Chapter 384: Approaching Diancie (Two-in-One)
After learning about the father-daughter duo, Rio couldn’t help but sigh. Just one Diancie, and the moment it emerged, it had attracted three parties—all wanting to exploit it for profit. Admittedly, he’d had that thought too at first. A being that could create diamonds with its bare hands would mean never worrying about money again. But he couldn’t be too greedy—he was already a League Champion, well-provided for in every way. He didn’t need to use Diancie.
"Since that’s the case, let’s see who can win Diancie’s heart." Rio muttered.
The father-daughter duo had already noticed the magician Marilyn and the ninja Leirt. Their plan was the same as his—let the other two capture Diancie first, then swoop in to save the day and get close to it. Since they were all thinking the same thing, he needed to change his strategy.
There was a psychological principle called the primacy effect—the first impression formed has a lasting impact on future relationships. Since they were all aiming for the "rescue the damsel" approach, he needed to get there first. By the time they tried to copy him, the effect would be much weaker.
"Alright, Old Ghost—come back." After gathering intel on the father-daughter duo, Rio called Old Ghost back and had it tail Diancie instead. The three parties no longer needed to be followed.
For the next two or three days, they followed from a distance. Then, one night, Diancie—who had been traveling obediently with its three Carbink guards—ditched them and ran off alone, wanting to explore the world on its own without protection.
"Perfect—this is our chance." Rio smiled. Every naive princess thought the outside world was wonderful and that guards were a burden. Diancie would soon learn otherwise.
Through his binoculars, he saw the Delphox-using magician moving closer to Diancie, clearly waiting for it to let its guard down before attacking.
An hour later, as Diancie neared a Kalos town called Rhea City, the magician and her Delphox suddenly blocked its path.
"Oh my, Princess Diancie—where are you off to? Would you like me to accompany you?" The magician covered her mouth and smiled.
Diancie tensed up at the woman’s heavy makeup. "Who are you? How do you know me? You look scary—I don’t need you to escort me." Diancie’s voice echoed in the woman’s mind.
The woman’s flirtatious expression froze—then turned to anger. "You don’t get to decide that, Diancie! Your diamond-creating ability is mine! Delphox, Flamethrower!"
"Del~" The woman’s level 59 Delphox spat scorching flames. Diancie reacted quickly, using Ancient Power to summon a boulder that blocked the Flamethrower, then darted into a nearby thicket.
But before it could escape, a masked man with a Greninja blocked its path.
"Diancie, don’t go with her—come with me. I’ll escort you wherever you want to go, as long as you give me some of the diamonds you create as payment."
Diancie studied him warily—it could sense his ill intent too.
"I’m sorry, but I can’t create diamonds yet—I don’t have that ability. So you don’t need to accompany me." Diancie’s voice echoed in his mind.
"Don’t lie to me—you’re Diancie, the queen of the Carbink. Of course you can create diamonds!" The masked man didn’t believe it. "Greninja, Water Pulse!"
"Koga~" Greninja attacked with a spiraling Water Pulse. Diancie tried to defend, but a Flamethrower intercepted the Water Pulse first—it was from the Delphox.
"Back off, Leirt—Diancie is mine!" The magician shouted angrily.
"Says who? Diancie is mine!" The masked man shot back.
During their argument, Diancie slipped into the grass and fled. The two gave chase as soon as they realized.
"Should we make our move now?" Mewtwo’s voice echoed in Rio’s mind.
"Not yet—not the right moment." Rio shook his head. "Timing matters in rescues. The best time is when they’re most desperate—crying for help with nowhere to turn. That’s when we step in."
Mewtwo listened and sighed. "You’ve really thought this through—you’ve studied rescue timing like a science."
"Of course—call me the King of Strategy." Rio didn’t deny it. After all these years with Mewtwo and Gengar, honesty was better than pretense, as long as he didn’t mean them harm.
Rio raised his binoculars and continued watching. Diancie fled all night, reaching a Kalos town called Remont by morning.
Now that they were in human territory, the magician and the ninja had to be more cautious, afraid that someone who recognized Diancie might also target it. But Diancie itself was also wary of humans, sticking to less-traveled paths—which gave the two pursuers an opening.
When Diancie jumped from a rooftop into an alley, the magician and the ninja descended from above, blocking both ends.
"Leirt, if you interfere again, I won’t go easy on you—Diancie belongs to me!" The magician was clearly possessive.
"That’s my line." The ninja retorted.
Diancie looked at them and bowed politely. "Since you two seem to have things to discuss, I’ll take my leave first."
