Chapter 383: Three Parties (Two-in-One)
Nearby, Mewtwo was translating the conversation between Diancie and the elders from the livestream.
"Carb~" — Today, show us your power.
The elders urged Diancie to restore the Sacred Diamond’s former brilliance. Diancie looked reluctant and unwilling.
"Dia~" — I understand. I’ll do it. I’ll try.
"Dia~" — Though I don’t think I can...
As soon as it said that, the Great Elder Dai became furious. "Carb~" — Princess!
"Dia~" — Fine...
Diancie gave in and did as it was told. It raised its cute little hands, concentrating for a few seconds, then a pink glow appeared around its body, growing brighter and focusing at the center of its forehead. Petal-like pink diamonds began to materialize, forming a storm of pink diamonds in the air.
The elders were thrilled. "Carb~" — Excellent, Princess! Just like that! The Great Elder praised.
Encouraged, Diancie pushed harder, and the pink diamond storm began to solidify. But as it did, Diancie grew visibly strained.
"Probably won’t work." Rio muttered, watching the livestream. Through the screen, he could see Diancie’s level information:
[Pokémon: Diancie]
[Level: 60 (5520 days until next level)
[Talent: Legendary]
[Friendship: 0]
[Ability 1: Clear Body]
[Gender: —]
[Moves: Tackle (85%), Harden (85%), Diamond Storm (Learning), Guard Split (85%), Smack Down (85%), Flail (85%), Ancient Power (85%), Rock Polish (85%), Light Screen (85%), Rock Slide (85%), Skill Swap (85%), Power Gem (85%), Stealth Rock (85%), Moonblast (85%), Stone Edge (85%), Dazzling Gleam (85%), Fake Tears (85%), Flash Cannon (85%), Power Gem (85%)...]
[Description: A legendary Pokémon, a mutation of Carbink. It compresses carbon in the air between its hands to create countless diamonds in an instant. It possesses Mega Evolution power. After Mega Evolution, Diancie is both beautiful and talented; impurities on its body are shed, and bathed in light, it becomes dazzling to behold. The diamond on its head exceeds 2000 carats, and its noble, beautiful form is known as the ’Royal Pink Princess.’ ]
"Diamond Storm is still learning—it probably won’t work." Rio guessed as he watched Diancie attempt its signature move.
But he was also amazed by the system’s description of Diancie. The ability to create diamonds with its bare hands—and a 2000-carat Mega Stone on its head after Mega Evolution—was incredible. The largest diamond he’d ever seen was only a few carats. Whoever captured Diancie would never have to worry about money again.
Just then, the Diamond Storm Diancie was forming collapsed at the last moment.
"Dia~" — I knew I couldn’t do it. Diancie lowered its head in shame.
"Carb~" — You can do it—you were born for this. One of the elders urged.
"Dia~" — I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me.
"Dia~" — But I... Diancie’s eyes filled with tears.
"Carb~" — You must see Xerneas. The Great Elder said.
"Dia~" — Xerneas?
"Carb~" — Yes.
The Great Elder recalled a memory. "Carb~" — Long ago, when I traveled outside, I witnessed a terrible destruction in a place called Orus Forest.
"Carb~" — Countless Pokémon fled in terror as a wave of death spread from the forest’s center. Many Pokémon and plants perished under that dark energy.
"Carb~" — Just when I thought I would die too, Xerneas appeared, bringing a surge of life energy—the Fairy Aura—that held back the death energy, saving me and the other Pokémon. The forest gradually recovered thanks to its power. I believe you need that same power, Diancie.
Diancie fell into thought after hearing the Great Elder’s story. After a moment, it answered:
"Dia~" — So if I meet Xerneas and receive the Fairy Aura, I’ll be able to use my true power and create a Sacred Diamond?
"Carb~" — Yes. Believe in the Fairy Aura. The Great Elder said firmly.
Seeing the elder’s unwavering gaze, Diancie looked at the Carbink laboring in the underground world. Finally, it clapped its hands and smiled at the elders:
"Dia~" — Alright—I’ll go find it.
"Dia~" — Because I’ve always wanted to see the outside world too.
The Great Elder wasn’t satisfied with its answer. "Carb~" — Please take this more seriously.
"Dia~" — Fine, fine.
"Carb~" — The answer only needs—
Diancie beamed and answered first: "Dia~" — —one time, right? Got it.
The Great Elder looked at Diancie’s pure innocence and sighed helplessly.
"Carb~" — Follow me.
It signaled to the elders and the Carbink to send Diancie off. They headed toward an exit far from Rio’s position, and the livestream signal grew weak, forcing Rio to have Mewtwo Teleport closer.
