"Let's go inside," Minister Carbink said.
Ash and the others nodded, entering the forest along with Diancie.
Oinkologne and Charcadet did not share the heavy hearts of Ash's group and the Carbink. They happily walked ahead, looking for special ingredients as they went, acting as if they were on a forest vacation.
Unlike their last visit, the forest was now bursting with life. The trees were lush, and the vegetation was flourishing.
Along the way, Diancie and the others saw many Pokémon. There were Scatterbug lazily eating leaves on tree branches, Fletchinder darting through the woods with flapping wings, and Bunnelby flashing through the grass.
"This forest has become lively once again," Minister Carbink remarked.
As Ash and the others entered the forest, Team Rocket also flew in using their hot air balloon.
"This is the forest known as the Forbidden Land?" James asked while holding a map. "It feels a bit scary!"
The bold Jessie snatched the map from James's hand. "What are you afraid of? Just go for it! If we can catch Diancie, we won't have to worry for the rest of our lives!"
As she spoke, she fell into a fantasy, a dreamy expression appearing on her face.
"Exactly! Don't be afraid! Following the twerps will surely be fine," Meowth agreed with Jessie.
Without realizing it, the group reached the depths of the forest.
When Ash and his friends reached a hillside, a Pokémon suddenly blocked their path.
Upon seeing this Pokémon, Oinkologne and Charcadet were extremely excited.
Honk honk~ Xerneas!
Honk honk~ It's Xerneas!
Chaka~ Friend!
Chaka~ Good friend!
The four Pokémon rushed to Xerneas's side.
Chaka~ Xerneas, did you come to see us?
The two Charcadet hugged Xerneas's front legs, one on each side.
The two Oinkologne stood side by side in front of Xerneas, looking at it with expectation.
Yes, my friends.
Xerneas's gentle voice echoed in the hearts of the four Pokémon. It lowered its head and nudged the cheeks of each of the four Pokémon with its forehead.
It turned out that Xerneas had sensed the visit of Charcadet and Oinkologne, which was why it appeared.
The sudden appearance of Xerneas brought a massive surprise to Ash's group and Diancie.
"Xerneas!"
Diancie stepped forward nervously.
Xerneas turned its gaze toward Diancie and said to it:
I know you have been following my footsteps, and I know what you are seeking. Therefore... I shall grant your wish!
As it spoke, Xerneas's body erupted with green light, with colored specks of light drifting within the glow.
This was the power of Fairy Aura.
Ash and the others were also enveloped by it. Feeling the majestic power contained within the Fairy Aura, they couldn't help but feel amazed.
"It's so warm," Serena said involuntarily.
"I feel like my whole body is filled with power," Ash said, clenching his fists.
"It feels so good, so good!" Bonnie said, squinting her eyes.
Once the light dissipated, Xerneas spoke the same words to Diancie that Ange's Diancie had said.
Remember, the one who nurtures life is yourself!
After saying this, it looked down at the Oinkologne and Charcadet standing beside it and asked, Do you want to come with me?
Honk honk~
Chaka~
The four Pokémon nodded. They naturally wanted to go with their good friend. They had already fulfilled their promise to help Diancie find Xerneas, so their part was done.
With that, the two Charcadet each flipped onto an Oinkologne's back, following behind Xerneas as they disappeared before Ash's group and Diancie.
"They left!" Bonnie said.
"It feels like a dream," Serena said, somewhat dazed.
Ash excitedly hopped over to Diancie. "Diancie, did you learn Fairy Aura? Can you create the Holy Diamond now?"
Minister Carbink, Majima, and the other two also gathered around with expectant faces.
"Princess!"
"Princess!"
Diancie said uncertainly, "I don't know either. I'll give it a try!"
Ash nodded repeatedly. "Try it, quick!"
Just as Diancie reached out its hands to see if it could create the Holy Diamond, a shadow suddenly darted over, grabbed it, and sped away into the distance.
"Princess!"
Minister Carbink cried out in panic.
When Ash and the others finally saw the shadow clearly, they realized it was a Greninja.
Immediately after, a man dressed in ninja attire appeared beside the Greninja.
"It's you!" Ash shouted angrily.
The one who kidnapped Diancie was Riot, the thief who had been hunting it all along.
"I'll be taking Diancie now."
