Alamos Town – Outside the Pokémon Gardens
Wallace stood in his white cape, holding his hat over his chest as he admired the elegant gardens.
It was the reverence of one artist for the work of a genius architect.
"Mr. Wallace!"
Baron Alberto, clad in red, crossed his arms. "There have been sightings of Darkrai—right around here."
Wallace nodded slightly, still utterly lost in the beauty of the scenery.
"Mr. Wallace!" Alberto raised his voice.
Wallace smiled, placing a slender finger to his lips—a look that instantly silenced Alberto.
"I understand why Darkrai would choose to live here."
He took a deep breath, inhaling the fragrance of the gardens. "If I were it… I'd make the same choice."
Alberto scowled. "But for nearly a century, the people of this town haven't slept properly!"
"Look at it another way."
Wallace chuckled. "Isn't it because of Darkrai that these gardens, these grand structures… that Alamos Town itself survived through all the chaos?"
"Uh…" Alberto faltered, muttering, "Don't joke about this…"
Wallace knelt, examining the ground, his green hair falling over his forehead—his eyes warm yet profound.
"I'll honor our agreement and track Darkrai's movements."
"But defeating it, or driving it away… I—" He hesitated.
"M-Mr. Wallace!"
Alberto's voice cracked, his hand trembling as he pointed ahead.
"That shadow—it's here!"
Wallace looked up, rising smoothly as he gripped a Poké Ball, locking onto the shifting black mass before them.
The shadow darted across the ground, leaping over walls, tiles, and trellises before stopping in an open space ahead.
Dark clouds swallowed the sunlight, and an inexplicable dread crept into Wallace's heart.
"Do not… come here…"
A hoarse, low voice echoed directly in Wallace's mind—Telepathy.
Wallace smirked, tipping his hat before slipping a hand into his pocket.
"I'm afraid I must decline your request."
"Do not… come here…"
The gardens plunged into darkness as the sun vanished. Petals of the surrounding flowers curled inward in fear.
From the writhing black mist, a figure slowly rose—a silhouette wreathed in shadow.
Pale, smoke-like tendrils billowed like hair, obscuring all but a pair of deep blue eyes.
A jagged red collar encircled its neck, its shoulders draped in darkness, two clawed arms extending like living shadows.
The Nightmare Pokémon—Darkrai.
Its piercing blue eyes fixed on Wallace.
Once more, the warning came:
"Do not… come here…"
Wallace frowned slightly, but Alberto shouted, "This is my property! You don't get to tell me where I can go!"
"Lickilicky, go!" A beam of light burst from his Poké Ball.
The plump Lickilicky unfurled its long tongue, lashing out at Darkrai with a Lick.
Wallace gave Alberto a surprised look.
Though reckless and arrogant, this guy's courage was commendable.
Without hesitation, Wallace raised a Dive Ball overhead. The Dive Ball opened, releasing a beam of white light.
"Luvdisc, Soak!"
A pink heart-shaped fish appeared on Wallace's shoulder and fired a crystalline water arrow.
For a brief moment, Luvdisc could change the opponent's type to Water.
This would prevent Darkrai from escaping through shadows!
Darkrai crossed its clawed arms, black mist swirling around it as its voice turned fierce:
"Leave... this place!!"
Suddenly, Darkrai spread its arms, unleashing a violent, icy energy that shattered the water arrow and rippled outward!
The attack was nearly intangible—pure energy.
Wallace assessed the situation instantly.
The next moment, the dark pulse surged forward, engulfing Lickilicky first, followed by Baron Alberto.
THUD!
Both collapsed, unharmed but drooling as they fell into deep sleep.
"Luvdisc, Aqua Ring!"
Wallace nimbly retreated half a step, summoning a water curtain to slow the black pulse.
SPLASH—
The water shattered instantly. Another beam of light burst from a Poké Ball as Milotic made a dazzling entrance.
"Venus, Safeguard!" Wallace called out his partner's nickname.
"Milotic~!"
A misty aura enveloped Milotic, cloaking it in an ethereal glow.
Shadow and mist clashed, canceling out the dark, frigid energy!
"Incredible..."
Wallace gritted his teeth. This Darkrai exerted even greater pressure than Steven's silver Metagross!
In an instant, Wallace's eyes turned cold, ready for an all-out battle.
But Darkrai melted back into the shadows, vanishing with the dissipating storm clouds.
Sunlight poured over the gardens, painting a picturesque scene.
Squinting, Wallace scanned the area. What had just happened wasn't a dream.
"Why would such a powerful Pokémon appear here...?"
He doubted his own theories.
If it truly intended to harm Alamos Town's residents...
...his strength alone wouldn't be enough to stop it.
Then Wallace's eyes lit up.
"Wait—Natsume-sensei is coming too."
With him here, their chances of victory would skyrocket.
Glancing at the snoring Alberto and Lickilicky, Wallace tapped his forehead and called his assistant:
"Solidad, send two stretchers. We have casualties for the Pokémon Center."
"Understood."
Wallace looked up at the clear blue sky and muttered:
"Leave this place..."
"Was it warning me... or something else? A disaster? Another Pokémon?"
...
Alamos Town - Battle Festival
"Natsume-sensei!" A blue-clad young man wearing a red cap exclaimed with delight. "What are you doing here!?"
Natsume's mouth twitched. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
"Weren't you just in the group chat two hours ago saying you couldn't make it to Alamos Town!?"
Ash scratched his head sheepishly. "I was on my way and wasn't supposed to arrive until tomorrow."
"But then I met this kind girl named Iris on the road! She gave me a lift in her hot air balloon!"
Natsume: "So... you took the opportunity to join the battle tournament?"
Ash nodded vigorously. "Yeah!"
Natsume sucked in a sharp breath.
No wonder this feels familiar.
First Team Rocket, now Ash suddenly becoming ridiculously strong...
This must be movie plot time. Ash is here to save the world!
Natsume turned. "Gengar, let's go. We're leaving now."
"Gengar?" Gengar scratched its head.
But we haven't even met the female trainer yet?
Ash: "Oh, who are these three...?"
Disguised Trio: "Jessie! James! Meowth, that's right~nya!"
Ash: "Nice to meet you!"
Trio: "The honor is ours!"
Natsume sighed, rubbing his forehead.
So much for the Darkrai recruitment plan.
He'd explain things to Moe-Moe! and get out of Alamos Town first.
Suddenly, the [Lunar Feather] in his pocket began emitting a faint glow.
Ash: "Natsume-sensei, you left your phone flashlight on."
Natsume: "..."
Natsume: "...I think we're out of time."
"Out of time for what, nya?"
Natsume's expression turned complicated as he looked toward the commotion in the crowd - at the shadowy figure darting between walls and darkness.
The previously silent 'Aura Detector' suddenly started emitting a rapid thump-thump-thump.
Someone in the crowd screamed:
"It's Darkrai!"
"Run away!"
"Everyone! Follow my command, hide behind Natsume-sensei!"
The sound of chaotic footsteps erupted as a swarm of beautiful, blushing young girls came rushing toward them.
Well... opportunities like this don't come often. Time to see if I can get lucky!
Natsume looked up at the sky and murmured:
"Too late... We can't escape this dungeon now..."
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