Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Being a Pokémon trainer can be pretty damn tough.

Traveling and taking care of your Pokémon was a very strenuous task. You were on your feet for hours and had to trudge through harrowing terrain, be it mountains, forests, canyons or open waters. That's not even to mention the weather conditions, ranging from blazing sunlight to heavy rain and then to blizzard storm in only a matter of hours. 

But thanks to your Pokémon, you could get through anything. They could both protect you and carry you through the worst of it. Then, when it was time to call it for the night, you'd tend to any wounds they may have from battling or simply care for and pamper them. They deserve it for being so loyal and dedicated. 

They never gave up. They were always ready to take on any challenge and give it their all. They were your life-savers in some very dire moments. They never let you down. Your Pokémon were amazingly strong. 

Which was why you had to be as strong in return. You had to give 100 percent too and match their energy. You needed to do what you did best in order to not let them down. You'd train with them and make sure they got all the exercise they needed in order to become stronger. But you'd also let them out to roam around and play so they wouldn't get overwhelmed with battling and training. They needed a break.

Meanwhile, you'd do all you could to train yourself too. Not only physically, doing some stretches and bench presses in the morning to keep fit, but also mentally. You continued researching battle strategies and techniques, reading up on everything possible to get a better understanding of being a Pokémon trainer. You read up on best training methods for each of your Pokémon, best diets, berry knowledge, proper item usages, etc.

Needless to say, you were dedicated to proving your worth to your Pokémon and care for them properly.

It was one afternoon in particular when things got… strange.

You were walking along a forest trail, partner beside you. You had been going for quite some time, though you didn't know how long. Your partner Pokémon only came out recently. You'd switch them out from time to time to allow them some rest from walking. 

Of course, you didn't really have that luxury, since you were carrying them all. Your larger Pokémon would offer you to ride them, but you declined mostly. It wasn't fair after they would fight off wild Pokémon that jumped you and generally protect you from danger. The least you could do is walk on your own.

You and your Pawmot were trying to find the next town you needed to get to. You weren't sure you were going the right way and wondered if you'd even make it. But even if you didn't find the town, you figured you should at least find somewhere open and comfortable to set up camp. Your legs were starting to hurt a tiny bit. 

As you took note of your condition, you heard a sound further up the path. You hurried over until you could see what was up ahead. The path split off in two directions, one continuing further into the woods, the other ending in a clearing with a grassy flat area that was perfect for setting up camp.

The only issue was the source of the noise. Because, right in the middle of said area was a yellow shape, sitting and soaking in the slight rays of sunshine, filtered through the leaves.

"Look, Momi. A Pokémon. What do you think it is?" You whispered to Pawmot

"Mo-moh!"

"Yeah. Let's check."

You brought out your Rotom phone and gave the Pokémon a quick scan. The image and name popped up on your screen.

'Hypno, the Hypnosis Pokémon'

"Ah! A Hypno! I don't think I've encountered one in the wild, only in battle. Hmm… do you think it's guarding the spot?"

"Pah pa-mo-moh!"

"Yeah. Better clear it out first. Ready?"

Pawmot nodded at you with a smile, tying its little fists in preparation.

You both ran up to the Hypno from behind, startling it as you directed Pawmot to attack. The poor Hypno merely turned and looked at you in surprise before being shoved out of the way by a decisive headbutt. It staggered onto its feet and looked totally bewildered, gripping its pendulum nervously. 

"Nice one! Now, while it's surprised, give an arm thrust!"

Pawmot nodded and ran at the Hypno, arm outstretched with wide open palms. More prepared this time, the Hypno dodged your Pawmot and let it fly past. It steps away from its offender, causing it to step closer to you. 

"Damn it! What was I thinking, using a fighting move?! I'm off my game" you commented, causing the Hypno to turn and look at you. It seemed to be looking you up and down, having some sort of perplexed expression. The glance it gave you made you pause, wondering why it was being so passive, not defending itself.

Then it turned to you fully and spoke softly. "Hyyyypno…"

"H-h-hey! D-don't you look at me like that!" You scolded it and took a step back. But you yelped as you felt a blister starting to form on your foot. Or maybe it had been there for a while and you just didn't notice.

The Hypno then raised its pendulum as its eyes slowly gained a light purple hue. "Hypnoooooo…"

"Ah! Wh-wh-wh-what's it doing?! Is that an attack?! Pawwww… m-moooot…" before you could give an order, you suddenly felt a little lightheaded. Your body untensed as you stared at the Hypno and its pendulum, your eyes focused intently on it. 

You weren't sure why, but you were suddenly very interested in that pendulum. Something about it just pulled your attention to it. The silver ring at the end of the string was very pretty, especially as it moved the way it did. It would sway from left to right, occasionally catching a ray of sunlight in its reflection. It would glint in such a mesmerizing way, just attracting your attention more and more as you followed it. Left to right… left to right…

"Noooooo~. Hypnooo~."

For some reason, you started feeling so exhausted. Your legs were aching and you felt a slight headache was coming on. It was as if all the adrenaline was slowly leaving you, revealing all the exertion you had been putting your body through. You groaned softly and frowned from the feeling.

"Hyyyyyyyypnoooooo~."

Then, just like magic, the headache was gone. You felt the tension leaving your head, making you feel so much better. Something touching your wrist helped guide you down onto the ground, releasing the tension in the rest of your muscles. You sighed heavily in relief and just sat on the grass, still staring deeply into the silver. You could have sworn it was starting to sparkle and shine in such an enchanting way, making you smile slightly as you swayed from side to side to follow it.

It was getting harder to think. To focus on anything in your head. Because all your thoughts were being replaced by that amazing glitter that danced around in front of you. It just fluttered around like glowing pixie dust, making your head feel all pretty and nice. You didn't need to think, not with such beautiful magic taking up your mind and keeping you blissful.

"Hypno-noooo~."

Everything was becoming so slow. You had been going so fast for so long, always active and on the go. But now, you were feeling like a Slowbro. Your brain was moving along at a Slugma's pace. And you felt so heavy. Like a large heavy blanket was draped over you, making it so hard to stay upright.

"Hypno… hypno~"

You were so sleepy. The twinkling lights reminded you of stars. It's star time. Means it's bedtime. You worked hard, did lots. But now you're tired. You should go to sleep. Sleepy time.

You rocked down. Further and further down. You rocked down into a soft, comfy, warm embrace of slumber. Sinking into the calm. Into sleepy. Into snuggly trance.

Further and further…

Back and forth…

Sleepy and comfy…

… Zzzzzzz…

…

…

…

Your eyes slowly flutter open, being greeted by the rays of the setting sun, filtered through the leaves of the trees. You blinked lethargically and yawned softly, shifting to lay on your side as you closed your eyes again.

"Mo-mo-moh…"

You groaned and opened one eye, seeing Pawmot right in front of you. You felt their paw on your face, petting you gently to wake you up. With another yawn, you pushed yourself up and rubbed your eyes, taking in your surroundings. 

You were surprised to see your team out of their Poké balls, relaxing around a small campfire. They were all eating berries and talking to each other, apparently.

"Huh…? What's…? How did you all…?"

You rubbed your eyes again, making sure you were seeing everything correctly. Had you fallen asleep while setting up camp? But… you don't even remember starting. You just remember finding this place and trying to… chase away… a…

You suddenly jolted and looked around, wondering what happened to the Hypno you had encountered. But you didn't have to wonder for long, as it came over to your group with some sticks in its arms.

"Hypno-no…"

"You… helped my Pokémon set up camp? But… why???"

It just shrugged at you and walked over to the fire, putting some of the sticks in it to keep it going. Pawmot ran over and handed a Chesto berry to Hypno, which it accepted and started eating.

"Wow… that's… really nice of you. And after we attacked you and everything…"

"Hypno… Hypno Hypno…" it didn't sound bothered at all.

"Well… Sorry about that. And thanks for the nap. I don't think I've slept this well in weeks."