As Riot finished speaking, two Ninjask appeared holding ropes. Riot and Greninja, along with Diancie, grabbed onto the Ninjask's ropes and flew away.
"Chase them!" Ash shouted.
With that, he, Clemont, Serena, and Bonnie, along with the four Carbink, gave chase.
Under the pursuit of Ash's group, Riot flew toward the depths of the forest, unknowingly arriving at a desolate wasteland.
Nothing grew here, and withered trees were everywhere.
If Oinkologne and Charcadet were here, they would have realized that this was the place Xerneas had warned them not to approach.
To evade Ash's group, Riot entered an underground cave.
The cave was dimly lit with a pool of water in the center. Riot hid behind a rock near the pool.
Diancie said anxiously, "You want diamonds, don't you? I can give them to you, but please let me go. I have my country and people waiting for me to save them! I beg of you."
However, Riot did not listen to Diancie's plea.
At that moment, a Yanmega flew into the cave, its tail lightly touching the surface of the pool.
The next second, blazing flames erupted from the depths of the cave. Fortunately, Greninja was quick and pulled Riot away, avoiding the fire.
A woman dressed in a red magic robe walked out with a Delphox. She was the other thief who had been hunting Diancie—Marilyn.
The Yanmega quickly grabbed Diancie and flew to Marilyn's side. It turned out Yanmega was Marilyn's Pokémon.
"Marilyn!" Riot hissed through gritted teeth.
Marilyn held onto Diancie as Yanmega carried them into the air, intending to leave the cave. Hovering in mid-air, she smiled at Riot and said:
"Riot, you look so~ handsome~ when you're angry."
But before Marilyn could fly out, Riot's two Ninjask appeared above her, each firing a Shadow Ball at Marilyn and Yanmega.
Marilyn was hit by the impact and fell into the pool along with Diancie.
At the same time, Delphox attacked Riot and Greninja again, knocking them into the pool as well.
What Marilyn and Riot didn't know was that the moment they fell into the water, a dark power began to dye the pool a dark red.
Simultaneously, a black cocoon slumbering at the bottom of the water began to slowly float upward.
Having heard the commotion, Ash arrived. He leaned over the cave entrance and shouted to Diancie:
"Diancie, are you okay?"
Diancie shook its head. "I'm okay!"
It tried hard to pull its hand back, wanting to escape from Marilyn, but Marilyn held on tightly and gave it no chance.
Seeing this, Ash shouted, "Diancie, wait! I'm coming to save you!"
With that, he released his Hawlucha and had it glide him down into the cave.
After landing in the pool, Ash grabbed Diancie's other hand and snatched it back from Marilyn.
However, he didn't notice that the moment he entered the pool, the already dark red water began to turn black.
"Diancie, let's go!"
Ash picked up Diancie and was carried into the air by Hawlucha.
Yet, at that moment, a Shadow Ball appeared out of nowhere, hitting Hawlucha and knocking Ash and the Pokémon back into the water.
Diancie was then snatched by a mechanical arm.
"Hehehehe~" Jessie, James, and Meowth appeared at the cave entrance simultaneously, letting out strange laughs.
Team Rocket had arrived.
A Pumpkaboo floated beside Jessie; it was the one that had fired the Shadow Ball just now.
"We'll be taking Diancie," Jessie said smugly.
Riot said, "You want to leave? No way!"
Marilyn added, "Leave Diancie behind!"
Their Delphox and Greninja attacked Team Rocket at the same time. A pillar of fire and a Water Shuriken hit Team Rocket's balloon, causing it to leak air instantly.
"Aaaahhh~"
Jessie, James, and Meowth screamed as they fell into the water.
Diancie could not escape either.
The moment they hit the water, the pool turned completely jet black.
James stared blankly at the pool. "Hey, do you guys see something wrong with this water?"
Jessie was stunned. "Now that you mention it, it really is. What's going on?"
Prompted by James, Ash, Riot, and Marilyn finally noticed the anomaly as well.
Just then, a ripple spread across the surface of the water, followed by a black cocoon floating to the top.
Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie finally arrived with the four Carbink.
Minister Carbink looked down from the cave entrance and shouted to Ash and Diancie in terror, "Princess! Ash! Get out of there! It's the Cocoon of Destruction!"
