Chapter 84: You're Not Weak!

'Beep~ Eevee, Normal Type, Evolution Pokémon

Ability: Adaptability

Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Swift, Bite, Detect (inherited)

Description: To quickly adapt to changes in its environment, this Pokémon possesses the potential for multiple evolutions.'

"Little one, are you full?" Dylan picked up the now much more familiar Eevee, placing it on his shoulder, and gently rubbed its fluffy chin.

"Vee~!" Eevee's adorable little face showed a human-like happy smile, and it nuzzled against Dylan's cheek with a crisp cry.

For some reason, it couldn't help but feel close to this human before it, even though it had sworn it would never easily forgive humans.

"Treats are fine, but you need to control the amount every day," Dylan said, taking out a special meat treat and offering it to Eevee.

"Vee~ Vee~" Eevee bit into it, chewing contentedly with its eyes adorably squinted into crescent shapes.

Dylan smiled as he watched the joyful little Eevee. He felt a tinge of regret; this Eevee did not have its hidden ability, otherwise, he would have loved to evolve it into a Sylveon. Sylveon with Pixilate is very powerful; without the hidden ability, it's still usable but lacks a certain flair. Umbreon is also a good option since it doesn't rely heavily on its ability, and Synchronize Umbreon is quite effective. Plus, Dylan was currently building a Dark-type team.

However, he decided to let this little one choose for itself in the future. Dylan thought for a moment and decided to respect Eevee's own wishes. This Pokémon had already been through enough due to Team Rocket's experiments, which had caused it to be capable of evolving into three forms. Its evolution should be its own choice.

After bonding with Eevee for a while, Dylan took out another Poké Ball; this one was the heavyweight.

"Come out." Dylan opened the Poké Ball.

With a flash of white light, a pitch-black shadow rose slowly in front of Dylan. It was Darkrai.

Compared to its weakened state at the Team Rocket base, Darkrai had recovered significantly, but it still seemed quite weary. Who knew what it had been through?

"Darkrai, hello, I'm Dylan. Do you remember me?" Dylan smiled at Darkrai, the Eevee on his shoulder chewing its treat more quietly, curiously tilting its head to look at the nightmare Pokémon.

Darkrai remained silent. Of course, it remembered; it had seen Dylan crush that annoying green-haired human. And it was Dylan who had saved it from that vault.

"Although I don't know how Team Rocket caught you, from now on, Darkrai, you are free. You have escaped from Team Rocket," Dylan continued. Darkrai, as a mythical Pokémon from Sinnoh, appearing in a Team Rocket base was too outrageous. Although Dylan had his suspicions, they were just guesses. It was clear Darkrai had suffered a lot at Team Rocket's hands.

Darkrai remained silent, Dylan's words stirring unpleasant memories.

"The past is the past, Darkrai," Dylan noticed Darkrai's gloomy mood and quickly changed the topic. "What do you plan to do next?"

Darkrai's blue eyes showed a hint of confusion. Plan? What plan could it have? Its trainer had abandoned it; it didn't even know where to go.

"This is probably a burden for you too." Dylan pressed the release button and let go of the red and white Poké Ball. The ball rolled to Darkrai's feet, its blue eyes flickering.

"I don't know what you've been through, Darkrai. Maybe now isn't the best time," Dylan said, taking out a shrunken dark red Poké Ball. "But I'm the kind of person who likes to try things, Darkrai. I want to capture you."

Dylan smiled warmly at Darkrai. Darkrai looked complexly at the human who had saved it; it had witnessed this human's strength firsthand.

'I... I'm very weak...' a deep, raspy voice suddenly sounded in Dylan's ear.

Dylan's eyes brightened. This was Darkrai's telepathy! Most mythical and legendary Pokémon could use this special ability, and some particularly special Pokémon could learn it too. It allowed them to communicate directly through the mind, bypassing language barriers.

Darkrai's species indeed used telepathy. Thinking of a certain movie featuring Darkrai, Dylan felt at ease.

"Weak? How can you be weak, Darkrai?" Dylan chuckled. He liked this telepathic Darkrai even more. "You are a mythical Pokémon. How many people in the world seek your power? Including me."

"..." Darkrai's blue eyes showed a trace of sadness. Yes, it knew many humans sought its power. But so what? It had still been abandoned because it wasn't strong enough.

"Even if something special happened, Darkrai, you are not weak. Come with me." Dylan extended his hand to Darkrai, his tone sincere. "No matter what happened in the past, become my partner. Starting tomorrow, you will be reborn! Everyone will see, Darkrai, you are not weak. I will help you become strong. I will stand with you against those who hurt you and make them regret it!"

Darkrai's blue eyes flickered with emotion. Unknowingly, the pitch-black nightmare gradually approached the young man before it.

"I want... to become strong..."

"Yes, I will help you become strong. We will be great partners, Darkrai~" Dylan smiled as he looked at the dark red Premier Ball in his hand. What a wonderful day it was. Darkrai, captured!

(End of Chapter)