Without warning, Stanley attacked the heroes who sought him out. Serena is able to smooth the situation out, but not before the attack leaves Darien knocked out and unable to contribute. Stanley leads the group to the place he calls home, so that he might explain the happenings about him.
Stanley made his residence in a peculiar grove. No tree grew within the rather large perfect circle, but there were plenty of shrubs that Stanley admitted to using as bedding, privacy and target practice (some of the burns were still smoking). Stanley lay Darien down beside the only tree stump in the vicinity, the only clue that this place may have once been naturally created, and turned to his visitors.
"Again, sorry about the whole 'attacking you' thing…" Stanley began.
"Past that part," Madeline said.
"In fact, never say that again…" Serena said, stroking Darien's head.
"Er… OK. OK then… Dark types. A lot of them. Seedot and Cacnea aplenty in the Grass Meadows…" Stanley said.
"That oughtn't be unusual… aren't Seedot and Cacnea Grass types?" Mina asked.
"No… More Seedot and Cacnea than any other Pokémon. Them, plus a few odd-looking Grass types, were going 'round, acting all weird-like and dangerous and such," Stanley said.
"Good riddance," Chibouk said.
"That's just rude," Aaron chided.
"Anyway… something's up. Something really, really bad is up. And I, for one, kinda don't want bad stuff to be up. For one thing, it does really bad things for my health," Stanley said. Serena looked up at him, thinking.
"Lita… I'm going to trust this one…" Serena said.
"Since when? I don't trust him at all: he attacked us for no reason! The last guy that did that sent us on this wild Swanna chase in the first place. Also, since when is it your call? Last I checked, it was Darien and Madeline in charge of this!" Lita said.
"But I can still have opinions. Darien trusts me…" Serena said.
"All right, that's enough fighting, you two. Darien told me you were like sisters," Madeline said, holding out her arms.
"We know for a fact that something is going on in the Grass Meadows. Speaking using the Pokémanitarian Perspective, this warrants investigation regardless of the influence of Malachus. Especially since it seems to have caused a state of paranoia within Stanley here," Amy said.
"…Point," Lita commented. Aside from Serena, she was always the Hiwaka girl who understood Amy least.
"Well, bluntly, it is in our best interests to go to the Grass Meadow and understand what's going on," Madeline said.
"…That is literally what I just said," Amy said, stone-faced.
"…I felt it worth repeating?" Madeline asked sheepishly.
"All right, enough!" Serena said, drawing everyone's eye. The naïve, girlish charm of Serena seemed to abandon her at this juncture.
"We are going to the Grass Meadows once Darien is fully recovered. Everyone, rest however it is you guys rest. With my Heal Pulse, the 'Darien recovered' step shouldn't take long," Serena said. Everyone was staring at her, until they realised that they probably should take her as somewhat serious.
"So, Giac… you've evolved. Twice," Madeline said, looking the Alakazam up and down.
"Twice? I thought it was only once," Giac said.
"Interesting… somehow, your evolutionary capacity must have skipped over a stage. That must be important…" Madeline said.
"Madeline… my evolutionary power vanished," Giac said.
"Well, I can't help you there. I evolved from Buneary a long time ago, so I don't remember what it was like to be an evolved Pokémon. Though… your strength did weaken… maybe your body was trying to be a Kadabra?" Madeline asked.
"…I really wish I knew a Psychic expert," Giac said.
"Well, the fact remains, Giac, that I will still support you, regardless of what exactly caused your little evolutionary problem," Madeline said.
"Thank you, Lady Madeline. You truly have the biggest heart," Giac said. Madeline's gaze drifted in the direction of Serena.
"That you've met," Madeline said, under her breath.
"Are you feeling all right there, Petilil?" Stanley asked, taking a break from his preparations to look at the girls making their arrival. Mina looked up at Stanley.
"Oh, hey there, Mr Pikachu," Mina said. Stanley smiled, scratching behind his ear.
"So, how are you?" Stanley asked again.
"Oh, right! Sorry… well, I am feeling a little out of it at the moment… do you want to hear it?" Mina asked.
"…Sure, why not. I've always been a helpful Pikachu," Stanley said.
"Well… for the most part, it's still trying to get over the loss of Hiwaka. That was an adoptive mother of mine that went down there. Also, I've had this weird feeling hanging around Amy… and… well… we're also going to the Grass Meadows, and I haven't been there in a long time," Mina said.
"Ah, dangit. I'm no good with this traumatic event stuff," Stanley said.
"Oh, that's OK… but Stanley? Can I ask one thing?" Mina asked.
"What is it?" Stanley asked.
"I had an old friend in the Grass Meadows… he went by the name of Ace. He was an adorable little Cottonee who did everything in his power to protect me. I wonder what happened to him once Amber took me under her wing," Mina said. Stanley scratched behind his ear again.
"Well… I will look out for Ace once we get to the Grass Meadows," Stanley said.
"Thank you, Stanley. For everything," Mina said.
"For everything what? I haven't done anything!" Stanley remarked.
"How on earth do you do it?" Chibouk asked of Aaron. He was, of course, talking about his not-taking-damage propensity.
