"Get out of here!"
The black nightmare streaked through the sky at breakneck speed, recklessly charging at Dialga, dark energy pulsing between its claws.
"That's… Darkrai!"
Lillie gasped, covering her mouth as she stared at the charging nightmare.
That familiar form—it was unmistakably Darkrai! Dylan also had one, so there was no way she could be mistaken.
"But… how does this Darkrai dare?!"
Leaf was equally stunned. What shocked her most was that this Darkrai actually had the audacity to attack Dialga.
That was the battlefield of Dialga and Palkia!
High above, Dialga's roar shook the heavens as blue energy built in its mouth, preparing another Roar of Time against Palkia.
It noticed the incoming Darkrai—but dismissed it immediately.
Just a mere Darkrai. Mortals may call it the God of Nightmares and cower in fear, but to Dialga, it was nothing more than an oversized insect.
Not worth its attention.
But then—
Boom!
The black Dark Pulse slammed straight into Dialga's head.
The blast tilted the time dragon's skull aside, making it stagger.
That was far stronger than it had expected from a Darkrai!
"ROAR!!"
Dialga bellowed in rage, glaring at the nightmare with fury.
This pest… actually dared to strike it?!
"Get out!"
But Darkrai wasn't cowed in the slightest. Its body was no larger than Dialga's head, yet it radiated defiance and blazing fury.
With a growl, Dialga fired a Dragon Pulse, intending to make it regret its insolence.
The draconic beam ripped through the sky, but Darkrai slipped aside with ease, its movements swift and fluid.
Dialga lunged, firing again.
Darkrai twisted and dodged frantically, but prolonged defense could not last. At last, one blazing beam clipped it hard, sending Darkrai plummeting to the ground.
Before Dialga could follow up with a finishing blow, Palkia dove in—its Aura Sphere exploding against Dialga's flank.
The time dragon snarled, turning its fury back onto Palkia as the two resumed their brutal clash.
"That Darkrai is really strong…"
Leaf whispered in awe. Though it had been blasted down, to even clash with Dialga at all was incredible.
"Mm. Its level is high, but that's not the point…"
Dylan's eyes stayed on Darkrai, which once more rose into the air, charging back toward the warring gods without hesitation.
"What matters is… its will to protect this place. That kind of resolve can elevate it."
In truth, the Pokémon world had proven it countless times—bond, conviction, and will could create miracles.
Darkrai was powerful, yes, but it wasn't on the same level as the time and space dragons. Not even close.
But its unwavering determination to protect the town and the Space-Time Tower could work wonders.
Yes—miracles!
Above, Palkia and Dialga clashed furiously, while Darkrai wove desperately between them, trying with all its might to drive them apart.
But neither god cared. In their eyes, only their opponent existed. Darkrai was little more than an annoyance.
The battle escalated toward its climax. Darkrai was blasted down again, while Palkia and Dialga stood opposite each other in the heavens—violet and blue radiance crackling.
Dialga raised its head high, maw glowing with twisted temporal energy.
Palkia leaned forward, claws gleaming as they tore at the fabric of space.
Roar of Time!
Spacial Rend!
The beam of time and the blade of space hurtled toward each other, destined to collide in a cataclysm that would level the town below.
But then—
A shadow appeared between them.
Darkrai spread its arms wide, pouring every ounce of its energy into a storm of darkness, trying to block both attacks.
"It's trying to kill itself?!"
Leaf was horrified. Was Darkrai throwing its life away?!
Lillie pressed her hands to her chest, eyes locked on the black figure in the sky.
It was clear—Darkrai couldn't hold them back. Its dark pulse quivered, straining against the overwhelming force of time and space.
"Dylan." Cynthia turned sharply toward him, pleading in her gaze.
If those attacks struck, Darkrai would surely die.
"Palkia." Dylan nodded. If this were the movie version, Darkrai wouldn't die here.
But just in case…
At his command, the Origin Dragon's eyes flashed, wrapping Darkrai in a translucent spatial bubble.
Boom!!
The cataclysmic collision engulfed Darkrai.
The bubble absorbed much of the devastation, though the blast still hurled Darkrai down heavily wounded.
But… for an instant, Palkia's Origin Form swore it saw some of that energy being absorbed into Darkrai itself.
Surely an illusion. Impossible… right?
Both dragons halted, turning to stare at Palkia's Origin Form. They had seen it intervene.
"You've fought long enough. Isn't it time to stop?"
Dylan's voice carried across the battlefield.
"…"
Dialga was silent. Palkia also gave no answer. Their anger remained.
After all, their realms had been trespassed. Their pride trampled.
If not for Dylan's presence, they would never have stopped.
"You two are stubborn. What if I told you this was all just a misunderstanding?"
Dylan clicked his tongue with a faint smile.
"?"
Both dragons froze.
"Arceus is awakening. That's why your realms collided." Dylan explained briefly.
The dragons blinked in shock.
Especially Palkia. It had fought to defend its domain, even having its shoulder pearl shattered by Dialga's strike—only to now learn it had all been… a mistake?!
"…So that's how it is." Dialga feigned enlightenment, though its heart burned with embarrassment.
Yes, it had beaten Palkia down rather harshly. But it wasn't too hurt itself—so, fine. Consider it settled.
"Human… no, Dylan!"
Palkia's telepathic voice rang sharply in Dylan's mind.
They had barely met before, only briefly during the Desert City battle.
"Hm?" Dylan responded silently.
"Help me beat Dialga up! I'll owe you a favor. I'll come whenever you call."
Palkia's voice seethed with frustration. Smartly, it kept the message private.
Dialga narrowed its eyes at Palkia's silence. Something was off. Very off.
By rights, Palkia should have stormed away in humiliation after losing. Yet here it lingered… plotting?
"This isn't really easy to manage…" Dylan hesitated.
"And you know, I get along pretty well with Dialga." He spread his hands helplessly. Dialga was his friend—they had even made a promise.
"Tch! That four-legged lizard is worthless. Dylan, if you help me, I'll reward you greatly. Trust me—you'll be interested." Palkia insisted.
"…Is that so."
Dylan's curiosity stirred. From a primordial dragon of space, the reward could be priceless.
"In that case, maybe I'll—huh?"
Before he could finish, Dialga had already opened a time vortex and dived in headfirst.
"Damn that cowardly lizard!!"
Palkia roared with rage. With its injuries and Dialga's speed, it couldn't stop it.
And since their realms were separate, it couldn't pursue into Dialga's domain.
Unless it caught Dialga again in the present world, it couldn't find it.
"Dylan! My promise still stands! If you ever get the chance to thrash Dialga, I—"
But Dylan cut it off, eyes fixed below.
"I think you should worry about yourself right now, Palkia."
"What?"
Palkia looked down—and its eyes bulged.
From a spreading shadow, two crimson eyes glared upward.
That was… Giratina!
"Stay away from me!!"
Terrified, Palkia bolted upward, trying to open a space vortex.
But the Origin Forme Giratina lunged from the darkness like a serpent, jaws snapping shut on Palkia and dragging it down.
"No! Don't!!"
Palkia screamed, thrashing wildly, but Giratina's strength far outmatched its own—especially with Palkia already wounded.
Cynthia's eyes widened in horror.
The centipede-like shadow dragon bit down, hauling Palkia into the black vortex.
That was the Distortion World.
"Giratina… it got here this quickly?" Dylan raised an eyebrow.
As expected, the ultimate schemer.
Palkia's eyes filled with despair. Even now, it raged in its heart.
"Dylan! You must help me beat Dialga! I'll come back for it!!"
(End of Chapter)