all know this already?

Grovyle stole it...
And we failed to even slow down Grovyle...
In the end, that's the same as doing nothing at all!
no we Found grovyle doesn't that count!!!!!! sorta

Bidoof: That's not true, by golly!
You all did great work!
Corphish: Hey, hey! I think so too! Team Hurricane can be really proud!
But it's a shame about this whole thing...
There's no clue telling us what we should do next, right?
maybe we could
ASK MESPRIT
WHERE THE OTHER TIME GEAR IS
SO WE CAN PROTECT IT.
just a thought

Hey, hey! If we had only one tiny hint...
MESPRIT
MESPRIT IS THE HINT

Dugtrio: I must agree.
Where will Grovyle strike next?
We have no way of knowing.
Sunflora: It's too bad that the opportunity to catch him slip away.
stop or else Ray is going to feel even worse about himself

We're back to square one!

oh hey I forgot you were here

Chatot: Dusknoir, sir!
Dusknoir: There are some clues.
Music: I Saw Something Again...

One Time Gear was at Fogbound Lake, guarded by Uxie, correct?
Another Time Gear was at the Underground lake, guarded by Mesprit.
Ray: Oh, that reminds me! Mesprit told us something interesting!
Mesprit knew that the Time Gear from Fogbound Lake was stolen!
yes and y'all are doing a piss-poor job with general communication. Fix this

Uxie alerted her by telepathy!
Dugtrio: Incredible!
Loudred: Now that IS really something!
… have you guys never met a Psychic-type?
What is Chimecho, chopped liver?

Dusknoir: I should have known.
There is an ancient legend...
It is believed that Uxie is the Being of Knowledge. And that Mesprit is the Being of Emotion.
mesprit certainly seemed to be extremely emotional during our fight tbh

But three Pokémon in total represent the spiritual world... and are said to keep the world in balance.
I remember when I first played this I was really impressed/pleased they decided to have Dusknoir be aware of the lake trio being a trio instead of forcing the players to discover it by themselves. It was a good moment.

Ray: Th-three?
So besides Uxie and Mesprit...
There's another Pokémon like them?
Dusknoir: Yes.
The last of the trio is Azelf, known as the Being of Willpower.
Uxie and Mesprit both guarded Time Gears...
Therefore, Azelf may likewise be protecting a Time Gear.
YES
LOGIC
I AM GLAD IT EXISTS IN THIS UNIVERSE WITHOUT EDGEWORTH

Chimecho: Oh, I see!
If we could locate Azelf...

hey wouldja look at that it Makes Sense

And we may have a chance at seeing that thief Grovyle appear!
Dusknoir: That's correct.
hey
hey
hey
hey
you think Mesprit
one of the trio
knows where another member of the trio is???????

Dusknoir: Those three Pokémon, Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf...
All three are said to dwell at lakes.
I also really liked this bit of lore too. They actually went above and beyond to make the Pokémon match the lore of the main series which was great for the authenticity of the game

It's a fact that both Uxie and Mesprit were encountered at lakes.
As such, I believe that Azelf will be found at a lake somewhere.
Let's keep something in mind. Uxie's lake was located on a high plateau.
Mesprit's lake was hidden far beneath a desert.
In both cases, the lakes were in unusual places.
I don't know if Fogbound Lake was in an unusual place so much as a probably impossible place but ok

So the lake where Azelf lives...
It will be somewhere that we least expect it to be.
… that seems. pretty hard to quantify. How do you expect to find something like that then

Loudred: I get it NOW! You're saying we shouldn't look for water in the usual places!
WHAT is a USUAL PLACE

Chatot: My, my, my! ♪
I commend you on your wisdom, Dusknoir, sir!
I feel like that might be more knowledge than wisdom but ok

I feel renewed admiration for you! ♪
chatot we get it you are in love with him now Help Us Plan

Dusknoir: Thank you... It's really nothing...

lol chatot has started a cascade

First it was you, Dusknoir, sir, who directed us to the Northern Desert.
and also eastern forest but there wasn't anything there HUH

It turned out that there was a Time Gear far below the desert.
So, Dusknoir, sir, your insight was entirely correct.
Sunflora: Ooooh! So maybe the other places we searched... The Eastern Forest and Crystal Cave...
Those places could still be hiding their secrets from us!
or maybe yall just suck at exploring

Dusknoir: Ah, I have an idea.
Bidoof...
Bidoof: Yup yup, you want me?
What can I do for you?
Dusknoir: I have a request.
That crystal you picked up previously...

oh hey
is dusknoir thinking what im thinking

Bidoof: My crystal?!
N-no! No sirree!
or maybe it wont happen

That's my precious treasure, by golly!
whatever happened to your ridiculous amount of cash

Dusknoir: Of course. But rest assured we won't take it away. Or do anything of the sort.
Now, Alti...
There is something I would like you to do, Alti.
Please touch Bidoof's crystal.
awwwww yea Dusknoir had the same idea and I am glad that the game acknowledges the dimensional scream and we don't have to just like. stumble on it

Alti: (…!)
(I should touch the crystal...?)
Dusknoir: If a secret remains hidden in Crystal Cave...
If Alti touches the crystal...
It may trigger the Dimensional Scream. It may trigger a vision!
I bet the rest of the guild is confused as hell right now lmao

Alti: (I see. That's what this is about...)
Loudred: Dimensional Scream? What's THAT?
lmao yep

Ray: It's a special ability that Alti has.
Sometimes, when Alti touches something...
Then Alti has a vision of an event in the past or the future that involves it.
I'll be surprised if the Guild believes tha-


oh
okay

Corphish: Hey, hey, hey! There's really an ability like that?
Dusknoir: I desperately wish to borrow the crystal because of Alti's ability.
Please, may we?
inb4 bidoof says no again and we're just shit outta luck

Bidoof: Oof... OK, I can't refuse a reason like that!

Alti: (This crystal...)
(What will it reveal...?)
(Everyone's watching...)
(I don't know if I will see anything, but...)
well u Better or they won't believe you

(I need to concentrate...)
(…............)
Ray: Well, Alti?
Then Alti starts to have her dizzy spell things.

Alti: (Here it comes...)
(The dizziness is starting...)

OH
HELLO

Grovyle: Now I'll take it! The Time Gear!

he beat up Uxie and Mesprit what makes you any different


YEP WE SAW THE PLOT.

(Grovyle was trying to steal a Time Gear!)
“trying”

(There was also another Pokémon...)
(Was it Azelf?)
well did it LOOK like uxie and mesprit
answer: yes
verdict: azelf

(Anyway...)
(The crystal did trigger a vision...)
Ray: Did you see anything, Alti?

Loudred: WHAT?!
Chatot: You saw Grovyle knock out a Pokémon? One that you'd never seen before?
And then he tried to steal a Time Gear?!
again
“tried”

Sunflora: Oh my gosh! Your ability is thrilling!
Bidoof: How did you get to see all that, by golly?
It's mighty hard for me to grasp!
Corphish: Hey, hey, Alti!
So that Pokémon you couldn't recognize... do you think it might be Azelf?
again. it looked like uxie and mesprit so

Alti nods.

Chimecho: I... I have a question for Alti too.
Did you see the past, Alti?
Or was that in the future?
Alti: (Come to think of it...)
(Visions in the past... visions in the future...)
(It's never clear when my visions take place!)
well shit this is true

Chimecho: So you're not sure if it's in the past or the future...
Dugtrio: Well then...
Since it is impossible to tell if the vision is of the future or the past...
Then Alti's vision may well be of a past event.
In that case...
The Time Gear may have already been stolen from there...

… :( it is possible...
(but we also might NOT be!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Dusknoir: Everyone, please hold on!
Yes, it's true that it may have been a vision of the past.
But it could have been a vision of the future.
EXACTLY

If you would be so kind, could you remind us what Mesprit said, Ray?
Who informed Mesprit via telepathy that a Time Gear was stolen?
If I recall correctly, did you say that it was Uxie?
oh hey that is a point

Ray: Hmm...

Uxie used his telepathy to tell me what happened!
I know that the Time Gear from Fogbound Lake was stolen!
Yeah I guess she didn't mention Azelf or Crystal Cave huh


Dusknoir: But the name Azelf...?
Ray: I've never heard it before.
The name Azelf is new to me. I only heard it today from you, Dusknoir, sir.
Dusknoir: Then there's still a chance!
If Mesprit claimed that Azelf had alerted her about the stolen Time Gear...
Then Alti's Dimensional Scream would surely be from the past...
But that was not the case.
Mesprit did not mention Azelf... Therefore...
It's possible that the event happens in the future!
does this count as bayesian evidence im not really sure how that works lol

Chatot: I see...
Dusknoir: One more point. And this a sure thing.
Upon touching the crystal, Alti experienced the Dimensional Scream.
The vision indicated the presence of a Time Gear, which means...
Maybe what we seek is in Crystal Cave!
>”maybe”
it looked like a crystal cave to me lmao

Perhaps there is a passage there that leads to a Time Gear.
Loudred: Yeah! Maybe it IS there!
Dusknoir: Of course, we may already be too late.
Or we may still have time!
As long as a chance remains, we must never give up! It's our only option!
YEAH

Corphish: Hey, hey! Absolutely!
Dugtrio: There's no other choice. We have to pin our hopes on this!
Bidoof: Good thinking, Dusknoir, sir! Yup yup!
Sunflora: Oh my gosh! I'm all fired up with excitement!
Loudred: Let's GO, everyone! Let's search Crystal Cave!
Chatot: Dusknoir, sir!
There's only one thing to do! And that's explore Crystal Cave! ♪
Let's go! ♪ The whole guild will be involved!
Onward to Crystal Cave!
Guildmaster! Please issue the call to duty!

is
is he


... Zzzz...
oh god no

Chatot: Huh?
Wigglytuff: … Zzzz... zzzz...
is this happening A GAIN

Corphish: (H-hey, you gotta be kidding!)
Dugtrio: (No! It looks like...!)
Sunflora: (He's fully asleep! With his eyes wide open too! Ewww!)
… “ew”?

Chimecho: (Eeep! The Guildmaster is so very charming... sigh...)
excuse u no he is amazing

Bidoof: (When do you all suppose he took to snoozing?)
Loudred: (You think that maybe he's been asleep from the get-go?)
lmao I sure hope not


(Everyone might notice that the Guildmaster is sleeping...)
it's too late for that bud sorry

(I must rouse him somehow...)

if by “rouse him” you mean “freak the hell out at him” then sure

Wigglytuff: … Huh...?
Chatot: GUILDMASTER!
Wigglytuff: Chatot!
Chatot: YES, GUILDMASTER?
Er, I mean... yes, Guildmaster...?
Er, to take it from the top, there was...
Wigglytuff: Everyone! We're going after Grovyle!

Wigglytuff's YOOM-TAH was so loud/powerful that it sent Chatot flying, yup.

Everyone: HOORAY!
Sunflora: Let's go to Crystal Cave!
Corphish: Hey, hey! There has to be a secret there somewhere!
Loudred: Let's get down to business and start our SEARCH!
Dusknoir: I will accompany you to Crystal Cave.
rad

Let's do our best, everyone.
Everyone: HOORAY!
So they all head off.


Chatot however may or may not be suffering from sort of PTSD. Rip

Ray: Let's get going too, Alti!
On to Crystal Cave!
So let's go! Crystal Cave time.

pretty

Somewhere inside this cave...
There should be a passageway that leads to Azelf's lake.
But it will take us forever if we search every step of the way!
For starters, let's go as deep as we can.
because progress is Always at the “deepest point”

Let's do our best, Alti!
YEAH


Music: Crystal Cave
Recruit options: Graveler, Seviper, Beldum, Wormadam-Sandy, Riolu (after credits), Cranidos, Donphan (after credits), Shieldon, Golem

This dungeon has a great aesthetic I love it.


great it still only knows Take Down
Named Nickel.
(Also notice the dungeon has become pink/purple! Amazing.)


After 11 floors we make it to the vague “depths”.


what does it Look like
how is there light here anyway

Hey, Alti! Over there!

WELL THEN. Yes they are.

They're in different colors too.
Clearly, they stand out from the other crystals.
… indeed

On the way here, we didn't see anything out of the ordinary...
So I think these three crystals are clues, Alti!
I mean. Yes??? But only by video game logic

They must be keeping a secret!
Alti: (It makes sense!)
(I feel the same way!)
(On the journey to Fogbound Lake, where we met Uxie...)
Then we get a flashback to the Groudon statue puzzle.

(Groudon's stone statue held the secret!)
Ok but. Why. If you wanted to protect the Time Gears and prevent anyone from stealing them ever, why would you make it possible for someone to solve a puzzle and approach the Time Gear. They could have just. Not. Left a Groudon statue with fog-clearing capabilities. And that would have made it less likely to find the lake and the Time Gear.
I don't understand.

(Then, on the way to the Underground lake, where we met Mesprit...)
More flashbacks to jumping in quicksand pools.

(The quicksand pools allowed passage into the Underground Lake...)
(Could this place lead to Azelf's lake?)
well it is time to Find Out

(It should be like those other two places.)
nonsensically. but yes

(There should also be a secret here.)

what the hell


this is WEIRD

This might have something to do with solving this place's secret.
Well, it's the only way we can interact with these crystals, so probably.

Try touching them for yourself, Alti!

yep it works

Alti: (The color does change when I touch it.)
(And it can change into a variety of colors.)
(Three crystals?)
always three

(Changing colors?)
(What could this all mean?)
Then the familiar dizziness of the Dimensional Scream begins.

(Urk...)
(It's starting... again...)
(A Dimensional Scream...)

Of the three spiritual elements of knowledge, emotion, and willpower...
Azelf is the Being of Willpower.
Willpower is the motivation that drives us. It's a unifying power.
… what does that even mean

To unify is to make one. So if the colors of the crystals were made one...
The path should reveal itself.
What is the color of Azelf's spirit? That is the question.
this seems
bizarre

anyway Azelf is blue so that's the color right?

Azelf lives at Crystal Lake.
Then Azelf's spirit must be affected by the crystals...
where did you even get that idea????

That's the end of the Dimensional Scream.

Alti: (That was...)
(Unlike my earlier experiences!)
(All I heard was a voice.)
(No. That's wrong.)
(This... this happened once before.)
(It was... It was at Groudon's statue!)
and both places were connected to Time Gears. cOiNciDeNcE?????

(I heard only a voice that time too.)
(But why does that happen?)
(Why did I hear only a voice then... and now?)
because raisins and plot

Ray: Hey, what's the matter, Alti?
Ray you're really, really bad at reading people sorry

Oh! Did you have another vision?
Did another Dimensional Scream come to you?
I knew it!
S-so what did you see?!
nothing
:B

Alti: (According to that voice...)
(Azelf is the Being of Willpower.)
(The voice said that the crystals should all be made one color.)
(Make the crystals one color...)
(That's it! I need to match the color!)
(These three crystals need to be all the same color!)
… yes. obviously. that's. that's obviously what that means.

Ray: I guess you have an idea about what to do.
Alti: (Now, what's the color supposed to be?)
(The color of willpower...)
(That must mean the color of Azelf's spirit...)
There's a lot of reaching going on in this train of logic but ok.

(Azelf lives at Crystal Lake.)
(Crystal Cave... and Crystal Lake...)
(Is Azelf's spirit... as clear as crystal...?)
THAT'S NOT A COLOR

(Or, no... could it be the color of cold water?)

THAT'S ALSO NOT A COLOR

Ray: I guess you really have an idea about what to do.
YES ray we have ESTABLISHED this

OK. I'll leave it up to you, Alti.
gud

See if you can solve the secret of the three crystals!

After making all three blue, stuff starts to happen.

Ray: Waaah! A tremor!

WHAT IS HAPPENING

Ray: It's dangerous, Alti! Let's back off!

And a giant crystal just emerges from the ground. Amazing!


