Chapter 382: Diancie (Two-in-One)
"Among them, mutations sometimes occur—and that mutated Pokémon is the legendary Mythical Pokémon, Diancie."
Rio looked at the cave entrance the Carbink had entered and muttered. "So, if I follow this cave deep underground, will I find Diancie?"
His eyes narrowed—he suddenly had a new destination. "Sorry, Charizard—we’re not going to Orus Forest for now." Rio recalled Charizard.
"Rrrrr~" Z1 poked its head out of the bag, calling out when it heard Rio change plans.
"Don’t worry—I’m not taking you to your destination either. I just have somewhere I want to go. We’ll go to Orus Forest after." Rio didn’t need Old Ghost to translate—he knew what Z1’s cry meant.
He entered the cave. It was narrow—barely wide enough for him alone, which was why he’d recalled Charizard. He walked deeper, the light fading until he had to use his phone’s flashlight. But after about twenty minutes, he realized the tunnel was forming a V-shape—he had been going down, but now he was going back up. Eventually, he emerged onto a bare cliff face.
Rio was annoyed. "So where did that Carbink go? Don’t tell me I followed it all the way for nothing?" He walked along the cliff but found no sign of the Carbink, so he pulled out Charizard’s Luxury Ball and released it.
He mounted Charizard and continued toward Orus Forest—but just as he took off, he spotted the Carbink again. This time, it was being chased by a Sableye across the bare mountaintop.
"Oh, right—I remember now. In the Pokémon food chain, Sableye love eating shiny crystals, and Carbink happens to be on its menu." Rio raised an eyebrow.
"Also, Gabite likes shiny things too—not to eat, but to collect and admire. They keep them in their dens."
"Charizard, help that Carbink—if Sableye catches it, it’s done for." Rio patted Charizard’s back. He wanted this Carbink to lead him deep underground.
"Wait—hold on." Just as Charizard was about to intervene, Rio stopped it. On the other side of the battlefield, a wild level 42 Gabite appeared, glaring angrily at the Sableye chasing the Carbink—like someone whose precious possession had been targeted.
"Gab~" The Gabite was fast—much faster than the fleeing Carbink or the Sableye. It reached them in seconds, swinging a Dragon Claw at Sableye, sending it flying into a boulder.
"Gab~" — Get lost!
Gabite shielded the Carbink. The Sableye, terrified, struggled up and fled.
"Carb~" — Thank you.
The relieved Carbink thanked Gabite. "Gab~" — No need—just come home with me.
Gabite turned, revealing a cruel grin, and grabbed the Carbink with its claw. The Carbink froze—it had escaped one danger only to fall into another. It tried to fight back, but Gabite knocked it out with a single claw strike.
"Gab~" — You’re not going anywhere now.
Gabite smugly carried the Carbink toward its den. Just then, Rio and Charizard landed.
"Drop that Carbink, and I’ll spare your life." Rio stood with his hands on his hips.
Gabite was unimpressed. "Gab~" — Get lost if you don’t want to die.
"Roooar~" — Say that again.
Charizard roared, releasing its overwhelming pressure—comparable to a legendary god. Gabite’s expression shifted, but it still refused to back down. It set the Carbink down and charged at Charizard with Dragon Claw.
Three seconds later, it was sent flying into a rock by Charizard’s Dragon Claw, knocked out.
"Didn’t have to do that, little Gabite." Rio sighed, walking over to the unconscious Carbink and feeding it a medicine. Moments later, it woke up—and was terrified by the sight of Rio and Charizard looming over it.
"Don’t be scared—we’re different from Sableye and Gabite. We’re good people who help those in need." Rio pointed at the defeated Gabite.
The Carbink followed his gaze and relaxed when it saw Gabite was truly down. "If you don’t believe me, you can leave now—I won’t stop you." Rio added.
The Carbink studied Rio and Charizard, then hopped away without looking back, heading northwest. It glanced back every few steps until it was fifty meters away, then called out.
"Carb~" — Thank you.
Then it really ran off. Rio watched its direction and smiled. "I’m not stopping you—but I never said I wouldn’t follow you."
He recalled Charizard and released Gengar, using its psychic power to tail the Carbink. Minutes later, he watched it enter another cave. Rio and Gengar followed.
The tunnel went straight down this time. After about half an hour, they emerged into a vast underground world.
"It’s huge." Even Old Ghost couldn’t help but marvel in Rio’s mind.
"So shiny." Rio was equally amazed—the underground world was not only vast but filled with glittering crystals everywhere he looked. Carbink were everywhere, working in groups to carry crystals.
