"This doesn't seem like someone with a plate is around here." Ark said, seeing the in tact tower. "Normally, there's chaos, destruction, extra signs of the element present around it's holder."

"Not always." Pokemon Master Ash said. "Last two fights there were very little signs of anything like that, also Paul."

"Who's Paul?" Ark asked.

"A chosen fighter for MissigNo." Arceus said. "And the holder of the Pixie Plate."

"So when you said we aren't the only ones going for these plates, you didn't just mean MissigNo." Ark realized.

"Unfortunatley, he has recruited a strong trainer in Paul, and that's why we need to get to these Plates fast." Pokemon Master Ash said.

"So is it Paul or MissigNo that created that black blob that absorbed the Toxic Plate then?" Ark asked.

"I know of no powers either could have that could accomplish such a feat." Arceus admitted. "That takes some impressive power in order to accomplish, a full mastery of that ability to create and remove them in an instant."

"Great, so now there's a third party we have to worry about." Ark groaned.

"Not a third party, just a third threat." A man in a red cloak with long bluish hair said, stepping out of the tower. "And if you believed Paul was powerful you have no idea what I'm capable of."

"Give us whatever plate MissigNo gave you and we won't have to hurt you." Ark said.

"Please, I'd like to see you try." The man said. "My name is Tobias, the master of Darkrai and owner of The Dread Plate, first general of Lord MissigNo, and the one who will stop you."

"We'll see about that, I've got this one." Ark said. "Passimian come on out!"

"Darkrai use Ice Beam!"

"Passimian use Fling!"

Darkrai, with incredible speed, flash froze the Iron Ball to Passimian's hand, causing him to go off balance and fall to the ground.

"Now use Dark Void!"

"Passimian look out!" Ark called out, as Passimian was across bed in a black orb before coming back out, now fast asleep.

"Now use Dream Eater." Tobias commanded.

Passimian's energy was drained quickly as Darkrai ate his dreams.

"Passimian wake up!" Ark called out.

"Darkrai use Dark Pulse!"

Passimian was hit by the attack and sent flying as a result from it.

"Passimian return!" Ark called out. "Fine you want to play dark, lets play. Come on out Incineroar, use Darkest Lariat!"

"Darkrai use Dark Void."

Incineroar spun forward, slicing through the Dark Void before striking Darkrai, knocking him back.

"Hah!" Ark exclaimed.

"Use another Dark Void!"

"Use Flare Blitz!"

Incineroar was engulfed in a black orb before bursting out angrily covered in flames, slamming into Darkrai before falling asleep himself.

"Darkrai use Ice Beam!"

Darkrai fired off a giant and powerful beam out of his hand, covering Incineroar in ice.

"Now use Dark Pulse!"

"Incineroar return!" Ark called out. "Golisopod let's go!"

"Ark, whats your plan here?" Rotomdex asked.

"Let them know about what Golisopod can do, if he falls we'll need to go like him." Ark said calmly.

"You've got to be joking." Rotomdex said.

"I don't think we can beat him here." Ark admitted. "We'll need to regroup and come up with a better tactic for fighting him."

"This doesn't sound like a great plan." Rotomdex sighed.

"Yeah, but without Passimian or Incineroar, we're already out two heavy hitters." Ark said. "Now Golisopod use X Scissor!"

"Darkrai use Dark Void!"

Golisopod moved out of the way of the attack, striking Darkrai before the mythical Pokemon knocked back Golisopod.

"Golisopod use Razor Shell!"

"Darkrai use Dark Void!"

Golisopod was enveloped in the darkness, falling asleep from the attack, but not even retreating like he normally would.

"Now Darkrai recover with Dream Eater!"

Darkrai began absorbing Golisopod's dreams, healing the damage from the battle.

"Use Dream Eater!"

"Golisopod, look out!" Ark called out.

The rest of Golisopod's energy was drained as he was defeated by Darkrai.

"Not good, I was really hoping for Emergency Exit." Ark groaned.

"Let me help out." Pokemon Master Ash said.

"Not if you want me to hand this right to Lord MissigNo." Tobias said, holding the Dread Plate out.

"We can't afford him to destroy more land, even if they have the plate." Ark said. "Pikachu let's end this, use Volt Tackle!"

Pikachu launched forward covered in electricity before slamming into Darkrai, before being swatted back.

"Darkrai use Dark Void!"

"Pikachu use Catastropika!"

Electricity shot out from Pikachu, blinding Darkrai and Tobias momentarily, but it was enough to let the Ashs and Arceus to run away.

"Run all you want, there is nowhere you can hide for us to stop you from imprisoning Lord MissigNo again." Tobias said calmly, as he dropped back into the shadows.

Back at the Pokemon Center

"What was that thing?" Ark asked, looking at his three recovering Pokemon.

"Darkrai, the Pitch-Black Pokemon, a Dark Type Mythical Pokemon. Folklore has it that on moonless nights, this Pokemon will make people see horrific nightmares." Rotomdex explained.

"Great so now they have a legendary Pokemon on their side too." Pokemon Master Ash groaned. "Any chance we can get one for ourselves?"

"Even if we did, their bond was strengthened by the Dread Plate, not many legendary or mythical Pokemon could counter that bond." Arceus said thoughtfully.

"What if we used plates?" Ark asked, causing the other two to look at him. "Yeah I know it sounds weird, but think about it, that Paul guy has a plate, and so does this Tobias dude, what if we evened the playing field a bit."

"It's not the weirdest idea, it might even work." Pokemon Master Ash said. "With the Insect Plate and Heracross I could deal some heavy damage."

"And if Passimian and I had the fist plate, I'm sure we could land a hit next time we see Tobias and his Darkrai." Ark said.

"Very well, I think that if we are to continue forward and succeed, I will give you a fraction of my powers from each plate to boost those types of attacks,". Arceus said, a light green, and dark orangish-brown glow entering Pokemon Master Ash and Ark respectively. "Just know that you don't have the full power of the plates, just enough to even the playing field, you won't be corrupted by this much."

"Alright, where are we going next then?" Pokemon Master Ash asked.

"The next closest plate is to the north in Celestina Town." Arceus said.

"Then that's where we're heading." Ark said with confidence.

Ark's Current Team and their Moves

Pikachu: Thunderbolt - Nasty Plot - Surf - Volt Tackle

Toucannon: Beak Blast - Hyper Voice - Rock Blast - Steel Wing

Incineroar: Flare Blitz - Darkest Lariat - Cross Chop - Outrage

Dhelmise: Anchor Shot - Power Whip - Shadow Ball - Whirlpool

Passimian: Fling - Seed Bomb - Smack Down - Close Combat

Golisopod: X Scissor - Razor Shell - Poison Jab - Drill Run

Current plate locations

With Ash, Ark, and Arceus

Splash

Iron

Insect

Earth

Spooky

Fist

Mind

With Paul and MissigNo

Pixie

Draco

Toxic

Dread

Unknown Location

Flame

Icicle

Meadow

Sky

Stone

Zap