And we're back! More of Cresselia's Pilgrimage for you to enjoy. And in this chapter, we get to see what Darkrai is up to. Well, I got nothing more to say, so enjoy and review.
"As the mistress of light seeks him out, the being of the new moon strives for the control he so desires to have. A curse unbroken, a burden carried, can such a warrior accomplish such a feat? Maybe the Three Swords might have the answer he so seeks. Venturing to the home of masters, the dark one follows a lead to Gallant Island. And only the gallant last at all in the trials ahead."
Darkrai made landfall late in the night. Once he did, he transformed into his human form Rai. His search through the various ruins had led him here, to Gallant Island. In the legend, it was said that three virtuous knights had aided two lovers that were pursued by a tyrannical king. These knights were linked to three warrior Pokemon that resided on Gallant Island. these warriors he needed to find.
Darkrai wouldn't openly admit it to anyone, not even Cresselia, but he was afraid. Afraid of what his power could do to those that encountered him. His purpose for undertaking this journey was to learn how to control his power. He needed to, so he could avoid hurting Cresselia.
While the sun was beginning to rise over the horizon, Rai worked his way inland, stuffing his black circle pendant inside his jacket. As more light crept onto the land, the plains of Gallant island became greener and brighter to Rai's eyes. only a few trees dotted the vast landscape. But very few being s were actually visible. "Where are those three warriors?" Rai asked, irritated at his initial findings.
Just then, a shadow rushed by him, whipping up a tornado of leaves. Some of the leaves stung Rai, which immediately sparked his interest. Convinced he was in the right place, Rai rushed after the shadow.
The figure had disappeared into what looked like a temple. Tall walls surrounded the building, figureheads dotted the four corners of the walls, each of a particular Pokemon. Rai was curious about who would live here in the middle of the plains.
he was just about to knock when a sword point pressed lightly on his back.
"If you value your life, you will step away from our home." came a gruff voice, "Humans are not allowed." But Rai wasn't about to be pushed away. he needed answers, no matter what stood before him.
Swiftly, Rai gained leverage over the sword and flipped his opponent over. A burly, rock brown Pokemon on four legs struggled before finally getting back up. Terrakion growled at Rai's challenge, but Rai had an idea of how to fight. Terrakion charged at him, but Rai leaped out of the way. The wall withstood Terrakion's attack, but the ground shook violently at the amount of force he dealt. Maddened, he drew a sword made of energy from his forehead, Sacred Sword, and slashed at Rai. The man in black ducked and dodged fluidly, anticipating each and every movement Terrakion made. his moves were so easy for Rai to read, that he began moving forward and advanced on the warrior Pokemon. Grabbing him by the horn, Rai flipped Terrakion over with much effort.
Just then, another sword point tapped Rai on the neck, and a voice threatened, "Enough! Surrender now, intruder!" Rai held up his hands in surrender as Terrakion set himself upright once more.
"Now, who are you?" Terrakion interrogated. Before answering, Rai glanced back to see a blue Pokemon with yellow antlers, and a silver colored sword sprouting from his forehead. Cobalion.
"My apologies." he finally spoke, "I never meant to intrude. But I was looking for the Three Swords."
"What is your reason for seeking us out?" Cobalion questioned.
"I need your help. I must learn to control my power so that I do not harm anymore innocents."
Cobalion became intrigued. He then told him, "You are no human. Reveal your true self." Darkrai concentrated his energy into his pendant, and changed back into his true self.
"Darkrai?" Terrakion gasped.
"As I had discovered." came a female voice. Approaching the group was another four-legged Pokemon that was green all around, her feet looking like a superhero's boots. The third of the trio, Virizion.
"So it was you who passed by me." Darkrai figured out.
"Indeed. It is very rare for someone like you to come to our island." Virizion confirmed, "I sense a great pain has brought you to us again."
"Again?" Darkrai quizzed.
"Never mind that. Come with us." Cobalion instructed. So Darkrai followed the three into their home.
Inside what appeared to be a dojo, Darkrai was immediately treated to some tea that was offered by the three warrior Pokemon. As he drank, Cobalion told him, "We of Gallant Island are sworn to guard the secrets of being a true warrior. Secrets that only those that have been proven worthy can learn. I regret to inform you Darkrai, but we can be of no help to you."
"What are you saying?" Darkrai tried to argue, "I haven't even given you my reasons for seeking you out."
"It is not hard for me to discern someones heart. I have seen yours Darkrai, and it is a very dark place. Though your reason is not without merit, I am afraid nothing we can do will help you. You must leave Gallant Island at once."
"You don't understand. I must learn how to better control my power, so that I may better protect my... my wife."
"Wife?" Terrakion questioned.
"You mean to say you and Cresselia are now one?" Cobalion snarled.
"Yes, that we are." Darkrai admitted.
"Blasphemy!" Terrakion refuted, "Two beings of opposite natures can never be together. You have committed a grievous act, Darkrai. One not so easily forgiven."
