"Welcome back," Diablos stated, the Spiritomb's gaze traveling to each member of the group in turn, his jagged mouth curving into a delighted grin. He knew precisely what to expect from this situation. The hostility left by Renard's departure and the overall bewilderment consuming their thoughts left only the possibility of an awkward silence to fall upon them.

However, he would not allow such a thing to consume the situation. There were a number of important matters to discuss, and although he chose to speak through his Spiritomb form at the moment, it was inevitable that they would notice his less imposing, yet far more capable form before long. It just struck him as being far more productive to get that revelation over with, so that things could move forward.

"I would normally inquire as to what spurred you to return so abruptly, but I believe I already know. Plasma has that amusing tendency to speak aloud even when I communicate with him privately. In case you have not worked this out, he carries one of my soul fragments," Diablos continued. Plasma waved one of his lightning bolt appendages cheerily at the mention of his name.

"I figured that out," Force interjected tersely, although judging by the look Iris and Cecilia cast his way, he had not shared this discovery with anyone else.

"Did you now?" Diablos chuckled. "Then your evolved form's aura capabilities are leagues above what they once were. In any case, there have been a number of interesting developments in your absence. The most obvious of which may be the recent recovery of mobility, but even that feels trivial compared to what has just resulted from our Ninetales' friend ill-conceived attempt to confront me."

"What are you even talking about?" Cecilia demanded impatiently, her flames crackling loudly, and her blue eyes narrowed at the Spiritomb suspiciously.

"See for yourself," Diablos answered, and swiveled around to look towards his other self, the smaller ghost having gone unnoticed from its present location on the other side of the room. One by one, the other Pokemon followed his gaze, and to make things easier on them, Diablos had his second form step closer, so that the light of Cecilia's flames would better illuminate the features of the second Pokemon.

"Hi!" Plasma greeted enthusiastically, darting nearer to the second ghost and orbiting around it like an overexcited satellite. "Are you a new pet? Do you have a name already? How long have you been here? Ooh, can I-"

"Breathe, Plasma," Diablos suggested pleasantly, speaking through the smaller ghost, and smiling fondly at the Rotom. "I'm Diablos."

"Wow, really? You two have the same name? What are the odds of that?" Plasma chirped. "Maybe we should come up with a nickname or something to make it less confusing. Like Diablos One and Diablos Two, or maybe D-One and D-Two, for short."

Kaito and the others exchanged looks, and judging by their uncomfortable expressions, none of them knew what to make of this situation. Cecilia and Force both narrowed their eyes suspiciously at the second ghost, whereas Kaito seemed more confused than wary. Iris, unsurprisingly, chose to passively keep her distance.

"I confess that I myself am unsure of the exact circumstances behind this matter," Diablos said, continuing to address the group as the smaller ghost. He reached up and plucked one of the golden rings dangling from his horn, and twirled it absently in his paw. "This body is not merely a host, as you may initially suspect. It is an extension of myself...and if Renard's reaction is anything to go by, it may be my true form."

"Your true form?" Kaito repeated blankly, peering closer at the smaller ghost. "So you're not really a Spiritomb?"

"I have no idea," the pint-sized ghost lamented, idly tossing the ring into the air and catching it as it descended. He continued to play catch with himself in this manner as he explained, "I do feel much more at ease with it as the central point of my thoughts, and it is infinitely more capable than my Spiritomb self...yet I still feel connected to the other souls, and can communicate with them just as before."

"Wait, how did any of this come about?" Kaito asked, shaking his head in confusion. Diablos smiled mischievously.

"It is admittedly a bit of a long story," he noted.

"Then summarize it," Cecilia retorted irritably. She had not relaxed an inch since arriving at the Chateau, although Diablos could hardly fault her for that. She was the most hostile member of the group by default when it came to matters concerning him, and he did not expect that to change in the near future.

"Very well," the djinn chortled, rubbing his hands together delightedly, then cocked his head to the side so that the ring he was playing with hooked itself back onto his horn. Plasma let out an approving squeal before moving further away from him. "There is an ongoing territory war within the Eterna Forest, born partially from the animosity a former member of the Hive feels towards the current queen. That hostility has evolved into venom over the years, it seems, and my presence has amplified the darkness within her soul. Regrettable as this course may be, the warring between factions serves a use to me...as lives are lost and struggles endured, greater darknesses are born. In the end, I have harvested the energy within the souls sacrificed to the war."

