Pisky arrives before the final confrontation, revealing herself and the Fairy Bow. She provides a token force for the group to practice their skills, a force which was relatively easy to take down. Darien does not know what to expect from the final confrontation from Malachus. He does know, however, that this confrontation will end with either him or Malachus dying for good. He can only fight and pray that he is not the one who faces his final day.
"Suzin… it's impressive you survived, too," Pisky said, smirking.
"Hardly. I am dedicated to keeping the Psychic Spoon safe. And I can hardly help retrieve it if I do not claw into this realm with everything I have," Suzin said.
"Hm… and everyone else is not?" Pisky asked.
"They must have been blindsided or defeated in combat. I had neither issue," Suzin said.
"You are far too dedicated…" Pisky said.
"You know what happens when the fan gets struck. It's dedication or bust," Suzin said.
"You're an impressive one… maybe we can try and help the others," Pisky said.
"Quitters or failures. We don't need them," Suzin said.
"…Did anyone tolerate you?" Pisky asked.
"Of course! I taught an Alakazam all of the tricks of the trade, and imparted my wisdom on a Chandelure!" Suzin said.
"…Clearly, I'll have to look into whether or not this was consensual on their part," Pisky said wearily.
"So… Dame Serena… it will be you who accompanies Lord Darien to defeat Malachus," Arthur said.
"It is my sworn duty as Darien's future wife and fellow chosen one. I cannot say why it must be us… but I'm not tempting fate by pitting him against Amber," Serena said.
"You reckon she could take out Malachus?" Arthur asked.
"In one move. With one arm tied behind her back. Without going Mega," Serena said.
"…No one is that powerful," Arthur said.
"Yes, I'm exaggerating, but you get the idea. I've never seen Amber troubled by hordes of enemies… I can't say if I'll be that good," Serena said.
"You've just got to go forward and have faith. You are a Fairy type- you have nothing to fear from a Dragon," Arthur said.
"You really think that'll be enough?" Serena asked.
"…No, not really. But it will go a long way, as will your own talent on the field. Plus, you won't be fighting alone," Arthur said.
"Right… with Darien by my side, there'll be nothing to fear," Serena said.
"Ah, to be young and in love. The cards has been dealt… it's time to see if you've got the royal flush," Arthur said.
"You've grown," Pisky said simply, looking at Darien.
"Mostly by necessity. My home is gone, and I had to do a lot to get to where I stand now," Darien said.
"Your home? Does that mean… the Roselia, the Grovyle… everyone in that village… all dead?" Pisky said.
"Yes… but the time for mourning is not now. I've had plenty of time to come to terms with their passing…" Darien said.
"…Even now, you still harbour feelings for her?" Pisky asked.
"Of course. She is the woman who stood by my side the longest. I will never forget her… but I will not become a recluse from society in her name. That was what she fought against," Darien said.
"…You've grown," Pisky said.
"We've established that," Darien remarked. Pisky thought to herself, before waving away her notion and leaving, leaving Darien curious as to what notion she entertained.
"Lita… how are you feeling?" Amber asked.
"…Well, I guess," Lita said, curled up and shivering.
"You have guessed wrong. Lita… I don't have any words for what happened to you," Amber said.
"It's my fault. I shouldn't have been lagging," Lita said.
"No, it's our fault, for not being there. Lita, you're not like Amy or Mina. You didn't try to make amends with the people who wronged you. And I'm not judging you for that. There are some people with whom reason does not work. And that's why we have Hiwaka Refuge. For those who cannot grow up in an environment that gives a damn," Amber said.
"So that's why everyone had their eye on me," Lita said.
"Lita, as the greatest knight this world has ever seen, I will say this: know when to surrender. There are situations no one can overcome. If you find yourself in such a situation, don't try to fight. Instead, choose actions that lead to a more favourable situation. Always be aware of what is and what isn't happening," Amber said.
"Easy for you to say. You've got psychic powers for this," Lita said.
"Not psychic. I just keep my ears open and my memory open… Yeah, admittedly, my gift doesn't exactly translate well to others. But you might have a gift different from mine, but still immediately useful," Amber said.
"…Thanks for the vote of confidence," Lita said.
