"Diancie, you're absolutely beautiful now!"
Mai, seeing that Diancie had overcome her post-evolution daze, rushed over with Korrina, both of them beaming with excitement.
Though they had already met the Diancie Princess of the Diamond Kingdom, her regal aura had been so overwhelming that they hadn't dared get too close.
But this Diancie—once their familiar Carbink—felt completely different. Warm, approachable, and filled with joy, perhaps because of their bond from before.
"Dia~!"
Diancie smiled and greeted them cheerfully.
Though she hadn't yet mastered telepathy, her bright tone alone conveyed her delight.
Taking advantage of the moment, Rex pulled out his Pokédex and scanned her.
He'd been unsure whether it could still register her data post-evolution, but thankfully, since it had already recorded Carbink, the device responded without issue.
Moves: Diamond Storm, Moonblast, Earth Power, Draining Kiss, Psyshock
She had awakened five powerful techniques, including Diamond Storm, a signature move unique to Diancie.
To Rex's understanding, signature moves were deeply tied to a Pokémon's origin power. Without that force, no other Pokémon could replicate them.
Diamond Storm created a swirling cyclone of razor-edged diamonds that damaged enemies and had a chance to sharply raise the user's defense.
And the ability to conjure diamonds from nothing—that alone was something only Diancie could do.
Rex couldn't help but wonder if those summoned diamonds were real. If they were permanent and flawless, unleashing the move too often might actually crash the gem market.
Though he couldn't sell massive amounts of diamonds (not without causing suspicion), a few high-quality stones here and there could quietly fund his research and the farm.
The other moves—Moonblast, Psyshock, and so on—were just as powerful in their own right. Diancie had gained a fearsome arsenal.
Just then, the Diancie Princess returned, flanked by a group of Carbink.
When the Carbink saw Rex's Diancie, they were awestruck—some in disbelief, others in quiet reverence.
A living, breathing example of what they had always believed was impossible: one of their own had truly evolved.
But Rex knew better than anyone how difficult this was.
If not for the Victini's endless energy, the life force provided by Shaymin and Celebi, and countless hours of patient nurturing, even reaching the first step—turning the diamond pink—would've been out of reach.
It had taken fate, effort, and no small amount of luck to make it happen.
"My kin… I would like to invite you to stay here in the Diamond Kingdom. What do you think?"
The Diancie Princess gazed gently at Rex's Diancie.
Rex's expression shifted. Only now did he fully understand why the princess had shared a portion of her precious origin force—she had hoped Diancie would remain and become her heir, or at least a permanent companion.
He opened his mouth, but said nothing.
This was Diancie's choice. It was her journey, not his.
Diancie fell silent, her eyes flicking between the princess and Rex. The idea of staying here, among her own kind, was tempting.
But then she looked back at Rex.
Her hesitation vanished.
The farm. Her friends. Her trainer. That was where her heart was.
"Dia!"
With a firm cry, Diancie expressed her decision.
"I see… That's alright. Know that you will always be welcome here."
The Diancie Princess's tone was kind, but tinged with a deeper knowing.
She wasn't upset.
After all, humans had short lives. In less than a century, Rex would be gone. But Diancie—she would still be young, still searching.
When the time came, the princess believed she would return.
Rex caught that subtext and smiled faintly. He couldn't deny it. His time was limited. If Diancie had a place to come home to when he was gone, it was a comforting thought.
"Now that she's evolved, I suppose it's time we took our leave. Thank you again, Princess Diancie, for everything."
Better to leave now than linger and risk complications.
"Please wait—I have something I'd like to entrust to you."
The princess held up a small, ornate box.
Rex paused, confused but curious.
When she returned, she handed him the box with both hands.
Inside lay a single, gleaming Mega Stone.
"Wait… is this… Diancie's Mega Stone?"
He turned to the princess for confirmation.
"Yes. This is the Diancite—a sacred treasure passed down through the Diamond Kingdom for generations."
Her voice was soft but serious.
"I myself cannot use it—not without a trainer. With your bond, I believe she can unlock its true potential. Please, take it for now."
(End of chapter)