In its heyday the Great Hall was a splendor of towering pillars. Bright dawn funneled through them creating cascades upon the many creatures the hall held. If humans could spot them in the dimension above the clouds they would faint for every legendary in existence gathered before the Original One and his trio. Masked in shadow Darkrai floated alone. No legendary dared approach him. They were all too afraid.
Cresselia drifted over to Darkrai, casually setting herself in front of him. Darkrai's shoulder's tensed. Burying his face beneath his collar, he turned from her.
"Would you like to sit with me at the meeting?" she asked noticing his shivering, "It's much warmer in the sunlight."
"I'd rather stick to the shadows." He said gruffly.
"Then would you like me to sit here with you?"
"No!" He replied a little quickly, "No…it's better if you don't."
The meeting concluded without issue. Nodding farewell to her friends, Cresselia spotted Arceus standing tall and alert above the masses. Silently he gazed around until his sight shifted to the corner of the room. Gloom filled the Original One's eyes. Despite his grand power he stood short compared to a majority of his vast creations.
Cresselia followed Arceus' gentle gaze to the corner where Darkrai was slinking away. Many council members passed him making certain to place great distance between themselves and the dark Pokémon. As if he were no more than a germ. Arceus leaned as if to walk forward but faltered before turning away.
Newmoon Island was a simple trip from her own home. Deep in the spooky pine forest lay a hidden cave. She flew straight in without thinking. A careless mistake. A Dark Pulse ricocheted against stone only missing Cresselia by a few inches. Scrunched in the back of the cave, Darkrai was bristling. His hand shook as he grasped the wall.
"Darkrai." Cresselia said calmly, "It's me."
Carefully Cresselia drew nearer to him. She gasped as she spied what had made him so hostile. No longer hidden by his red collar an angry burn cut across his face and Cresselia imagined it ran further down his body obscured by thick dark fur.
"Oh…Arceus above." She gasped as she reached him.
His shivers had not been from cold but pain. Her paws hovered slightly above his burn.
"May I?" Cresselia asked.
Darkrai nodded. He flinched as she moved his fur to the side.
His skin is hot to the touch. The burn must be worse than I thought.
Clouds obscured the sky. The blanketed world would be devoid of moonlight. She'd have to heal him the old fashioned way.
"Hold on." Cresselia quickly rushed to the berry pile in the corner of the cave.
She grabbed a Rawst berry and began to crush the fruit to create a cool green slime, perfect for burns of any kind. She brushed the mixture onto his face. Beneath his course outercoat was a layer of soft tufts much like her down.
"Who hurt you this time?"
Darkrai relaxed and leaned heavily against wall.
"It's difficult to remember…all the attacks kind of blur together after awhile-"
Darkrai's eyes widened in alarm as he realized he had said more than he wanted to. Sorrow radiated throughout Cresselia. She shut her eyes briefly to process it.
"Don't sleep!"
Cresselia blinked up at Darkrai's sudden outburst. He had risen from the ground and was reaching towards her, his expression twisted into terror.
"Your powers don't affect me."
Darkrai's confusion made Cresselia add,
"I've rested in your presence before if you recall."
"No nightmares?"
"No nightmares."
Relieved Darkrai lowered himself back onto the ground. Cresselia could not grasp how his horrible reputation had come to be. She had seen him. Rain burdened clouds blocking almost all light from a graying earth. His tearstained face covered by shaking hands and the sour scent of death tainted the air. The feather hadn't reached the child in time. Everyone else blamed him. Cresselia blamed herself.
"There." Cresselia offered Darkrai an Oran berry, "This should help with the rest. I'm sorry I can't do more-"
Without thinking Cresselia smoothed a piece of his hair down and found herself speechless. Never before had she been so fascinated by another creatures eyes. They were a pale yet vibrant blue that contrasted against his dark hued fur. Cresselia's pupils narrowed when she realized she had stared for far longer than acceptable. She broke contact. Her shortness of breath and drumming heart were impossible to ignore.
Oh no.
The connection stirred feelings within Cresselia that she'd never felt in her long immortal life. Longing took hostage her heart and wrapped it in a soft blanket. Every time she'd seen him after that the feeling came to life again. She'd failed him yet again. All those years passed and she'd never breathed a word of her feelings.
"This is impossible!" Cresselia huffed.
In her paws she held a messy wooly rainbow that looked as distorted as Giratina's home.
"What was it supposed to be?" Uxie asked, touching the fabric.
"A scarf!" Cresselia grumbled.