"What else am I for?" Amber asked.
At last, the group had reached the final destination. The Dark Pit, home of the Dark type Pokémon. And where Malachus would be setting the stage, so to speak, for their final battle.
"…If you want to turn back, now would be the time," Darien said.
"Strength in numbers is far too desirable," Amy said.
"We're going with you, and that's that," Mina said.
"I will go up against the challenge…" Lita said.
"You're seriously not dumping me?" Amber asked.
"This is my home… I will defend it," Justyn said.
"We're here for you," Madeline said.
"Not like I can't help you from here," Chibouk said.
"I have the Miracle Eye… I hope I can be useful," Giac said.
"I'll be as safe out here as I am in there," Aaron said.
"I have to prove a point to my brother," Luna said.
"This'll be the coup of the century," Melody said.
"You're not getting rid of me that easily," Stanley said.
"We're Fighting. This is what we do," John said.
"And we're very good at it, too," Smith said.
"We'll be done before you know it," Loot said.
"I may be Dark, but I'm no blackheart," Jadit said.
*I am programmed only to aid Lord Darien.* Nephalem said.
"The Sisters of Pegasus never drop their job," Angela said.
"We fight for what's right!" Indira said.
"You've helped me reach my potential…" Sierra said.
"I have a job to do," Suzin said.
"And I have a score to settle," Okemos said.
"Well, if I ain't sailing, I might as well pitch some water," Gwarhar said.
"Darkness holds no fear," Xarnorth said.
"I can prove my worth," Arthur said.
"We're not stopping now," Pisky said.
"We're coming, and that's that," Serena said.
"…Glad to know all of you actually have something to say…" Darien said in surprise. He looked back at the pit, and nodded. Everyone entered the pit, making their way forward until they found Malachus.
"Welcome, Darien, Serena… everyone else…" Malachus said. Dusk stood a short distance behind, the seventeen Type Trinkets orbiting his head like a very peculiar crown.
"Malachus… you stop this endeavour right now!" Darien said.
"Or what? We fight to the death?" Malachus said.
"…Sounds fair," Darien said.
"All right then… I guess it's only fair to tell you that the Deep Dark Blood that runs through my veins gives me strength… and my mortality has been tied to the Dark Torch," Malachus said.
"What?" Darien asked. The ground beneath his, Serena's and Malachus's feet quivered, and fell, leaving a stone platform of medium size for the trio to fight on. The ground replaced itself, removing the three from the rest of the fight.
"Malachus is making himself invincible?" Pisky asked.
"Quite! My Magic Is Infallible! I Have Offset Malachus's Weakness! With Such A Strong Dark Torch… My, Malachus Could Never Be Defeated!" Dusk said, one eye twitching.
"Then I suppose we'll have to weaken it…" Pisky said.
"PISKY! THE GRASS FLOWER!" Mina yelled. All eyes turned to it, as its colour changed between black and green.
"No… This Can't Be Happening…" Dusk said. With an explosion of green particles, a Leafeon burst forth from the Grass Flower, slamming an Iron Tail down, and snatching back the Grass Flower.
"Man, this feels good…" Medow said.
"Medow!" Pisky said.
"Milady Pisky, Shaymin herself wouldn't sway me in my approach. Ever since we heard of Suzin's escape, we have tried our hardest to follow suit," Medow said.
"You Insufferable Fool…. Well… There Is One Thing Going For Me…" Dusk said. He waved his arms in front of him, and created a Sableye. He absorbed the Dark Torch into himself, and disappeared, leaving the rest of the Type Trinkets.
"I've got this…" Amber said, stepping forward. The Sableye duplicated itself, but Amber was ready. She launched into a Play Rough, grabbing a Sableye in her jaws and throwing it into another, while rolling through the various, but not very effective, strikes. She grabbed the Sableye she was positive was the first, and smashed it in her jaw. The entire arena shook dramatically. Amber turned, to see all of the Type Guardians functioning at capacity.
