Night seemed to be the only time that Black was happy. During the day he and everyone around him lived in fear of the Boundary Pokémon, Kyurem. To most of the people of Lacunosa Town, Kyurem was a terrible dragon with the power to freeze the land, but to Black, Kyurem was also responsible for his father's disappearance. Daytime meant fear and loneliness, but nighttime was different. Nighttime was when Black could dream, and that was when he would always meet… her.

Every night, for as long as he could remember, Black would dream of a girl who was just his age. She had wavy chestnut-brown hair worn up in a ponytail with a ribbon that matched her dress. Her eyes were the same warm color as her hair and around her neck show wore a gold chain with a black pendant. Black had never seen anyone like her around Lacunosa Town, but over time he came to think of her as a kind of secret friend.

Whenever they were together she would always sing for him. She had such a beautiful voice, but for some reason she always sounded sad to Black. He wanted to know why, but he could never bring himself to ask. Instead, Black began to join in her song each night and when the two of them sang together it didn't seem so sad.

"I pray…"

"I fight…"

"…So that I can protect…"

"…So that I can stop"

"…Everyone's smile…"

"…you from crying…"

"…and for the light of this shining world"

"…and stop you from being all alone"

"I will bind the future with…"

"I will bury the past with…"

"…a song of Hope and Light"

"…a song of Shadows and Despair"

"I will give my life…"

"I will take that life…"

"…and I will send it on the wind with my voice…"

"…and I will stop it from being washed away…"

"…until my life ends"

"…until my life ends"

And so it went on for six years until Black had turned fourteen. In that time, Black had come to inherit the Pokémon that had once belonged to his father and even they had become a part of his secret. He had tried to tell himself that the girl was a figment of his imagination he had created so that he wouldn't have to feel scared anymore, but after spending so much time together he had to know for certain.

"Tell me something…are you a real person?" He finally asked one night as she fawned over his Braviary, Brav. She smiled and continued to scratch under the Valiant Pokémon's chin, much to its delight.

"I am," the girl said.

"Please, you have to tell me your name! Where can I find you? I want to meet you in person!" Black pleaded. She laughed at his sudden eagerness.

"My name is White," she told him, but it was already becoming difficult for Black to focus on her. The dream was ending.

That day, Black told his mother about White for the first time as soon as they had sat down for their breakfast. He had almost expected her to yell at him for thinking so deeply about a mere dream, but she instead she just seemed stunned.

"Mom, who is she?"

Black's mother let out a long hum as if trying to decide the best way to deliver some bad news.

Well, Black, I'm sure by now you know the legend of the Pokémon that lives in the Giant Chasm…" she began and Black nodded.

"Everyone says that Kyurem has the power to freeze all of Unova, but it hasn't been seen for years now. Not since Dad disappeared…"

"That is because we are protected by a very special lady called The Diva. It is her duty to bless the land with her songs and ensure that Kyurem does not awaken," she explained. Black looked excited for a moment.

"You're saying that special lady is White? But, wait… she looks like she's only about as old as I am…"

"She's not the first Diva…. and she won't be the last," Black's mother continued. "A new Diva is chosen once the previous one has served her purpose by giving her life…"

"…What?" Black's previous excitement had completely vanished and was now being replaced by horror. His mother lowered her head and let out a sigh.

"Her song is able to calm Kyurem, but she is never able to leave the chasm where it lives. She must chant with very little rest until she slowly grows weaker and finally fades away. Her life is the price for our protection. That's the way it's been for as long as Kyurem has existed."

"But that's not fair!" Black suddenly stood up from his chair.

"Your father felt the same way. When he learned that the daughter of his childhood friend was going to become the next Diva the two of them did everything they could to spare her life. They planned on using the Light and Dark stones to summon Reshiram and Zekrom along with their own Pokémon to defeat Kyurem and end the cycle, but only your father's Pokémon returned along with the Light Stone," she continued, prompting Black to turn his head over to the mantel where the Light Stone was displayed in memorial along with a photo of his father.

"What about the Dark Stone?" he asked, staring intently at the white orb as if he were already trying to formulate a plan.

