An accident on Amy's part causes the beloved Castle Aren to collapse, shattering into pieces. Luckily, Serena is still able to learn the move Ice Beam, and the group moves along, promising to help with the repairs once Malachus has been defeated. Darien is left alone in wondering what Snowly, Guardian of Ice, meant when she referred to Blood.
"You took on Malachus and Dusk well…" Justyn said.
"Are you going to accuse me of being Mawhile again?" Amber asked.
"…Am I really that obvious?" Justyn asked.
"It's just like you. You have a tendency for bluntness," Amber said.
"You know who I am…" Justyn said.
"I learned that much from Lita! And as for Malachus and Dusk, when a mother sees her children in danger, she gains stat bonuses that would make Rayquaza tremble in fear," Amber said.
"You're tremendously devoted to those children of yours…" Justyn said.
"The six of them all have tough backgrounds… I just want them to have supportive homes," Amber said.
"Six?" Justyn asked.
"Raye and Darien. …Now I'm missing Raye…" Amber said.
"Amber…" Justyn said.
"Could… could you leave me be, perhaps?" Amber asked.
"…Sure…" Justyn said.
"Wow… I never realised how much more there was to water shooting," Chibouk said, the training round Gwarhar had set up completed.
"Yeah… Chibouk, is there anything in becoming a corsair?" Gwarhar asked.
"You mean sailing the ocean, coming to the aid of our King? That actually sounds kind of cool," Chibouk said.
"Excellent! Would you be interested in joining my crew?" Gwarhar asked.
"Your… your crew? Are you joking?" Chibouk asked.
"Yeah, I tend to do that a lot, don't I? But I'm not joking this time: I'll need a new crew. You're a likable Water-type. So what do you say? You in?" Gwarhar asked.
"That's… wonderful. But I don't think I could abandon my band," Chibouk said.
"That's a shame. But I will commend you for your loyalty: that's not a common thing, and I like to see that," Gwarhar said.
"Thanks…" Chibouk said.
"I hope you serve your friends well," Gwarhar said.
"I will," Chibouk told him.
The Normal Cove, the home of the next Type Trinket, stood next before them. The cove was littered with Mightyena, Persian, and creatures of the same description as the ones Darien had knocked aside like ninepins the day he had met Serena. The sight of them sent waves of nostalgia down his spine, waves he was unsure were positive or negative.
"Well… this mess is short and sweet," Amber said. Everyone nodded, before another shiver crossed down Darien's back. He closed his eyes, allowing his sense of Aura to manifest itself. The relatively calm, if charging, senses of his travelling party were marred by a lone malicious aura, located…
Darien turned around on the spot, and fired a Dark Pulse directly at Amber. Amber's quick reflexes made sure she dropped to the ground, and the Dark Pulse continued until it hit an incorporeal entity behind her.
"Darien!" Amber cried out, but Darien didn't have time to listen. Dark Pulses were shot forward, all directed at the vile, amorphous fiend who dared seek harm to his family. Dusk appeared at the spot Darien was attacking, shooting Darien a Mean Look.
"Gengar… I don't care what you and Malachus stand to gain. Attempt to harm my mother again, and there'll be a heck of a lot more than dirty thoughts heading your way," Darien said.
"Spare me your fantasies, Lucario. Today will not be the day I kill you. No… today, I come here for someone else…" Dusk said. Shadows appeared at Darien's feet, and Darien prepared an attack.
"Spiritomb!" Dusk said.
"Got it, Gengar," the Spiritomb said. Both the Air Slash and the Water Pulse Darien fired did not have their required effect.
"Darien!" Amber cried out.
"If you want Darien back, you will go to the Ghost House… alone!" Dusk said, disappearing into the ground. Spiritomb and Darien followed him.
"Underhanded…" Amber said. She turned to face the people standing behind her: Madeline and her daughters.
"I'm going to the Ghost House to get Darien back. None of you follow me," Amber said.
"But Mum…" Serena said.
"No buts: you need to go get Hyper Voice from the Normal Cape," Amber said. Serena pouted, and turned to go into the Normal mess. Amber spun on her heel, and walked in the direction of the Ghost House's entry. Lita would swear on her life that, before Amber's back faced the group, she slid them a wink.
