Darkrai knew its time was running short, and in its final moments, it wished for one last battle.

To die after battle—was that not the most radiant and glorious way to go?

Pokémon are creatures of combat. No matter how distant the universe, battles are inevitable.

Thud! Hikaru’s Master Ball trembled. As a warrior of light, he could not bear to hear words of despair.

“If it’s only about stopping your nightmare’s influence, I have a way.”

The Strange Ball could seal away powers from other worlds, preventing them from leaking out. For a Pokémon born of space or time, it should work as well.

After all, this was a Poké Ball beyond all others.

But Darkrai shook its head.

[Death is not the end. In the cosmos, the soul never perishes. The stars’ power will guide my spirit. My soul will return to the universe, becoming a star that shines upon the world.]

From the faraway universe it was born—was Darkrai some traveler’s nightmare, or perhaps a moonbeam turned into life?

Pokémon are shrouded in many mysteries. Each has a different origin, impossible to pin down.

“Turning into a star after death… that silver dragon once said the same thing.” Skyla recalled.

Darkrai flew across the nightmare skies, its voice echoing beyond the endless sea of clouds, reaching the distant starlight.

[As long as I live in this world, I will bring trouble to all life around me.]

[In this long existence, I’ve asked myself—why was a wretched being like me born at all?]

[I bring nightmares, death, and eternal sleep. In the nightmare world, nothing exists, no one enjoys being there. Perhaps I am only part of some greater cycle of dreams.]

[But now, I am no longer lost. I, too, have a journey to take. For me, death is not an end, but the beginning of rebirth!]

“A stubborn Darkrai? Clinging to the idea of release… this is my first time seeing one like that.”

“Very well. Then let’s battle—in the real world!”

“Come with us!”

The plane climbed ever higher, flying toward the nightmare’s only light—that star in the sky.

The air grew cold, nearly touching the edge of space.

Before them, dazzling light appeared, like a door to another world. Darkrai parted the nightmare clouds with its own power, watching the people in the plane vanish into the starlight.

Then it too flew toward that lone star.

At last, its torment found release. It had found the path back to reality—the star of its memories, its home.

After this… life would fade, and its soul would be freed.

The nightmare world dissolved.

In Hikaru’s bag appeared two new items:

[Item: Salac Berry]

[Description: A mysterious berry said to contain the power of the sky.]

[Effect: When held, boosts the Pokémon’s Speed in a pinch.]

[Item: Comet Shard]

[Description: A fragment that fell when a comet neared the planet, brimming with strange energy.]

Hikaru and Skyla returned to reality. Shauntal rushed to them.

“What happened? Are you both alright?!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine! It was an amazing flight!” Skyla laughed happily. All her lingering fears had vanished. She hopped to her feet with renewed strength.

And right behind them emerged Darkrai, its black form floating silently within the Stranger’s House.

The Ghost Pokémon dwelling there scattered in terror before its aura, hiding behind Hikaru and Shauntal, peeking timidly out.

“That’s the one! The nightmare-bringer—Darkrai!”

Shauntal stared at it. The oppressive Dark-type aura alone made her Chandelure shudder with fear.

This was pure type suppression.

[Battle with me, please.]

Darkrai drifted up through the roof, into the open skies.

At that moment, Hikaru’s Master Ball gleamed.

“The Master Ball?!”

Shauntal’s face grew solemn. Skyla’s too.

“That Master Ball you never used at Mt. Rose… what kind of Pokémon is inside it?”

“Do you mean to send that one to give Darkrai its final battle?”

They rushed outside. Under the vast heavens and mountains, the warrior of light emerged, glowing brilliantly.

“That Pokémon is—?!” Skyla gasped.

In this world, Deoxys had yet to be discovered. Of the two at the North Pole, one had been defeated, the other contained. The massive meteor had not yet fallen. Only Professor Rowan had glimpsed it briefly in a day’s research.

So for now, Deoxys remained a total enigma.

But more Deoxys would soon arrive, falling with meteors, traveling this world—or returning to the cosmos.

“This is my seventh partner, a visitor from space—Deoxys!”

By typing alone, pure Psychic Deoxys was totally countered by Darkrai, its Psychic moves useless against Dark-type.

But the warrior of light had his methods.

[You are…?] Darkrai sensed the power within Deoxys—like its own, a force from distant stars.

Deoxys spoke:

[Like you, I was born from starlight, a life that fell with a meteor long ago. Your nightmares once plagued me. I lay hidden in Castelia’s museum, awaiting death. My partner saved me, gave me life anew.]

Darkrai faltered, then laughed.

[The universe is vast indeed! That another like you exists…!]

Dark energy surged, nightmare power boiling. In the sky, it created a gaping abyss.

Stellar Abyss Dark Pulse!

The Dark Pulse roared—far stronger than any Deoxys had unleashed before.

Same-Type Attack Bonus amplified it 1.5×.

The dark blast raged for seconds. When it cleared, Deoxys had shifted form—becoming squat and broad, with massive flat arms shielding its body. It had blocked the attack completely.

Even Darkrai was surprised.

[What… your form changed?]

