Chapter 8: Uncharted Sacred Place

Under the scorching afternoon sun, Darkrai carried Shuy and levitating above the dunes. From above, Shuy could see the dunes dancing along with the wind and low-pitched hum could be heard when the dunes shifted. The sound could be generated where there was moisture in the fine sand, sand grain must be round in shape, and contained silica. She directed Darkrai to the brown hills ahead. From afar, the hills looked layered due to hot air rises above the sand. Even though they were hungry, Shuy insisted they must travel to where the hills were so that they could rest on a much cooler area.

They reached the hills about an hour later. The first few rows of hills facing the desert were barren and only black rocks could be seen piling up on the hills. But after those rows, the hills were covered in green shrubs, date palms and many species of acacia trees. A river was in view and it looked shallow and the water was slow moving. Shuy decided they would rest at the river side so that not only they could rehydrate, they could pluck some Chilan Berries near them to fill their hunger as well. Chilan Berries were easy to eat and had a slight sweetness to mask the dry taste. This berry seemed to be the only bite size berry in the desert. They could go for dates, but those would make them want to drink more water later. A few distances away from them were a group of Sandshrews and Sandslashes. They didn't mind their presence and continued sipping water from the river. Ground type Pokémons were weak to Water type, but only if they were sprayed on their body in quantities. Showering and drinking did not affect them at all.

As Shuy happily munching the berries and looking at Sandies enjoying themselves, Darkrai looked at her intently. Shuy felt he was staring at her for too long and started to speak to him directly.

"Do you want answers why are we in this uncharted area Darkrai?"

Darkrai replied, "Yes. And I don't think it is wise for us to be separated from the group."

Shuy laughed, "Hahaha! Celebi can trace us so we can't hide our presence from her…if we are out of these hills."

"If?" puzzled Darkrai.

"Yup! If. This area is shrouded in barriers made by a strong Psychic Pokémon that governs this area so no other Psychic Pokémons could go through or using their powers to break in. I will lead you to the tallest hill here that is a majestic beyond words. I had been here without Zack before. I lied to him that I was going for a solo mission in Star Cave."

"Wow…I thought you are always honest with him."

"Hohoho. Not all the time, especially when I need time for myself to explore areas that aren't marked on the map. I don't share all my exploring adventures with him. Some places are best to be kept a secret so that they remain special and free from visitors setting foot here."

Darkrai slanted his head and said, "But aren't we visitors too?"

"You are but I am not haha. I am an acquaintance of the Psychic Pokémon of this land. You knew her too…before you have amnesia. Ok let's rest till evening after our meal and then we head off to the tallest hill!"

After their break, Darkai carried Shuy and she guided him to where the tall hill was. Once the hill was in sight, they saw the magnificent of its structure. It was made of crystal! It reflected the evening sunlight back at them, making their eyes squinted. Shuy took out a Red Sunglasses from her bag synthesised by Croagunk and put it on Darkrai to reduce the glaring. Red Sunglasses could be fully utilised by Trapinch, Vibrava and Flygon as it helped them to recover health energy if hit by Ice attacks. The ingredients to make three stars rank items could be found in treasure boxes in mystery dungeons. Shuy had found a lot of those ingredients and had considerable amount of three stars rank items in Kangaskhan Statue's storage feature.

Soon Darkrai reached the crystal hill and lowered himself on the peak as instructed by Shuy. The sun had completely sunk below the horizon in the west and the full moon appeared more brightly than ever in the east. Shuy could open her eyes wide again and marveled the crystal reflecting the moonlight with less hue. Darkrai put Shuy down. She stretched her limbs and asked Darkrai to put the glasses back into the bag. As they both settled down, Shuy told him of her plan.

"Okay Darkrai, aren't you curious why we landed on this hill?"

"Yes? At first I thought we were running away from the rest for an adventure."

"Haha, that is part of the answer. Continuing your question earlier why we are in this sacred area, I will be training you on how to control your nightmare ability. Alright, tell me how you feel?"

Darkrai took a moment to check his body and replied, "For some reason, I felt full of energy even though we had travelled a long way here."

"Yes! As you are feeling the strongest now, here is the best place to train! Hold on let me put on my Insomniscope…Okay! I want you to use your Dark Void and your range must be the maximum you can possibility achieve."

Darkrai was shocked. "What? Are you sure I won't cause trouble, especially to the lord of this land?"

Shuy giggled, "Pfff! Lord of this land! Well it is evening anyway and they should go to bed by now. After you used your move, inflict them with nightmares. No worries! I won't be asleep. I would like you to tell me of your progress so I can decide whether we should carry on or not."

Darkrai acknowledged, "Understood. Alright, here I go."

He emitted black aura from his body. After he charged up, he let go the aura and it dispersed across the landscape. Even though Shuy was protected against Sleep status, she shivered as she could feel the eerie coldness of the aura swept through her body.

