Darkrai nodded. "Very well." Pride filled his voice as he looked upon the assembled trainers. "I can see why Clink spoke so highly of all of you. Despite your different worlds and stories, you demonstrate the true hearts of trainers."
"The question is, where do we even start? Orzo just wiped the floor with a solid dozen other mythical pokemon without even breaking a sweat. We need a plan of attack." She looked around expectantly - for all her outward confidence, she was at a loss how to proceed, given what they'd all just ran from.
"We will have an advantage. First, we will be prepared. Given the knowledge that Orzo was responsible for previous attacks, he must have used deception and surprise for a reason. To face others in a straight fight is not something he believed he could do."
"And there is another element. You see, in these realms between worlds where mythical pokemon reside, there are fewer... limits, so to speak, to powers. Or perhaps it may be more accurate to say that the limits are different. If we face him united, I believe he can still be defeated." He seemed to consider something, then spoke again.
"In these realms, strength is not unlike a thread. Alone, a single thread is easily snapped. But many threads woven together can become infinitely strong. And that strength is far more tangible here than even the mortal realm."
"Back at the Maw, I saw inside one of his portals, the one where he took Xavian. I saw Hayes and the others. Didn't the Mythicals warn us that he was drawing power from the captured trainers? Is there any way we can get into that dimension and rescue them from that realm and diminish Orzo's power?"
He realized how outlandish it sounded even as he spoke, but the hope was too great to dismiss.
Mitch had been pulled from there, so it wasn't impossible...
"It might be a long shot but if we were to get just one ring away from Orzo, would Hoopa be able to open a portal to that realm for us to get them back?"
"If Hoopa can get in there and get them, I think that's worth a shot," Kimiko replied. "Not sure I'm fond of the idea of sending any of us in there, though. Going alone would be a huge mistake, and sending multiple people would weaken our offensive. But surely Hoopa knows a way to get in and get everyone else out easily. Definitely worth a try. Even if it doesn't directly weaken Orzo, it would cut him off from draining them further."
Darkrai nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. A very good idea. Such a thing may be possible... It is hard to say until we enter the realm but if we can get a ring away, could you even summon further aid?" he asked, turning to Hoopa.
Hoopa nodded meekly. "I think I am strong enough to."
"Good. Then when it comes time to face him, we must try to secure one of his rings. If it cannot be stolen, then we shall take them in battle."
"You know, that's not a bad idea, Jack," Kimiko said. "It would ease the stress on Enora if everyone could heal themselves, even a little bit. Hey Clink, would those berries have the same effectiveness if we took them out of your realm?"
"Clink already said the berries won't work outside of his realm, so that's not an option."
Clink jingled their keys lightly. "Actually... It's true, they don't work outside of my realm, in the mortal world. But as long as we're in
these realms they will still have an effect. Just a little less. If we stop by my realm we can take some with us."
"Good. Then that is what we shall do," Darkrai declared.
“I dunno if Mightyena’s going to be able to help much with the attack,” he said. Beside him, Mightyena turned her head away, looking down at the ground.
"Ah, child of darkness," Darkrai said gently, drifting down to address Mightyena. "You have been through a great trial in your time here, I understand. And Orzo stole much from you. It is the least I can do to return what was taken." He placed a gentle hand on Mightyena and closed his eyes. Dark aura flared around his body, then rippled down his arm before merging into Mightyena. Then he moved back.
"You should have your strength back, perhaps a bit more for the time you are here."
“I will forgive you for the nightmare you caused me and my brother. But I cannot forgive what you have done to my trainer. We have no choice but to trust you, and so we will. But you have caused us to see and feel things we won’t forget for a long time.” He curled his lip into a snarl, rings flaring at his last statement.
"Far better that your will is tested here than to face Orzo with a naive mind," Darkrai said softly, grief edging his tone. There almost seemed to be tears of empathy in his eyes or perhaps it was a trick of the light... "But if you cannot forgive, then I will hold you in no fault. But do not disservice that you and your trainer are stronger now than before, and will not fall easily to Orzo's temptations."
"There is one final matter to resolve." He held out his hand and a column of dark sand rose like a wave and swept towards Darkrai before dispersing and leaving in its wake a lone human figure and two pokemon. A familiar figure, with white hair and two eeveelution pokemon.
"I was able to draw him into my realm from his dreams before Orzo could take him." He turned to face the trainer. "Wes." He spoke, tone serious, eyes piercing into him. "Your heart is overrun with hatred. Yet you seek save pokemon, a noble idea. But to allow your hate to fester will only cause more harm, to yourself and the pokemon you claim to hold so dear." At this, Darkrai fixed his icy gaze on Umbreon and Espeon.
He drifted closer to Wes, at eye level with him, speaking carefully. "So, I ask this of you. Can you set aside your hatred long enough to stand united against Orzo? He will most certainly do all in his power to turn us against each other, to distract us with whatever has hold over our souls. If you cannot let it go, you and your pokemon will surely perish."
