The ice castle

- DS is wandering around -

DS: (thinking) "I wonder if there's a way I can bring the rest of my Pokémon here... There are still several J-Team members who have yet to arrive in this world as well..." (sighs) "The sooner they get here, the better. And I don't mind a few of the bad guys coming in here either, as long as they play by my rules." (smirks) "The real world is much too cruel... This world won't be like that. I won't let any of my friends get hurt anymore. I won't let anyone else get killed..."

DS' mindscape - Several weeks ago

- DS is curled up on the ground, crying while Inner Darkness seems to be trying to comfort her -

Inner Darkness: "We both knew it was only a matter of time..." (sighs) "Hopefully, the people who killed Herbert and Alice will meet a violent end."

DS: (sniff) "But... what about Tagg and the others? I... I don't want them to get killed too... As long as they keep fighting the bad guys..."

Inner Darkness: (nods) "I know... I mean, they're doing what they can to protect this stupid world, yet they get nothing in return. People only look down on them." (narrows eyes) "There are so many awful people in this world... It's sickening..."

DS: "You're right... I can't stand it either..." (stands up, wiping away some tears) "Me, my friends... We have no future as long as those people are around... They'll keep on fighting, only bringing themselves even more suffering, driving them furhter into insanity..."

Inner Darkness: "Oh, yes. No one could possibly stay sane if they had to go through what the J-Team does. That's obvious."

DS: "I guess this world is entirely without hope, then... This world..."

Inner Darkness: "Wanna go out and kill some bad guys? After all, killing them is the only way to ensure they can't ever hurt our friends ever again."

DS: (shakes head) "No, there's too many of them... Getting rid of them all would take too long..." (thinks for a moment) "I... think I might have a better idea..."

Inner Darkness: (raises an eyebrow) "Ooh? Tell me all about it!"

In another part of the mindscape...

- Curiousity seems uncharacteristically panicked, as Platinum Heroine lays on the floor, seeming to be in rather bad shape -

Curiousity: "Platinum Heroine, please get up! With Kindness and Fear having pretty much lost it in the other room, and Inner Child being too weak to stand up to her, you're the only one who can fight against Inner Darkness!"

Platinum Heroine: (tries to get up, but falls back down) "I'm sorry, but... I can't... I don't have any power left... Nothing left to fight for..."

Curiousity: "Don't say such things! You're the only one who can stop this from going any further! Please, you have to get up and fight!"

Platinum Heroine: (smiles) "You... still believe in me...?"

Curiousity: "Platinum Heroine..."

Platinum Heroine: (sighs) "I appreciate your concern, but... I don't think there's anything I can do... anymore..."

Curiousity: "..."

Platinum Heroine: (looking at her hand, noticing that it's starting to fade away) "I just don't know what to fight for anymore... I... just... don't... know..."

Curiousity: "Platinum Heroine! No! You can't disappear!" (shaking a bit) "Do you... have any idea what will happen to this mindscape if you disappear?"

Platinum Heroine: "Even so, I doubt I could stop it at this point... Admit it, even you... you've lost faith in the world as well, haven't you?"

Curiousity: "...!"

Platinum Heroine: "... I figured as much." (sighs) "... Don't worry about it."

Curiousity: "Platinum Heroine... I..."

Platinum Heroine: (thinks for a moment) "Hey... You're pretty smart, aren't you? Maybe... you can find another answer..."

Curiousity: "You mean...?" (gasps) "Of course... If... I can figure that out, then... we'll be able to fight back against Inner Darkness...!"

Platinum Heroine: (smiles) "That's right... If you can keep yourself from falling completely under her control, then I'm sure you can figure something out... and then you can tell me about it when we meet again..." (fades away)

Curiousity: "...! Platinum Heroine!" (falls to her knees, clutching her head in pain) "Ah...! Inner Darkness is already trying to claim control over this place..." (forces herself to get back up) "I... have to resist... I have to... find a way to bring Platinum Heroine back...!"

Back to the present, in the fantasy world

DS: "... Yes, it's okay like this. Once everyone are here, I can sleep peacefully at night in this world, knowing that my friends are safe." (tilts head) "Although... Those other Minds might be a problem..." (shrugs) "Ah, well. Surely they'll come to their senses and realize that it's better to stay here, where no one has to suffer."

Riverbank

Rill: <Wait, what?>

-Rill starts as he realizes that Paula is moving without him.-

Rill: <Hey, wait for me!>

-Rill starts moving, which for a Swampert on land isn't extraordinarily fast.-

Town

-Lina suddenly gets a very bad feeling-

Lodestone Alchemy

-Paula blinks, before opening the door.-

Paula: Please try not to blow yourselves up before you work on that compass thing?

Lodestone Alchemy

Paula: Uh... huh. Well, good to know. Anyway!

-She pulls out the meteorite, letting the iron in it gleam in the light-

Paula: I've got that meteoric iron you asked for!

Lodestone Alchemy

-Paula nods, taking one of the amulets out of a leather bag she'd stored them away in.-

Lodestone Alchemy

-Paula shrugs and follows. She looks at the unusual metal curiously-

Lodestone Alchemy

-Paula watches, a grin working its way onto her face-

Flower Field

Crystallux: <It appears this location grants humans some type of supernatural power. There is a 70% chance that this is the "magic" my trainer has referred to due to his memory ailment.>

Pianis: Well, if you have no name, what am I supposed to call you?

Lodestone Alchemy

Paula: Mmhmm. And how does the amulet come into play?

Lodestone Alchemy

-Paula nods, watching the process-

Lodestone Alchemy

Paula: I dunno, maybe having an uncle named Bob is a really good thing in some weird culture.