"It disappeared along with your Father's friend and his Pokémon. No one knows what became of it."

Black made a disappointed sound, but he wouldn't be deterred so easily. He left the table and then made his way to Nacrene City as quickly as Brav could carry him. Nacrene Gym was home to the largest library in all of Unova. There, he researched everything he could about Reshiram, Zekrom, the two Dragon Stones, Kyurem, and the legend of the Diva. He even enlisted the help of his friend Cheren who often worked in the library.

But after an entire day of searching, Black hadn't gotten any closer to knowing how to find the Dark Stone. Finally, he was forced to end his search for the night and return home to Lacunosa Town where he dreamed of White again. Most night's Black couldn't wait to see her again, but on this night he was hardly able to make eye contact with her and he remained quiet.

"Black, are you okay?" she asked. He kept his focus firmly on his feet, but he clenched his fists and his shoulders shook as if he were ready to burst. Finally, he did.

"Why… why didn't you tell me that you were going to die?" Black blurted on the verge of tears.

"That's just what my fate is. It doesn't have anything to do with you…"

"No!" he cut her off.

"You've been calling out to me for help this whole time, haven't you? There has to be something I can do!"

"There's nothing you can do, Black! People have tried to fight Kyurem in the past and they have all failed," White said, now welling up with tears of her own.

"I don't care. I'm going to save you. I'll find a way, I promise!" Black cried. He threw his arms around her and pulled her into a close embrace. White could see all five of Black's Pokémon over his shoulder and they all seemed to share the same conviction as their trainer. She finally lifted her arms to return his hug and buried her face in his shoulder to sob.

"Okay…" White conceded. The two continued to hold each other until a sudden warm feeling ignited between them. They both opened their eyes and pulled apart to arms to look at the same source of light that was creating the warmth. The pendant around White's neck was glowing.

"White, what is this?" Black asked. She looked back up at him, but before she could answer she faded away again. When Black awoke this time it was still dark out, but there was a light coming from outside his bedroom door. He followed the light to its source downstairs until he saw that it was coming from the Light Stone sitting on the mantle. Black approached the Stone and picked it up, but the light soon faded.

It was brief, but White's stone had been reacting to his. He had finally found the Dark Stone. Black wouldn't go back to sleep that night. He took the Light stone and strung it on a chain to wear around his neck the way White did before he left for Nacrene City once again with the help of his Braviary.

The sun still hadn't fully risen when Black began pounding on the door of the Nacrene Gym.

"Cheren!" he called in between knocks. Finally, there was a click from inside and the door opened. Unlike Black, Cheren's hair was unkempt and he still wore a nightshirt after being pulled from his sleep. He squinted to see without his glasses.

"…Black, do you have any idea what time it is? You're going to wake up Lenora…" Cheren said in a flat, weary tone.

"Cheren, I found it!"

"…Found what?"

"The Dark Stone! I know where the Dark Stone is!" Black quickly explained. Suddenly, Cheren didn't seem so tired anymore. He reached inside a pocket for his glasses and put them on his face before he opened the door further and stepped aside.

"Alright, come inside," Cheren said, showing Black to an area in the Library where they could sit. Black told him about his latest dream that had led him to believe White had the Dark Stone with her. He even showed Cheren the Light Stone that he had brought with him, but Cheren still didn't seem convinced.

"You really expect me to believe this imaginary friend of yours has the Dark Stone?"

"White isn't imaginary! And I know what I saw. The Dark Stone was lost somewhere in the Giant Chasm and now White has it," Black protested.

"Even if she does, Black, researching Kyurem is one thing, but fighting it is something else entirely. What you're talking about is suicide."

"I have to do something. Even if there is a chance I'll die, White will for sure if I don't at least try," Black said firmly as he rose from his seat and turned to leave the Library. He called out his Braviary and prepared to leave Nacrene City until the door to the Gym opened once again behind him. Cheren stumbled out.

"Hold on," Cheren called after him as he struggled to fit his right arm into the sleeve of his jacket and tighten his red tie after hastily dressing.

