Despite the machinations of the Legendaries, all three Type Trinkets of the forge have been taken in one fell swoop. The endeavour is not entirely without reward, but there have been heavy feelings abound. Darien and company move on, the loss of the Fire Emblem galling at best.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU DIDN'T GET IT?" Malachus asked, his fury a scary sight to behold. Even Dusk, Malachus's trusted lieutenant, was quivering in fear.

"Yo!" a voice said. Malachus looked up, to see a Simisear enter that particular part of the Dark Pit.

"What?" Malachus asked, in the most furious tone he could muster.

"Hey, hey! No need for attitude with me… I come like a Ducklett bearing green onions…" Simisear said. He held up the Fire Emblem. Malachus stared at it, before flying over, and grabbing it.

"Nisba, put this with the others!" Malachus said. Nisba came up, and took it. Malachus turned back to the Simisear.

"So… You're after the Hiwaka girls, aren't you? I used to date one of them, until she got stuck up and dumped me in searing hot water," the Simisear said.

"That's very nice…" Malachus said. The Simisear dropped to the ground, writhing. Nisba had obviously added the power of the Fire Emblem to the Dark Torch… now it was Fire's turn to join the Dark side. The Simisear got to its feet, looking at Malachus.

"Commands?" Simisear said. Malachus opened his mouth, and used Earth Power, sending the Simisear to his knees.

"Rewarded as a traitor to its kind deserves… get this mess out of my sight," Malachus said. His followers complied immediately, scared of their commander.

"Well… any other Trinkets we need to prioritise reaching?" Darien asked, as the group walked through the calm forests.

"No… I don't think there's anyone else we need to find, anything else special. Now it's just a case of cleaning up the remaining eight types… eight, right?" Justyn asked. Madeline started counting off on her fingers.

"Doesn't matter," she eventually said.

"Yeah, that," Justyn said.

"So what trinket's next?" Serena asked. As if on cue, the group heard the sounds of Wingull.

"…Water," everyone said collectively. Where there's Wingull, there's water.

"So… Amy, are you all right?" Darien asked, looking at Amy. She was still looking a little worse for the wear.

"…That Infernape… and Mother…" Amy said.

"I take it you went to visit your birth family," Darien said.

"I may be descended from them… but that's as far as our relationship goes. My mother all but disowned me herself…" Amy said.

"Poor girl…" Darien said.

"But why am I talking so freely to you?" Amy said.

"You still don't trust me?" Darien asked.

"We trust you… we understand full well that if there's any funny business between you and Serena, she'll be the aggressor. I just… don't know if I should be telling you, someone who's barely a friend to Hiwaka, my darkest secrets…" Amy said.

"…I never knew my parents," Darien said.

"…What?" Amy said.

"My mother was probably a Lucario… but it's hard to tell these days. I see too many Pokémon whose mothers were not their species… I don't have anything to suggest to me who my father might've been. No Egg moves… nothing. I found the Village of Castes quickly enough… befriended a few of the children… but mostly grew up independently…" Darien said.

"…" Amy was speechless. That was more about Darien than she would've wanted to hear.

"We may have grown up with different foster families… but I hope we can become closer," Darien said.

"You are worthy of being a Hiwaka, Darien. I should not tell your secret to anyone else," Amy asked.

"…You're fine telling your sisters…" Darien said. Amy curtsied, and wandered off, still reeling from what Darien said.

"Darien… nice to catch you again. Have you made a move on one of the girls yet?" Stanley asked.

"What? No, of course I haven't!" Darien said.

"Why not? You're evolved now, they love you…" Stanley said.

"I refuse to abuse the trust that they have invested in me…" Darien said.

"…Are you all right, Darien? You're not gay, are you?" Stanley asked.

"No… where did you even draw that from?" Darien asked.

"Well…" Stanley started.

"For your information, Raichu, I am celibate by choice. This conversation is over," Darien said.

"Wait! You mean… you choose not to…?" Stanley asked.

"…Yeah?" Darien asked.

"…I'm sorry… I just didn't know what to think about a boy like you. I figured something was keeping you away from all that mess from having a harem… dunno why celibacy never came into the picture, though," Stanley said.

"Have you seen Melody and Jadit? I thought that Happiny was going to get cogs jogging," Darien said.

"Yeah… when are you telling Serena?" Stanley asked.

"When the time is right… there's a story behind it," Darien said.

"Saving that for when you two get really close, aren't you?" Stanley asked.

"If we aren't as close as physically possible, I'm terrified," Darien said, walking away.

