As night fell that day, the Hiwaka Refuge began to sleep. The sprawling home was marked by only very few filled rooms. Despite this, Serena insisted that Darien sleep in her room. Amber relented, knowing she had the advantage to keep him in line. Raye sat on the roof of her room, looking out over the horizon.
"What does she even see in him?" Raye asked no one in particular.
"He protects her. An archaic choice of mate, but to someone as low-level as her, it is entirely romantic and… let's just say reasonable," Amy said, clambering up. "I heard you thundering about the roof earlier."
"That's it? He protects her? Amy, he's no doubt ravaging her as we speak! All men are arrogant Tepig, you know that!" Raye said.
"No… not Greg. He sacrificed his life so that I could get here… I've never met such a brave Chespin," Amy said.
"Lovestruck fool…" Raye said, looking back up. She felt a cold shiver in her back, and looked up. An ominous shadow loomed overhead.
"Who in the name of Lugia are you, and what in the name of Suicune are you doing here?" Raye asked.
"I? I am Lord Malachus, future ruler of the entire world! And I won't have any typeless little nightmares go and bug that up!" said shadow said, appearing before her as a Hydreigon.
"Yeah, right… Lord Malachus, was it? This is a refuge for female Pokémon to hide from arrogant male Tepigs like you," Raye told him.
"Are you so arrogant to believe you have any hope of facing me, unevolved as you are, and survive to keep your little home safe?" Malachus asked.
"Are you so arrogant to believe your power is so great as to raze our home without resistance?" a voice asked. Malachus turned around, and noticed Amber approach him.
"Dame Mawhile!" Malachus cried out. Amber smirked.
"Recognise me, Malachus?" Amber asked.
"Wait a minute… you can't be Mawhile! She would never abandon her title for something as trivial as this damn village!" Malachus said.
"Is that your belief? Then you are wrong. And I will show you why I am the world's greatest dame. POWER OF MAWHILE ACTIVATE!" Amber cried out. Time stood still, and everything within a fifty-mile radius short of actual Pokémon turned to a pink mist. Amber was the centre of attention. She held out her hand, and traced a curly shape. The icon for Mawhile, a Wurmple-like curl beautifully striped and patterned, coloured in pinks and blues and greens.
"I am Dame Mawhile. I am the world's greatest Steel-type, and once held the same title for Fairy-type. And you will know that might!" Amber said, staring down Malachus.
"Very well… if you are Mawhile, prove your worth. Nisba, take care of the others," Malachus said.
"You wouldn't!" Amber cried.
"I would," Malachus said.
"Amy, Raye, get everyone to bolt!" Amber said.
"But Amber-!" Raye cried out.
"DO YOU WANT HIWAKA TO GO THE SAME WAY AS DARIEN'S VILLAGE?" Amber bellowed. Amy jumped to her feet, and grabbed Raye's hackles in her teeth. She jumped down from the roof, and started running to the other cabins.
Darien stepped back from stroking Serena's hair. Serena let out a sleepy mew, giving Darien pause, before he finally turned away. A crash sounded at the door, and Darien turned. Amy crashed into the door, looking at the two over the wood-chips that was all that was left of the door.
"Darien, Serena, we've got to go! Now!" Amy cried out. Serena sat bolt upright, looking at Amy.
"What's the problem?" Darien asked.
"A whole horde of Dark-types!" Amy cried out. Darien jumped, and ran outside. Sure enough, Malachus and Amber's duel was occurring close enough to be visible from here.
"We've gotta get out of here!" Serena said.
"No… we've gotta give them what for!" Darien said. Raye bounded up, Lita and Mina following her.
"For once, I agree with Darien here: we can't let Malachus waltz up and attack us for no good reason. We're going to stop him!" Raye said.
"Us? Half of us can't even fight. And two of them rely somewhat on Psychic-type moves," Lita said.
"Hey! I can use Fire!" Amy said.
"And Fairy!" Serena added.
"We're not fighting. We'll wait for Amber, and then we'll find some way to get stronger," Lita said.
"A wise decision…" Amy conceded.
"So how do we keep out of this battle?" Mina asked, looking over at a Sableye approaching them.
"…Serena, you said you could Fairy, right?" Darien asked, confident in the negative answer.
"Um… for you?" Serena responded. Darien looked between the Sableye and his company of Mightyena and Liepard.
"Anyone here about to evolve?" Darien asked, looking between the members of the group.
"...I think I am…" Amy said, closing her eyes. She spat flames towards the nearest Liepard, sending it reeling. The combat experience sunk into her, pushing her.
Amy started to glow. She pushed from the ground, standing upon her hind legs. Her head became larger than her ears, and her body and legs became proportional to said head. Her tail grew longer, and a stick. Amy's front paws grew an opposable thumb each, becoming hands. Amy took her stick, and held it forward. It lit alight, and a fire began blazing in her eyes.
"Braixen… more Psychic, but also more Fire. We don't have long until Amy's power becomes proportional to her body, and she loses her evolutionary power. Lita, are there any escape routes?" Darien asked.
"One. Raye, Serena, you'll need to help me and Mina open it," Lita said.
"Good. Amy and I will cover your backs until you can get it open… so wait, are we fleeing with or without Amber?" Darien asked.
"With, idiot boy!" Raye shouted.
"Got it," Darien said. He and Amy turned around, and began their defence. Darien's Force Palms were taking care of many of the Mightyena, although very few were defeated in one strike. Amy was taking care of the Liepard, her powerful Fire attacks gradually weakening as her body adapted to her new abilities.
"The route's open!" Lita cried out, referring to a hatch located in one of the empty homes.
"Good… now how do we get Amber here?" Darien asked.
"I'm on it!" Raye cried out. She jumped up, and jumped from Mightyena to Mightyena. The Sableye generated several crystal stones, and Darien jumped.
"Everybody dive!" Darien cried out. He dived into the escape hatch, followed by the girls. Amy's larger than normal girth knocked the hatch on her way down, sealing it shut. Darien jumped, and pushed on the hatch with his Force Palm.
"It's no use, Darien! It doesn't open that way!" Lita said.
"That sounds like poor design," Darien said.
"Let me put it this way: it's a way out, not a way in," Mina said.
"…You have a point…" Darien said.
"What do we do about Amber and Raye?" Serena asked.
"We can't go back… the only thing we can do is hope they make it out OK…" Amy said. A loud burst sounded.
"…Less time spent where Malachus can find us, the better…" Mina said. Darien nodded, and led the group through the tunnel. Darien looked at Serena briefly.
Amber and Raye are gone… and it's all my fault…