Both Darien and Serena have reached their potential: a Lucario and a Gardevoir. Two Pokémon among the best of their types. With the versatility the moves awaiting them can bestow, the two look forward to being more than Malachus' match. Nothing more than a flitter of doubt hinders their progress forward.
"Where next, Justyn?" Darien asked.
"We're going to the Trinity of Trinkets… the gods Ho-Oh, Thundurus, and Registeel must have struck some deal to put their three Trinkets together. The Fire Furnace, Electric Generator and Steel Castle are in what is functionally the same place," Justyn said.
"…Why?" Darien asked.
"I suspect they wanted to see if they could make those types safer," Justyn said.
"I found it weird, too," Madeline said.
"…Well, two steps faster, I guess…" Darien said.
"Are you all right, Darien?" Madeline asked.
"…Fine," Darien said, nodding. Serena looked at him, and stroked his forehead.
"Whatever it is, I've got it," Serena said defensively.
"Darien… I can't help but notice the moves that the Legendaries have seen fit to bestow upon you have all been Special…" Justyn said.
"Is this significant?" Darien asked.
"Not particularly… well… actually… there is something big in it. I know of only three Special Dark moves, and I doubt that they'll give you Night Daze or Snarl," Justyn said.
"What you're saying is…" Darien started.
"Correct. I will teach you how to perform Dark Pulse, seeing as how you won't be seeing the Dark Torch without defeating Malachus," Justyn said.
"Does that count?" Darien asked.
"I don't know, but it's better to be on the safe side. Now… this is the tricky part. Think dark, hateful thoughts… You wouldn't happen to have those, would you?" Justyn asked.
"You bet I do," Darien said.
"…That's kind of disturbing… all right. Harness the power of those thoughts, and thrust forward!" Justyn said. Darien found a target, and drew in all of his rage towards Malachus for destroying his home, friends and family. He blasted, and the target wobbled.
"Good… but maybe we can do better…" Justyn said.
"Um… Lita? I wanted to ask you something… about Serena…" Madeline said.
"Say no more," Lita said, shaking her head. "She's always had a few screws loose."
"About Darien?" Madeline asked.
"Well… no. Maybe it's just the fact she's the only one who hasn't had any bad experiences at all with boys, maybe it's just her IVs acting up, or maybe something about Darien messes with her mind. I don't know, and frankly, I don't want to know," Lita said.
"No bad experiences with boys? Serena is clingy by normal girls' standards," Madeline said.
"…Well, she hasn't had any experiences with boys before Darien. Amy had a bad family, Raye had a horrible boyfriend, I had a horrible village, and Mina had a possessive boyfriend. She was dumped on our doorstep as an Egg," Lita said.
"That might explain it. And you really ought to care more about your adoptive sister," Madeline said. Lita sighed.
"I know, but… she's obsessed with Darien. I'm worried she'll bite my hand off if I even try to get closer to her…" Lita said.
"Give it a shot sometime. She's a Gardevoir: you're not going to be too permanently scarred by her biting," Madeline said, walking off.
"I didn't mean that literally…" Lita said.
"So you're one of the Sisters of Pegasus," John said, watching Angela practice.
"There is no fourth sister, our names sound nothing like-" Angela started.
"Where did that come from?" John asked.
"…You were about to ask about the fourth sister Pegasus," Angela said.
"What? No! I'm a big fan of the Sisters! Your prowess is legendary, and, well…" John said.
"What is it?" Angela asked.
"Can we train together?" John asked.
"There is no challenge in facing a Fighting type," Angela said.
"I know a few Rock moves…" John said.
"…You ought to have led with that," Angela said, immediately charging with a Brave Bird. John suddenly realised that, despite his waiting on the sidelines to ask, he had not thought his request through at all.
"And one… and two…" Smith said, throwing targets about with his many arms.
"And skip the rest!" a voice called out. Smith's rear arms turned and caught Okemos before she could land her strike, and brought her around to Smith's front.
"I was kind of busy, Scizor. Don't jump-scare me like that," Smith said, before turning back to his training.
"…You're training with bundles? Surely a living, breathing foe would be more useful, considering that our opponents are not bundles, but breathing foes? …I'll get back to you on the living thing," Okemos said.
"…Humourous. Tell me, are you our jester or our comrade in arms? This is a serious issue, Scizor. Our homes, our fates, are being ravaged, warped beyond all recognition. I've no time for such humour," Smith said.
"…Fine. I'll go train with someone else. And Smith? I used to serve Malachus. I know full well what this land's fate is if we fail," Okemos said.
Stanley looked at Mina, who was smiling to herself as she gathered a few Berries. He was quite fond of her Poffins, but he knew she baked a large number of them for Amy.
"How's it going, there?" Stanley asked. Mina jumped, her berries scattering around on the ground. Stanley helped her start scooping them back up.
"Stanley… you startled me…" Mina said.
"I noticed. I just wanted to check in on you, see how you were doing and all that," Stanley said.
"That's… nice, but…" Mina said.
"But what, Mina? Are we not friends, or at least close acquaintances?" Stanley asked.
"Oh, we are… but I've just been having a little bit of an… emotional upheaval…" Mina said.