WELL THEN


Glad you guys got out of the way lol

There's a big, jagged opening in the middle!
Do you think that we should go through there?
Maybe that leads to Azelf's lake.
what Else would it do dude

Those three crystals were the key, Alti!
They opened a path that may lead to a Time Gear!
Let's go, Alti!
Onward to Azelf's lake!
Hopefully!!


So this is Crystal Crossing.
Music: Crystal Crossing
Recruit options: Floatzel, Wormadam-Plant, Bagon, Glameow, Absol, Glalie, Froslass


hello GIANT KECLEON SHOP with four items
good use of space


ONE PERSON MONSTER HOUSE this is Great
thank arceus for petrify orbs tho!!!!!


At least I can get a friend to help me fight the Monster House.
Nicknamed Smudge because something something warrior cats


>dat level difference


hello other giant kecleon shop


UPGRAAAAADE


After 13 floors we reach the lake.


what Is it!
Look, Alti! It's the lake!
… yes. Yes, it is.


This is pretty cool have to admit

Look at all those crystals emerging from the lake's surface.
Is this lake... where Azelf lives?
It's a lake
in the place where we saw Azelf in the Dimensional Scream
so
yes??????????

...............

THAT LOOKS LIKE A TIME GEAR GLOW TO ME

Look over there!
Look! In the middle of the lake... Where it's like an island...

HOW
HOW DO YOU SEE SOMEONE

Let's go!


Alti: (That's...)
(That's Grovyle!)

WE HAVE TO INTERFERE
WHAT ARE YOU DOING JUST STANDING THERE RAY
Also wait. If Grovyle's already here then why did we still have to solve the crystal puzzle??? Did it just sink back into the ground after Grovyle finished it????

Grovyle: Now I'll take it! The Time Gear!

GO
RAY
MOVE

Alti: (This is...)
(This is what I saw in my vision during that Dimensional Scream!)
(The vision I saw then... It was an event in the future after all!)
yes and IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF YOU DONT MOVE

Ray: Who is that over there? Azelf?!
If it is, Azelf's in trouble!
EVEN IF IT'S NOT AZELF IT'S STILL IN TROUBLE
FOR GOD'S SAKE RAY

Let's go help! Hurry!


Fine, then. Azelf, wasn't it?
I must apologize. But I must take that Time Gear.
Azelf: Ugh... w-wait...
Hold it... Grovyle...
Grovyle: …...............
You know... my name?
lol no Azelf just knows his/her Pokémon species

Grovyle the thief...
I heard from Uxie and Mesprit that you were coming.
It would have been better if I just knocked you out directly...
But I also thought that I could possibly lose...
You did

So I set up a fail-safe system.

lol rekt

Azelf's eyes start glowing and the ground shakes.
Grovyle: What did you do?!

the World is Ending that is all


And crystals pop up all around the lake.


get the time gear NOW

This lake is covered by crystals...
There's no way of getting at the Time Gear!
Azelf: Grovyle...
The Time Gear... You'll never get it now...
Even in exchange for my life... You'll never...
i hope it doesnt come to that tho i dont want azelf to die bc grovyle is an ass :(

Grovyle: Y-you!
I mean to have it, and I will get it! I need the Time Gear!
Even if it means eliminating you, Azelf!
“eliminating”

Ray: Stop!

AZELF DEFENSE SQUAD GO

(also lmao we are ALL blue)

Music: Rising Fear

Grovyle: I have no quarrel with you. Out of the way!
Ray: No! I won't move!
Grovyle: Are you serious?!
… yes?

Then if you won't stand aside...
You leave me with no choice!
I'll knock you out first!
Just try to stop me!
GLADLY!


Azelf disappears and it's Fight Time!


and of course I misclick and walk Ray right into a Slam. Great


And in the effort to get us in a better fighting position I get Ray killed.

All right let's go again


OH WAIT SHIT I FORGOT THIS IS ONE OF THE BATTLES YOU CAN LOSE AND THE GAME STILL GOES ON JUST THE SAME. All right.

Ray: Urrrggh...


Ray: (I... I can't talk...)
….............................. (But... I won't step aside!)
NO RAY GROVYLE MEANS TO KILL YOU WHAT ARE YOU DOING

Grovyle: You refuse?!
Then you leave me with no choice!
Alti: (N-no!)
(Ray's in serious trouble!)
(B-but... I can't move...)
Ray: …............... (Urk...)
Grovyle: This is all for the Time Gear!
Forgive me!

Ray gets attacked, but...


It appears we are saved.

Ray: (Oh! Dusknoir!)
Dusknoir: Are you all right, Ray?
Please! Let me handle this!

looks like Dusknoir is powerful enough to defeat Grovyle where we failed.
(For the record: The Grovyle fight is not at all difficult. I just screwed it up.)

Grovyle: Y-you?!
Dusknoir: It's been too long!
wait
what

It wasn't easy finding you, Grovyle!
WHAT IS GOING ON

Ray: (What... what was that?!)
….............................. (The great Dusknoir knows Grovyle?!)
Grovyle: Gah!
Even here... you chased me even here!
You're tenacious, all right! You cling to me beyond expectation!
what the HELL is going on

Dusknoir: Grovyle! You're not getting away this time!
Grovyle: Dusknoir...
I'm surprised to see you in this world...
this wHAT

But I'm ready.
Dusknoir: So you'll fight. Then so be it.

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FI


oh
(They rushed at each other but Grovyle vanished/escaped.)

Dusknoir: That blasted Grovyle! He never intended to fight me at all!
There's no escaping ME!

what is happening

Ray: …........................... (What just happened?! I don't understand!)
…................................. (Urgh... Trying to move, but I can't...)
…................................. (I can't... Feeling faint...)
no :(

Sunflora: Eek! There! There they are!
wait what

Corphish: Hey, hey! Come on, hurry!

SALVATION

Corphish: Hey, hey! Are you all right?
Dugtrio: They're badly hurt!
Sunflora: Hurry! We need to get them back to the guild for treatment!
Loudred: All right!

clearly this is the most important development

So we end up back at the guild.


… unconscious.

Chimecho: You're in your room at the guild.
You were both hurt. You've been sleeping all this time.
“all this time” but since When

Ray: Are you all right, Alti?
YOU'RE the one that was standing up to Grovyle ffs

Whew! Am I glad to hear it!
(I guess Alti's okay)

I remember passing out at Crystal Lake...
It seems like I can speak again...
why couldn't you to begin with though I never got that

Oh! What about Azelf?
Is Azelf OK?
Chimecho: He's fine.
Ray, compared to you two, his injuries weren't that severe.
but
that doesn't make sense Azelf definitely lost his battle but Ray and Alti could have won theirs

He regained consciousness earlier. He's in the guild now.
I guess we brought him back too. How did five guild Pokémon each manage to carry one Pokémon back (counting Smudge and Nickel)?

Ray: Oh, excellent!
Chimecho: I'm glad you're OK too, Ray and Alti!
I should let the guild know you're awake.
oh yeah probs :B

Everyone! They're awake!
(chimecho also rang her bell for the record lol)


And then we get mobbed.

Sunflora: Oh my gosh! That's wonderful news!
Bidoof: Oof! I'm mighty glad!
If anything would've happen to you all...
I'd... I'd... Oof...
aw bab :c

Ray: You guys are getting so emotional about this!
dont be Mean!

Oh! That's right!
There's something that I need to share with everyone!
oh Is there

Corphish: Hey, hey...?
Sunflora: And what would that be?

they get to wait to have their questions answered though

You're saying that the great Dusknoir and Grovyle...
They may have known each other from before all this?!
well that's sure how it sounds eh?

Ray: Yes! It sounded that way when they were getting ready to fight!
Dugtrio: Well, then...
What became of Dusknoir?
who Know

Ray: Well, Grovyle escaped...
I think he went off in pursuit.
they could be Anywhere by now!!!!


Oh hey

Dugtrio: Hey, Diglett! What's the matter?


I'm told it's an emergency call sent out by Officer Magnezone!
:o!

Deputy Magnemite! Please shout your message down to the sentry post!
Please speak clearly!
why not just go up and see what he wants

Magnemite: Zzzt! Can you hear me? Zzzt!
Zzzt! This is about an important announcement from Officer Magnezone! Zzzt!
Zzzt! Everyone, please gather at the main square in Treasure Town! Zzzt!
Zzzt! He will have a major announcement to make to everyone! Zzzt!
Zzzt! All Pokémon in the area have been called for the town meeting, not just those in the guild! Zzzt!
Zzzt! That is all! We hope for your cooperation! Thank you. Zzzt!
what could it Be...???

Ray: What's happening now?
Sunflora: An important announcement? What might it be?
Corphish: Hey, hey! No point in wondering. Let's go get the answer!
Corphish has brain

Hey, hey! Let's get a move on to Treasure Town's main square!

he has a secret????????


we have Arrived

Ursaring: So the guild's Pokémon were even called!
Vigoroth: For them to be called...
Something serious must be happening...
We're also kind of the most important Pokémon living in this town though


Oh hey I guess Azelf is hanging out with us

Azelf: Uxie! Mesprit!
Mesprit: Are you all right? You're not hurt?
Azelf: Yep. I'm OK.
Uxie: The Time Gear?
Azelf: It's in Crystal Lake.
Mesprit: It will be safe there without your protection? It can't be stolen?
If y'all can make the Time Gears unobtainable like this without needing to be physically present why the hell do you not just make them like that all time

Azelf: Yep. It will be safe for now.
The Time Gear is protected by an encasing cover of crystals.
are they breakable tho

Azelf: Stealing it won't be easy.

oh hey he is here

Dusknoir: Ah! Ray and Alti!
You are safe! I am so relieved!
Ray: Dusknoir, sir, I'm glad to see you're back too!
Thank you for saving us!
So... Can you tell me what happened?
What happened to Grovyle? What became of him?
Well... he's not here so

Dusknoir: I gave chase to Grovyle.
But he slipped away from me.
so we gathered

Ray: Um... Dusknoir, sir? Back at Crystal Lake, when you were fighting Grovyle...
Dusknoir, sir, you and Grovyle seemed to know each other. What was...

no

ZZZT! The great Dusknoir plans to explain what he knows. ZZZT! And that topic will be included! ZZZT!
ZZZT! Now everyone gather around, please! ZZZT!

get ur face out of the middle of the screen

Loudred: Who knows? Don't ask ME!
Magnezone: ZZZT! Everyone is here... ZZZT!


ZZZT! Our topic! The rash of Time Gear thefts! ZZZT!
ZZZT! Several Time Gears have been stolen! By the Pokémon Grovyle! ZZZT!
can you talk without ZZZTing everything please

ZZZT! In the regions where a Time Gear has been stolen, the flow of time has come to a standstill! ZZZT!
ZZZT! This is a serious problem, as I am sure you can guess! ZZZT!
… yes. Yes, it is.

ZZZT! Grovyle failed... ZZZT!
ZZZT! Failed to steal a Time Gear! This one was protected! ZZZT!
shouldnt they ALL BE tho

Ursaring: Wow!
Vigoroth: Isn't that something!
Magnezone: ZZZT! And the hero who protected it was the mighty Azelf! ZZZT!
MIGHTY

ZZZT! And the hero who saved Azelf and chased off Grovyle... ZZZT!
ZZZT! That would be the great Dusknoir right here! ZZZT!
Tremendous!!!!!

Teddiursa: That's astounding!
Ursaring: No wonder he's such a famous explorer!

it Speaks

I'm sorry to interrupt. Perhaps I should explain from here...
Magnezone: ZZZT! Of course! Please take it from here! ZZZT!
YES no more Zs TO TYPE

Dusknoir: Everyone! While we should be happy that we protected the Time Gear this time...
The fact is... Grovyle remains at large.
Well. At least there's a definitive Time Gear location that we know about :V

Therefore, we cannot afford to feel safe and secure.
Grovyle will most certainly make another attempt to steal the Time Gear.
and we'll STOP HIM IN HIS TRACKS

There is another matter that is tied to all of this.
It is an extremely important matter that I must share with you.
I would like to explain it to you now.
so do it

First...
Earlier, Ray asked me the following question.
Did I know Grovyle from before all this happened?
That is correct. I do know Grovyle from before all this.
Shocking!

Everyone: WHAT?!
Dusknoir: What I am about to say... may be beyond your belief!
Music: Time Gear Remix

But it also happens to be the truth.
HMMMmmm ominous

Furthermore, if what I'm about to reveal isn't stopped, calamity is certain!
WELL THEN. All righty.

I, therefore, ask for your undivided attention.
First, Grovyle is...


WELL THAT WAS UNEXPECTED.

When I was playing this game for the first time, this is the point where it stopped being a good game and started being a fantastic game. I love time travel.

Sunflora: F-future?
Diglett: Dad? What does he mean by “from the future”?
Dugtrio: I think he means... from a place where things are yet to happen...
I love how they are confused by it. It's kind of terrific.

Loudred: But is something like that possible?!
A Pokémon... coming from the FUTURE?
Well, apparently so...

Dusknoir: Grovyle... In the world of the future, he will be a notorious criminal.
He has a large bounty on his head.
To avoid capture in the future, he fled.
And in fleeing, he escaped to this, the world of the past.
but HOW tho. Where did he even get time travel capabilities from anyway

Dusknoir: After arriving in this time, Grovyle plotted...
until he hit upon an utterly catastrophic plan.
The world's destruction? Again?

Chatot: Wh-what is that?! What was his plan?!

wut
what does that
MEAN

Chatot: The planet's... paralysis?
Dusknoir: Yes.
If a planet becomes paralyzed, all movement upon it ceases.
Well. shit.

When a Time Gear is removed, the flow of time slows in its region.
As many more are taken, time slows in an ever-larger area.
Eventually, the planet's flow slows down so much that it stops entirely.
That
doesn't sound like how time or motion or life works but okay

Ultimately, the planet reaches a state of total paralysis...
Teddiursa: If the planet is paralyzed... What happens to this world?
Dusknoir: In a world where the planet has become paralyzed...

what the hell is this post-apocalyptic wasteland

The day never comes...
Neither spring nor summer ever comes... It's a world of unrelenting darkness...
It would be no exaggeration to call it the complete ruin of the world.
That is extremely worrisome holy shit


Loudred: Is THAT what happens if the Time Gears are taken away?!
Dusknoir: The way time has been going out of control lately...
That, too, is caused by the thefts of the Time Gears.
… uh, we kind of gathered that.

If the Time Gears continue to be stolen, this world will end in ruin.
I don't want this life

Pidgey: S-so that's what would happen...
Swellow: This is bad!
Seedot: W-we've got to do something!
Corphish: Hey, hey! I have a question!
There's something that I don't understand.
Dusknoir: Yes? What is it?
Corphish: I understand that we've got a big problem on our hands...
But what I don't understand... Well, hey, it's about you, Dusknoir, sir.
Why do you know so much, Dusknoir, sir?
I mean, I know that the great Dusknoir is knowledgeable and wise...
And sure, I really respect you and all...
But how would you know the future, no matter how knowledgeable you are?
again Corphish has a brain

Pidgey: That's true...
Seedot: Come to think...
Dusknoir: Ah, yes. What Corphish said makes perfect sense.
Under normal circumstances, it's true, there is no way that I should know these things.
… “normal circumstances”?

So why do I know these things?
It's because...

SO MUCH TIME TRAVEL
I CANT HANDLE

Everyone: WHAT?!
Ray: Dusknoir is... another Pokémon from the future?!
Bidoof: By gosh and golly!
This is all so complicated it's making my head spin, yup yup!
cant say I blame you

Dusknoir: My objective is to capture Grovyle.
It is for that reason... that I came from the future.
FUTURE BOUNTY HUNTER i LOVE IT

I needed to know as much as possible to ensure the capture of Grovyle.
I therefore studied everything I could about this world while in the future.
That is why I know so much about this world.
That's fantastic and I love that there's an explanation for it

Ursaring: Why didn't you say anything before?
… really???