"Son of a-" Force spat, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at Diablos. Iris cringed a little bit, but moved closer to the Lucario, as if her presence might soothe his displeasure. Kaito's expression was impassive, revealing neither approval nor dissent to what Diablos had said.

"Do not mistake my words as me encouraging the war. Senseless destruction and death serve little use to me," Diablos said sternly, his eyes flashing towards Cecilia, rather than Force. The Quilava blinked once, but said nothing in reply. "The one leading the war effort is detestable, even by my standards. Her darkness, fueled by pure hatred, is like a corrosive poison. Her sole value to me is that her existence strengthens the darknesses of her associates, who firmly believe in their cause, and her more capable adversaries, who push themselves above and beyond in the hopes of vanquishing her."

"This is messed up, you know that, right?" Cecilia growled. "You talk like you're trying to get the most points in a game, by playing two sides against one another."

"I would be delighted to hear your alternative plan," Diablos answered with a playful grin. "My efforts thus far have been successful. My Spiritomb self has regained basic mobility, thanks to the energy I've gathered. However, it seems that perhaps my efforts were not as undetectable as I originally presumed."

"Should we just be resigning ourselves to asking what he means every time he pauses for breath?" Force wondered. Iris stifled a giggle with her paw, and even Cecilia seemed momentarily amused, although she maintained her rigid demeanor.

"You need not say anything to prompt elaboration," Diablos chuckled. "Not long after regaining my mobility and relocating to this very room, two Pokemon entered the Chateau. You have glimpsed them both. One was that elegant, nine-tailed fox, named Renard, and the latter was a Hive Beedrill, known as Bee-Bee. I knew their names already, but curiously, Renard seemed to likewise know mine."

"What?" Kaito blurted, his eyes darting between the Spiritomb and the other ghost, as if unsure which one he was supposed to be focusing on. Diablos waved his paw to regain the Togetic's attention.

"I thought that was particularly interesting. He was hostile by default, yet identified me by name. I swiftly deduced that he may have had a history with me, prior to my sealing. The species is particularly long-lived, if I recall, and his wariness and demeanor all but confirmed that he knew not only my name, but of my common abilities to read a person's heart, and be nourished by their darkness. As for my efforts, Bee-Bee seemed to believe I was influencing the Eterna War. They had come here, perhaps knowing I resided here, in an effort to confront me."

"I really didn't tell anyone we operated from the Chateau," Cecilia insisted defensively, although no one had yet given any indication that they suspected this.

"How they determined my whereabouts is of absolutely no concern to me. Renard seems to have numerous unnatural abilities. It is more than conceivable that he could sense or pinpoint my presence, particularly if he has past history with me," Diablos said, waving his arm dismissively. "As for the actual confrontation...it went quite poorly, all-around. Renard's apprehension of his darkness made him passive, and Bee-Bee's attacks were ineffective against my ghostly form. But perhaps I got too confident, as they soon built up their resolves to eliminate me. Bee-Bee possessed one of those Mega Stones, and Renard a Key Stone that acts as the anchor."

Kaito inhaled sharply, his eyes widening in alarm, and even Force whispered an oath under his breath. Cecilia merely squinted, evidently the least familiar with how much power was contained within those stones.

"When he activated the Key Stone to enable her evolution...this form was somehow simultaneously unlocked from within my Keystone base," Diablos said, dramatically gesturing to his current form. "You cannot imagine my feelings of elation...there is so much power contained within this unimposing form...and I even regained a flicker of my memory, useless as it currently is in deciphering many of the mysteries surrounding me."

There was a long silence as the group silently digested his speech, and when they looked up again, he merely smiled.

"Wait, is that it?" Kaito asked, bemused.

"All that is worth elaborating upon. You arrived soon afterwards, and put an end to the conflict. The last thing of note is Renard's peculiar attachment to that stone," Diablos stated, gesturing towards Force, and the Lucarionite bracer clutched in his paw. "Very sentimental towards it, and he desired to reclaim ownership of it. Yet, I can't understand why...we found it nestled in the Solaceon Ruins, in a hidden chamber that had seemingly been built to house an enigmatic object such as that. If it had been owned by another previously...why was it found there? Or does it merely remind him of a past possession? I do not know...but it intrigues me all the same."