After a brief moment of executing the move, Darkrai released his nightmare ability. His Dark Void covered about five hills across and using nightmare was easier if he managed to put the Pokemon to sleep. Minutes went by and Darkrai broke the silent.

"I managed to put all Pokemon into a Nightmare within the range of Dark Void."

"Great!" Shuy applauded. "Make sure you don't appear in their dreams. If you need to, be in a different form."

"Yes and that is what I am doing right now, though it is tedious to me. I have to control so many dreams at one go…Oh? I sense something."

"What is it?"

"I don't know…it is breaking some of the Pokémon's nightmare! And it is coming towards us at a great speed!"

Shuy knew the approaching Pokémon and said to Darkrai, "Oh no, we have to hide quickly! We must head to the bottom of this hill!"

Darkrai stopped as he was told and carried Shuy, hovering briskly down the crystal hill. They lied low behind some shrubs and peeked overhead. Soon after they hid themselves, they spotted a purple Pokémon flying around the hill. Its body shone brightly under a full moon. It darted in all direction, looking for the Pokémon responsible for the nightmare. After a thorough search of the hill and found nothing, it flew down towards the bushes and continued its search. Shuy knew sooner or later it would find and punished them. She decided to battle it. She told Darkrai to stay put and she ran off towards the purple Pokémon. Darkrai on the other hand watched Shuy as she cloaked herself with vines to camouflage herself and shot a Leech Seed at a bush to surprise the Pokémon.

"What the?" exclaimed the purple Pokémon.

"Hohoho. We meet again Cresselia." said Shuy trying to mimic Darkrai's voice.

Cresselia was furious and shouted, "You! I thought you are trapped in another dimension! How dare you attack the innocent Pokémon here, especially in my domain! Show yourself Darkrai!"

"I am already showing myself to you, or you can't see me in the dark? Hahaha! Prepare to meet your doom Cresselia!"

Shuy wished she could use the orbs but they will not work outside the mystery dungeons. She took out her second best item from her bag: a Stun Seed. She held it in her mouth. In the meantime, she put her Insomniscope back in the bag. Shuy then ran around Cresselia to shake some bushes as she planned her to track her down. The plan worked and Cresselia was in hot pursuit towards her. Shuy took aim at Cresselia and shot a Stun Seed at her. Cresselia was stunned and she collapsed on the ground. However that did not stop her from talking.

"When do you resort such a cheap trick Darkrai? Ha! You know that Dark Void does not work on me aren't you?"

"Of course. And so I would like you to stay put while I carry on my plan to enslave all the Pokémons within my grasp!" Shuy laughed like what Darkrai did.

"You know…you are pretty bad at staging a performance Shuy."

"Who says I…huh?"

"I know it is you. Oh please if it was Darkrai attacking me, he would use Dark Pulse on me immediately."

"Ah."

Shuy emerged from the bush and got rid of her cloak. She walked towards Cresselia and said,

"I am sorry Cresselia. But I would like you to be still for a while."

Cresselia's eyes beamed in response and replied, "Why?"

"Well…You can sense Darkrai is somewhere here right? So he must as well appear in front of you. Darkrai! You can come here now."

In a flash, a shadowy figure appeared in front of Cresselia and materalised. He stared at her with his blue ghostly eyes.

Cresselia was confused and asked, "Darkrai!? Shuy! What is going on? Are you being mind- controlled by him? Oooooh! Darkrai you're gonna pay for this!"

"Calm down Cresselia! And no I am not controlled by him. I am assisting him in his training of controlling his nightmare ability. You see Darkrai…" Shuy explained to Cresselia about Darkrai's amnesia and he was on a journey to recover his lost memory. If he still could not remember, being a better Pokémon would grant him acceptance from other Pokémons.

"I see. I can help him train. Besides it is my duty to make sure he doesn't cause trouble. The Pokémons here still hate him for time travel from the future and caused chaos in the present." decided Cresselia.

Shuy was surprised of her answer and replied, "Really? You will? Oh thank goodness! I thought you want to seal him in a crystal as what you had told me before."

"Is that the reason why you stunned me?

"Yeah?"

"Silly Shuy! Even though I would prefer to seal Darkrai, it seems he isn't what he used to be. Alright it is time for his path to goodness!" Cresselia tried to move her body but could not do so. "Uh, do you have something to cure paralysis?"

"There is one!" Shuy shot a green seed at Cresselia. It was her special vine seed but it would not grow unless it was sprinkled with water. Upon impact, Cresselia was free from paralysis.

"Okay…I know you are trying to humor me Shuy but I shall not ponder about it." said Cresselia with a hint of agitation. "Well then! Let's go to the peak of the crystal hill then!"

They travelled back to the peak of the hill. Shuy once more wore her Insomniscope and looked at Cresselia, waiting for her to speak.

Cresselia told Darkrai, "Okay. Shuy chose the training to be done today because of the full moon. And this hill has the power to amplify your power under a full moon. As for me it must be crescent and this hill boosts me up too. Now Darkrai, I would like you to wake up the Pokémons you had put them to sleep. Most Pokémons here haven't had their dinner and it is pretty uncomfortable to be unable to wake up for a meal, nonetheless having nightmares."

