A soft green glow spread through the air, the color of new life, as it bloomed around Xerneas.
"You have been searching for me all this time."
Xerneas's voice did not come from Its mouth. It resonated directly in the hearts of every living creature present, as though the words had always been there, waiting to be heard. Though Xerneas had no gender, the voice that reached them felt like that of a gentle, caring mother — warm and full of quiet reassurance.
"Yes! I finally get to meet you!"
Diancie clasped her small hands together, her eyes shining with deep emotion. After everything she had been through, this moment felt almost unreal.
"I know of your strong desire to find me," Xerneas said calmly.
"Now, I shall grant it to you."
Xerneas's expression did not change. It gazed at Diancie with quiet, steady eyes, yet Its voice carried a warmth that made everything feel safe. The green glow around It slowly faded. Then, Xerneas tilted Its head just slightly.
In an instant, the eight blue horns atop Its head shifted to a soft beige, and shimmering, gem-like colors flickered across them — pink, gold, violet, and blue, like light dancing through a crystal. Small specks of pink light floated outward from Xerneas's body, drifting gently in every direction like petals carried by the wind.
A warm glow washed over Diancie. The small scratches on her skin from her earlier fall faded away, and the dust and dirt that had clung to her clothing disappeared as though they had never been there.
The four Carbink standing near Steven and Cynthia closed their eyes. They could feel it — the Fairy-type aura radiating from Xerneas, ancient and pure. Even the Togepi resting inside its Poké Ball stirred, sensing the gentle energy through the barrier of the capsule.
"Kaaao…"
Of everyone present, Steven, Cynthia, and Metagross were the least affected. But Garchomp was different. The Dragon and Ground-type Pokémon wore a deeply uneasy expression, its body tense. Fairy-type aura was not something it welcomed.
Xerneas, still radiating that soft energy, lowered Its gaze toward Diancie, whose hands remained clasped tightly together.
"You are the one capable of nurturing life," Xerneas said.
Diancie blinked, her brow furrowing slightly. She looked up at Xerneas, confused by the words.
Before she could ask, the glow surrounding Xerneas's body faded completely, and It returned to Its calm, resting form — horns shifting back to their quiet blue. Then, without another word, Xerneas turned, gave a light, graceful leap, and vanished.
One moment It was there. The next, It was gone.
"Xerneas, thank you!"
Diancie turned toward the spot where Xerneas had disappeared, bowing her head with sincere gratitude in her voice.
"Princess Diancie!"
She turned at the sound of her name. The four Carbink had rushed over to her side, their small round bodies bouncing with relief and excitement. Steven and Cynthia followed close behind.
"We felt it too — the Fairy-type aura!" Dr. Zuan said, his voice filled with barely contained excitement. The other Carbink nodded eagerly around him.
"I see…" Diancie murmured. But a small worry still lingered on her face. "But… can I really create the Sacred Diamond now? What if I still fail?"
"You can," Steven said simply.
Diancie looked up and met Steven's eyes. He wasn't smiling widely or saying grand things — he simply gave her a small, steady nod, the kind that meant he truly believed it.
Diancie held his gaze for a moment. Then something in her expression settled.
"Yes!" she said, with new resolve. She extended both hands forward.
Rumble…
But just as Diancie prepared to try, the ground shook beneath their feet. The trees around them swayed, and birds fled from the branches in a panic. The whole forest was trembling.
"What's happening?!"
Steven quickly steadied Cynthia, who had stumbled from the sudden movement. His eyes swept the area, searching for the cause.
A sharp, piercing cry split the sky above them — not the cry of any ordinary Pokémon.
Everyone spun around and looked up.
A massive Pokémon descended through the sky. Its wingspan was enormous, and where its wings and tail met its body, three pointed tips jutted outward like the ends of a dark crown. Along the outer edges of its wings and the wide fan of its tail, five claw-like extensions curved and spread, three of them hooking inward like talons frozen mid-strike.
Its skin was a deep, burning red, crossed with black branching patterns that spread like veins across its body. The same dark markings traced across its head and neck. Its beak was sharp and angular, built for power rather than song. Rising above its cold, blue eyes were black antlers — part of them sweeping sharply forward in a dramatic curve, with smaller forks angled back. Around its neck and trailing down its back, a ring of gray, feathery plumage billowed like a collar of ash and smoke.
Its cry rang out again — high and cutting like a bird's shriek, yet heavy with a deep, rumbling weight that pressed against the chest.
