Read up to 15 more chapters on my Pa_____tr___on at Pikatl.
-------------------------
What happened…
It was just about what Sam had guessed.
Darkrai had originally been living peacefully in its secluded cave.
But then—
Someone had set up several strange machines around its dwelling.
From these devices pulsed eerie sound waves, subtle yet invasive.
And for a Pokémon like Darkrai, whose power is deeply linked to aura and emotion…
They were catastrophic.
Those distorted waves began to interfere with the natural flow of energy in Darkrai's body—
Leading it into a state of uncontrollable frenzy.
Its sanity… slowly devoured.
Its control… shattered.
In that chaos, its aura bled out, blanketing Mine Island in a curtain of nightmares.
The entire population found themselves trapped in restless, endless sleep.
Unable to wake. Unable to rest.
"A soundwave that can drive a Pokémon berserk ?"
Sam stood quietly, fingers brushing his chin in contemplation.
"In the source material, only Team Rocket has that kind of capability."
As he recalled.
In the anime, Team Rocket had used genetic science and psychological conditioning to force Pokémon into submission.
In the games, they used radio waves to trigger evolution, such as transforming a simple Magikarp into a Red Gyarados, changing even its color.
"But this is Sinnoh Region…"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Even if the Rockets are powerful, they'd be stretching their reach to operate here."
"And this place—Darkrai's cave—is too well hidden. Only the locals would even know of its existence…"
"Could it be that the Rockets have allied with Team Galactic?"
His gaze darkened slightly.
"Is Giovanni already laying the groundwork for Team Rainbow Rocket…?"
He exhaled.
"No matter. I'll inform Cynthia later and have her keep an eye on it."
His attention returned to Darkrai, who floated silently in front of him.
After the intense battle just moments ago, Sam found himself more and more impressed by the Pokémon.
If Lucario hadn't countered it so thoroughly.
If not for the natural attribute advantage and Aura resistance.
Most trainers wouldn't have stood a chance.
Darkrai's body was elusive and blurred, almost like a Ghost-type.
Its ability to phase through walls gave it near-perfect mobility.
And its signature move—Dark Void.
It could instantly plunge opponents into a forced sleep with a high success rate.
"Up front, it's a dangerous assassin."
"From the rear, it can weaken foes and tilt battles from the shadows."
Sam's eyes gleamed slightly.
"It's the ideal Pokémon for disruption."
As for Darkrai's nightmares?
Sam wasn't concerned.
Just like Rapidash's flames—
They'd burn anyone who got too close.
But it's trainer?
The fire would feel like a warm blanket.
The same principle applied to Darkrai.
Its nightmare-inducing aura wouldn't affect its bonded trainer.
What's more, Darkrai had already reached the Champion tier.
A Darkrai of that level could control its power with precision.
When Sam first entertained the idea of capturing it…
Darkrai, too, was silently observing him.
Those piercing Cianwood-blue eyes locked onto Sam's calm expression.
It could sense it—
An eternal, serene energy flowed within this human.
A quiet strength.
The strength of someone worth following.
He hadn't just fought Darkrai.
He'd proven himself.
That was the reason Darkrai had been living alone all this time.
It hadn't found the right trainer.
But Sam…
He was different.
There was something unspoken—something ancient—surrounding him.
Darkrai felt it, even if it couldn't explain it.
A protective aura.
A whisper of dominion.
A trace of… something far greater.
It was the kind of aura that didn't belong to just a powerful human.
It felt like it came from a Pokémon.
A mythical one.
One that ruled from the very top.
Darkrai's instincts trembled.
Not in fear—But in recognition.
This… was a trainer worth following.
Sam didn't bother hiding his intent.
Looking Darkrai straight in the eyes, he said calmly and sincerely:
"Darkrai, would you like to be our partner?"
Then he placed a hand on Lucario's shoulder and continued,
"Come with us. Let's travel the world—grow stronger together. Become the best version of yourself."
Darkrai wasn't some newly hatched Caterpie.
It was a fully sentient being—a Pokémon whose heart could feel, whose mind could perceive.
If Sam had tried to deceive it…
Even if it didn't immediately see through the lie, such deception would've poisoned any bond from the beginning.
Instead, he chose honesty.
Even if it meant walking a harder path—
It was the right path.
"…Hiss~"
Darkrai let out a low sound and nodded.
It didn't speak much—
But it didn't need to.
That nod carried its answer.
Darkrai, the master of nightmares, would walk beside him.
Sam's eyes lit up, a calm but genuine warmth spreading across his face.
Without hesitation, he pulled out a Luxury Ball from his coat pocket.
"Alright," he said, aiming the ball forward.
"This won't hurt. Don't resist."
"Once you're inside, the bond will be sealed."
"…Hiss~"
Darkrai nodded again, eyes steady.
The button on the Luxury Ball clicked.
A flash of red light surged out.
And Darkrai was pulled inside.
Click. Click. Click…
Ping.
The Luxury Ball gave one last wobble—then fell still.
The bond was formed.
A mythical partner had joined his team.
Sam pressed the button again, releasing the shadowy figure.
Darkrai emerged in a soft flicker of darkness.
"…Hiss~ …Hiss~"
Darkrai pointed to the Luxury Ball still in Sam's hand, speaking in soft growls.
Sam furrowed his brows.
"…You don't like being inside it?"
The answer came instantly:
Darkrai nodded.
"It's uncomfortable," was the unspoken message.
Sam chuckled softly.
"I see."
Luxury Balls were beautiful—sleek, rare, and expensive.
But clearly, they didn't suit a Pokémon like Darkrai.
"I'll get you a Dream Ball when I have the chance," Sam promised.
"They're niche and hard to find… but they're perfect for you."
"…Hiss~"
Darkrai made a soft sound in agreement.
Then—without warning—its body began to blur like mist…
And in the next instant, it melted into Sam's shadow.
"Huh?"
Sam's eyes widened.
"Darkrai…? You can do that?"
He turned in place, watching as the shadow beneath his feet shimmered—then reformed.
A faint ripple moved, and Darkrai's head emerged from the shadow like a silent phantom.
It waved once at Sam.
A casual gesture—
As if to say: "No big deal."
Sam was thoroughly impressed.
This ability—being able to hide inside his Trainer's shadow—
Was something he'd only heard of from top-tier Ghost-types.
But Darkrai…
A Dark-type and mythical Pokémon…
Could you do it too?
This was far more than just convenient.
In the middle of a battle, Darkrai could re-emerge from the shadows, catching enemies completely off guard.
"I won't even need to get you a Dream Ball anymore," Sam thought.
"You've already found your ideal place."
He smiled in satisfaction.
His team… was growing stronger.
Just as he was beginning to relax—
A sudden noise split the night air.
WEE-OOO!!
WEE-OOO!!
Sam turned sharply.
In the distance, several uniform black-and-white Zipp cars with spinning sirens were heading his way.
Their lights painted red and blue flashes over the darkened landscape.
"Officer Jenny's task force," Sam muttered with a sigh.
From the look of their vehicles and emblems, he could tell—these were regional investigators.
Probably dispatched from the central division on Mine Island.
Just fought a berserk Darkrai.
Caused a huge disturbance.
Of course, they came running.
They were just a little… slow.
Still—
They came.
That much was reliable.
Sam shook his head with a wry smile.
"Jenny is never absent…"
"…Just always late."