"My Dark Void's effect does not last for more than two days. But indeed I should wake them up. The problem is I do not know the solution." replied Darkrai.

"Imagine that you take back the aura energy you disperse, so instead of releasing your aura, you are condensing it from the aura in the surroundings."

"Alright, it shall be done."

Darkrai closed his eyes. Instantly, a gust of black aura rushed back to Darkrai. Shuy shivered once more as it swept through her. It did not affect Cresselia though. Cresselia was awed by his quick learning. It seems he could learn how to control his ability in one night after all.

Shuy asked Cresselia, "Cresselia, that method only wakes them up but not stopping the nightmares at all."

"I know. But Darkrai's ability activates once Dark Void is in effect. That means unless he eliminates Dark Void, they will always be in a nightmare."

"But I had nightmares even though I was sleeping without his Dark Void!"

"Hmm…that is new. Okay Shuy, I would like you to fall asleep."

"Pardon me? How can I just fall asleep?"

"Simple. I want you to take out your glasses and look at me."

Shuy put her Insomniscope back into the bag and looked at Cresselia. She emitted a light purple aura from her head and directed it to Shuy.

Shuy screamed, "Argh! Ah…" She collapsed on the ground fell asleep.

"Hmm! I guess she does not expect that to happen. Darkrai, is your ability affecting her right now?"

"Unfortunately yes…however what I do know is that if the Pokemon nearby just fall asleep normally, my ability only affects those that are close to me. Oh no. Shuy was surrounded by a group of Pokémons. She seems to know them but they turn vicious and attack her! I have to help her!"

"Help her by ending her nightmare Darkrai."

"I…I shall enter her nightmare then!"

Darkrai allowed his consciousness to enter Shuy's nightmare. As he successfully entered into the dark realm, he saw Shuy running away from the group of vicious Pokémons. He quickly stood in between them and used Dark Pulse to repel the Pokémons away. Shuy turned around to find the others blown away by Darkrai's ripples of black aura, but they quickly recovered and they headed towards her.

"Darkrai" said Shuy, "I swear this kind of nightmare is the worse I ever have! I am even sweating in it!"

"I apologise Shuy. And now I am trying to get you out of here."

"Make it quick! I'm very reluctant to attack my friends even though they are not real. You know how to end my nightmare?"

"Maybe if I hold you and get myself back to my body."

"If that is your only suggestion, do it!"

Darkrai held Shuy and performed his warping. Shuy saw the surroundings began to swirl and in a flash, she was in a landscape full of flowers and a blue clear sky. She turned around and realised Darkrai was not around with her.

Shuy murmured to herself, "Okay, this dream is lame. Oh well must as well relax here. Great that Darkrai managed to stop my nightmare huh?"

She lied on the flowers and look at the sky. However something was bothering her. Was her meeting with Darkrai a coincidence? She was surprise that she was even willing to help him too. And what if he remembered his memory and attacked her once more? If so, she hoped her Dimensional Scream ability would warn her. But lately it did not happen to show her the dangers or Pokémons that she would meet on the way even though she touched the objects that might be the key to activate it. Yet she liked it this way; an adventure without a hint what would happen next. And she was going to reach her destination soon and asked The Being questions. She remembered she could go with Zack in the tower, but she decided to go with Darkrai. He deserved to meet The Being to ask about his existence. Zack on the other hand might get emotional and if he did not like the answer, he would fight back no matter how strong the opponent was. Besides she considered Darkrai as her partner so The Being would not refuse wasn't it? All those thought in her head while she was dreaming made her exhausted and soon she closed her eyes and let the cool breeze in her dream soothed her.

As for Darkrai, he found himself back with Cresselia. Cresselia took no time to congratulate him for getting rid of Shuy's nightmare.

"For now, if your nightmare has affected the sleeping Pokémon, you have to lead it out of it. In time you will know how to prevent your ability from occurring in its sleep." she told him.

"I guess I need time to train myself for this." disappointed Darkrai.

"Why are you not satisfied of your performance? You have improved greatly. Actually I like that you are putting in effort to stabilise your ability, unlike last time. In the past you just released all your hatred to the world, causing time and dimensional distortion that will put the world in Time Freeze."

"I think I understand why I did that," said Darkrai, "that is why I am trying to suppress my ability so as not to cause trouble to anyone anymore."

Cresselia smiled, "Darkrai…really you have changed a lot. I will have to thanks Shuy for helping you out."

"Yes I am grateful of her as well. Shall I wake her up?"

"Oh you do not need to. Look at her, she is sleeping peacefully. Do you want to eat something Darkrai?"

"Yes."

"Okay let's go then! She will be safe here. There are no bad Pokémons in my domain."

She led Darkrai to the bushes below while leaving Shuy to her slumber.