"If you're really going to do something this stupid, then you can't go alone. I'm coming with you so that I can at least try to bail you out when you finally come to your senses," he said. Black began to smile in gratitude.

"That's fine. If you end up having to drag me home to Lacunosa Town you can lecture me all you want when we get back," he replied. Cheren smirked back and gave a nod as he reached into his coat pocket for a Pokéball. He called for his Unfezant and quickly mounted the Proud Pokémon to follow Black and his Braviary.

Flying north, the two would first pass Reversal Mountain before reaching Route 13. It was the most direct path to the Chasm, but the terrain soon became so thick with trees that it would be difficult to spot the cave leading into the Chasm from the sky. Black and Cheren had no choice but to land near the Western Gate of Lacunosa Town and continue on foot. Most of the road here was normally blocked off to prevent the people of Lacunosa City from entering the Chasm, but now the earth was churned up as if all of the former obstacles had been dragged across the ground and recently cleared away.

"I wonder what did all of this…" Black mused out lout as he ran his hand over the face of a large rock. Just then, he heard a giggle.

"We did!" A voice said, accompanied by a hardy 'woof' in affirmation as a girl with blonde hair and a familiar green hat emerged from behind the boulder, accompanied by her Stoutland.

"Bianca?" The two boys gaped, but she merely smiled at them.

"Black, your mother was worried about you when she noticed you were missing this morning and she asked me to look for you. She told me about the dreams you've been having, so I thought you might come this way."

"Y-you did?" He asked nervously. Apparently Bianca knew Black better than he thought, but his journey would come to crashing halt if she told his mother where he was…

"Don't worry; I'm not going to tell." Bianca said. She had seemed to read Black's mind again, but he looked mildly relieved. He and Cheren began to walk past her until Bianca spoke again and caused them both to freeze.

"…on one condition…"

"Uh…" Both boys droned, wincing slightly.

"You take me with you," Bianca opened her eyes as she finished, revealing a much more serious face. Black's face brightened while Cheren just looked stunned.

"I couldn't stand it when I heard what was happening to Black's friend. She's already been in that chasm for years now…all alone. What if I had been the one they picked? I know I'd want someone to come find me. Besides, as far as I'm concerned if she's a friend of Black's she's a friend of mine, and that's good enough for me."

"Thank you, Bianca," Black smiled while Cheren uttered a small groan and buried his face in his hand. Babysitting Black alone would be hard enough, but now he would have to worry about Bianca's safety as well. It was already too late, though. Bianca had cleared the path for them and now there was nothing to stop the three from continuing.

The only thing separating Black, Bianca and Cheren from the Chasm now was a small cave that marked the edge of Route 13. Crater Forest lied on the other side, though it could hardly be described as much of a forest now. A good portion of the trees were toppled and stripped of all foliage while a fog hung in the air from the noticeable contrast in temperature from the surrounding areas.

Black recognized this place. This was the forest from his dreams where he would always meet White. It wouldn't be much longer now and he would finally be able to meet her in person.

As the trio neared the center of the Chasm they came to a small lake. On the opposite bank was the cave where Kyurem was said to live, but from a distance and with the fog, the large rocks and trees that surrounded the cave almost made it look more like a castle. Once they reached the bank of the lake, a faint voice could be heard. It was singing. Black held out his hand to prompt Cheren and Bianca to stop so that he could listen, but he would know the song anywhere.

"White?" Black called. His voice echoed across the lake and the song stopped. There was a brief moment of silence and then a roar. All at once, the ground began to shake, the wind howled and a heavy snow fell. The storm raged for what felt like forever, even though it had only been a whole minute. Then it suddenly died just as quickly as it had come. The lake was now frozen solid and a blanket of snow covered the ground.

"What… what was that?" Cheren asked as he kept his eyes trained on the cave.

"It almost sounded like… a snore…" Bianca reluctantly offered.

"…A snore?" Cheren repeated incredulously.

"No way, if that was just Kyurem's snore I'd hate to see what it can do when it's fully awake! Black, are you sure you want to do this?" he asked, but to his surprise Black didn't look scared at all. Instead, he looked across their newly formed ice path with pure determination.

"…As sure as I've ever been."