"Why have you done this to me?!"

A raspy voice cried in agony as a blast hit the echoing stone walls. The dark energy ricocheted off it hitting the ground. A black scorch mark was left in its wake. It was never Darkrai's intention to hit his target, he only wished to placate his rage. Arceus was unfazed, as if he had expected this moment from the beginning. He locked his gaze with Darkrai's visible and ferocious cyan eye.

"Darkrai. You are upset."

"Upset? UPSET!" Darkrai clenched his fists, anger burning his insides, "ARCEUS YOU CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO COMPREHEND THE TORRENT OF EMOTIONS I AM FEELING!"

He let loose another dark pulse, watching as Arceus merely absorbed his attack. Darkrai screamed in frustration.

"Creatures have died! Because of me A CHILD IS DEAD!"

The frightened face was still burned in Darkrai's mind. It was pale and lifeless. He felt his stomach squeeze and bile rose in his throat. Everything he tried to prevent the tragedy had failed. Cresselia's lunar wing had arrived too late and the child succumbed to endless sleep. Never in his lifetime had Darkrai felt so powerless. The guilt was begging for his destruction. Alpha Pokémon looked down on him in pity.

"You have your purpose, Darkrai, as all immortals do. I am sorry. This burden is one you must carry. All fear has its place. Without fear there could not be bravery. Without darkness there cannot be light. The world the Trio and I have created is one of harmony. Your duty is to give nightmares so that one can learn to fight for their dreams, even when fear grasps them from the darkness."

"But my duty…" Darkrai shuddered, "…it hurts others."

"I know." Arceus replied.

"Then why…" Darkrai sat on the floor his arms crossed together. Tears threatened to fall down his cheeks but he held them inside.

"Because you are needed."

Darkrai opened his eyes. His mind was racing with the tendrils of the replayed memory. It was one he could not forget. He turned over and saw his slumbering counterpart. A small smile appeared on his face at the sight of her. She seemed so at peace, relaxed and warm. Seeing Cresselia's face every day these past few months had been pleasant. However, he was a bit insulted at being assigned a babysitter. He was an immortal, a powerful being that could tame the fabric of the subconscious. He didn't need to be looked after like a child.

Careful to not to disturb Cresselia, he rose up and quietly left the cave. Covering his squinting eyes as the sun was barely sliding past the sea filled horizon, he grumbled. No amount of napping could relieve the aching in his body. He was a nocturnal creature but those cursed meetings always had to be at dawn.

Soon both he and Cresselia would be called to the Hall of Origins again. Darkrai groaned at the thought of all of those judgmental eyes watching his every move. He wandered to the northern part of the island. Berry bushes and trees littered the area, full of all different kinds of fruit. He picked a few pale berries before he nonchalantly wondered back to the cave. Cresselia had awoken, her eyes wide and panicked. She sighed in relief when she noticed Darkrai's presence.

"Darkrai…oh thank Arceus. There you are!"

"Have we been summoned yet?"

"No…" Cresselia's gaze drifted guiltily to the floor.

Darkrai inwardly flinched but did his best not to show it.

"Cresselia…"

She turned attention to him. He hastily offered her one of the berries in his claws.

"Here."

Her paws lightly grazed his skin as she took one from him.

"Mago berries…" Cresselia took a tiny bite and swallowed before smiling slightly, "…you remembered."

Darkrai smiled back. Suddenly a bright flash filled the cavern, leaving behind one golden glowing orb. Before Cresselia could touch it Darkrai stopped her.

"After the meeting…Can we talk?" He asked.

Cresselia fidgeted. Her melodic voice was wary,

"Of course."

She touched her nose to the orb and vanished. Darkrai grumbled as he raised his claw to do the same. This was going to be awful.

In only a moment he rematerialized by the Hall of Origin. Mesprit, Uxie and Azelf had just arrived together. The ever-friendly Mesprit gave him a wave before conversing with Cresselia. Meanwhile Uxie and Azelf watched his every move.

"Back so soon?" Darkrai turned toward the haughty voice and found himself face to face with a rather annoyed Celebi.

"Are you tired of tearing holes in time?"

Darkrai crossed his arms and found it in his best interest to remain silent.

"I hope you are because I'm tired of fixing them!"

The grass fairy flew past him, making sure to knock his shoulder along the way. Palkia and Dialga's glares were turned towards Darkrai the moment he enter the Hall.

Fair enough. Darkrai thought. I would not be glad to see myself either given the circumstances.

"Darkrai! My poor darling little baby boy!"

Darkrai froze as he felt color rise in his cheeks and a tiny being hug the side of his head. There was only one creature who called him that. Mew. After what seemed like an eternity the tiny pink psychic finally released him.

"I heard what happened to you! Oh you poor thing!" Mew flew around, inspecting Darkrai carefully before settling in front of him.

