Legends were never forgotten, no matter how much hope was lost, how little progress was made, or how greatly everyone suffered. A story had the power to banish weariness and entrance children with adventures of old. Tales of creatures battling for the fate of the universe, teams of the closest companions beating all odds proving their worth to the world while clashing in an arena, multiple dimensions existing side by side that only a lucky few have had the opportunity to explore, vast treasures and untold riches and the heart's every desire granted. Pokemon told these stories on their darkest days. When food was scarce, or when it was too dangerous to leave home, they entertained themselves with the legends of the ancient past. The past was like a different world, a world in which they could temporarily escape the horror that was reality. In the past, Pokemon could wield immense power. However, they could not achieve this alone.

The bonds between humans and Pokemon were said to be so strong that Pokemon could defeat any foe, no matter the disadvantage. There were even stories of Pokemon evolving past the last step in their evolutionary line, transforming into creatures with unstoppable strength. "Wild" Pokemon would attack humans in hordes with the hope of being captured, for capture meant power. In order for Pokemon to grow, they needed to train and get stronger. Humans brought out the inner power of Pokemon of every size and shape.

Records of the disappearance of humans were unfortunately brief. One day, they ruled the planet. The next, they were gone. The accepted theory was widespread sickness. Humans did not recover from disease like Pokemon, who could be healed instantly through berries or magic. Their cities and villages were mostly abandoned, though some were rebuilt for Pokemon to live in. When the humans were gone, many chose to live as they did, running shops and schools and the like. Humans were definitely not perfect creatures, but they certainly knew how to live comfortably. Generations passed in this fashion. Pokemon ruled, and the memories of human companions grew to be nothing more than a fairy-tale for children that no one believed anymore.

Dusknoir had learned quickly, that as Master Dialga's henchman, that he had more than enough downtime. "Time" in a metaphorical sense, at least. The planet was completely paralyzed, and time itself was at a standstill. The world was locked in eternal night, as the being that embodied time was too crazed and beside himself to do anything about it. The loss of time had turned Dialga into a shell of a creature, always raging and ever paranoid. Left alone with the occasional encouragement that no more harm can come his way, however, the once master of time rarely moved or posed a threat.

With so few orders to heed, the ghost spent most of his time studying legends of the past. Dusknoir looked out for anything that could be used against them, of course, but also entertained himself with legend and lore. Human history was a particular fascination of his. He was one of few that even believed that they existed. There was plenty of documentation to pour over if one was dedicated enough. Humans were unique. Most were powerless, but some could gain Pokemon-like powers that made them superior. Humans were also not limited to mastering four moves at a time; a human could learn anything, retain the information, and continue the cycle for as long as they lived. They did not evolve suddenly, but changed slowly over time. They were like Pokemon, yet vastly different. The ghost long to find one and question them, but the task appeared impossible.

Humanity changed into something ghastly (no pun intended). Those that swore that they spotted humans here and there reported thin, frail, frightened creatures that dashed out of sight once noticed. Others said that they lived wild as most Pokemon do, screeching and hissing before disappearing into caves or holes in the ground. The builders and philosophers were gone, leaving behind sullen creatures that haunted the bleakest unwanted territories of the planet. Their sudden loss and the planet's paralysis likely caused them to go insane or at least revert into creatures more likely to survive in a harsher environment. The eye witness accounts were few and not always reliable, but the similar descriptions from multiple sources indicated that something vaguely human was out there hiding in the darkness.

These thoughts and inquiries often brought Dusknoir out into the wilds, searching for clues and warding off anyone straying too close to the remains of Temporal Tower. The surrounding forests and ruins were excellent hiding places, but he had yet to find anything useful. Sometimes he would simply meld with the shadows and watch the surrounding area unseen. Though the world itself was dead, the creatures living in it kept up a livelier appearance. Winged Pokemon circled the moonlit skies, bugs skittered through the trees, and water types continued to live normally underneath the frozen surface of the water, essentially unaffected by the state of the world. An untrained eye would think it a normal night.

The sound of running feet forced Dusknoir's attention back to the forest. It was quick steps, definitely from something small and moderately fast. Young, most likely. He caught a glimpse of moving branches and distinctly heard the sound of scraping tree bark. Someone to his left was attempting, and failing, to climb a tree.

A harsh, masculine voice called out to the unseen figure, "Where have you gone, boy? Get back here, now!"

"Just one more tree!" The other voice insisted, clearly belonging to a young boy.

The voice of what Dusknoir assumed was a parental figure growled urgently, "We must return home before you are seen. You have not practiced your magic today."

"I'm not good at magic," the boy complained as he let go of the tree and landed lightly on the ground. "It's really hard, and it's not as fun as climbing or swimming..."

The harsh voice dripped with barely hidden distaste, "You are not good at it because you don't pay attention to your lessons. Now come on. We must go. Our next targets are the lakes on the main land."

"I don't like looking for Time Gears," the boy mumbled, causing Dusknoir to tense up, "The pictures and sounds in my head hurt me!"

They were moving farther away, and the conversation was lost. What was heard, however, filled Dusknoir with dread. Rebels. There were those that wanted to change the world of darkness, to change it back into what it once was. There was only one plausible way to do this. A Pokemon would have to travel back in time to prevent what caused the paralysis to occur, the collapse of Temporal Tower and consequently Dialga's descent into madness. The artifacts known as Time Gears regulated time in their locations, so if Time Gears were taken to the tower, the structure would repair itself, and Dialga would heal. Time Gears in the paralyzed world were useless, but if their location was known here, it would be quicker to find them in the past.