It smiled and laughed softly, causing all the other Pokémon to look away innocently. It was mighty suspicious, making you wonder what they had been telling this Hypno while you were asleep.

"Well anyways… wanna join the team? You've proven yourself pretty trustworthy to me and I can't think of any other way to repay you."

It immediately lit up and let out a delightful, "Hypnooooo!" before going through your bag. You looked shocked, until it pulled out a Luxury ball and pointed to it happily.

"... You're pretty bold, aren't you? Fine. Luxury ball it is."

Chapter Text

It was starting to get late. At least too late to be walking around the lake. You needed to get to the nearest town and find somewhere to stay for the night. If you didn't start going soon, you'd probably get there by midnight or some absurdly late hour.

You sighed gently as you picked up another rock from the ground. You had been skipping rocks for quite some time, since you needed a break from walking. Surprisingly, it seemed like your skipping had no reaction from any Pokémon in the lake. Either you scared them off or there weren't that many in there. Whatever. At least it's peaceful. 

This rock would be your last. It was perfectly flat and you were sure it would fly far. So you pulled back before tossing it at the water with a masterful spin.

It skipped over the water amazingly, bouncing so far out into the lake that you lost track of it. You felt satisfied with that last throw and dusted your hands off triumphantly. You started walking in the direction of the town when a noise caught your attention. You looked out at the water with a raised brow, until you saw something flying in your direction. It didn't hit you or anything, but it did startle you as it landed near where you stood.

"... Hello?" You asked, unsure in your tone as you didn't know if calling attention to yourself was a good idea. 

You heard a distant cry, sounding like a high pitched shrill. You could immediately tell it was a Pokémon, but you didn't know which one exactly. And you weren't sure if it meant trouble. 

So, airing on the side of caution, you decided to just continue walking, ignoring the Pokémon. 

Of course, it wouldn't be that easy, as you soon felt something pelt you in the back. You gasped from the slight pain and whipped around angrily. 

Near the edge of the lake, staring at you curiously, was a Dragonair. It was rather large, being a Dragonair and all, so you felt a little nervous having it looking so intensely at you.

"... Did you throw that rock?"

It just squeaked back at you and picked up another rock, a pretty big one, and threw it to you, landing by your feet. You yipped and took a step back, wondering what the hell it was trying to do.

"... Um… are… are you asking me to… throw more rocks?"

It peeped in joy, clearly confirming your suspicions. You sighed and pinched the bridge of your nose. You didn't have time to entertain a water dragon, you had to find somewhere to sleep before nightfall.

"Listen. I don't have time. It's starting to get late and I wanna get to town before it gets dark."

It let out a sad cry as you denied its request, giving you a pair of pleading eyes. But you weren't swayed. "Sorry, bud. But that's just how it is. See ya."

You then continued walking, trying to figure out the best route to take until another sound caught your attention. You looked back and saw the Dragonair, now on land, slithering up to you. It stopped a few feet behind you and just watched innocently.

"No! No, you're not coming with me! I'm traveling solo, alright?"

It just tilted its head at you and made a soft noise. You gave it a glare before turning around to walk again. You heard the movements behind you and immediately let out a groan, turning back towards the Pokémon following you. "What do you not get?! SO-LO! Alone! I don't need a dumb Pokémon. I'm fine on my own" you grumbled and started walking once more, this time not even acknowledging the serpent that continued to tag along. Maybe if you ignored it, it would give up.

But it kept following you for fifteen minutes as you walked along the edge of the lake. It would sometimes stop and pick up a rock to toss in the water, then look at you expectantly before catching up with you again. It was really fascinated with you, it seemed.

"LISTEN! You're not even doing it right! You need a flat rock-" You barked at it as you crouched down and picked up the flattest rock you saw. "Then you spin it as you throw it, like a disc!" You demonstrated by skipping the rock, just like you did earlier. 

It seemed to bump into something you didn't see earlier. The lump slowly rose to reveal a large Seismitoad, rumbling angrily and turning to look at you. You gulped and froze on the spot, going straight like a pole. 

It cried out in frustration before shooting a Bubble Beam at you. It hit you square in the shoulder, causing you to fall back and hit your knee against a stone.

The Dragonair looked at you before turning to the Seismitoad and screeching. It launched straight at it and hit it with a Dragon Tail, knocking it back into the water, away from you both. It then flew back over to you and cooed worriedly. You stared in bewilderment for a moment, not sure how you should feel about the rescue. 

You tried to get up, but groaned as you felt a dull pain in your knee. The Dragonair looked at your leg and let out a soft cry of concern.

"I'm fine. I'm fine. Just… I just gotta pull myself together and power through it. I'm sure it's alright." You stood up and started limping along. Dragonair slithered up beside you and headbutted your hip gently. You sighed heavily and lifted your arm, allowing it to get under it and help you walk.

But with your new injury, the walk was way slower and the sun was already setting before you made it anywhere near the entrance to town.

"Shoot. Guess I'm getting there pretty late, and I don't think hotels accept walk-ins that late. Maybe the Pokémon center will let me crash there if I ask nicely…" you just grumbled to yourself as you continued walking. The Dragonair looked at you with a very concerned face, trying to decide what it should do. Then it spotted something perfect. 

A thick, large tree with a nice alcove in its base, perfect for shelter. It turned towards the tree with you, causing you to stumble and almost fall before you pulled back. "What are you doing??? It's this way." It howled softly and motioned towards the tree, trying to once again guide you there. 

"No! I'm not sleeping in the wild! I don't want to get attacked by wild Pokémon in my sleep!"

It peeped and kept insisting on going over there. You just pulled your arm back. "I don't even know why I'm arguing with you. You can do whatever you want! I'm going to keep going."

It was very displeased with your stubbornness, especially since it could tell how badly it hurt to walk on that busted leg. You might just make it worse by putting so much strain on it. Dragonair couldn't allow that to happen to its new human friend! It would have to persuade you to do the right thing!

You suddenly felt a tug at your wrist, making you growl in annoyance and turn to Dragonair. It held up its tail, as if trying to tell you something. 

"What did I just say?! You can stay here if you damn well please! I don't… need to…" you got a little distracted from your thoughts as you took notice of the two crystal balls on its tail. They looked different. Something about them caught your attention as you looked, trying to figure out what about them was new. They seemed to be glowing gently, but that could be a trick of the eye.

You were so focused that you didn't even notice that the tail was moving, swaying softly from side to side. You were just following it with your head while thinking. Maybe it's something to do with the color. It looked a little darker to you, like a deeper shade of blue. A… very deep shade of blue… so deep… looking as deep as the ocean. An endless abyss of blue.

Your posture had relaxed significantly as you kept following the orbs back and forth. Swaying so smoothly, like a snake. You felt your own body start to sway along with it, your head growing quieter and more… mushy, for lack of a better word. 

Dragonair cooed gently and moved behind you before circling back around, keeping the deep blue orbs in your view at all times. It then slinked under your arm, giving you more support to lean on as it moved in front of you. It then removed its tail to reveal an even more beautiful orb on its neck. 

Your eyes immediately focused in on it, moving closer for a better look. It was really pretty. The deep deep sea inside it was so enthralling to stare at. Especially as you noticed something, a faint light, shining in the center. It made you feel so empty-headed, like your mind was starting to reflect the crystal ball. You felt like a deep, empty, still ocean, just existing in this calming state.

Dragonair carefully started moving backwards, using its body to guide you towards the shelter of the tree. You followed without hesitation, like a river, flowing unquestioningly in the direction it's being led. You limped forward, avoiding putting too much weight on your bad leg. But still, walking felt like such a chore. Your body was all wobbly and soft, making you stumble a bit as you walked. 

The dragon noticed and gave an empathetic look, understanding that you must be exhausted. So, instead, it moved its tail back into your view, running it under your chin and carefully moving you towards its body.

You moved forward without thinking, causing you to stumble over its body. But it caught you and gently laid you onto its back, letting you rest there as it slithered over to the tree and got into the nook in it. You just laid there, watching its tail swing back and forth. Your brain was getting so fuzzy, feeling like it was melting and becoming like water, seeping out through your mouth as you started to drool a little.

