It was a summer night. The clouds covered the moon, ripping away the light from the world leaving it dark and desolate. The salty air was cool and humid. Waves lapped at the rocky shore of the island and Cresselia was in her home, healing Darkrai, again. Cresselia couldn't even keep count how many times Darkrai had shown up to her home bruised and battered. She exhaled a small amount of ice and held it against some of the more egregious injuries. Darkrai tensed when the cold hit his skin. Cresselia swiftly apologized,

"Does that hurt?"

"Heh…a little." Darkrai winced, he leaned heavily against the cave wall.

Cresselia levitated the ice away from him and gently touched the bruise on his arm. Her face turned toward the cloudy sky outside. She sighed irritably, it wouldn't be as effective. A pink glow emanated from her body. Darkrai closed his eyes as the power of the Moonlight wafted over him.

"Have I ever told you that you're a remarkable healer?"

"You could dare to mention it more often."

Cresselia hid her blush beneath the natural shade of her face as the pink light faded away. Various cuts and maladies disappeared from Darkrai's body. He sighed in relief. Suddenly, Cresselia realized that she was still touching his arm. Pulling away, she spun around and headed to the back picking up an Oran berry. Cresselia set it down on Darkrai's lap. He took the small blue berry and ran his fingers against the berries tough outer shell. He stared at it intently.

"Is something wrong?" Cresselia asked softly.

Darkrai broke from his trance and glanced at her.

"Cresselia, what's your favorite color?"

It was a simple question. A question she should've been able to answer immediately but her heart had taken it upon itself to beat uncontrollably.

"I like the color blue."

"Blue? Do you have a favorite shade of blue?"

Cresselia nodded,

"I like light blue, like the color of the sky." Like the color of your eyes, she wanted to say it but she would dive head first into the ocean before she ever said that out loud.

"I like yellow. I mean blue is nice too but I really like yellow."

Cresselia stifled a giggle. It seemed kind of silly that the king of all nightmares' favorite color was yellow.

"Why do you like yellow?"

He hesitated, taking a bite of the berry she had given him.

"Well it's so bright and happy that it makes me feel happy too."

Cresselia smiled at him. She couldn't understand how anyone could despise him. Cresselia shook her head causing Darkrai to tilt his head in concern.

"Cress…You okay?"

"I'm alright." No she wasn't.

Her heart hurt for him but one emotion kept her from him. Fear. Darkrai seemed to inspire it in everyone but for Cresselia it was a different kind of fear. The kind that turns the face red and flutters in the pit of the stomach. Fear of rejection. Fear that if she said a word the whole world would turn upside down and fall apart. She could not tell him. She could not take the risk. With a shaky breath she finished patching him up.

"I apologize, but I think that's all I can do for you."

Darkrai chuckled softly,

"Don't apologize to me, Cress. You've done more for me than anyone else has."

After Darkrai spoke he narrowed his eyes.

"I apologize for that too." Cresselia sighed "They should be kinder towards you."

Even though she couldn't see his mouth, Cresselia could tell Darkrai had smiled slightly at her.

"Thank you, Cresselia."

Cresselia's heart heavily thumped in her chest.

"You're welcome."

Darkrai floated up into the air and turned toward the entrance.

"I best get back home. I would not want to over stay my welcome."

"Are you going to rush off, again?" Cresselia inquired, her pleasant voice betraying her hidden yearning.

"Want to try and catch me?" Darkrai smirked at her mischievously.

"Is that a challenge?"

"Maybe…"

Cresselia snorted,

"You'd be better off running from a Shellos, in your condition. I'm not going to race a race I know I can win unfairly."

Darkrai laughed cheerfully. He turned his head so that she could see his visible blue eye. He drew breath as if about to speak but instead nodded in farewell before disappearing into the night.

The silence was deafening. Hanging her head, Cresselia lowered herself to the ground. She inhaled cold air into her lungs. Underneath her lay the warmth of her bed but it brought her no comfort. Yet again she had been gifted the opportunity to tell him but she didn't. Fear had restrained her.

A decade passed. Cresselia rarely saw Darkrai in that time. He had been skipping legendary meetings and had not visited her. Their last night together rested heavily upon her. Had she said something wrong? Or was it what she didn't say? Regret clouded her mind and by evening she found herself flying toward Lake Verity. She could no longer hold her feelings back and she needed advice.

Mesprit was shocked to see the lunar swan show up. She quickly pushed aside her hastily packed supplies and let Cresselia in.

"Mesprit I really need to talk to you. I can't…" Cresselia suddenly noticed Mesprit's mess and flustered expression.

