After the meal, the Pokémon cleared away the dishes and went off to attend to their own work.
Dusknoir called Grovyle, Riolu, Celebi, and Ampharos aside and spoke earnestly.
"To be honest, I deceived you earlier.
We originally had no intention of betraying His Highness Dark Dialga.
We only approached you so that we could stab you in the back later-"
"Yes, I know." Grovyle immediately nodded at that.
Celebi and Riolu reacted the same way. Only Ampharos seemed out of step with them, exclaiming in astonishment.
"No way!"
"...
Are you serious?"
Grovyle gave Ampharos a strange look, unable to tell for a moment whether it was clowning around or really that naive.
"Ahem." Dusknoir also cleared his throat, easing the somewhat awkward atmosphere.
"In short, we are confessing now because we truly wish to join your side.
We are willing to swear on our souls that we will no longer serve His Highness Dark Dialga!"
Dusknoir solemnly placed a hand against his chest and bowed. The seven Sableye lowered their heads in unison.
Only then did Ampharos belatedly realize that its reaction had indeed been a little slow. It scratched its head sheepishly, the electricity flickering around its body gradually subsiding.
"Kuku.
In that case, tell us your plan," Grovyle asked bluntly.
Dusknoir immediately replied, "As I said just now, we ostensibly came to make contact with you, but our true purpose was to secretly stab you in the back at the last moment.
His Highness Dark Dialga has now completely lost his reason. His condition is extremely unstable, his thoughts are confused, and his actions lack logic.
He did not even take any measures to monitor us when he sent us here this time.
Therefore, I believe we can turn his plan against him-"
Dusknoir's plan was