In their effort to escape, Darien and the girls of Hiwaka find themselves kidnapped by unknown assailants within Sherwood Grounds. Darien and Amy furiously attempt to rationalise the thought, but are left empty-minded. It is all they can do to comfort their sisters, as they await their eventual fate.
"Sire… we have found and taken Pokémon who we believe to be typeless…" the Doublade said. Their addressee, an Absol, looked at them.
"Typeless ones… the foulest of all Pokémon… what were they this time?" the Absol asked.
"A Braixen, a Goomy, a Petilil, a Riolu and a Ralts," a Doublade said.
"A Ralts? ...Hm, somehow that feels important…" the Absol said, pacing across the room. The Doublade looked at him.
"Will you be requiring anything else?" the Doublade asked.
"No… I need time to think…" Absol said. "Keep one eye on them…"
"Of course, sire…" the Doublade said.
Darien was pacing within his cell, unknowingly hitting the same notes as the Absol above. He wanted, above all else, to know what it was that the Luxray and Doublade took offense to, but the Klefki on guard weren't being very forthcoming. He looked across the room to Serena's cell. Serena was sobbing in the corner… separation from Darien seemed to be causing her grief. Darien closed his eyes, detecting the auras of Amy, Lita and Mina. While Lita was hiding underneath her blanket, Amy and Mina were more or less just lounging about. Darien looked down at the ground… and noticed a bone.
"Hm…" Darien said, scooping it up. He felt its heft conform to his arms, and gave it a few experimental swings.
"I've got this…" Darien said. He focused, and used a Force Palm on the cell door, removing it from its hinges. It was still quite firmly locked, though, so the only Pokémon who noticed where those who heard the sound. Five Klefki and two Honedge approached, both types of Pokémon weak to the Ground type Bone Rush. Darien swung his bone, sending five identical bones falling down on the Klefki. Darien raised the bone, and swung at the Honedge, who were close enough to hit directly. The impromptu Bone Club got the Honedge to fall.
"Awesome…" Darien said. He looked up towards Serena. He remained, visibly silent, before deciding to move on. Bringing her along would only risk her more than Darien could bear to stand.
Darien looked around. He had escaped the dungeon in which his companions had been captured in, and had found a new room. This room was a pale white, with a door opposite the way he had entered… or, more likely, exited.
"Welcome, Riolu… so, you have ingeniously escaped this great jail…" a Medicham said. It was the only spot of colour, sitting in the centre of the room, meditating.
"Medicham… I have no quarrel with you… I just want to know what it was that offended you so," Darien said.
"You don't know what it was? My god, you're completely clueless… Surely you know the stories?" Medicham asked.
"Nope," Darien said.
"Really? I wonder if ignorance of the crime will cover you for this… you're Typeless!" Medicham said.
"Typeless? No… I'm Fighting-type," Darien stated.
"Really? If you're a Fighting-type, tell me the name of the Fighting trinket," Medicham said.
"Fighting… trinket? Never heard of it," Darien said.
"Any Fighting-type with a shred of Pokémon in his blood would know the Fighting trinket is the Fighting Belt. As for you… the Fighting Belt has long forsaken you," Medicham said.
"Listen, Medicham… I don't have a clue what the Fighting Belt is, but I do know that we are no less Pokémon than you. In fact, we're probably more Pokémon: the girls in my company come from the Hiwaka Refuge, a place where Pokémon can go to escape their poor lives beforehand. The Village of Castes, where I grew up, is a bustling home to many Pokémon. And then there's you… you'd arrest us just for something you don't even bother to explain!" Darien said.
"…Excellent attempt at tearing into me. But you failed. I'm not the one who wants you arrested… the King of the land, Justyn the Just, is the one who did that. Save your breath for when and if you face him," the Medicham said. Darien looked down at his hands.
"I promised myself never again… an old friend's scars… but if I must, then I must…" Darien said. He clenched his fists, and opened them, extending his claws. Darien charged at Medicham, who elected not to block his attack. To his detriment, Darien's Shadow Claw sunk him to the ground.
"Next time, think twice before supporting the rule of a man who'd lock up innocents," Darien said, scowling.
Darien continued through the castle, coming across a room with a comically large door. Darien knocked politely, and was invited in by its inhabitant, the king.
"What brings you here, child of Cobalion?" the Absol asked, not looking at Riolu.
"So… you're the king who has arrested the girls…" Darien said.
"Young Riolu… you know as well as I the dangers of those who exist without the power of the trinkets," the Absol said.
"Danger? But they haven't done anything!" the Riolu said.
"Don't be so daft, young Riolu… do you pine for one? You mustn't forget the ancient prophecy!" the Absol said.
"Ancient prophecy?" Darien asked.
"Must I spell it out for you?" the Absol asked.
"You must," Darien said, wanting to know what it was that he and his friends had done wrong.
"All right…" the Absol said.
The maze of infinite darkness;
A pit of immense import;
In there the types will be united;
Unless the great warrior is thwart;
He with the strength to take down;
His might will be her heart;
No trinket needed, no love lost;
So little, and yet power in many a part.
"…So… Pokémon outside this type trinket dynamic will prevent the types from coming together?" Darien asked.
"Of course," the Absol said.
"…But… my friends won't cause harm…" Darien said.
"Your friends… you are one of them?" the Absol asked.
"You were tame with me before you learned of my background… raised by the kind people of the Village of Castes. The even kinder women of Hiwaka helped me when my home was destroyed. Now that theirs has gone too, I want to help them. Please… we don't want to cause trouble," Darien said.
"…I will consider your words. Madeline, please escort this young Riolu to the guest room…" the Absol said. Madeline, a Lopunny, appeared behind Riolu to escort him away.