At last, Cresselia's worst nightmares came true.

They created a Shadow Prototype from her blood.

They had allowed her to see it, unshackling her from her wrist and ankle bonds. But, of course, the collar stayed on. Cresselia was weak, from the lack of using her muscles and pure depression, so, a sympathetic scientist helped her down to the lab. She was actually very pretty: Her black back length hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, with a red ribbon wrapped around it in slinking folds. A white lab coat was visible over her black and gray clothing, and black high heels blended in with the dull tile below their feet.

There was something about the woman, Cresselia could sense it. A feeling of sadness, and anger, and some grief. She wondered is this woman was made to join Team Shadow, and the rest of her family was killed. Finally, after a long silence, she finally asked, "…You don't like it down here….do you?"

Cresselia was surprised by her own voice. Instead of the melodious tune was once floated within the notes, it was replaced with a certain sadness of some type. Jerking her head, the other woman looked at her, stunned that she actually talked to her, a Team Shadow scientist who helped make the Prototype. When Cresselia looked at her chest, she saw a name tag on it that said 'Selenia Crescent'.

Selenia, after a long pause, said, "No. I hate it down here. I don't like seeing all the injured Pokemon, or ferociously experimenting on them. I'm down here because…they saw me 'useful'…and the rest of my family…"

"Was either killed or taken away?"

"Oh, yes…" Selenia stopped a moment, and took her arm from around Cresselia's waist away. She wobbled a little without the support, but managed to stay up. "How would you know?"

"Because my own world shattered the moment I saw that ship come to my island. I knew that me and Darkrai's bonds would strain and snap apart. It's the reason I transferred my child. Because I knew that if she stayed with me…she would have died."

Pausing for a breath, she looked over Selenia, who had wrapped her arm back around her waist. They stopped walking again for a moment, but then they continued. Selenia said softly, "I'm trying to leave this place…It'll be a long time, and probably some luck, but I'll get out…"

Cresselia remained silent as they finally entered the lab. The moment she entered, her magenta eyes fell on something had made her fall to her knees.

Inside of a huge cylindrical experimental pod, there was a Pokemon. An exact polar opposite of Cresselia. The gentle blue hue of her skin was replaced by a dull gray, the yellow with black, and the magenta with red. All sorts of wires were attached to the Shadow Prototype, giving oxygen to her blood cells that she couldn't herself yet do. The original Cresselia murmured, "My god…We're going to die."

That very time, five dawns later, with the soft hue of light blue hanging over their heads, Azelf kissed Darkrai goodbye and went back to her lake, while he and Anibell fled Sandgem.

Tonight was the new moon, the time where Team Shadow members would be searching every inch of the town for Darkrai, as the new moon was when he was most active. The moon phases were out of whack, since Cresselia couldn't control them. After a long talk in total darkness, Darkrai agreed on keeping Anibell safe and out of Team Shadow's clutches. She harbored the main, powerful knowledge that most of Team Shadow would kill for, so, she needed protection.

It was still dark in the forest they entered, so, Darkrai remained in his original form, ready to transform at a moment's notice. His arm still hurt from Shaymin suddenly plunging a needle into it, but he didn't complain. In fact, it was pretty much silence as the duo traveled deeper into the forest. Many of its inhabitants were asleep, but, a sole few were nocturnal, and they were up and about. A Luxio keeping watch over his pack simply ignored the duo, growling a little when they got a bit too close.

Darkrai didn't have to worry too much about his scent being tracked, but it was Anibell's he was worried about. Any Houndoom trained for scent-tracking could find her, so, he told to walk through any body of water, even if it was a puddle. Luck was on their side, because they soon came upon a huge river that would eventually lead to the Darkness Sea.

Anibell was hesitant at first, but, after a bit of encouraging, she stepped into the water. Within a few steps, it was up to her waist. Darkrai instructed for her to hold her breath, that he would help her past the currents. Taking her wrist firmly, he started to lead her across the rest of the river. Anibell sucked in a breath as the water came over her head. The current pulled at her, but, he tightened his grip, and quickly got her to the more shallow parts of the river. Surfacing, she gasped desperately for oxygen, coughing a little. Gently pulling on onto shore, he stroked her shoulder as she inhaled in and out deeply, trying to sate the yearning.

"I kept you under too long, didn't I?"

"No…" She spluttered, water dripping from her lips. "I was stupid. I inhaled under the water by accident." She wrung all of the water out of her hair, and looked over the trees. Daylight was continuing to cover the land. She turned back to Darkrai and said, "I think you better turn into a human. I know that there are Trainers in this forest, and, imagine the…" She stopped, and shut her green eyes.

She didn't want to think about the rest of the sentence.

Then, she could feel a hand on her cheek. Three fingers that ended in fine points, almost sharp enough to pierce the skin of her cheek with a simple jab. Weapons for combat. Anibell shivered a little, not enough to make him notice. She didn't want to make him think she was afraid of his touch. Actually, she enjoyed it.