Dusknoir: I... I'm sorry.
I have felt terrible not saying anything.
I'm sincerely sorry for not revealing my identity. I am full of contrition.
fun fact this was my first exposure to the word “contrition”

But... what if I had been open about my identity from the start?
What would have happened if I had said that I was from the future?
lol we prolly would have thought he was delusional

Who would have taken me seriously?
exactly

Ursaring: Urgh...
Dusknoir: Also, I needed to avoid alerting Grovyle to my presence.
… no instead EVERYONE KNEW YOU when you came to the guild. Makes sense

Dusknoir: I decided that I should keep my identity hidden while I went about with my work.
You kinda did a terrible job of that but ok

Chatot: It makes sense...
Dusknoir: But... it is also a fact that I have been deceiving you.
what Else are you hiding from us!!!

For keeping silent about my identity... I sincerely apologize.
Chatot: No, no! Oh, no, no! Please, don't apologize!
he has lied to us!!!!!!!!!!!

You can't blame yourself! You had no choice!
Eh, debatable

Magnezone: ZZZT! I concur! Dusknoir has done nothing wrong in my book! ZZZT!
ZZZT! We should focus our anger on Grovyle. ZZZT!
All right that's fair enough

Magnezone: ZZZT! We must somehow capture him! ZZZT!
Loudred: Yeah! We're in DEEP trouble if we let Grovyle go on!
Yeah it kinda. This whole paralyzed planet thing. We should probably prevent that.

Sunflora: We need to catch him before the world gets ruined!
Chimecho: Dusknoir, sir! I'll be glad to help!
chimecho's support will surely make or break it

Diglett: M-me too!
Bidoof: By golly, me too!
Corphish: Hey, hey! Count me in!
the whole guild will be involved it will be a Party


Oh hey. We better have the guardians tasked with protecting the Time Gears on our side, that would. help

Mesprit: I refuse to remain a victim!
>”remain”
but you were only one once

Azelf: We won't let him steal another one!
Dusknoir: Everyone, thank you so much.
We, as Pokémon... must all work as one...
to capture Grovyle...
questionable ellipses...

then put an end to Grovyle's calamitous plot!
Everyone: YEAH!
Music: Quicksand Cave (don't ask me why a dungeon track is being used here)


In order to obtain the Time Gear from Crystal Lake...
Grovyle knows that he has to defeat me.
He kinda already did but I know what you mean

So if he's still after my Time Gear...
Grovyle will come after me.
Uxie: We could turn that against him. Mesprit, Azelf, and I can go to Crystal Lake...
Then we can all spread rumors claiming that we have gone to seal the Time Gear so that it can never be taken.
Couldn't you also like actually do that instead of just rumoring about it tho

Mesprit: If we did that, do you think it would provoke Grovyle to strike?
Yeah prolly.

Dusknoir: I see. You're suggesting that we bait the trap.
… as opposed to like... not baiting it and expecting him to fall for it anyway???

Azelf: Yup.
Dusknoir: But... that would mean exposing you to danger as the bait...
I think they've already committed to this.

Mesprit: I'd like nothing more!
… what she said.

Azelf: If that means stopping Grovyle...
Uxie: We're ready to take that risk.
i believe in u guys!!!!

Dusknoir: Then... I understand.

it Time

Dusknoir: Please, pay attention and do your part!
First, I would like everyone to spread a rumor, far and wide!
Get the word out about the three Pokémon, Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf.
Spread word that the trio has returned to Crystal Lake to seal the Time Gear away.
Please spread the rumor as much as possible.
Chatot: I see. So you want word of this to reach Grovyle's ears.
jokes on u he already heard it!!!!!!!!

Dusknoir: That's correct. But Grovyle won't be convinced by rumor alone.
That is why I must ask the trio of Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf to do something.
I must ask them to actually go to Crystal Lake.
… I figured that was part of the plan??? considering Dusknoir ASKED THEM to be bait for the trap anyway

Ray: I understand! Then when Grovyle shows up to find Azelf and the others, that's when we can catch him!
Loudred: I get it NOW!
Sunflora: Oh my gosh! I'm all fired up with excitement!
Magnemite: ZZZT! Arrest! Arrest! ZZZT!
You are far too excited about that prospect.

Corphish: Hey, hey! I'm calling it! I'm going to be the one to catch Grovyle!
Magnezone: ZZZT! No, it is my duty to catch criminals! ZZZT!
and now they're fighting over who gets to catch him. Amazing

Ray: I don't want to get outdone by the others!
Let's do our best too, Alti!
YEAH


wut

But, for the capture of Grovyle, I would prefer to work alone.
HERESY

Ray: What?! Wh-why?
he's the only one allowed to defeat grovyle duh

Dusknoir: Grovyle will be extremely wary.
Even if he were to realize that Azelf and the other two have truly gone to Crystal Lake...
He will be cautious in the extreme.
So if we were to lay a massive ambush for him at Crystal Lake...
He will undoubtedly notice the unusual number of Pokémon in the area.
ok fair point :c

I'm afraid Grovyle will not be lured out by Azelf and the others that way.
So I must apologize... and insist upon capturing Grovyle by myself.
Ray: Oh, I get it. That's too bad.
cant we at least like fight dusknoir for the opportunity or some shit

Dusknoir: I'm terribly sorry, Ray.
This time I hope to capture Grovyle without any mistakes.
u can do it!

Please forgive my selfishness.
Chatot: That's how it stands, guild members.
Up to now...
We were capturing Grovyle! Yoom... taah!
did you just try to imitate wigglytuff lmao

At least, that was the plan.
This time, stay out of it. We'll provide support only as needed!
Corphish: Well, hey, hey...
Loudred: If that's what it takes...
Sunflora: We have no choice...?
sounds like people aren't too happy about it sadly

Chatot: Is that an acceptable plan? Guildmaster?
Wigglytuff: Yup, yup! ♪
Chatot: Thank you for confirming that. (Whew! He stayed awake! Thank goodness!)
ahahaha rip chatot

Dusknoir: Thank you for hearing me out, everyone.
I realize I am asking a huge favor. But please do your part in our plan.
And...
Let's capture Grovyle using whatever means necessary!
uh
okay
if you say so

Everyone: YEAH!

Dusknoir and the trio of Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf...
set off for Crystal Cave.
In the meantime, the other Pokémon busied themselves...
spreading rumors that Azelf and the others were about to seal the Time Gear away.
As for those Pokémon from Wigglytuff's Guild...

I like how they must have had to get another recap about the situation. Despite the fact that the entire guild was attending that meeting.

Until everything is resolved, we ask that you go about your regular duties.
Yes, we would like you to spread the rumor as much as possible...
But no so much that it would make Grovyle suspicious.
ok but
where's the happy medium then???

Try to be natural! ♪
… easier said than done dude

Go about your jobs in the usual manner. And, when possible, spread the rumor.
That is what we would like you to do for at least the next few days.
That is all!
aight cool

All right, everyone! Let's have another good day of work! ♪
Everyone: HOORAY!

whaaaaaaat

He just tells us to take jobs lol.


We get a new Special Episode unlocked in the process though.

I'll be doing that next time! We're done for now because this is a long update and it's been a while since I've updated too.

23/525: 4.4%
Caterpie (Xander)
Butterfree (Papillon)
Weedle (Bean)
Beedrill (Bumble)
Sandshrew (Simon)
Machop (Jon)
Rhyhorn (Cake)
Tangela (DayumBoy)
Spinarak (Catallia)
Mareep (C3PO)
Hoppip (Alma)
Elekid (Firegg)
Larvitar (Savannah)
Lotad (Orchid)
Nincada (Illinois)
Electrike (Direction)
Barboach (Dojo)
Beldum (Nickel)
Starly (Merel)
Budew (Sprout)
Combee (Hexa)
Glameow (Smudge)
Hippopotas (Duke)
 
So a thought occurs to me: Wasn't Dusknoir making himself famous while he was in the past? How did Grovyle not know he was here if he became famous overnight? If the idea of spreading a rumor to bait the time gear trap works, he has to have some kind of exposure to the word in the grapevine. I could understand if it was more him being troubled at Dusknoir catching up with him, but he clearly doesn't seem to have been aware he was here at all.

Also, within the context of the world, if they had the ability to (hypothetically) seal up the Time Gear completely, doesn't it raise the question, whether for Grovyle (as a hypothetical) or in general (if actually possible) why they wouldn't have already done it given how important these things are?
 
pika pal: Yeah Dusknoir really dropped the ball on remaining hidden if EVERYONE EVER knew he was a famous explorer. There's no way Grovyle couldn't have known about him somehow. It's not super logical.
And yeah... the question of why the Time Gears are sitting out in the open if they could well... not be. The best explanation I heard was that they are like that in the event they needed to be taken. But that, uh, doesn't jive with the events of the game :x



aight lets play as sunflora!!


a great introduction


it's beautiful Every night, it seems to just be full all the time. How do we know the moon isn't paralyzed?!

Huh? Sunflora?
she's Busy!!!!!

What are you doing?
Huh? You're writing something!
how sunflora accomplishes this is beyond me, she has leaf hands


rip sunflora

I'm so embarrassed!
Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!
Chimecho: Wh-what?
Oh! Don't tell me!
I know! You just started keeping a diary, right, Sunflora?
it's not that strange!!!

Sunflora: Yep!
To reflect on my day...
I've decided to start keeping a diary from now on!
a noble quest

I'm incredibly embarrassed about it...
Anyway... I'll do my best to write in it!
Chimecho: That's wonderful! Do your best, Sunflora!
WRITE LIKE THE WIND

Don't worry, I promise not to sneak any peeks at it!
Sunflora: S-sneak a peek?! That's not allowed. Not at all!
oh
um
whoops

I-if someone sneaked a peek...

Sunflora has no chill

Sunflora: … Well... If it's only a little peek...?
Nope! No good!
again
whoops

It's just no good!
I'm too embarrassed! Oh my gosh!

if i never hear “oh my gosh” again it will be too soon


… I guess technically??? but it just seems like we're not really apprenticed to the Guildmaster so much as like, the Guild as a whole and Chatot and the concept of explorations?? Or maybe I just can't get over the Warrior Cats usage of “apprentice”

I really enjoy life here at the guild!
I really like treasure! And training is really fun!
Since I've joined the guild, my exploration ability has really grown.
I would hope so, that's kind of. The point. Of a training guild.


From Wigglytuff directly?!

I was so nervous. I wondered what it could be about.
When I went to the Guildmaster's chamber to find out...

amazing!!!

I'd been working really hard and doing well on explorations!
Oh my gosh! I was happy! I was so happy I thought I'd burst!
awww good :')

But...
I didn't really have a lot of self-confidence yet.
So I wanted to study more with the Guildmaster.
… that's a thing you can do? Just. Study with Wigglytufff.


lol fair they're pretty chill

I enjoy being with them!
Everyone is such a dear friend to me!
Anyhow, being able to train at this guild...
Makes me very happy!
how sweet!!!

But... About my friends...
Recently, something troublesome happened...
:(?


somehow I'm not surprised

Sunflora: …!! (L-Loudred!)

we heard u the first time

Sunflora: Humph!

I haven't been getting along with Loudred too well lately...
such a shame. Such a loss. Indeed

And I've even gone on explorations with Loudred in the past...
At the time, Loudred wouldn't listen to me warnings and ran straight into dungeons...
well that sounds like his failure.

And we were knocked out, just like that!
is
is Loudred that weak

When I came to, I realized both of us had fainted!
… what's the difference between that and being knocked out???

I couldn't believe it!
Since then, Loudred and I have not been able to see eye-to-eye.
again. A Real shame

Sunflora: It's... a little troublesome...
…! But--

of course it is honey

After his terrible behavior, Loudred hasn't even apologized!
are you surprised

I won't forgive that! Humph!

Oh hi Chatot

Sunflora: Oh hi, Chatot.
lol

Chatot: I've been looking for you. There's something I'd like to discuss with you!
oh shit!!!

Please come with me.
Sunflora: Discuss?
Gosh! I wonder what it could be...
OH SHIT THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT SUNFLORA'S DIARY SHE'S GETTING ARRESTED


Magnezone: ZZZT! Hello, Sunflora. ZZZT!
Chatot: Officer Magnezone has come here to ask a favor.
IM NOT TURNING MYSELF IN

Sunflora: A favor?
Magnezone: ZZZT! That's right. ZZZT!
ZZZT! The truth is that we've had some difficulty capturing an outlaw... ZZZT!
yes and? What's new. Isn't this why the guild gets involved in outlaw missions?

ZZZT! We've tried everything, but we haven't been able to catch him. ZZZT!
and if Sunflora succeeds at this where the official police force fails what does that say about. Everything

ZZZT! This is the outlaw in question. ZZZT!


Magnezone: ZZZT! His name is Haunter. He's an “S” rank outlaw. ZZZT!
what determines the ranking of the outlaws anyhow

Chatot: His alias is the Invincible Haunter.
Sunflora: I-invincible?
well that dont bode well

Magnezone: ZZZT! That's right. ZZZT!
ZZZT! It doesn't matter how many times you knock him out, he always gets right back up, good as new. ZZZT!
sounds like most bosses in this game tho

ZZZT! He must be invincible, that Haunter! ZZZT!
lol ok

ZZZT! That's why we haven't been able to catch him! ZZZT!
Sunflora: … (An invincible Pokémon... Haunter...)

aw how sweet!

The Guildmaster has made a recommendation to the officer...
Sunflora, you're the recommendation! ♪
… you don't say

Sunflora: Whaaat!? M-me?!
Wigglytuff: Sunflora, your abilities stand about above the rest of the apprentices. ♪
Amazing! Honestly though the others do seem younger. Maybe because most of them aren't evolved. I dunno.

I have faith in you too. ♪
I BELIEVE IN SUNFLORA

Sunflora: G-Guildmaster... I... (Oh my gosh! Guildmaster!)
Chatot: However... there's no other Pokémon that can go with you.
Everyone else is very busy with guild assignments...
a Shame

Leaving only the newcomers... Speaking of the newcomers...
We already sent Team Hurricane out to explore the waterfall...
… so in other words we're busy too. :v

And Bidoof isn't experienced enough and could be too much of a burden...
he DEFEATED JIRACHI doesn't that count for anything???

Sunflora; It's all right, Chatot!
I'll head out on my own!
do u not have teammates :c

Chatot: Yes, we don't like to burden you like this... But we're counting on you.
Magnezone: ZZZT! Haunter has escaped to Spring Cave. ZZZT!
ZZZT! According to Magnemite's report, he just took refuge there... ZZZT!
escaped from where tho

ZZZT! If you go now, I think you should be able to catch up to him without trouble. ZZZT!
Sunflora: Spring Cave, huh? Got it!
where the hell is that

OK. I'm on my way, Guildmaster!

whaaaaaat

Sunflora: Yes?
Wigglytuff: Spring Cave is close to the Hot Spring... That is...
Lava flows below it... So the likelihood there are Fire-type Pokémon is pretty high...
oh
um
well you see

Sunflora: …......
Wigglytuff: One more thing.
Haunter is a Poison-type Pokémon.
… you didn't think this through huh. Sunflora might be the best explorer but like. Dugtrio or Corphish might be better suited. Like, a lot.


welp

Sunflora: Are you... talking about type matchup...?
What else

Wigglytuff: Yes.
Sunflora: … (I'm a Grass-type Pokémon... So...)
(Fire- and Poison-type attacks... are very effective against me...)
I wonder if like, this is a point of soreness for Pokémon

(I don't think there will only be poorly matched Pokémon at Spring Cave... But...)
(It would be dangerous to fight without caution...)
… fair enough

Wigglytuff: Since it's you, Sunflora, I think you'll be all right...
But I'm making sure, just in case. ♪
I BELIEVE IN SUNFLORA

Sunflora; Yes. Thank you very much! (This is a request from the Guildmaster. I mustn't show any sign of weakness!)
toxic masculinity except sunflora is a girl

As long as I'm prepared, I'll be fine! It will be an easy victory!
THAT'S THE SPIRIT

Wigglytuff: Yep. ♪ Do your best! ♪
Sunflora: Yep!

what are u waiting for

I was nervous, having been called in out of the blue like that!
I think anyone would be lol

But it was a request from the Guildmaster. (Oh my gosh, I'm so happy!)
I'm representing the guild on this... So I have to do my best!
u Better beat that haunter!

