It was 5 am, alarms were blaring through the entire lab. Ash was the first to reach the main lab, he had been up anyways.
"Cerise Lab, Ash speaking." Ash said turning on the video phone.
"Ash! Thank Arceus you're here! My dad and the Unown box are missing!" A blonde haired girl cried out.
"Hold on, slow down. What and who?" Ash said, trying to focus. "Molly!"
"Hi Ash." A preteen Molly said, waving her hand slightly. "Look I wish this was on better terms, but I really need your help."
"Okay, start from the beginning." Ash said.
An hour later
"Are you sure you don't want our help?" Goh asked.
"No, if all those Unown are loose again, the last thing we need is someone extra for them to latch onto." Ash said confidently.
"But you aren't great around psychic types, especially Unown." Serena worried.
"That's why I'm bringing Gengar, Krookodile, and Urshifu." Ash said. "Just in case we run into them."
"A lot of precautions for a possible case of Unown." Chloe said.
"You of all people should know just who is missing Chloe. Spencer Hall, the leading researcher on mythical and legendary Pokémon. If him and that box of Unown tiles are missing, it can't be good." Ash said. "Tell school it's a family emergency."
A few hours later
"We now begin our descent to Greenfield, please put up your trays and stowaway your bags as we prepare for landing." A flight attendant said.
As Ash got out of the airport, he saw Molly rush up to him.
"Ash! It's so good to see you. Thanks for coming." Molly said wiping some tears from her eyes.
"Okay catch me up to speed as we head back to your place." Ash said. "How long has your dad been missing?"
"For two days, a strange girl came asking about his research, but they never came back." Molly said.
"Strange how? There's a lot of strange." Ash said.
"Strange that she doesn't exist." Molly said. "I pulled her up on security cameras, and had Skyler look her up, but nothing came up. She's never been seen until a few weeks ago."
"That is strange." Ash said. "Do you know where they were heading?"
"Dad keeps a research station just off the property. He says it's so he doesn't spend too much time at work, but I think it does the opposite with it being so close." Molly complained. "They probably went there."
Meanwhile at the research station
"Come on, it's gotta be here somewhere." Seb said flipping through another book. "Fifteen books on Entei, but not one on two other Regis. How sure are you that they even exist?"
"I told you! I have all of Ash's memories, I've seen they exist." Darkrai said stomping her heel cladden foot.
"Why is it that you choose this form by the way?" Seb pointed out.
"I didn't choose it, I didn't even know I could do this. When I absorbed the part of me left in Ash, I gained this form." Darkrai said, looking at her nails. "You better hurry up."
"It would go faster if you lended a hand." Seb argued.
"I realized there might be a hint, and I'm the one who got us here." Darkrai said. "Remember your place, it's not like you can ask for help anyways." She said angrily.
"Yeah yeah, you'd kill me before I got to the door." Seb waved off. "Any luck with those Unown squares?"
"No, whatever caused them to work last time, it isn't happening again." Darkrai said, kicking the box. "Ow! Ow ow ow!" She yelped jumping on her other foot. "Stupid human body, stupid human pain!" Darkrai complained.
"Doesn't help Ash beat you to a pulp two weeks ago." Seb pointed out.
"Shut up or I'll leave you here." Darkrai threatened.
"You know you say you can't control this form, but the hairstyle has changed." Seb said, pointing at the twintails.
"Get back to reading, I can sense someone's getting closer, we don't have much time left." Darkrai said, mincing over to the window. "He's here! We need to go now!"
"Got it!" Seb said holding a book on the Regis.
"Give me that, you grab the box!" Darkrai said, tearing the books from his hands.
"Yes ma'am." Seb said sarcastically.
"I'm a god, and a he and you know it!" Darkrai argued.
"Keep telling yourself that when you need to pass as a human, it will definitely help you blend in." Seb said, walking through the portal.
"Dad?" Molly asked, stepping over the fallen door.
"Doctor Hale? Are you in here?" Ash asked.
"I don't get it, I was sure they'd be here." Molly said.
"With all the clutter, it's a wonder your dad gets any work done." Ash said, picking up a few books. "Maybe there's something here that will tell us where they went."
'Bang bang bang'
"Did you hear that?" Molly asked rushing to where the loud knocking was coming from.
'Bang bang bang'
This time Ash saw and heard it too. It was coming from beneath the floor.
"Pikachu be ready." Ash said, clearing away more books and papers.
"PIKA!" Pikachu said sparks flying.
"Ahh!" Spencer Hale said as the trap door flung open, startling Ash, Molly, and Pikachu.
"Dad!" Molly said rushing to her father.
"Molly, I'm so glad to see you are alright." Spencer said. "That girl, she attacked me, and the next thing I knew I was in the cellar."
"Doctor Hale, where are the Unown tablets?" Ash asked.
"They've been here for quite some time, but if you're worried about them being used again, don't be afraid Ash." Spencer said lifting himself out of the cellar. "We've been carefully studying them since the incident and they've shown no signs of life or energy. They are simply hieroglyphs of a time long passed."
"I wouldn't be too sure." Ash said. "I don't know who that girl is, but something has been gathering Unown, and if they can reawaken that many."
"They'd have hundreds just from the crate." Molly said.
"Ash, I know we aren't close, but is everything alright, you seem far too worried about this." Spencer said.
"Doctor Hale, do you know anything about a being called the Dark One, or I guess Darkrai. It's not from our world though." Ash said.
