Wait. No one else was in the den.
He quickly got to his paws, looking for any sign of his shiny daughter. "Moonlight?" he hissed quietly. He knew that Brightclaw had posted a guard outside because she didn't trust Moonlight, something that was apparently rightly placed. Umbreon stifled a growl. "Moonlight... What did you do?"
It was the same incident that had caused her to evolve all over again! Except instead of Umbreon, it was Brightclaw and exchanging the human girl in distress for an apparently large secret. Moonlight was predictable. Brightclaw had told her what to do, so Moonlight had done what she wanted anyway. Now, the only question was how Umbreon was going to get her out of this before they were up against the entire Clan of Darkness.
Clearly, she had jumped dimensions again. Could he do the same? Could the Pokémon in this clan know how to tell when someone was using Phantom Force? It seemed likely. If all of them could use the move, what were the odds that one of them were currently in the reverse dimension and could see him perfectly? Or Moonlight? What if she had already been spotted?
Espeon's voice seemed to speak in his head. Slow down... You're overthinking. Umbreon took a deep breath. He'd give her a few minutes. Maybe she had just stepped outside for a bit. Maybe she had gone to watch the moon. There was no need to immediately think the worst, right?
"...Who am I kidding, this is Moonlight after someone had blatantly kept a secret from her. Of course that's where she went." But that still left the question of what he did. Should he go after her? Wait until she came back? Tell someone in the Clan?
Going after her would probably yield the best results for Moonlight's safety. He knew her better than she would ever admit. He could probably track her down and possibly convince her to leave. On the other paw, Dark Cave was huge. Finding Moonlight in there could take all night, especially if she leaned on Phantom Force to evade detection. That, and Brightclaw would be MUCH less forgiving if she caught both of them inside, rather than just one of them.
But Umbreon didn't know if he could wait until she returned. Sure, she was right when she said she could handle herself in a fight, but what if she was outnumbered? She couldn't run; they could follow her. But she was cunning. She would probably find a way to lose them in the extensive cave passageways. But then could she make it back out without getting lost? And while he could plead innocence, could he still verbally protect his daughter when/if she was seen and brought back? He was good at diplomacy, but Splash was really the best at it. She could talk a Heatmor away from a Durant nest.
Even with all of that considered... Telling someone that she went missing might be best. Brightclaw would be upset with Moonlight, of course, but Umbreon could write it off as her being young and rebellious, which she was. The Clan would find her, bring her out, then both of them could go home. However... That would almost definitely result in Moonlight hating him for a long time. She liked to figure things out on her own, even if it was self-detrimental.
Umbreon sighed. He knew which option was best, but he'd permanently stain his relationship with his daughter. Right now, he was the only one that she really trusted, aside from her siblings. Could he give that up to keep her safe?
Before he could decide anything, Brightclaw barged into the den, flanked by a Weavile and an Absol. She turned on Umbreon, fury in her eyes. "Where is your daughter!?"
Umbreon stammered. Brightclaw narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you know, or are you just a terrible father?"
He looked down at the ground. There was no safe way out of this. He told the truth. "She waited until I was asleep and snuck out... I just woke up a minute ago and saw she was gone... I was just about to tell someone."
"Lies!" she spat. Umbreon forgot that not every Pokémon could smell a lie like he could. "How did she get out? Where did she enter? How did she slip past the guard?"
Umbreon said nothing. This was not going to end well. She was clearly a smart Pokémon. It wouldn't take long for her to realize what Moonlight could do. And when she did?
Both of them were in huge trouble. And Moonlight didn't even know it.
Moonlight trotted around another corner. No one was in here. She had left the shadow dimension a while ago, constantly being on guard for another Pokémon or a patrol of some sort, but apparently, Brightclaw had been telling the truth when she had said that she doesn't let anyone in without a good reason. "That's the worst way to guard a secret that I have ever heard of..." she muttered to herself as she walked.
The cave was, as the name so eloquently suggested, dark. Moonlight was pleased with how well she could see only by the light of her light blue rings, but it also made her a bit of a beacon. She had seen Umbreon do this sort of thing before. She just had to turn her glow off and manipulate the many shadows to camouflage herself. Easy.