Mesprit and her sisters had kindly invited the Lunar Duo to their Lake to do an activity. Little did Cresselia know the activity would be weaving. Something she knew little about and something Darkrai had taken to with ease. He expertly took each strand in his hands and pulled them together. She couldn't tell yet what he was making but it was a lovely shade of blue. Cresselia hesitantly held up her rainbow mess so he could see it.
"Darkrai, what do you think?"
He looked up from his work.
"Darling…it's awful."
Cresselia glared at him,
"You're supposed to say Darling it's lovely."
"I thought lying was considered immoral."
Cresselia lowered the wool nearly to the ground. Darkrai rose and floated over to her. Cresselia felt a blush creep onto her face when he placed his hands over her's.
"I didn't use my paws to weave."
"I know."
"Oh please!" A disgruntled Azelf groaned, "If the two of you are going to be like that-"
"Shush Azelf!" Mesprit chided, "It's sweet."
Cresselia bit the inside of her cheek as her blush grew redder. Her paws went cold. Darkrai had settle back down it front of his blue wool.
"Watch me."
Despite watching Darkrai's weaving Cresselia could not exactly copy his skill. By the end of the night her "scarf" looked only slightly tidier. Cresselia sighed. She had wanted to give him something beautiful.
Together they left Lake Verity. Inside her home Cresselia was still debating when a soft weight settled over her back. Cresselia met Darkrai's gaze as he wrapped his blue creation around her. Happy tears filled Cresselia's eyes. She leaned into him, her paws touching his chest. She felt his heartbeat rapidly quicken. He wrapped his arms around her cautiously.
"Is this alright?" He asked.
Cresselia placed her head on his shoulder, shut her eyes and nodded. When his warmth surrounded her and bliss spread from her heart to the rest of her body everything else disappeared.
"I love you." She whispered against him.
She couldn't believe it had been so long ago that she had yearned for him to hold her like this. How long it had been since she had raced through thunderstorms believing she would have to end his life. Years upon years passed following their battle. Over a century since Darkrai had caressed her cheek and swore to never do anything like his evil deeds of the past. Thank Arceus. Time was slowly healing her wounds. Cresselia opened her eyes to find a cyan eye to greet her.
"Your eyes…I love your eyes too. They're beautiful."
She tilted forward and his white hair parted as she touched her forehead to his.
"You're beautiful." Cresselia murmured.
He hugged her tighter and nuzzled her face. Cresselia could tell he was smiling. Dawn was rising and he needed to return home. Cresselia hated parting. She moved away first. Her paws held tightly to the gift he had given her.
"If that was thanking me for such a small gift…maybe I should make things for you more often."
Cresselia rolled her eyes but secretly her heart soared.
"Wait…" she stammered.
She picked up her messy scarf from its forgotten place on her nest and held it out to him.
"I made it for you." Cresselia sighed, "I know it's terrible but-"
Darkrai took the scarf from her psychic grasp and fashioned around his neck. He rubbed his head affectionately against the soft wool.
"I thought you said it was terrible."
"Darling." Darkrai smiled, "You're far from a perfect weaver but you made this for me. That's all I care about."
Cresselia's face turned red once again. It was difficult not to rush into his arms. Cresselia was tempted by such an idea. Maybe-
The world around them shook. Not just the ground but the very air quaked and waved like the sea. From the depths of their bones they were sickened. As suddenly as the tremors had begun they stopped. Darkrai reached out to steady Cresselia though he seemed just as off balance himself.
"What…" Cresselia breathed as she held tightly to his arm.
A golden orb appeared directly in front of them. They were not called alone for the Hall of Origin was filled with terrified legends. Fewer and fewer still, Kyogre and Groudon being the latest disappearances. But more alarming was the absence of both the Creation Trio and Lake Guardians.
"Everyone please!" Lugia cried out going to the front of the room.
"We must remain calm. I'm sure Giratina and the others will arrive soon and they can explain what all of this is about."
Mutters of concern still rung throughout but the room silenced slightly. Lugia sighed in relief.
"We were with them not long ago…they should be here." Cresselia whispered to Darkrai.
He comfortingly placed his hand over her paws. The gesture though sweet did little to dissuade Cresselia's worries. If Mesprit and the others had been called to whatever caused the quaking what kind of danger would they face?
The burning attention of eyes fell on her back. Cresselia let her paws fall from Darkrai's arm. Others seemed to notice their current relationship and to say they disliked it was an understatement. Even now Cresselia could see Celebi's disapproving gaze. If Darkrai noticed the accusing stares he gave no inclination.
