Gary sat quietly on the edge of the bed, the dim ceiling light casting long shadows across the Pokémon Center room. The curtains were half drawn, and the early morning glow had not yet begun to filter through.
Darkrai floated silently before him, its shadowy form blending naturally into the darkness.
The previous night, Gary had strengthened Darkrai's Ability.
Now—
It was time to evaluate the results properly.
He opened his system interface and projected Darkrai's updated data in front of him.
Pokémon: Darkrai
Type: Dark
Level: 50
Potential: Legendary
Ability: EX Nightmare (If the opponent is asleep and struck by Darkrai's moves, the opponent loses one-quarter of its maximum HP.)
Moves: Disable, Quick Attack, Hypnosis, Sucker Punch, Night Shade, Double Team
Taught Moves: Rain Dance, Drain Punch, Rest, Protect, Rock Slide, Dream Eater, Shadow Ball, Hyper Beam, Ice Beam, Shadow Claw, Sludge Bomb, Thunderbolt, Swords Dance, Hidden Power
Friendship: 225 / 255
It was exactly as Gary had predicted.
Originally, Nightmare drained one-eighth of a sleeping opponent's stamina.
Now—
One-quarter.
A full twenty-five percent of maximum HP per successful strike while the target remained asleep.
In real combat conditions, that wasn't minor chip damage.
It was percentage-based.
Against opponents of equal strength, that level of drain was devastating. One successful Hypnosis, followed by a properly timed attack, could cripple even elite-tier Pokémon before they had a chance to recover.
It turned sleep into a death sentence.
"Dak."
Darkrai's crimson eye glowed faintly.
It could feel the difference.
The oppressive aura surrounding it had grown heavier, denser—like a pressure system quietly expanding outward. The shadows around its body rippled subtly, reacting to the change.
"You can feel it, can't you?" Gary asked calmly.
"Dak."
Darkrai nodded once.
It felt stronger.
More complete.
But also—
Less stable.
Gary folded his arms.
"Then try removing the Lunar Wing for a while," he said. "Let's test whether you can suppress the Ability now."
Darkrai hesitated.
"Da…k."
This was a human city.
If its Ability leaked uncontrollably, people and Pokémon alike would suffer nightmares again.
Gary's expression remained calm.
"It's only one night. Even if they don't sleep well, they'll recover."
His tone was practical rather than cruel.
If the experiment failed, he would simply restore the Lunar Wing immediately.
After several seconds of silence, Darkrai nodded.
"Dak."
It reached into its shadowy carry space and removed the Lunar Wing.
The pale feather drifted gently before Gary.
He took it carefully and placed it near his pillow for safety.
Then, as if recalling something else, Gary retrieved a Gold Bottle Cap from his system storage.
"One more thing."
He held it up.
"Let's increase your potential as well."
The item activated in his palm.
A faint golden shimmer passed through Darkrai's body, flowing along the contours of its shadow form like liquid light.
Darkrai blinked.
It didn't feel an immediate physical transformation.
No sudden surge of strength.
No violent awakening.
But something subtle shifted.
An internal ceiling—
Lifted.
A distant boundary—
Moved further away.
Its potential expanded.
Darkrai didn't dwell on the sensation.
It was more concerned with the experiment.
Could it finally control Nightmare?
The Next Morning
Gary woke at dawn.
Soft light filtered through the curtains.
He had slept soundly.
The Lunar Wing resting nearby had protected him completely.
He sat up immediately.
"How did it go?" he asked without preamble.
"Dak…"
Darkrai shook its head.
It had not gone well.
Those inside the Pokémon Center had remained unaffected due to the Lunar Wing's proximity.
However—
Nearby neighborhoods.
Hotels.
Residential buildings within a certain radius.
Many people had experienced unusually vivid nightmares.
Some had woken multiple times in fear.
Because Nightmare had been enhanced, the dreams had felt disturbingly real.
Darkrai's voice lowered.
"Dak…"
Some children had reportedly cried through the night.
Gary frowned slightly.
"So you still can't suppress it."
Darkrai lowered its gaze.