She stopped walking, taking a bit of focus to turn the light from her rings off completely. She had dimmed them before, but never needed to turn them off. It was now pitch-black. Yet somehow, Moonlight could still see very well. She smiled. Umbreons have night vision, even with no light at all. Cool.
She trotted on, keeping a map of where she had been, but unsure of where she was going. She just let paws take her where they felt like going. There were no other scents in this cave. At least, none that were fresh. She'd be able to tell if she was going in circles.
She tried to connect with the darkness around her, melt into it like her father could. Nothing. She tried to close her eyes and do the same thing. Nope. She shrugged. She could figure it out later.
She wasn't really sure how Sunbeam had suddenly been able to use all of these Psychic powers of hers when she had gone to Bell Tower. The only thing that had changed was when Cresselia had given her Future Sight, right? Surely, one dream couldn't have opened up her capacity to use all of her abilities?
Moonlight gave a quiet sigh. This is what everyone in the Clan that had consciously went on a Power Quest had said. It just happened. "Fat lot of help that..."
She stopped as she rounded a corner. "...does me," she finished in a whisper. In front of her stood an altar of some sort. The room, unlike the rest of the cave, had perfectly smooth walls and floors, along with a large, arching ceiling. Carved images filled the stone walls depicting a Pokémon that looked familiar, but Moonlight couldn't put a name to. She had seen the picture in Sunbeam's book of Legends. Which one was he...?
Moonlight cautiously ascended the stairs to the alter. Behind it on the wall, she could see the only blank spot on the wall, framed by ghostly purple lights that gave the room its light source. Moonlight let her rings light up again. What was this place?
The bare spot on the wall seemed to shift imperceptibly. It stayed where it was, and yet Moonlight could sense something ...off about it. Like there was something that she couldn't see. Maybe it was an illusion? Was there something behind there?
Just as she started to step closer, a voice spoke in her head. Old. Female. Spiteful. You. You are intruding on sacred grounds. Leave now.
"Why should I?" Moonlight said aloud. How was this possible? Dark Types were immune to Psychic powers. Telepathy shouldn't be possible.
We have your father. Moonlight froze. How could they...? Brightclaw is sending in a team to retrieve you. If you want him to stay alive, you'll come quietly.
Moonlight said nothing. She didn't need Sunbeam to tell her that, even if she did as whoever that voice was told her to and left without a fight, she and Umbreon were not going back to the Eevee Clan any time soon. She had to do something. She was running out of time.
She looked around, searching for anything that could give her an idea. Her eyes stopped on the altar. She normally didn't pray much, but this was clearly a shrine to a legendary Pokémon, and judging by the placement, a Dark Type. Maybe they'd listen to her.
She put her front paws on the edge of the altar. "I don't know who you are, but I need help. My father is in danger, and I need to save him." Nothing happened. Shouts reached Moonlight's ears. The team had entered the cave and were tracking her. Time was running out. She screwed her eyes shut and tried to feel for some kind of powerful presence. Please. I need help. Help me save my father. If the Clan of Darkness worships you, I won't hurt any of them. I just want my father back.
For a long time, nothing happened. Then, she felt a dark essence nearby. Who are you that intrudes on my domain and defies those that serve me?
Moonlight. I just want help saving my father.
Another pause. ...Do you have something to offer me in exchange?
Moonlight paused. Did she? All she had were the berries around her neck. She didn't think that would be good enough. Wait! She might know of something! All I have with me are a few berries, but my father has what I think is a Dusk Stone. Would that work? She secretly hoped that this legendary was ok with an IOU.
...Perhaps. What kind of help do you seek? Moonlight didn't answer. She didn't know. Any help would be appreciated. ...You are young. Inexperienced. Capable of wielding great power, but only explores one field of Darkness. You are on your Power Quest, are you not?
Moonlight paused. Was it the air in the cave giving her the chills on her back? ...Yes.
Then I will teach you how to truly connect with the Dark. Do with it what you will, but keep in mind that great power has a price.
Before Moonlight could ask what he meant, her paws carried her into a jump onto the altar without her telling them to. She stood in the middle, unsure of what was happening, but her fear level was rising. Her paws were rooted to the spot. She couldn't run. the voices of the team were coming closer. ...Who are you? she thought fearfully.
Darkrai, the voice responded just as a black void opened up around Moonlight, making her collapse into a fitful sleep.
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