"That's…"
Dr. Zuan went rigid. His face drained of color as he stared up at the blood-red shape filling the sky.
"Yveltal!"
"How can this be…"
Steven stared at the awakened Destruction Pokémon, his mind working quickly. He couldn't understand what had caused it to rise. Xerneas had only just left — and now, the moment Xerneas was gone, Yveltal had appeared?
Something had triggered this.
Some time before…
Deep beneath the earth, in a vast underground cave.
Argus, Milis, Lylat, Maryling, and Hunter Z stood around the edge of a still pool of water. The cave was dark and cold, the walls slick with moisture. Shadows clung to every corner. Among the group stood a sixth figure — a man draped in a black robe, his face hidden.
"Y… why did you bring us here?" Argus asked, glancing uneasily at the dark surroundings.
The black-robed man — Hunter Y — smiled slowly. It was not a pleasant smile.
"I told you," he said, his voice smooth and unhurried. "I have a way to help you obtain that Pokémon who can create diamonds. But in return, you follow my lead."
Argus ground his teeth but said nothing.
Lylat and Maryling had agreed to work with him readily enough — but even with everyone here, whether they could actually take Diancie from Steven and Cynthia was another matter entirely. And that wasn't even counting the question of who would end up with Diancie afterward.
Hunter Y had arrived in the Kalos region without warning. He was Hunter Z's older associate — Z had once referred to him as his "big brother." And Z, who feared very little, had only one word for Hunter Y.
Madman.
"Argus," Lylat said flatly, "I agreed to work with you. But acting without knowing what I'm getting into? That's not happening."
"I agree," Maryling added.
Hunter Y let out a quiet, unimpressed laugh. "You won't lose so much as a scratch," he said.
With that, he stepped forward into the pool. The water was shallow — barely reaching his calves. But the moment his feet touched the surface, a deep crimson mist began to bloom from the clear water, spreading outward in slow, heavy clouds.
"What is that…" Milis whispered, watching the water change.
"A powerful Pokémon is sleeping beneath this pool," Hunter Y said, his tone almost casual. "Once we wake It, not even a Champion would be able to do much here. That's your safety net. The rest is simple — seize the moment and take Diancie. That's where everyone's own skills come in."
He glanced around at the group. "I've shown you what's here. Whether you still want Diancie is up to you."
"How do we know this Pokémon won't come after us first?" Maryling asked.
Hunter Y tilted his head. "That depends on how fast you are. But don't worry too much — Diancie came here to find Xerneas. As long as Xerneas is nearby, you'll have some protection."
Silence fell over the group.
Then Argus stepped forward, and Milis followed. Together, they waded into the pool.
After a brief pause, Lylat and Maryling exchanged a glance — and stepped in together.
The moment all four of them were in the water, the blood-red mist exploded outward, filling more than half the pool in an instant.
Only Hunter Z remained standing on the dry shore.
Whoosh —
A card cut through the air. Hunter Y caught it between two fingers without even looking.
"This is Argus's payment," Hunter Z said, his voice flat and even. "Consider the arrangement transferred to you."
Hunter Y let out a cackle, holding the League Card up between himself and Hunter Z, lining the edge of it up as though it were splitting the other man in two.
Hunter Z said nothing. His eyes swept the cave one last time, and then he turned and left, carried off on the back of his Honchkrow.
He had no way of knowing if Xerneas would protect him if Yveltal came for him. He had no way of knowing if Steven would hold a grudge over his role in all this. His part in this plan had been simple — make a few calls to Lylat and Maryling. Nothing more.
He didn't like trouble.
Call him a coward if you wanted. Hunter Z didn't care what anyone thought.
He valued his life. That was all.
There was no reason to risk himself for a Pokémon that made diamonds.
"So what do we do now?" Argus asked, watching Hunter Y pocket the card.
"Use your Pokémon," Hunter Y said simply.
He was the first to release his own. One by one, the other four followed. Pokémon splashed into the pool, and the blood mist thickened further, turning the water a deep, dark red. Ripples spread outward from the center of the pool, growing wider and wider.
"It's working! Move — now!"
Hunter Y's voice rose with excitement. He leapt onto his Flying-type Pokémon and shot upward, out through the cave entrance. The others wasted no time and rushed after him.
Behind them, the pool began to churn and boil.
Then, slowly, something rose from beneath the surface — a pair of enormous wings, one side burning red and the other deep black, lifting free of the water.
A raw, hoarse cry — sharp and terrible — tore through the silence of Orses Forest and echoed through every tree, every root, and every shadow beneath the earth.