"By the way," Gary said casually, leaning against the window frame as moonlight poured into the hotel room, "how about going to see your old friend tonight?"
The night breeze moved the curtains gently.
Canalave City shimmered under silver light. Ships rested quietly at the harbor, and the distant sound of waves carried faintly through the open window.
Darkrai hovered in the center of the room.
"Dak?"
Its single blue eye shifted slowly toward Gary.
The word "old friend" lingered in the air.
For Darkrai, there was only one Pokémon who could possibly be described that way.
Cresselia.
But friend?
That word felt strange.
Darkrai had lived alone on Newmoon Island for years — perhaps decades. The Nightmare Ability within its body was unstable during its lower growth stages. Any living being that fell asleep within range would suffer terrifying dreams. Their vitality would be drained night after night.
Because of that, Newmoon Island had no Pokémon.
No wild inhabitants.
No visitors who stayed.
No voices.
Only wind.
Only shadows.
Only endless nights.
The only presence that ever approached without fear—
Was Cresselia.
Yet Cresselia did not stay.
She appeared only when nightmares spread too far.
Or when Darkrai left the island.
When Darkrai wandered toward Canalave City, Cresselia would descend under the full moon and drive it back.
Then she would leave again.
Most of the time, Cresselia resided within a hidden secret realm belonging to her clan — a sacred domain only Cresselia could enter.
She had her kind.
She had belonging.
Darkrai had confinement.
If one thought deeply about it—
Cresselia could live freely among her people.
Yet she kept Darkrai isolated on a deserted island.
Was that kindness?
Or silent judgment?
"What?" Gary asked calmly. "You don't want to see her?"
"Dak."
Darkrai shook its head slowly.
Its tone was flat.
But beneath the flatness was something restrained.
Gary narrowed his eyes slightly.
In many legends, Darkrai and Cresselia were portrayed as opposites — nightmare and dream, darkness and moonlight.
But opposites did not equal companionship.
Sometimes they meant eternal imbalance.
"Or," Gary said evenly, "do you want to see Cresselia defeated?"
Darkrai froze.
Its blue eye widened slightly.
"Dak?"
Defeated?
Cresselia… losing?
Darkrai had fought her multiple times.
Every battle under the full moon ended the same way.
Moonlight flooded the sky.
Fairy energy condensed around Cresselia's wings.
Darkrai's shadow felt compressed.
Suppressed.
Although Cresselia was primarily a Psychic-type Pokémon, her connection to Moonlight allowed her to wield strong Fairy-type power.
Fairy-type energy naturally restrained Dark-type Pokémon.
Darkrai preferred moonless nights for a reason.
Moonlight weakened its aura.
Under the full moon, Cresselia's presence felt overwhelming.
Gary stepped closer.
"She must have sensed that you left Newmoon Island. She'll come looking for you."
He paused.
"Instead of being forced back again… why not fight properly this time?"
Darkrai floated in silence.
Memories resurfaced.
Cresselia descending gracefully from the sky.
Her eyes calm.
Her voice gentle yet firm.
Driving Darkrai back with controlled force.
No hatred.
But no acceptance either.
"Dak…"
A low sound escaped its throat.
This time, it was not indifference.
It was restrained dissatisfaction.
Even if it could not defeat Cresselia alone—
Gary could.
Gary had defeated it decisively.
Gary possessed Lunar Wing capable of suppressing its Nightmare Ability.
Gary's Tyranitar radiated crushing physical pressure.
Gary's Gengar possessed control and cunning.
For the first time—
Darkrai did not stand alone.
"Dak."
It nodded slowly.
Gary smiled faintly.
"Good. Eat first. We move at ten."
Gary released his Pokémon at a secluded coastal clearing outside the city.
The ocean reflected moonlight like flowing silver.
The night air was cool and sharp.
One by one, powerful figures emerged.
Tyranitar.
Garchomp.
Arcanine.
Gengar.
Togetic.
Several others stood nearby.
The air instantly became dense.
Darkrai hovered quietly behind Gary, observing.
It was the first time it had seen such coordinated strength.
These Pokémon stood together without fear.
No one avoided it.
No one retreated from its presence.
"Everyone," Gary said calmly, "this is Darkrai. It'll fight with us."
"Garchomp!"
"Awooooo!"
"Gengaaaar!"
Tyranitar stepped forward slowly.
Each step pressed into the sand.
Its heavy tail swayed once.
"GRAAAAAAAH."
The roar rolled low and heavy, like distant thunder shaking mountains.
It stared at Darkrai for several seconds.
No fear.
No hostility.
Only evaluation.
Darkrai met its gaze steadily.
The two Mythical and quasi-legendary auras brushed lightly.
Neither flinched.
Gary distributed food evenly.
Darkrai hesitated.
On Newmoon Island, it survived on wild berries and ambient energy.
Human-made Pokémon food was unfamiliar.
"Try it," Gary said.
"Dak…"
Darkrai floated closer.
It took a cautious bite.
Its eye flickered.
The energy was concentrated.
Refined.
Balanced.
Far more stable than natural fruit.
It finished quietly.
A strange feeling rose inside.
Warmth.
It was subtle.
But undeniable.
At exactly 10 PM, Gary recalled most of his Pokémon.
He released Garchomp.
"Fullmoon Island."
"Garchomp!"
They crossed the sea swiftly.
The moon hung high in the sky — unnaturally bright tonight.
Darkrai guided the direction precisely.
They landed on Fullmoon Island before midnight.
The island was silent.
The ancestral shrine atop the cliff stood pale under the moon.
Sea wind howled softly across weathered stone.
Gary released two Poké Balls.
Light burst outward.
[LV71 Tyranitar / Quasi-Legendary Potential]
[LV57 Gengar / Champion Potential]
"Tyranitar," Gary said calmly, "once she appears — Taunt immediately. Don't let her control the pace."
Tyranitar rolled its massive shoulders.
The ground cracked faintly beneath its weight.
"GRAAAAAAAAAH."
The roar was deep and resonant, vibrating through the cliffside like an approaching earthquake.
"Gengar, Mean Look. No escape."
"Gengaaaar."
Its crimson eyes gleamed sharply.
"Darkrai," Gary said, "place the Lunar Wing."
"Dak."
Darkrai floated forward and placed the Lunar Wing carefully upon the shrine steps.
The reaction was immediate.
Wind shifted direction.
Clouds above split apart.
The full moon shone directly overhead.
Fairy-type energy condensed in the air.
Soft starlight gathered above the shrine.
It intensified.
Brighter.
Brighter.
The atmosphere grew sacred.
Then—
She descended.
Cresselia.
Graceful and radiant.
Her crescent-shaped wings shimmered with silver and pink light.
Stardust trailed behind her like flowing silk.
[LV55 Cresselia / Legendary]
"Cress…"
Her voice echoed softly like wind chimes over water.
Darkrai instinctively moved half a step behind Gary.
"Dak…"
Moonlight still unsettled it.
Cresselia's gaze fell upon Darkrai first.
Then Gary.
Then Tyranitar.
Then Gengar.
Then the Lunar Wing.
Understanding dawned immediately.
Her expression sharpened.
The Fairy aura around her intensified.
"Gengar," Gary said calmly.
"Mean Look."
"GENGAAAR!"
A crimson glare shot forward instantly.
Space tightened.
Escape sealed.