At Reversal Mountain, Grey and Caitlin had returned to the Strange House.
According to the Ghost Girl, Darkrai could be found on the ridge behind the house. It appeared there whenever the moon was full, and tonight happened to be a full-moon night.
With Reshiram's help, they had managed to return to the Strange House before midnight.
Grey looked past the house and immediately spotted a shadowy, black, humanoid Pokémon.
The Pokémon had constantly billowing white hair that covered most of its face, leaving only a pair of bright blue eyes visible. A jagged red structure resembling a collar encircled its neck, while long strips of tattered black material hung from both shoulders.
Its outstretched arms were black and ended in claws. Two legs had formed beneath its body, allowing it to stand firmly on the ground.
[Pokémon: Darkrai, Mythical Pokémon]
[Type: Dark]
[Level: 75]
[Ability: Bad Dreams]
[Moves: Dark Void, Dark Pulse, and others omitted.]
Grey had already possessed a general idea of Darkrai's strength, but when he saw that it was level 75 and possessed Champion-level power, he finally understood why the Ghost Girl had used Champion-level Pokémon to test them.
Anyone who came here without sufficient strength might genuinely be defeated by Darkrai and trapped in eternal sleep.
"Darkrai," the Pokémon said calmly. "The resentment surrounding that girl has disappeared. It appears that the two of you helped her."
Darkrai quietly gazed down at Grey and Caitlin. After speaking, it bowed deeply like a gentleman.
"So you aren't evil after all."
The words left Grey's mouth instinctively.
Through Aura, he discovered that the energy surrounding Darkrai was almost completely white.
Only people or Pokémon with exceptionally pure hearts had a chance of producing such energy. Ash, for example, had also possessed a white Aura.
"I am still responsible," Darkrai said. "At the time, an organization was pursuing me, and I came here to rest. I had already lost the ability to consciously control my power, so the girl was drawn into an endless sleep."
Darkrai's tone became despondent as it spoke.
At the same time, rage burned within its eyes, seemingly ready to erupt at any moment.
Grey recalled one of the descriptions he had read about Darkrai.
To protect itself, Darkrai caused the people and Pokémon around it to experience nightmares, but Darkrai itself did not act out of malice.
"Would you mind telling me which organization did this to you?"
Grey raised an eyebrow. He had not expected Darkrai to have been hunted to such an extent.
"I believe they were called Team Plasma."
Darkrai answered honestly.
"Damn it. Why is it always Team Plasma?"
Grey narrowed his eyes.
Unfortunately, Ghetsis had already been arrested, while Colress remained at large. Grey had no way to avenge Darkrai immediately.
"You know them?" Darkrai asked curiously after hearing him mutter to himself.
"I do. I sent their former leader to prison to spend his days making license plates. One of their scientists is still on the run, though. I suspect he's currently in Alola, and I'll be going there myself before long."
Grey nodded as he spoke.
His upcoming trip to Alola was already settled.
Once he brought Caitlin home and handled a few other matters, it would be time to leave.
When Darkrai heard that Grey intended to deal with the remnants of Team Plasma, its eyes suddenly brightened.
"Would you allow me to accompany you to Alola? It is time for me to settle my old grudge."
Darkrai wanted to contribute its strength.
"You can come with me, but if I'm going to take you along, you'll have to enter one of my Poké Balls."
Grey took out an Ultra Ball.
He could not allow Darkrai to wander freely through Saffron City.
That was his city. What would happen if Darkrai's presence caused its residents to suffer nightmares on a massive scale?
Grey was unwilling to gamble with their safety.
If Darkrai genuinely wanted to accompany him, it needed to enter the Ultra Ball. Afterward, it could remain close to Cresselia, allowing their powers over nightmares and pleasant dreams to counteract each other.
"That is acceptable."
Darkrai was focused entirely on taking revenge.
Entering Grey's Poké Ball could also serve as part of its atonement.
Darkrai still considered the deaths of the Ghost Girl and her family to be its fault.
"Since matters have already reached this point, I can only atone in my own way."
Darkrai sighed quietly.
It then leaped down and landed in front of the Strange House.
Standing before the abandoned building, Darkrai bowed deeply.
