Author's Note: Want some more Darkrai? Here's some more Darkrai. This was probably my favorite Darkrai chapter to write, since figuring out how he was able to even get to Dialga and Temporal Tower in the first place was interesting to me. Lots of headcanon territory in here, and Torkoal was fun, too. Anyway, here we go.

Investigations

It had been annoyingly slow at first. Darkrai told himself that it would be worth it if he could pull it off, but it still frustrated him.

Of course, most of the so-called "legendary" Pokémon had some kind of vague knowledge of each other. Something to do with being some of the first few species to exist, and everyone knowing each other during the early stages of creation, or some ridiculous reason like that, if the old tales were to believed. At any rate, it was enough to give Darkrai an idea of where to start. He just needed to find out what to do next.

Darkrai knew Dialga lived in a place called the Hidden Land, but he had no idea where that was or how to get there. He didn't want to make too many connections by asking directly, though; that would tip everyone off. He had to be subtle.

Maybe if he could find some kind of knowledgeable source…still, he'd have to figure out a proper way to ask. There was that guild, and the café, and Treasure Town itself, but passing through any of those would be too obvious. Too many Pokémon would see him. But perhaps…where was another good place he could check?

Maybe…the hot spring? If Darkrai went at night, the area wouldn't be too crowded, and he could ask that supposedly-knowledgeable Torkoal who lived there. It was the only good lead he had, so he may as well go with it.

Darkrai made his way to the hot spring that evening, carefully watching to make sure he wasn't followed. By the time he arrived, the spring was deserted, save for the old turtle himself. Perfect. Torkoal didn't seem to notice him at first, but then he slowly raised his head and tilted it to the side.

"Mm? What brings you here so late, friend?"

Darkrai perched himself on the rocky edge of the spring as he replied, slowly and carefully. "I have a question for you, old man. They say you're the most knowledgeable Pokémon in town—have you heard of a place called the Hidden Land?"

"The…Hidden Land?" Torkoal repeated, head bobbing to the other side as he mulled it over. "Oh! Yes! The Hidden Land. They say it's across the sea somewhere, but…no one has ever been there and back."

"A place across the sea, hmm…" Darkrai idly traced a hand across the water's surface. That was…vague, but it was a decent start nonetheless. "Anything else you know?"

"Mm…" Torkoal's eyes squinted even harder than they already were. "Proof… You need…proof of some sort, or so I've heard. A peculiar kind of…oh, what was it now? A peculiar proof…"

Darkrai frowned. A peculiar proof? What did that mean? But…maybe he could put the two together somehow. A peculiar proof that had something to do with the sea… If he could find some kind of strange place near the ocean, then…

"Oh, I've gone and forgotten." Torkoal sighed. "I can't remember what the proof is. My apologies, child."

"You've already given me plenty. I've got a huge start, thanks to you."

Darkrai shifted, rising off the edge of the hot spring. Torkoal blinked at him, speaking up again as Darkrai began floating away.

"Wait! How can I find you if I remember?"

"I will return if I need your help," he replied easily. "Don't trouble yourself any more, old man."

With that, he faded into the shadows, ignoring the Fire-Type's confused muttering.

It took a while, but Darkrai turned his investigations to coastal areas from then on. Something peculiar… He researched a few caves in the area, but none of them seemed too out of the ordinary.

A few weeks later, he finally made some headway. Darkrai arrived in the furthest chamber of Brine Cave, and his eyes fell on the complex pattern carved into the wall. A peculiar proof…well, it was certainly unusual. He'd never seen anything like this before. Could it be the strange thing he was looking for?

He traced his fingers over the pattern, and Darkrai paused when he heard a voice behind him.

"You…what are you doing here?"

He turned around and saw a Lapras near the shore. The Water-Type was eyeing him warily, and Darkrai lowered his hand as he faced Lapras properly.

"This place…what can you tell me about it?" he replied.

"Nothing that I should be telling anyone." Lapras frowned. "How did you find out about it?"

"I was told to look for a 'peculiar proof,' and I do believe I've found one." Darkrai chuckled. "Especially if you're not willing to talk. This must lead somewhere special if you're so defensive."

"I believe that's enough. Away with you."

"Oh, it's enough, all right. Thanks for your help, sir."

Darkrai smirked as Lapras's eyes narrowed. He soon melted away into the shadows, leaving Lapras staring at nothing.

Things were coming together now.

"Excuse me, friend. Does the 'proof' you mentioned look something like this?"

A few days later, Darkrai found himself at the hot spring again. He'd managed to recreate a decent enough drawing of the pattern in Brine Cave, and he'd brought it to Torkoal. Again, he'd come in the evening—and again, there was no one there but the old turtle. Despite the dim lighting, his diagram was visible enough, and Torkoal's jaw dropped as he looked it over.

"Yes! Yes, that's exactly it! I remember now," Torkoal replied. "That's the proof! Well…it's part of the proof, I believe…hmm…"

He stared down at the water for a few seconds, and Darkrai let him mull it over. Silently, he complained about how long this was taking. Still, there was another part of him swelling with anticipation. Darkrai was getting even closer, he could feel it. If Torkoal could just give him a little more information, then he'd be able to make his way to the Hidden Land soon.

And then Dialga and his precious tower would be all his.

"Ah, that's right." Torkoal nodded. "You have to bring the proof to the pattern, and then…er…" There was another long pause, and then he finally went on. "Yes! Then you can see the way to the Hidden Land. That's what the legend says."

Darkrai frowned, carefully folding up his diagram. "So there's another 'proof,' then?"

"Yes! But…er…" Torkoal blinked. "Ah, right. The proof should look similar to the pattern. According to the stories, of course."

Well, he'd have to find this 'separate proof,' then. But if Darkrai already knew what the pattern looked like…hopefully that would help. (Hopefully.) Sighing, he nodded and began floating away again.

"My thanks, again. I shall try to find this 'proof' you mention."

"Ah, no problem at all, my young friend!"

'If only you knew, old man.' Darkrai sneered to himself as he left. 'If only you knew…'