Draco: Okay, I know I've I've had a lot of addenda involving Sinnoh already, (Hisui definitely counts as Sinnoh, I'm not gonna pretend it doesn't), but I literally saw the Newmoon Nightmare in my dreams last night and I can't just let that inspiration die.

Pokémon and all related properties © Nintendo.

Resort Area, Sinnoh

Knock, knock, knock...

As Lucas lifted his hand from the door of Dawn's villa, he heard movement from inside - but rather slow, uneven movement. To be expected, perhaps, given the late hour and the crescent moon shining above... but his suspicions were confirmed when the door was opened. Dawn stood there, looking weary; a Lunar Feather was clipped to her hair, which looked very dishevelled and undone, and her clothes were in no better state.

"...Hey," she greeted.

"Hey," Lucas returned. "Sorry it took me so long."

Dawn shook her head. "No, I'm sorry for calling you out so late. Come on in."

Lucas stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "I... take it the exposure therapy isn't having the positive results you were hoping for?"

"Is it that obvious?" Dawn mused

"I told you you didn't have to make yourself do this," Lucas mused. "How long has it been affecting you?"

"...Since Manaphy left," Dawn murmured.

Lucas started. "That was over- Why didn't you say anything sooner?"

"Because I thought that was why," Dawn insisted. "I know it wasn't the same as last time - she wasn't hurt this time, she just wanted to go travel again. That doesn't mean I'm not sad to see her go, though. And I thought I was just letting that affect me, letting that bring me down."

She shook her head. "But eventually, I realized it just feels wrong. To watch a Poké Ball open up and see a legendary Pokémon standing there."

"...Are you sure it's not just these legendary Pokémon, specifically?" Lucas asked.

"It might be," Dawn admitted, a sad smile on her face. "Maybe it's not what they are so much as who." Her gaze fell. "I know, in my head that the Rangers set him right, but that doesn't make it any less terrifying to see Darkrai on the battlefield."

"I'd be lying if I said I felt too different," Lucas admitted. "Honestly... maybe it's time we sent them on their way."

Dawn turned. "Huh?"

"I mean, then they'd be no different from Manaphy, right?" Lucas mused. "There's nothing stopping us from still be friends, but... we don't have to have them with us all the time."

Dawn took a deep breath. "...Maybe you've got a point," she admitted. "Sure. Let's send them off." A weary smile on her face. "Heatran would probably prefer the Underground, but we can make a road trip down Seabreak Path in the morning for Darkrai and Shaymin."

"I like the sound of that," Lucas conceded. "You want me to stay here tonight?"

"...Please do."

+x+x+x+

The next day, the two of them and their Pokémon made their way to the Pokémon League's chapel, and passed through Victory Road to emerge onto Route 224.

"Been a while since I've been out here," Dawn admitted.

"Professor Oak invited you, right?" Lucas mused. "That was your first encounter with an Agent of Gratitude."

Dawn nodded. "Yeah. After everything that happened in Distortion, and then my encounter on Newmoon Island, I thought an invite from Oak couldn't be anything I was going to regret." She shook her head. "In hindsight, that was kind of naïve of me. He's the one who told me the Kantonian birds had been sighted here in Sinnoh."

Lucas shrugged. "He is a bit... forward-looking," he admitted. "Not much for dwelling on the past, that one."

"Yeah," Dawn confirmed. "But naïve or not, I was right. That time, at least. I came out here on his invitation... and I didn't regret it."

They were approaching the Seabreak Path by now; a brilliant white stone rested at the edge of Route 224, and Dawn stepped towards it. "Just a bright rock and an old fable. That's all it was. Part of me knew there was a chance it might lead to something more, but... I didn't hesitate, even so." She set her hand on the stone's surface. "He asked me to show my gratitude, and I did. And then this barren hangnail in the corner of Sinnoh became a vibrant path that cut the sea in two - with flowers for every step. And there was no terrible creature waiting for me - just a playful Shaymin who wanted to have fun with me and my Pokémon."

Her gaze fell. "Looking back... that was my first one. My first pleasant encounter with a legendary Pokémon."

"Sounds like you've got something to thank that Shaymin for, too," Lucas observed.

"I suppose I do," Dawn admitted. "But I think that's why the Agents don't show themselves until you can express your gratitude. They want you to show that you have something to be thankful for. That you appreciate something you've been through."

Her choice of words caught Lucas by surprise. "...And what have you been through," he asked, "that you decided to show you appreciated?"

Dawn glanced at him with a smile before turning back to the stone. There were words etched into its surface, he now realized; Dawn's hand was resting over the start of it, but she now lifted it away to bare it.

Giratina, to whom I give my thanks.

Lucas' eyes widened. "Antimatter?"

"It scared me," Dawn confessed. "It still does, I can't pretend otherwise. But Antimatter saved me. Saved all of us, everywhere. Cyrus had dragged Time and Space into our world atop Spear Pillar, and the spirits of the lakes couldn't stop them - not both of them. I could've fought them - I would have fought them, no matter how terrified I was - but they were already on the edge of remaking the world the way he wanted. So Giratina lunged out of Distortion and dragged him in, shattering the Red Chains and proving his plans would amount to naught. And we haven't seen him since."

She stepped back. "What could I possibly be grateful for, if not that?"

Draco: Yeah, nope, I'm still not good enough with writing peacetime to handle a leisurely walk down Seabreak Path.