Chapter 342: Diancie Caught! "I Want to Return Hoopa's Power to It"
"Well — the truth is, I've genuinely taken a liking to you personally, so I'd like to invite you to come witness this world's wonders alongside me. What do you think?"
Mammon remained the picture of gentle, refined courtesy, speaking to Diancie unhurried.
"Witness this world?" Diancie tilted her head, a little bewildered.
"That's right. I imagine you've never actually been outside before — wouldn't you like to properly see what's out there?"
Mammon coaxed gently.
He could tell — this Diancie's disposition was clearly innocent, genuinely pure, almost like a naive little princess unfamiliar with the world's workings. This particular kind of sweet, sheltered "little lady" was, honestly, quite easy to win over.
"Mm~ that really does sound tempting," Diancie said, tapping a finger against her chin.
"So — would you like to become my companion and join me?"
"I can't do that. I'm afraid I have to decline."
Diancie shook her head, and before Mammon could even ask why, she explained the reason herself.
"My kingdom is currently facing a crisis. The Sacred Diamond is about to disappear. I have to create a new Sacred Diamond, or else."
Despite this being a genuine, serious crisis, Diancie's tone stayed remarkably composed, as though it wasn't much of a concern at all.
"I was actually just about to set out when I was summoned here."
Diancie tilted her head again, seeming a little troubled by the inconvenience.
A kingdom?
Caitlin and the others were curious what exactly Diancie meant by that.
"That does sound genuinely inconvenient timing. May I ask how you plan on creating this Sacred Diamond?"
Something flickered faintly in Mammon's eyes — he was starting to piece it together now. This Diancie really was the same innocent, naive little princess from the movie.
"Because my current power isn't sufficient to create a genuine Sacred Diamond, Minister Diamond told me that the legendary Xerneas might be able to help me."
Diancie answered without holding anything back.
"Xerneas — that's one of Kalos's legendary Pokémon, right?" Platinum recalled.
"That's correct. Xerneas is the legendary Life Pokémon. It's said to be an extraordinarily selfless, kind-hearted creature, one that regularly shares its own life force with Pokémon in need," Baraz said, recalling what he knew. Living a secluded life didn't mean he lacked basic knowledge on the subject.
"Is that true, Hoopa?" Platinum blinked, turning to Hoopa Unbound.
"Mm-hm~ Baraz has it right. That rainbow-colored deer, though, how do I put it..." Hoopa scrunched up its face, scratching its head, looking genuinely conflicted.
"It's got a really good temper — like, REALLY good. But honestly it's kind of a bore. No matter how much you mess with it, it never gets mad."
Hoopa threw its arms up in exasperation.
"And, ugh, that rainbow deer's basically got a compulsion — it's always going around cleaning up after that huge, vicious bird Yveltal. Every single time."
"So most of the time, the rainbow deer's just sleeping, recovering its own life force."
Hoopa clearly wasn't especially fond of Xerneas — it found its temperament to be genuinely, frustratingly too good, the kind of good you just couldn't get a rise out of no matter what.
Yveltal?
Platinum tried to recall — also one of Kalos's legendary mythological Pokémon. Unlike Xerneas, the Life Pokémon willing to share its own life force, Yveltal represented death and destruction — its very appearance was said to herald the coming of death itself.
No question, then — Xerneas and Yveltal stood as direct opposites.
And Diancie hoping to track down Xerneas was precisely because she needed the life force Xerneas could share with her — that would strengthen her own power enough to create the Sacred Diamond needed to sustain the Diamond Domain's continued existence.
"So you need to find Xerneas — but do you know where Xerneas actually is?"
Mammon kept pressing gently.
"I don't know."
Diancie continued answering every single question, with a candor that genuinely exceeded expectations.
"In that case, I have an idea — see what you think." Mammon smiled.
"I'll help you find Xerneas and get it to help you. Once you've saved your kingdom, you become my companion. How does that sound?"
"Mm~ is this a deal, then?" Diancie tapped her own chin, adorably.
"It's because I'm genuinely fond of you, Diancie. Nobody actually knows where Xerneas is — you could spend ten years searching and still not find it."
"But with my help, I think we'd find it a lot faster than you searching alone."
Mammon said with a smile.
"That does make sense." Diancie, while genuinely innocent, wasn't naive — she could work out a simple cost-benefit like that easily enough.
Diancie's big eyes sparkled as she studied Mammon for a while. Becoming this human's companion, exploring and witnessing the world alongside him.