"I appreciate your advice, Anibell." The hand now had five fingers, and it gently brushed a lock of stray hair behind her ear. Anibell opened her eyes for a moment to face the human Darkrai, before grinning, and pushing him playfully. Unfortunately, they were a bit close to the riverbanks, so, they tumbled into the shallow parts of the river.

They water quickly closed over them, stealing away their breath. They quickly clawed their way to the surface and waded over the rocky banks. Anibell was livid. "I'm real sorry, Darkrai! I didn't mean to push you that hard! Please for--"

She was silenced by a finger on her lips. Darkrai gave her a tiny smile and said, "It's alright. I would have gotten wet anyways, since we have to make it like we both crossed the river."

Anibell hadn't thought of that, so, she hushed on the apologies. Her hair was coming out of their low pigtails, so, she pulled the hair-things out of her hair. She offered Darkrai one, and to her shock, he took it. He pulled his white hair off his shoulders and set the hair in a high ponytail. She looked on. 'Wow,' she thought. 'Somebody shoot me for saying this, but he looks feminine!!'

Darkrai caught her staring. "What?"

Anibell blushed, hotness searing up her cheeks. "Um…ah….forgive me for saying this, but….you-look-a-lot-like-a-girl-when-your-hair-is-up-but-nothing's-wrong-with-that-it's-just--" She said it so fast she couldn't even register what she had said for a moment or two.

"Whoa! Wait a second." He thought for a few minutes on what the huge, jumbled word that had tumbled out the blonde girl's mouth was. Then, he asked, "Do you really think so?"

'Crap!' Anibell screamed at herself. 'Now he's gonna get mad.'

"Y-y-yes…" She stuttered out. Darkrai simply walked to the riverbanks, and looked down at the water, his reflection. After a few minutes, he turned back to her and said, "You're right, actually. Is…there something wrong with me keeping my hair up?"

"No, no!" Anibell quickly said, trying to spit out the words. "I don't have a problem. It's just…you look beautiful. I mean, gorgeous."

Darkrai looked at her for the longest time before giving her a slightly sad smile. He put his head on the top of her head and ruffled her hair. "Thanks, Anibell."

Suddenly, a sickening cracking sound filled the air. The duo turned just in time to see a huge tree branch fall to the ground just five feet away from them. Anibell could have sworn she had seen a flash of black and silver in that tree, but, who would be up there, at this time of daylight? Shrugging off the feelings of nervousness, she turned to Darkrai. He was unharmed, and he didn't even look fazed. She was amazed at how that didn't scare him, even in the tiniest bits. That had scared the living daylights out of her.

Darkrai, however, was on a different plane of listening. He was quickly looking around, as if he sensed something was there. Suddenly, he grabbed Anibell's wrist, and started running.

They were watching them.

They had to get away.

'I'm so screwed.'

That was the first thought that ran through Nightwish's mind as she felt the tree branch she was sitting on crack. She was barely five feet away from those two humans! If she dropped…

No!

She quickly stood and reached up for another branch. As soon as she did that, the branch she was standing on snapped in two, falling to the ground. Nightwish quickly scrambled up the branch and hid herself in the foliage of the tree. Then, they suddenly ran. Out of nowhere, two people, a man and a woman, dashed by, holding PokeBalls with a combined 'T' and 'S' on the top part, which was a deep black, almost as black as her bangs. The woman was holding another PokeBall, but, it was different from the others. It was a deep purple, and there was a magenta 'M' on it. She realized that they were looking for the duo that had just run off.

They were looking for her, too.

Nightwish jumped from her branch and disappeared into darkness, intending to do anything in her power. But, something drew her attention.

There was a distress signal going off in her mind, that her other parent was in trouble.

Making a 'U' turn, Nightwish traveled among the shadows, making way to the hidden base many miles away.

"Darkrai, what's happening?!" Anibell called out to Darkrai. The wind had picked up, and it was blowing against their backs, making very loud as they ran.

"They're here, Anibell. And their on our tails! Don't look back!"

She found it very hard to not look back, but, she obeyed. The sound of the wind in their ears was almost deafening by now, whipping their hair around, pulling at their clothes, and stinging at their faces. Now, she could hear two extra pairs of feet following them. Then, there was a strange whistling sound, as if something had been thrown. Anibell realized it was something she was very familiar with.

A PokeBall.

And not just any PokeBall.

It was a Master Ball.

She had no idea where criminals like Team Shadow could get a hold of such powerful PokeBalls, but, she knew that if that Ball touched Darkrai, he'd be doomed. She quickly took her other hand, grabbed the back of his trench coat, and, with all the strength that she could muster in her body, threw the both of them into the strays of the path. The Ball whizzed by. There was some cursing.