Dragonair hummed softly as it lifted you up and onto your feet. Then it slowly started to wrap you up in its tail, moving up your legs carefully as it made sure to keep you comfortable. The scales caressing your legs felt really nice. It was slick and strangely soft, making you forget the pain you experienced earlier. You just sighed calmly as you fell backwards, too woozy to stay upright. But Dragonair caught you and continued upwards, reaching your waist and allowing you to sit comfortably in its coils. 

Moving further up, it pulled your arms against your sides as it advanced up your body to your stomach. It made you have a brief moment of clarity, feeling how you couldn't move your arms. But that quickly disappeared as the orb from before entered your view, making your mind melt away again into a line of drool rolling down your chin. Your arms relaxed again and felt much more comfortable at your sides. 

When Dragonair finally reached your shoulders, it hummed happily and petted you with its tail end. You just moaned mindlessly and tried your best to continue staring at the beautiful orb as you were going cross-eyed from the deep trance you were falling into. 

It was so satisfied with its work and gave you a big squeeze with its body in some sort of attempt at a hug. You gasped from the sudden squeeze, feeling the air getting pushed out of you so suddenly. It caused you to completely lose focus of the orb and your head to spin dizzily. But after a moment, you relaxed into the warm, soft, cozy embrace all around you. It felt safe. Like a pair of protective arms holding you close and shielding you from danger. It caused a smile to appear on your lips.

Dragonair shrilled in delight and gave you a little nuzzle before it laid its head down on top of yours, closing its eyes to sleep for the night. Hearing its breath and heart beat grow slower and calmer made you feel so relaxed and sleepy. You let out a yawn before you snuggled up against the coils holding you safe, letting your eyes fall shut before you started snoring. You felt so very peaceful and content. The sweet hug and nuzzle was just so pleasant and secure. You felt like you could sleep soundly, knowing that Dragonair was there to protect you and keep you warm and snug in its coils.

Chapter Text

You were absolutely exhausted. 

You hadn't been able to sleep at all for some time now. You'd only manage to take brief naps from time to time so you don't crumple together from sleep deprivation. Thanks to the recent nightly nightmare. You hadn't gotten a full 8 hours of sleep because of them, always waking you up in a cold sweat. 

Your Pokémon were very worried about you.

Especially one in particular.

You had caught Darkrai quite a while ago. They were, at first, very cold towards you. Since you caught them, they respected your authority as their trainer and obeyed you in battle. But beyond that, nothing. That was, until they were noticing how much you took care of them. You treated them so kindly and with lots of love. You went above and beyond to show that you truly cared about the Pokémon you caught.

They never realized how much they had yearned for companionship, longed to have someone show them love, until you gave it to them. It completely changed their perspective and their behavior. They became a lot more friendly and returned the kindness you showed. 

They cared about you a lot. Which was why they were so concerned about you. Because, not only did they grow friendlier with you, they also grew very protective. At one point, anytime you got into a random encounter, even if you were prepared to throw out another one of your Poké balls, Darkrai would pop out of theirs without you as much as touching it. You'd have to talk them down from hogging all the battles, just because they worried about you. It got better after a while.

But now they were back to that concerned worrywart. They would stare at you in silence whenever they were out of their ball, having this look of shame in their eyes, knowing they were the cause of your sleepless nights. Of course, you'd assure them that you were fine and that they didn't need to feel bad about it. You were just tired. You'd manage with some frequent naps. Nothing to be upset about.

But they were. Because they knew it was their fault. They were hurting you by simply being around. They had no idea why it was happening. Usually, that power only activates when they're in danger. But it's recently just been going nonstop. They couldn't begin to figure out why. But what they could do was find some way to put a stop to it.

"Hhhng.." Darkrai hummed as they flew beside you, watching you drag yourself through the mountains. You looked over at them with a tired smile. "What's up? You wanna chat?"

"Mmmgh."

"I'm fine, Buddy. Don't worry. I'm sure we'll be at the good spot soon. I heard you can encounter some pretty strong Pokémon up there. Perfect for… yaaaawn… perfect for training you up a bit more. We should work on your defense."

"Ruhh."

"Like I said. I'm fine. You worry too much, Rai. It'll be just fine. It might even be fun! C'mon! If we just keep going, we'll be there before you know it!"

They looked away, unsure of the validity of that statement. Did you even know where to go? Had you used the map at all? They barely saw you looking at it. It would be better if they just went ahead to find-

Wait! That was actually a good idea! Why hadn't they thought about it earlier?

"Grrah! Kreh!"

"Hm? What's that?" You watched Darkrai gesture towards the mountains as they told you what their plan was.

"... Oh! You wanna scout ahead? That sounds like a great idea! Would really help out. But… will you be fine leaving me alone?" You gave a teasing look, making the legendary huff in annoyance and turn away from you. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. It would be a huge help if you found it for me. Thank you, buddy."

They nodded at you before turning to fly off, scanning the mountains for any areas that stood out to them. 

They searched for a while, going through some caves to make sure it wasn't inside. But while they were searching, they actually started to worry about you again. They were considering your state. So tired and weak. What if you fainted or stumbled and fell off a cliff or something? What if you were attacked by a strong Pokémon and wasn't fast enough to throw out one on your team? What if you got lost and stuck somewhere?

They felt stupid over being so nervous. Mostly because it meant your teasing was right on point. It was mildly infuriating. But they couldn't help it. Especially since they would be the cause of whatever disaster struck you, being the one to make you so tired.

Darkrai was shocked out of their own head as they noticed something further ahead. The end of the cave, shining like a bright ray of sunlight. They flew over to the opening and emerged into, what was undoubtedly the place you had been talking about. A large, luscious, peaceful looking field of dandelions and other wildflowers. It was an enclosed area with steep cliffs forming a wall all around it. 

The only weird thing was the fact that there were no Pokémon around to speak of. At least none they could see. The grass wasn't too tall, so they should see something if it was there, especially if these Pokémon were as powerful as you had claimed.

"Eiiiiiaaaa…"

The dark type hummed in surprise, turning to look for the voice they just heard. It sounded… awfully familiar.

"Ceeeliii…"

Shifting their gaze upwards, they saw a bright, glimmering figure descending from the sky, getting closer and closer to them before being at ground level with them. Then it became obvious who it was.

Cresselia. 

She greeted the nightmare Pokémon with a bow of her head before starting up a conversation.

"My. Darkrai. What a surprise it is to encounter you here. It has been ever so long since last."

"... Indeed it has."

"I began to ponder where you had gone. It was like you vanished from the face of the earth without any rhyme or reason."

"... … … I apologize if I caused any undue stress. It was not by choice. I was simply… captured by a human."

"Oh! Really? I cannot believe what I am hearing! The fearsome legendary Pitch-Black Pokémon, caught by a human? Perish the thought!"

"... I do not appreciate your mocking words."

"And what if I said my words were not in jest?"

"I would tell you that your own tone is betraying your intentions."

"Always so doubtful, this one."

They simply gave Cresselia a straight faced look.

"But I digress. Tell me about the brave, all mighty warrior who captured the terror of the night."

"... … … … It was a young, freshly started trainer…"

"No! Surely you are the one who jests now!"

"They may have begun their journey very recently, but they were experienced. Strong for being so new."

Cresselia started laughing as they told her that, unable to hold the giggle back. Darkrai gave her a deadpan glare.

"You muse at my recounting, yet claim your flattery to be genuine."

"Ah… unmasked myself, it appears."

They were not pleased with the admittance of guilt.

"But, tell me, in all seriousness, who is the new trainer? Are you satisfied with being their new partner? Or is it displeasure you feel towards them?"

"... … …" Darkrai remained quiet, considering how much they wanted to admit to Cresselia. Their relationship was one of teamwork and collaboration, not exactly a close bond. But they were cordial enough, despite their Yin and Yang dynamic. Cresselia, more so. But they weren't sure how comfortable they were about sharing their newfound feelings.