Serena was moving through the cove with ease bordering on determination. John and Smith alone had more than covered the horde of enemies making their residence here, leaving her to get to the resting place of the Normal Cape, and learn what had been guessed would be Hyper Voice.
"Stop right there…" an intimidating voice said. Serena stepped back, and a Kangaskhan appeared before her.
"You're the Guardian? No offence, but I'm in a bit of a rush here," Serena said.
"You are Serena, Malachus's rightful queen, correct?" the Kangaskhan asked.
"…" Serena stepped back another few paces.
"Ah, for Regigigas's sake… BRAD! You're slaking off again!" the Kangaskhan said. Coming lumbering after her was a Slaking, a Normal type just as large and intimidating as Kangaskhan was.
"…You're teaming up on a Gardevoir?" the Slaking asked.
"…You're useless, you know that?" Kangaskhan asked.
"Well, in all fairness, it's not like you're going up against a Gardevoir at all," a voice said from behind them. Serena turned, to see John, Smith and Melody approaching.
"Who are you?" the Kangaskhan asked.
"My name is John. He is Smith. We will be fighting you while Serena goes to the Normal Cape. Melody, if you would keep her company?" John said.
"With pleasure!" Melody said. She grabbed Serena's hand, and guided her through to the Normal Cape. John and Smith approached the Kangaskhan.
"Brad! Now would be a good time to do something!" the Kangaskhan said.
"For crying out loud…" the Slaking said. He performed a half-hearted Play Rough attack in John's direction, coming up short by about five yards.
"…You're about as strong as Regigigas, and you don't even bother to fight?" Kangashkan asked.
"Eh, can't be bothered," the Slaking said.
"Useless… oh well. I'll take you both out!" the Kangaskhan roared. She stepped forward menacingly, and used an Aerial Ace. John took it to the cinderblock, and performed a Hammer Arm. Smith stepped back, and wound up a punch. Kangaskhan looked up to see it.
"BRAD!" she cried out.
"No mom, five more minutes…" the Slaking said, rolling over in his sleep.
"You're fired!" the Kangaskhan said, before Smith's Dynamic Punch struck true. The Kangaskhan spun around.
"Pretty Ducklett…" the Kangaskhan said, before landing on her face. John looked at her, poking her in concern.
"…We'll…" John started.
"Keep an eye on these two until Serena returns," Smith said. The Slaking rolled over again, still sleeping, but this time muttering about an Ursaring.
"…That won't be too hard," John said, arranging his cinderblocks into a small seat.
Serena finally reached the Normal Cape, and allowed her heart to expand, collecting the energy of the Normal type. She opened her mouth, but it was her hands that were tingling. Curious, she spotted a boulder, and fired her attack. The Hyper Beam shot directly at the boulder, disintegrating it into tiny little smithereens. She felt her energy vanish, and she had to take a breather.
"That was…" Melody said, looking at Serena.
"Powerful," Serena said.
"Awesome! I wish I had power like that," Melody said.
"You're welcome to it… I wish this wasn't my duty…" Serena said.
"Why not?" Melody asked.
"Malachus wants to take control of me? Kill my entire world in Darien? If this is what it means to be a hero, I'll have no part of it," Serena said.
"…Serena… you have an immense power in your hands now. Surely Malachus would be no different from that boulder if you fired a Hyper Beam his way," Melody said.
"…I'm scared," Serena said.
"We all are. Let's get you back to Darien's side," Melody said.
"…OH MY MEW! Darien's been kidnapped!" Serena said.
"When did this happen?" Melody said.
"Just before I came rushing! Oh, this is so embarrassing… I've been a horrible wife…" Serena said.
"Did I miss the memo? When did you two get married?" Melody asked.
"Melody… just take me to the Ghost House!" Serena said.
"With distinction!" Melody said, grabbing her hand and getting going.
Amber walked through the Ghost House, her back head easily Crunching any Ghost that dared approach her. When she reached the Ghost Candle, she saw the Gengar, Spiritomb and Mismagius, but not the Lucario.
"Where's Darien?" Amber asked, her arms cross. The Gengar turned to face her.
