A brilliant light of evolution rose above the cliff.

Everyone looked up and saw Lu Ye raise his right hand;

the Keystone embedded in his fingerless glove burst into rainbow radiance!

Haunter grinned, the yellow single eye on its forehead opened, its fists bristling with spikes, its body wreathed in black-red mist, and the rainbow Mega Evolution emblem blossomed above its head!

"Mega Haunter? This is the first time I've seen that!" Serena exclaimed.

"Come on, Haunter!" Bonnie waved her little fists.

Yveltal's eyes turned violet as it flapped its blood-red wings;

a pitch-black Dark Pulse coalesced into two ring-like halos and swept toward Mega Haunter.

"Haunter." Riding on Latias to avoid collateral damage, Lu Ye commanded, "Aura Sphere!"

"Gengarrr!!"

Mega Haunter brought its palms together;

a fusing white light shone in its palms. Its body arched backward from the recoil as the savage Aura Sphere formed a light column, streaked with purple-red luminescence, and unleashed itself!

Boom!

The Aura Sphere, with only a seventy percent hit rate, shattered the two black rings and detonated with a thunderous explosion, black smoke curling into the sky!

Inside the Team Rocket Battleship, Meowth sat at the control console, eyes wide: "The officers are so powerful, meow!"

"That actually held off that big bird," James said in disbelief.

"All right, we'll help too!" Jessie pressed the missile launch button.

On the Team Rocket Battleship, a row of launchers opened on the hull;

a volley of missiles whistled through the air toward Yveltal!

Same old trick—they clearly still don't take me seriously!

Yveltal angrily beat its wings;

two gusts of wind obliterated the missile volley!

Boom!!

Explosions kept erupting, flames soaring into the sky, shaking the ground.

Lu Ye glanced upward;

a massive warship cast a shadow over them.

"If Yveltal treats the Trio as its primary target, disengaging will get ugly..." Lu Ye worried inwardly.

At that same moment, Steven extended his arm, blue hair swaying, the Keystone pin on his lapel radiating rainbow light. His gaze sharpened as he shouted:

"Metagross, Mega Evolve!!"

The white Metagross on Steven's vehicle slammed its fists together with a thud;

evolutionary light flared across its body: "Kongkin!!"

Two more iron fists protruded from its back again. Mega Metagross closed its massive palms, its destructive power and calculation ability reaching their peak!

Steven tossed a Great Ball, leapt onto Skarmory's back, and ordered Mega Metagross to intercept head-on:

"Use Comet Punch!!"

"Kongkin!!"

Mega Metagross's four pairs of iron fists converged like an indestructible battering ram. With a roar that cleaved through comet-like white light, it swung its fists at Yveltal beneath the Dark Aura!

In an instant.

Yveltal's eyes turned violet;

instead of retreating it pressed the attack. Its pose shifted from hovering to divebombing, the black-red wings emitting purple Dragon Rush afterimages as it collided face-to-face with Mega Metagross!

Smash!!

"Kongkin!!" Mega Metagross's heavy punch struck Yveltal's wing, but it was knocked back by Yveltal's dive. It squinted in pain;

the X-metal emblem on its body sparked with malfunctioning electricity!

"Gengarrr!" Mega Haunter bared its teeth and flashed above Yveltal.

Palms together, white light fusing.

The Aura Sphere struck Yveltal's back from above!

Boom!!

"Shriek—"

Yveltal let out an enraged, pained cry!

"Teacher Lu and Mr. Steven are suppressing Yveltal!?" Clemont couldn't believe his ears.

"Teacher Lu beat Primal Kyogre before, right?" Bonnie said.

"That was a retreat;

this is suppression. Totally different!" Clemont explained.

Xerneas' injuries began to heal within a green crystalline glow. It lifted its graceful neck and said with concern:

"The Death Wing of Yveltal cannot be handled by Arceus's envoy alone."

Before the words finished.

Yveltal beat its wings and, eyes glowing purple, targeted the Trio behind the battleship glass. The Trio's expressions went pale.

Boom!!

Yveltal's charge rocked the Team Rocket Battleship, then it unleashed a purple raging beam of light that engulfed the ship entirely!

The Trio huddled together: "What a hateful feeling!"

"Oh no!" Steven's expression tightened.

The purple beam, visible to the naked eye, petrified the Team Rocket Battleship. The Trio turned into stone statues, still locked in their embrace.

The petrified battleship plunged into the lake below, creating a towering column of water with a thundering splash!

The sudden turn of events stunned everyone present.

