Darkrai floated above a volcano. At it's peak was a crater, high walls preventing the flowing lava from spilling in. The mountain glowed red as the liquid fire crawled down the outside, heat pouring outwards. The air was thick with ash, and the crater was pitch black stone.

Eventually, three Pokemon entered the crater. A Cresselia, followed by a Turtwig, and a Wooper.

Darkrai spent a moment studying the trio. Celebi had been right, with Vine dead, Forrest disappeared after the events at Temporal Tower, but had returned several months later.

In this timeline, Flip and Forrest had been reunited, they were happy. The dark future had been restored, bathed in light, but Darkrai remained torn, and alone. Haunted by all that he'd done, with the help of Celebi, Darkrai had orchestrated a final showdown against Forrest and Flip in the timeline he'd created. It was almost over now.

'You've kept me waiting.' Darkrai dropped rapidly, descending into the crater and landing before the trio. His body billowed in the wind and flared with the heat. 'Good of you to come, Forrest and Flip.'

'Why do you keep after us? You don't even know us!' Flip cried.

Darkrai smiled to himself. 'I know you all too well.'

Throwing his arms wide, Darkrai began to monologue. Tracing their adventures, Darkrai explained how he had sabotaged Temporal Tower, how he had sought the planet's paralysis.

Forrest and Flip listened with rapt attention as Darkrai painted himself as the villain of their story.

Cresselia was outraged. 'That's why you tried to break their spirt. Even going so far as to use an imposter of me.'

Darkrai didn't answer.

Bristling with anger, Cresselia began to shout. 'Even now, you lured us here, so you could be rid of us in one fell swoop!'

Darkrai folded his arms, pausing to think. He knew, he knew should confirm what Cresselia said and be done with it, but his heart ached at passing up this last chance. 'Very good. I did indeed intend to do just what you say. But, I've had a change of heart. So, Forrest, Flip, both of you are brave. You've shown great initiative. To be rid of you forever... seems like a tragic waste. You've both shown so much promise. Why not join me?'

Darkrai's mind wandered, and for a moment, he entertained the thought that maybe, just maybe, Forrest would stand beside him once again. Alas, the Turtwig could never. For Forrest to betray this world, why the whole damn thing would have to come against his brother, but that could never happen, right?

Forrest rammed into Darkrai's chest. The legendary doubled over before roaring, and throwing Forrest backwards. Darkrai's heart ached, but he'd known things would go this way. Steeling his nerves, Darkrai apologised in the depths of his soul, and wished that somehow Forrest could forgive him.

'There's nothing more to say.' Darkrai readied an attack. 'I will finally be rid of you meddlers!'

Darkrai threw a shadow ball and the final battle commenced. Cresselia took the blow and reeled backwards, on the verge of fainting. Darkrai couldn't help but roll his eye. The legend really was useless. Unlike Forrest and Flip.

Forrest stood his ground, firing Seed Bombs. Flip circled wide before charging in, leaping and swinging an Aqua Tail at Darkrai's head. Darkrai evaded the Seed Bomb, but took the Aqua Tail in the chest and was thrown backwards.

Roaring, Darkrai reached for Flip, fully intent on snapping the Wooper's neck, but Forrest crashed headlong into Darkrai, biting down with a Crunch attack. Darkrai screamed and smacked Forrest away, but Flip was there immediately, and blasted Darkrai point blank with a Muddy Water.

Darkrai was swept backwards and left reeling. Flip leapt and slammed the ground with his tail, an Earthquake racing out in all directions. The attack threw Darkrai to the ground and Forrest followed up with Giga Drain.

Even as he was pummeled, Darkrai smiled inwardly. This was how things were supposed to be. Sure, it wouldn't be his life, but at least a version of him would be happy. And Forrest, without his memory of the last 600 years could finally live, and be free. Free of the weight of all those years alone.

Darkrai stumbled to his feet, but Flip raced in, leapt, did a backflip and struck Darkrai with Slam. Darkrai hit the dirt with a grunt, but got to his feet one last time, hands raised innocently. This was it, he didn't have any strength left. There was one thing left to do.

Darkrai called telepathically to Celebi, and the Passage of Time appeared behind him. With one final monologue, Darkrai moved closer to the passage and was about to jump in, when Palkia appeared.

The space deity roared it's righteous wrath and fired a massive energy beam. Darkrai took the attack head on and was blasted backwards into the passage of time.

On the verge of fainting, Darkrai lay back and watched his life flash before his eyes. Memories of Forrest, and Vine, and Nick, left a bittersweet feeling washing over him.

The end of the Passage of Time came into view and spat Darkrai out, in the woods. Darkrai limped through the forest until he came across Vine's grave. Darkrai lay beside it, and watched sunbeams fighting to sneak through the forest canopy.

Darkrai had been clutching his chest all this time, but now pulled his hands away. They were clean, there was no blood, there was no proof, but Darkrai could feel himself dying. His body was racked with pain and his eye drifted closed.

Darkrai smiled to himself. 'I'm tired. I'm so tired.' Tears springing forth, Darkrai reached in vain for the sun. 'I'll see you soon, Brother.'

As Darkrai breathed his last, his hand fell. Darkrai had set out to find his brother. Vine had sought good soil. They had both found what they wanted, and could finally rest.

With them gone, the time loop would end, and the new timeline could begin in earnest. Celebi would know peace. Nick could have a brighter, though less eventful, future. Perhaps he would finally master the violin.

Back in the dark crater, Forrest and Flip rejoiced. Darkrai had been defeated. They could continue their work as a simple exploration team. Truly, they didn't want for anything more. To resume their peaceful days, in the company of one another, could anything be better?

Some might call Darkrai evil for what he did, but it cannot be denied. After all the choices he made, right or wrong, all that's left is hope.

Forrest crushed Flip in an awkward hug. 'Brother, it is wonderful to be alive!'