I have to do my best and apprehend Haunter!
how are you gonna cuff it tho its a ghost

I should hurry and prepare so I can head out!
So we get to go prep. Of course tho as per Ullar 's commands we're doing this itemless :B


LEGGO


Before I head out... I should confirm my assignment.
smrt!


I need to apprehend the outlaw Haunter.
Officer Magnezone said that if I head out right away, I should be able to catch him in no time...
If I head out quickly, I'll be done in a flash!
so Go! Hurry!

Yup! All right, here I go!

Music: Spring Cave
Sound familiar? It's Magma Cavern from Rescue Team.

Pokémon: Cubone, Baltoy, Snubbull, Meditite, Trapinch
… uh, where are the Fire-types?


Nice. I'm glad for this moveset. Bullet Seed is broken and Razor Leaf can hit from a distance.
Sunflora can have any of the following moves: Absorb, Pound, Growth, Mega Drain, Ingrain, Grasswhistle, Leech Seed, Bullet Seed, Worry Seed, and Razor Leaf. As you can see, all the damaging moves except Pound are Grass-type, and Pound would be close to worthless against Haunter anyhow. Time to fight an uphill battle!


I like how everything in the Kecleon Shop is Orbs


lol that might be useful against haunter.
Maybe
Probably not


After a small 4 floors of dungeon we end up at a more open area called Upper Spring Cave.

Sunflora: …......
I've come quite far... Now where's Haunter?
he's a Ghost do u really expect to See him

Did he flee deeper into the cave?

WAT WHO IS IT

You! What did you just say?!
Don't tell me... You're looking for me?!
uh
maybe?


Yes. See. Skoast.

Voice: Heh heh heh! You can't see me?
If that's the case, then I'll show myself!
so i can beat u up!!!!


That sure is a Haunter.
Haunter: Ga ha ha ha ha ha! I'm Haunter!
Yea I gathered

If you're looking for me... Then you must be an explorer!
… what kind of leap of logic is that? If I'm looking for you shouldn't the logical assumption be that I'm a law enforcement officer not an explorer???

Sunflora: Th-that's right!
My name is Sunflora! I've come to apprehend you!
you probably shouldn't just announce your intentions but ok

Haunter: Apprehend?

are you having fun there

You're funny!
Hey, Sunflora!
Why do you think an outlaw like me appeared in front of you?
Because you're an overconfident jackass, dumb as hell, or both?

Sunflora: …......!!
Haunter: That's because... I've never been caught yet!
Well. Yes. That much is obvious.

All the explorers who have tried to catch me...
Have become discouraged... Lost their confidence...
That kind of disappointment... I'll be happy to show you how it feels...
IT WONT WORK ON SUNFLORA!!!!

Let's go!

Fight time and I will not misclick this time!


u gon get rekt


or not ok. AGAIN


Two more Bullet Seeds take it out.


how does it feel to be taken out by the mighty sunflora hey!!!!!

Haunter: GUUUUOOOOOOOOoooooooohhhhhhhhh!
are you quite done


fuck yeah success

Anyway, that Haunter had a big mouth, but couldn't back it up. ♪
that was some weak shit


He's not moving. It looks like he's fainted.
hurry and capture him!!!!

So I need to hurry up and apprehend him. ♪ Yay! ♪
Yeah what she said


Haunter emits some sort of light though...

I-I can't see a thing!

Aaaaand Haunter is back!

Music: Rising Fear

Sunflora: Wh... what?!
I just... I know I just knocked him out...
I don't understand it either sunflora it's okay

Why is he suddenly fine?!
he's apollo justice

Haunter: GAH HA HA HA HA HA HA!!
are you quite pleased with yourself

Did you see that?! It's impossible to knock me out!
that
seems wrong

Why, you ask? Well... It's because I'm invincible!
that's not how this works
that's not how any of this works

GAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!
Sunflora: I-invincible?
thats what he was called on the poster innit?

That's it? That's your only response? Just “Oh”. All righty fine give up

Sunflora: … (That reminds me...)

… yes. Yes, that's. The gimmick.

The rest of that is that same flashback.


YES
YEEEEEEEEEES
WHAT ELSE WERE YOU EXPECTING OH MY GOD

Haunter: Heh heh heh!
It doesn't matter how much damage I receive. It doesn't faze me at all.
that seems fake but ok

Compared to you... You feel the damage from battles.
… Yes. Like a regular Pokémon.

And eventually you'll get tired... And you know who will fall to the ground first...
… you?

It will be you! And all explorers who come after me and try to catch me!
oh :(

Sunflora: Ooohhhh...
Haunter: Get it?!
YES NO NEED TO SCREAM

It's impossible to catch me!
You should just give up already!
NO WE REFUSE


Then he turns, vanishes, and leaves.

Sunflora: …............
….....................
Oh my gosh! I'm not listening to you!
that's the spirit!!

Do you think a little setback like this is enough to get me to give up?!
thats why sunflora is the best explorer

I will chase you down and arrest you, you just wait and see!
… But...
Why... why is he invincible...
Arceus likes him more than you.

Anyway, we head on to the next bit of dungeon, Upper Spring Cave.


Music: Upper/Lower Spring Cave (the soundtrack calls it “lower” but the game says we're in “upper” Spring Cave)
Pokémon: Larvitar, Trapinch, Wormadam-Sandy, Aron, Cacnea, Onix

… Still not seeing any Fire-types. I've been lied to


After four more floors, we end up in Middle Spring Cave. How do we go from Upper to Middle tho???? I am confuse


I DO!!!! I BELIEVE IN SUNFLORA

Haunter: Ugh! You again?!
You're persistent! Have you forgotten that I'm invincible?!
that's the fun of it!!!

Sunflora: Invincible or not, it doesn't matter!
I am... I am going to arrest you. It's that simple!
fuck yeah sunflora

Haunter: Humph!
I've seen explorers like you before!
The persistent explorers who tried to challenge me over and over again!
what are you even wanted for anyway

Big deal! It might be a huge shock, even for you, but –
It doesn't matter how hard you try...
There is no way you can succeed! No possible way!
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF YOU DREAM

So let's go!

And it's fight time, again.
BULLET SEED SPAM GO


lol both shots of my first bullet seed missed rip


Doesn't matter though because Haunter is hardly a threat


serves u Right

GAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

u ded

I managed to knock him out...
hopefully this time for good


Yeah this looks familiar.


rip

I really thought I knocked him out this time!
Haunter: GAH HA HA HA HA HA! GAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!
It doesn't matter how many times you knock me out! Your efforts are useless!
I'm invincible!
Sunflora: Ooogh... Why...
Why is it...
Why is Haunter still so full of energy, even after being knocked out...
Simple. He's just like all the other bosses in this game.


Then from out of nowhere two Slugma emerge from the ground. I guess there's our Fire-types?

Haunter: These are Slugma!
I thought you'd keep following me...
So I hired them in advance...
… how though

They are Fire-type Pokémon!
Sunflora: …! (Fire type!)
couldn't you tell just by looking at them?

Slugma: GURURURURURURURU...
Slugma: GURURURURURU!
Sunflora: …......
Well shit.

Haunter: GAH HA HA HA HA! They can burn you with their fire!
… yes, but isn't that true of nearly all Pokémon? Being weak to Fire doesn't mean you get burned more easily.

bye


oh okay


Haunter vanished, and then the Slugma approached.


oh
oh dear

Hot hot hot hot hot hot hot!!

So here she's just attempting to run desperately away from the Slugma.


oh dear

Sunflora: Oh my gosh!

welp

Sunflora: Oh my gosh!

This time I finally managed to capture that the Slugma attack Sunflora each time. Or attempt to, but she dodges.

Sunflora: Oh my gosh!

RUN UP
OUT
WHATEVER


Or get yourself trapped, that works too

Slugma: GURURURURU!
Sunflora: Oh my gosh! I'm losing hope!
BULLET SEED!!! DO IT


The Slugma attack, but Sunflora is suddenly saved by a friend (?)

Sunflora: …! (L-Loudred?!)
Music: One for All, All for One

Loudred: Ugaaaah!

fuckin Rekt

Slugma: GYAAAAaaaaaaaaaaah!!

So they run off. Good riddance to bad trash!
Also awwww they're Friends

Sunflora: Y-yeah... (Y-you saved me...)
Loudred: I-is that SO? GOOD.
Anyway... It's not LIKE you to FALL BEHIND those guys like THAT.
he kept running off what was she supposed to do!!!!!!

Then AGAIN, you DID just take a LOT of DAMAGE.
… did I? Sunflora took like 10 points of damage in the Haunter fight lmao

On THAT note, I just GOT here, so I'm doing FINE! Ha ha ha!
Well good for you, we're all So proud

Sunflora: B-but... Why are you here, Loudred?
Loudred: Huh? WHY?
everyone else was apparently too busy to accompany Sunflora so what Are you doing here


Hm. Sure.

Chatot ASKED me to come CHECK on you. That's the ONLY reason!
If you say so.

Sunflora: …! (Only because Chatot asked you to!?)
Good job, Loudred, you pissed off Sunflora with that.

Humph! What's that?
You only helped me once, so don't get carried away!
Loudred: Wh... What's WITH that ATTITUDE?!
GOT IT! I'm NOT HELPING anymore!
I DONT NEED YOU ANYWAY
YELLING
I CAN JOIN THE YELLING

I'm NOT helping YOU AGAIN! HUMPH!

bye


rip

Oh, now I've done it... After all, we weren't speaking to each other...
But honestly, I was happy to see him.
I think he was happy to see you too bruh

I really wanted to thank him...
But... For some reason, I just couldn't say it...
why tho

Oh, forget it! I'm mad at myself for not being able to say it...
Just then...

why do we need a flashback this JUST HAPPENED

Anyway after the flashback...

Sunflora: Then Loudred was just being Loudred...
He was really concerned about me...
how Sweet!


What what?

W-wait a minute!
Loudred... What Loudred said...

(On THAT note, I just GOT here...)
(So I'm doing FINE...)
HMMMMMMMMM


But... But that would mean...

u dun did solved it

I think I understand.
Haunter says that he's invincible... That's a trick...
Yeah well what else would it have been?

After this, we continue on to the 3rd part: Lower Spring Cave.


Music: Lower Spring Cave/Spring Cave Depths (the game is Lower Spring Cave but the soundtrack calls it Spring Cave Depths)

It's a re-remixed Magma Cavern, which wasn't in Rescue Team due to there only being two versions of Magma Cavern.

Pokémon: Paras, Beldum, Cranidos, Zubat, Onix, Baltoy
… where are the Fire-types again? Was it just those two Slugma that I didn't even fight?


2


WELP
ok


After four floors of not dying to Beldum we come to a save point. Why we have a save point after a mere 4 floors I couldn't tell you.

Haunter must be hiding just ahead!
This time I will most definitely catch him!
u figured out the Secret so yes!


wat

That Sunflora... I think she's still pursuing me.
Bruh she said she was going to catch you

So persistent... Good grief.
… That's right!
She's a Grass-type Pokémon.
So if I run away over there... Heh heh heh heh!
um
ok?????


And now we're actually in Spring Cave Depths. Man this dungeon is confusing.

Pokémon: Paras, Beldum, Cranidos, Zubat, Meditite, Baltoy, Ekans

where are the fire types
i mean yeah sure sunflora is still weak to Paras, Zubat, and Ekans but YOU SAID FIRE TYPES


After another 4 floors of dungeon we end up at the Pit.


Haunter is RIGHT THERE!
ALL RIGHT WHY ARE WE SCREAMING


oh he is right there

Haunter! I'm going to arrest you!
You might as well give up!
Haunter: Heh heh! You've been more persistent than anyone else who's tried to catch me!
… really. So everyone else gave up after 2 battles??? Have they never heard of 3rd time's the charm?????????

You're ridiculously stubborn! But it's still completely useless...
Don't you get it?! I'm invincible!
Oh shut up we both know that isn't true
or should i say
we All know

Sunflora: …......
I have... I have proof that you're not invincible!
wat

Haunter: What?!
Sunflora: There's no such thing as an invincible Pokémon!
thats not
proof

It was nothing but a ruse, right from the beginning!

ah
she knows


THAT FACE DOES NOT HIDE THE SURPRISE AT BEING FOUND OUT!

You found this out?!
You're terrible at bluffing

Sunflora: Yes.
I figured out there isn't just one of you.
Come on out! The rest of you!

Sunflora attacks the Haunter and two more emerge.

I knew it!

rekt

Sunflora: I knew it!
There isn't just one Haunter... There's three!
That time...
When I knocked out Haunter...


There was always this sudden blinding light...
For a moment, I couldn't see a thing...
It was then, wasn't it...
That you changed places...

While the two of you that were hidden would come out...

i see i See!!!!

That's how you got everyone to think you were invincible!
The exploration teams that have challenged you so far, Haunter...
The moment they believed that you were invincible, Haunter, they lost the will to fight...
That's why the exploration teams were unable to apprehend Haunter.
You've been deceiving exploration team after exploration team that way, until now...
That's how you always escaped!
sunflora done Figured it Out

Haunter: Heh!
Haunter: Heh heh heh!
Looks like we're found out!
Now that our secret has been discovered...
We can't let you return!
Oh shut up you're not that important.


The ground inexplicably begins to shake.


OH
ALL RIGHT THEN

Haunter: Heh heh heh! This is the Spring Cave Pit...
Lava flows directly beneath here.
You've been incredibly persistent.
Knowing that, we ran here!
How did you know though


BRING IT ON

Brace yourself!
Sunflora: Oh my gosh!

They attack, but Sunflora is saved again by a familiar face.

Sunflora: L-Loudred!
Loudred: Are you ALL RIGHT, Sunflora?
Sunflora: Huh? Whaaat? What are you doing here?
yeah I thought you were done helping sunflora

Loudred: FORGET that!
Here they COME! Look OUT!

Loudred is having trouble too though.


So we start the fight burned. Fantastic


And one of the Haunter gets the jump on us with Sucker Punch too which is. Terrific


Double-teaming one Haunter didn't work and now Loudred has 2 HP and Sunflora is Cursed. Fucking fantastic


Even an Oran Berry doesn't completely save him tho. Fuck dis shit


Aight lets try again.


This is a slightly better situation than before because I can hit 2 Haunter with Bullet Seed. Assuming it hits. I think its accuracy got nerfed after Rescue Team.


Well, I killed one, but I'm still not in the best of places. Loudred is confused and kinda low on health.


I don't know that I've ever had this much trouble before. What the hell is happening???


oh my god


OH MY GOD NO


I just ran the fuck away and look at this army of Pokémon chasing me


There is a divine force out there that doesn't want me to finish this


look at all those red dots on the top screen


Yep doesn't want me to finish.


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


Third time's the charm.


And fortunately for me, Loudred's revival means he's no longer burned!!! Fabulous.


YAS

Ullar I don't know if this technically counts as doing it since I died like 12 times but I did do it without any items from storage!!!!!!


good riddance to bad trash

Haunter: Owwwwwwww...
Haunter: I-I give up...
Loudred: ALL RIGHT! We've knocked OUT EVERY Haunter!
Sunflora: Yippee!
Let's hurry and arrest them! ♪

I guess we're back at the guild?


oh okay

ZZZT! The outlaw Haunter...
The Invincible Haunter, whom nobody was able to capture...
Was finally apprehended! ZZZT!
it's time to Celebrate

ZZZT! It's shocking to learn that it was actually three Pokémon deceiving us! ZZZT!
ZZZT! Furthermore, I'd call this a brilliant arrest—seeing through the deception! ZZZT!
well what do u expect it's the great sunflora

ZZZT! It was magnificent!
It's to be expected from one of Wigglytuff's apprentices. You are all on a different level! ZZZT!
we the Best

Chatot: Oh, you don't have to say that. ♪
Shut up and let us take the praise asshole

The praise from you is making us blush, Officer!

