Nightfall? Nightmares! (Japanese: ダークライ 真夏の夜の夢, Hepburn: Darkrai Manatsu no Yoru no Yume, trans. Darkrai: Midsummer Night's Dream) is the 26th episode of Pocket Monsters (2019 series), and Pokémon Journeys: The Series of Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
Synopsis[]
Amid reports of nightmares in residents of the Sinnoh region, Professor Cerise suspects Darkrai may be involved, so Ash and Goh prepare for some research! Meanwhile, Chloe sets off on her own vacation when Professor Cerise reveals their family won’t be taking one together.
Ash and Goh’s research shows Darkrai roaming near a forest in Sinnoh, while Team Rocket is off to capture a Cresselia, located somewhere in the same forest…
When Chloe sets up camp, Dawn and Piplup appear! Although Chloe has never entered a Pokémon Contest, she agrees to go with Dawn to Eterna City.
However, things take a turn when Dawn and Chloe discover a wounded Cresselia![1]
Episode plot[]
On a moonlit night in the Sinnoh region, the Lunar Pokémon Cresselia is seem fleeing a large flying machine piloted by Team Rocket members. The machine zaps Cresselia with electricity, causing it to tumble to the ground. The Team Rocket Grunts descend from the aircraft and search for Cresselia as it flees. Sensing the nearby disruption, a Darkrai floats quickly across the water to the forests of Sinnoh.
At the Cerise Laboratory, Professor Cerise informs Ash and Goh of a strange occurrence in the Sinnoh region. It seems that a large amount of the population has become increasingly tired due to nightmares. Cerise alongside Ren and Chrysa highly suspect it is the work of Darkrai, a Pokémon capable of giving others nightmares simply by its presence. Ash recalls meeting Darkrai before, surprising Goh. Professor Cerise stills states that, even though Ash is familiar with Darkrai, he should still be careful and the lab's workers are still unsure if Darkrai is to blame. Goh suggests that he and Ash go to the Sinnoh region to investigate, so the two boys run off as Professor Cerise waves goodbye. As the boys run off, Chloe approaches her father alongside her Eevee. She is excited for her upcoming summer vacation with her family and goes to prepare. However, Ren informs Cerise that there are some newly incubating Pokémon Eggs in the lab that require supervision, so the vacation is canceled.
At the Cerise household, the professor breaks the bad news to his daughter. Chloe, distraught by the sudden cancelation of their trip, is told by her father that he is persistent in taking care and researching Pokémon, swiftly apologizing. Chloe's mother also states that she is taking care of art and illustration, also apologizing. Chloe also attempts to get her brother to come with her, though he informs her that he was invited to a summer camp by a friend and will be unable to go. Chloe's father tells her that she could head to the Sinnoh region where Ash and Goh went to investigate, so Chloe gets prepared to leave for Sinnoh with Eevee. Her mother notices that she has packed a lot, so Talia gives Chloe a special bag that her mother used to use. Professor Cerise worryingly informs Chloe that he can call her anytime if she is afraid, though Chloe asks her father to not treat her like a child as she leaves to travel in the Sinnoh region.
Chloe and Eevee arrive in the Sinnoh region, ready to explore. As Chloe looks at a pamphlet, she is suddenly bumped into by a Trainer who suggests that he and her battle at a nearby Gym. Due to her only having her Eevee, Chloe flees alongside her single Pokémon. As Chloe runs, she spots a large screen broadcasting an interview with a famed Pokémon Coordinator: Johanna. Johanna states she is excited to see what Pokémon will appear in the next upcoming Pokémon Contest as footage of Pokémon performing is shown. Eevee grows excited by the news of a Pokémon Contest, so Chloe decides that their first activity in the Sinnoh region will be learning about the Pokémon Contests. The two attempt to take a bus to Eterna City in order to see the Contest, though Eevee begins to wander and Chloe instead decides to walk to the city. During their walk, they encounter a Starly pecking at the ground. Eevee becomes playful with the Starly as Chloe checks it with her Rotom Phone. Eevee eventually annoys Starly and accidentally headbutts it, causing a flock of Starly to appear and chase Chloe and her Eevee. The two make into a deeper part of the woods, safe from the Starly. However, rain begins to pour and Chloe and Eevee quickly rush through the pouring weather.
As Ash and Goh arrive in Sinnoh, they find a tired Officer Jenny apologizing for her state. The boys inform Jenny that they are in the region to investigate the strange phenomenon occurring of people being unable to sleep. As the grumpy townsfolk begin to grow drowsy, Officer Jenny explains that it has been happening for some time now. Meanwhile, at Team Rocket's base, the group of four receive a call from Matori about attempting to capture Cresselia. Jessie and the others state at first that they do not care about the operation, however, Matori reassures that they will be rewarded if they help with capturing Cresselia.