"About Ace? Amy?" Stanley asked.
"Wha… how did you know?" Mina asked.
"I'm looking out for you, kiddo. Well… I say kiddo, but… anyway, if you need anything, you can come talk to me. I'll be here to listen," Stanley said, waving as he walked away.
"…Such a nice Pikachu," Mina said.
Darien and his group approached the place where Fire, Electric and Steel met. Predictably, Houndour, Electrike, Pawniard and their evolved forms were rampant, besieging everything. There were Fire types holding out on the Pawniard, but they were few in number and quickly became targets.
"This ain't good…" Darien said. He looked around, noticing the arrangement of the Fire Emblem, Electric Dynamo and Steel Shield Sacred Spots.
"Do you have a plan?" Justyn asked. "Because I suggest-"
"Serena, go to the Electric Dynamo. I'll go to the Steel Shield. Then we meet up and get to the Fire Emblem. The rest of you, split up and cover us as you see fit," Darien said. Justyn's jaw had dropped- that wasn't his plan at all. But it sounded like a sound plan.
"Change of plans: we do what Darien suggested," Justyn said. Everyone looked at him oddly, before conceding. They turned forward, and began their charge. The distribution between many fighters was rather slanted. However, Aaron was determinedly heading to the Steel Castle, Stanley the Electric Generator, and Amy the Fire Furnace.
Darien and Aaron, alongside a few others, approached the Steel Shield's resting place. As expected, the thing had already been taken. Darien walked up to the resting place of the shield, and allowed himself to take the power of Steel into his own.
"Well… if it isn't a surprise, meeting Darien here," a voice said. Aaron turned, and noticed a Granbull approaching. He dived in front of Darien, and started to glow. His arms and legs grew, and he got on his rear legs. He plunged his front claws into the ground, and focused. The power of the Steel Castle infused within him, and steel plates appeared where rock was normally.
"Aggron… a powerful Steel foe indeed. But no match for me…" the Granbull said. Flames licked inside his jaw, and he approached Aaron deliberately. Aaron chuckled, and waited. When Granbull was right on top of him, Aaron used an Iron Head, knocking Granbull back several paces. Granbull barked, and charged at Aaron, preparing a Close Combat. Aaron focused, and swung his own Iron Tail at Granbull, swinging him into a wall, and breaking the wall somewhat behind him. The Granbull started seeing red, preparing an Earthquake attack.
"I've got this…" Darien said, using Flash Cannon on the Granbull, finally taking it out for sure. He turned to look at Aaron.
"In the name of Jirachi, that was odd. You get a Fairy type who knows all three of a Fire, Fighting and Ground move? This was an unlucky day to evolve," Darien said.
"Or a lucky one," Aaron said.
"Nice job on that counter, by the way. Now on to the Fire Emblem!" Darien said.
Stanley led Serena to the Electric Dynamo, the electricity surrounding the Electric Generator coursing through Pikachu. Soon, he found himself going too fast for Serena, and had to keep stopping and starting. The pair eventually made it to the Electric Dynamo, to find it still there.
"This is amazing! We can get our hands on it first!" Stanley said excitedly. Serena smiled, before looking around. A peculiar little orange thing was zipping around the place.
"Rotom…" Stanley said. He grabbed the Electric Dynamo, and suddenly felt himself become infused with electricity. He found himself expanding, changing colour to a crisp golden-brown. His arms and legs were alight with electricity, and his tail, so useful for swinging about, became whip-like, although the thunderbolt at the tip was still prominent.
"Raichu… so you dare defend the Electric Dynamo from Lord Malachus?" the Rotom asked.
"Yes. Problem?" Stanley asked.
"Yes, that's a problem! Lord Malachus is bringing unity to the eighteen types, and you're getting in his way!" the Rotom said.
"Don't you get it, Rotom? Malachus is destroying the types, not bringing them together in unity!" Stanley said.
"There are much better ways than stealing the trinkets," Serena said. Rotom growled, and summoned an object.
"Serena, go to the Electric Sacred Spot, and gain the new move. If you don't mind, I've got a Rotom to defeat," Stanley said. Serena made to complain about his wording, but he started a Volt Tackle shortly afterwards. Serena promptly decided getting the new move was a good idea.
Stanley and the Rotom's duel was powered almost entirely on the electricity in the Electric Generator. Thunderbolts and other such moves were traded with a ferocity bordering on savagery, but each scratch was regenerated by that very same electricity. Rotom tried a Shadow Ball, and Stanley an Iron Tail. The attacks blocked each other, and everything was still super-charged. Stanley growled, and fired a Signal Beam. Rotom took it, getting blasted back. The electricity suddenly cut out, and Stanley looked around.
"I'll be taking this, see?" a Gengar said, disappearing into the ground with the Electric Dynamo. Stanley growled, sweeping with Iron Tail. The Gengar had already vanished by the time the Iron Tail reached him. Stanley growled, and turned to Serena, who's arms had finished their glowing.
"You all right, miss?" Stanley asked. Serena fired a Thunderbolt at the Rotom, finishing it off.
"I'm fine. Let's get to the Fire Emblem!" Serena said.