When it sensed distress spreading through the city, it felt… unsettled.
It never intended harm.
Long ago, when it had lived among other Pokémon, it hadn't understood why they avoided it after restless nights. Only after repeated isolation did it realize—
It was the source.
That was why it chose Newmoon Island.
Solitude.
Distance.
Control through separation.
Gary exhaled quietly and handed back the Lunar Wing.
"Put it back."
"Dak."
Darkrai took the feather immediately and absorbed it into its shadow space.
The oppressive aura around it softened almost instantly.
The experiment had failed.
Strengthening Nightmare increased its effect—
But not its controllability.
There was only one remaining path.
Increase Darkrai's level.
Gary thought of Infernape.
When Ash's Chimchar and Monferno struggled to control Blaze, evolution had stabilized the Ability.
Perhaps Darkrai required a similar leap in strength before full mastery became possible.
There was no urgency.
Legendary-tier potential meant rapid growth under proper training conditions.
Two or three level increases before the Lily of the Valley Conference would be sufficient for now.
"Return."
Gary recalled Darkrai gently.
Later, in the Pokémon Center cafeteria, Gary ate in silence.
He observed the guests casually.
Those who had stayed inside the Center appeared normal.
But when he stepped outside afterward—
He noticed subtle signs.
Shopkeepers yawning mid-conversation.
Office workers rubbing their temples.
Dark circles under more than a few eyes.
He paused briefly on the sidewalk.
A faint sense of responsibility stirred within him.
Sorry.
He mounted Garchomp without delay.
With a powerful wingbeat, they departed Veilstone City and headed toward Sunyshore City.
The next Frontier challenge awaited—
Battle Castle.
Sunyshore City
Sunyshore City was one of Sinnoh's most modern urban centers.
Built along the coastline, it blended ocean scenery with advanced electrical infrastructure. Solar panels lined rooftops. Elevated walkways connected districts. Wind turbines spun steadily near the harbor.
Its prosperity was visible.
So were its property prices.
The Battle Castle operated here under the management of Darach.
More importantly—
Darach was also the butler of Caitlin's family.
An Elite-level Trainer serving as a butler.
Gary found the dynamic intriguing.
But perhaps it wasn't strange.
League officials often endured exhausting political pressure.
Serving a wealthy noble household might offer greater autonomy—and less bureaucratic interference.
After roughly an hour of flight, Gary arrived at Sunyshore City.
Instead of heading directly to Battle Castle, he made a brief stop at Sunyshore Gym.
The sliding glass doors opened automatically.
A familiar mechanical voice echoed through the interior.
"Welcome. How may I assist you?"
Gary recognized it instantly.
The automated security system.
"Is Volkner here?" Gary asked.
"I am sorry. The Gym Leader is currently out. If you require a Badge, you may receive it without battle."
Gary rolled his eyes faintly.
Still the same.
Volkner's apathy toward challengers hadn't changed.
Only Ash had managed to reignite his competitive spirit.
"Never mind," Gary muttered.
Just then—
"Hey! Someone's already here?!"
A loud voice shouted from behind him.
Gary instinctively stepped aside.
A blond teenager sprinted forward recklessly—
—and collided headfirst with the Gym's glass door.
Bang!
The entire entrance rattled violently.
The boy staggered backward, clutching his forehead.
"…Ow…"
Gary stared.
Barry.
Ash's energetic rival in the Sinnoh League.
The son of Palmer, Frontier Brain of the Battle Tower.
Barry blinked rapidly, trying to regain focus.
Gary tilted his head slightly.
"You alright?"
Barry suddenly straightened and pointed accusingly.
"Why did you move?! If I'd broken something, that would've cost a million PokéDollars!"
Gary blinked.
"A million?"
"Yeah! This place looks expensive!" Barry insisted.
Gary glanced at the completely intact door.
"Pretty sure it survived."
Barry crossed his arms dramatically.
"If you don't have a million, you can compensate me another way!"
"Oh?"
Barry leaned forward, eyes blazing with competitive fire.
"Let me challenge the Gym first!"
Gary stared at him for a few seconds.
So that was the real motive.