"... … … … … They mean the world to me."

"Oh."

"I never held companionship in high regard. But… they changed something in me. Never before have I been shown such dedication. Such compassion. Such love. They gave it all to me. It… sparked a flame in my heart. A yearning for friendship."

Cresselia was stunned, staring at Darkrai as they stared off into the distance, not wanting to see whatever reaction the Lunar Pokémon would have.

"... Well that is a surprise, to be sure. But a welcome one. I am truly happy for you to have found someone to forge such a strong bond with."

"Spare me the sarcasm."

"I assure you, this time, I wholeheartedly mean what I say."

They just scoffed and crossed their arms, jerking their head to the side from the feeling of humiliation, being talked down to like that. At least from their point of view, that's what it was.

"Where are they now?"

"Traversing the mountains. I am scouting ahead for their destination, which I presume is here. It is the least I can do for the trouble I have caused."

"Oh? How so?"

"My abilities are failing me. My nightmares are raging out of control and affecting my trainer, even when I try to suppress them. I have no idea what is happening to my powers, but they are harming the one I hold dear. I feel… ashamed."

"Hmmm… and you have not the slightest clue why? How odd… perhaps your newfound emotions could be the cause of the issue."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Strong emotions can cause unwanted effects on us. Consider that, maybe, you are emotionally overwhelmed and your powers have been activated to protect you from perceived harm."

"Ridiculous! You think me so delicate as to be unable to keep myself under control?! You say that simple emotions can shake my fortitude and cause me to let my powers slip?!"

"Well… is that not what is happening? Are you saying it makes more sense to you that you have simply lost control of your powers due to lack of self-discipline or any other reason? That you have grown weak-willed and your powers rampant?"

They grew quiet, thinking over the facts as they were presented to them. It would be more shameful to have simply lost the ability to control themselves rather than it being due to overwhelming emotions.

"Look, my friend. It is clear that what you have said is genuine and true. And it warms my heart to see how you are more undogmatic than you had led me to believe. If this is truly someone who you care for, then please allow me to assist you in your quandary."

"Assist? How are you suggesting that you help?"

"If nightmares are the problem, then surely the legendary Pokémon of dreams can help sort out the issue."

Darkrai became silent again, considering the offer for a moment. She was right in pretty much every regard. There was nothing for them to criticize or dismiss as a bad idea.

Only thing that might get in the way was their own ego.

"You would… really go out of your way to do that for me? To help one trainer that is a stranger to you?"

"They may be a stranger to me, but to you they are a dear friend. And I consider you as a friend to me. So of course I would."

"... … …"

The silence, once again, dragged on between the two. Darkrai was deep in thought while Cresselia waited patiently.

"... … … very well. I accept."

*~*~*

You panted heavily as you dragged yourself up the steep cliffs, feeling like you might collapse at any moment from the exhaustion. You had yet to see Darkrai return, which worried you a bit. It was kinda silly, worrying about the legendary Pokémon of nightmares. But you just didn't want them to get hurt, if they were to encounter a particularly strong Pokémon.

But your fears were quelled when you saw a dark shadow take shape on the ground. Out of it emerged Darkrai, who quickly flew up to you to report back.

"Darkrai! Thank goodness! I was getting nervous that something happened. How did it go?"

"Grehh."

"Nice! Then lead the way!"

Before you could continue walking, the Pokémon put a hand to your chest and stopped you right in your tracks. You turned to look at them in confusion. "What's the matter? Is something dangerous waiting for us?"

They shook their head gently before, without as much as a warning, picking you up from the ground and carrying you towards the destination. You gasped from the surprise and looked up at them in bewilderment. "D-d-d-darkrai! P-please put me down! I can walk just fine!"

They didn't listen. They just continued flying with you in their arms as they hurried over to the area. They wanted to get there as fast as possible so you could finally get some rest. 

It didn't take long for both of you to arrive, with you gently urging the large Pokémon to let you walk on your own. But once you made it there, you were in awe at the scenery. It was beautiful. A field with dandelions, wild flowers, blooming weeping trees and a small spring in the back. It was even more amazing than you remember it being described to you.

"Wow… this is beautiful. I've never seen something this… wow." Your words were failing you from the stunning view. Well, mostly because of the sleep deprivation. But your astonishment didn't exactly help. Darkrai gave a nod as they flew further ahead. You followed after, scanning the area for Pokémon. But, surprisingly, there seemed to be none that you could see.

"Where are all the strong Pokémon? They said there would be many of them here. Are you sure this is the right place?" You asked them, starting to get really unsure. You hoped it was. Your legs were already frail as was, you didn't want to grind them down into dust. Darkrai didn't give you a response at first, scanning the area to make sure everything was clear and that the strong Pokémon they found lurking earlier were dealt with. They were sure Cresselia took care of them.

"Darkrai?"

They snapped back to attention and looked down at you, giving a quick nod to ease your concern. 

"Huh… weird. Then where…?"

"Criiiii~."

You were surprised by that sudden cry, interrupting your thoughts. You turned to find the source of the cry, but was met with a very unexpected sight.

Cresselia. The legendary Pokémon of dreams. She was descending down from the sky towards the two of you, radiating with pleasant light and sparkles. You were in complete shock, seeing another legendary Pokémon so suddenly show up right in front of you. 

"Oh my lord! It's… it's… Cresselia! That's amazing! I never thought that, when people said powerful Pokémon live here, this was what they meant! Oh my- GAH! Q-quick! Darkrai! Get ready! I'm gonna try to throw a Quick ball at her!" You rambled a bit as you fumbled with your bag to get the Poké ball out. You did not have very good hand coordination right then, as you ended up dropping your bag in the grass. You then scrambled to pick it back up, but… stopped as the atmosphere around you suddenly changed.

The previously bright midday sun wasn't shining as much, the surrounding area was blanketed with a shadow. You were, out of nowhere, thrust into darkness, only able to see the environment slightly. It was like something was blotting out the sun or that it shifted from day to night in an instant. 

You recognized this phenomenon.

You were quickly settled with panic as your head felt weird and your body grew weak and shaky. No. Nonononononono! Not another nightmare! I was avoiding them so well! I don't want to experience another one! Not again! Please! I gotta wake up!

You had tears welling up in your eyes as you shook your head to try and dispel the tiredness that was growing stronger. You breathed quickly, unable to stop your surroundings from growing darker. Your heart beat at your chest, trying to fight the sedative sensation that wanted to take over.

"No! I can't fall asleep! Darkrai! Please, help me! Wake me up!" You begged desperately for your partner, who you could no longer see. You couldn't find Cresselia either.

"Trainer…"

You gasped and twisted around, finding only a blue glow piercing through the thick shadowy fog. "D… dark…" you mumbled and reached out, feeling paralyzed on the spot from the dominating anxiety.

"Shhhhhhhhh. Fear not. You will not be harmed. You are safe."

That made you let out a groan of confusion, not sure what they meant by that. This was anything but safe! 

"B-bu-bu-but… th-the… the nightmares…"

"-Will not be tormenting you. I promise. I will do everything in my power to keep them at bay. I will keep you safe, my friend."

"Dark… rai…" you could only utter as that blue light shone a little brighter. The obscuring shadows seemed to dim, allowing Darkrai to be seen. They stood tall in the field, near one of the trees. Their white, hair-like fog was flowing in the breeze gently and they looked towards you with a caring gaze.

The darkness then didn't feel as intimidating anymore. It was still unnerving, but you grew less scared of it. And with your fear in check, you could finally move your tired body. You started approaching them, dragging your feet through the grass as it took a tremendous amount of effort to walk right then. It jostled some of the dandelions, making their seeds pop off and float through the air.

"Darkrai… I'm…I'm sorry… the nightmares, I tried to… to…"

"I know. And it warms my heart that you cared so much for me. You have nothing to apologize for. You have been so kind, despite the hardships."

You panted as you felt your power slowly leaving you, making it so hard to continue. But then you felt a warm tingle across your skin. A pleasant warmth that helped soothe your exhausted body. 