As Chloe and Eevee sit out the rain, it begins to dry and the two continue on their trip to the city. As the two travel, they see a beautiful lake view as several Drifloon and Drifblim fly over it. The two decide to camp by the lake as Chloe attempts to start a campfire, but to no avail. Eevee is also growing quite hungry after the trip. As the night goes on, Chloe finally starts a fire and cooks some stew over it for her and Eevee. As the two finally settle down, they hear rustling from some nearby bushes. Chloe and Eevee are surprised to see a Piplup leap from the brush and into the stew, burning its face. A girl then suddenly comes from the bushes and trips alongside her Piplup.
The girl and Chloe settle down and enjoy stew together, apologizing for her sudden appearance. The girl introduces herself as Dawn and she introduces her partner Piplup, who is eating with Eevee. The two discuss their activities in Sinnoh as Chloe brings up that she was headed for a Pokémon Contest. The news excites Dawn as she explains that the Contests take place all over the world. Dawn also notices that she is traveling alone while Chloe states it is her first time traveling by herself. Dawn suggests that she helps Chloe head to Eterna City, to which Chloe agrees with a smile.
At the Cerise Laboratory, Ash and Goh arrive to see Ren and Chrysa acting quite strange. The two reveal themselves alongside Mimey and Yamper to be Team Rocket members as Professor Cerise rises, exclaiming that a raid of Cerise Park will begin and all of the park's Pokémon will be taken. The scenario is then revealed to a nightmare that Ash and Goh had as they suddenly wake up, annoying Pikachu and Grookey. The two boys head outside into the night quickly and see Darkrai sink into the shadows.
With Dawn and Chloe, Chloe wakes up to realize her hair is messy and she has no way of tidying it. However, Dawn reassures her that she has a solution. The two girls head outside of the tent and Dawn's Piplup uses Bubble Beam on their hair, causing it to become clean and tidy. Eevee also attempts to use Copycat, though the copied Bubble Beam only produces one bubble. Dawn and Chloe walk towards Eterna City, though Dawn spots a small spring which her and the two Pokémon investigate. The three also find a wild Budew walking by and even find a flowery field. The distractions that Dawn, Piplup, and Eevee partake in begin to annoy Chloe as she begins to argue with Dawn.
As Ash and Goh investigate the mysterious Darkrai, they begin talking to the region's residents. Goh discovers that Darkrai has been moving in a pattern from town to town, circling around a large forest. Surprised by the discovery, the two plan to find where Darkrai will be next. While Ash and Goh continue to look around, Team Rocket flies over the Sinnoh region in their hot air balloon, looking for the Cresselia who fled into the forest.
Chloe and Dawn continue to walk through the forest, still holding a grudge from arguing earlier. The two notice the sun is setting, growing angry that they could've made it to the city on time had not Dawn been distracted. The two also notice a cloud of dust and damage to the tree as a tired and rabid Rhydon emerges from the woods. The Rhydon charges at the girls and their Pokémon, so they prepare to battle. Chloe tells Eevee to use Tackle, though Rhydon bursts back Eevee as soon as the move hits. Dawn informs Chloe that Rhydon's types, Rock and Ground, are both weak to the Water type, so Piplup uses Bubble Beam. The attack successfully hits Rhydon, though the rabid Drill Pokémon hits back with Rock Blast, causing Piplup to fly back. Eevee jumps to Piplup's defense, using Copycat to copy Piplup's Bubble Beam. The super effective attack hits Rhydon, causing it to collapse and fall asleep. Dawn and Chloe are excited about the victory, holding hands until they find a strange pink glow in their path.
As Ash and Goh prepare to enter the forest, the two remember that Darkrai's commotion may have to do with Cresselia, a Pokémon said to be a counterpart to it. The two boys run into the woods to find Cresselia as the two girls approach the pink glow, finding it to be the injured Cresselia itself, laying asleep in the forest.
Trivia[]
- Who's That Pokémon?: Cresselia
- The Japanese title of this episode, as well as the Japanese and English titles of the following episode, are a reference to A Midsummer Night's Dream, a comedy written by William Shakespeare.
- The dubs changed the S on the uniforms which represented Sakuragi Gang in the Japanese original to the generic R uniforms which represent Rocket Gang.
- This episode marks the redesign of Piplup with blue eyes, instead of black.
- However, a Piplup appearing earlier in the series has the original design.
- This episode marks the first time that Pokémon Contests take place in the Unova region.
- Dawn returns wearing her Pokétch, instead of the Xtransceiver she wore in Pokémon the Series: Black & White.
- The coloring of the episode was dulled.
Dub edits[]
- The "S" on Ash and Goh's Team Rocket costumes is changed to an "R".
Dub errors[]
- It has the audio distortion that start in the previous episode.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ^ (n.d.) . "Nightfall? Nightmares! | Pokémon TV (pokemon.com)". From The Official Pokémon Website | Pokemon.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024.