Dusknoir stifled his panic and analyzed the conversation he just heard in his head. A Pokemon seemed to be planning to use what might be his son to locate Time Gears as part of "lessons" in magic. The ghost found this odd. Most Pokemon were born with a basic understanding of their own powers and a few moves that they can use instinctively right out of the egg. Based on the "pictures and sounds" that the boy can see in his mind, he must be a psychic type or perhaps a ghost or dark type. Why, then, would he not understand magic or endure pain while experiencing visions? Visions should not be painful to a compatible type. Unless he isn't compatible. That could not be possible.

As soon as it was clear, Dusknoir flew back to the stockade with haste. He was not reporting to Dialga right away. That would result in a tantrum. First, he had to solve this puzzle and identify these traitors. He was more than confident in his own abilities that he could squash this rebellion before his master even knew about it.

"Careful! Careful! Stay focused!"

The boy's hands shook over the candle as the flame grew taller. His instinctual fear of being burned caused him to repeatedly jerk away from the candle, and the flame would constantly die down. Innocent brown eyes flew to his caretaker for reassurance. Intense blue eyes met his, and he returned his attention to the candle. His small hands hovered over the flame, rising slowly. The fire jumped up to follow, causing him to flinch again.

"It'll burn me, Daddy," the boy sniffled, "I try not to jump, but I can't help it. I can't control it."

The blue-eyed figure in the shadows sighed, "Kage, a flame so small cannot hurt you. It is the fear that hurts you. The way you jump and shake, you are practically begging for an accident. You must remain calm. If you are calm, you won't get hurt. Now, try again."

The boy shifted on his feet but reluctantly tried again. Taking a deep breath, he slowly guided the flame up as he raised his arms. When the fire grew stronger and was near level with his eyes, the child clapped his hands together. The flame obediently shrank and extinguished at the boy's command. A big grin spread on his face as he ran to the corner where his caretaker hid in the shadows.

The boy bounced on his heels as he spoke. "I did it! Did you see? I controlled the fire! Did you watch, Daddy?"

"You did well, my boy," a smooth voice replied, "You are getting stronger every day."

The smile never faded. "Will I be strong like you soon?"

"You still have much to learn," the shadow commented, "but you learn fast for a human." The creature stepped out of the shadows, patting him on the head with a clawed hand.

The boy continued to smile, even as the creature towered over him. He was not bothered by the intense blue eyes or the jagged ghostly figure. Kage was happy and satisfied living his life as the Nightmare King's apprentice. Darkrai ruled this world of darkness, though many did not know it. Not that it mattered. The masses were below him now, the darkness feeding him greater power. Here, he was strongest Pokemon of them all. It did not matter if they knew their king or not. They could do nothing to stop him. No, there was only one who could stop him... A little boy with a brilliant mind.

Darkrai had found the boy years ago, lost and abandoned. His skin and eyes were the color of Swinub fur and hair the same shade of black as himself. He only needed to look at the human to know that he was special, one of few humans that could tap into their inner powers and exist as Pokemon do. The Nightmare King could practically feel the power thrumming through child, untapped and potent. It was not his first instinct to keep the boy. Humans were notoriously rebellious and determined, and eliminating him would have been the easy way to avoid complications. However, what was left of his heart won out.

Like most legendary Pokemon, Darkrai could not have offspring of his own. On top of that, he spread nightmares wherever he went, both intentionally and accidentally. Everyone avoided him like a disease. He had no one. The king stood alone in a dark kingdom with no companionship. Though he was adamant that the world was his and that he needed no one, Darkrai occasionally wondered if it would be even better if there was someone to share it with. So he decided to take the boy under his wing. He named the boy Kage, a name from an ancient human language meaning "shadow." He raised the boy like a Pokemon, teaching the language of Pokemon, how to battle and find food, and how to use magic. Though easily distracted, Kage was an exceptional child. He did not make too much noise or trouble, he learned quickly, and he respected boundaries once he learned where they stood. He was an ideal student, and admittedly, not a terrible son either. Darkrai had not meant for the relationship to get personal, but he learned the hard way that humans had ways of persuasion like nothing he had ever seen. The boy immediately latched onto him and saw him as a father figure, and no amount of correcting or denial ever changed it. In the end, he decided to maintain a strict mentorship-role while occasionally deviating to friendlier behavior. After all, humans responded more positively to kindness than punishment.

"Um," The boy tugged on his arm to get his attention, "Since I passed my lesson, can I go play now?"

Darkrai studied him for a moment before relenting, "Fine, but you must stay within the forest where I can find you. When you come back, we'll test your Dimensional Scream again."

"Will it always hurt?" He asked with concern, "The pictures make my head hurt, and I get really dizzy."

The king gave him another pat on the head, "In time, you will adjust to having visions. Your power is very special. It will get easier as you learn and practice. It will be like the candle. See? You learned, practiced, and mastered it. Now off with you."

"Thanks, Daddy!" The boy surprised him by hugging his arm. "See you later! I have to conquer that tree!"

Darkrai allowed himself to laugh, "You will conquer, my boy. One day, you will be so strong that no one can stop you... Together, we shall conquer anything and everything."