It turned to leave. "Don’t even think about it!" The magician shouted. "Delphox, Flamethrower!"
"I agree with her." The ninja said. "Greninja, Water Shuriken!"
Greninja threw a Water Shuriken. The two attacks collided behind Diancie, creating a shockwave that sent it flying four or five meters. It scrambled to its feet, ready to fight back—but as a non-combatant, it was no match for two experienced trainers.
The magician continued commanding Delphox to use Flamethrower, while the ninja had Greninja use Water Pulse. Diancie tried to block with Ancient Power, but it was overwhelmed and sent flying again.
Around the corner, Mewtwo and Rio watched from the shadows. "Time to move? The father-daughter duo look like they’re about to act." Mewtwo’s voice echoed.
"Yes, time to move." Rio smiled. "But before that, let’s deal with those two so they don’t interfere."
Mewtwo’s eyes glowed as it Teleported away, reappearing high above. A cloaked ship was parked outside Remont City. Onboard, the father, Algates, was directing his daughter toward Diancie’s location through miniature drones, preparing to execute his own rescue plan.
But Mewtwo’s appearance changed everything. Hovering in the sky, it raised its right hand—and one by one, the drones following Diancie exploded.
"What’s happening?!" Algates stared at the screens as they went black.
"Father, what’s wrong?" His daughter’s voice came through his earpiece.
"Milis, the drones just exploded—get over there and find out what’s going on!" Algates urged.
"Understood." Milis responded—but the next second, Algates heard her scream.
"Milis?! What happened?!" He shouted in panic.
There was no response. Milis had been tossed by Mewtwo’s psychic power—from the south end of the city into a dumpster at the north end.
"Done. The father-daughter pair are taken care of." Mewtwo returned to Rio with a Teleport.
"Good work." Rio recalled Mewtwo into its Master Ball. Mewtwo was too well-known to risk being recognized in this situation.
With Mewtwo put away, Rio sprinted toward the alley. Diancie was now battered and bruised.
"Come with me, Diancie—you’ll avoid this beating and live comfortably from now on." The magician cooed.
"No! You’re a wicked woman!" Diancie fought back with Stone Edge, refusing to give in.
"Stop right there!"
Just then, Rio ran in, releasing Charizard with a flash of light. Charizard’s claw deflected both Delphox and Greninja’s attacks in one swing.
"Ganging up on one Pokémon—how shameful! Are you even real trainers?!" Rio rushed to Diancie’s side, helping it up as he berated the two.
[Diancie’s friendship has increased]
[Friendship: 3 (0 → 3) ]
Just those words alone triggered a friendship notification.
"Stay out of this—I need that child’s diamonds!" The magician said coldly.
"You talk too much, Marilyn." The ninja cut in. "Looks like you’re not a fashionable thief—just a loudmouth."
"What did you say, you mask-wearing thief?!" The magician shot back, and the two looked ready to argue again.
Rio seized the moment: "Diancie, run—now!"
Diancie gave Rio a long look, then hopped away.
"Delphox, stop it!" "Greninja, Water Shuriken!"
The arguing pair quickly refocused. "Charizard, Flamethrower!" Rio commanded.
"Roooar~" Charizard’s searing flames overwhelmed both Delphox and Greninja’s attacks, knocking them both down instantly.
"How—how is this possible?!" The magician and ninja exchanged stunned looks as Rio, still masked and hat-wearing, led Diancie away. They wanted to chase, but the commotion had drawn attention from passersby. They had no choice but to recall their Pokémon and retreat.
Rio led Diancie to a stairway and stopped. "Thank you for saving me." Diancie’s voice echoed in his mind. Its friendship had already risen to 5.
Rio feigned surprise at the polite Diancie. "You can talk? Telepathy?"
"Yes, I can use telepathy." Diancie smiled at him. "Hello—my name is Diancie."
"I’m Rio. And this is my partner, Charizard—the one who just saved you." Rio showed the Luxury Ball, having already recalled Charizard to avoid drawing attention.
"Rio, Charizard—I’ll remember your names." Diancie nodded. "You’re my first friends in the human world."
"Diancie, why were those two after you? They mentioned needing your diamond-creating ability." Rio asked.
"I don’t understand either—I can’t create real diamonds yet. I told them that, but they wouldn’t listen." Diancie looked sad.
"Really? Then they’re truly unforgivable." Rio said with righteous anger.
"Unforgivable? What does that mean?" Diancie looked confused.
"It means very bad."
"Oh—I learned something new. Thank you." Diancie made a polite gesture. "Rio, can you tell me—where is this place?"