The duo quickly stood, and hid behind a huge fallen oak. When they quickly crawled to the wider end, there was the sound of a foot on the wood. They stopped, holding their breath. Darkrai put his hand over Anibell's, getting ready to bolt if needed. Then, there was the sound of someone jumping over the tree. Darkrai quickly grabbed Anibell's whole arm and stood, dashing off into the forest at break-neck speeds. It was much faster than ten miles per hour, Anibell noticed. Perhaps this was just a skill taken onto the human transformation from his original. She really didn't know, and she didn't care at the moment.

All that was running through her mind was, 'This is crazy.'

"No! Cresselia, run!"

There was the sound of several guns going off. As she ran down the sterile white hallways, Cresselia could hear glass cracking, screams, both human and Pokemon, echoing through the empty corridors, and blood splashing on the ground. She shut her eyes tightly, tears running down her cheeks. She knew that the person who had suddenly pushed her out the door and instructed her to run was now dead. She made a sharp turn, and, without thinking, she jumped from a window.

That was a horrid move.

Within seconds after she hid the ground, the collar around her neck started vibrating, sending electrical shocks through its captive's body. Cresselia's running ceased completely, the pain growing with every second.

'NO!'

The word exploded in her mind. She couldn't give up! Not when she was so close to freedom! To Darkrai! She stood, ignoring the pain, and made a break for the forest.

She never reached the outstretched hand that waited for her.

There was a bang, and something tore through her body. A bullet. A poisoned one, at that. Cresselia screamed, tumbling down to the earth below. No. The person in front of her didn't leave her to die. Instead, she dropped down in front of the fallen Legendary, and offered her hand. Somehow, the girl reminded her of Darkrai, with her gleaming silver hair, black bangs and clothing, and the red collar around her neck. But, there was something about her that sent alarm through Cresselia's body. The strange familiarity of those magenta eyes haunted her, as if she had seen them before, in a nightmare, or maybe a dream.

As a final resort, Cresselia shakily reached for the hand that offered her freedom.

She grasped it.

And, then, another gun shot rang out. This time, it didn't hit Cresselia. It hit the girl. Her face reflected pure agony as her head dropped, blood oozing from the wound on her side. Cresselia noticed the huge ruby on the silver belt around her waist crack slightly. Then, the girl stood, and, Cresselia managed to stand with her. The girl started running, never letting go of the lunar goddess's hand. Cresselia started running as well, the poison moving much more quickly through her body.

Then, just as Cresselia thought she and the girl were going to die at the hands of Team Shadow, the girl summoned some type of shadow. As soon as they stepped on it, they sank into it.

Freedom.

Exactly what Cresselia had been yearning for the past few days of torture and agony.

They surfaced at a place Cresselia didn't recognize, but, she knew it was many miles away. She could smell lake water, oh, glorious lake water. She had missed the smell of it. After looking around a little, she found that this was Turnback Spring, the place where Giratina resided most of the time, whenever she was on duty. The girl set Cresselia against the cavern wall of Turnback Cave, grimacing. The poison was also working against her.

She reached into her pocket and brought out a strange Berry, one that Cresselia didn't remember ever seeing. She held it to her lips, and pushed it into her mouth, making her swallow it whole. It hurt after lack of water, but, the girl brought her that, too.

"Stay here for a while. The Berry I gave you cures all status problems, so, you'll be fine. Now," She put her index and middle finger against Cresselia's forehead, and, when they contacted Cresselia's feverish skin, the tiny section she touched started to glow. "After dark, travel down to Giratina. Tell her to get Arceus, and tell him that the war is going to be a lot worse, that everyone is needed. If this isn't done, no one will survive this war."

She took away her fingers, and the spot on Cresselia's forehead stopped glowing. She shakily stood, and said, "I'm just really glad I managed to get here on time." She turned, but, as she started back to Turnback Spring, she fell forward, her eyes closing. She vanished into thin air, just at the moment sunlight peeked over the trees surrounding the hidden spring.

Cresselia crawled deeper into the cavern, avoiding detection. She reached up, trying to pull the metal collar off her neck, which was still giving her electrical jabs once and a while. After about half an hour of struggling, the collar finally broke in two, removing the needles that had been in her neck for the longest time. Blood instantly started to flow, but, Cresselia could feel another part of her body again.

Her Psychic powers.

Instantly charging them, she healed all the wounds she could with her limited energy. She managed to make the wound on her side stop bleeding, but, it didn't heal completely. She tore off a section of her dress, tying it around her waist. After a moment, she dwelled on what had exactly happened, and tried to figure out who that girl had been. Slowly, a dreamless sleep started to take over her body, but, right before she entered that tantalizing darkness, a voice in her mind gently whispered,

'Your child saved your life. And none of you are safe.'

Searing pain took over Darkrai's body, setting in on the areas that he knew were hit it'd be the end of one life. His grip on Anibell's wrist slackened, and a portal of darkness opened up to greet him as he fell.

Oblivion took control. He could hear nothing, and see nothing. There was the sound of something cracking, but, he didn't know what it was. Then, a hand took a hold of his, and a gentle voice said mournfully,

'I'm so sorry.'