Alamos Town - Library
In a cluttered attic filled with scattered papers and piled books, Researcher Tonio pulled out a dust-covered volume, his glasses glinting in the dim light.
Tonio stared at the yellowed photograph tucked between the pages and murmured:
"Iris's grandmother Alicia encountered the Nightmare Pokémon, Darkrai, in these gardens."
"Darkrai, who never trusted humans and was shunned by all, opened its heart only to Alicia."
"Under Gaudí's architecture, Darkrai has lived in these Pokémon gardens ever since..."
Closing the book, Tonio felt deeply moved.
"So for nearly a century, Darkrai has been silently protecting Alamos Town..."
"That's why it saved Iris too."
"Which means!" Tonio grabbed his hair in frustration. "The space-time rift above Alamos Town has nothing to do with Darkrai at all!"
He reopened his notebook, focusing intently on the computer screen displaying the scanned image of the rift.
Zooming in, analyzing, constructing models.
As the Space-Time Tower's bells tolled, time ticked away mercilessly.
Suddenly, Tonio's pupils contracted, his forehead beading with cold sweat.
"That... shape appearing in the rift is..."
"N-no way!"
He scrambled from his chair, tripped over the desk corner, and crashed heavily onto the floor.
"Ouch... I-I must inform Professor Carolina and Champion Cynthia immediately."
"This is a crisis... one we can only solve by working together!"
...
Alamos Town - Battle Plaza
An inexplicable line had formed behind Natsume.
Passerby 1: "Is this a queue for local specialties?"
Passerby 2: "Looks like some game of tag to me."
After watching briefly, the two passersby quietly walked away.
Meanwhile, the crowd huddled behind Natsume, staring at the shadowy figure.
"So that's Darkrai?"
"Looks kinda cool actually."
"Nonsense! That's the bringer of calamity!"
Before them stood Darkrai - white mane billowing, pitch-black body, glowing blue eyes.
It coldly surveyed the crowd, surrounded by black mist.
Through Telepathy, Darkrai's raspy voice issued a warning:
"Stay... away from here..."
Instantly, the black mist made everyone see their deepest fears - the effects of Darkrai's 「Bad Dreams」 at work.
Natsume remained unaffected, crossing his arms and tilting his chin:
"Go on then, turn into a Death Eater. I dare you."
Darkrai froze. What the hell was a Death Eater? Some native creature of this world?
Regardless, it would simply put these nuisances to sleep.
Ash, fearless as ever, clenched his fists and shouted:
"You're the one who should leave! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaa—" Pikachu leapt high, electricity crackling, "—CHUUU!!"
Darkrai's deep blue eyes flashed faintly as it swiped a claw.
SMACK!
The Thunderbolt was effortlessly deflected, leaving Darkrai unharmed!
Natsume ＆ Gengar: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
That was way too casual!
No wonder this Darkrai could fight Temporal and Spatial Dragons solo!
If we cling to those long legs, we might clear this dungeon without a scratch!
"Damn it..." Ash gritted his teeth, ready to keep fighting.
Darkrai crossed its arms, gathering a swirling orb of dark energy.
Then—it suddenly spread them wide.
WHOOSH!
The pitch-black Dark Void rose into the sky, forming a black hole that shot out countless shadowy orbs.
Upon touching humans or Pokémon, they were swallowed up—merely collapsing into sleep unharmed.
In moments, Natsume's "shield" of admirers lay sprawled inelegantly behind him.
Even Team Rocket Trio and Ash were hit by 「Dark Void」, collapsing with a THUD!
"To think it works on superhumans too."
Natsume thought:
"Truly a deity-level Darkrai!"
Darkrai glanced at the unfazed trainer before it.
Not a single one of the hundreds of orbs had struck him.
Whether that was good or bad luck remained unclear...
"Leave this place!"
Darkrai swiped its hand, sending dark energy surging forward!
"Rotom! Σ(っ°Д°;)っ"
The floating Rotom Pokédex instinctively prepared 「Ally Switch」—almost a reflex by now.
To its surprise, the trainer didn't yell "Rotom, save me!"
Natsume: "I could dodge... but no need."
First, this Darkrai meant no real harm.
Second, the Lunar Feather protected him from Bad Dreams.
Most importantly—dreams were the perfect place for direct conversation!
Natsume: "Darkrai, stay right there!"
Darkrai looked shocked.
This black-haired young man wasn't evading—he was diving headfirst into Dark Void!
Was this guy... suicidal?
While Dark Void only induced sleep, the added Dark-type energy wasn't harmless.
Did he have some secret weapon?
THUD!
Darkrai: "..."
The young man faceplanted, snoring loudly.
No secret weapon after all.
Just someone desperate for better sleep quality...
"...Fine."
Darkrai quietly rolled Natsume onto his side to prevent suffocation.
After confirming no injuries, it sighed in relief.
"Gengar! "
Darkrai tensed, suddenly alert.
Another Pokémon—hiding in shadows—had escaped its notice?!
It whirled around—
A grinning Gengar stood there, holding a jar full of Pokéblocks.
Plucking one out, Gengar twirled its tongue demonstratively:
"Gengar~ (*⊙⊙)"
"..." Darkrai gulped, the white mist above its head swirling agitatedly.
"Gengar! (￣▽￣)~"
Gengar tapped the glass jar, then pointed at the swirling "black hole" in Darkrai's palm.
Darkrai: "...You want to learn Dark Void?"
"Gengar!( /ω＼)"
Gengar hopped excitedly, making scissor-hands over its eyes while nodding vigorously.
Darkrai hesitated, eyeing the Pokéblock jar before saying stiffly:
"I could teach you... if you have the talent."
After all, Dark Void was Darkrai's signature move.
Under its control, it could induce mere sleep—or sleep plus damage.
While some regular Pokémon had mastered signature moves before...
Without any Hypnosis fundamentals? Impossible.
Moreover, Dark Void was essentially an application of aura.
Without knowing 「Dark Pulse」 or having aura affinity? No chance!
"Gengar~! ヾ(≧▽≦*)ヾ" Gengar patted its own "shoulder."
Just teach me! There's nothing I can't learn~!
Darkrai nodded silently, accepting the jar before lightly touching Gengar's fingertip.
A ripple spread from the contact point.
Even Natsume's Gengar grew drowsy.
"Gengar~~"
It flopped into a comfortable position.
Head-to-head with Natsume, both snoring loudly.
Amid the "battlefield" of sleepers, Darkrai sank into the shadows.
It would enter Natsume and Gengar's dreams—
To understand the bond between this strange trainer and Pokémon...
And give Gengar a lesson... if it could learn.
Finally, Darkrai's gaze fell on the Poké Balls at Natsume's waist, peering inside.
Sylveon, Arcanine, Togepi...
Even in nightmares, these Pokémon slept peacefully—content.
"What a strange human."
Darkrai murmured as it completely vanished into darkness.
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