As the shattered Slumber Domain was absorbed by Darkrai, Gardevoir appeared to be in more and more pain.
After all, the Slumber Domain had been with it for many, many years. Whether passively or actively, a large part of why Gardevoir had reached it's former level was because of it.
But just when Gardevoir finally had the chance to fully inherit the Domain, it chose to give it up.
…If Domains had their own consciousness, this one would definitely be feeling extremely aggrieved.
Imagine. An "exalted" Legendary Domain, abandoned not once, but twice… and in the end, forcibly absorbed by Darkrai.
But all that wasn't something Sato should be worrying about now. As Gardevoir's partner, he had a responsibility to help it through this difficult moment.
[Dark Energy: Energy Transfer - Altered: Full Output]
Ink-black Dark Energy surged from Sato's hand, flowing straight into Gardevoir's body.
With the infusion of Dark Energy, Gardevoir's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and its previously unstable Elite Four strength gradually stabilized.
Crsssp!
A crisp sound startled Sato. He turned toward the source and saw that Darkrai's Nightmare Domain had visibly grown in size.
Domains really were strange… whether breaking apart or expanding, they made the exact same sound.
When the final white light point merged into the Nightmare Domain, Darkrai casually beckoned, and it returned into its body.
Sato could clearly feel it… Darkrai now radiated at least twice the pressure it had when they first met.
How to describe it?
It felt like facing half a Giratina.
----
On the other side, Gardevoir had recovered with the Dark Energy infusion. Though still looking a bit weak, it was no longer in any serious danger.
"Toto… from now on, I'll be only yours[1]," Gardevoir softly said as it walked over to Sato.
Sato blinked in confusion. "Weren't you already my partner?"
Gardevoir smiled helplessly and shook its head, not bothering to explain further.
Sato was still puzzled and wanted to ask more, but Darkrai -who had just finished absorbing the Slumber Domain- interrupted him.
"I… Darkrai… have never owed anyone in my life. If you need anything, just ask."
"…Just ask?" Sato raised an eyebrow and repeated the phrase.
"…Don't even think about 'catching' me. A Pokémon with a Domain cannot be contained in a Poké Ball," Darkrai said, as if seeing right through Sato's reckless intentions. Then it glanced over at Gardevoir.
"Can't be contained by a Poké Ball…" Sato muttered, and instantly understood what Gardevoir had meant earlier.
"BLABBERMOUTH!" Gardevoir shot Darkrai an annoyed glare, showing zero fear despite it being a Legendary Pokémon.
"I can already sense that hag Cresselia's presence… if you don't speak up now, you won't get another chance!"
Darkrai suddenly turned toward the cave entrance, its tone growing urgent.
Seeing this, Sato quickly tried to think of anything he might need, and after a long moment, only one thing came to mind.
"I need a item that extends a Pokémon's lifespan. One that's suitable for a Bug/Poison-type!"
After speaking, he looked over at Gardevoir to see if it needed anything too.
"…And a Nightmare Orb from your stock," Gardevoir said bluntly after receiving Sato's signal.
"Deal!"
Without the slightest hesitation or negotiation, Darkrai agreed. With a casual toss, it flung two items to Sato and immediately bolted toward the cave exit.
Rumble~ Rumble~
The cave began to shake violently. No one really knew what kind of grudge existed between Cresselia and Darkrai… but every time they met, it always turned into a fight.
Sato quickly recalled Zoroark, then grabbed Gardevoir as it used Teleport to take him out.
Moments later, the hastily-dug, unstable cave was completely buried.
A flash of white light, Gardevoir had teleported Sato to the beach along the northern coast. Up in the sky, Darkrai and Cresselia were once again battling it out like no one else existed.
…But this time, it was Darkrai chasing and relentlessly hammering Cresselia, holding nothing back.
"Gardevoir, do you know anything about their backstory? I have a feeling it's not simple…"
"I was in the Seafloor Cavern the whole time. Then I followed you out," Gardevoir replied, shaking its head.
The meaning was clear: if even the Trainer didn't know, how would a Pokémon know anything?
"Then how did you know Darkrai had… a Nightmare Orb?"
Gardevoir blinked. Its expression looked innocent, but Sato couldn't help feeling a bit condescended to.
"…Legendary Pokémon can periodically produce orbs. The Slumber Domain forms Slumber Orbs, the Earth Domain makes Earth Orbs… so the Nightmare Domain makes Nightmare Orbs, obviously~"
"..." ￢_￢
Ten seconds later, Sato smoothed his face back into a neutral expression and pressed on, "So what do Nightmare Orbs do?"
"They… give people nightmares."
"..."
Sato suddenly realized: Gardevoir had started picking up bad habits!
Looking at the other "item" in his hand, Sato swore to himself…
[Even if curiosity killed him… even if the incoming tide drowned him!
…He would never ask Gardevoir another question again!]
He turned to look up at the two Legendary Pokémon fighting overhead, ignoring Gardevoir's "Come on, ask me~" look.
By now, Cresselia had already started retreating, but Darkrai wasn't letting up. Wave after wave of Dark Pulse chased after her.
Sato was about to ask Gardevoir whether Darkrai was trying to defeat Cresselia and seize her Dream Domain.
…But remembering the poisonous oath he'd just made, he opened his mouth and then shut it again.
In the distance, a police siren could be faintly heard. Sato knew it was best to leave now, once Officer Jenny got involved, things would only get more complicated.
Darkrai and Cresselia seemed to sense it too. Darkrai took a moment to nod toward Sato and Gardevoir, then vanished beyond the sea in pursuit of Cresselia.
"Gardevoir, Teleport."
"Got it~"
Now lacking its Legendary Domain, Gardevoir seemed a little different. Compared to its usual cold elegance, it was now showing a bit of playful charm.
And yet this was Gardevoir… not the sweet, spoiled Ralts who used to beg for Sweet Milk.
A white flash, and Sato and Gardevoir disappeared from the scene.
By the time Officer Jenny arrived with a team of officers at the northern coast, all that remained were the battlefield marks left behind by the two Legendary Pokémon, no other trace was found.
"Officer Jenny, should we notify Elite Four Bertha now?" one officer asked.
"Wait until morning. For now, preserve the battle marks. Let the investigation team collect data and figure out just what kind of monsters were here."
"YES, MA'AM!"
---
Meanwhile, back at the Pokémon Center, Sato began researching information about the other item.
But by the time the sun rose and the morning light streamed through the window onto his face, Sato still hadn't found anything useful.
"Gardevoir… what even is this thing?"
[1] Chill, chill… CHILL!