Lu Ye froze for a moment.

Wobbuffet didn't get to throw out a ball?

Otherwise Yveltal should have been the one in trouble!

In the lake below, the petrified Team Rocket Battleship lay half-submerged in the center.

The petrified Trio had lost their life force, though residual fluctuations could still be detected.

Lu Ye suddenly understood A-Jin's words—

Arceus, Ho-Oh, Celebi, Xerneas... these beings all possess revival abilities.

The Trio's petrified condition could be reversed by Xerneas' power—provided they took care of this giant bird first!

From its lofty vantage, Yveltal surveyed Latias, Skarmory, and the other Flying-type Pokémon.

Even Latias couldn't reach that altitude. Known as the "Death Wing," Yveltal held overwhelming advantage in aerial combat!

"Shriek—"

Yveltal still hadn't targeted Mega Haunter. Instead it beat its wings and spun rapidly through the sky, the purple beams it spat leaving barren wastelands in their wake wherever they passed!

"What is it doing?" Steven asked, voice tense.

"It lost aggro and disengaged. Now the boss is probably healing with a big move," Lu Ye explained.

Teacher Lu nostalgically missed having Gold the Fifth around... because he and Togebro always drew fire first!

"Now is not the time to be nostalgic!"

Lu Ye turned and shouted to a despondent Diancie, "You still have people to protect, Diancie!"

Diancie lifted her puzzled eyes and said, "But, with my current self..."

Xerneas gazed at Diancie with gentle eyes and said softly:

"You who can bind life itself, it is you, Diancie."

"Me?" Diancie asked in a small voice.

Xerneas didn't reply further. It lightly leapt to the high cliff and rejoined the fight.

Its fairy aura battled the raging Dark Aura.

The black mist stopped spreading. Xerneas closed its eyes and emitted a jade crystalline radiance to preserve the petrified lives!

Lu Ye felt a headache coming on.

In this state, Xerneas couldn't be relied upon to deal damage!

At that moment.

Serena looked in surprise toward the distance: "Ash?"

Golurk descended onto the cliff;

Ash and King AZ returned safely.

"Phew... glad you're back!" Clemont exhaled.

"I can see Teacher Lu and the others!" Ash pointed at the sky.

AZ widened his eyes.

Mega Haunter and Metagross were chasing Yveltal.

But Yveltal seemed intent on avoiding direct engagement, merely circling and weaving through the air!

"Are those trainers..." AZ stammered, "fighting a legendary Pokémon?"

"This is everyday stuff for Teacher Lu," Ash said.

AZ: "…times have indeed changed."

"All right, Pikachu, we'll try to hold it too!"

Ash sent out Pikachu and ordered, "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!!"

"Pika—"

Pikachu planted all four paws on the ground, its electrical sacs crackling sparks: "Pika!!"

Thunderbolt, with perfect timing, struck the rapidly circling Yveltal!

"Gengarrr! Σ(ﾟДﾟ;

)" Haunter was startled.

Lu Ye put his hand to his forehead and looked at the Yveltal enveloped in electric light, murmuring:

"Wow... Pikachu hitting a Legendary—maybe it gets a bonus?!"

"Teacher Lu, it seems the aggro you mentioned has shifted again," Steven said wryly.

Yveltal stopped circling and fixed its purple gaze on Ash and the others standing by the cliff.

Xerneas was using its fairy aura to preserve petrified life and couldn't attend to Ash's group's safety.

"Darkrai, help them!" Lu Ye snapped.

"And you?" Darkrai materialized by his side, arms crossed, face wearing an 'invincible' expression.

"Who are you looking down on?" Lu Ye put on his Z-Ring. "It's just a battle legend. Pikachu and I will team up to beat Yveltal!"

Darkrai: "…"

When first met, he was merely a human who relied on outside help to confront the time-space gods—commendable courage.

Now he had grown into a dependable senior, even possessing the confidence of a battle legend...

"Two rides." Darkrai said quietly.

"Two rides? If we're not battling, make it one ride—take it or leave it!" Lu Ye snapped.

Darkrai drifted toward the cliff coolly, secretly pleased.

Seems the bargaining techniques he learned from TV actually work!

At the cliff edge, Yveltal's wings blocked a large swath of sky. Its chest revealed blood-red markings, and its tail flared like a monstrous crimson hand.

Ash stood in front of Serena and ordered, "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

"Shriek!!"

Yveltal's angry purple beam collided with Thunderbolt and easily shattered it, then barreled toward Ash!

"Ash!!" Serena cried in panic.