"Amber… how pleasant. Well… it's time to kill you once and for all," Dusk said.
"…Not. On. Your. Life. POWER OF MAWHILE ACTIVATE!" Amber said. She turned into Dame Mawhile, and spun around so that her jaws faced Dusk, both of them snapping mad.
"Dusknoir! Aegislash! Golurk! Cophagrigus! EVERY GHOST TYPE WE HAVE! Turn this Mawile into one of you!" Dusk commanded.
"Oh yeah…" Amber said.
Melody and Serena were rushing through the Ghost House, seeing vague glimpses of Amber's plight.
"Where is everyone?" Serena asked.
"Probably all trying to kill your mother! Now come on!" Melody said urgently.
"Serena!" Darien yelled. Serena turned, and saw Darien running towards her, a Chandelure following him.
"Darien!" Serena called out. She accepted Darien, spinning him around like a joyous couple. "But weren't you captured?"
"You were doubting me?" Darien asked.
"Are we taking all the credit?" the Chandelure asked.
"I did most of the escaping the bonds. You did the escaping the premises," Darien said.
"Who is he?" Melody asked.
"A Chandelure named Xarnorth. He alone disagrees with Malachus's ideals, and has agreed to join us on the final leg of our journey. He also convinced all Litwick, Lampent and Chandelure to stay away from Amber," Darien said.
"Should we not help her?" Serena asked.
"We stick together, Serena. We'll never split up again," Darien said.
"Darien…" Serena said.
"Yeah, yeah, less sap, more smack!" Melody said.
Amber's jaws were making short work of the Ghosts. Crunches, Iron Heads, Play Roughs, and a whole lot more were being shot in each direction, and she was dodging all the attacks the Ghosts had.
"Don't everyone attack at once! All at the same time, so she can't dodge!" Dusk said. The Ghosts only sort of picked up on this advice, leaving the experienced Mawile plenty of opportunity to dodge every attack thrown at her.
"Attack her! Attack her!" Dusk said madly.
"Attacking her!" a Dusknoir said. A Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Moonblast and Thunderbolt all struck a few of the Ghost types.
"WHAT?" Dusk asked, spinning around on the spot. A Flamethrower, Petal Dance, Dragon Pulse and Ice Punch came from another direction. Amber and the Ghost Gang found themselves surrounded by Darien, Serena, Melody, Amy, Lita, Mina, Madeline and a Chandelure.
"What does that make us, Darien?" Serena asked.
"Big damn heroes, Serena," Darien said.
"Ain't we just…" Melody said, sighing.
"I was holding my own!" Amber said.
"We're still impressed," Mina said.
"But we're here to help… and together, we can do a tad more than hold our own," Lita said.
"For example, someone of us could maybe turn those ghosts over there into ashes," Amy said, pointing at the Gengar, Spiritomb and Mismagius trio. The Gengar growled, and vanished.
"…Or just those two," Amy corrected herself.
"Two is fine," Darien said. He jumped in front of the Mismagius, and Serena the Spiritomb.
"You will know the torment of one hundred and eight souls…" Spiritomb told Serena.
"Great. I always wanted to show Amber I could defeat a hundred and eight foes by myself," Serena said. She pulled her hands to her chest, and unleashed a massive Moonblast. After Darien's punishment, the Spiritomb couldn't manage to take on a super-effective hit.
Darien looked at the Mismagius, Dark Pulse in hand. Mismagius watched out of the corner of his eye as Serena ran to the Ghost Candle's resting place.
"I saw that! You're thinking about fighting someone else!" Darien said.
"Huh?" the Mismagius said, looking up at Darien.
"We locked eyes… our duel was set to begin. I won't have you confront someone else before we're done!" Darien said. He fired his Dark Pulses, and Mismagius shot back a Will-O-Wisp at Darien, burning him. Darien shrugged philosophically, and fired an Aura Sphere. He saw it go through, and remembered the immunity.
"How quaint…" Mismagius said, before he was struck in the back by a Shadow Ball.
"Remember when I was protecting you?" Darien asked.
"Those days are long over," Serena said, beaming.
"I'm so proud…" Amber said quietly.