Diancie didn't find the idea unpleasant at all. This human was genuinely friendly, and for some reason, there was a natural warmth to him that made it hard for Diancie to dislike him.
"Mammon~ could you send me back first, so I can discuss this with Minister Diamond? Otherwise, they'll be worried sick about me."
Diancie decided she needed to notify her people first.
"Of course. Hoopa, if you would."
Mammon turned to Hoopa Unbound.
"Sure thing~ Hoopa~ snatch it up~"
Hoopa tossed out its Prison Bottle ring, which quickly expanded, opening a spatial passage.
"Please wait just a moment, everyone~ I'll be right back."
Diancie offered Mammon and the others a small, princess-like bow before hopping merrily through the spatial passage.
"Looks like that went smoothly." The corner of Mammon's mouth curled up.
"Mamon~ why didn't you let Hoopa go snatch Xerneas over instead? That would've solved Diancie's whole problem right away."
Hoopa drifted over beside Mammon, genuinely curious.
Diancie's actual need was to find Xerneas so it could grant her the life force needed to create the Sacred Diamond. Hard to find Xerneas? Hoopa didn't consider that much of an obstacle at all — one quick snatch, and it could pull Xerneas out itself.
"Not necessary. Some things need to be experienced firsthand, Hoopa. Your ability is genuinely powerful — extraordinarily powerful."
"But a lot of the time, what matters isn't just the result. The process itself matters just as much."
"The easier something is to obtain, the less it tends to be genuinely valued. Let's find Xerneas ourselves."
Mammon said with a smile, ruffling Hoopa's head affectionately.
Of course, this was a lie.
Process, results — please. Mammon had never much cared about that particular philosophy. What he genuinely cared about was the fun of it.
What if Team Flare had already found Xerneas by now? If Hoopa just snatched Xerneas over right away, that would completely ruin all the entertainment value.
So Mammon wasn't in any hurry — because before the whole Kalos affair wrapped up, Xerneas was bound to surface on its own regardless. Team Flare would inevitably locate either Xerneas or Yveltal — and if it turned out to be Yveltal, all the better.
Yveltal, embodiment of death and destruction, had an extraordinarily volatile temperament — once awakened, it would go on an indiscriminate killing spree without hesitation!
And Xerneas would surely sense that and come rushing over to stop Yveltal and clean up after it, exactly as always.
"Emmm~" Hoopa didn't quite fully grasp it.
"But..."
Hoopa still felt this was an unnecessary complication — with its ring right there, why not just cut straight to the "result"? I could deliver the rainbow deer right to your doorstep, and instead you'd rather all go trudging through some difficult search for it yourselves?
Hoopa genuinely didn't understand.
"Mr. Mammon's right, Hoopa. For Mr. Mammon and Diancie, the act of searching for Xerneas itself carries genuine meaning," Baraz said, resting a hand on Hoopa's head with a smile, genuinely agreeing with Mammon's reasoning.
Often, the result mattered — but so did the journey itself.
"That's right. And besides, knowing you're there as our safety net, Hoopa, makes it that much easier to genuinely enjoy the 'journey' part — after all, if we truly can't find Xerneas ourselves, we'll still need your help in the end."
Mammon said soothingly, well aware Hoopa's intentions had been genuinely kind.
"Okaaay~" Hearing that, Hoopa's mood brightened right back up instantly. Hoopa's the safety net! Hoopa's amazing~
The center of the spatial ring rippled once more, and Diancie's figure hopped back through.
"I've spoken with Minister Diamond and the others. Mammon~ I look forward to working with you, starting today."
Diancie's manner remained as graceful and proper as ever.
"Likewise, Diancie. Looking forward to it."
Mammon pulled out a Sweet Heart Ball, smiling at Diancie.
"Is this a Poké Ball?"
Diancie regarded the pink Sweet Heart Ball with genuine curiosity — Minister Diamond, in his considerable experience, had mentioned such things before.
Having never once left the Diamond Domain, Diancie was genuinely lacking in ordinary common knowledge about the outside world, and she looked forward eagerly to encountering new, unfamiliar things.
"That's right. It represents the bond of trust between a trainer and their Pokémon partner."
Mammon nodded, holding the Sweet Heart Ball out toward Diancie.
"Will you become my partner, Diancie?"
"It would be my honor."
Technically, per their agreement, formal partnership was only supposed to begin once Xerneas had been found and the Diamond Domain's crisis resolved — but Diancie found herself willing to place her trust, for now, in this inexplicably warm human anyway.