"I understand. But-"
"Enough!" Cobalion interrupted, "You are finished here. Leave at once!" Facing little alternative, Darkrai took his leave.
All this effort only to be shot down. Darkrai was infuriated. How could Cobalion and Terrakion refuse his request? What was it about what he had done had made them so strict? It was unreasonable!
"Don't take their words too seriously." Virizion told him as she approached, "They have had to suffer much when they helped someone in your position before."
"Aren't I the lucky one then." Darkrai grumbled.
Virizion sighed before continuing, "You must understand. We live under a very strict code here. Our task is to simply keep peace, while barring our borders from those that we deem unworthy."
"Then why are you here?"
"Because I see something in you that Cobalion missed. You spoke the truth about you and Cresselia. But even more so, Cresselia believes the same thing about you."
"And?"
"I have decided, that I will train you." Drakrai didn't quite understand. Why would Virizion decide to train him when the other two refused? What was she up to?
"Follow me now." Virizion offered. And she walked towards the mountain region far to the east, and Darkrai followed.
When they arrived, Darkrai couldn't believe the sheer size of the mountains. From so far away, they seemed so small. But up close, they almost seemed to touch the sky. It made him rather homesick for New Moon Mountain.
"Here is where we will train." Virizion told him, "But we should get some rest. Be ready for when I come tomorrow."
"You aren't staying?" Darkrai wondered.
"I must remain at the dojo, so that Cobalion and Terrakion don't suspect a thing. I will return at first light." And she sped off. Darkrai was glad that one of the three warriors was willing to help him master his power. If Virizion could do it, he might have a chance at achieving his goal. Finding a comfortable patch of grass to lay on, Darkrai soon began nodding off until he was fast asleep.
In his dream, Darkrai was in his human form. Everything around him was black nothingness. Then, a wail cried out from his right. Lying there, as if in pain, was Cresselia in her human form.
"Cresselia!" Rai exclaimed. He rushed to her side, but then Cresselia melted into shadows. Darkrai backed away in a state of panic.
"Why did you leave me, Darkrai?" Cresselia's voice echoed in the space, "Why didn't you stay? You abandoned me."
"No, that's not true." Darkrai growled, "I didn't leave you behind."
"You hurt me Darkrai. All you've ever done is hurt others. How could you be so heartless?"
"No no. NO!" And then, a baby's cry rang out.
Darkrai awoke with a start. His mind reeling from what he had just experienced. He had been having a nightmare. But, how could that be? Darkrai created nightmares, he didn't get them himself.
"This power must be growing out of control." Darkrai muttered to himself, "I must stop it, before it consumes me." Then he went to back to sleep.
Back at the dojo, the Three Swords slept soundly together in one room. Waking up, Virizion shifted herself carefully to avoid alerting the cumbersome Terrakion or the wary Cobalion. She had to prove to them that Darkrai was worthy of saving. As silent as a leaf in the wind, she sneaked out of the dojo and off for Darkrai.
When she arrived, Virizion used her Sacred Sword attack to cleave a piece of stone in two. The resulting clunk startled Darkrai awake.
"Let your training begin." she told him.
Virizion first had Darkrai follow her up the mountain for their first stage of training. She knew Darkrai could easily fly up, but she ordered him strictly to use his own strength to get him up there. Darkrai strained and groaned with the effort he was being put through. he never truly realized how much he had come to rely on his ability to levitate to get him anywhere. But he knew it would be necessary to find a way to gain a grasp on his nightmares.
"Do not let fear overpower you." Virizion lectured a good ways above him, "Fear is insignificant compared to the power you wield. When you learn to stand above it, instead of succumbing to it, you will see you can decide how events will unravel." Spurred on by her words, Darkrai continued the trek until he reached the top.
Next, after descending a bit, Virizion and Darkrai sat beneath a pouring waterfall and meditated. Darkrai found the force of the water to be unbearable, but he kept at it.
"Center your mind Darkrai." Virizion advised, "To know true peace in battle is to settle the restlessness you hold in your mind, and your heart. True control comes when you are at peace." Darkrai took in her advise, and suddenly found something odd about her words. As he worked to calm the struggles from his past, his mind started to become a blank. The roar of the waterfall dwindled until there was not even a trickle sounding out. As he did, he felt his body bursting with power. It was the move Calm Mind.
As a storm came over the peak, Virizon had Darkrai face it as lightning struck near where he stood.
"To anticipate is to know your opponent's next move before they make it." Virizion told him, "You must learn to read the signs of an attack, before your opponent makes such an effort."
"Easier said than done." Darkrai thought in his head, "A psychic type could clear this easily." But when flashes appeared in the clouds, followed by the boom of thunder, Darkrai saw something that he nearly missed. He ducked right, narrowly avoiding a bolt of lightning that struck where he had just been. Then Darkrai scooted back to avoid the next one, and ducked under the one after that. Then Darkrai realized something: before each bolt struck, Darkrai would get a sense of a charge where it would strike. And each precharge signaled how intense that bolt would be. He was beginning to learn.