"Allow me to help."

Cresselia flew up beside you, low to the ground so you could easily use her for support. You were only stunned for a second before you accepted the assistance without question. Normally you would have many questions. But you were so dazed from this hypnotic ambiance that you just went along with everything. It just felt so easy to follow along.

"You are such a wonderful friend. I can tell you make them very happy."

You felt a small flutter of flattery in your chest at the comment from the dream Pokémon beside you. You really appreciate the compliment.

"My dear trainer. Do not be afraid. Do not feel guilty. You have done nothing wrong but neglecting your own needs. Now it is time to tend to them."

You looked back to Darkrai, who was a lot closer now that you got help walking over to them. The darkness around you at that point had lost all its dread. It instead felt… comforting. It was gentle and calming, keeping away the intrusive gleam of the sun. It was like a blanket, shielding you from the blinding stage lights shining down on you, allowing you some relief.

Your legs were barely moving anymore, feeling so loose from the sleepiness that was spreading through your body. Luckily, Cresselia could carry you the rest of the way with no problems. Darkrai extended their arm towards you, offering you a hug. You unthinkingly held your arms out in response to receive the embrace, causing you to fall off Cresselia. But your partner easily caught you and held you close, making you feel so amazingly tranquil. They were cool in a way you never noticed before, like the late night breeze from your window, chilling down your uncomfortably stuffy room. 

"There we are. It is ok. You are safe. No more nightmares will plague you from here on out. I will keep them away. I will make sure you can rest peacefully and undisturbed."

It felt so nice hearing them say that. You believed them wholeheartedly. You believed that they would tame the nightmares and keep you safe and sound from them. That they would swaddle you in this soothing darkness every night, keeping you company while you slept. 

Your head was finally cleared of all anxiety. Of any unnecessary worries. It was dark, still and quiet, just like the world around y-

As your attention shifted to the environment, you were surprised to see the space around you full of small, white, pretty stars. They drifted around in the air, making it look like you were floating in the night sky. You couldn't help but reach out and touch one of them as Darkrai lowered you both down to the ground, sitting at the base of a tree. 

It felt soft, like cotton. It floated away at the small touch, making a smile spread out on your face. You did the same thing to another star that flew close to you, watching in dazed glee as they danced prettily around you. 

You heard a gruff chuckle before you felt your Pokémon envelope your hand and pull it down to your lap. 

"Shhhh. It is time to rest now. Time for you and I to chase shooting stars in your dreams. You are so very tired. You want nothing more than to close your eyes and let darkness embrace you."

They were right. Your eyes felt incredibly heavy. You were surprised that you had kept them open for so long. Especially with those arms around you rubbing a careful thumb over your shoulder. You felt so safe and so cared for. You just nuzzled your face up to Darkrai's chest as your eyelids gradually fell shut.

"Sweet dreams, my friend."

"G'night, Darkrai…" you mumbled sleepily before you finally fell asleep in your Pokémon friend's arms.

You had the most wonderful dreams.

Chapter Text

As you walked through the forest, staring down at the map in your hands, you had to finally admit it to yourself. You had to come to the inevitable realization that you had tried to avoid.

You were lost.

No ifs, ands, or buts about it; you had no clue where you were. You had started out so confident, knowing exactly the path you needed to take in order to get to where you needed to be.

But things went south very quickly. Early into your trek, a flock of Taillows came flying after you, angry for some reason and taking their fury out on you. You were forced to run off the path you were following and find somewhere to hide. Luckily, you found a small cave tunnel. It was a little bit of a squeeze, but enough to fit through. And it deterred the Taillows enough to leave you be. 

You quickly emerged from the cave after that, only to find yourself covered in about five Joltiks, crawling over you. You had to brush them off quickly before they could seriously shock you. They managed to give you a few zaps, but nothing dangerous, luckily. 

After that you had to find your way back to the trail, hoping the map might help you with that. Unfortunately, instead of finding the path, you found a nest of Stunkies that were apparently very territorial. They chased after you for a good few minutes until you threw yourself into a pond. That made them give up and return to their nest.

At that point, you had been chased so far off course that you had no idea where you even were. You just started wandering around, trying to find a path that might lead you somewhere. Anywhere! Unfortunately, no such luck. You were lost for quite some time until you finally admitted it to yourself. And by that time, it was already getting dark. You started walking pretty late in the afternoon and by now it was already sunset.

You were kinda hungry. You hadn't eaten anything in a while. You were also tired, having to run quite a few times from angry Pokémon. You just wanted to go home. You didn't even care about getting where you intended on going anymore, you just wanted to get out of there. Back to your safe home with food and a bed.

As you were walking, shivering from your wet clothes, you suddenly heard a sound from behind you. Whipping around, you were met with the sight of a Pangoro, huffing and staring at you intensely. You froze for a moment, wondering if it too was the territorial sort.

A swift punch to a tree as it got up to approach you said everything you needed to know. You turned tail and fled, quickly pursued by the hostile mon. 

As you were running again, you felt tears gathering at the corners of your eyes. You were so tired already, would you have the energy to keep running like this for much longer? Were you even fast enough to outrun it? What would happen when it caught up? You didn't want to die like this! Even if it didn't kill you, there was no way you were getting out of there if it broke one of your legs. You'd be dead either way. There was nothing you could-!

As you were crying in panic, you suddenly found yourself bumping into something, causing you to fall over onto the ground. You hurriedly shook the stars out of your eyes and looked up, surprised to find a person standing in front of you. They were looking away from you, so you couldn't really tell who they were. All you saw was blue and pink.

The growl of the Pangoro caught your attention, making you scramble to get up. But it was already closing in before you could, so you simply covered your head and prepared for an attack. But… nothing happened. In fact, Pangoro just… stopped. You dared to take a peek, seeing the large Pokémon standing there, looking almost… apprehensive? 

You uncovered your head and slowly looked back at the human behind you. A woman, from what you could tell, wearing a white dress with blue and pink on it, matching her pink hair and blue hat. Most notably, she had a pair of sharp eyes that were staring intimidatingly at Pangoro. 

Shockingly, that actually worked. Pangoro took a few steps back before it turned and walked away. You just stared in awe, not sure how she managed to do that. Must be one of those scare tactics. 

"... I… I… thank you. Thank you so much. You saved my life."

She looked down on you, her gaze still as sharp as before, but less intense. You pushed yourself off the ground and brushed yourself off, taking the moment of peace to get a better look at her.

She was beautiful, probably around her thirties or so, give or take. She was tall and slightly curvy, wearing a long white dress and a pink blazer with long blue sleeves. The hat she was wearing looked like a witches hat, blue with a pink orb decorating it.

"Why are you here?"

You were caught off guard as she asked you that. You almost hadn't expected her to talk, she just exuded that type of mysterious aura. But you put yourself together and tried to answer.

"I uh- I-I got lost trying to get through. I was ch-ch-chased by so many Pokémon. I… I-I-I…" 

You couldn't help it. Everything that happened was starting to really get to you. You were hurt, wet, tired and scared. You didn't want to be there anymore. You just wanted to leave.

"I-I'm sorry! I j-just… I'm so tired! I'm c-c-c-cold, wet, have small scrapes and burns! I… I just want to go home. But I can't find my way out."

"... … … They chased you?"

"Huh? Uh… y-yeah?"

Her expression seemed to shift into a sneer, like she was offended at the idea. "The gall of those wild beasts… they should know better than to do that…"

"Um… well they are wild Pokémon. I don't really expect much else. But thank you for the concern. So do you know the way out of here?"

She looked down at you, her eyes seeming less sharp as she did. They looked a little more gentle, helping to ease your worries a bit. 

"... No. But I live here. I can take you to where I live and you can warm up and rest there."

"R-really?! Oh thank you thank you tha-"

"Please, calm down. You're giving me a headache."

"Oh… sorry."

"It's alright, just… don't get worked up. I need peace."