Diancie reached out and touched the Sweet Heart Ball, transforming into a beam of red light and disappearing inside. The indicator light gave a single flicker before going still.
"Caught," Mammon said, in genuinely good spirits, then opened the ball again immediately.
"Congratulations, Mammon~"
"Congratulations, Mr. Mammon~"
Caitlin and the others offered their smiling congratulations.
"Thanks~" Mammon nodded with a smile.
He opened the Poké Ball once more, and Diancie reappeared in front of him.
"This feels quite miraculous," Diancie said, tilting her head slightly. Somehow, she felt Mammon seemed even warmer to her now — she found herself unconsciously wanting to drift closer to him.
"Diancie, let me introduce you to everyone else. This sleeping one is Jirachi, this is Victini, this one watching TV is Tapu Fini..."
Mammon then walked Diancie through introductions to the whole "mascot squad."
All things considered, Mammon felt today's haul was genuinely excellent — forming a real friendship with Hoopa Unbound, and catching Diancie on top of it.
They spent two more days in the Vale of Creation afterward. Life there really was refreshingly simple — light farm labor during the day, everything peaceful and clean. For Platinum and Caitlin, experiencing this kind of lifestyle for a while felt genuinely novel.
Right now, Meray was leading the two of them, along with Hoopa and the rest, in weeding the fields, while Mammon sat resting by the roadside, casually snapping a few nice photos.
"Mr. Mammon."
"Baraz, just call me by my name, no need for formalities."
Mammon smiled, watching Baraz approach.
"Heh~ alright, I won't stand on ceremony, then." Baraz's smile carried genuine ease.
His impression of Mammon had been thoroughly positive — warm, easygoing, genuinely mature and level-headed, and on top of all that, someone who'd actually met the Great One and received its gift!
"You two have been so kind these past couple of days — if it weren't for you and Meray, I doubt we'd have had this good a time here."
Credit where it's due — Baraz and his sister had been genuinely warm and generous hosts, thoughtful in every regard, always specifically coming to invite them to join meals together.
"Please, think nothing of it. Are you all heading out, Mammon?" Baraz had noticed.
"Yeah, we've already spent two days here — there's other business we need to take care of."
"Alright. Do come back whenever you have the time — the Vale of Creation will always welcome you all," Baraz said sincerely. Every gathering eventually comes to an end, and besides, Baraz could tell plainly that Mammon's group clearly weren't ordinary people.
"Absolutely — I'll stay in touch." Mammon smiled.
"Right, actually, Mammon, there's something I can't quite decide on. I'd like your opinion on it," Baraz said, hesitating slightly.
"About Hoopa?"
"So you already guessed." Baraz startled, then let out a rueful laugh.
"Yeah. Hoopa's the one our great-grandfather brought back to the Vale of Creation — it's been over a hundred years now. To me, Hoopa's genuinely family."
"Back then, because Hoopa was so out of control, my great-grandfather sealed its power and sentenced it to this punishment. And now, I've been thinking..."
Baraz paused there again, hesitating.
"You want to return Hoopa's sealed power to it?" Mammon understood exactly what Baraz meant.
"That's right. Sure, Hoopa's still mischievous, but it's genuinely kind-hearted, without a trace of real malice left in it. I want to see it made whole again."
Speaking bluntly, Hoopa in its current state was, in a sense, genuinely incomplete — it had lost its power, and even its own natural abilities remained heavily restricted. Sure, even if it reclaimed its power, it would still be barred from passing through its own ring itself, thanks to the "punishment" — but it would still be far, far more complete than it was now.
"What do you think, Mammon?" Baraz asked him.
"I think it's genuinely fine. I've grown quite fond of Hoopa, and Mesprit's told me directly it's a completely different creature from who it used to be," Mammon said with a smile.
"Alright. I'll discuss it with Meray once more, and then go search for the Prison Bottle to restore Hoopa's power."
With Mammon's endorsement, Baraz's resolve solidified.
"Sounds good. If you need any help, or if anything unexpected happens along the way, reach out to me right away — or just have Hoopa snatch me over."
Mammon reminded Baraz.
Mammon understood full well — the moment Baraz located the Prison Bottle and restored its power, Evil Hoopa Unbound would well and truly return to the world in full.
That century's worth of sealed-away power inside Hoopa had, by this point, likely already developed a genuine self-awareness of its own, forged from sheer, concentrated resentment.
The power of a "Djinn of Malice," combined with that deep, festering grudge — once freed from its cage, what exactly would come of it?
A grand carnival of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon was about to begin!
(End of chapter)
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