Natsume remembered there was some roadside NPC in Motostoke who kept bragging about teaching himself Hyper Beam.
And moves like "Aerial Ace" and "Cut" were originally invented by humans first.
Given how people in the Pokémon world could tank ultimate moves with their bare bodies...
It wouldn't even be surprising if someone actually learned a Pokémon move.
"In Sinnoh, people marry Pokémon. Unova even has folks having kids with them."
Natsume sighed inwardly: This world really has no standards.
After exchanging pleasantries with Ash at noon...
Sure enough, rumors started spreading again.
"Holy crap, Natsume-sensei can conjure Aura Sphere with his bare hands?"
"Last night, two Champions sparred—they even used Hyper Beam!"
"Seriously? No wonder people say Natsume-sensei could go toe-to-toe with Regigigas!"
Natsume rubbed his cheeks.
He found Yellow and Jasmine, relieved to see they were unharmed.
If Yellow got so much as a scratch, Red would probably go pick a fight with two dumb dragons.
According to Special lore, Legendary Pokémon were everywhere.
Back in Kanto, Red soloed that fused abomination of Ho-Oh and Lugia!
The Battler was basically an eight-star boss with 3000 Attack (not really).
"Natsume-sensei." Jasmine smiled softly, her cheeks faintly pink. "The missing people have been restored too, thanks to Palkia."
"That's good." Natsume asked, "What about Wallace?"
Yellow, wearing her straw hat, grinned. "Mr. Wallace decided to continue the Wallace Cup."
"Since other audiences couldn't reach Alamos Town, he's opening it for free to residents here."
"He's taking quite the loss..." Natsume nodded thoughtfully. "What about you two?"
"Yellow and I plan to stay for the closing ceremony," Jasmine said softly.
Natsume needed to remain in Alamos Town for a while anyway, so Gengar could train under Darkrai.
Plus, he vaguely recalled still being a Wallace Cup judge...
He coughed. "Let Wallace handle his stuff... Oh, Yellow, remind him to join the group chat and drop a big red envelope."
"Leave it to me!" Yellow puffed out her flat chest.
...
Alamos Town's residents were warm but respectful.
When they spotted Natsume-sensei, they'd thank him quietly and watch him leave with reverence.
"Natsume-sensei!" Baron Lickilicky rushed over in a panic. "Iris said Darkrai's staying in the Pokémon Gardens?!"
Natsume turned. "Problem?"
Baron froze, about to say Darkrai'll disturb the townsfolk—
Then he remembered Darkrai saved Alamos Town... and was Natsume-sensei's Pokémon...
"No problem!" Baron rubbed his hands. "None at all! We'll relocate the housing area so Darkrai won't give anyone nightmares!"
You're learning. Natsume patted his shoulder. "Where there's a will, there's a way..."
"By the way, what's your name?"
"Just call me Lickilicky."
"You'd get along with a guy named Bill."
"He turned into a Lickilicky too?"
"Nah, he was a Rattata. Almost got eaten by a Pidgeot."
Lickilicky Baron blinked, then patted his chest.
Suddenly... being a Lickilicky seemed way luckier than a Rattata.
...
The Pokémon Gardens.
Dappled shade, babbling streams, and in the distance, the sound of Iris's leaf whistle drifted through the air.
Darkrai stood with arms crossed, its gaze soft as black mist curled around it.
"Gengar~" Gengar rubbed its hands together, a Shadow Ball swirling between them.
"Wrong," Darkrai said firmly. "It's about channeling Dark Pulse first, then releasing Hypnosis."
"Gengar!" Gengar nodded in sudden understanding, its eyes faintly glowing blue.
Seeing this, Darkrai finally gave an approving nod—though a flicker of surprise crossed its gaze.
This Gengar's mastery of Hypnosis… is far beyond what I expected.
The white haze above its head churned, but its expression remained aloof.
"Next, try controlling the Dark Pulse—"
But no matter how many times Gengar attempted it, every time it tried to condense Hypnosis into a spherical black hole using Pulse, it failed.
"Gengar~" The Pulse dissipated, and Gengar scratched its head.
Darkrai couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment.
As a signature move, Dark Void was undeniably difficult.
Given half a year—maybe a full one—Gengar would undoubtedly master it.
But in just a few days? Even grasping the basics would be…
I've fulfilled my promise, Darkrai thought. If it doesn't learn, that's not my problem!
Yet, after another glance at the scratching Gengar, it sighed softly.
"…I'll demonstrate one more time."
"Gengar~(￣▽￣)／"
Crunch—
Footsteps pressed through the leaf-strewn grove. Darkrai turned, arms still crossed, its eyes narrowing slightly.
Then, it spoke coolly: "You survived."
"So did you."
Natsume grinned. "And you're looking lively."
Darkrai scoffed.
Truthfully, that was only because it had barely managed to snag half a lunchbox from Gengar earlier…
The memory of that meal—crispy fried ribs, a perfectly poached egg, piping-hot octopus sausages—lingered.
Who would've thought a Trainer would put so much care into preparing a Pokémon's lunch?
This wasn't a "pet" or a "subordinate."
This was family.