"Oh, is this a bad time?"

"No! No!" Mesprit shook her head, "I have plenty of time for you Cresselia!"

"If you're sure…"

Mesprit smiled warmly,

"Now what seems to be the problem?"

"It's Darkrai…" Cresselia sighed, "…I think I'm in love with him."

"I KNEW IT!"

Cresselia jumped back slightly at Mesprit's outburst. The psychic sprite giggled uncontrollably before grabbing Cresselia's tiny paws.

"Oh Cresselia! I'm the Pokémon of emotions, surely you didn't think I didn't know!"

"I…" Cresselia begin but she looked away, how could she have forgotten.

"Do you know if he feels the same for me, Mesprit?"

"Hmmm…" Mesprit let go of Cresselia's paws and scratched her head, "Well you know he's kind of a closed book. I have detected he has positive feelings for you but love…"

"Oh…" Cresselia's face fell.

"Don't be too disappointed Cresselia. Boys can be pretty oblivious, especially towards their own feelings." Mesprit smiled wryly, "You should tell him."

"But you just said…"

"I know, but what do you have to lose?"

Cresselia paused a moment. The friendship she had with Darkrai was her most prized possession. She wouldn't trade it for the world.

"Cresselia I know you're afraid but if you tell Darkrai how you feel…he might just return your affections."

"And if he doesn't?"

Mesprit patted her head lightly.

"Then at least you got it out instead of wallowing in despair like you usually do."

"Urgh…" Cresselia grimaced, "You feel that too."

"Yup!" Mesprit turned away gathering up her clutter, "Now I must go, Cresselia, I'm sorry. Someone has stolen the Time Gears and Giratina has ordered my sisters and I to find and guard them until Dialga can retrieve them."

Cresselia's eyes widened.

"That's awful."

"Oh well you know…ever since Arceus…" Mesprit's voice flattened and dissipated.

Cresselia lowered her head.

"I know."

"Please tell Darkrai how you feel, Cresselia. Trust me."

Mesprit winked at her and disappeared. Cresselia left Lake Verity with more hope than she had when she arrived.

Positive feelings. Cresselia thought. Well that's a start.

She found herself beaming as she caught sight of New Moon Island. Fog covered the entire island. Ethereal black trees, with their stretching limbs, stuck out of the mist as if trying to grab her. Cresselia landed and immediately shivered.

"Darkrai…" she called out shakily.

At first all she could see was the haze but then a single icy eye became visible.

"Cresselia…" His rough voice sounded sickeningly sweet to her ears.

He slid out of the fog, the black tendrils of his cloak-like body billowing out behind him. Cresselia backed up slightly, fear coursing through her veins.

"Are you alright?"

Darkrai chuckled forebodingly, "I couldn't be better my darling, Cresselia."

In any other context those words would've cause her cheeks to warm but she felt chilled to the bone. Cresselia backed further away but Darkrai only came nearer.

"You seem scared, Cresselia."

"I am scared." Cresselia backed up into a tree, "Something's wrong with you."

"Nothing's wrong my dear, Cresselia." Cresselia was grateful for once that he didn't float closer to her but instead relied on his stilt legs to stay in place.

"I've only come to realize my true potential."

"What do you mean?"

"I hope you didn't enjoy the sun very much."

Cresselia's heart stopped.

"You didn't."

Darkrai blinked and released a sinister grin.

"I did."

"The Time Gears….dear Arceus, Darkrai! What have you done!?" Cresselia cried in anguish.

"What should've been done a long time ago!" Darkrai's visible blue eye glowed threateningly.

"Why should I be the only one to suffer in darkness? Why shouldn't the whole world suffer as well?"

Darkrai quickly closed the distance between them. His fiery gaze held her's.

"I don't want to be alone any longer, Cresselia." Darkrai's expression changed drastically to one of a deep sadness, "Won't you join me?"

Cresselia's head snapped up in horror.

"We could rule a world of darkness, together. You and I."

Cresselia inched further against the tree.

"I could never rule such a world with you."

Hurt shown in Darkrai's face. He pulled his arms around himself and withdrew from her.

"If that is what you wish."

Darkrai turned away from her.

"I don't want to hurt you, Cresselia." Darkrai's words rung through the clearing,

"Don't interfere."

Before she could react, Darkrai sunk into the shadows and disappeared like a ghost. Cresselia collapsed to the ground. Tears clouded her eyes as the words of her lost confession drifted away from her mind and instead were replaced with anguish. That morning the sun never rose and Cresselia wept.