"Thank you for telling me. I'll go buy a Lunar Wing. If it works, I'll let you know, Nurse Joy," Gary said calmly.
Nurse Joy forced a tired smile. "Thank you… I hope it really helps."
Leaving the Pokémon Center, Gary's expression gradually turned serious.
Buying the Lunar Wing?
That was only an excuse.
He knew very well that the so-called Lunar Wings being sold nearby were fake. The real Lunar Wing belonged to Cresselia, not something that could be mass-produced and sold on a roadside stall.
What mattered was not the fake merchandise.
What mattered was Darkrai.
According to the timeline, Ash and his group should already be near Canalave City. They were likely resting on one of the surrounding islands. The Team Rocket trio's nightmare machine had attracted Darkrai through its abnormal radio waves, amplifying nightmare energy and disrupting its senses.
In the original events, when Ash and the others headed toward Newmoon Island, Cresselia sensed Darkrai leaving its territory. Once Ash landed, Cresselia appeared and drove Darkrai away.
Gary narrowed his eyes.
He had to act before Cresselia intervened.
Once Cresselia appeared, capturing Darkrai would become unpredictable. A battle between two Mythical Pokémon would not be easy to interrupt.
He had no time to waste.
Gary released Cyclizar and Gengar.
"Cyclizar, full speed."
"Cycli—zar."
Cyclizar roared lightly and accelerated forward. Gary rode across the sea bridge toward the nearby island. Wind rushed past his ears as they crossed the bridge connecting the small park island.
From a distance, he saw a crowd gathered.
The Team Rocket trio stood proudly on a makeshift platform, waving fake Lunar Wings.
"Limited stock! Guaranteed to prevent nightmares!"
"Buy now and sleep peacefully tonight!"
"Meowth guarantees it works, meow!"
People, desperate from days of insomnia and nightmares, paid high prices without hesitation.
Gary didn't even glance at them.
He wasn't interested in their scam.
He was searching for the source.
After recalling Cyclizar, Gary and Gengar began scanning the area.
Darkrai had the characteristics of a Ghost-type Pokémon—it could merge into shadows, hide within darkness, and conceal its presence completely.
But that ability was meaningless in front of Gary.
His perception ability allowed him to see through concealed shadows.
"Gengar," Gary said quietly, "if you see Darkrai, use Mean Look immediately. Don't give it a chance to escape."
"Gengaaaar!"
Gengar grinned sharply and slipped into the surrounding shadows.
They began searching every corner of the island.
Under trees.
Behind buildings.
Inside overlapping shadows cast by lamp posts.
Time passed slowly.
One hour.
Then two.
Still no sign.
Suddenly—
BOOM!!
An explosion sounded in the distance.
Gary looked up just in time to see the Team Rocket trio blasting off again, turning into a sparkling star in the sky.
"…So Ash has arrived earlier than expected."
That meant events were accelerating.
Cresselia would not be far behind.
"We don't have much time."
Gary released two more Pokémon.
"Arcanine. Togetic."
"Awoooo!"
"Boke!"
Arcanine immediately lowered its head, sniffing carefully. Its senses were sharp; even faint residual Dark-type energy could not escape it.
Togetic hovered beside Gary, wings fluttering gently.
"Spread out," Gary ordered. "Search every shadow."
Gengar moved through the darkness.
Arcanine tracked scent trails.
Togetic floated above, watching carefully.
"Boke!" Togetic chirped, signaling toward one side.
"Gengaaaar?" Gengar floated upward, slightly annoyed at being directed.
Togetic gave it a calm, steady look.
Gengar clicked its tongue but continued searching.
The atmosphere grew heavier.
Even without visible nightmares, faint Dark-type energy lingered in the air.
Then—
Gary stopped.
Ahead lay twisted metal and broken equipment.
"This is…"
Fragments of a strange machine were scattered across the grass.
The nightmare manufacturing device.
He remembered.
In the original situation, Darkrai had remained near the destroyed machine after it malfunctioned.
Gary focused his perception.
A shadow.
Not an ordinary shadow.
It pulsed slightly.
He concentrated further.
[LV50 Darkrai / Quasi-Legendary]
Found it.
Gary's eyes narrowed slightly.
Level 50.
Lower than expected.
Darkrai had not yet awakened Dark Void. No wonder it struggled to control its Ability and unintentionally caused nightmares.
Still—
It was Darkrai.
The Nightmare Pokémon.
"Togetic. Dazzling Gleam—at that shadow."
"Boke!"
Togetic's body erupted with brilliant white light. The radiance expanded outward, illuminating every inch of darkness.
A sharp cry pierced the air.
"Dark… rai!"
The shadow twisted violently.
Darkrai burst out from concealment, cloak-like body fluttering, single blue eye glowing fiercely.
The light struck it directly.
The effect was overwhelming.
Dark-type Pokémon were highly vulnerable to Fairy-type attacks.
Darkrai crashed to the ground.
"Gengar—Mean Look!"
"Gengaaaar!"
A red glare shot from Gengar's eyes, locking onto Darkrai. Escape paths were sealed.
"Togetic, Fairy Wind."
Gentle yet concentrated Fairy-type energy swirled forward.
Darkrai tried to retaliate.
Black energy surged from its body—Night Shade.
But the shadowy wave was torn apart by the Fairy Wind.
"Dark… rai!"
The attack hit cleanly.
Darkrai trembled and fell heavily onto the ground.
Its body flickered weakly.
Arcanine stepped forward, flames faintly igniting as a warning.
"Awooo…"
Darkrai tried to rise.
Its blue eye glowed again.
The air grew colder.
Gary could feel it.
Nightmare energy was attempting to spread.
But without Dark Void, without sufficient level, it was unstable.
"Finish it. Dazzling Gleam."
"Boke!"
Light flooded the area once more.
Darkrai gave a final strained cry.
"Daaark…!"
Then it collapsed completely.
Silence returned.
Gary stepped forward calmly.
He removed an Ultra Ball.
"Go."
The ball struck Darkrai and opened.
A red beam absorbed the unconscious Pokémon.
The Ultra Ball landed on the grass.
It shook once.
Twice.
Three times.
Click.
The button dimmed.
Capture successful.
At that moment, a system notification echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Release mission: Conquer the Pokémon (Darkrai, Cresselia) to control Dreams and Moons.
Reward: For each conquered—Gold Bottle Cap x1, Ability Enhancement Fabric x1, Ability Expansion Stone x1.
Conquer all—Master Rare Candy x6, Ability Enhancement Stone x2, Ability Expansion Fabric x2, God's Crown x1.]
Another notification followed.
[Ding! Successfully subdued Darkrai. Rewards have been distributed to the space backpack.]