[After leaving the Underground Kingdom, you don't head toward Cogita's cottage in the forest.]
[Instead, having already contacted Lysandre earlier, you're now preparing to go to Team Flare's base in Shalour City.]
[Perhaps due to issues with the giant diamond, there are notably fewer Pokémon along the way.]
[After receiving the news, the vast majority of Pokémon have temporarily evacuated this area.]
[This makes you realize even more how crucial the diamond truly is. Dianna probably hadn't told you the full story.]
...
As Elias traveled using Teleport, he reached his own conclusion.
Dianna's actions made sense.
She didn't want him or Diancie to feel excessive pressure, so she inevitably understated the gravity of the situation.
This queen of the clan was exactly as she'd been a century ago.
She'd rather suffer the corrosion of Yveltal's energy herself than let Diancie, who was meant to carry the clan forward, bear the brunt of that burden.
For a brief moment, Elias even thought that perhaps his limited lifespan wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Otherwise…
He wasn't sure he'd have the resolve he had now—to intentionally provoke Yveltal.
As he thought this, Elias suddenly felt movement at his waist.
He glanced down to find it was coming from a Poké Ball clipped there.
Elias couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Before setting out, he'd deliberately hidden Diancie and the others' Poké Balls under the pillow.
To Pokémon, a Poké Ball held by a beloved Trainer was a comforting home.
But if someone with malicious intent took it, it could become an almost unbreakable restraint.
Since he was heading into danger—possibly death—there was no reason to bring Diancie and the others' Poké Balls along.
He'd left them behind to allow them the choice of keeping or destroying them later.
Thus, the Poké Balls on his waist should all be empty.
Was it just his imagination?
That was the only logical explanation Elias could think of.
Yet, given his mental strength, this kind of confusion shouldn't have happened…
While Elias was lost in thought, the Poké Ball moved again.
This time, Elias identified exactly which one it was.
The moment his eyes landed on it, his heart skipped a beat.
Though that Poké Ball appeared identical to the others, Elias felt an inexplicable familiarity with it.
A bad feeling welled up in his chest.
When he separated it from the others, his keen psychokinesis detected several strands of fur clinging to it.
More precisely… fox fur.
Pop—
Without giving him a chance to react, the Poké Ball suddenly opened in Elias's hand.
In a flash of white light, a familiar large fox appeared in front of him.
Its eyes held guilt—but also a hint of smugness.
"Delphox!"
Elias called the Pokémon's name with a grim expression.
Delphox, who should've been curled up asleep beneath the blankets, had just popped out of a Poké Ball he'd unknowingly brought along.
Elias immediately realized he'd been tricked by this fox!
Thinking back on Delphox's odd behavior the previous night, it had clearly been premeditated!
"Wuu!"
Delphox affectionately clung to Elias, giving him a flattering look.
She'd guessed correctly!
In truth, she'd suspected Elias's motives for a while now.
As a Pokémon who'd once lived freely in the forest, she knew exactly how well he treated them all.
When she was wild, she'd witnessed interactions between other Trainers and Pokémon.
The worst cases were simply master-servant relationships, with Pokémon leading miserable lives.
Even in better cases—partners at best—the treatment was far from what they had with Elias.
Delphox searched her mind for the right word, but couldn't precisely describe their relationship.
Still, one thing was clear to her.
A plan like Dianna's—sacrificing herself so Elias and Diancie could live safely—was something Elias would never truly accept.
Yet he'd agreed readily, without hesitation.
Delphox's clever mind quickly deduced something was off.
Her Trainer was definitely hiding something from them!
That was why she'd intentionally stayed awake late last night and pretended to sleep in this morning to deceive him.
In the end, while Elias was distracted, she stuffed a pillow under the covers to fake her sleeping form.
Then she quietly slipped into a Poké Ball and followed him here.
Thinking of her success, Delphox felt both proud and nervous.
Fortunately, Elias didn't habitually keep his psychokinesis active at home all the time.
Otherwise, her plan would have fallen apart midway.
As Elias pieced together what had happened, he understood why Delphox had been in the Poké Ball.
Looking at the fox clinging to him, he felt both helpless and irritated.
If other Trainers learned he'd been tricked by his own Pokémon like this, they'd surely mock him.
Cogita shared part of the blame, too. She'd taken a bath early in the morning, forcing him to deactivate his psychokinesis.
"Go back."
After firmly pulling Delphox off him, Elias issued the order without hesitation.
He was going to provoke Yveltal.
And he planned to push it to the breaking point.
Given that legendary Pokémon's strength, Delphox stood no chance at her current level.
Yet Delphox rarely chose this moment to openly disobey.
"Wuu!"
Her gaze instantly shifted as she bared her white teeth, glaring fiercely at him.
Several sharp fangs glinted coldly, as if she might leap forward and pin her Trainer down at any moment.
Having come this far, Delphox refused to leave.
She now fully understood—Elias was heading straight into danger.
What Pokémon would calmly watch its Trainer walk into certain death?
"Be good. I'll be back soon."
Seeing her defiance, Elias frowned.
He hoped his authority would have some effect.
Unfortunately…
For a Delphox who'd already made up her mind, Elias's attitude no longer mattered.
As for "I'll be back soon"—she wasn't naive like Diancie; there was no way she'd fall for that.
No matter what he said, she'd follow along.
Moreover…
"Wuu wuu~ (If you don't let me come, I'll tell Diancie and the others.)"
Even at a time like this, Delphox's cunning nature didn't rest.
...
Admittedly, Delphox's threat was highly effective.
Elias opened his mouth, but the words he intended to say died on his lips.
He knew Delphox wasn't bluffing.
Seeing him hesitate, Delphox's expression grew triumphant.
Thankfully, she'd recently found some useful human-world books through Diancie.
Otherwise, she might never have discovered this brilliant tactic—blackmail.
---
Delphox: Elias, you wouldn't want Diancie to find out about this, would you?