Cresselia—the Legendary Pokémon of the New Moon—descended, and everyone below widened their eyes.
The nightmare energy haunting this place was completely purified. After Darkrai's departure, Cresselia's voice of gratitude rang out.
From afar, Cresselia glided closer.
It wished to grant Hikaru something important… as thanks!
It was the genuine Lunar Wing!
A shimmering feather, glowing with lunar light, drifted into Hikaru's hand.
[Item: Lunar Wing (Special)]
[Description: A veil-like feather that shines with moonlight. Possesses the power to dispel nightmares!]
[Effect: Dispels nightmare energy and nightmare worlds, healing one's spirit and mind. As it is genuine, its power is far greater than replicas!]
[Note: A feather imbued with Cresselia's gratitude. Its lunar power may allow Psychic- or Fairy-type Pokémon to learn new moves.]
[Quest Complete]
[Rewards: Release Orbs ×10, Echo of the Spirit World ×1, Ghostly Gift ×1, Radiant Soul ×1, Fantasia Force ×1]
[The World Link has increased quest rewards. The gratitude of Cresselia, Darkrai, and the ghostly girl have merged into the Linked World.]
[Echo of the Spirit World: A wave from beyond, capable of healing spirits and Ghost Pokémon.]
[Ghostly Gift: A charm that greatly increases affinity with Ghost Pokémon and true spirits.]
[Radiant Soul: The radiance of human and Pokémon spirits. Your "sunlight" ability has strengthened, allowing you to emit brilliant light to banish Ghost weaknesses. You may bestow this light upon any soul, letting them clearly feel the world!]
[Fantasia Force: A mysterious energy that blurs the boundaries between worlds—the same power used to create Hoenn's Mirage Tower. A Pokémon infused with this cannot be affected by any effects other than damage.]
[Note: Dream Link, Part II]
[Extras: Craftable items—Aroma of Dispelling, Peerless Glasses, Gate of Fantasia]
[Bonus!]
[Darkrai of the Stars has granted you free passage through the Nightmare World. There, you will be regarded as a vessel of "Darkrai's" power. Other Darkrai may take interest in you.]
"Let's get you treated."
Hikaru took out energy capsules and revitalizers for Deoxys. But after exhausting itself, its body still blinked faintly.
Beep… beep… beep…
The sound was weak, but present.
It quietly gazed at Darkrai's passing—its soul soaring skyward, drawn by the stars back to the cosmos.
[My distant home…]
Deoxys longed, recalling its own past.
There are countless Pokémon worlds in the universe. This one was merely one among many.
Perhaps Darkrai would be reborn out in the stars, its soul returning from shadows to live again.
Who could say how souls moved in the universe?
Yet Deoxys knew—souls could indeed return. At the Tower of Heaven, it had seen departed spirits still lingering.
This world truly was mysterious.
"But there is rebirth here too," Hikaru said gently, patting it.
The Aura Guardians themselves were proof of souls reborn.
[C-Device Skin: A new skin obtained by completing a special world event. Records the resonance of "Darkrai of the Stars." Grants access to "Nightmare Signal"—boosting Dark-type power and enabling communication with the Nightmare World.]
"The nightmares are gone. New dreams will heal this place. Now only one task remains."
This dreamlike battle had ended. Skyla gazed at the endless cosmos, her heart thumping wildly.
For a pilot, the skies were only the beginning—the path to space itself. She, too, was grateful to Darkrai.
It had given her back her memories, shown her a wondrous new sky. She cast a sidelong glance at Hikaru, hiding a mysterious smile.
Shauntal, meanwhile, was thrilled. What a treasure trove of material for her ghost stories!
Back inside the Stranger's House, the spirit energy dispersed.
"The door opened!"
The once pristine chamber appeared as it had years ago—the central room of the house, the girl's boudoir.
On the bed lay a faint spirit—the ghostly girl. Just as Hikaru said, she had returned here. Holding passion and hope, she slumbered again—this time peacefully, smiling without nightmares.
In the room, the genuine Lunar Wing shone brilliantly.
Hikaru placed Purifying Talismans around the chamber. Negative emotions—terror, grief, pain—swirled like a vortex, then vanished.
"Incredible… the suffering and sorrow… it's gone?"
Granny Wind was astonished. The curse haunting Lentimas Town for generations might truly be ending.
The girl stirred, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
This time, she had truly awakened.
No nightmares, no corruption. Her soul felt as though touched by a warm, gentle breeze. She stared blankly at Hikaru, reached out…
She touched him!
Startled, she pulled back, cheeks reddening.
She had never dreamed she could touch the living again. It was like a fairytale—like a knight waking a princess.
But she was older than them all. Why be shy? She scolded herself, but also realized—her long-lost emotions and memories were returning.
Feelings she hadn't known in ages.
She looked at Hikaru, gratitude in her eyes.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, milady."
Hikaru took her hand, guiding her before everyone like a dance partner.
She wore the style of a Lass Trainer.
Though shy, she knew these feelings meant she was truly free of the nightmare. Summoning courage, she accepted his hand gracefully.
Yet she felt a pang. Warmth reminded her she was still a soul of the departed.
Ah… but others were here too.
She saw Granny Wind. Her lips trembled as she whispered:
"Granny Wind… I'm awake. It's been so long!"
Her voice was pure, like a songbird's, not frightening at all.
"Nayla… you remember me?"
Granny Wind's eyes widened. When last they met, the girl could only cling to the Lunar Wing. Her memories were shattered. But now… had they returned?