"Um," Iris began, fidgeting nervously as she spoke. "What sort of things are you able to do now?" Her cheeks flushed as the rest of the group gave her a curious glance. "I mean, you said you're more capable now, right?" she added hastily.

"Indeed," Diablos agreed, offering the Kirlia a fond smile. He was a little surprised that Iris was the one to ask the question, but he was far from displeased to be asked. "I am not yet certain of the scope of my abilities, and I have not had the opportunity to experiment with my limits. I am for sure able to employ telekinesis, produce Shadow Balls, and these rings can create portals of some kind to transport objects that pass through them. As I still feel the connection to the Spiritomb Keystone, I suspect I maintain all those abilities as well."

The smaller ghost paused, then lifted one hand up to his chest level and focused for a moment, yet nothing happened.

"Ah, a tiny correction. This body does not have direct access to the soul fragments. But I wonder...am I able to do this?"

Diablos focused again, and from across the room, a green sphere emerged from the Spiritomb's core, hovering ominously in the air. Diablos then seized one of the golden rings from a horn and swiped it through the air in front of him. The ring expanded during the motion, conjuring a swirling blue portal within its center. With only a moment's hesitation, Diablos extended his own hand into the portal, and a second ring materialized beside the Spiritomb. A disembodied arm emerged from the second portal and fumbled awkwardly for a moment before managing to locate and clasp its hand around the Spiritomb soul, and then withdrew back into the ring.

With a triumphant shout, Diablos pulled his arm out of the portal ring, the soul fragment clutched within his hand, the green sphere pulsing ominously.

"Lovely! I can CREATE access to my soul pool. That means, an issue like the failed soul transfer with Shadow is unlikely to happen again. Of course...this is the only body capable of producing these portals, so it may not be as useful if I'm operating through an active host," Diablos murmured, his yellow eyes glittering with excitement. With a shrug, he nonchalantly threw the soul fragment back into the portal, watching with unabashed delight as the sphere emerged from the second portal and rejoined with the Spiritomb.

"I don't suppose you know the range on those portals?" Kaito wondered. Diablos grinned and shook his head.

"No idea. I will have to experiment," he answered, his expression becoming thoughtful. "They seem to cause no harm to the objects or individuals passing through them, but even so, I would not be comfortable using them as a means of traveling until I've determined that range. Would likewise need to check for any discrepancy on distance, angle, and location. Every instance thus far, I've only had them come out within the same room, where I can see the results."

"So...do you believe you have regained the abilities necessary to assist with our agenda?" Kaito pressed seriously. "You said when we unsealed you that you couldn't be of much help with your current power. Has that changed?"

Diablos was silent for a few moments, considering the question fully. It would not do to commit to something if he was not confident that he had reached a point where his abilities were sufficient for the task. Back in the winter, when he had been sealed, he had only been conscious of how little power he actually possessed. The stories Kaito had referenced, albeit vaguely, suggested that his powers could influence the world on a grander scale than he had been capable of doing. However, now that his Spiritomb core had regained mobility, and he had regained access to an infinitely more powerful and capable form, it seemed that perhaps now he could indeed benefit the group's cause.

"I believe it has," Diablos answered finally. "However, I request a little bit of time to grow more accustomed to my form and abilities before we proceed with your ambitions. A secondary concern is that the Chateau may no longer be ideally suited for our base of operations. Renard and Bee-Bee are aware that I have been residing here, and before long, a second attempt may be made to engage me. Their threat is not to be underestimated."

"They're that strong?" Cecilia asked, cocking her head.

"Not just them, either. It seems I will never live down the death of Echo and Rio," he lamented, shaking his head. "I've made so many powerful enemies in doing so. Shadow, Renard, that Absol from the forest...I can only wonder how many more come out of the woodwork in pursuit of avenging them."

"Well, maybe you shouldn't kill Pokemon for no reason," Force said curtly.

Diablos rolled his eyes. "Yes...even my allies won't let me live that down. Do you not understand by now that my actions were out of desperation, rather than malice? Ignoring my selfish agenda in pursuing Shadow in the first place, the fact was that they interrupted the transfer of the soul, and ordered him to flee the scene. Once he was out of range, my control on you would be lifted, and you would have had no idea why you were under attack, to say nothing of your ineptitude in combat."