Amy walked with purpose through the Fire Furnace, ignoring the strikes of the attackers to her homeland. She knew she had something to do, and she was going to do it, regardless of how crazy it was. She found the familiar house, took in a deep breath, and knocked.
"Come in," the curt voice of an Infernape sounded. Amy took in a deep, heaving sigh, before entering the house. It was exactly as she had remembered it: not a flame out of place. The Infernape appeared in front of her, a Delphox nervously peeking around him. Amy noticed a small Chimchar at her feet.
"Amy Hiwaka. I am here to make amends," Amy said.
"Amy… just go. Please," Delphox said.
"Shut it. You think you're so great and psychic now that you're a Braixen, too? Well, then, miss, it's time you got what's coming to you!" Infernape said.
"…This was an exercise in futility from the start. Very well, then, father… no… Infernape… it's time you received something that's been years in the making," Amy said, pulling her twig from her tail, and glowing. She had felt her evolutionary energy calling to her for a while now, and had hoped she could become a Delphox in front of her caring family. As her red robe appeared and her features changed, Amy realised just how bad her family had turned out… or at least her father.
"Delphox… time to wipe you out!" Infernape said. He came charging, but one Psychic attack sent Infernape to the ground. Amy performed a Psyshock, smashing his defences, before using Psychic to throw him out of the room.
"I suspected as much… mother…" Amy said, looking up at her mother.
"Amy… please…" her mother said.
"I forgive you for the actions of that monkey. You didn't deserve that," Amy said.
"…No… Amy, go. Don't come back. You're not welcome with us," her mother said.
"…What did I do?" Amy asked.
"…I cannot abide by your personality…" her mother said. Amy looked on in horror.
"…Fine… I had a better family anyway," Amy said, allowing her childish side to slip through briefly. Ignoring her Chimchar relative, she strode away, returning to the Sacred Spot of the Fire Emblem.
*DEFIANT FOES DETECTED. ANALYSING POTENTIAL CHECKS OR COUNTERS.* a Skarmory said. Darien and Serena both looked at it, perched above the Fire Emblem's resting place. Skarmory tended to be a little less mechanical, making the pair of them, plus whoever had decided to follow, realise something off about it.
"Now they're building their own soldiers?" Justyn asked.
"CHECK CHOSEN. SHISA, AMPREY AND JINGALING ARE TO MAKE APPROACH.* the Skarmory said. An Arcanine, an Eelektross and a Klinklang approached the group.
"So this is where the Type Guardian went…" Darien said.
"So Rotom wasn't the guardian?" Serena asked. The three guardians wordlessly, eerily approached. Darien jumped into the air, and landed beside the Skarmory. Serena made to cheer him on, but the appearance of the Arcanine in front of her suggested that her watching Darien could wait.
Darien and Skarmory were engaged in an odd tussle. Skarmory was taking advantage of his ability to fly, which Darien was relatively OK with, due to his use of the move Aura Sphere. Skarmory was diving in and using moves like Night Slash and Steel Wing, but the dramatic method he needed to use said moves gave Darien plenty of warning to make his dodge. The relative impasse ended when one Drill Peck sent Darien diving into the Fire Emblem. As he bent to collect himself, he found his soul expanding, and his legs glowing with a burning red colour. Darien felt what he needed to… despite how odd it was. Skarmory charged directly at him… and…
Blaze Kick.
Darien watched as Skarmory dropped to the ground. He didn't understand… he wasn't much for physical attacks. He jumped over to the Skarmory, and touched it. The Skarmory jumped up, and started shaking madly. It settled down, and looked at Darien.
*ORDERS, LORD MALACHUS?* the Skarmory asked. Darien's jaw dropped.
"Um… what is your name?" Darien asked.
"NEPHALEM, LORD MALACHUS.* the Skarmory said.
"OK, Nephalem… lose the mechanical tone, call me Darien, and make it your mission to keep the Dark types who seek to destroy our way of life and conquer the world at bay," Darien said.
*ACK… Of course, Lord Darien. Your command is my wish,* Nephalem said.
"…Sure, sure. Let's go with that," Darien said.
Darien returned to where everyone else was duelling, the Fire Emblem in hand. Nephalem watched as Lita, Aaron and Amy duelled spectacularly against Shisa, Amprey and Jingaling.
*Am I required to support these three?* Nephalem asked. Amy launched a furious Psychic attack, followed by a Flamethrower. Darien jumped back, and when the smoke cleared, nothing was left of the three guardians.
"…Nope," Darien said, looking at Amy uncertainly. Amy looked back at him, and her jaw dropped.
"Amy… I'm sure whatever it is, we can talk it over later," Darien said.
"There's no reasoning with a mad Fire type…" Amy said.
"You're not a Fire type… you're Hiwaka," Darien said.
"…Oh, you were talking about that mess? I was talking about the Simisear that just stole the Fire Emblem!" Amy said. Darien laughed, and looked under his arm. Sure enough, something had stolen the Fire Emblem. Darien turned, and spotted the Simisear burrowing away.
"…Well… I clearly need to keep a tight hold on important stuff," Darien remarked, with a hint of humour. No one else laughed.