“Defense Forme,” Hikaru explained. “Deoxys has four forms, shifting mid-battle to adapt to any situation.”

“Balanced Normal Forme.”

“Attack Forme, focused on offense.”

“Defense Forme, focused on endurance.”

“Speed Forme, focused on velocity.”

“In each form, Deoxys’ abilities change!”

“Deoxys—Thunder Wave!”

The defensive Deoxys launched a spark of electricity, paralyzing Darkrai instantly!

“So dirty—opening with Thunder Wave?” Shauntal muttered.

Darkrai sought an honorable death, and Hikaru was stacking debuffs? Wouldn’t its ghost bear resentment even after death?

“Psychic-types are weak against Dark-types. And this Darkrai has heavenly power. Tricks are needed to fight it properly.”

“Light Screen! Reflect!”

Holy barriers flared around Deoxys, halving incoming damage.

Despite its forms, Deoxys’ low HP was a constant flaw. Against ordinary foes, it could dominate, but against a heavenly Darkrai, its fragility was stark.

Darkrai, paralyzed but unyielding, summoned an immense black void beneath Deoxys.

Dark Void!

The ultimate nightmare technique, dragging foes into eternal sleep. In Almia, the Shadow Keeper had used it to seal people into pitch-black worlds until death. In Floaroma, Darkrai could spam Dark Voids to send all into nightmares.

Special Manga depictions even showed Deoxys creating black holes—but theirs were for teleportation, not sleep. Gardevoir’s Pokédex too described making black holes.

“Extreme Speed!”

Deoxys shifted forms again—slender and swift—breaking free of the void’s range.

Speed Forme!

In the manga, Speed Forme Deoxys could move faster than sight itself, dubbed “the speed of the gods.”

“Brick Break!”

Invisible, its hand-chops shredded the sky. Darkrai spun in alarm, but the storm of strikes found their mark.

Multi-hit Brick Break!

[Ugh! Your strength is great! It fills me with joy! At life’s end, to meet a foe like you—!]

Darkrai panted heavily, life flickering. Yet it roared, burning its last strength, betting everything on this fight—not to win, but to battle to the very end!

Ominous Wind!

Darkrai vanished into shadow, striking suddenly from behind. Its shadowy blow was guaranteed to hit—even Extreme Speed couldn’t evade.

Wham!

The barriers halved the damage. Deoxys instantly shifted back to Defense Forme, bracing.

Auroras shimmered around its body. It couldn’t learn Aurora Veil—but its body flared with power.

Counter!

The Fighting-type energy swirled, doubling back the damage. Darkrai was crushed by the blow!

Then—Deoxys shifted again.

Attack Forme!

Its ears sharpened, body sleek and menacing. Its DNA whips lashed out—

Superpower! A strike of overwhelming force, lowering its own stats.

But this was no ordinary Superpower.

Cosmic Power!

Starlight surged, boosting the damage by 60%!

[The fourth form—excellent!] Darkrai was thrilled. Even at death’s door, it rejoiced—reminded of a time when it fought freely, unrestrained.

Never before had an opponent rendered Dark Void ineffective.

[You… you are the universe’s perfect warrior!]

“But I haven’t used everything yet. One last strike—!”

Foul Play!

Darkrai channeled its opponent’s own strength against it, striking Deoxys’ weak defenses in Attack Forme.

Their blows collided—Deoxys’ Superpower slamming into Darkrai’s chest, while Foul Play hammered Deoxys itself.

Both reeled, grievously wounded.

“Attack Forme’s defenses are paper-thin—but! Recover!”

Light flared. Deoxys’ body reformed instantly.

The glowing warrior stood over the staggering Darkrai, who looked skyward, its life nearly gone.

[You… have won…]

It smiled, finally at peace.

[Take this, as thanks. Inside lies what I leave behind in this world.]

A strange glowing orb appeared. Hikaru recognized it instantly—

An Ancient Bracelet, an old move-teaching tool Pokémon once used.

[Obtained: Ancient Bracelet (Dark Void) / Dark-type Insights]

[Description: Long ago, Darkrai sealed its move into this bracelet, leaving behind its understanding of Dark energy.]

[With study, special items can be crafted.]

[Secrets: Improve move accuracy / Increase move power / Raise PP maximum.]

Hikaru considered. Normally, only Darkrai or Smeargle could use Dark Void. But Deoxys, with its black-hole powers, might wield it too.

After all, they were all Pokémon tied to stars, moons, and night.

Darkrai closed its eyes.

Home… my soul will cross the cosmos, becoming a star, going where none can follow.

Its body dissolved into light, a comet streaking into space.

[I give you the right to walk freely in the Nightmare World. Please, help those trapped in nightmares.]

[Tell that girl… I’m sorry.]

[And you, and she… if we meet again, somewhere in the universe…]

Depart, toward the endless stars!

The nightmare world collapsed—but others remained, still linked to other Darkrai.

As it vanished, a radiant light appeared on the horizon.

Graceful, noble—surrounded by planetary rings, like a ship of the moon.

Cresselia.

She began the Lunar Dance, bidding farewell to her distant, old friend.

(End of Chapter)

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