Continuing the conversation with Mesprit who has now been given the name Mackenzie, the topic ends up leading to Themis wondering about the scary power which this Lake Guardian is said to have judging by legends, that being to completely drain away the emotions of someone touching her, so that the Lake Guardian explains: "Yeah, it's true that I'm capable of making that happen, but this actually needs to be actively used to work." " "So why don't you actively use this ability then?", the Angel Zorua named Themis would like to know, which Mackenzie can easily answer: "It's very unethical, even if I would only use it against bad guys, it... might make me as bad as the bad guy I'd use it against. Taking away someone's emotions is pretty messed up." "She has a point.", Uranus can agree.
A bit later, the ship has to get through a storm, though the ship's captain, Noah the Angel Quaxwell, is experienced enough to handle it. Nonetheless, everyone in the ship can still easily feel the ship's strong movements during this, with Themis briefly getting onto the deck of the ship to see the heavy rain and big waves by herself, not being as scared about it as she probably should be since she has yet to really get her will to live back, even if she struggles to outright end her life just like that. Witnessing the stormy sea with her own eyes makes her think of the Skillet song "Standing in the storm", as it also feels fitting to her own continued struggles:

(Skillet's "Standing in the storm": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf5v2wuzUFk)
"I'm standing in the storm
like never before,
the pressure builds around me,
let the winds surround me.
I’ll stand in the storm.
I still got some life in me.
I’ll stand in the storm.
I’ll still got some fight in me."

The ocean calms down eventually.
Themis and Mackenzie talk some more, the topic eventually getting to Themis asking her: "So, you're like the actual bringer of emotion, but have you ever been in love yourself?" Mackenzie confirms: "I am. Like, still. Uhh... I don't want to specify who it is just yet though, only that... the feelings haven't been returned so far." Themis compares this with her loss: "Just two girls who know this feeling of loneliness, of a heart aching like this... Well, at least the two of us can bond over this, so uhh yay!"
Meanwhile Uranus and Gaia are having a conversation with Noah, this eventually leading to Uranus wondering if the storm they had experienced earlier was the only thing to worry about in this pink ocean. Noah denies that: "Unfortunately, no. Better tell you those bad news now. If you wanna get to the next Layer, there is someone who might not just let that happen on this Layer." "Well, that's good to know.", the Angel Zoroark replies, not liking this even though he already expected it.
Themis, on deck again and leaning against the ship's taffrail, thinks about how it would feel to just jump into the water and let herself sink. It would probably be pretty cold. Would drowning be painful? Well, if it is actually a painful way to die, maybe she deserves it, or at least that's what the nasty bad thoughts in her head are telling her. That's when her father gets there too, noticing that his daughter is having dark thoughts again, though not specifically calling those out but instead just making something clear to her again: "Themis... Something you should never forget is... how appreciated you are. You are the most important person in my life. And nothing can ever change that... Just... keep this in mind, okay?" She does act as if she is ignoring him at first but when he pulls her to him and hugs her, she hugs back tightly, showing that she did need to hear that just now. With how important her father is to her, Themis can't help but think of the Skillet song "Anchor" during this caring embrace:

(Skillet's "Anchor": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TzB4FaPODc)
"You are my anchor,
so steady me, steady me now.
You are my anchor,
you're keeping my feet on the ground.
In angry oceans You've never broken through
every wave of the storm.
You are my anchor,
so steady me, steady me now.
Come steady me, steady me now."

At about the same time, Gaia the Dachsbun gets to talk to the Bringer of Emotion by herself, a conversation during which Mackenzie ends up acknowledging: "Sooo... one of us is the soul of a planet while the other is a Goddess. That's something.", with the canine Fairy Type Pokémon noting: "I also share my name with a primordial deity from Greek mythology who is also the personification of Earth... which reflects itself in this universe by having me as a planet sharing very uncanny similarities with Earth despite being separate from Earth, kind of like a second Earth." "So with how you are pretty much an anomaly, are you the only planet with a soul?" "Likely not.", Gaia assumes, "Considering how big the universe is... which is making another anomaly like this bound to happen more than once in the universe, even if probably with differing causes. Who knows... maybe Earth itself has a soul too, but there's nothing to fully confirm or deny that as of now, I think." "Brings up the question of what a soul even is.", the legendary Mesprit goes on, "It's a weird thing, that's for sure. But... also something oddly powerful, in a way. But what exactly it is... there probably isn't a definitive answer for it, is there? Certainly nothing science can answer yet, and there is already actual science even behind magic in this universe. Which is weird enough already, if you really think about it, but I suppose a weird universe makes for some weird scientific discoveries." "Sounds about right.", Gaia says to that, "I can at least affirm a soul being powerful. It's a big reason of... why I'm even tagging along on my daughter's journey, actually. I'd rather not get into actual details about my full reasoning behind it though."
Themis and her father also talk with each other, still on deck, with their topics leading to Uranus stating: "Your mother, Themis, I... did truly fall for her when she and I got close." "Really? I couldn't tell.", Themis remarks with sarcasm as the Angel Zoroark continues: "I really do love her. And I really do want her to be part of our family. But... well, Gaia seems to have no interest in actually being with me." "She doesn't know what she's missing out on!", Themis states, "You're caring, strong, good of heart, have a nice dick-" "THEMIS!", Uranus doesn't approve, blushing intensely, "H-How'd you even know that??" "I didn't.", Themis notes, "But your response confirmed it, hah."

Soon enough, Noah gets everyone on deck, the family of three plus Mackenzie, telling them: "You're about to reach a point where you'll have to fight to progress further. Uhh, not against me though! No, I refuse to even participate in the fight, since it's not me who wants to get to the next Layer after all." But Mackenzie is willing to help out instead: "I can fight. Who is the fight against?" The Angel Quaxwell answers that: "Someone named Salacia. Well... good luck." Noah is then just focusing on continuing to steer the ship, with the group getting ready for the inevitable boss fight.
Not much later, Salacia does appear in front of the ship, being a female gigantic dolphin made out of vapor wearing a crown made out of seaweed. And so the next boss battle begins.

Next Chapter: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/54619786/

Previous Chapter: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/54533832/

First Chapter: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53818365/