Under Grey's and Caitlin's watchful eyes, Darkrai erected three gravestones for the family and placed a Gracidea flower on each of them as a final farewell.
"Once the resentment surrounding this family fades completely, I believe their souls will be able to move on and eventually be reborn."
Darkrai looked toward Grey.
"When that time comes, I would like to protect them in their next lives. Would you allow me that opportunity?"
Grey would soon become its Trainer, at least in practice, so Darkrai believed it was better to ask him clearly.
"Of course. When they need their first Pokémon, I can help arrange something suitable."
Grey smiled and nodded, accepting Darkrai's request.
Without that family, he would never have encountered Cresselia or Darkrai.
In a sense, he owed them a great deal.
Since they had helped him, even indirectly, he certainly would not neglect them.
Grey would have no objection to accepting the Ghost Girl's reincarnation as an apprentice either. If she became a psychic, Caitlin and Sabrina could help teach her.
"Thank you."
Darkrai expressed its gratitude.
"You're welcome. It's the least I can do."
Grey ran a hand through his hair and touched the Ultra Ball against Darkrai.
The capture succeeded immediately.
"Let's go. It's time to head to Lentimas Town. Once we meet Skyla tomorrow, we can return to Kanto."
Grey considered how much time had passed.
It had only been two days, yet somehow it felt as though two entire weeks had gone by.
Those had certainly been eventful days.
Over the past two days, Grey had already unlocked most of Caitlin's special bonus scenes. Once he returned home and met Sabrina again, he would probably unlock several more.
After that, it would be time to travel to Alola and settle matters with Team Rocket.
"Okay. I already reserved a hotel in Lentimas Town. If we leave now, the owner should still be holding our room."
Caitlin licked her lips, leaving Grey momentarily speechless.
Why were Psychic-type specialists always like this?
Did they think they could bully him just because he was a Fighting-type Trainer?
Grey was no longer the man he had once been.
It was time for Caitlin to learn just how formidable a Fighting-type specialist could truly be.
The following day, in Lentimas Town, a leaden sky hung low above the desolate settlement, while dust and haze filled the air.
The only conspicuous sight was an airplane parked on the crude runway of the town's small airfield. A thin coating of dust covered its metal fuselage.
"Miu. Grey, do you need me to brew you some water with leaves from the Tree of Beginning?"
Little Riolu sensed that Grey seemed to be missing something, although he did not appear to have lost any actual body parts, so it could not resist asking.
"No need."
Grey was currently overflowing with energy. He felt as though he could kill a Bouffalant with a single punch.
There was absolutely no need to waste something as precious as leaves from the Tree of Beginning.
Caitlin, meanwhile, had flushed cheeks and refused to release Grey's arm.
Just like the jokes people made online, Caitlin had become quiet, obedient, and completely agreeable, resembling a shy girlfriend who would do anything Grey asked.
"Where's Skyla?"
Grey looked around but could not sense any human Aura aboard the airplane.
"Hey! Who's calling me?"
A loud female voice came from a nearby inn.
A tan-skinned woman with a striking figure emerged, wearing tight blue shorts and a matching cropped top. She looked toward Grey and Caitlin.
Among Unova's Gym Leaders, Skyla unquestionably possessed one of the most eye-catching figures.
Many Trainers visited Mistralton City specifically because they wanted to meet her. As a result, the challengers who came to her Gym varied wildly in quality, causing Skyla to lose much of her enthusiasm for ordinary Gym Battles.
In that regard, she was somewhat similar to Lt. Surge.
"Hmm, you must be Gym Leader Grey. Maverick told me about you. Could you let me see your b..."
Skyla's words abruptly stopped, almost as though she had triggered some invisible censor and could no longer pronounce the final word.
Grey understood what she had been trying to say.
"Maybe you should add 'Legendary' before the word you're trying to use."
Grey could not resist complaining.
"Why do people from Unova enjoy dropping the most important qualifiers?"
"Hehe, I was just too excited. I've heard for a long time that you caught Kanto's three Legendary birds. Did you bring them with you today?"
Skyla's eyes shone brightly.
Although she had no interest in battling ordinary challengers, she was naturally eager to face powerful Trainers.