With a wide sweep, Yveltal's massive hand pulled Ash in front of it, using its three-meter-high back as a shield against the purple beam.

Light flared. The man stood silent, staring at Ash as if recalling a scene.

Ash widened his eyes, looked into AZ's white-haired eyes, and said, "AZ..."

Boom!!

The purple beam dispersed. Smoke poured from AZ's back as he sank to one knee. Ash reached to help him up.

But AZ's hand visibly petrified in a matter of moments;

half his body and a portion of his face were fixed in stone, only his right eye remaining mobile.

"AZ..." Diancie stepped forward, confusion and loss filling her telepathic connection with him.

"My friend... I finally feel... freedom."

AZ's petrification spread slowly as he murmured: "The pain that haunted my eternity... now, I am relieved..."

Diancie's form began to blur in his mind. AZ smiled weakly:

"My friend... Flabébé..."

Golurk stood silently behind AZ.

As an artificial Pokémon, Golurk didn't cry, but a wave of sorrow still rose within it.

Serena had heard the legends of the Kalos king. For him, eternal sleep might be the best rest.

A smile remained etched on AZ's statue;

his right eye under the white hair had not petrified and remained wide open.

Diancie stepped forward and gently closed AZ's right eye with her hand.

"Why did this happen?" she whispered. "I should have been the one protecting everyone..."

"I should have... I didn't want my friends to die..." Diancie said through tears.

Three thousand years ago, the king created the Ultimate Weapon to revive his beloved Flabébé.

Three thousand years later, the princess wanted to protect her country, her people, and her friends—but she was powerless.

Diancie felt the sorrow that had clung to AZ's heart for millennia.

All around was a petrified forest, desolate land, and dejected Ash and Pikachu.

Diancie tiptoed, stepped around Pikachu, and stood at the cliff's very edge.

"Shriek!!"

Yveltal beat its wings and unleashed the annihilating "Death Wing."

"Diancie!"

Among the frantic shouts, Diancie's eyes flashed with diamond-like resolve;

she spread her arms wide.

Darkrai rushed toward the cliff, glancing at the Death Wing with a face gone pale.

Holy—can that Dark Void even catch it?!

Send it to the Reversed World and let Giratina blame Lu Ye for it—after all, he gave the orders!

Meanwhile.

Lu Ye took out a warm gem from his pocket—the symbol of friendship.

A translucent pink diamond shimmered with peerless brilliance, more beautiful than any treasure on earth.

It was the Diancie Stone that Princess Diancie created from the friendships, joys, partings, and pains encountered during her journey.

The Eternal Diamond—Diancie Stone.

"The Diancie Stone that was supposed to be given to Bonnie is in my hands now..."

Lu Ye's mind raced;

the image of Diancie giving him the diamond at the altar flashed through his thoughts. His gaze hardened.

"Diancie—"

Lu Ye held the Diancie Stone aloft.

Diancie's eyes steadied, Xerneas' gentle words echoing in her mind:

"You who can bind life itself, it is you, Diancie."

Standing before Ash's group, Diancie spread her arms. She radiated a brilliant light of evolution;

the diamond above her head shaped into a heart, a veil of pure white ribbons draped from her crown, and a translucent diamond skirt blossomed like a flawless pink-diamond wedding dress.

Mega form—pure and beautiful Princess Diancie!

"Diancie's... Mega form..." Steven stared in slight daze.

"Diamond Storm!!" Lu Ye raised the Diancie Stone;

it burst with dazzling radiance.

Princess Diancie opened her hands, palms creating a tide of pink diamonds that swirled and coalesced into an enormous Sacred Diamond to block Yveltal's Death Wing!!

The purple beam slammed into the Sacred Diamond, attempting to siphon its energy, but the Sacred Diamond isolated the Dark Aura and forcibly blocked the Death Wing!!

Yveltal looked on in astonishment and wariness at Princess Diancie.

Darkrai's expression changed.

Crap, missed the timing—no labor fee!

"Diancie, so beautiful..." Bonnie was entranced.

"They actually made a Sacred Diamond!" Clemont marveled.

Yveltal also glanced at Xerneas. Seeing Xerneas' fairy aura grow stronger, it flapped its wings and prepared to leave the area.

Boom!!

Mega Haunter slammed Dark Void downward, exploding at the head and forcibly stopping Yveltal!

"Shriek—"

Yveltal beat its wings and realized:

To the south on the cliff stood Princess Diancie.

To the north on the high cliff was Xerneas.