"Are you feeling better? Getting enough rest? If any of those mean monsters come to hurt you again I'll make them regret it!" To emphasize her point, Mew pulled off her fiercest warrior face, which was more cute than intimidating.

"I've been fine." Darkrai responded, "Cresselia has taken good care of me."

The next few moments were filled with Mew doting upon him. Despite his aloof exterior Darkrai felt warmed. As embarrassingly motherly Mew could be at times Darkrai knew she sincerely cared for him. He barely even noticed Giratina's arrival. She stood in Arceus' place and silence overtook the entire Hall. Cresselia floated over, settling in her familiar position beside him. Dialga began the meeting by calling roll and listing off every single member of the council. The noticeable amount of empty spaces was unnerving. Reshiram, Zekrom, Victini, Xerneas and Yveltal, all missing. Darkrai clenched his fists tightly together. Their numbers were dwindling. How close had they gotten to losing more because of him?

"Now then." Giratina began, "As all of you know over 800 years have passed since Arceus locked himself into hibernation."

Darkrai blinked in disbelief. Had it really been that long?

"Celebi has informed me that the unfortunate future is still unchanged."

This news brought about loud whispers between the members of the council. Giratina cleared her throat in an attempt to quiet the crowd but to no avail.

"SILENCE!"

Giratina's roar ripped through the crowd like thunder.

"I'm well aware that this news is…troubling to say the least. However we still have time-"

"Which was almost destroyed!"

Darkrai wanted to hide but he held up his head and shot a glare in the direction of the voice to see a certain obnoxious green serpent glaring back.

"Thank you, Rayquaza but you're input is useless." Giratina responded, clearly annoyed by his interruption.

"As I was saying, we still have time to change that. If any one of you have any ideas, don't hesitate to-"

"Maybe he can be awoken by true loves kiss!" Mew said, twirling in the air.

An uncomfortable hush overtook the room. Darkrai could've laughed at Mew's naivety but with Cresselia beside him he decided against it.

"Oh that sounds wonderful!" Mesprit clasped her paws together and beamed at her sisters, "Don't you think so Uxie, Azelf?"

"Too bad that's a stupid plan and would never work." Groudon scoffed.

"Besides we don't want Arceus to awaken, correct?" Virizion spoke up, "We want him to stay asleep so that we can figure out how to stop him from destroy everything…and everyone."

"Mew, I can tell you're about to, so don't say true loves kiss again." Zygarde groaned.

The psychic cat closed her open mouth and put her paws over it.

"Perhaps we could freeze him over?" Kyurem offered, nonchalantly.

Darkrai tuned out as the conversation between the council turned into aggressive arguments. Giratina tried to quell the ensuing chaos but rapidly became entrapped in a fight of her own with Palkia and Dialga. Rayquaza had to pull Kyogre and Groudon off each other as they began to assign blame for the various misfortunes of the world. The three legendary birds were in a heated debate while Lugia and Ho-oh begrudgingly watched them. Everyone in the council was lashing out at each other. The meetings had always become like this since Arceus' disappearance.

Arceus had always had a calm and authoritative demeanor that kept all hostilities in the council to a minimum. Now that he was gone, nothing seemed to be right. That's exactly why attending made Darkrai's mind reel in agitation. More insults were flung into the already anxious air, some aimed specifically at him. He brushed them off disdainfully. He refused to become a part of their fiasco.

If I could, I would trap all of them in a dark void eternally. Darkrai thought.

Feeling guilty, he scolded himself for thinking in such a way. Wasn't that same mindset the one that had caused him to befriend the Shade? Eventually the meeting disbanded with many leaving exhausted and burned out. No resolution had been made.

What a waste of time. Darkrai thought.

That night when they arrived back on Full Moon island, Darkrai and Cresselia faced each other. Darkrai reached for her but faltered when Cresselia inhaled sharply. He let his arm fall limply to his side and looked away.

"I feel like you distrust me."

"Darkrai…it's late."

Cresselia shook her head and turned around to leave.

"No. Please, Cress. This is important."

Cresselia stopped and eyed him warily. Darkrai let a moment of silence pass between them before continuing.

"Be honest. Do you trust me?"

"No."

A wall was between them. Darkrai had expected this but his chesgt still ached at her words. His mind began to spiral into the darkness, reaching desperately for the light. He barely heard Cresselia's strained voice past the tormenting voices in his head.

"I'm sorry."

Darkrai rubbed his face with his claw.

"Don't be sorry but tell me why. I've been told by others what occurred but you were more heavily involved. I'd like to hear your side of the story."

"I'd rather not talk about it."

Darkrai sighed but decided not to push her more about the matter.

"Alright."

They held each other's gaze for a long time. That feeling between them had not perished but was replaced by a searing pain in both their hearts. Cresselia's lip trembled. She turned her back to him and settled in her nest. Darkrai fought back his instinct to rush forward and comfort her, knowing it would only cause her more distress. Instead, he returned to his own makeshift nest and winced each time he heard Cresselia's soft sobs.