Grey, who owned the three Legendary birds, seemed like the perfect opponent.
"I didn't bring them. Besides, all three have already reached Champion level. I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to give them a satisfying battle."
Grey smiled helplessly.
"They became that powerful already?"
Skyla was astonished.
Champion-level Legendary birds!
In that case, she truly would not be able to satisfy Grey's birds.
Grey fell silent.
He could not shake the feeling that this woman had omitted another extremely important word.
Have mercy on me, censors.
"Do you know Lt. Surge, Skyla?"
Grey was also curious about the relationship between them.
She had even given Lt. Surge the nickname Maverick.
Their relationship clearly was not ordinary.
"Yeah. We met at an aviation academy years ago. Maverick was incredible. Before retiring, he was promoted from major to colonel. Unfortunately, he later left the service and went to Kanto to become a Gym Leader, so we gradually lost contact."
Skyla ran a hand through her fiery red hair and sighed helplessly.
"If Maverick had continued his training, he might have become one of Unova's Elite Four!"
"That's certainly possible."
Grey agreed with Skyla's assessment.
Approximately a month ago, one of Lt. Surge's Pokémon had already begun touching the threshold of Elite Four-level strength.
After another two or three months of steady training, once his entire team reached that level, Lt. Surge would be fully qualified to challenge for a position among Unova's Elite Four.
It even made Grey wonder whether the vacant position from before Caitlin joined the Elite Four had originally been intended for Lt. Surge.
That possibility seemed reasonable.
Unfortunately, Lt. Surge eventually aligned himself with Kanto and became an ordinary Gym Leader there.
His strength placed him directly at the threshold separating Gym Leaders from the Elite Four.
"All right, I won't keep talking. When are the two of you planning to leave? Do you want to fly to Kanto immediately?"
Skyla was curious about their plans.
Caitlin had chartered her services, so Skyla did not care when they departed. The decision primarily depended on what Caitlin wanted.
"Let's leave now. I want to return to Kanto as soon as possible."
Caitlin wore a blissful smile. After speaking, she nestled against Grey's chest with a blush on her face.
"Wow, you two are adorable."
Skyla could not resist teasing them.
"Remember to invite me to the wedding! I'll fly over Saffron City and write a congratulatory message across the sky!"
"Of course. We'll definitely invite you."
Grey patted his chest.
He had already begun developing plans for his wedding.
There would probably be a great many guests.
He would need to invite a large group from the Kanto League, his close friends Steven and Wallace from Hoenn, his dear friend Lisia, Cynthia and the overworked Elite Four from Sinnoh, N from Unova, and many others.
Simply listing everyone would take a long time.
Grey planned to hold the wedding as soon as everything had been settled, meaning after he defeated Giovanni and ensured that the man was finally arrested.
As for the World Championships, Grey could participate after the wedding.
His schedule was becoming rather tight.
"Then get aboard! Ace pilot Skyla is ready for takeoff!"
Skyla ushered Grey and Caitlin into the cabin before entering the cockpit, starting the airplane, and setting a course for Kanto.
After a flight lasting nearly ten hours, the airplane finally arrived in the Kanto region.
"A private airplane can't approach Saffron City too closely, so we had to land in Vermilion City. This works out perfectly, since I can visit Maverick."
After stepping off the airplane, Skyla explained the situation to them.
Grey understood.
Saffron City was not a place where just anyone could enter its airspace.
Vermilion City was directly connected to Saffron City anyway, and this gave them an opportunity to greet Lt. Surge.
When Grey heard that Skyla planned to meet him, he decided to accompany her.
Back when Grey was more active in the group chat, he would frequently provoke Lt. Surge for entertainment.
Unfortunately, Grey rarely participated in the chat anymore. Without the opportunity to tease Lt. Surge, life seemed to have lost a little of its fun.
With that thought, Grey decided to play a small prank on him.
[Dojo Annihilape: Hey, jailbird, where are you?]
[Retired Unovan Colonel: Vermilion Harbor. Why?]
[Dojo Annihilape: Nothing serious. Someone from the League said she needs to see you. She sounded pretty urgent, so you might want to hurry back and find out what's happening.]
//Check out my P@tre0n for 30 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810.