Half an hour later, Diancie and a group of Carbink emerged from a cave into a vast, lush forest. Diancie looked around with wonder—it was its first time above ground.
"Carb~" — Princess, head north from here, and you’ll reach Orus Forest. The Great Elder pointed.
"Dia~" — Got it, Dai. I’ll find Xerneas. Wait for my good news.
Diancie hopped off in the direction the elder had pointed. "Carb~" — Princess, wait! The path to Xerneas will be dangerous. You can’t go alone—let Shinri and the others accompany you.
The Great Elder called out. "Carb~" — Princess, leave your safety to us.
Three level 40 Carbink hopped out from the group. Diancie looked at them, reluctant.
"Dia~" — I can handle myself—I don’t need them.
"Carb~" — Princess, that won’t do! You must have guards. Shinri, you three, follow the Princess! The Great Elder commanded.
"Carb~" — Yes, Great Elder. The three Carbink hurried to Diancie’s side. "Carb~" — Princess, with us by your side, you can relax.
Diancie looked at the three Carbink—barely half its height—and sighed.
"Dia~" — Let’s go. It headed toward Orus Forest, with the three guards forming a triangle around it.
"Carb~" — Princess, safe travels. The Great Elder and the other Carbink saw them off.
Meanwhile, Gengar, who had been tailing them, returned to Rio’s side. "What’s your plan now? The Princess is heading to the same place we were going." Old Ghost’s voice echoed.
"Since it’s the same direction, we follow. And it seems we’re not the only ones interested in Diancie." Rio smiled.
"We can just repeat what we did with the Carbink—the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."
"Others are after Diancie too?" Old Ghost asked.
"Two others, actually." Rio, now floating high above with Mewtwo, scanned the forest below. Mewtwo had sensed other humans nearby and alerted him. Following Mewtwo’s direction and using binoculars, he spotted a woman with fiery red hair and red stockings, dressed like a magician, standing in a tree with a Delphox, watching Diancie intently.
A hundred meters away, a ninja-like masked man stood in another tree with a Greninja, also watching Diancie.
Seeing them, Rio knew he could repeat his previous tactic—let them attack Diancie, then swoop in to save the day. It was a dirty trick, but as long as he didn’t harm Diancie, he wasn’t a bad person. Unlike these two, who clearly had malicious intentions.
"Old Ghost, don’t follow Diancie for now. Tail those two instead. Let’s learn more about them." Rio assigned another task.
"I’m your servant." Old Ghost glared at him but complied, flying toward the two. It slipped into the shadow of the magician woman with the Delphox.
About half an hour later, the ninja-like masked man with the Greninja approached the woman—they clearly knew each other. Through their conversation, Rio learned their identities:
The woman was Marilyn Flame, a professional jewel thief. She was after Diancie to exploit its diamond-creating ability for profit—seeing it as a walking diamond mine.
The masked man was Leirt, a member of an ancient ninja organization in Kalos. He wanted to capture Diancie both for money and to trade it for a high-ranking position in his organization.
Although they knew each other, they seemed to have a love-hate relationship. Their conversation ended in disagreement—neither willing to yield Diancie to the other.
"Hm? Mewtwo, you’re saying there’s someone else after Diancie too?"
Just then, Mewtwo alerted Rio that a large invisible ship several kilometers away was following Diancie, deploying miniature drones. A few had nearly reached them before Mewtwo destroyed them with Psychic.
Rio looked in the direction Mewtwo indicated—but couldn’t see the ship. "It’s cloaked, but I sensed it with Psychic." Mewtwo explained.
Rio called Old Ghost back and sent it toward the ship. "I owe you one." Old Ghost grumbled. "First Diancie, then those two, now a ship—is there going to be another target after this?"
"Sorry, sorry—I’ll let you beat up two legends to make up for it. You can take on both Xerneas and Yveltal." Rio quickly appeased it.
Hearing that, Old Ghost’s mood improved. "Alright, fine." "You can’t do without me."
Old Ghost headed toward the cloaked ship. As a Ghost-type, it could phase through objects. Soon, it infiltrated the ship. Through the livestream, Rio saw the interior—a large ship with only two occupants: a burly old man and a bespectacled young woman.
After Old Ghost spent a long time observing, Rio learned their identities: they were a father-daughter duo of international thieves. The father was Algates, an expert in ancient civilizations; the daughter was Milis. Like Marilyn and Leirt, they were after Diancie. But unlike the other two, they knew Diancie’s current abilities were insufficient and planned to wait until it grew stronger before using its diamond-creating power to monopolize the high-end energy market.