At these words, Ash and Diancie's expressions changed, while Team Rocket, Riot, and Marilyn looked confused.
"Those who disturb the slumber of the Cocoon of Destruction shall be punished by its wrath!" Minister Carbink shouted.
Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie also anxiously urged Ash and Diancie to leave. Ash quickly grabbed Diancie and ran toward the shore.
Even now, the ignorant Marilyn and Riot were still after Diancie.
Team Rocket, on the other hand, sensed a major disaster was coming and quickly used ropes to flee toward the outside of the cave.
Marilyn grabbed onto Yanmega and flew up. Taking advantage of Ash's distraction, she grabbed Diancie and prepared to fly out.
Riot wasn't about to let her have her way and immediately ordered Greninja to strike her down.
Marilyn fell into the water once more, creating a massive splash.
Finally, with a roar, the black cocoon floated into the air. Amidst a flash of light, it transformed into a giant bird-like Pokémon.
This Pokémon looked majestic, its expression cold and ruthless, and its icy eyes seemed devoid of any emotion.
It was composed entirely of black and red, with two curved horns on its head. Its wide wings and long tail featured claw-like feathers, and its talons were as sharp and powerful as an eagle's.
"Yveltal!" Minister Carbink cried.
Indeed, this Pokémon was the embodiment of destruction—Yveltal!
Yveltal gently flapped its wings, its cold eyes scanning everyone and every Pokémon present.
"This is Yveltal..." Ash said, looking shocked.
The greedy Riot took the chance to grab Diancie and was carried out of the cave by his two Ninjask.
Seeing this, Marilyn followed with Yanmega.
At this point, they still didn't realize the severity of the situation.
Ang~
Finally, Yveltal let out a roar, flapped its wings, and flew out of the cave toward the sky.
"Diancie!"
Ash shouted, having Hawlucha carry him as they chased after Riot.
As soon as Ash flew out of the cave, he saw Yveltal launch an attack on Riot.
A pillar of black energy was controlled by Yveltal and swept outward. Everywhere the energy pillar touched turned a grayish-white as it lost its life force.
This was the terrifying power of the God of Death and Destruction; it would drain the life of all things.
When the black energy pillar swept toward him, Riot knew he couldn't defend against it and instinctively closed his eyes.
Fortunately, Greninja arrived just in time. It and the two Ninjask lunged onto Riot, blocking Yveltal's attack.
The black energy pillar dissipated, and Greninja and the two Ninjask turned into grayish-white stone statues, devoid of any life.
"Greninja! Ninjask!" Riot cried out in grief.
Diancie, who had also been protected, took the chance to run away from Riot. By now, Riot could no longer bother with Diancie.
After running for a short while, Diancie was caught again by Marilyn. Marilyn grabbed it, intending to leave the forest.
At this time, Marilyn hadn't noticed that she was also being targeted by Yveltal.
A black energy pillar struck down unexpectedly.
Delphox suddenly appeared, waving its branch and controlling a pillar of fire to strike the incoming black energy.
But how could it possibly withstand Yveltal's attack?
After an explosion, Delphox and the newly arrived Yanmega both turned into grayish-white stone statues.
"Delphox! Yanmega!" Marilyn cried out in terror.
However, Yveltal's attack came again, and she and Diancie had to run for their lives separately.
Marilyn had not run far before she ran into the equally fleeing Riot.
Marilyn cried, "What kind of Pokémon is this? It's too terrifying!"
Riot smiled bitterly. "Fleeing for our lives is more important."
Just as he finished speaking, Yveltal's beam fell, instantly swallowing them. Both lost their life force and turned into statues.
On the other side, Ash and Pikachu found Diancie. By now, the rampaging Yveltal was treating everything as a target.
Vast areas of the forest and countless Pokémon were being drained of their life by its attacks, turning into statues.
Minister Carbink looked at the tragic scene and said in horror, "The Great Extermination is happening all over again!"
Marilyn's Yanmega:
Yanmega Type: Bug, Flying Ability: Speed Boost Gender: Female Level: 45
Riot's Ninjask:
Ninjask Type: Bug, Flying Ability: Speed Boost Gender: Male Level: 42
Ash's Hawlucha:
Hawlucha Type: Fighting, Flying Ability: Unburden Gender: Male Level: 38