"There's Plenty More Where That Came From," Dusk said, reappearing. He summoned a Scizor, and disappeared. Okemos growled, but Amy stepped forward. She took in a deep breath, and spread across an impressive Flamethrower. Shisa took an approving nod, and added his own flames. The Okemos double jumped over both, and soared towards Amy with a Bullet Punch. Amy sidestepped it, causing the Okemos double to strike dirt. Her Flamethrower came from her wand before she had properly looked in the direction of the double.
"Oh My… Well, Sooner Or Later You'll Be Out Of Luck!" Dusk said, summoning that most ironic of foes: a double of Nephalem. With a robotic curse and a sweep, the Nephalem double was using a speed strategy. Stanley jumped in front of it, and allowed a strike. He pushed the Nephalem double back, and dropped a wicked Thunderbolt on it. Any hardware the Nephalem double would have possessed was fried dramatically, and Amprey's Wild Charge took care of him.
"There Has To Be A Limit To Your Endurance!" Dusk yelled, creating yet another copy. This copy was of a Malamar. Okemos grinned maniacally, and shot forward with an X-Scissor. The Malamar growled, and unleashed a Superpower. Okemos grunted, taking the blow. She knew that the Malamar would have weakened from the attack. She used another X-Scissor, only for it to come up on a softer target.
"What?" Okemos asked. Kaia used an X-Scissor, finishing it off before another Superpower was fired.
"Mary mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?" Kaia asked.
"Contrary…" Okemos realised.
"With Silver-Bells And Cockleshells And Pretty Maids All In A Row! Weren't You Listening?" Dusk yelled, summoning another foe: a Spiritomb. Pisky pranced up, and shot forward a Moonblast. The Spiritomb began rapidly spinning, attacks of a ghostly nature spinning around everywhere. Aurar, Melody and Madeline got to neutralising them, while Pisky had another Moonblast on the go. The second shot was enough to take down the Spiritomb, and Pisky spun around, beaming slightly in her accomplishment.
"…You're almost as crazy as me…" Amber remarked, smiling.
"Another Amber? This Is Just Getting Unfair… I Will Defeat You! I Will! I Swear, I Swear, I Swear!" Dusk said, creating a Salamence. Many winced at the apparent rudeness, but Snowly the Glaceon was among those who didn't. She fired her Ice Beam, to which the Lydia clone responded with a Flamethrower. Madeline growled, and shot forward with an Ice Punch. Melody followed up with another Ice Beam, taking down the dragon. Thankfully, she didn't have a death speech.
"You're all out of soldiers…" Amber said.
"Not True! Not True! Not True! Come On Forward, Prower, And Make Work Of These… These… JUST KILL THEM!" Dusk yelled. A Zoroark appeared, hissing and snarling.
"Poor buddy…" Pisky said, sighing.
"We can only hope his death was painless… but it probably wasn't," Kagura said. She lunged forward with a High Jump Kick, pushing away from the Zoroark. She landed on John, who lunged forward. Her second kick was a tad more forceful. Smith got the idea, and grabbed Kagura. He spun around on the spot, before throwing Kagura full force at the Zoroark. The Zoroark attempted a dodge, but Smith's No Guard made sure Kagura's kick landed, even if it did take the world's most awkward angle to do so.
"No… No! NO!" Dusk yelled. He jumped down, level with the group, hissing like a madman.
"MALACHUS'S DESIRE SHALL BE ACHIEVED!" he bellowed. Everyone gasped, as he got down on all fours. Impressive legs appeared in the stead of his stumpy arms, and his body took on a very fluorescent shade of purple. His eyes changed to piercing yellow, and a third eye joined them.
"Figures…" Amber said. "POWER OF MAWHILE ACTIVATE!" Amber transformed into her Mawhile form, and stood before Dusk. She launched a Foul Play attack, to which Dusk responded with a Shadow Ball. Amber charged in with an Iron Head, and Dusk shot a Hypnosis at her. Amber fell to the ground, asleep. Madeline made to move forward, but something seemed to be stopping her. Everyone was forced to watch, as Dusk pulled back, and launched a Fire Punch. Amber was sent tumbling, snapping awake. She got to her feet, only to meet another Fire Punch. This one sent her tumbling again, as Amy, Lita and Mina gathered around her in fear.