For a moment, Darkrai recalled the little girl with twin braids who'd once shared her lunch with it—Alicia.
It shook its head, voice rough.
"I've taught all I can."
"Unless you're willing to stay in Alamos Town for a year," Darkrai said, eyes closed, "it won't learn Dark Void."
"Gengar~" Gengar pouted, glancing at Natsume.
Natsume patted its head and smiled.
"Then why not travel with me for a year instead?"
Silence. The stream glittered, and the same melody Alicia used to whistle drifted faintly from afar.
Darkrai looked up at Iris sitting on the railing—and for a moment, saw a familiar silhouette.
"…Sorry, Natsume."
After a long pause, Darkrai's voice was firm. "You have your family. And I… have mine."
That intangible yet overwhelming bond—it wasn't unique to Natsume and his little ones.
Even a roadside Rattata, a Caterpie on a branch, a Pidgey taking flight… they all had bonds of their own.
They might meet one Trainer, or many.
But once they chose theirs, all others paled in comparison.
Like a rainbow—you only understand its beauty after seeing it.
Natsume felt a pang of loss, suddenly understanding how Ash must've felt when Lucario refused his invitation.
"Really won't reconsider?" Natsume pressed.
Darkrai stayed silent, then met his gaze and shook its head firmly.
Natsume almost tempted it with Pokéblocks—but after a beat, he stepped back and smiled.
Fist extended, he said, "Then we're still partners."
"…Partners." Darkrai repeated the word, eyes flickering. Slowly, it raised a shadow-cloaked claw, forming a fist.
It bumped lightly against Natsume's.
"Partners," Darkrai said, voice steady. "The day you need me, I'll fight by your side."
Natsume blinked, expression shifting.
What kind of enemy would require a Legendary-tier Darkrai to face?
If the Sinnoh movie trilogy was anything to go by, Ash would still encounter Giratina, Arceus—
A chill crawled up Natsume's spine.
"I hope that day never comes," Natsume coughed.
Darkrai: "You looking down on me?"
Natsume-sensei: "Not at all. I'm the one unworthy of you."
Darkrai roared: "You are looking down on me! I could spar with Arceus itself!"
Natsume: "I'll… thank you in advance, then!"
"Gengar! (✧ω✧)" Gengar squeezed its tiny fist into the mix, bumping against both of theirs.
Darkrai took a breath. "Regardless, I'll focus on teaching it Dark Void in these last days."
Natsume frowned. "What's the missing piece?"
Darkrai glanced at Gengar.
"Aura control. Dark Void requires compressing energy to its limit. Without Aura, it's nearly impossible."
Aura? Natsume paused. "What if the Trainer assists?"
Darkrai recalled the escape route Natsume had projected into its mind during the battle against the Temporal and Spatial Dragons—and froze.
"…You mean—"
Natsume shouted: "Gengar, try Dark Void again! I'll back you up!"
"Gengar~"
Gengar levitated, dark energy swirling in its palms. Unlike Shadow Ball, this was laced with the nightmare energy of Dark Pulse, slowly condensing into a miniature black hole.
Just as Gengar's eyes glowed with Hypnosis—and the black hole threatened to disperse—
A sudden updraft surged. Natsume's coat flapped back as azure light rippled around him, his gaze sharpening.
Advanced Aura of Ripple twisted into a stabilizing vortex around the black hole—
And under Darkrai's stunned gaze, Dark Void took shape.
Gengar hurled it: "Gengar!"
Natsume: "Hit the deck!"
Darkrai: "Σ(°△°|||)︴ NOT INTO THE GARDENS!"
BOOM!!
Dust billowed.
Natsume's heart sank.
…Did I just give the renovation crew another massive headache?
As the smoke cleared, Darkrai slowly exhaled a plume of soot—having tanked the Dark Void head-on.
Then, it raised a claw and flipped Natsume off.
Natsume: "No Pokéblocks for you."
Darkrai: "It's a joke between partners!"
...
Not even Darkrai had anticipated this.
The human before it had somehow mastered Aura—that elusive power.
And Gengar's rapid progress with Dark Void left Darkrai's emotions in turmoil.
In shadow techniques, Gengar's potential mirrored its own.
After centuries of solitude, Darkrai felt something in its frozen heart thaw. Arms still crossed, its eyes held the faintest trace of a smile.
"Go," it said quietly. "In these three days, I'll train Gengar to its limits."
Natsume: "I'll be judging at the Space-Time Tower next door. Just 'squeak' if you need me."
Darkrai: "..."
Natsume: "Oh, and the nearby housing area's being relocated. You can stay here in peace."
A long silence. Then, in a voice almost too quiet to hear, Darkrai muttered something.
Natsume scratched his head, waved at Gengar, and left—planning to pack an extra lunchbox for Darkrai too.
Only after exiting the gardens did Natsume pause, realizing what Darkrai had said.
It'd been:
"…Thank you. Truly."
"Hah. That lolicon's got manners after all."
With a chuckle, Natsume shook off his lingering regret and glanced skyward.
Fragments of other movies flashed through his mind—
His spine went cold. Face stiffening, he quickened his pace and fled.
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