Thanks to the combined efforts of Luna and Artemis, Justyn relents his decision to keep the 'Typeless' ones under lock and key. They also help him reach an epiphany: his rage against any and all Typeless Pokémon goes against his just title. A tough decision lies before him.
Meanwhile, an even tougher decision lies before Darien: he has gained too much trust among the girls of Hiwaka, the handmaiden Madeline and her cohorts. He cannot simply back down from the role as their guardian. However, the question of what to do now lies before him.
Serena awoke to find Darien had already left the room. She sighed in annoyance: what was the point in repeatedly trying to get Darien's attention if he was just going to ignore her at every turn?
"Morning," a motherly voice said. Serena turned to the door, to see Madeline framed in the doorway.
"Oh, morning…" Serena said, getting to her feet. She heard a little whoosh, and looked up. Luna had joined Madeline.
"What do you want?" Serena asked, curious.
"Are you Darien's girl?" Luna asked, great big eyes staring at Serena. Serena looked down at her feet.
"I want to be," Serena said. Madeline stepped forward, and put an arm around Serena.
"You'd be a lucky girl…" Madeline said. Luna closed her eyes, and nudged herself into Serena's body. Serena looked down at Luna, and started stroking her head.
"Oh my… I thought Darien had the purest heart I'd ever seen… my… Serena, yours is so pure, it's almost childlike!" Luna said.
"Wait, what?" Serena asked, confused.
"Serena… this might seem a little forward… but I would like to add my spirit to your little courting efforts," Luna said.
"Hm?" Serena asked, still completely in the dark. Madeline seemed to have some idea of what was about to transpire, as she had backed away.
Serena started to glow. Her hair became longer, and were brushed out of her face. Her legs grew longer, with her over-ankle dress not extending afterwards, leaving it as merely a short skirt.
"Kirlia… less of shrinking away, and more of being confident. You might just get your Riolu yet…" Luna said.
"Darien... I understand that both your home and the home of your friends were destroyed," Justyn said.
"Yes… by Dark-type Pokémon. Have you ever heard of a Hydreigon named Malachus?" Riolu asked.
"Malachus? He's destroyed villages? That doesn't sound like him," Justyn said.
"Wait, you know Malachus?" Darien asked.
"Malachus is a great Pokémon, intelligent, powerful and more than a little brave. He stepped up to the role of Type Guardian once Prower died. I trust him… how can I take your word over his?" Justyn said.
"…Figures," Darien said. Justyn looked down in discomfort.
"I know your experiences with us have been… less than stellar. However, as king, I am unable to provide any more aid to strangers in these circumstances… you're already Typeless," Justyn said.
"What use is a king who can't do jack when push comes to shove?" Darien asked.
"Young Riolu… I thank you from the bottom of my heart for teaching me what I have simply been too blind to see: I am not the just king I believed I was. But, sadly, my paws are tied. If you were to, er-hem, come up with some sort of proof… I believe a mercenary called Stanley had something to say about odd events. He does not possess satisfactory credentials either…" Justyn said. Darien nodded.
"I will move out as soon as possible," Darien said.
"The King said what?" Chibouk asked of Madeline. Madeline had called the three soldiers to her to give word from the king.
"Simple: we're going to accompany Darien to act as official eyes in his endeavours," Madeline said.
"But… why are we following him?" Aaron asked.
"Is it because you like Darien?" Giac asked.
"What? No! Entirely different hidden agenda!" Madeline said.
"…I've never heard that before," Aaron remarked.
"So… we're not interested in Darien?" Giac asked.
"…I refuse to try and answer that," Madeline said in annoyance.
"We're following Darien on official business, trying to help him prove Malachus is an evil evil Pokémon," Chibouk said to Giac and Aaron.
"Thank you," Madeline said.
"That doesn't mean Madeline's not using the opportunity to get closer to him, but it's not the point of us following him," Chibouk finished. Madeline glared at the three of them.