When they were done at the peak, Virizion and Darkrai came back down to eat and rest. Virizion told Darkrai that he had proven himself very well for his first day of training, more so than she had expected. Darkrai thought the complement was misplaced, but he accepted it anyway. But as the two were chomping down on Sitrus Berries, a huge explosion boomed in the distance. This made Virizion worried.
"Wait here. I will be back." She instructed her student. And she disappeared in a flurry of leaves.
As the night wore on, Darkrai spotted more explosions in the area where Virizion had taken off. He was no psychic, but he had a sense that something was very wrong. A fire had begun to erupt in the fields, making the night sky glow orange with fire. Without a moments hesitation, Darkrai melded into the ground and glided for the area he saw Virizion take off for.
Darkrai hid in whatever shadows were created by the blaze. The scene he witnessed was horrifying. In a circle of the fire, Virizion lay wounded and winded. her front left leg was tweaked in the a very wrong way. Standing over her was a chimp Pokemon with fire spouting out of its head, and a massively large pig Pokemon with a mane of fire.
"Well, what's it gonna be, sugarplum?" Infernape teased the wounded fighter.
"You are fiends! Both of you!" Virizion groaned.
"Save it, doll." Emboar shot, "You're coming with us, and you'll teach us all your secrets, whether you want to or not."
"You just want the knowledge to take control of the dojo, and do harm to all other Pokemon!"
"Not all Pokemon." Infernape replied slyly.
"Leave my sensei alone!" Darkrai growled as he came out of the shadows. Infernape and Emboar were startled when Darkrai made his presence known. Virizion, slightly relieved.
"What's Darkrai doing here?" Infernape gasped.
"Doesn't matter." Emboar roared as he readied himself for a fight, "Let's take him down too!" Emboar charged at Darkrai, surrounding himself in fire for a Flame Charge. But Darkrai faded into the shadows underneath him, dodging his attack. Emboar then crashed into a nearby tree.
"Idiot!" Infernape grumbled, "I'll do this myself." He rushed up to Darkrai, letting loose a series of attacks in Close Combat. Darkrai dodged each punch, kick, and tail blow, reading Infernape's moves as if he were moving in slow motion. Darkrai then pushed him back with a Shadow Ball. He was just about to use his Dark Void attack, when a flash of his nightmare came into his mind.
"No!" he told himself, "I can not control it yet." So he cancelled the attack, and instead launched a Dark Pulse attack. But Infernape cancelled it out with a well placed Flamethrower. In the resulting explosion, Infernape and Darkrai recognized each other as potentially equal rivals.
Just then, Emboar came up from behind Darkrai and held him. Darkrai struggled to break out, but the grip was too strong.
"I got him Infernape." Emboar called out, "Take him out."
"With pleasure." Infernape said maliciously. And he used Close Combat on the helpless Darkrai. Each blow felt like a truck was running him over, harder and harder. He felt like he was about to pass out. But then, rocks fell from the sky and smothered the fires and buried Infernape and Emboar. Darkrai looked up, and spotted Cobalion and Terrakion coming to aid them.
Seeing the reinforcements, Infernape called out, "We can't beat all of these guys. We're retreating." Emboar didn't argue. The two fled in a major hurry.
Picking himself up, Darkrai went over to Virizion to check up on her.
"Are you alright?" Darkrai inquired.
"I'm alright." Virizion assured, "At least I'll live. Thank you for the aid." Just then, Cobalion and Terrakion strolled up to the duo. Cobalion wore an expression that was hard for Darkrai to read.
Just then, Terrakion chuckled, "You are one tough customer, Darkrai. Either that, or incredibly dumb for taking on two fighting types."
"What do you mean?" Darkrai asked.
"It is clear I was a bit hasty in my judgement." Cobalion elaborated, "When I looked into your heart, all I saw at first was darkness. But then, while you fought those two hooligans, I saw a glimmer of light that was almost invisible. You are truly worthy of our help."
"You mean-"
"We will train you too." Terrakion finished, "But first, we must tend to Virizion."
"Allow me to help." Darkrai offered. With his help, the three managed to help Virizion back to the dojo.
"Great darkness, now you have shown your light. May the power you wield fall to your whim. Venture forth, and seek what it is you have sought. Before long, the mistress of light shall find you at last. And light and dark, shall unite once more.
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Next time,
While Darkrai continues his training with he Three Swords, Cresselia continues her journey to seek him. But she is blown off course, and wakes up on Mystery Island. There she meets two mysterious Pokemon, each excited with their new guest. Can Cresselia leave this place to continue her pilgrimage? Will the Origin and Eon Pokemon join her?
Didn't expect to see Cobalion, Virizion, and Terrakion? Don't worry, they aren't the only ones to make an appearance. Leave a review, and hope you enjoyed.