To the west was Mega Metagross, iron fists clashing.

And to the east, the black-haired young man sat atop Latias, grim-eyed, with a Mega Haunter before him!

Yveltal: "…"

I have a type advantage against Haunter—I'll break through from the east...

Yveltal beat its black-red wings and dove aggressively toward Mega Haunter!

"The biggest mistake you made was damaging Team Rocket's property. You might owe me compensation—"

Lu Ye's gaze went icy as he raised his right hand to the sky. The Dark Z on his Z-Ring emitted a deep glow. He clenched his fist: "Haunter, Dark Hole Z."

"Black hole devours, all things annihilate!!"

The four-word shout sounded somehow trendier than a seven-word phrase—maybe that was just Teacher Lu's imagination...

"Gengarrr!! (ૢ˃ꌂ˂⁎)"

Haunter raised its tiny hands to the sky. Dark Void rose upward, becoming a circling black orb. With immense gravitational pull, the ground collapsed with a 'thud,' fissures cracked open, and massive chunks of rock peeled away and were flung toward the raging black sphere!

"Xerneas, watch the statues—don't let them be sucked away too!" Lu Ye telepathically urged.

Xerneas: "…"

I feel your threat is a bit greater than the Death God, Arceus's envoy!

Even the blood-red mist of the Dark Aura was torn and surged toward the black hole, augmenting it with Dark-type power.

Yveltal's eyes widened.

The black hole coalesced into a huge meteor, hanging ominously over the forest!!

"I can help too!" Princess Diancie said resolutely, conjuring a dazzling Diamond Storm.

Diamonds clung to the black hole's surface, forming a vast 'diamond planet' suspended before them!!

Yveltal beat its wings, pupils narrowed—a strange fear rose within it.

Those sharp diamonds radiated fairy energy Yveltal detested most.

Even judging by sheer size, surviving a planetary collision like that would cause grievous injury!

"So many diamonds..." Steven murmured.

Ash swallowed and shouted:

"This—this is trying to smash Yveltal to pieces!"

Clemont: ???

"Haunter is amazing!" Bonnie's eyes sparkled as she lifted Dedenne.

Darkrai looked uneasy.

If it were me, could I hold up? Dark Z alone might be okay... but combined with the Diamond Storm? No way!

"Feel my pain—Yveltal."

Lu Ye was cold as he reached out: "This is a paid-for strike!!"

"Gengarrr!"

Haunter cradled the enormous meteor's disproportionate mass and flicked it with a light motion. Under gravity, the gigantic meteor surged like a judgment upon Yveltal!

Yveltal's pupils contracted;

pain washed across its face as it folded its wings and covered its head.

Boom!!

Sharp diamonds pelted Yveltal, shattering and weathering on impact. Then massive slabs of rock followed, and finally the raging orbiting black hole.

Crash!!

Yveltal, huge and heavy, plunged into the forest, its back smacking down and throwing up dust as the ground split into cracks!

Xerneas faltered, about to speak.

Should I help Yveltal so it won't sleep forever...?

Quiet settled over the area.

Clemont's jaw dropped: "Did they... actually defeat Yveltal?"

"It still has some fight in it," Steven said as Skarmory landed on the cliff, exhaling. "But Yveltal probably doesn't intend to continue fighting."

"Amazing... Haunter and Diancie were incredible!" Ash's eyes shone with excitement.

"Thanks, Ash~"

Princess Diancie politely thanked him, her gaze falling to the petrified AZ;

she fell silent.

Mega Diancie was gentler and more graceful, carrying a stronger sense of responsibility and duty.

"You must not blame yourself, Diancie."

Xerneas' branch above flashed light, its eyes gentle: "I will restore all of this."

"Xerneas..." Diancie whispered.

Elsewhere.

Lu Ye guided Latias to land close to the fallen Yveltal. Yveltal did not beat its wings to rise;

its expression was complex.

"What do you truly want, Arceus's envoy?"

"Nothing much... just give me face—don't attack Diancie's nation," Lu Ye said.

"Give... give you face?" Yveltal blinked in astonishment.

What a request!

I've never seen such a forthright and shameless human in my life!

Lu Ye narrowed his eyes. Darkrai appeared behind him.

"..." Darkrai's gaze toward Yveltal glinted faintly green.

"Fine—fine!" Yveltal nodded decisively.

Lu Ye nodded with satisfaction, though Yveltal had nothing much to offer.

Xerneas and Diancie were the real treasures.

The Death God has duties—after a scolding, that's enough. The main task was retrieving the Fairy Plate.