A portal sprang to life at the front of the room. Out of it walked the exhausted forms of the Creation Trio and Lake Guardians. Mesprit immediately flew over to Cresselia and hugged her tightly.
"Mesprit!" Cresselia cried hugging her back.
The sprite only answered with distressed whimpers. Uxie and Azelf came over to each place a paw on their sister's back. Cresselia's focus went back to the front of the room where the Creation trio gasped for air.
"Arceus awakened-" Palkia began.
The gathering exploded. Legends all over the room raised their voices in alarm asking numerous questions. What would they do now? Where was Arceus? Would his wrath fall upon them?
"Silence." Giratina ordered.
The room remained in chaos. Giratina's typically proud demeanor momentarily slipped into alarm. But it was only for a moment.
"SILENCE!" Giratina's roar shifted every stone in the Hall of Origin.
Finally the council paid attention to her.
"He returned to his resting state." Giratina continued, "The shocks I assume everyone felt was caused by his brief consciousness."
Giratina nodded to Dialga who in turn nodded to Celebi. Grimly the fairy confirmed.
"The future remains unchanged." Dialga stated, "We still have time before Arceus' full awakening."
Mesprit tensed. Cresselia wondered what witnessing Arceus' awakening had done to her dear friend. The full force of Arceus inconsolable wrath must have fell upon the sprite at once.
"We need to take her home." Azelf exclaimed pulling her sister away from Cresselia.
Mesprit tightly grasped onto her sister, still wracked with sobs. Uxie and Azelf escorted themselves out of the hall.
With the Creation Trio's reassurance all of the council departed. Cresselia and Darkrai once again returned to Full Moon Island. Their hearts heavier. Cresselia reached out for his hand.
"I don't want to be alone right now."
Darkrai glanced at her, worry hidden behind his blue eyes.
"Nor do I."
Her home provided her with a little comfort. Perhaps she could make the two of them a calming tea with the herbs that hung in her cave. Chamomile, poppy and just a bit of dried nanab berry would be perfect. She levitated a small pot and two chipped cups. Cresselia often found herself amazed at the things humans would just leave behind.
Outside the blinding sun was already well above the waves. Cresselia squinted. Her eyes had been designed for the dim light of the moon. Collecting a pot of water from her crescent shaped pond she returned inside. Darkrai had already put together a small fire. Cresselia fitted the pot directly onto the flames and sprinkled a few dried herbs into the boiling water. Once she judged the tea had steeped enough she poured a cup of it for both of them. All done in silence.
The tea worked. Cresselia set down her cup and already felt so drowsy her head rested on Darkrai's shoulder. Cresselia blissfully breathed in a forest of pine trees.
"Why did you let go of me at the meeting?"
Cresselia paused. The question wasn't said with an ounce of anger but genuine confusion and intrigue.
"It made me uncomfortable…" Cresselia quickly amended her statement, "I don't like showing a lot of physical affection in front of others."
Cresselia blinked, snuggling closer to him,
"I don't want an audience or to draw attention. When the two of us are alone it feels more special."
"I understand."
His claws delicately brushed the side face.
"So this is okay when we're alone."
"Mmhmm." Cresselia let her eyelids droop until she only beheld darkness.
"What about you?" She asked.
"Me? What do I like?"
Cresselia nodded. Darkrai shifted slightly.
"Earlier this morning…you called me beautiful…"
Cresselia tiredly lifted one eyelid. Darkrai's other claw was holding onto his face and though it was hidden deep beneath his dark fur she spied a blush.
"You are beautiful."
His blush grew redder. Cresselia softly smiled,
"Do you not believe me?"
"It's not that. Hearing you tell me that I…" he muttered, "You don't understand the power your words hold over me."
Her mind nauseously churned back. In his shadowed state he had thought-
"You thought I personally meant with you."
Darkrai tilted his head at her, waiting for her to elaborate.
"Before you tried to-"
Darkrai understood her implication and gravely nodded for her to continue.
"You wanted me to join you. Obviously I would never but I told you that "I could never rule such a world with you." When you went into my dream you were sure to accentuate the "with you". part."
Cresselia grit her teeth remembering the horrible things she had called him out of anger and hurt. All his life Darkrai had rarely heard kind words directed at himself.
"You couldn't believe that I could possibly love you did you? You didn't believe anyone could."
Darkrai tensed. Cresselia lifted her head from his shoulder and gazed deeply into his eyes that were like sky. So deep she felt his soul beneath them.
"My favorite color wasn't always blue. But then I saw your eyes."
She moved her face closer to his. Darkrai caressed her face and then moved forward of his own accord, breaking the little distance between them.