"Don't call me weak!" the Lucario snapped, clenching his fist around the Lucarionite bracer, and blue aura surged around his body momentarily as if his entire body had been set alight. Iris recoiled from the sudden outburst, but Force seemed to realize what was going on right away, because he flinched, fumbling momentarily with the Lucarionite bracer before hastily tossing it aside, as though it were an unpleasant piece of trash. Once free of his grasp, the stone ceased glowing, and the aura faded from his body.

"Ah-ah-ah, don't mishandle that," Diablos said, grinning cheekily, and wagging one finger at the Lucario scoldingly. "Renard told you to cherish it, remember? In any case, parents seeking to protect their kits from a hostile source are unlikely to pull punches. Knowing my time in control was limited, I had to end the conflict swiftly, and that, unfortunately, required lethal force. I assure you, I do not relish the outcome, but I will make the best of the situation."

"That's how you operate," Kaito remarked softly.

"Oh? You've learned that about me?" Diablos chuckled, his eyes glittering with amusement.

"With so many complaints about your methods and actions, I am at least aware that you are...consistent, in your approach," Kaito answered carefully. "Pragmatic to a fault. Results justifying the means, with acceptance of risk and consequences."

Cecilia and Force both shot the Togetic mildly disgruntled looks, but made no comment. It was easy for Diablos to deduce what they were thinking, even without trying to read their thoughts or hearts. They disagreed with Kaito's acceptance of the past situations. Of course, Diablos saw no issue with their dissent. He had made poor decisions in pursuit of his goals, and as a result, had lost much of the trust of some of his allies. However, he would strive to learn from these errors and correct his flaws whenever possible.

"Let's move on," Diablos suggested pleasantly. "What are the plans moving forward? I intend to relocate my Spiritomb core, and experiment with my abilities and limitations, but what about the rest of you, in the meantime?"

"I still intend to inspect the Solaceon Ruins," Kaito answered, as if he had been expecting the question. "I want to figure out the significance of its treasure and guardians. Perhaps it will even offer some insight as to why you initially appeared as a Spiritomb, if that is not your true form."

"I'm not going with you," Force said bluntly, folding his arms across his chest. "I don't want to be anywhere NEAR that place again."

Disappointment flashed across Kaito's face, before he turned his attention to Cecilia. She blinked, and then frowned. "Ugh...why?"

"Because Lin's still in Johto," Kaito explained. "I am not well-suited to intense combat situations, so I'd ideally want you or Lin to accompany me to an area that has hostile guardians within it."

Force muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a complaint that even Kaito was calling him weak, and Diablos fought to keep a straight face, although Kaito gave no indication that he had heard the Lucario's muttering. He was absently massaging his chest, as if concerned about his heart rate.

"And...we could maybe visit Floaroma Meadow again," Iris suggested in an undertone to Force, the Lucario's face lighting up at the mention.

"And I'm going to stay home and watch TV!" Plasma said enthusiastically. "Johto was a nice vacation, and their radio stations are WAY better, but there's no place like home, you know? Just like in that movie, where the Pyroar, the Bisharp, and the Cacturne help this trainer girl with a Lillipup find her way through some foreign land-"

"Is that the one with an evil Gardevoir in it?" Iris asked, sounding a mix between potentially offended, and genuinely curious. Force gave her a bewildered look, and Iris blushed. "I...think I read the book version?"

"The next question I have," Diablos interjected. "Is that after I've relocated and gotten more comfortable with my abilities, when or where should we get in touch with one another? Again, we may prefer to avoid the Chateau for a time, although I have contact with Plasma if needed, but what about the rest of you?"

Kaito considered this for a few moments before finally answering, "Celestic Town."

"Celestic Town?" Diablos repeated blankly, and even the rest of the group exchanged perplexed glances.

"It's a very small town between here and Solaceon Town, very rich in Sinnoh history and mythology," Kaito explained. "It's on the east side of Mt. Coronet. It's probably where I want to head next after examining the Solaceon Ruins," he continued.

"And I imagine you do not intend to explain further at this time," Diablos chuckled, and his eyes glittered knowingly. "Very well. When should we meet up? A week or so, to provide ample travel time for those who require it?"

"The start of May," Kaito confirmed. He glanced towards the rest of the group. "Is that good for everyone?"

Force and Iris gave identical shrugs in response, whereas Cecilia just nodded. Diablos chuckled.

"Lovely...I look forward to it."