"I don't get where you three come off thinking I'm going to get between Serena and Darien…" Madeline said.
Lita nervously entered the throne room. The rather large room was far beyond her tastes: unless it was outside, she didn't like the feeling of having a big room. Justyn appeared in the throne, startling Lita.
"Um… you summoned me, King Justyn…" Lita said nervously. Justyn jumped down from his throne, and bounded up to Lita.
"You… you're even more beautiful than you looked earlier…" Justyn said, taking in every facet of Lita's appearance. Lita turned to him.
"Pardon?" Lita asked, feeling somewhat worried.
"…You look absolutely stunning, Goomy. I have a quest-" Justyn started.
"Is that what this is about? My beauty?" Lita asked.
"Well… yeah. I know this seems a tad forward, but I'd really-" Justyn said.
"Just my beauty?" Lita asked. Justyn shrunk a little: he sensed that he may have just struck a sore point for Lita.
"Oh my…" Justyn said.
"Justyn... my beauty is not for others to ogle. How I appear is none of your business. Now, if you'll excuse me, sir, I must tend to my girls," Lita said, turning and leaving Justyn in his throne room.
"Hey, Amy…" Mina said. Amy looked up at Mina. Amy had found the library, and was looking from book to book, amazed. She had never had so much knowledge to take in.
"Hey, Mina…" Amy said, looking up only briefly, before returning to her books.
"Amy… the cook here gave me some good Poffins… I got some for you… there's Passho, Chesto, and Charti Berries in these…" Mina said nervously, holding up the basket of Poffins.
"Ah, thanks!" Amy said, grabbing one of the Charti Poffins and taking a bite, still reading her book. Mina looked at her expectantly.
"Oh, did you need something?" Amy asked, glancing at Mina. Mina shivered slightly.
"…No…" she said, looking around nervously. Amy raised an eyebrow, before turning back to her book, taking another bite of the Poffin. Mina walked away, unsure of how to feel.
At last, Darien was prepared to set out. Both the Hidden Scouts and Madeline's troop were accompanying him to meet this Pokémon named Stanley that could allegedly help Darien with his mishap. Also joining in were Luna and Artemis, to Darien's surprise. Serena seemed a little miffed about that, but Darien didn't mind them, so along they came. Stanley's place of residence was a fair way away from the Castle Town, but there was a safe path Madeline followed instinctively, guiding the party.
"So, Darien…" Lita began, approaching him. Darien looked up at her.
"What have I done this time?" Darien asked.
"…It's what you haven't done. Serena seemed really upset this morning. I asked: it wasn't because of her evolution," Lita said.
"Lita, she keeps coming right up to me. If I didn't know better, I'd think she was coming on to me," Darien said. Lita looked away.
"…Don't tell me… how old is she?" Darien asked.
"It doesn't matter how old. Ralts isn't a Baby: she can still make Eggs. And now she's a Kirlia. I don't think you've got any excuse for leaving her like this. I'm not Raye: I think you're good for Serena," Lita said.
"Wait a minute… you say being a Baby is the only thing wrong with this stuff?" Darien asked.
"Yeah, why?" Lita asked.
"I'm a Baby!" Darien said.
"Raye would've loved to hear you say that. Sorry… I didn't realise Riolu were Babies. Once you evolve, though, Serena will be waiting," Lita said.
"…I can't be the only one who finds this really creepy…" Darien muttered.
"HALT! Who steps there?" a voice asked. Madeline jumped.
"It's… it's me, Stanley. Madeline, Justyn's right hand," Madeline said. A rustling in the trees sounded, and a Pikachu appeared in front of the group. He was growling, his cheeks electrically charged.
"That's Stanley?" Darien asked.
"Dark Typed nutcases, I should've seen this one coming… John! Smith! Back me up here!" the Pikachu allegedly known as Stanley said. A Gurdurr and a Machoke appeared behind the Pikachu, and the pair noticed the group. They readied combative stances, and a horde of Pikachu, Timburr and Machop appeared around them.