THANK
YOU

Magnezone: Sunflora.
ZZZT! This is a thank-you, from me. ZZZT!


Sunflora: A-a Sun Scarf!
Th-this will help me against Fire-type damage...
you mean the Fire-types that weren't?

This Exclusive Item is a great treasure!
where yall get it anyway

Oh my gosh! I'm so happy!
Magnezone: ZZZT! Well then. Thank you for your assistance. ZZZT!

byeeeeeeeeeee


Thanks to Sunflora! She accomplished this arrest. ♪
You really did a great job. ♪
I'm glad Chatot is still willing to praise me

Sunflora: No, no... I must say...
I didn't do it all by myself...


Speaking of which, where's Loudred...?
Where is Loudred?
Chatot: Loudred?
He's in trouble!
He neglected his Gatekeeper duties for the day and sneaked away somewhere to slack off!
Uh
Well
Um
Wait, didn't Loudred say Chatot told him to check on Sunflora...?

Sunflora: Huh?!
Chatot: So as punishment, I sent him to Apple Woods to fetch Perfect Apples!
hopefully he'll do a better job than Team Hurricane

Sunflora: … (L-Loudred...)
(Chatot didn't really ask you to come help me...)


Chatot: Huh? What isn't?
Sunflora: The truth is, Loudred...

The exposition gets cut out for unknown reasons

If that's the case, then Loudred also deserves recognition! I need to thank him!
But...
Bidoof: Golly, what is it?
Chatot: Guild rules are strict.
The fact that Loudred left his post remains unchanged.
I mean, yeah, but

A punishment is a punishment.
Loudred's already left for Apple Woods...
He'll only have to harvest Perfect Apples for today.
Good, I guess?


Later...


Everyone's telling scary stories in the next room!
Alti and Ray are there too!
Wait, we are? When???

Do you want to join us, Sunflora?
Sunflora: No, thank you. Right now I'm writing in my diary.
Chimecho: Oh, I see. OK, come over when you're done, Sunflora!
Croagunk had a REALLY scary story!
Sunflora: Yeah. I've got it.
I'll be there shortly.
you sound very non social sunflora

Oh, Chimecho.
Chimecho: Yes?
Sunflora: Has Loudred returned to his room yet?
d'awwwwwwww

Chimecho: Indeed, no. Not yet, it seems.
Sunflora: I see...
Chimecho: See you!
I have to hear the rest of the story!

You look so pleased about that

Sunflora: …......
… (I wonder if he's still gathering Perfect Apples...)
I hope not, it's like midnight

Music: Goodnight


Before, I... I didn't want to go to dungeons with you at all! … I'm afraid I kinda blurted out things like that.
Oh my gosh! I'm really sorry for what I said! I wish I could take all that back!
I wonder if you'll go to dungeons with me in the future.
I wonder if we... Can we be friends again?

THEY ARE SO CUTE

Anyway...
As soon as Loudred's back, I'm going straight to him to apologize...

I love him

What I couldn't say then...

I love him

”Thank you.”
oh
yeah I guess that makes more sense

That's it for this one. Next time: Will Dusknoir and the pixies succeed at capturing Grovyle?

23/525: 4.4%
Caterpie (Xander)
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Weedle (Bean)
Beedrill (Bumble)
Sandshrew (Simon)
Machop (Jon)
Rhyhorn (Cake)
Tangela (DayumBoy)
Spinarak (Catallia)
Mareep (C3PO)
Hoppip (Alma)
Elekid (Firegg)
Larvitar (Savannah)
Lotad (Orchid)
Nincada (Illinois)
Electrike (Direction)
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Beldum (Nickel)
Starly (Merel)
Budew (Sprout)
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Hippopotas (Duke)
 
Last edited:
I don't get why they warned about Fire types in Spring Cave when Haunter's already given an advantage over Sunflora. Would have made the Slugma a better surprise if the idea was just to make the dungeon seem dangerous without actually putting in dangerous fire mons.

This does make me wonder, does the guild have procedures in place for severely mismatched Pokemon match ups? Like if they had to send Corphish to Amp Plains or something, would they have something prepared for him against Electric types? Or what if they needed to rescue a mon from a water dungeon but Corphish is away and they don't have any aquatic explorers?
 

Ullar

card-carrying wife-guy
is a Smogon Discord Contributor
i forget what did i promise you

what do you want me to promise you, is a better q
 
Great update as always! I'll admit I found this episode really forgettable, but it's not bad by any means, just overshadowed by the others. Your commentary of it was awesome, though.
 
Short update today because I specifically wanted to end this update at a certain point.

Also: I'm having some weird issues with some of the images in this update not showing up sometimes. Try refreshing the page if that's an issue. If some consistently aren't showing up, let me know!

pika pal: I agree. Having the Slugma show up unannounced would probably have been more of a shocker and added to the idea that Sunflora is facing an uphill battle. But alas
I guess they just would put off missions that can only be handled by one apprentice until that apprentice gets back?? I dunno. As for the first part though I get the impression that the majority of the apprentices' missions are handled as a duo/trio, since Chatot says that everyone else is busy which is why they can't give Sunflora a partner.

lucariomaster2: That's basically how I feel about it. It doesn't help I'm not a huge fan of Sunflora as a character. It's a challenging episode as far as the actual dungeon quest goes, though, which is enjoyable.
Thanks for the compliment!



We get another exploration spot while at Spinda's Café. Nice!


I go take a mission at Amp Plains and pick up this Minun while I'm there. Named Negative because I am the height of unoriginality


After the mission we go up a rank which is gr8 because it raises the storage cap which is fantastic.

That night...


Music: Goodnight
...........................
Are you still awake, Alti?
i am now >:(

I have to admit that today was full of surprises.
Well yea. We found out a Pokémon – multiple in fact – were from the future. That's some heavy shit.

The great Dusknoir's talk about coming from the future...
That was mind boggling.
No kidding. I didn't expect time travel in a Pokémon game – even a gen 4 based one – either!

Dusknoir pursued Grovyle from the future to our world.
He came to apprehend that wicked Grovyle.
And to take him back to the future.
That's why the job of capturing Grovyle is his responsibility.
he's still wreaking havoc in our time tho why is it necessary we leave it to him when he's screwing up this time where we have our own law enforcement etc
it seems a bit... i dunno, presumptuous?

We have to trust Dusknoir about this.
To be honest, I would like to capture Grovyle ourselves.
it's a video game, of course you do especially since we lost to Grovyle before

But I'm not up to the task yet.
Eh. We could have beaten Grovyle. We just... didn't.

We don't have any choice but to depend on Dusknoir after all.
If you say so


its a wonder i was ever able to sleep with ur yapping!!!

I'd better get to sleep too.
It would be great if Grovyle gets caught soon...
Great but unlikely I think. Dude's pretty slick.

Good night, Alti.
night!!!

The next day...

We have not yet received word of Grovyle's capture.
:c

Corphish: Hey, hey! Are Mesprit and his friends all right?
Chatot: We don't know that either.
some head of intelligence u are

We've received no information at all. We're in the dark.
That said, we can't go off on our own and spoil the trap.
We will have to stand down until we receive word of some sort.
Until then, we should carry on with our usual work.
fiiiiiiiine

So, everyone! Let's get back to work today! ♪
Everyone: HOORAY!
So we head off. Team Hurricane is tasked with dungeon missions, like usual.


I take a mission at Landslide Cave. I don't remember if I've been here before so whatever, you get a fresh picture of it.
Pokémon: Venomoth, Ampharos, Granbull, Shuckle, Dustox, Wormadam-Trash, Gible
Music is random dungeon themes from elsewhere in the game that change every floor.


So this is a Lookalike Item for the Doom Seed. Instead of lowering your level by 1 it... makes it more likely that you'll find money on the next floor. Interesting.


i didnt get any recruits :c ah well


Music: Goodnight
........................
Listen, Alti...
u woke me up. What

I wonder how Azelf and his friends are doing?
Do you think that they may be fighting Grovyle now?
I mean. It's possible?

Oh, I just can't sleep with that on my mind!
It won't resolve anything to contemplate this now though.

But if you stop to think, this is all so strange.
Yeah we've established that

I mean, Pokémon coming here from the future?
Something like that is really possible...?
Well, Celebi and Dialga exist, so yes.

Alti: (That's true!)
… what, you mean you hadn't even questioned this before Ray pointed it out two seconds ago?

(It's hard to accept that Pokémon could come from the future!)
you sound shocked by the revelation that you find it hard to deal with

(Come to think of it...)
(This never crossed my mind before...)
WHY

(The world of the future where Dusknoir and Grovyle came from...)
(What is it like?)
(Is the future like the present day...?)
(Is it a world at peace?)
Well, Dusknoir is here to prevent the planet's paralysis, so I would assume yes.

Ray: Oooooh...
It's another early day tomorrow. I'd better force myself to sleep.
I've found that never works in practice. Forcing yourself to sleep I mean

I'm going to sleep, Alti. Good night!
Tomorrow... let's do our best...
Good night...
night ray

The next day...


ANY WORD?!

We have yet to receive word that Grovyle has been captured.
oh
:(

I understand that you are all itching for something to happen! But consider this a test of your patience!
I mean it's not like we have any other choice

Because we ask you to carry on with your usual work! ♪

WELL


osnap

Magnemite: Zzzt! This is a message from Officer Magnezone. Zzzt!
Zzzt! We are pleased to deliver this report! Zzzt!

!!!!!!!!! Hey!

Loudred: Whoa! At LAST!
its only been like 2 days since dusknoir made his plan
Bidoof: By gosh! Grovyle's been caught!
Sunflora: Oh my gosh! They did it! Yippee!
Magnemite: Zzzt! There's more! Zzzt!
Zzzt! Grovyle was captured by the great Dusknoir. Zzzt![/quote]
Yeah makes sense

Zzzt! He has informed us that he will return to the future with Grovyle. Zzzt!
wait what
I mean. I guess that's the plausible next step. But it still seems a bit bizarre.


Ray: Going home?
Loudred: Going back to the future...?
How do you... go back?
88 mph and 1.1 gigawatts

Magnemite: Zzzt! I do not claim to understand the process. Zzzt!
Zzzt! But I have heard they will be going through a tunnel. Zzzt! He called it a dimensional hole. Zzzt!
All right then.

Zzzt! He opened a dimensional hole in the town's main square, I am told. Zzzt!
What, just. Out in the open??? Are we sure people won't just fall into it??? This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen

Zzzt! Dusknoir told us that he wishes to say good-bye before he leaves. Zzzt!
How sweet!

Zzzt! Therefore, he hopes that you will come see him for the last time at Treasure Town's square. Zzzt!

legGo

Ray: Let's hurry! We have to go to Treasure Town!

yes but also WHAT THE HELL IS THAT

Corphish: Hey, hey! I don't see the great Dusknoir around yet!
Yeah I guess “everyone” isn't here if Dusknoir isn't eh

Loudred: What's THAT?!
Glad someone finally noticed.


Sunflora: Dimensional hole? Oh, what Magnemite was trying to explain earlier...
It doesn't look so much like a tunnel as a portal of doom but all right.

Bidoof: Golly! This is it? Isn't that something!
So stepping inside this here thing will take you to the future?
Technically speaking. Existing anywhere takes you to the future. It just happens linearly.


Bidoof why would you try

Magnezone: ZZZT! Stay clear! ZZZT!
ZZZT! The instant you touch it, you will be sent to the future! ZZZT!
Where does “it” begin tho.

ZZZT! Please be extremely careful! ZZZT!
Bidoof: Oof!

Glad you noticed they're here.

Uxie: Ray!

I mean that's the assumption if Grovyle was successfully captured, no?

Mesprit: Naturally!
Ray: So was the plan successful?

GROVYLE WAS CAPTURED, WASN'T HE???

Azelf: Yep.
I have to hand it to the great Dusknoir. It was flawless.
Grovyle's been captured.
And we regained all the Time Gears he'd stolen.
Hooray!

Ray: Yes! That's excellent!
Uxie: Dusknoir should be along shortly.

Or now I guess

Teddiursa: It's the great Dusknoir!
Green Kecleon: Here comes the great Dusknoir!
Loudred: Everyone! MAKE WAY!

Oh, wow, they actually gave Grovyle a new sprite for it and everything. Cool!

Green Kecleon: That's Grovyle?
Loudred: He looks like a BAD guy, that's for sure!
Loudred you're also the one who decided we “don't seem to be bad” based on our footprints and I can't say I understand that.

Ursaring: Heh, it's great they finally caught him.
Teddiursa: That's right. The world was nearly ruined because of him.
lets get rid of the interloper


Today, I would like to share excellent news with you.
Finally... Grovyle...
Grovyle has been captured!
So we can see.


hooray!

This was all made possible by your selfless support and cooperation!
I can't thank you enough!
More cheering.

As you can see, Grovyle is a vicious and wicked Pokémon.
How can we “see” that tho

His capture should result in lasting peace for your world.
Hot damn that's awesome.


what do You want

Ray: It looks like they have Grovyle muzzled...
He can't say a word that way.
… yes, I gathered.

Dusknoir: But... I must also deliver a sad piece of news.
It is time for me to return to the future.
Everyone! I must now bid you farewell.
:c

Music: At the End of the Day

Corphish: Oh, so that was true? Hey, hey...
What, did you think Magnemite was just lying? Why do you think the dimensional hole is here??

Bidoof: I'm feeling the blues...
There was so much I wanted to learn from you, yup yup...
Us too, Bidoof. Us too.

Dusknoir: Uxie... Mesprit... Azelf...
I entrust you with the rest.

Mesprit: We know.
Uxie: We got the Time Gears back.
And we will make sure they're returned to their rightful places.
Dusknoir: The task is yours.
Magnezone: ZZZT! Thank you very much! ZZZT! For everything! ZZZT!
ZZZT! You have literally saved us all. ZZZT!
hey look, a proper use of “literally”

Dusknoir: Oh, no, no...
You have been most kind and helpful.
I hope you will continue to work to preserve the peace.
I dunno about everyone else but Team Hurricane certainly will!

Magnezone: ZZZT! Yes! You can depend on that! ZZZT!
Dusknoir: Now... I'm afraid the time has come.

They shove Grovyle in and jump through after him.


… :(

Sunflora: Ooogie... I hate sad good-byes!
Diglett: I h-h-hope we see you again...
Who knows? Maybe we'll “catch up” to Dusknoir's future.


Dusknoir... sir... waaah!
chatot :(


Before I go... I must see two Pokémon...
Ray! And Alti!
… us? But why tho

Ray: That's us. Let's go up there.

Dusknoir, sir!
For everything you've done... Thank you! Sincerely!
Dusknoir: Well... this is... good-bye...


what?
(The music abruptly fades to silence here.)

Ray: What?!

what
no
WHAT??


WHAT
WHAT THE HELL
WHAT IS THIS

Dusknoir: You two... are coming with me!

OH MY GOD WHAT

Well. That. That just happened.


Chimecho: Ray! Alti!

And then the dimensional hole vanishes. Wow. Okay then.

Green Kecleon: Wh-what was...
Sunflora: What just happened...?

WHAT IN THE HEAVENS IS THIS
(We all fall into the center and disappear.)

Well. I guess we went through the dimensional hole.

Next time: Are we in the future?