"Do what?" Aaron asked.
"The… the… damage thing?" Chibouk asked.
"Steel-type. It's rather common. Did you seriously expect a different answer?" Aaron said.
"Well… whenever I come up against Steels, they're nowhere near as defensive as you are. Or maybe I'm just imagining things," Chibouk said.
"…No… in fact, Steel/Rock isn't as good defensively as most experts seem to think it is. There are better defensive Steels," Aaron said.
"…I refuse to believe you're not the world's best defender," Chibouk said.
"I refuse to accept any bet on proving the truthiness of that statement," Aaron said.
"Two hundred gold?" Chibouk asked.
"…To prove what?" Aaron asked, genuinely confused.
"Oh, Darien… just wake up…" Serena said. She was staring at Darien longingly, at every inch of his body. The adorable little Riolu was perfect for her, she was sure of it. Not only that, but his troubled past made her even more receptive to him: she wanted to be the one to help him recover. Perhaps one day, their great friendship would be enough to evolve him, and he'd find her attractive.
"Please, Darien… all I need is someone to hold me at night. Someone who I can count on to protect me from Dark-types. From All types. I need your companionship… please… just wake up…" Serena said.
"So that's how deeply you feel…" Darien said, waking up.
"…You were sleeping? Not even out unconscious?" Serena asked.
"I woke up while you were on the crazy rant. I just decided to let it play out to see how devoted you really were," Darien said.
"Wow… that's… kinda…" Serena said, blushing furiously.
"I will protect you, Serena. I promise you that. I can't promise any more until I evolve…" Darien said.
"Well, that's enough for me. You're cute," Serena said.
"…As are you," Darien said, smirking.
As Darien was now awake, Serena decided to follow through on her rampage and drag everyone (metaphorically, of course) to the Grass Meadows. By the time they arrived, Stanley's statements had been proven horribly true. The place was calling with Seedot, Cacnea and their evolved forms.
"This looks…" Madeline said.
"Bad," Chibouk said.
"Agreed. Something's up," Stanley said.
"Who's in charge here? Like a village leader or something?" Darien asked.
"That would be Medow, a Leafeon. He is the Guardian of the Grass Flower, the Type Trinket for the Grass-type. Darien, this is basic stuff. Say too much of that and the whole 'Typeless' thing will come right back," Madeline said.
"...Are we really going to be chased with torches and pitchforks for that?" Darien asked.
"Mina definitely would. The rest of us… possibly not," Madeline said. Mina nodded, before a wailing sound sounded.
"What's that?" Serena asked. Everyone looked up, to notice a Seedot hanging from a branch.
"Intruders! Non-types! Danger! Danger! Danger!" the Seedot said. Almost every Seedot, Nuzleaf, Shiftry, Cacnea and Cacturne in the vicinity turned.
"… … …We're screwed," Stanley said.
"We're only screwed when I say we're screwed. Madeline, we need to find Medow. Now," Darien said. Madeline nodded, and she pressed forward, Darien, Serena and Luna following her. Stanley made to come up behind them, but the sudden coating of Nuzleaf made that less than ideal.
Darien's group, on the other hand, was currently in the process of being choked by a whole lot of Cacturne. Darien was using Force Palm and Madeline Jump Kick, but Serena and Luna were a little more outmatched. Luna tried a Dragon Pulse, only for Darien to immediately attack the Cacturne she was aiming at. Serena considered a Disarming Voice, but Darien was also weak to those, and she didn't want to hurt her Darien. A Cacturne approached the pair of them.
"Go… Go away!" Serena screeched. Here, in the one juncture it would have been helpful, no Disarming Voice came to her. Darien heard her, and jumped forward. The Cacturne whacked him with his spiny arm, sending him rolling away. Serena yelped, and ran towards him. Luna growled, a bright light emanating from her. She spread her wings, and launched a Dragon Pulse of considerable power. Confident the Cacturne wouldn't awaken for a few hundred millennia at best, she dashed after Serena.
"Darien, not again…" Serena said. She stepped back, and pressed her hands to her chest. She closed her eyes, and moved to open her arms.
"Um, excuse me?" a small voice asked. Serena turned, frozen in shock, as a little Happiny approached the trio.
"Yes?" Luna asked.
"Well, um… could I help you? Please?" the Happiny asked.
"We're perfectly fine ourse-" Serena started kindly.
"Of course!" Luna said, smiling. Serena looked at Luna, as Happiny approached. She leaned forward, and opened her egg. A small light appeared around Darien, and he jumped to the air, energetic.
"WOO HOO!" Darien yelled. Before he hit the ground, he had jumped through the sky, knocking out at least twenty Cacturne. How he managed to land in front of Serena again was anyone's guess.
"You're good…" Serena said.
"Thanks… could I stay with you?" the Happiny asked.
"Of course!" Serena said.
"Thanks… I'm Melody. I've been looking for you for a while now… I must have missed you back at Stanley's…" the Happiny said. Serena smiled, before a horde of Shiftry appeared. Darien mimed rolling up his sleeves.