"…That wasn't why I said that, actually… but it'd probably make a good escape route for when Serena does get that bad…" Stanley said.

"Well… why are you hanging around us, anyway?" Serena asked Melody, looking her up and down.

"You're still jealous? I do have a rather devoted boyfriend," Melody said.

"That's not why I'm asking. I'm suspicious, not the least because you're friends with thieves," Serena said.

"…And we can't have lives outside that?" Melody asked.

"No?" Serena asked vaguely.

"For your information, I'm sick of thievery. Sure, the pay is nice, and it's rather thrilling to test my limits, but… it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. But Davuth's quite the taskmaster, and even if he'll let me move on, I doubt he'll let go of Jadit that easily," Melody said.

"…I'm so…" Serena said.

"I saw you when I was walking about, and realised what happened to you almost immediately. I tried my hardest to get to you… I want to protect you. I think I might have what it takes to be a guardian of some sort once I can get out of thievery," Melody said.

"…You'd make a good companion," Serena said, smiling slightly.

"Glad to hear it. I'd like to talk to my boyfriend, though… Malachus isn't pulling punches, and I'd like to become a Blissey to weather his strikes," Melody said. Serena nodded, and allowed her to move along.

"Lita… I'm sorry for my request earlier… I guess it really was tactless…" Amy said, looking at Lita uncertainly.

"Nice to see you've realised that," Lita said.

"Well… Lita… it was mostly… well… I've had huge problems with my family… I'm all but officially disowned now… I wanted a den mother again… to feel a mother's warmth… I never had that," Amy said.

"D'aaw… I'm sorry for saying your past wasn't awful. After that, my problems don't feel so bad… Raye and Mina's don't either, actually…" Lita said.

"Thanks… so will you be our den mother? The Sliggoo to protect us?" Amy asked.

"…I don't want to say yes yet. Amber is still out there. I know she is. But if you need the touch of a mother, or a sister, know that this Sliggoo has your back," Lita said.

"…Thanks… idealism is exactly what I need to hear…" Amy said.

"…So you're a robot?" John asked, looking at Nephalem up and down.

*I was built for the sole purpose of aiding Lord Darien to defend the world from those who seek total domination. I shall fight for no other purpose.* Nephalem said.

"…Darien can't build a robot, and I'm not sure which of us could. You didn't happen to be with Malachus, right?" John asked.

*My sole purpose is to take down Malachus. I would never serve him. Ever.* Nephalem said.

"…Let's see if I can't happen to rejigger your memory files so I can get you acting more like a proper Skarmory," John said, looking around Nephalem's body.

*There is no need. I am a perfect Skarmory. Truly.* Nephalem said.

"Uh huh… you keep telling yourself that," John said.

Justyn guided the group to find a port. The Water Beach was located across an ocean, meaning it was impossible to reach by foot. Hence, the boat. Quite naturally, of course, the port town was overrun.

"What's a girl got to do to get some service around here?" Okemos asked.

"For one thing, probably not try during a national emergency… except I don't think this is related," Madeline said. Darien looked closely at the town. The attackers appeared to be Clauncher and Krabby, with a few Clawitzer and Kingler thrown in.

"No Dark-types," Darien said. Everyone nodded in relief, before realising that, Dark or not, they were jeopardising their chances of getting a boat across the oceans. The groups began charging, with the Sisters of Pegasus flying swiftly into combat. Angela dived up and down quickly, and Indira picked off foes from afar. Sierra nervously looked about, noticing a swarm of Clauncher underneath the ocean waves… the shiny ocean waves…

Sierra started to glow. She had always wondered where she sat in her team of three. Angela the physical sweeper, Indira the special tank… but here it was. A plump bird, she was always destined to be a supporting team member.

"Togekiss… what happened?" Indira asked, looking at Sierra. Her evolution had taken her by surprise, and she wasn't sure whether it was a good thing. With Togekiss's Dazzling Gleam shining towards the ocean, pushing back the Clauncher, Indira took a proud look at her sister.

"You've done us proud, Sister," Indira said. Sierra beamed, and looked back down. Everyone else had made it to the port, and had an unimpeded shot to the boats. Everyone clambered on, and unhitched to head out to sea.

"So, Sierra… that was kind of impressive," Lita said, beaming at the new Togekiss.

"At first, I was thinking I was just going to wind up watching as my sisters did all the work, but I guess I'm finally moving up in the world…" Sierra said.

"You have good sisters…" Lita said.