The Carbink Rio had followed rejoined its group, chattering away—probably sharing its adventure. "Old Ghost, I need you to scout ahead. I can’t go in there myself." Rio said. The cavern was huge, but there were too many Carbink—he’d be spotted easily.
"Alright, alright—leave it to me." Old Ghost knew what Rio wanted. "What are you looking for?"
"I need you to find a Pokémon with a large pink diamond on its head. It’s called Diancie—a legendary Mythical Pokémon, and the queen of the Carbink." Rio explained. "Remember the fight with Lugia at the Sevii Islands? When Munchlax used Metronome to summon a giant diamond to block Lugia’s Aeroblast? That was Diancie’s signature move."
"A giant diamond from Munchlax’s Metronome?" Old Ghost recalled the battle from years ago—it was memorable because they’d almost been beaten to death by Lugia. It remembered vividly: Munchlax had used Metronome to summon a giant pink diamond that blocked Lugia’s Aeroblast, saving them from serious injury.
"I get it. I’ll go find it." Old Ghost took the livestream camera and vanished into the ground.
Rio released Mewtwo to watch the livestream and keep guard. With Mewtwo around, he could watch without interruption and sense any approaching Pokémon. But after half an hour, no Carbink appeared behind him.
During that time, Old Ghost had wandered through the underground world, seeing countless diamonds and Carbink—and nothing else. It seemed the world was populated only by Carbink.
After three hours of livestreaming, Rio finally spotted the Pokémon he’d been waiting for: Diancie. It was being chased by a group of Carbink, laughing joyfully.
"That’s the one with the pink diamond on its head—slip into its shadow." Rio prompted.
Old Ghost followed instructions and slipped into Diancie’s shadow.
"Carb~" — Please wait, Princess Diancie!
An older-looking Carbink called out as it chased Diancie. But Diancie kept running, finally losing them after crossing a river of diamonds.
"Princess Diancie, time’s up! Please come with us!" The Carbink called out anxiously, then scattered to search. As soon as they dispersed, Diancie revealed itself from behind a pile of diamonds.
"Dia~" — Hehe, hide-and-seek is so fun.
Diancie giggled. A group of young Carbink approached, wanting to play.
"Dia~" — Shh, everyone—not a sound!
Diancie put a finger to her lips. But the Carbink ignored her and kept calling out, eventually drawing back the older Carbink.
"Dia~" — Busted.
Diancie sighed in regret. "Carb~" — Now’s not the time for that!
The lead elder Carbink said, frustrated. It hopped toward Diancie, but accidentally bumped into a pile of diamonds, burying itself.
"Dia~" — Shimako, are you okay?!
Diancie called out worriedly. "Carb~" — I’m fine, Princess.
The elder popped out—only to be bonked on the head by a falling diamond. The comical sight made Diancie burst out laughing.
"Carb~" — This is no time to laugh, Princess Diancie!
The elder said, exasperated. "Carb~" — Princess.
Just then, a Carbink with a long white beard hopped over. "Carb~" — Great Elder.
The other Carbink said in unison. "Dia~" — Dai.
Diancie tensed up at its appearance. "Carb~" — Princess Diancie, you have an important duty. If you forget, we’ll be very troubled.
The Great Elder named Dai said. "Dia~" — I understand.
Diancie apologized. "Carb~" — Princess Diancie, follow me.
The Great Elder hopped away, and Diancie obediently followed. Half an hour later, they reached the core of the underground world. There, floating in the center, was a massive pink diamond—three or four meters tall, surrounded by purple, translucent crystal pillars.
The Great Elder said: "Carb~" — That Sacred Diamond has long given our kingdom immense power and peace.
"Carb~" — But now, it can no longer withstand the passage of time. Its life is fading—its sacred light is waning.
Diancie looked at the diamond, unconvinced. "Dia~" — But it’s still so beautiful and shining! If you worry too much, Elder, your light will grow dim.
"Carb~" — Please listen carefully!
The Great Elder said angrily. "Dia~" — Alright, alright.
"Carb~" — Only one answer.
"Dia~" — Fine.
"Carb~" — If we lose the Sacred Diamond, our kingdom will face ruin.
"Dia~" — You’re making too much of it.
"Carb~" — I’m not! Only you, Princess Diancie, can create a Sacred Diamond.
"A Sacred Diamond?" Rio had been watching the exchange closely. He raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on the massive pink diamond in the phone’s livestream.