Without another word, the lady started leading the way towards her home. You followed her, feeling much less stressed, but still a little nervous about the entire situation.

*~*~*

It was… awkward.

You sat quietly on her couch, trying to warm yourself up by the open fire. She was doing something else in the other room. You weren't sure what exactly. Neither of you said much. The most she had said to you was, "take a seat. I'll light a fire." Then she left you after doing so, leaving you completely alone for over 20 minutes. 

Thankfully, she soon came back with a small basket of nanab berries in her hands. She sat down beside you and put the basket in your lap quietly. You looked bewildered, shifting your eyes between her and the food. 

"Eat" was all she said, sounding more like a command than an offer. You snapped out of your shock and thanked her softly before eating. 

After you were full, you handed the basket back to her; but not before noticing her staring at you. Had she been… watching you eat?

"Um… thank you. I feel much better now."

"You do?"

"Y-yes! I was really hungry!"

"Oh."

…

…

…

More awkward silence.

"... So. Uh… nice- nice place you g-got here! Cozy little cottage and all."

"Is it calming?"

"Well… it's much better than being out there, that's for sure!" You laughed nervously, trying to lighten the mood with a joke. Her face remained as stone-cold as it was when you first saw it. It made you shut up real quick and lower your head with a mumbled apology.

"... You didn't answer."

"Huh? Oh! I mean- buh- y-yes! It's really calming! I like it!"

She looked you up and down, as if she was checking that you indeed were calm. You found that weird. She was being awfully strange. You wondered if you made a mistake following her home.

"... … … You are still emotional. Stressed. Worried. Why?"

You sputtered, dumbfounded by her blunt, random and accurate observations and questions. She was just so… strange. That was the only word you could use to describe her. It made you feel your heart pound in your chest, both from worry and fluster.

As if able to hear your rising heartbeat, her face softened into something less cold. Into something that could only be described as… comforting. A gentle concern, saying that she really wanted to help you. It eased your tension a little bit.

"I… I'm just… I wanna go home. I want to feel safe. I want my bed, my Morpeko, my house."

She hummed softly and gave a nod, her eyes telling you that she understood. "I see. But I need you to be calm. No one can come here and hurt you. They wouldn't dare come near my house."

"That's… reassuring."

"Can I make you feel safer?"

"Uuuuh… I… I don't know. That's a big question."

"... … … Can I ask you to do something for me?"

You were surprised. But more so curious. This lady sure was a mystery; you had no idea what she might say next. It had you at the edge of your seat as you gave a nod.

"Close your eyes." 

She took both your hands as she said that, holding them very lightly. Ok. Maybe she wanted to do some mental exercises to relax. That's not so weird. So you did as told and closed your eyes.

"Think of something safe. Think of the safest place in the world. Think of something that brings you comfort, makes you feel happy and relaxed."

You could do that. 

"Ok… um… I'm thinking of my bed, back ho-"

"No. Think. Don't speak it. Your thoughts will be filtered if you put them into words. Just think it."

You fell silent, wondering if this lady was magical or has some ancient wisdom; she spoke like a grand magician. 

But you complied, letting your thoughts wander off to somewhere comfortable and nice. First thing that came to mind, again, was your bed. But a very specific scene of your bed. It was you in it, but a younger version of you. You were half asleep, surrounded by plushies and covered in a soft heavy blanket. Underneath that blanket beside you, holding you close, was your family Zangoose. It had snuck in while you were playing in bed, avoiding going to sleep, and begged to cuddle. 

You remember that moment very clearly. How nice you felt right then. It was the first time you didn't mind going to bed as a kid. You fell asleep without your parent's help. You really miss Zangoose. But you loved that memory. It always made you feel so happy and calm.

So calm, in fact, that you started feeling a little light headed. Your brain was getting a little fuzzy, along with that memory of yours. You let out a groan and blinked your eyes open, wondering what was happening.

When you did, you found yourself in your room. You were sitting in bed, looking around in confusion. It didn't look like your current bedroom, but the one from your childhood. That confused you even more. What was going on?

"Shhhhh~."

You heard a soft hush from your left. You quickly turned to see who made that sound, stunned when you saw a Hatterene standing by your bed.

"Wh-who are-?"

"It's ok, small one. It's ok. You are safe with me."

You blinked stupidly at her, not sure how to respond to that. Small one? Safe? 

She reached out the hand stretching from her hat and gently rubbed your cheek with it. This action made you realize something; you were small. Her hand was huge on your face, able to cradle it fully without issue. It felt… good. Soothing.

"It's getting late. Aren't you feeling so tired, sweetheart?"

Now that she mentioned it, you were kinda tired. You were exhausted. But you didn't want to go to bed. Sleeping wasn't fun, it was boring. You crossed your arms with a small pout.

She smiled warmly and scratched your head, which felt really nice.

"Hmm… anything I could do to change your mind?" She gave a playful tilt of her head. 

You thought about it for a moment, looking up at Hatterene as she smiled down at you. She gave off a sense of calm. A motherly safety you felt like you hadn't experienced for a long time. 

Instinctually, you reached your arms up towards her and made grabby hands. 

The Pokémon seemed to understand you perfectly. She nodded with a delightful giggle before getting into bed with you, pulling you in close to her chest. She wrapped you up in her long hair, which felt like a wonderful, warm, secure blanket enveloping you. But it also felt like a hug from your mom. It was an embrace and a covering at the same time. It made you feel at peace. At home. 

"You're so calm. I can feel it. It makes me happy. You sweet little humans give off such wonderful energy when you get all comfortable."

You weren't sure what that meant, but you could only agree that you were indeed very calm and comfortable. Hatterene just made you feel so safe. And so sleepy. Your eyes were starting to slip shut.

"Just like that! Hee hee hee! Don't worry. I'll keep you safe. I'll keep you relaxed and happy. Nothing would dare bother you with me around. So rest easy, sweetheart~."

She ran her arms along your shoulders in soothing strokes, making your eyes grow even heavier. Her hair around you, protecting you from the world. Her body underneath you, providing a comfortable place to rest your weary form. Her voice, flowing through your ears and filling your head with sweet reassurance. It all just helped lull you into serenity.

You sighed heavily as your eyes were barely staying open, the pink light that was taking over them barely visible. Your face was totally lax and dazed, squished up to Hatterene's chest as she cradled you tightly. Your clothes were still a little damp from earlier, but the fire she managed to light had at least warmed you up a bit. She could deal with a little moisture.

The psychic type felt proud, seeing you get completely lost in the illusion she created for you. She could feel the pure euphoria radiating off you and it felt so satisfying, like a thirst that had been quenched. Your previous fear and distress had given her a massive headache. She had considered chasing you out of the forest, but then she got another idea.

Humans are such wonderful things to cuddle. 

Hatterene watched as your eyes closed and you started snoring soundly, your arms lazily embracing her as you fell asleep. She cooed at your cute little face, finding it very sweet. Maybe having humans in the forest from time to time wasn't such a bad thing. She nuzzled your forehead before she settled down for a nice long nap with her new little friend.

Chapter Text

There was a story in your town. An urban legend, surrounding a peculiar monument at the edge of town; an old mansion. This place had been abandoned for a long long time, longer than most townsfolk had been alive. It was said to have belonged to a powerful duchess that was very affluent and well liked, one of the most famous people living there. 

But something was very strange about her. Story says that she was a mysterious lady, not much known about her personal life aside from random tidbits of information, some of it contradictory to each other. She would constantly host luxurious and fun parties that anyone was invited to, regardless of status. She seemed like such a kind person. 

But legend also said that, despite her beauty, her appearance was not that of a normal person. Her complexion was pale, practically a pearl white and she always wore the same outfit; a long black gown with matching gloves, a black pillbox hat and a veil to cover part of her face. But people would occasionally catch a glimpse of her eyes and what they saw was… definitely unusual. An unnatural red glow, as stunning as it was disconcerting.