"Well then... pleased to meet you, Yveltal." Lu Ye smiled brightly.

Yveltal: "..."

Darkrai: o(▼皿▼メ;

)o

The dark bird of the night beat its blood-red wings and flew out of Orus Forest.

Bonnie hugged Dedenne: "It's flown away..."

"It will fall into sleep when it finds its next habitat," Steven's gaze flickered. "Death is necessary;

otherwise everything would lose meaning."

Everyone nodded thoughtfully.

Xerneas lifted its long neck;

its crystalline radiance flowed into Orus Forest and restored the petrified lives one by one.

Inside the Team Rocket Battleship, Meowth rubbed his eyes: "Feels like I had a good sleep, meow."

"Oh no!" James' face turned pale. "Damage to the ship is at 99%!"

Jessie hammered on a calculator and wailed: "If we pay back with funds, it will take seventy years!"

"What a hateful feeling~"

"Sco—nuh!"

The forest sprang back to life, though the crater made by the Dark Z remained clearly visible.

"Gengarrr~" Haunter chuckled and scratched its head.

Not that impressive, really~

Crystalline motes drizzled down;

AZ gradually regained consciousness, dazed, and slowly shook his head.

"AZ..." Princess Diancie tiptoed to his side.

AZ turned his gaze. Seeing Mega Diancie's crown, he showed a relieved smile: "Diancie... you succeeded in saving your nation, didn't you?"

Diancie nodded gently.

"That's wonderful..." AZ smiled.

Things I couldn't accomplish, wishes left unfulfilled—they were finally achieved by someone else...

AZ rose to his feet.

Sunlight fell on the broad shoulders of the man;

his body felt lighter, as if a sweet spring of water filled his parched form.

Lu Ye landed Latias and was greeted by Bonnie's triumphant cheers like a hero's homecoming. Ash pumped his fist excitedly, talking animatedly.

AZ looked up and saw Lu Ye, then walked slowly toward him.

"A trainer is someone who will fight alongside their Pokémon at any cost."

AZ's white-haired eyes flickered: "Thank you, Teacher Lu."

Lu Ye smiled faintly and pointed to the sky.

It was the scene of the Kalos king reuniting with his Eternal Flower across the ages.

Who would have thought they'd witness it here after Yveltal's departure?

AZ turned his head in a daze;

sunlight spilled down and a beam fell into AZ's palm.

A particularly beautiful, eternally flawless Flabébé—holding a blue flower—gently descended.

AZ's pupils contracted;

his body trembled as he stared at his Eternal Flower in disbelief.

Only when the Eternal Flower landed in AZ's hand did he shake and cup Flabébé, tears streaming down his face.

"For three thousand years, the Eternal Flower has lived in Orus Forest."

Xerneas lowered its head and met the tearful king's gaze with a dignified, kind voice:

"I have not forgiven you, AZ, but your Pokémon moved me over these thousand years... therefore I allow your reunion."

AZ was speechless;

his throat tightened as he clutched the smiling Eternal Flower in both hands and finally nodded vigorously.

"That's a very romantic story," Serena said, caught up in the emotion.

"It has a wonderful ending!" Bonnie said with a hands-behind-back smile.

"Flabébé? Looks kind of weak—not much use in battles," Ash muttered.

From left to right.

Lu Ye folded his arms;

Princess Diancie covered her mouth with a soft smile;

Steven rested his hand on his hip.

"Don't peek at Princess Diancie, Steven," Lu Ye said suddenly, looking ahead.

"I didn't!" Steven was unusually flustered.

"Ha, you blushed," Lu Ye teased.

"Ahem... maybe the battle was just intense," Steven coughed and clenched his fist.

Princess Diancie covered her mouth and smiled, her eyes crescent-shaped.

"By the way, Diancie." Lu Ye handed the Diancie Stone back: "This gem is yours again."

Diancie blinked slightly and shook her head with a smiling face.

"A gift once given should not be taken back, Mr. Lu."

"Thank you so much for your help, Teacher Lu, Mr. Steven!"

Princess Diancie bowed gracefully.

Lu Ye felt a touch wistful.

It's a pity Diancie has her own nation—can't bring her back to my café.

But that doesn't diminish what he gained from this journey.

"Then I'll accept this gem," Lu Ye said generously.

"Of course~" Diancie smiled faintly.

Teacher Lu looked down at the perfect pink diamond in his palm and tightened his grip.

"No peeking." Lu Ye said lightly.

"Just one look..." Steven tried to protest.

"No!"

...