"I see… So this Pokémon is called Darkrai, a being that controls nightmares. Truly a terrifying existence," Melli muttered, processing everything Summer had just explained.
"But Summer, you mentioned that this situation is abnormal. What do you mean?" Irida frowned. As far as she knew, no one in the village had done anything to provoke such a creature.
Summer nodded. "Darkrai's nightmares are usually a defensive mechanism—it doesn't use them out of malice. A widespread, prolonged attack like this… means something is interfering with its will."
Irida's frown deepened. Summer's words suggested that someone was deliberately manipulating Darkrai to target the village. A surge of anger coursed through her veins.
"Some coward hiding in the shadows, playing tricks? If I find them, I'll drown them in Lake Acuity and freeze them solid!" She slammed her fist on the table. "How dare they harm my people?!"
"But… who would even hold a grudge against the Pearl Clan?" Melli questioned. "You and the Diamond Clan have long since made peace."
Irida let out a frustrated sigh. "That's what I thought. But Summer, Melli—don't mention this to the villagers. Some of the elders… still resent the Diamond Clan. If this situation stirs up old grudges, everything I've worked for will fall apart."
Her gaze turned distant. "We should be moving forward, not clinging to the past. That's what Dawn taught us eight years ago."
Melli nodded slowly. "So… whoever's behind this wants to rekindle the conflict between the clans?"
"Possibly," Irida admitted, rubbing her temples. "But I can't think of anyone who would go this far."
Summer folded his arms. "No. That logic's backwards."
Irida and Melli both looked at him in confusion.
Summer continued, "The culprit couldn't have known you'd recognize Darkrai's ability. If I hadn't told you, none of you would have even suspected it."
"…That's true." Irida bit her lip, falling into thought. "Then it's just pure hatred toward the Pearl Clan?"
Melli muttered a few names, crossing them off in his mind. "Amele? No… She wouldn't go this far. Wamuro? He hasn't been seen in years. And we wouldn't be his first target, anyway…"
"Thinking in circles won't get us anywhere," Melli added. "We should rest first. Clear minds work better."
Irida clenched her fists, reluctant to let the matter go, but she nodded. "Fine. Summer, stay in the village for now. And don't worry—we'll treat you well."
She forced a smile, though frustration still lingered in her eyes. They had to figure this out soon.
With the Lunar Feather's blessing, the village began to recover.
Summer, now a guest in the Pearl Clan's home, found himself immersed in their way of life. He tasted traditional foods like taro dumplings, pickled beach radishes, roasted sticky mushrooms, and rolling bean soup. Some dishes were unexpectedly spicy, leaving him flushed with warmth despite the cold.
He also trained Tauri and her Pokémon, which led to a challenge from the Pearl Clan guards.
The result?
Rillaboom, alone, took down ten of them.
Tauri cheered, while the fallen warriors lay sprawled in the snow, groaning. "We've… failed Warden Ingo's teachings…"
Later, Melli invited Summer for a long talk about his past.
He spoke of ancient Galar, a time of unrest, and how he had left his homeland to join the Galaxy Team.
But the conversation soon turned to someone else—
A girl with sky-blue eyes and an unbreakable will.
"She changed everything," Melli said, voice laced with admiration. "Dawn—she was… incredible."
He recounted their adventures together. How they explored the Hisui Region, catching Pokémon and filling the first-ever Pokédex. How she had confronted Noble Pokémon without fear, standing her ground even against raging lords.
"But it wasn't just the victories," Melli continued. "People doubted her. Rejected her. She carried the burden of being an outsider—someone from another world."
"She was exiled, you know?" His voice dropped. "Chased away, even after everything she had done for us."
But she never gave up.
When a true crisis came, she saved Hisui once again—with the help of Legendary Pokémon.
And just when they thought it was over… she uncovered the real mastermind behind it all and defeated them, bringing peace at last.
Melli's eyes glowed with pride. "She was Hisui's hero."
Summer listened in silence, then finally asked, "Where is she now?"
Melli's fingers tightened around his scarlet scarf.
"…No one knows."
"One day, she just… left for Mt. Coronet."
"She had six Pokémon with her. And then… she was gone."
Melli exhaled slowly. "But maybe… that's the best ending she could've had."
Summer didn't respond.
After a pause, Melli stood, stretching his arms. "Anyway, Summer. I've got a question for you."
He turned, his expression unreadable.
"…The Sinnoh of your time. What's it like?"
Summer hesitated, then answered.
"There's no division between the clans. Humans and Pokémon live together. The region is… peaceful."
Melli lowered his gaze, gripping his scarf tighter.
"…Good." His voice was barely above a whisper.
"…That means we didn't fail."
Summer was about to respond when his instincts screamed at him.
A presence—watching them.
He turned sharply.
A lone Zoroark stood in the village square, its ashen-white fur shifting eerily.
Its hair was a mix of ghostly silver and blood-red, writhing as if alive. Its golden eyes glowed in the dim light, and as it slowly raised one clawed hand, dark energy began to coil around it.
Melli's breath hitched.
"…Don't look at it, Summer!" he choked out, suddenly clutching his head. "If you meet its eyes, it'll drag you into an illusion—!"
But it was too late.
One by one, the guards collapsed, their minds trapped in terrifying nightmares.
Summer felt the world shift—
A suffocating heat rushed over him.
Flames.
Everything was burning.
Towering trees collapsed, Pokémon screamed in agony, their bodies consumed by fire.
His breath caught. Rillaboom—Ogerpon—?!
Rillaboom slumped against a tree, cradling Ogerpon in its arms. Both were wounded, barely conscious.
Nearby, his other Pokémon lay motionless, bodies charred and broken.
The fire raged, creeping closer, ready to devour them all.
"…Why…"
Summer's hands trembled as he clutched his head, horror coursing through him.
Then—
His grief ignited into something else.
Anger.
Pure, unforgiving rage.
He snapped his head up, his eyes blazing with fury.
A low, dangerous growl escaped his throat.
"…You think this will break me?"
He took a step forward, fists clenched.
"…You think I'll let this happen?"
His voice rose into a furious roar—
"I WILL NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN!"
Power surged through him like a tidal wave, his emotions shattering the illusion around him.
The world rippled—
The flames vanished.
The night returned.
And in the real world, Zoroark recoiled in shock.
It stared at Summer—disbelief flashing across its golden eyes.
How?! How did he break free?!
A human shouldn't be able to—
Summer exhaled slowly, his piercing gaze locking onto the stunned Zoroark.
"…Your turn," he said darkly.
Zoroark's breath hitched.
It had made a grave mistake.