24/525: 4.6%
Caterpie (Xander)
Butterfree (Papillon)
Weedle (Bean)
Beedrill (Bumble)
Sandshrew (Simon)
Machop (Jon)
Rhyhorn (Cake)
Tangela (DayumBoy)
Spinarak (Catallia)
Mareep (C3PO)
Hoppip (Alma)
Elekid (Firegg)
Larvitar (Savannah)
Lotad (Orchid)
Nincada (Illinois)
Electrike (Direction)
Minun (Negative)
Barboach (Dojo)
Beldum (Nickel)
Starly (Merel)
Budew (Sprout)
Combee (Hexa)
Glameow (Smudge)
Hippopotas (Duke)
 
Last edited:

Ullar

card-carrying wife-guy
is a Smogon Discord Contributor
here's a present for when u get back (lol tfw too late to give reward)

KY3JQ QKS01CF %KX@5
&F4+N 2QJR3H= 9795S
 
Dangit, you stopped right before the point where I could ask the question this scene raised for me on my playthrough without being a spoiler. Guess I'll be waiting a bit longer on that, but here's where the story starts getting good.
 
Ullar: thx bae
pika pal: Here's your chance! :p
And yes this is where the game went from great to EVEN BETTER for me. I love time travel so much.



… that's ominous.


...........................
… Ugh...
Where is this...?
The future. Probably.

I was... dragged?
Yeah I think y'all got kidnapped by Dusknoir

I can't... Losing consciousness... again...
But why

.....................
Well dang



Wait a second
This looks oddly familiar...


What the hell is that and why is it floating


>master dialga
um
okay then???

While I encountered more difficulty than anticipated...
I finally succeeded... In the capture, yes.
but what about US what are WE doing here


WELL THEN

Dusknoir: … I fully understand what must be done.
Those who seek to alter the course of history... must be removed from history.
I will see to the elimination immediately.
well
i mean
isn't that going a bit far?
ALSO WHAT ABOUT US WHAT DID WE EVER DO TO YOU

Dialga: GRRRRRRRR...
Dusknoir: … I understand. As you wish.
I take my leave.
All right, now what


Oh, hey, back to us.

Wake up, Alti!

W O W this is. This sure is gray and imposing.

Music: In the Future


A good question.

Ray: You're awake!
This place... I think it's a jail.
The big iron-looking doors would seem to indicate that, yes.

Alti: (J-jail?!)
Why do you sound so surprised, that seems to be the obvious conclusion.
I mean it's still questionable why we're here to begin with but

Ray: I just woke up a while ago, so I'm not sure what's going on.
I tried the doors, but they're locked.
… yes. Yes, that would be the function of jail doors.

There seems to be no other way out.
I think that we've been locked up... Ugh...
… yes. Yes, that would be the function of jail.

Alti: (Wh-what's going on?)
(We're locked up?)
(I don't know what's going on either, but I may as well investigate...)

Easily missable: the map on the top screen. Where exactly are we? This doesn't look at all familiar.


… yeah, makes sense I wouldn't be able to open them either

Alti: (It's no good. Like Ray said, these doors won't open.)
(It sure looks like we've been locked up!)
Yyyyyup.


How did we end up this way?
I think what happened was... Dusknoir grabbed us...
Yes, that is what happened, do you not remember it well?

Then he dragged us into the dimensional hole...
What?! Wait, so is this maybe...

Congrats! You figured it out.

But that's...! I can't believe this!
why not, you believed that dusknoir and grovyle both traveled here from the future, but not that we went back?

I mean, this is the future?!
YES

Why are we even here?
Ok that's a fair question.

Ugh... but...
This whole room is constructed in a way unlike anything I've ever seen!
… It looks like a cave with doors though

Now that I've had time to digest this... Maybe this actually is...
The future!
It's very gray then.

.....................

WHAT

Did we really end up in the future?!
That’s how it seems.

Ugh, now what should we do?
Well, we’re kind of trapped in a jail cell so I don’t know that there is much we can do.

So, if...
If this place is the future...
How are we supposed to get back to our world?
Well, Grovyle and Dusknoir both did it somehow, right? But trapped in this jail cell we can’t do very much.


oh god oh no they are Here for us


OH GOD SO MANY


umm
what??

Music: Oh No!

All right. We’ll do this quick.
Ray: Do this quick? Do what?!

They swarm us...

Ray: Waah! They blindfolded me! I can’t see a thing!
Sableye: Come with us.
Ray: Ow! Don’t shove me!
what the actual hell is happening

Ugh... This blindfold makes it impossible to tell where I’m going...
… yes, that is the function of blindfolds.

But where are they taking us?
Who knows?

After a minute...

Sableye: We’re here.

Well, whatever it is, you are absolutely tied to that post. Jeez. Overkill much?

They have me trussed up. I can’t move...
Wh-why is this happening?
It’s a question we all have...


Oh hey.
… I love how Alti’s sprite still has an open mouth just peeking out over the top of the ropes.


its even better from a side angle

Am I glad to see you! You’re OK, right?
I mean. Apart from the part where we’re tied up and this... doesn’t seem to be a good situation.


who there

You’re clueless about what’s going to happen...
I guess you can afford to be nonchalant about it.
… what is that supposed to mean

Ray: Huh?!

The other dark place in the room has someone in it? Color me surprised


Oh.
OH HEY. What are you doing here?
Music: In the Future

Grovyle: You two... Do you have any inkling about where you are?
… the future?

Ray: N-no...

WAIT
WHAT
what

what even

WHY?????? what did we DO

Ray: What?! G-get rid of us?!
Wait a second.
It’s easy to understand why they’d want to get rid of you, Grovyle.
wow harsh

But why us?!
We haven’t done anything wrong!
Grovyle: Humph! I couldn’t care less.
jeez he’s a bit of a negative nancy

You must have done something they can’t tolerate.
who the hell are “they” though

Ray: What?!
We haven’t done anything bad!
Don’t think that we’re like you!
calm down ray there’s no need to insult him even if he did fuck things up immensely

Grovyle: I don’t care.
You’re wasting time losing your cool. Meanwhile, look...
Here they come.
… they? Who


Jeez it’s bright in here. And... empty


I guess we found “them”


Sableye?

They’re the jailers who do all the dirty work around here.

Yeah I guess I do remember seeing them before with Dusknoir when he brought Grovyle to Treasure Town but, uh
why
are we about to be MURDERED
or like
whatever is going to happen
by

DUSKNOIR

Ray: What?! The great Dusknoir’s?!

Oh... hi

Sableye: Lord Dusknoir. The three have been tied to the stakes.
Dusknoir: Good.
… yes, he’s clearly aware of the fact that we’re here. But WHY. WHAT is happening.

Ray: Dusknoir, sir! It’s me, Ray!
Buddy
I’m sorry
I don’t think he cares

Dusknoir: Very well. Sableye.

Yeah... he definitely wants to kill us for... some reason

Ray: What?!
Dusknoir: Pay them no heed. You may get ready.
Well. This is. Tremendous.
How the hell do we get out of this?

Sableye: Wheh-heh-heh!


What’s wrong with you?!
Why are you doing this to us?!
Clearly we must have screwed up somewhere along the line. I have no idea where.

Grovyle: Don’t waste your breath... Instead... shhh...
… Keep your voices down so they can’t hear you...
They’re like five feet away. How could they not?

Ray: Urk...! Keep... my voice down?
i know it’s difficult, ray has no inside voice

Grovyle: You two... If you want to get away...
… give me your full cooperation.
All right then. So Dusknoir wants to kill us and Grovyle is the only one willing to help us out.
This is bizarre.

Ray: What...? Help you, Grovyle...?
Do we have a choice? Either Grovyle helps us live or Dusknoir kills us.

Grovyle: There’s no time to think... or would you prefer to stick around for them?
Grovyle knows the score

Psst... hey! You there...

… me?

Grovyle: … Tell me...
… What can you do right now?
What is that supposed to mean? I’m tied up. Nothing???

Alti: (What? What can I do?)
(You ask me that out of nowhere...! Umm...)
… did you want a warning?


Oh, I see. Anyway, um, attack?

Grovyle: …! That’s it... That’ll do...
Ray: … If it’s just a regular attack, I can help too...
I guess he finally decided to go with Grovyle’s plan.

Grovyle: … Good.

And somehow they didn’t hear any of that. Makes sense

Dusknoir: Very well.
But be vigilant to the end. Don’t take your eyes off them.
If they’re attacking us why WOULD they

Especially that Grovyle.
Sableye: Wheh-heh-heh!

oh god this is so TENSE


Grovyle: … Listen carefully...
… Sableye use claws to strike...
That’s. Wow.

Ray: …! Yikes... that sounds scary!

wat

... The Sableye will unleash their Fury Swipes in a frenzy... That’s our chance.
I never thought Fury Swipes of all moves would be scary, but here we are.

... If even one of their attacks were to hit the ropes binding us...
Honestly it seems impossible that they wouldn’t.

Ray: … Oh, right...! The ropes might come loose!
Grovyle: … Exactly... and if that happens, lash out with an attack, and then flee!
Easier said than done I think but I’ll sure try!


... What if their Fury Swipes don’t slash the ropes...?
I mean I guess it’s possible but...


Oh. Yeah, that’s very possible. They’re Ghost/Dark after all, if they are gonna kill us I’m sure they have... other methods.


oh god

Grovyle: If that happens... don’t even think about it.
eugh


Welp we are absolutely dead. Look at this

Ray: WAAAAAAH!
Alti: (Urggh!)
Grovyle: En... en... endure it! Wait for your chance!
we are being MURDERED HERE augh

Ray: But if they keep going...
We’ll be finished before our chance comes!
We must all be bleeding from twenty places at this point. God


Ray’s ropes have broken.


And Alti’s.
Alti: (There’s a break in the rope!)

LET’S GO


Grovyle: There!

Grovyle throws that on the ground and the screen goes white.

Sableye: Gaaaah!
We can’t see!
now u know how it feels

Dusknoir: Compose yourselves! It’s only a Luminous Orb!
Oh hey look at that, items from the dungeon gameplay are actually relevant here in storyland

Its effect wears off quickly!

WHERE DID WE GO

Dusknoir: B-blast it!
That Grovyle! He fled using the flash from that Luminous Orb as cover!
What else were you expecting?

They won’t get away with this! Come!
Sableye: Wheh-heh-heh!

the chase begins


what


W O W okay so we were... underground? All right then

Alti: (We’re... We’re safe...)
(So Grovyle can use Dig?)
(He sure knows many moves.)
not more than 4 tho rite
I do like the little bit of flavor with that. Dig is, as you probably expect, a TM move for Grovyle, and I like that he just... has it.

Grovyle: We got out of that scrape... But we’re not out of the woods yet.
Let’s get out of here, and fast.

so we’re gonna follow Dusknoir and co out
ok


What exit? What kind of building were we in anyway? I mean yeah there’s the execution room and the jail cells but what else is there

Grovyle: Come on! Faster! Pick it up!
Ray: This is the fastest I can go!
You know Quick Attack for god’s sake hurry up.

Quit ordering me around!
do u have a better idea ray

Anyway, Grovyle...!
Grovyle: What?
Ray: Is this... the future?
Grovyle: That’s right. You catch on fast.
… I wouldn’t say it’s “fast” when we were dragged into a dimensional hole before this happened

Ray: Urk! So it is, after all...
Are we... Are we going to be able to get back to our world?
Well Grovyle did it and so did Dusknoir so

Grovyle: Who knows? We just need to get away for now.
If we get caught, returning home will be the least of your worries. Run faster!
rip ray

Ray: I can’t! I’m exhausted... Huff-huff...
Grovyle: We’re almost there! Look! The exit’s right there!
how big is this place anyway

Ray: Huff-huff... Huff-huff...
We did it! We’re... outside!
hooray?


Yeah I’m sure this isn’t the most thrilling of first impressions.
Why are there floating rocks?


Looks familiar... again. But why?

Music: Planet’s Paralysis

This is... our world? In the future?
It’s kind of a mess...

Those boulders are floating! This is really a strange place...
And it’s horribly dark...
Not even the wind blows...
This is just a wasteland. It’s spectacular but that’s not a good thing.

It’s as if... all movement...

Where have we heard that one before?

Grovyle: Exactly.
Ray: What?!

WELL NO TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT GOTTA GO

Ray: Wah! I hear those Sableye!
Grovyle: We have to keep running!
So they do.


Listen, Grovyle. I’m exhausted.
Grovyle: There’s no time to rest!
If they catch us, we’re done! Tough it out and run!
Ray: That’s easy for you to say... Huff-huff...
Ray you really need to get into shape.

I can’t. I have to rest.
Grovyle: All right.
He capitulated quickly


So they stop outside this cave.

Grovyle: This forms a natural alcove.
This should shield us from view.
I would think they would have other methods of tracking us. Like smell or something.
Also considering we are the ONLY COLOR in this world, it might be easier to see us than you think

After a quick rest, we’ll have to get moving again.
Ray: W-wait a minute.
When we escaped from the stockade, we cooperated with you because we had no other choice...
But we didn’t promise we’d go with you afterward!
Ray... shut up. We need to get back home and Grovyle probably knows a way to do that. Stop being picky

A bad Pokémon like you... You’re not worth trusting.
It’s either him or Dusknoir

Alti: (Ray...)
Grovyle: Humph!
So I’m the bad guy... And that Dusknoir is the good guy?
Then how about explaining Dusknoir’s actions earlier?
He tried to murder us soooo

It wasn’t just me... They wanted you gone too!
Yea what he said.

Ray: Urk...
But... That doesn’t mean I should put my faith in you, Grovyle...
Ok I guess that’s fair but again we literally have no leads except him and Dusknoir.

Grovyle: Earning your trust isn’t an easy task, it seems.
I thought that having allies would help, but...
There’s no point continuing together without trust.
I mean I guess

We’ll go our separate ways.
I’m staying on the move. You two should get moving as soon as possible.
Good luck.

do u regret ur decision now ray

You tell us to leave soon, but...
It’s dark out now. It’s hard to see where we’re going.
Instead of setting off again right away, shouldn’t we wait for morning?
Wouldn’t it be better to leave when it gets light out?
oh
oh ray...

Grovyle: That isn’t possible.

That’s the most depressing thing I’ve ever heard

Ray: What?!
Grovyle: This world... Your future... It’s a world of perpetual darkness.
And grayness.

The sun never rises. So morning never comes.
:(
that’s so sad

The darkness persists forever.
Ray: Wh-why?

If you hadn’t already guessed by this world matching up with Dusknoir’s description of it, here’s the truth bomb.

Ray: The planet is... paralyzed?
RAY we have been OVER this dusknoir EXPLAINED IT TO US

The planet’s paralysis...
… The planet’s paralysis! That’s right! I remember now!
About time

Dusknoir described the planet’s paralysis before...

So we get this flashback where Dusknoir explains it.


Except Dusknoir said this happens if all the Time Gears are stolen so uh
what is the deal

Ray: The planet’s paralysis...
Sure, this place resembles Dusknoir’s description.
But even then...
It’s hard to understand how the planet has been paralyzed in the future.
Really awkward and nonsensical metaphysics?

Grovyle: You’re free to believe... or reject... what I’m telling you.
Either way, I suggest you leave here as soon as you can.
I’m going. Don’t let those Sableye catch you.

bye...?

Ray: Urk... Alti.
I don’t know what to think anymore.
Wasn’t the planet’s paralysis supposed to be caused by all those Time Gears going missing?
Yeah that’s what I’m wondering.

That’s why we all tried to stop Grovyle from stealing the Time Gears.
We did everything we were supposed to, right?
I guess that isn’t always enough.

Uxie and the others said they would return the recaptured Time Gears to their rightful places.
That should have prevented the planet’s paralysis!
“Should have” being the operative phrase here.

But despite all our efforts...
Why is the planet still paralyzed... in our future?
Maybe someone else stole the Time Gears later on? I don’t know. How far in the future are we anyway?
(I have my own ideas but I’m curious about what people who are reading/have played the game think about this, too.)

Arrgh! I don’t know who or what to believe anymore!
BELIEVE IN THE ME WHO BELIEVES IN YOU


WELP time to go.

Ray: Waah! The Sableye!
We can’t stay here, Alti!
Let’s get ready quickly so we can get moving!
Sounds good.


