When it came to the question just asked, Alice didn't respond directly — but the audience already had a faint idea in mind.
The Time-Space Tower, Dialga and Palkia, and the melody Glaceon... there had to be a connection between the three.
But what exactly was it?
In the video——
The tune that Alice called Glaceon echoed throughout the park.
The once-agitated Pokémon gradually returned to calm — even Ash and his friends found themselves enchanted.
Everyone's eyes naturally turned toward Alice, standing on the platform and playing her leaf-flute.
The melody was soothing and beautiful, mesmerizing to the point where one couldn't help but be lost in it.
When the song ended, the Pokémon who had been quarreling moments before were now friendly again.
Aipom offered the Pecha Berry it had stolen to Shinx and Piplup, and the two happily shared it.
Peace was restored.
Ash climbed up the platform again.
"Miss Alice, that song was amazing!"
As a coordinator, Dawn was especially sensitive to rhythm and tone — and she meant every word.
The compliment from a cute girl made Alice's smile bloom even brighter.
"This song was taught to me by my grandmother. Isn't it lovely?"
"I'm so moved!" Brock clasped his hands together, his eyes full of admiration.
"Thank you for your praise," Alice replied warmly.
But before anyone could say more—
A figure suddenly leapt through the forest canopy and landed gracefully before Alice.
It was a humanoid Pokémon — slender body, strong legs, blades on its elbows gleaming in the sunlight.
The Blade Pokémon, Gallade.
"Gallade?" Alice asked, startled.
Gallade gestured anxiously in a direction.
Its movements were quick and sharp — something urgent had clearly happened.
"Gallade, what's wrong?" Alice asked again, but before she could finish, the Pokémon leapt away.
"Gal~lade!" it called, motioning for them to follow.
Ash exchanged a look with Dawn and immediately said,
"If Gallade's that worried, something must've gone wrong! Monferno, let's go!"
Without hesitation, Alice and her Monferno dashed after Gallade, and Ash's group followed close behind.
They weaved through the park until they reached a ruined stone site where Gallade stood waiting.
"Gallade, what happened?"
The Pokémon pointed at several toppled stone pillars — their bases twisted and corroded as if something had eaten away at reality itself.
"Who would do something like this?" Alice said angrily.
This park held her childhood memories. Seeing it damaged like this filled her with rage.
A voice suddenly answered her question.
"Darkrai."
**[Roark]: Darkrai? So there's more than one in this world. I thought the one I caught was the Darkrai—the true nightmare god."
[Byron]: "Caught? You? A mythical Pokémon like Darkrai isn't something you just 'catch'."
[Darkrai-trainer]: "Is that hard? Capturing legendary Pokémon just takes patience."
[Flint]: "Yo, this guy's got nerve. You really got a Darkrai and a Latias?"
[Darkrai-trainer]: "Of course. Legendary Pokémon are just rarer, not impossible to find."
[Flint]: "Yeah, right. If that's true, I'll eat this broadcast feed!"
[Darkrai-trainer]: "Uh… that sounds suspiciously like a scam for free food."
Somewhere deep in the Sinnoh wilderness, the mysterious trainer, Darkrai's trainer himself, scratched his head.
Why did no one ever believe him when he told the truth?
Well, fine. Once he reached a human city, he'd just enter a Pokémon League battle — then everyone would see the truth.
…If only he could find the way out of this endless forest.
Back in the video——
The one who'd spoken stepped out from the ruins.
A tall man dressed like a 19th-century noble, complete with arrogance to match.
"Albert?" Alice gasped.
Apparently, this man was not supposed to be here.
"It's Darkrai's doing. I've heard rumors of its shadow appearing on the outskirts of town."
He walked to the broken pillars and kicked them twice, sneering.
"Darkrai is the one responsible for this destruction."
"Darkrai… that name sounds familiar," Brock mused.
"If I recall correctly, it's a Pokémon that causes nightmares."
"Nightmares?" Ash blinked — then smiled.
"That sounds kinda cool!"