Shauntal was ecstatic: "At the Celestial Tower I saw countless spirits, but speaking with a human soul like this—it's my first time!"
"The spirit has awakened. Though nightmare energy still lingers, it will no longer affect her," Hikaru smiled. "My pact with Cresselia is fulfilled."
"Even so, not all spirits must return to the afterlife."
Many Ghosts linger in the world. If only to spook people in haunted houses, Dusknoir won't punish them. Only malicious ghosts—like the lost spirit girl of Mt. Coronet—are hunted.
But this girl was clearly kind. Even in death, she had wished only to return the Lunar Wing.
"Hello! I'm Skyla, a pilot from Mistralton City!"
Skyla offered her hand. The girl hesitated, but curiosity shone in her eyes.
Granny Wind explained, smiling: "Don't you remember Skyla? The little red-haired girl who used to play with Grandpa Myer."
Nayla blinked. Memories resurfaced—a tall old pilot, and a red-haired girl who played with her.
But she couldn't reconcile the tall young woman before her with that child.
"You… grew up?"
"Yes, I grew tall, and I don't cry anymore," Skyla smiled warmly. "You were tall back then too. We played together, didn't we?"
"Yes…" Nayla nodded softly, smiling but sad. "It's been so long. Little Skyla has grown up. Only my time stayed frozen at death."
"I remember we argued once—was flying better, or teleportation?"
"Flying, of course!" Skyla said instantly. "Even if I cried back then, I still think so! Flying may be slower, but you see the scenery and feel the joy of soaring. Teleporting, you feel nothing."
Nayla laughed: "Not true! Teleportation saves time, lets you visit more places. The view from the ground is nice too—the sky's just clouds."
"Flying is better!"
"Teleporting is better!"
The two argued, then burst into laughter.
The quarrel of childhood was reborn in this moment. Time had reconnected them.
"Skyla is still as cute as ever!"
Nayla glowed with happiness. Though she had died, those she loved still lived, and her memories had not faded. Her soul shone faintly with light.
Then she turned to Shauntal, who felt like an older sister.
"Me? I'm Shauntal, a Ghost novelist!"
"A… Ghost novelist?" Nayla tilted her head. But when she heard "Ghost," she asked eagerly: "Are you… a Ghost-type Trainer?"
"Exactly! I'm a member of Unova's Elite Four."
"The Elite Four… how wonderful." Her eyes brimmed with envy. Once, she too had wished to be a Trainer.
Abra—yes, when she died, her parents had sent Abra around the world with Teleport, seeking a cure. But after her parents died, Abra vanished.
Where was it now?
"It's here."
Hikaru produced the White Stone of Gratitude.
"No matter where Abra is, I can let you meet it."
"But I wonder—if Abra returned, could a spirit also be a Trainer?"
"Me?" Nayla was stunned. "But… I'm already dead."
Hikaru shrugged. "Alive or dead makes no difference. You still exist."
"In fact, this world's creator is merciful that way. Many spirits linger here. As long as they don't harm the living, how they 'live' is their choice."
It sounded unbelievable. But it was true.
In Kalos' Haunted House, the old man Cole had been dead 200 years, yet still haunted travelers with his Gastly family.
In Kanto's Lavender Town, the nameless girl ghost lingered with a talking Gastly who claimed it only "worked there part-time."
In "The Faraway Blue Sky," Ash had met Haruto, a boy spirit whose Aura let him touch Pokémon, unseen by his parents yet always beside them.
And in-game, countless ghosts existed—delivering letters, haunting elevators, even watching battles as close-range "nuclear observers."
Even Hikaru's own crystals contained legendary souls.
"As long as your soul burns with passion, you can live on. Look, the Ghost Pokémon here are your friends."
"I know someone trying to revive their partner. Maybe not possible, but… ghosts lack only bodies. And some are visible only to certain people."
"Compared to other spirits, your power is strong—everyone here can see you."
"Granted, everyone here is special in some way. But let me help you."
Light poured from Hikaru's hands. Nayla's soul filled with radiance. For a moment, she felt her heart beating again!
Souls have minds, but not hearts. Yet now—life pulsed within her.
"Radiant Soul… now you can truly feel this world. You are special, even as a ghost."
"Next, let me reunite you with your partner."
He quickly carved statues with his chisel—of Nayla's Abra, and Tapu Fini.
"What's that Pokémon?" Shauntal blinked. The shark-like one seemed powerful.
"Tapu Fini, guardian deity of Alola. Its mist lets the living and dead meet again. By carving its form, then the form of one you wish to see, and using Spirit Cloth as a medium, I can call forth the mist."
"If Abra still lives, it will appear."
Mist filled the chamber. Before their expectant eyes, a yellow Pokémon materialized in a flash of Teleport.
But it was no longer Abra.
It was Kadabra.
The foxlike Psychic-type froze, staring at the ghostly girl. Her clear eyes and joyful smile were unmistakable. She had awakened—free of nightmares—like revived.
Impossible! Kadabra thought it must be an illusion. But when Nayla's familiar voice called, its body stiffened.
It was her! Nayla! Its long-dead Trainer!
How could she be alive? How could she be before it?
"Abra… no, you evolved!"
Nayla reached out. This time, her hand touched Kadabra's fur.
"In Tapu Fini's mist, the living and dead can touch," Hikaru explained.
The girl trembled, then tears streamed from her eyes.
"I—I'm so happy!" she sobbed, embracing Kadabra.
The yellow fox, intelligent though it was, could not understand this miracle—but it was real.
It gently patted her back.
At last, it said what she longed to hear:
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Nayla. I'm back."
(End of Chapter)
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