OK! Let’s go, quick!
YEAH


So this is Chasm Cave, the first of the future dungeons. (What, you didn’t think we were going to have this game’s ‘fugitive arc’ without dungeons, did you? For shame.) As you might expect, we can’t recruit here, but the Pokémon here are Drifloon, Magnemite, Skarmory, Ditto, Grumpig, Onix, Drifblim, and Magneton. They’re mostly levels 28-30, so we’re a little underleveled... for once

Music: Chasm Cave (One of the best dungeon tracks in the game. Give it a listen!)


This dungeon’s layouts are reminiscent of Sky Tower Summit. They suck.
Also this dungeon is interesting because it has air instead of walls. If we could fly, we could just pass right over the gaps and avoid the paths entirely. The floating Pokémon in this dungeon – Drifloon/Drifblim, and maybe Magnemite/Magneton too – can already do that. So sometimes you’ll get snuck up on by flying Pokémon. Kinda irritating but the floating platforms thing is hella cool imo


That Ditto just used Struggle. I know it’s a Ditto because it used Struggle. In this game Transform has 1 PP and Ditto do not take the movesets of the Pokémon they turn into, rendering Ditto even more useless than it already is.


i traversed the WHOLE FLOOR before finding the stairs
gr8


Halfway down the ground becomes blue. oooOOooo


After eight floors of exploding Drifblim (Aftermath sometimes causes the Pokémon to explode when defeated) we reach the end.

Could that be the exit over there?
Let’s go over there!
lol ok


I don’t know if this counts as an “exit” but we seem to be in a cave instead of floating platforms so maybe?

Did we put some distance between us and those Sableye? Huff-huff...
Let’s rest a little now.
There’s no good places to rest here. Not like the alcove.
Also Ray you need to get fitter.


Not shown in screenshots: That water is not moving. At all.

This waterfall... This water isn’t flowing at all.
that’s bizarre man wow

The gushing water is totally suspended in space!
WICKED

Is Grovyle right after all?
Has time really stopped in the future?
… Well, waterfalls aren’t normally suspended in midair, are they? Got any other explanations, genius?

Why did Dusknoir bring us here?
The great Dusknoir, who was so kind to us...
Looks can be deceiving. Or something. He tried to murder us and that was clearly not an accident.

I don’t know what to believe anymore...

HMMMMMMMMM

Oh! I know!
There is a way of getting at the truth, Alti!
Alti: (Huh?)
what do you mean ‘huh’ alti jeez

Ray: Your Dimensional Scream!
Use your Dimensional Scream, Alti!
I like how Ray had to be the one to remind her she can see visions of things

Touch this frozen water!
Why that specifically though. What will it help us accomplish with regards to Dusknoir or Grovyle or the future or whatever

Who knows? You may see something!
Alti: (Oh, I understand...)
(That’s true... It’s worth a try...)
Yeah I mean there’s no real drawbacks to at least attempting it

(Touching that frozen water...)
(It might give us clues about what’s happening to us.)
Ray: We can’t dawdle. Those Sableye will catch up to us.
At least we hear them coming I guess

Let’s do this quickly!

ok but like
is it frozen like ice or frozen like just suspended? Like is it a liquid or a solid. If you touch it do you touch like ice or do your hands go through it like water.
This has bugged me for years.

Ray: … Well, Alti?
Can you see anything?
Alti: (…...............)
(…........................)
(….................................)
these are some long ellipses

(... No. I’m not sensing anything.)
:c rip

Ray: No, huh?
Urf... That’s disappointing. It would’ve been reassuring if we could begin to understand what’s happening...
Again. I’m not sure how the frozen water specifically would have been helpful but ok.

We didn’t learn anything at all...

Yeah we might wanna go.

If we don’t hurry, those Sableye will get to us.
Let’s get ready and go, Alti.

So we’re about to go to another dungeon. Slowly making our way across this giant rock island thing. (Where are we going, anyway...?)

Next time: More future dungeons!

24/525: 4.6%
Caterpie (Xander)
Butterfree (Papillon)
Weedle (Bean)
Beedrill (Bumble)
Sandshrew (Simon)
Machop (Jon)
Rhyhorn (Cake)
Tangela (DayumBoy)
Spinarak (Catallia)
Mareep (C3PO)
Hoppip (Alma)
Elekid (Firegg)
Larvitar (Savannah)
Lotad (Orchid)
Nincada (Illinois)
Electrike (Direction)
Minun (Negative)
Barboach (Dojo)
Beldum (Nickel)
Starly (Merel)
Budew (Sprout)
Combee (Hexa)
Glameow (Smudge)
Hippopotas (Duke)
 
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So this gets into my question, which even given a later spoiler doesn't make sense to me.

Dusknoir says you have to be eliminated for trying to change history, which is easy enough to understand for Grovyle, ignoring the obvious morality flip that's happened on sides. That said, why did Dusknoir grab and drag you back to the future as well? He had your full cooperation with capturing Grovyle and keeping history on course, you're not guilty of anything even indirectly with any of the information presented. At this point, the only thing Dusknoir has done is invited massive cause for suspicion for you and everyone who saw you dragged into the portal, while also basically confirming his story was a load if you make it back and prove history as is leads to the planet's paralysis.
 
With regards to the planet's paralysis, it's odd that even though time isn't flowing, the doors can still open and the ropes can still be cut. This is, of course, combined with Pokemon seemingly not affected by stopped time at all. Great consistency, Chunsoft.
 
Sorry for the late update – I was out of town over the holidays and didn’t have much time to play. Updates should be a bit more regular now.

pika pal: Presumably he figured there was a chance that you might figure out he was lying and go to fix things? Or do that considering later spoiler? I dunno I guess it was just a safety precaution but it, uh, didn’t turn out so well for him.
lucariomaster2: Yeah the way the time stopping is portrayed in this game... doesn’t make a lot of sense. If it’s stopped, it should be stopped for everything and everyone, not just inanimate objects. You shouldn’t be able to … exist.



I don’t know where we’re going but sure?

Ray: OK! Let’s go!
So we go into a dungeon.

Specifically it’s called Dark Hill. It’s very... dark. And colorless. This is sad.

Music: Dark Hill

Pokémon found: Gastly, Banette, Misdreavus, Gliscor, Claydol, Haunter, Dusclops, Gengar
Lots of Ghost-types that can bother me through walls as you can see. Fantastic.


Ray killed it with Force Palm. Because you can hit things even through immunities in this game, it just does a lot less damage so Actually Effective things are superior. I had already weakened it so Ray finished it off.


See look the only way we can attack this is with Gravelerocks since we can’t attack into the wall. The only way to get out of this is to try to head away from it (while getting hit) until it comes out of the wall.


Like that.


… no thanks.


Also no thanks. The power difference doesn’t mean much in MD and Scratch has way more PP, which does matter.


we’re running from someone who might wanna kill us get over it


look at What


WHAT was true
The future really is a world of darkness...
Oh. Well yea.

... That cluster of lights...
It’s beautiful, but...
the only light in such a dark world
What is it on/in anyway? That just looks like a pit.

Those lights... Isn’t that... the stockade?
Is it?

Hey, Alti...
The great Dusknoir saved us more than once.
Yeah but then he tried to kill us. Actions speak louder than … actions...?

He taught us many things too.
Did he actually? I mean there was some Time Gear stuff and I guess Amp Plains but it didn’t seem in the context of … teaching.

That’s why I... I came to really respect Dusknoir.
We all did, my friend. We all did.

But was Dusknoir... deceiving us?
He. Tried. To. Kill. Us.

Even after all this... I still can’t believe it.
Well that sounds like a personal issue, if you die not my problem.
I get it though. He was very nice.

I don’t know what to believe anymore...
I’m feeling all jumbled up...
:(

Alti: (Ray...)

Music: Time Gear Remix
I guess we’re not really in the best of situations right now, huh.

How far do we have to run?
How do we go back to our own world?
Can we even? Grovyle and Dusknoir did it but that doesn’t mean we’ll be having success with that.

.....................
Everyone at the guild... I wonder how they’re doing?
They’re not really... existing in the same temporal plane as us. They’re not “doing” anything, they’re probably all dead or scattered or something by now. Besides, if time travel works like it’s supposed to, if/when we return it won’t be long after we left and they won’t have “done” much of anything.

Are they worried about us?
See above

Wigglytuff, Chatot, Bidoof, and everyone else... I wonder if they’re doing well?
Ray we really need to have a talk about parallel universes time as a concept


:(

Alti: (Ray’s feeling pretty down.)
(It’s only natural.)
(What’s happened so far... It’s all so hard to believe.)
That is true.

(I’m... scared too.)
:(

(But... I can’t give up now.)
(If we don’t keep going, those Sableye will catch us.)
Yeah, we kind of don’t have a choice.

(I’ve got to do something to cheer up Ray.)
(But words of support will seem like false comfort right now...)
Wow, Alti is really sensitive. I’m surprised considering she never talks

(If there were something I could say... Something that offers a glimmer of hope...)
(If only there were some hope, we could work toward it...)
Yes?

(It could be anything. I just need to think of something!)
I’m sure there are many options.

Ray: Hmm?

I don’t think Ray wants to find Grovyle. Let’s return to our world!


Let’s go home!!!

How are we supposed to return?
we fly, just like with the world’s balance in MD1

Well, sure, it would be great if we could go back to our world...
But... how?

… I guess it all turns out the same no matter what.


These mean the same thing but I go with “I want to ask him something”.

Ask him something?
Oh... I see...
… did I offend Ray

Grovyle went to our world from here the first time.
So Grovyle should know how to travel to our world.
Whether he’s willing to help is a different matter but yes.

But... Isn’t Grovyle a bad Pokémon?
We’re asking him for help, not moral support, I think it will be okay

Didn’t he... come to our world to steal the Time Gears?
Okay yes but if he goes back he’s going to do that regardless of whether or not we are involved. We might as well tag along and then we can stop him when we get back.

How could I trust anything he would say?
Okay well yes but one thing is absolutely true.
He knows how to time travel.

What about you, Alti?

I choose “I don’t know...”


How could I?

But you still insist on catching up to Grovyle so you can talk to him?
What else could we do?

And then trust what he says?
I didn’t say that


Got any better ideas?!

Trust a Pokémon like that? Never!
THEN WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE GENIUS

That bad Pokémon! Trust that...
I don’t want to... But...
but...


I see you understand.

I don’t know why, but Dusknoir wants to get rid of us.
That means the only other Pokémon we know here in the future...
That leaves only Grovyle
Again. How far in the future does this take place? Are any of our guild friends still alive but old? Anyone?
How about Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf? Shouldn’t they be immortal or close to it?
… How about us?

We have no choice. We must pin our hopes on Grovyle.

Glad to see he has come around.

OK, Alti. Let’s track down Grovyle!
Let’s meet with Grovyle and ask him how we can return to our world!
Alti: (Ray!)
Ray: Let’s go, Alti!
Let’s go after Grovyle!
it’ll be an Adventure


Music

For what?

You tried to pick me up because I was feeling down.
Even though you should be just as scared as I am, Alti... I’m sorry.
:( this is sweet

Even though I have my closest and most precious friend with me...
; ;

I worried all alone...
It’s okay. We do that sometimes.

And almost gave up alone.
Again, it’s okay. We’re together now.

When, in fact, I’m not alone.

That’s the spirit!

Because you’re by my side, I can be brave, Alti.
I believe in you.

I’m going to be fine now.
Good!

So let’s keep going, Alti.

Yes!


It’s time to go!


Fortunately enough.

So Grovyle should be ahead of us on this same path.
Let’s go, Alti!
Let’s catch up to Grovyle!
it is Time!


Posting this for top screen’s map.


Music: Sealed Ruin
I really like this music. It’s kinda subdued compared to the bombasticness of Dark Hill but it seems kinda fitting for the renewed hope our characters are feeling at this point. I don’t really know how to explain it.

Pokémon: Muk, Forretress, Shelgon, Metang, Tangrowth, Probopass
Quite a few Steel-types as you can see, fortunately we have the moves to deal with it.

They range from levels 27-32 so we are a bit underleveled.


awww yeah


… lol never mind, thanks Bug Bite

After a mere 8 floors of dungeon we reach a save point at the middle.


Leaving it...

We have to catch up to Grovyle soon.
We’d better!!

Let’s keep it up!
So we head in.

Meanwhile...


Oh, hey.


I should be at the forest.
“the forest” that is awful uh... specific?

The Sableye are coming. There’s no time to waste.
Accurate.


why does he care...

Have they eluded the Sableye?
Oh, forget it. This isn’t the time!
be selfish and think about urself. Thats how to serve this future

I have to give priority to my own mission no matter what!
there u go

I vowed to complete it even if it means making sacrifices!
does “making sacrifices” encompass “leaving us behind to die”

Time to go.

wat

Grovyle: Hmm?
Who’s there?!
Voice: You INVADE this place with no warning!
… loudred?

Then you DISTURB our slumber!
Then, without APOLOGY, you try to leave?
Grovyle: Who’s there?! Who are you?!
where are they too

Voice: You DARE to anger us!
Not intentionally???

We expect you to PAY for these insults!

dats right call ‘em out

Voice: You ACCUSE us of hiding?
We do NOT hide.
We are... We are HERE!
WHERE
WHERE IS HERE


oh ok it isnt loudred
probably


Grovyle: Gaaaah!
… and then his dialogue box fades out. Ominous...


And now we’re in Deep Sealed Ruin. Or Sealed Ruin Pit as the music calls it.

Pokémon: The same as Sealed Ruin.


After six floors (nothing interesting happened lol) we reach Sealed Ruin Pit and see... Grovyle?

Grovyle: Urggh... You two...
Ray: G-Grovyle! Are you all right?!
… does he look all right? He’s glowing purple for God’s sake


Ray: What? Wh-why?!
ray dont question it just do it

Grovyle: Careful! An enemy lurks nearby!
where????

Ray: What?! Wh-where?
Yeah what he said

Grovyle: It’s right... beside you!
beside us?!

Ray: Next to me...?

That’s the only other thing here though.


It shook.
Yep, it’s that.


Hi.

All those who TRESPASS upon this land...
None shall be FORGIVEN! None!
Oh, just let us pass already

Not least of all... YOU!
Ray: Who is that?! Who are you?!
Spiritomb: You ask that of US?
We have no way of knowing so just answer the damn question

Spiritomb: Our name is... SPIRITOMB.
We are the manifestation of a FUSION of spirits...

Well maybe one of those spirits is Loudred?

Grovyle: Be careful, you two! That Pokémon is strong!
Spiritomb: HEE-hee... HEE-hee... PREPARE to take your punishment!

Grovyle disappears and it’s boss battle time.

Alti leads off with a Geo Pebble and Ray uses Quick Attack, which does little damage but at least does a little.


Following this, Alti uses Water Gun as Ray uses Screech (which might be just a little broken in MD lmao). Spiritomb does nothing of importance.

Then Alti uses Crunch to take advantage of Screech as Ray uses... Screech again because I was dumb and forgot to set him to use Bite. Then Spiritomb puts him to sleep with Hypnosis. Well damn. Hopefully Alti can take it?


Or that could happen. Well shit


It manages to miss both of us with Ominous Wind (thankfully) and then fails to do anything significant before we wake up and kill it with a few more attacks.


Oh hey Grovyle you’re back

OOOOH... ARRGH! … GWAAAAAAAAH!
The ground starts shaking inexplicably.

Ray: Waah! Wh-what’s happening?
Spiritomb: UGWAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! GAAAAAAAAAAH!

Uh


I guess Grovyle is cured now?

Spiritomb: Eeep!
R-r-run away!

… bye?


I feel that

Ray: Wh-what was that...? What was all that about?
Grovyle: They got spooked and ran.
Ray: Grovyle!

Grovyle: Yeah... I’ll be fine...
Ray: Can you get up?
Grovyle: Somehow... Urk!