"TIME TO RETURN FAVOUR!" Madeline said, her rage undoubtedly enough to overcome Dusk's little barrier even if it hadn't fallen. She had come forward, and she was punching. Kicking. Flurries of attacks were sailing forward, and she didn't even need to reconsider her Normal and Fighting moves: she was feeling Scrappy. Dusk attempted to form an attack, but each one he tried resulted in a loss of concentration as three of Madeline's came forward. By the time she was done, she had well and truly used more attacks than most people could comfortably handle in one battle.
"No… can't… how…" Dusk said.
"And that's for Amber," Madeline said, adding another Return, before turning back to see how Amber was doing.
"You… all right?" Madeline asked with concern. Both Melody and Sierra were standing over her.
"Yeah… there's one opponent… who finally got the drop on me… how quaint… all I'd want… is to see my daughter again…" Amber said. As she did so, the ceiling collapsed, and Darien, Serena and Malachus landed atop the battlefield in which Madeline, Amber and Dusk had just been.
"Right on cue," Madeline said, prompting a smile from Amber.
"WHY? WON'T? YOU? DIE?" Malachus roared.
"We have something to protect," Darien said simply. Malachus looked around, realising something.
"WHERE'S DUSK?" he roared, looking about.
"Re-dead," Madeline said.
"GRARH! HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO WASTE ALL THOSE MORPHS! GRR… IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT, THEN I GUESS IT'S TIME TO DO IT MYSELF!" Malachus roared. He hovered in place.
"LIGHT OF THE DARK PIT!" he roared. He started shaking like mad, and everyone realised what was going on. Darien and Serena took the time to assume their Mega forms, while Malachus was assuming his. He dropped to the ground, giant tread-wheels on either side, his arms morphed into turrets. He fired a Dark Pulse and a Dragon Pulse, scattering the group. Darien and Serena reared their heads.
"We have waited for this for a long time…" Darien said.
"We will be claiming it," Serena added.
Malachus opened up with a Dark Pulse and a Flamethrower. Darien and Serena immediately realised that this Malachus would not be as easy to avoid as his regular form- but by the same token, Dusk's defeat would surely have made him mortal. Darien elected to fire his Aura Spheres in unique patterns, taking advantage of their accuracy to reduce the predictability of their approach. Serena shot forth a Moonblast, followed by a Signal Beam, neither of which seemed to do as much as they should have.
"He's changed type…" Darien said. He performed an Earthquake attack, sending both Malachus and Serena reeling. Stuttering a quick apology, Darien charged forward with a Blaze Kick. Serena rattled through her types, before using a Shadow Ball and an Ice Beam. Malachus growled, and sprayed Dark Pulses and Flamethrowers everywhere. Darien dodged, while Serena didn't. Darien rushed to Serena's side.
"Serena… Serena, are you OK?" Darien asked.
"I'm… if this is it for me…" Serena said. She pushed Darien to the ground, and let out a cry. A massive Hyper Beam, boosted by Serena's Pixilate, punched into Malachus, sending him reeling backwards. Serena dropped to the ground, spent and reverted. Madeline pulled her back, and Darien turned to look at Malachus. He didn't have any words for the Hydreigon, just an Aura Sphere. This one was aimed, aimed directly into the centre of Malachus's mouth. The strike rung true, creating a small explosion somewhere in Malachus's centre. He reverted, a sign he was done.
"Serena…" Darien said, turning to his partner, and reverting. Malachus stirred, and got to his feet. Madeline jumped up, and used a High Jump Kick, sending Malachus soaring backwards into the wall of the Dark Pit. He dropped to the ground, as did several large boulders.
"…You may still want to run through that area later, Justyn," Madeline said, reverting. Darien pulled Serena into his arms, holding her delicately, as the group turned to Amber.
"Serena… those two really were threats… but it's over… it's all over now…" Amber said.
"Mother…" Serena said vacantly.
"Yes… I am your mother, Serena… and you have made your mother proud," Amber said.
"Wait, you mean that literally?" Darien asked.
"I suppose… she didn't hatch from my egg… but she is my daughter… my only child. Darien… she'll continue my legacy…" Amber said.
"For you, Amber… if you lot don't mind, I'll be taking her somewhere I know I can heal her," Darien said.