So the rumor that spread was that she was actually a vampire that was finding suitable victims that she could feast on. That rumor became the widely accepted interpretation and was cemented as the official story of your town. Of course, most people only saw the legend as just that, a legend; a fairytale. But a few people do believe there to be some truth to the story, some claiming to have entered the mansion and seen the strange occurrences with their own eyes. 

Most people dismiss this as lies, imagination or the actions of some Pokémon passing through the building. Ghost Pokémon are well known for causing supernatural rumors to spread.

But you were different. You could feel that there was something going on in that building, something beyond just a random ghost Pokémon playing a little prank. And you were set on finding out what was going on, no matter what dangers may lie ahead. You did not have very good impulse control.

So as the sun set one night, you were getting yourself ready to head in and document your findings yourself. You got a camera with you, your phone in case of an emergency and to take notes, a notebook in case your phone died, some repels to keep any dangerous Pokémon away, food and water, a flashlight and a sleeping bag. Oh yeah, you were spending the night there. You were committed to doing this.

Throwing all caution into the wind, you hoist your bag onto your back and let out an excited huff, looking forward to figuring out this long-standing mystery.

It was late when you headed towards the mansion, of course. All supernatural activity happens when it's dark out. You were checking around to make sure that no one was around to see you head inside. Didn't want to get in trouble for loitering or trespassing or whatever. So you snuck over to the front door of the place and quickly slipped inside, closing the door behind you.

Looking around, you were stunned with how grand everything was. You expect as much, but seeing it was a different experience from imagining it. Despite the dirt, dust and erosion, it was still as fancy and beautiful as you assumed it was back in its prime. It was very pretty. You liked it. 

While admiring the interior decorating, you were walking through the foyer and looking at the neat little things littering the hallway. Like the intricate glass sculptures of flowers and Pokémon, decorative plates with gorgeous patterns and landscapes painted on or the large painting hanging on the wall. It was old and worn, but it appeared to depict a lady in a black ball gown. That must be her, the duchess. 

You stopped to examine the painting, finding it really interesting. It was extremely faded on the top, so her face was not easy to make out, which didn't matter since she appeared to be wearing something to cover her face. But her dress was beautiful. There was this faint shape at her chest that stood out from the deep midnight color of her outfit, some sort of accessory maybe. It was still hard to make out, so all your questions would have to be left unanswered.

You barely noticed as your hat was falling off your head from leaning it back so far. You swore softly to yourself and turned to pick it up, but didn't find it on the floor behind you. You were left confused for a moment until a movement caught your attention. Right in front of you, floating in the air, was your hat. It was just levitating there, as if it had a mind of its own.

"WH-WHAT THE-?!" You stumbled backwards at the sight, landing on the floor with a painful thud and a cloud of dust billowing around you. You coughed and waved your arm around to get rid of it, trying to peek towards your flying hat while not getting blinded. You managed to catch a glimpse of a shape that clearly wasn't your hat, making you blink your eyes open in surprise. 

Holding your hat, giggling and grinning mischievously, was a Haunter. Seems it had snatched your hat from you as a prank, apparently feeling very proud about it. 

You sighed in annoyance, feeling silly for getting so scared by such a small thing. Sure, Haunters could be pretty scary, but this one hadn't attacked, so it was most likely not hostile.

"Aghhh… ha ha ha. Very funny… you… you sure got me" you gave a dry laugh at the ghost, not really in the mood for telling off a wild Pokémon. 

It was pleased with your laugh and response, shoving the hat back on you and covering your face with it. You grunted and corrected your hat before continuing to walk. The Haunter followed you curiously.

"So… you live here then?" You asked casually, wanting to alleviate the awkward silence.

"Haun-tah! Haun huan!"

"I see. Well that's nice." You weren't sure what it said, so you just gave a very generic response to it. But it surprised you by flying around you once and fiddling with your bag. You pulled away and gave a scolding glare. "Hey, buddy! That's mine! I need that for tonight. I'm going to find out if something strange is going on here or if the rumors are just fiction."

It seemed curious and flew closer again, looking you up and down in a full body scan. It made you slightly uncomfortable. But it then scoffed happily and disappeared into thin air, leaving you standing there confused. But you shrugged it off and continued.

You explored the rest of the mansion, first heading for the dining area. The table was set and the dishes showed clear signs of being used, most likely by the Haunter or any other Pokémon that potentially lived there. Nothing special outside of that.

So you continued towards the stairs and walked up them. On the way you spotted something else. You saw a Beheeyem, telekinetically holding a feather duster and cleaning off a vase. Confused, you stopped and watched it for a moment to see what it would do next. 

It soon turned around towards you, apparently noticing you standing there. Or maybe it heard you coming. You tensed, worried that it might decide to attack you. But it didn't, it just scanned you, like the Haunter earlier, before giving a polite bow and moving away to clean something else. 

"... Huh. That's… weird. Is it domesticated? Maybe it belongs to someone. Maybe the duchess! Which means… could it be true???"

You got excited to find out more, so you hurried up the stairs and looked around the hallway for any interesting rooms to check out. One of them was some sort of changing room, where a Gothorita and a Sableye were looking at and picking out jewelry from what you could tell. The Sableye was grabbing necklaces and bracelets, holding it out to the Gothorita to see how it looked before tossing it away to try another one. 

You just watched, dumbfounded by such an absurd situation. But they must have eventually noticed you, as the Sableye soon ran over and pulled you into the room. You gasped and reluctantly followed, wondering what its intentions were.

It sat you down on a stool and started doing the same thing to you as the Gothorita, testing out accessories on you to see what looked good. It was very confusing and, frankly, a really silly scenario to find yourself in. You couldn't even protest because of how weird it was. How were you supposed to protest to a tiny gem goblin, dressing you up in expensive looking jewelry. 

It seemed pleased with one set it found and quickly set it aside on a display mannequin, proudly dusting its hands. You just stared and tried to figure out what the point of that was. Gothorita then pulled you up from your seat and led you off to another door, leading to a side room with a Levanny standing inside and looking at a closet.

It turned towards you and looked delighted, quickly ushering you over towards a full length mirror and seemingly measuring you with a piece of string.

"Um… hey, this is fun and all, but I'm not here for a fashion show. I just came to investigate the place and-"

As you tried to explain yourself, the Levanny shushed you with its leaf hand to your mouth, then extended your arm to take more measurements. You were getting a little nervous, not sure what all this fashion stuff was about or why they had to rope you into it all. You were starting to wonder if this might be something you should be concerned about.

"Listen, I r-really should get going. I'll leave if that's what you want, but I don't have time for a-"

Before you could continue, Levanny leaned in towards your ear and whistled softly, holding onto your shoulders gently. The melody was delicate and sweet, making a strange sense of calm wash over you. It made you let out a delighted sigh and sway on your feet, suddenly feeling your muscles grow rather loose. The grass 'mon quickly maneuvered you to sit down before continuing to take your measurements. 

It felt nice in a weird way, slumping over in a chair and letting someone fuss over you carefully. Its leaf hands were so gentle, moving you around with care and lowering your limbs down instead of letting them fall when measuring. And they felt so silky smooth, holding your hand and brushing against your cheek to steady your head. It was very pleasant and made the whole thing pass by in a blur. 

Before you knew it, you were standing in a new location. You blinked back your focus to find yourself behind a privacy curtain, holding some clothes in your arms and your backpack nowhere to be seen. You looked around, worried about where your belongings went and what you were supposed to do with the clothing you were holding. You assumed put it on, but wondered if that was such a good idea. You should leave, not play dress-up. But… your curiosity was getting the better of your survival instincts. You had to know what was happening.

Plus, the outfit was very stunning.

After changing into this fancy, intricate, absolutely awe-inspiring outfit, you looked at yourself in the mirror and admired it. It fit you perfectly and wasn't too uncomfortable for formal attire. You quite liked it.

You then peeked your head out to see the Gothorita and Sableye from before, along with an Aromatisse, getting themselves dolled up as well. Walking out cautiously, you were quickly spotted and swarmed by the three, seemingly fawning over your new look. You had to admit, it felt a little flattering. 