"And you didn't?" Sierra asked. "Your sisters in Hiwaka-"

"Not my Hiwaka sisters. I couldn't ask for a better bunch. I meant-" Lita started, before the ship started heaving uncomfortably underneath her. The Sisters of Pegasus started hovering, Lita increased the volume of slime sticking her to the deck, while everyone else was getting thrown around violently. Sierra looked up, to notice another ship approaching them. Large Water Pulses were being fired from it, which is what threw off this ship.

"We're being attacked!" Sierra called out.

"Ah, dammit," Stanley said, jumping up onto the stern. Another Water Pulse sent him back down the ship. Chibouk looked up, and fired his own water attacks back. Rather predictably, they didn't wind up doing any permanent damage, but he did do a good job of convincing the attackers to come closer. A lot closer.

The ship sailed directly beside them, and boarding planks were thrown in between the two ships. Several people in Darien's group emerged from below decks, with Serena and Giac stepping forward. A horde of Tentacruel was aboard the other ship, and they were approaching.

"No one hinders Darien and gets away with it!" Serena yelled. Her Psychics came out front and centre, knocking aside the Tentacruel as they came. Giac added his own spells for a moment, before stepping back and leaving it to Serena.

"Hold it!" a voice called. The Tentacruel stopped coming, and stepped apart. Serena started stepping forward, as did the captain of the other boat: a Blastoise.

"I like your attitude, miss. But I make a fair trading in cargoes, so step aside," the Blastoise said.

"Joke's on you, Blastoise. We don't carry cargo," Serena said. The Blastoise's hands tried (and failed) to go to his face.

"Are you kidding me, the same bit? Doesn't anyone actually carry cargo on this ocean anymore?" the Blastoise asked.

"The only reason to really take this ocean is to go between the Water Beach and the mainland. There's not much reason for cargo," Justyn piped up.

"Wait a minute… are you a pirate?" Madeline asked.

"Pirate… er, I don't like that term much, missy. I also deal in a finer trade… perhaps you'd be willing to help?" the Blastoise asked.

"…I think I know what that means," Serena said.

"Er… is that a no?" the Blastoise asked sheepishly. Serena responded with a Magical Leaf attack, sending the Blastoise off balance. He hurriedly scurried on board his own boat, and Serena delicately hovered after him.

"That was my no," Serena said. She focused again, and used a Thunderbolt, paralysing the Blastoise. The Tentacruel approached, and Serena sent out a Psychic blast to dissuade them. Serena crafted a few additional Magical Leaves, before hearing a panicked shout. She turned, and noticed her ship was sinking.

"That ship didn't belong to us… you are a horrible Blastoise…" Serena said.

"…I assure you, miss, I have a strict policy on not sinking ships… though a few of my Tentacruel have expressed hatred of that policy…" Blastoise said.

"So you're just going to pin the blame for risking my Darien's life on your stupid Tentacruel?" Serena asked. A wicked thunderbolt was stewing above Blastoise's head.

"Tentacruel!" Blastoise shouted. The Tentacruel all looked at him sheepishly.

"You're all fired," Blastoise said. "At." Serena wasn't entirely sure what he meant by 'at', but it seemed to do the trick. The Tentacruel suddenly vanished.

"Impressive…" Chibouk said, approaching the pirate nervously.

"Gwarhar! Nice to hear that… though sorry about the boat…" the Blastoise said, looking at the ship.

"I will reimburse the citizens once this mess is over…" Justyn said, looking at where the ship used to be, before conducting a quick headcount of everyone who made it off.

"…There's one person missing!" Justyn said.

"Wait, what?" Blastoise asked. He jumped off the ship, Chibouk following him. Large waves appeared beneath the ocean's waves, and the two resurfaced.

"Man, Loot, that friend of yours was really stuck on tight to that gold he found in the ship," Chibouk said. Everyone looked at him in shock.

"So it was Davuth who lost his life to that mess…" Loot said.

"He found the captain's secret stash… and refused to abandon it in the event of an emergency?" the Blastoise asked.

"I'm sure that's exactly how he planned to die," Jadit said, with a nervous chuckle.

"…You land folk have messed up priorities. So where were you headed?" the Blastoise asked.

"The Water Beach. Why, you going to help us?" Serena asked.

"Well, what else? My ex-men killed one of your friends!" the Blastoise said.

"…Fair enough. Though you will have to forswear your piracy," Justyn said.

"No fear… Gwarhar, the Blastoise corsair, at your service!" the Blastoise said.