It seemed more bombastic than anything

It went up my nose and took control of my body...
Ew, geez

Ray: So that was a bad Pokémon.
Grovyle: No. That’s not true.
Music: Time Gear Remix

That Spiritomb was probably upset over us trespassing in its space.
It was frightening... because it became so angry that it lost control of itself.
But you saw what happened when the situation turned sour. It fled.
We beat its ass so

It’s normally a timid Pokémon.
There are many such Pokémon here in your future.
That’s sad :(

They are Pokémon who should be good...
But they have become bitter and twisted because of this world’s perpetual darkness.
I mean, I would be too. The world is so... dull.

Ray: I see...
Good Pokémon going bad because of this world...
That makes me sad.
Me too Ray. Me too.

Grovyle: Hey! You two!
Now will you finally trust me?
… maybe?

Ray: Ummm... somewhat?
I’ll admit it, I don’t really trust you, but...
Ray shut UP

Grovyle: Humph! I’ve told you before.
There’s no point in continuing together if there’s no trust between us.
Eh. I guess?

I’m leaving.

now ray changes his mind

I didn’t say I don’t believe you!
…????????? what

To be perfectly honest...
We don’t know what’s what anymore.
That’s why we want to know as much as we can learn.
And...
It’s true I still don’t completely trust you, Grovyle, but...
but you believe him????? I don’t understand

But what you said does make some sense...
which part tho

It just seems to be logical.
So, please? Grovyle, please tell us what you know.
Tell us about this future...
and why you came to our world, Grovyle!
it’s time to get some answers!

Grovyle: So, what if everything I say is a pack of lies?
How about don’t lie?

Ray: It’s all right. I won’t accept everything you say at face value right away.
… and that’s supposed to be reassuring?

I’ll listen, then decide.

It is time for answers.

Music: In the Future


Another alcove? This one seems even more visible than the last one...

Those Sableye won’t be able to spot us easily here.
If you say so

Ray: Tell us, Grovyle.
In the future... Why did the planet’s paralysis take place?
Grovyle: The cause of the planet’s paralysis...
That dates back to your time. In the world of the past.
Makes sense, I mean all the Time Gear/time being screwed up shenanigans were then.

The planet’s paralysis started with the collapse of Temporal Tower, which was governed by Dialga.
hey look at that, using 4th-gen mythology for this, I like it

Ray: D-Dialga? Who is that?
Grovyle: He is the legendary Pokémon that controls time.
Dialga ensured the proper flow of time from Temporal Tower.
… so shouldn’t he have been able to fix this mess

But when Temporal Tower collapsed...
Time gradually got out of control...
And eventually, the planet fell into paralysis.
That doesn’t really explain it but ok.

Ray: What... what happened to Dialga?
Grovyle: When time went out of whack, Dialga also lost control.
That’s kind of, um, shitty, if Dialga can’t even control time properly without going insane

Now, here in your future, the planet has become fully paralyzed.
And thus Dialga has lost almost all his reason... and is governed by darkness.
“almost” tho?

Dialga is now beyond recognition.
He has become an entirely different entity... Yes...

Primal Dialga in the main games when

Ray: OK... Urf...
Grovyle: Primal Dialga feels no emotion.
He seeks only self-preservation, so he prevents history from changing.
That is massively fucked up but all right.

That’s why Dialga wants me gone.
Because I tried to change history.

Well that makes sense you did try to steal all the Time Gewait what

Because I traveled back in time to your world from this place... your future.
NO EXCUSE ME WE ALREADY KNEW THIS. GO BACK. WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY

Ray: What?!
Grovyle, you’re saying that you came back to our world...
So you could prevent the planet’s paralysis?!
I mean. I guess it makes sense when you consider Dusknoir was trying to murder him and Dusknoir was talking to Dialga in that one scene???

But that’s... completely the opposite of what we were told!
Yeah, people lie sometimes...

Grovyle, you came back to our world to paralyze the planet... didn’t you?!
Wow harsh much?

And, Grovyle... weren’t you the one stealing the Time Gears?!
I mean. That part is true??

Grovyle: You’ve got to be joking!
I was collecting Time Gears...
Because they were needed for preventing the planet’s paralysis.
Wait what. HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE

I needed to take them to Temporal Tower and put them in place.
That would have reversed the collapse of Temporal Tower, which was fully under way in your time.
Okay let’s reflect on this for a minute.
>If Temporal Tower collapses, there is a failsafe that can help prevent it from fucking up the time stream: Bring the Time Gears to Temporal Tower
>Dialga didn’t bother using his magic legendary powers to acquire them himself. Some rando (at least by Dialga’s reckoning) had to go retrieve them all from around the world.
>At least three of the Time Gears had ridiculous protections in place that would have made it all but impossible to find them if you didn’t have foreknowledge of their locations (as Grovyle presumably did) or have the Dimensional Scream (Alti and Ray): one requires discovering the path that leads to Fogbound Lake, which might require recognizing that rando red stone goes in the Groudon statue, and then you have to beat up Groudon and prevent Uxie from stealing your memories; one requires JUMPING INTO QUICKSAND PITS and beating up Mesprit; one requires discovering the secret to a crystal puzzle and beating up Azelf
>Presumably these three are meant to be guardians of the Time Gears. In other words, they’re meant to protect the Time Gears from evildoers. However, the fact that they were so quick to harass anyone who came to their dwelling means they have not so much as even considered that someone might be trying to take the Time Gears to save the world, which means they have no earthly idea the Time Gears have that function. They even said they were going to return the Time Gears to their “rightful places” even as, if what Grovyle said is true, that wouldn’t have helped the situation in the slightest.
>In which case, what is the point of hiding them around the world in the first place? Presumably it’s so that if something happens to Dialga or Temporal Tower there’s still a way to restore things. In which case why wouldn’t the guardians of the Time Gears know what that use is????? WHAT IS THE POINT OF GIVING THEM GUARDIANS IF THOSE SAME GUARDIANS DON’T KNOW THE ENTIRE REASON THEY’RE GUARDING THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE IS TO PROTECT FROM APOCALYPSE???

And all right sure you could say “Grovyle didn’t exactly do a great job of endearing himself to them, what with fighting them at all and not explaining his side of the story” which is deffo true but at the same time you have Mesprit fighting Alti and Ray without a second thought, which more or less says “Mesprit thinks stealing the Time Gears = autobad”, and you have Azelf putting up the crystal barrier to physically prevent Grovyle from reaching the Time Gear, which both seem to indicate the guardians think their purpose is to protect the Time Gears at all costs.

Y’all kind of dropped the ball on this one.
Good job.
Now the world is a wasteland.

Back to the story.

While it is true that removing a Time Gear from a specific place causes time to stop in that area...
That’s only temporary. After the Time Gears are put into Temporal Tower...
Time would have been fully restored to normal everywhere.
Okay but what is the point of THIS. I mean no wonder they think it’s evil! How is anyone ever gonna get the Time Gears to Temporal Tower if this is what happens?!


People
Lie
Sometimes

Like how he said you were an outlaw in the future.
I mean. If Dialga doesn’t want Grovyle to change anything. That technically does make him an outlaw. In the same way the Resistance in Star Wars are criminals.

And how you escaped from the future...
then fled to our world in the past.
Awful convoluted for an escape plan tho huh

So you’re claiming all that was just a bunch of lies?
DUSKNOIR TRIED TO KILL US WHAT PART OF THAT DON’T YOU GET

Grovyle: What else could it be?
Because Dusknoir really is...

Yeah I mean that makes sense with what has happened in the future thus far

Ray: What?! Dusknoir was... an agent sent to get rid of you?!
Grovyle: That’s right.
I have said that Primal Dialga...
will try to thwart any attempt to alter the course of history.
So wait why did he send a henchman at all instead of using magical legendary powers to just murder Grovyle

That’s why, when he learned that I traveled through time...
He sent Dusknoir after me.
Seems a bit. I dunno. Unnecessary but ok

Ray: The great... Dusknoir...? It can’t be!
HE
TRIED
TO
KILL
US

Grovyle: It’s hard for you to believe, I know...

oH mY gOd

You’re saying all this about the great Dusknoir?!
I don’t understand why Dusknoir is acting this way here, but...
But I respected... Dusknoir...
<incomprehensible screeching noises>

I can’t... I can’t believe you...
stop


Music: Time Gear

(Looking back over what we’ve been through in this future world...)
(What Grovyle said is reasonable. It makes perfect sense.)
glad Alti gets it

(And Ray knows it.)
Wait what

(Ray knows deep down that what Grovyle says is true.)
(But knowing that makes it that much harder to accept...)
Why?


WHAT are you DOING

Ray: I’m going to see Dusknoir.

Ray, that is the worst possible idea you could have had.

Grovyle: What?!
Ray: I want to see Dusknoir. I’m going to find out if what you said is true or not.
You will get murdered. This is not up for debate.

Grovyle: What’s the point of that?!
You’ll only be making it easy for them to get rid of you!
What he said.

You don’t stand a chance against them!
I mean yeah. Ray is Fighting after all

Ray: Then... what am I supposed to do?!
Anything else?

Grovyle: What are you supposed to do?!
Didn’t you wonder this earlier?!
And you decided... that you would decide for yourself!
You insisted that, because you don’t know what to believe...
you wouldn’t accept words for their face value... and you’d think for yourself!
Grovyle. I like him.

Ray: Urk...

Think for yourself, then act as you deem right.
Grovyle. I like him a lot.


Grovyle: I’m going back to the past again to stop the planet’s paralysis.
To do that...
I need to find Celebi.
Oh, hey. I was pretty impressed when they incorporated Celebi into this too. In Rescue Team it didn’t seem like the Pokémon’s powers were as integrated, idk.

Ray: Cel... Celebi?
Grovyle: That’s right.
You can come with me or not. It’s your choice.
He’s kind of our only option tho.

You two decide on your own course of action.
I’m off.

Bye...

Ray: Urk...
Alti: (…............)
(I don’t know what I should believe either.)
(But... there is one thing I can say with certainty.)
(In this future world of darkness...)
(The planet is paralyzed.)
Yes, and if Dusknoir’s account is true, it shouldn’t be.

(And the paralysis of the planet... It happened back in our world.)
(That’s why, to stop that from happening...)

True. Regardless of who’s telling the truth, if we want to prevent this, we have to get back somehow.

(We have to get back! Back to our world!)

Yes... I know...
What Grovyle said... Grovyle is right...
Things are very tough now... That’s why we have to be strong.
I believe in you, Ray.

I’m all right now... Let’s go.
Let’s catch up to Grovyle.

We have to... We have to get back!
Back to our own world!

Let’s go!

Meanwhile...


Music: Planet’s Paralysis


Dusknoir: Master Dialga.
The stage has been set for the capture of the traitors.
… that doesn’t sound good.

When the time comes...
It may be necessary for us to beg your help, Master Dialga...
Dialga: GRRRRRRRR...
Dusknoir: … As you wish.
By your leave, we shall proceed.

Bye...

Elsewhere...


(Wh-what...?)
(What was that... strange sensation?)
(I’ve had that strange sensation before...)
… what?

Ray: Where... Where are we?
Grovyle: This is Dusk Forest. Its name comes from the dark fog that perpetually shrouds it.
Huh. Wonder if it’s like, Foggy Forest in the future or something.

Deep in this forest...
We should find Celebi.
Ray: Hey, Grovyle. You mentioned the name before, but...
Who is Celebi?
Grovyle: Celebi is the legendary Time Travel Pokémon.
She has the ability to cross time.
I guess that makes more sense than Grovyle being capable of time travel himself.


… what does THAT mean

But anyway... Celebi’s ability enabled me to go to the past.
Ray: So if we find Celebi...
Can we return to our world?
What do you think?

Grovyle: Yes, you can go back. But...
Celebi is the Pokémon that sent me to the past.
That means Celebi has lent her support to reshaping history.
A legendary defying another legendary’s wishes? Awesome.

Ray: Wait... Are you saying that Celebi’s in trouble too?
Grovyle: That’s right. Primal Dialga is also targeting Celebi.
So there’s no time to waste.
Get ready soon. We have to find Celebi.
All right.
Next time: Dusk Forest!

24/525: 4.6%
Caterpie (Xander)
Butterfree (Papillon)
Weedle (Bean)
Beedrill (Bumble)
Sandshrew (Simon)
Machop (Jon)
Rhyhorn (Cake)
Tangela (DayumBoy)
Spinarak (Catallia)
Mareep (C3PO)
Hoppip (Alma)
Elekid (Firegg)
Larvitar (Savannah)
Lotad (Orchid)
Nincada (Illinois)
Electrike (Direction)
Minun (Negative)
Barboach (Dojo)
Beldum (Nickel)
Starly (Merel)
Budew (Sprout)
Combee (Hexa)
Glameow (Smudge)
Hippopotas (Duke)
 
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Okay, I know that this is a game for children, but the sheer stupidity of Ray baffles me. Like, which writer thought it to be a good idea to have him rambling on about trusting someone who tried to kill him. I have no idea in what world that would be a good example to set for children.

Anyhow, great update once again with spot-on commentary. I know that I don't post that often, but I always look forward to reading your next update. One thing I noticed, is that the music links do not really work for me. When I click on them "http://xn--https-sv3b" appears before the actual link. After deleting that part they always work as they should, but just thought I should let you know.
 
One thing I noticed, is that the music links do not really work for me. When I click on them "http://xn--https-sv3b" appears before the actual link. After deleting that part they always work as they should, but just thought I should let you know.
This probably has something to do with the way I format the updates when I'm typing them. I'll try to fix that in the future (and in these previous updates)
Edit: Fixed.
 
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I kind of get that Ray's supposed to be in denial, but the problem is that they don't really dwell on the matter long enough to make it seem like an internal conflict as opposed to Ray just taking way too long to have basic logical thinking. It wouldn't bother me so much if Dusknoir hadn't spent all this time doing literally nothing to hide the fact that he wants them dead and is outright commanding the plans to do so.

As for the Temporal Tower situation my interpretation was always as follows (will put a Spoiler tag since some of my theory includes to Post-Game story). Don't Read if you're following this playthrough blind

I always interpreted the Time Gears as a failsafe that was put in place so long ago that no living Pokemon besides Dialga and the like would know their true purpose. The Lake Guardians were basically just "guard these with your life" since they need those things to be someplace they can be found rather than stolen by some random outlaw as they thought Grovyle to be. Special Episode 4 and some rumored locations from dialogue before this imply there are more Time Gears than we see or that are used to stop the plot, it's entirely possible this plot could have resolved without having to meet the Lake Trio if Grovyle had known where to look for others.

Grovyle doesn't mention that he's after the Gears to stop Temporal Tower collapsing, and odds are they wouldn't immediately believe him. Given what went wrong in the trip back and the odd sense I get that time travel seems to be at least somewhat imprecise, Grovyle probably thought better to punch first and apologize after rather than constantly explain the story to them and hope he could convince them in case he was too short on time.

As for the collapse itself, we find out later that the Culprit is Darkrai. Given what his powers include and that he's proven capable of influencing even Legendary Pokemon, I took the normal idea to be "Dialga alerts Lake Trio if tower is damaged, someone brings Time Gears," if this went wrong once every couple hundred/thousand years or something. Darkrai destabilized the tower, and then put Dialga into a nightmare which sped up his mental deterioration while also preventing him from calling for help. By the time he woke up, he's too far gone to think of the plan and is either in Primal preservation thought mode, or panicking and trying to maintain the tower without thinking of the gears. Lake trio don't hear from him, nothing to verify the gears are needed.

Now that that long theory is over, the game's got a couple more curveballs dropped on us, the future has a LOT of reveals going on. Also, regarding the Paralysis, maybe Celebi has something to do with why somethings work? Like Dialga governs the physical flow of time for the material world while Celebi influences it for living beings, which would also explain why Dialga himself can't go back in time or use Magic God power to just kill Grovyle: can't leave or time would stop being halted, and he can't physically influence Grovyle on any level as a living being, just track him down and then fight him like a normal (albeit extremely powerful) Pokemon.
 

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