Diancie didn't understand why, all of a sudden, she was being held in the arms of a human.
Toward humans—whether it was her, or the rest of the Carbink in her clan—they always kept a respectful but cautious distance.
There were stories that once, a companion had been lured away by humans with a few sweets, only to be taken to the market and sold off as diamonds.
So in that instant when she saw him, Diancie felt her blood run cold.
Her fear was even stronger than it had been moments before.
However…
Very quickly she realized something was wrong.
This human before her… seemed to be shielding her from that Pokémon's attack.
His body stood firm in front of her, one arm stretched straight out, aimed directly at the oncoming beam.
A pale-blue radiance enveloped his palm, holding back the destructive light completely.
Bewilderment and surprise tangled together in Diancie's chest.
She still didn't know where this human had appeared from.
Nor could she understand why he would save her.
She gave a tentative little struggle, but there was no resistance.
Clearly, he wasn't worried she might try to escape.
Diancie wanted to think further, but her head grew hazy.
That brief brush with the beam had still affected her.
She didn't know why she hadn't turned to stone, but a drowsiness she couldn't resist was welling up.
And at the same time—
Crack—
Diancie's eyes widened, staring helplessly as a fracture split across the ore in her arms.
Her heart trembled, as if she suddenly sensed something.
But fatigue had already claimed most of her spirit.
In the last moment before her eyes closed completely, the only thing she saw was that human, standing as her shield.
"E…lias?"
Murmuring softly, Diancie slipped into sleep.
---
[Six years old. This year, the energy in your body seemed to have finally accumulated to its limit.]
[Perhaps through some blessing, you noticed it was easier now for you to absorb life energy.]
[And in that same year, the Pokémon that had picked you up caused trouble. You watched it with your own eyes, chased by a great crimson bird.]
[Helpless, you acted. You saved Diancie.]
[You warped her instantly back to the underground caverns.]
[Of course, after doing so… the energy you had stored was once again heavily consumed.]
[For a time, you lost the chance to speak with Diancie again. But you still believed—it was worth it.]
"Mm…"
A soft sound escaped Diancie as she gradually awoke.
She rubbed her bleary eyes, feeling as though she had slept peacefully, at ease.
But when her vision cleared, her hands froze.
This wasn't her own room…
Then she remembered!
Diancie jolted, realizing that before she'd lost consciousness, she had nearly become one of those stone statues in the forest.
She leapt to her feet, poking her head around to investigate carefully.
No sign of that monstrous bird. No sign of the human who had saved her either.
Only, not far away, embedded in the earth, was a transparent pink diamond.
Her "Elias."
But now, across the gem's surface, ran a glaring fracture.
As though struck by some outside force, a crack had spread along its body.
At the same time, she keenly felt that the life force within it had grown faint—so faint it was hard to sense at all unless she concentrated.
Diancie thought back to her last fleeting suspicion before she'd blacked out.
Her breath caught, her heart pounding furiously.
"E-Elias!"
She rushed forward, cupping the gem in her tiny hands, calling out with care.
It might have sounded like foolish fantasy.
But she had a gut certainty—that human who saved her was none other than the ore she had picked up.
That familiar presence in the moment, and the gem's strange state afterward, both gave weight to this belief.
She could not accept that some random human had just happened to appear and rescued her perfectly in time.
Clutching the cracked stone, Diancie stroked its surface with aching tenderness, her chest full of panic.
Even if such a scar had been carved into her own body, she wouldn't have felt such fear.
Back at the clan's settlement, Diancie, of course, received severe scolding.
But she didn't care to listen. All that mattered was how her "Elias" was doing now.
Staring at the unchanging gem, she rubbed her little hands uneasily.
"Your Highness… this diamond—can it be repaired?"
Diancie could only pin her hopes on her elder.
But after one glance, her queen shook her head.
"The whole stone is already on the verge of breaking apart. It's impossible to fully mend it."
"If you've got that energy, it would be better to just make another one."
Her voice was plain truth.
After all, with Diancie's talent, creating a new diamond was supposed to be the simplest of tasks.
Yet—
Hearing this, Diancie felt her head reel with dizziness.
The stone… cannot be repaired.
For the first time, Diancie felt a deep, heavy guilt at her own weakness.
She wiped her eyes with her tiny hands, looking pitiable and fragile.
---
[After saving Diancie, you noticed keenly—your speed of absorbing energy seemed to increase.]
[It would not be long before the cost of using your power this time could be ignored.]
[But Diancie remained unable to climb out of her sorrow. Her meticulous care for you, convinced beyond all doubt that you were that human.]
[Seeing her like this, you wanted to give her a surprise.]
[Without realizing it, you yourself had begun to feel some affection for this Pokémon.]
"Diancie, the kingdom's festival is just a few days away."
"Are you still unable to make a diamond?"
At the center of the gathering ground, Diancie kept her head bowed, silently listening to her queen's voice.
There were no grand demands placed on her. Not even the requirement that the diamond endure forever.
But even so, the challenge was immense.
Not even an illusory diamond, one destined to vanish, could she create.
What's more…
Every time she closed her eyes lately, the memory of that soft embrace—wrapping around her on that day—would leap vividly back into her mind.
So much so that she couldn't quiet herself enough to train.
"For this festival, there are many of the clan who look forward to your performance."
With a quiet sigh, her queen chose not to press her further.
Only hoping that Diancie might, of her own will, strive for a little recognition.
Because… Diancie could not live sheltered under her wing forever.