"The dark one. Hmm. Ahh yes, one moment." Spencer said going back into the cellar. "Throughout history, many civilizations have recorded a "dark one" appearing one day, turning Pokémon against people, leaving destruction in its path. I researched the incidents years ago, but aside from the mentioning of this dark one, they are completely unrelated. Different regions, seasons, even sizes. Sometimes city's, sometimes villages, sometimes he'd attack for months, and others he was there and gone within hours."
"What was Darkrai after?" Ash wondered
473 years ago in what would become Alto Mare
"You thought you could escape, live your life away from me!" Darkrai shouted chasing a girl.
"I don't know who you are!" The young girl screamed, her black hair soaked as she fell into the stream.
"You know exactly who I am." Darkrai said plunging his clawed hand through her chest.
439 years ago what would become Opelucid City
A young dragon priestess ran from the dark force closing in.
"Druiddigon use Dragon Claw!" She cried out. Her brown eyes shimmering.
"Foolish mortal, that Druddigon is sided with me now." Darkrai said. "You may have had allies before, but now you will perish!"
385 years ago in Geosenge Town
"Please protect us, mighty king." A girl said, running into the center of the stones.
"You're quite the tricky one to dispose of, many lookalikes." Darkrai said lifting the tan girl up, higher and higher they went. By the time her body landed, she was gone.
346 years ago Tapu Village
A young woman stands next to her Empoleon and Tapu Fini as The Dark One appears.
"Give it up! The island has been evacuated." The woman said her dark hair prominent in comparison to the flames. "It's my job as Kahuna to protect it from harm from beings like you!"
"Oh I'm not after the island." Darkrai said suddenly appearing in front of her. "I'm after you."
"Poleon!"
"Fini!"
The two water types shot a dual Hydro Pump at Darkrai.
"That's enough of you two." Darkrai said, quickly putting the two to sleep.
"I will stop you at any cost." The Kahuna said pulling out a trident.
"Not my style, but I like the idea." Darkrai said ripping it out of her hands. "Now this time stay dead!" Darkrai said plunging the trident into its owners heart.
320 years ago where Pyrite now Stands
"I can't allow you out of there." A girl said her eyes glowing blue, a barrier covering the opening in the ground.
"I don't believe you have much of a choice." Darkrai said striking the aura barrier time and time again.
"I'm strong enough to keep this going longer than you." The girl said.
"Maybe at this size, but what if it was bigger." Darkrai said releasing a pulse. Boulders falling from all around him, the small hole now a canyon he was easily able to escape from. "Now as for you!"
"Stand back! I'm warning you!" The girl said making a shield.
"No need for a warning, jump on in!" Darkrai said pushing the shield and girl down into the pit to their doom.
299 years ago a young princess in Hammerlock Castle ran through the halls
"Boo!" Darkrai said, floating from behind a suit of armor, a sword in hand.
The girl ran in the other direction, avoiding the dark one at all costs.
"You're younger than ever, but that will not stop me!" Darkrai declared throwing the sword at the girl, her head flying off as her body dropped.
264 Years ago in Alamos Town
"Stand still!" Darkrai shouted chasing after the woman, her dark hair and tan skin made her stick out like a sore thumb.
"You'll have to do better than that to catch me." She quipped, turning another corner. Coming face to face with another Darkrai.
"You've destroyed my home, terrorized my friends, and now you've angered me!" The guardian Darkrai said charging at the Dark One.
"We may be counterparts, but we are not equals!" The dark one cried out, pushing against the guardian Darkrai. "Now stand down!" The Dark one said, tossing the guardian Darkrai into the air.
"Darkrai!" The woman cried out.
"Your cries will do you no good." The dark one said, blasting a nearby building, the rubble tumbling down on his target.
213 years ago in Lavender Town
"Evil spirits depart! You have no power here!" An older woman said, holding up a warding scroll.
"If only those worked." The Dark One Chuckled.
"No, but this does. A teenage girl said, swinging a thick branch at The Dark One.
"Ahh, there you are." Darkrai said turning to face her. "As feisty as ever, no matter though." Darkrai said raising his hand up high.
"Wait! If you need a sacrifice, take me!" The older woman said.
"It's not about a body, it's about who it is!" Darkrai yelled. "You are of no importance, she must perish once and for all!" Darkrai said tearing both of his hands through the girl, a bloody mess was all that was left.
155 years ago in Ecruteak City atop the original bell tower
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!" A young girl cried out.
The electricity flew straight through the dark cloud.
"Nice try. Too bad it won't be enough." Darkrai said.
"I won't let you take me or the tower." The girl said.
"That isn't up to you." Darkrai laughed, prepping a claw.
"Pikachu use Thunder!" The girl cried holding her trusted partner. Electricity striking her and the tower, immediately ingulfing them in flames.
"Hopefully you'll stay dead this time." Darkrai said, floating over the ruined city, a storm approaching.
5ish years ago, just outside of Celestic Town
"Just die already!" Darkrai scolded, holding a girls head underwater, the black wig floating to the surface, showing her red hair. "How do you keep avoiding me! For 500 years I've tracked and killed and yet I know you're still out there!"
"Strange roars coming from an unmoving fog. Seems to be our specialty lately." A voice said.
"That voice!" Darkrai said, dropping the lifeless body into the river. "They have finally lowered their guard, I will have to remove the others first, but this time I will succeed.