Stanley, meanwhile, was dashing around. The Nuzleaf were relatively easily sorted (they had been oddly susceptible to electricity), but in the confusion, Mina had gotten herself lost. Stanley took it to himself to look for her, while everyone else made their way to follow Darien and assist in his endeavours.
"Hey, you! Pikachu!" a voice cried out.
"Pika, pika. What do you want?" Stanley asked, in the most deadpan voice he could muster.
"I'm looking for a Petilil… have you seen her?" the voice asked. He walked out of the bushes, revealing himself a Whimsicott.
"I'm looking for a Petilil myself," Stanley said.
"Mina-ko?" the Whimsicott asked.
"…Ace?" Stanley asked.
"How did you know my name?" Ace asked.
"Mina told me about you… she asked if I could keep an eye out for you," Stanley said. As if on cue, Mina came out from the nearest bush, and jumped.
"Is that… Ace?" Mina asked.
"Yes," Stanley said, stepping back and scratching behind his ear. Mina stepped forward uncertainly. Ace spread his arms, allowing sun to strike Mina. Mina began to glow, and a body appeared underneath her. A dew-bead necklace and a folded-leaf dress marked her as quite the stunner to have blossomed from her bud.
"Lilligant, the elegant older sister of Petilil," Ace said, smiling. Mina began blushing furiously, as Ace approached her and…
"…That doesn't look healthy…" Stanley said. Mina was giggling, yes, but it certainly didn't look like something good was occurring.
"Oh, do whatever it is Pikachu do all day. This is my Mina-ko, and I'm not letting her out of my sight again!" Ace said. Stanley looked between Ace and Mina, and then back in the direction of the Hiwaka girls.
"Chu, pikapi pikapika pipika chupi," Stanley said. Ace let go of Mina briefly, stepping towards Stanley.
"PI-KA CHU!" Stanley yelled out. An odd lot of colours blasted forward, sending Ace reeling.
"ACE!" Mina cried out.
"Mina… I don't think the two of you are good for each other. Amber took you out of his grasp, didn't she?" Stanley asked.
"Yeah… but…" Mina said.
"Do you really think undermining Amber is a good idea?" Stanley asked.
"No, of course not! That would be worse than you undermining whoever guards the electric thingy," Mina said.
"Exactly. Mina, I want what's best for you and your sisters. And I'm pretty sure being there with the rest of them is a big part of that," Stanley said.
"You're… you're right… I guess I just never realised…" Mina said.
"You have realised now. That's progress," Stanley said, comforting the now Lilligant. Ace got to his feet, and glared at Stanley.
"You dare… How inconsiderate of you!" Ace said, before launching into a string of profanities and rants that even Mina thought stepped just a bit out of line.
"Pi-pi-pi," Stanley said, walking away. Ace was too busy ranting to notice.
Darien's energetic charge had worn off by the time the Shiftry were out of the way. The four pressed on, to where Madeline said the Grass Flower was. A Leafeon jumped forward, growling at them, hackles raised, frothing at the mouth.
"That's… not normal," Darien said.
"Medow!" Madeline cried out, stepping forward. Medow lunged forward at her, snapping his jaws and letting out feral noises completely unlike Leafeon.
"This could get messy…" Darien said.
"…I'm on this…" Madeline said. She strode forward purposefully, glaring at Medow. Medow was terrifying, yet Madeline wasn't scared. She closed her left fist, and punched. Medow leaped at Madeline's fist, before being knocked down by the ice crystals forming on Madeline's fist. He shivered, and got back to his feet. He leaped again, into Madeline's fiery right fist.
"HOT! COLD!" Leafeon cried out.
"BOTH!" Madeline yelled in annoyance. Both her fists became coated in element, and she punched forward. Leafeon was sent flying with fire and ice. She got to her feet, and began forming a Leaf Blade. Madeline shot forward, and used a Fire Punch again. The Leaf Blade dissolved into cinders, and Medow lay on the ground. He shook his head, and looked up.
"…Lady Madeline?" Medow asked.
"Recognise me now?" Madeline asked.
"Yes… wait a minute… I feel like I have forgotten something very important…" Medow said. He paced for about two seconds.
"The Grass Flower!" Medow cried out.
"NO!" Medow exclaimed. He guided the four to the Shrine of Grass, only to see a horrifying sight to Medow. Instead of a flower, the centre of the shrine contained only a crudely dug hole. Remnants of roots were still lodged in the hole.
"What happened here?" Darien asked, looking at the hole. To him, it was meaningless. Serena was weeping, though Darien doubted that she could truly feel its loss.
"This is the Sacred Spot for Grass, home of the Grass Flower. Without it, Grass types as we know them will…" Medow said, before seizing up. He growled and hissed, before dropping to the ground. Something came over her, and she disintegrated into a fine green powder.
"That was…" Luna said, looking at where Medow used to be. "I'm now scared."
Serena found herself stepping towards the remains of the Grass Flower. As she stood over the remains, she felt a mystical spirit over her. Her heart felt huge, and her arms glowed with a green light. She spun around, creating a blizzard of razor sharp leaves. A loud noise sounded, and she flashed green. The group turned to leave, Medow's death still on their minds.