Just then, the broadcast frame suddenly shifted — showing another viewpoint.
It was none other than Team Rocket, watching through their camera drone.
"Well, well," Jessie said. "That fancy guy looks rich."
"He must be loaded with treasure!" James added.
"Maybe we can swindle some profit outta this, meow~," Meowth chimed in.
The screen cut back to the park.
[Lance]: "Wherever Ash goes, Team Rocket follows — they're basically soulmates at this point."
[Jessie]: "Soulmates?! We're just after Pikachu!"
[James]: "Yeah! Once we catch Pikachu, we'll get promoted for sure!"
[Bruno]: "No one's going to mention how shady that Albert guy looks? He's giving off serious villain vibes."
[Lorelei]: "Don't judge a book by its cover, Bruno. He's handsome — that means he's probably fine marriage material."
[Lance]: "Wait—so your moral standard is whether or not he's handsome enough to marry?!"
[Lorelei]: "Lance, you're dead."
[Flint]: "Oh man, that's it. Lance just unlocked the hidden boss battle."
On a faraway beach, ice mist began to rise around Lorelei as she glared at her broken sunglasses.
People nearby whispered that an "angry single woman's curse" was spreading across the sand…
No one dared to get too close.
In the video——
Albert continued to pompously insist that Darkrai was the culprit.
Then, a rustling sound came from a nearby bush.
Before Ash could react, Albert drew a Poké Ball.
"Ha! You've been exposed, fiend! Darkrai, show yourself!"
He hurled the ball, releasing a plump, pink Pokémon with a slicked-back crest —
A Lickilicky!
"Lickilicky, Hyper Beam!"
The Pokémon charged energy in its mouth and unleashed a blast into the bushes.
BOOM!
But instead of Darkrai, a very human scream followed.
A soot-blackened man staggered out, swaying weakly before collapsing against a tree.
"Wh… why'd you… attack me…?" he croaked, then fainted.
"Tonio! Are you okay?" Alice cried, rushing to his side.
[Professor Kukui]: "Tonio? Wait, isn't that the same guy who was studying Gaudí's diary earlier?"
[Professor Oak]: "Tonio… that name rings a bell. I just can't recall where I've heard it."
[Cynthia]: "I know him. My grandmother once mentioned a promising scientist in Alamos Town — Tonio."
[Tonio]: "I'm honored to be recognized by Champion Cynthia! And for the record, my hair's still black right now!"
[Lillie]: "So all scientists end up white-haired eventually? Mom said that's what happens when you overthink things!"
[Lusamine]: "Sweetie! Hush! Adults are… complicated."
[Tonio]: "Still, if my future self really plays a role in these events… maybe my research into space-time anomalies was all leading to that moment."
[Alice]: "I knew you'd be amazing, Tonio!"
[Caitlin]: "Ugh! What's that smell? Oh—it's the stench of love."
[Brock]: "Nooo! I lost before I even began!"
[Flint]: "Calling it now: Albert's the 'rival fiancé' type from romance dramas. Alice loves Tonio, but Albert's her arranged fiancé!"
[Lusamine]: "Flint's been reading way too many novels."
In Alamos Town's tower, Alice herself froze.
"W-wait… that is what happened?!"
And as she struggled with that realization, a dark shadow crept up silently behind her.
Cold, glowing eyes pierced the air.
"So… this is my fate?"
In the video——
Though it was all a misunderstanding, Tonio had still been hurt, and Alice was furious at Albert's arrogance.
Yet despite his injuries, Tonio immediately got back to work.
His Drifblim lifted a signal receiver into the air, and data began streaming in.
"There's an abnormal distortion in the space around here," Tonio explained while adjusting his instruments.
"That's what I came to investigate."
His hair — almost white with a faint lavender sheen — fluttered in the wind.
His shabby clothes and intense expression made him look far older than he was.
Even Ash couldn't help but think—
"Man… he looks like an old professor already!"
Old scientist vibes, young heart, and an ominous shadow spreading over the park…
The nightmare had only just begun.
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