"Stanley!" Madeline said.
"Peace ain't going to happen now, Madeline. If Stanley's worried about us, I'll find a way to convince him we're harmless," Darien said.
"Through violence?" Madeline asked.
"…When you put it like that, you make this plan seem so stupid," Darien said. Stanley bolted forward, and Darien rushed forward to use a Force Palm on Stanley. The fight had begun here and now.
Serena was almost immediately chased by a gang of Timburr. She stepped away from them, fearful. Her eyes flicked in the direction of Darien, but he was far too preoccupied with Stanley. She tried a Confusion attack, but only one of the Timburr was fazed in the slightest.
"D… D…" Serena said, her eyes filling with tears.
"Hey!" a loud voice called. Serena turned, and noticed two spoons flung forward into the Timburr. Giac returned the spoons to his hands. He had grown an impressive moustache and several limbs to his name.
"Alakazam… several times more powerful than Abra," Giac said.
"Giac! You evolved!" Serena said. Giac stepped forward, and used a psychic attack on the Gurdurr. He pointed towards a small gang of Machop, and the Gurdurr flew half the distance before crashing to the ground. Giac's eyes narrowed, and a few of the Machop in the group were elevated. They fell almost as soon.
"Can't… my powers… what?" Giac asked. The Machop who could still stand (pretty much all of them) ran forward to Giac. Serena stepped forward, and glared at all of them.
Darien jumped backwards from his assault. Stanley was charging forward, and Darien focused. He unleashed a Force Palm, striking Stanley in the forehead and sending him reeling. Darien took a step, before keeling over. He felt his body unable to move. He started breathing heavily.
"Like that, huh? Static electricity, man!" Stanley said. Darien looked up at him, and mulled over his move. Stanley charged again, and Darien allowed him a blow. He was shot backwards, landing on his feet. He focused his energy, as Stanley charged again. He let out a huge Reversal, sending Stanley back a large distance. Stanley looked up, and noticed a Gurdurr fly over his head. He turned, to see Giac and Serena approached by Machop.
"Serena…" Darien spluttered out.
"So that Kirlia is important to you… didn't know these new Dark-types could do that. Well, Riolu, Fighting beats Dark," Stanley said.
"We're not Dark…" Darien spluttered. He watched the Machop approach Serena, mustering up the energy for a Reversal. He dropped to the ground, exhausted.
"DARIEN!" Serena shouted. The Disarming Voice attack Serena unwittingly unleashed blasted back all of the Machop, and Serena ran beside Darien, casting a Heal Pulse attack.
"Give it up, Kirlia. I don't care if I have to slaughter you all one by one… I will take down you Dark types," Stanley said.
"We're not Dark…" Serena said, stroking Darien nervously. "Darien…"
"Then tell me just one thing… if you're not Dark, what are you doing here?" Stanley asked.
"We're looking for a proud warrior named Stanley… Justyn implied he'd be able to help us get solid proof that Malachus is up to no good," Serena said, nursing Darien in her arms. Stanley's ears perked up, and he approached them cautiously.
"Malachus?" Stanley asked.
"A nasty, awful Hydreigon… he destroyed both of our home villages… he may or may not have murdered my adoptive mother and sister…" Serena said, tearing up.
"You... he did that to you… JOHN! SMITH! CALL IT OFF!" Stanley said. The Pikachu, Timburr and Machop stopped attacking, and retreated, leaving the Gurdurr and the Machoke to approach Stanley.
"They have surrendered?" the Machoke asked.
"No, Smith… they are friend, not foe. Get the clearing ready for guests…" Stanley said.
"The Boss was wrong? Now I know the world's going mad…" the Gurdurr said. Stanley ignored this, and scooped Darien into his arms.
"Stanley!" Serena cried out.
"I bear the burden of the hardships I have caused you alone, gentle Kirlia," Stanley said. He gestured with his head again, and the group followed Stanley to his home, still somewhat apprehensive about him.