Then they all ushered you over to the vanity in the room, sitting you down in front of it before starting to spiff you up too. Gothorita worked on your face and head whilst Sableye got your jewelry from earlier to decorate you with. Aromatisse walked over after they were done and chirped delightfully, spraying you with a faint pink mist. It smelled so sweet. It was absolutely divine, making you feel so light and airy and happy. You couldn't help the stupid smile growing on your face. 

Then you were once again pulled to your feet, this time by an Armarouge. It bowed to you and held your hand up in a polite greeting. You just giggled at the formal gesture, finding it cute of the Pokémon to be so well-mannered. But it then started leading you out the room and down the hallway. You weren't sure where, but you were excited to find out. 

On the way, you saw a row of Litwicks going down the stairs at the end of the hall, flames burning bright and lighting up the building. It made you realize, as you got closer to them, that this place was actually beautiful. The wear-and-tear of this old mansion had vanished and was instead replaced with elegant colors and decorations. It appeared to almost glimmer in the candle light. 

You soon found yourself walking towards a big doorway, leading to a room that was filled with so many different Pokémon. This included the Haunter from before, as well as a Bisharp, Gholdengo, Corviknight, Serperior, Quaquaval, etc. They were dancing around in what appeared to be a ballroom, having fun and enjoying the music being played by even more Pokémon. You were absolutely spellbound by the sight. It was so surreal and magical. It was like you were transported into a fairytale, everything feeling all dreamlike. You were amazed.

The Armarouge that led you to the ballroom soon turned towards you and gave you a bow while gesturing towards the dancefloor. You gasped in surprise, wondering if they were really asking you for a dance. They had to be, there was no other explanation. 

You timidly accepted and held your hand out to the fire Mon, letting them take the lead. They held you delicately and slowly danced with you, making sure you were following without issues. You felt the heat radiating from their skin, warming you up after unknowingly starting to get a little chilly. It made you lean into them and let them hold you close, further warming you until you were at a toasty temperature.

But the dance didn't last long, as a blue limb reached over to tap Armarouge on their shoulder. You both looked over to the Quaquaval, holding out their hand to you in a request for a dance too. Without thinking about it, you accepted eagerly. 

And just like that, you were suddenly pulled into a hasty whirl, this partner not as careful as your previous one. They were dragging you along in a fast-paced foxtrot with lots of twirling and swaying, giving you little chance to even catch up with them. But their grip on you was sturdy, one arm wrapped around your lower back firmly while the other held your hand in the air. After a little bit, it was actually starting to get quite fun, the swooshing movements so thrilling, like a rollercoaster. You were being lifted and dipped and it made your stomach flutter with Butterfrees and you couldn't help laughing giddily.

Then, out of nowhere, the music came to a stop and your dance partner turned their head towards the band in confusion. You too decided to see what was going on, looking around at the crowd. They all seemed to be looking in the same direction, towards the large doorway. When you followed their gaze, you noticed the gathered Pokémon making way for a new arrival. Most likely someone important, if they all cleared a path for them.

When you saw who it was, you were completely stunned. You couldn't believe it. Standing in the middle of the ballroom entrance was… the duchess. It had to be her, she fit the description of the duchess perfectly and was very similar to the faded painting.

You saw a tall woman, wearing a large black gown, with two protruding red ornaments on the front, like horns or the loops of a ribbon maybe. She also wore black opera gloves and a beautiful black pillbox hat with a veil hanging over her face, hiding it from view. But you could see her pale skin from the shoulderless dress, as white as snow. Her hair was short and blue, curling up right below her long, spiked ears. She was holding a fuzzy black fan, further covering her face so none of it was easily visible. 

The other Pokémon in the room gave her a bow or a courtesy as she passed by them, gliding elegantly over the dancefloor as she made her way towards the table of finger foods across the way.

But you noticed something as she passed by you. Something that made it feel like time slowed to a crawl as you froze in place. You saw her eye glance at you from behind her fan, a striking and glistening red glow, piercing past the darkness of her veil and gazing straight into your soul. It had you so dumbfounded that you didn't even greet her like everyone else in the room. You just kept watching the duchess as she continued walking by.

You couldn't stop looking at her. She was absolutely radiant. The most beautiful thing you've ever seen in your life. You felt such a strong pull towards her that it literally pulled you along with her. Your legs thoughtlessly moved to stumble after her, as if there was a red thread connecting you to her. It felt like you had to follow her, continue to drink in her brilliance.

It didn't even register to you that you had walked up right behind her and was just standing there, silently in awe. But the duchess soon turned to you, mildly surprised by your presence. She lowered her fan and you were finally able to properly see her face. And it positively enchanted you.

"Woooooow… you're the prettiest Gardevoir I've ever seen…" you mumbled softly to her, amazement apparently in your voice as you continued gawking. You had never seen a Gardevoir like her before. She was completely different. Her shining beauty captivated you further and further the more you stared at her.

She seemed taken aback by the sudden compliment, but quickly gave you a pleased smile and nodded her head at you in thanks. You just smiled stupidly back at her and continued admiring her beauty. 

She considered you for a moment, looking you up and down. Her red eyes glistened with every small movement and it was so pretty. She hummed softly in thought, moving her elegant hands together in front of her in a contemplative manner. But that thoughtful expression soon turned into a smile as she lowered her arms, one extended a bit towards you in an offering gesture. She was… asking you to dance?

You stared dumbly for a long moment, not sure what to do right then. Your head felt so messy and hazy, you could barely think straight as is. Everything around you was just making you feel so dreamy. The music, the decorations, the scents; it was all so intoxicating. But you wanted to be present in the moment and respond to the duchess' offer. You couldn't zone out now.

Luckily, she seemed to notice your struggle and decided to take the lead, grabbing your hand and pulling you along towards the dancefloor. She held you at a distance, both of your arms outstretched with hands clasped together as the music started up again, playing a beautiful classical piece that started softly. As it got into the main melody, she pulled you in closer and put her other arm around your waist, leading you in the dance just like your other dance partners did. 

It felt magical, as if you were living through a page straight out of a fairytale. She held you in a way that felt so gentle, yet so firm. It was so deliberate in how it kept you steady and in step with her while also being comfortable. It's as if you fit into her arms perfectly, like they were just the right size to hold you.

As the music began to swell, so did the mood in the room. Her movements sped up and she started swaying and spinning with you, never once letting go of you or your hand as you danced. Your heart was fluttering in your chest, feeling yourself smiling again as both your eyes locked together. She was so breathtaking. This was the most enchanting experience you've ever had.

Her face brightened into a delightful smile too, taking a step forward so she could dip you slightly, taking extra care to make sure you didn't fall or feel unstable. Her hold was absolutely secured and you could sense it instinctively. It was so wonderful. It felt like a dream. The rest of the room was fading into a haze as your senses dulled faintly, the Gardevoir remaining as your mind's focal point. You felt your eyes blink slightly to try and clear up the fog in the corner of your vision, but failed at it. All it did was make you aware of how heavy your eyelids were getting.

Gardevoir pulled you back into her and laid all your weight on her, your strength seeming to drain from your body as the dance went on. You could barely move at all, simply being maneuvered around like a doll. But you didn't mind. It just felt so dreamy and surreal that you couldn't find the sense in you to care. Plus, she was being so supportive and tender with you, so there was simply no reason for concern. The thought caused you to relax more, melting into her and practically molding yourself to her. More and more of your vision blurred, making everything around you completely incomprehensible. You could barely perceive anything aside from the magical texture embracing you all around. 

Even your own thoughts were being drowned out by this velvety smooth sensation tugging at your mind and leading it. Leading it to where, you weren't sure. But you had been led everywhere that entire night, so you just followed as you had been all along. It was all just one big dance; one big dream; one beautiful fairytale. You smiled brightly as you were led, as if carried by smoke and magic. You were floating along, happy and dazed, submerged in the duchess' grace. 

You barely remembered what happened that night and you had no recollection of how you ended up back home in the morning.