"Thank you for your generosity, Princess Diancie. I'll make sure to keep this Diancite safe."
At this point, Rex found himself at a loss for words. This was no ordinary Mega Stone—it was the exclusive Diancite, a treasure far rarer than the Salamencite he already owned.
And although Princess Diancie had framed it as a temporary loan, she hadn't set any deadline for its return. Clearly, she intended for Diancie to bring it back to the Diamond Kingdom only after Rex's passing.
To him, that was no different from a gift.
Once his Diancie could Mega Evolve, its strength would surge dramatically. At that point, even legendary Pokémon would find it difficult to gain the upper hand against it.
He decided that once they returned, he would have the Diancite fashioned into a pendant for Diancie to wear. With her current strength, she could safeguard it without issue.
As for Mai and Korrina, Princess Diancie hadn't let them leave empty-handed either—she gifted them each a selection of rare gemstones.
Both girls loved the gifts, immediately planning to commission master craftsmen to turn the gems into jewelry once they got back.
After bidding farewell to Princess Diancie, the group was led back out of the Diamond Kingdom by the same Carbink that had guided them in, returning to the hidden valley where they'd first entered the cave.
"You can leave us here. Thanks for everything, Carbink!" Rex waved with a smile.
Carbink gave them a nod, then turned and gave Diancie a deep bow before heading back into the cave.
Originally, it had only come to the surface for some fresh air. Who could've guessed it would be captured by poachers? Had Diancie not sensed it, it would likely have been sold far away, never to return.
Even after returning home, it hadn't had it easy—Carbink Elder had lectured it relentlessly for days. Only after swearing never to wander off again was it finally let off the hook.
"Well then, if there's nothing else, shall we head back?" Rex looked at the two girls beside him.
"Yes! Let's go. I feel like I'm starting to rot down here. I need a hot bath and a proper night's sleep!" Mai sniffed at herself and Korrina, grimacing.
"Heh, then what are we waiting for?" Korrina summoned her Talonflame, mounted up in one smooth motion, and took to the skies toward Shalour City.
Not to be outdone, Mai called out her Altaria and flew after her.
Rex could only smile wryly and shake his head, releasing his Swellow.
"Swii—!"
Having been kept in its Poké Ball for the past few days, Swellow was feeling a bit pent-up. It let out a long cry and circled high above before gliding down in front of Rex.
"Let's catch up."
He patted Swellow's wing, mounted up, and soared after the girls.
Meanwhile, back at Rex Farm in the Hoenn region…
"Yui, have you and Karen made up your minds?" Yuli asked gently.
"Yes, Miss Yuli. We've decided—once the boss gets back, we're going to set off on our journey."
Yui's eyes were firm with resolve.
Both she and Karen had started with Taillow as their first Pokémon. While Karen's had already evolved into Swellow, Yui's had also just completed its evolution while Rex was away.
Karen had always dreamed of traveling while she was still young. She shared that with Yui, who secretly longed to be like the other rookie trainers she admired.
The two of them clicked instantly, deciding to form a duo and explore the Hoenn region together as proper trainers.
They had saved up a fair bit while working at Rex Farm. With some smart budgeting and taking on League-issued tasks along the way, they'd be able to fund themselves.
Of course, neither of them would leave without notice—Rex had given them a rare opportunity, a stable home. They would only leave once he'd found replacements.
Both had grown emotionally attached to the farm—it was more than a job. For orphans like them, it had become a true home.
Still, they couldn't help but worry. How would the boss take the news?
Luckily, Yuli knew Rex well. With his character, she was confident he wouldn't try to stop them.
She even supported their decision, believing everyone had the right to chase their dreams.
Far away in Kalos, Rex had already returned to Shalour Gym.
When he and the others arrived, Master Gurkinn was surprised. They'd said they'd be away for half a month, and yet here they were after just a few days.
He wondered if something had gone wrong.
But after hearing a brief summary of their journey—though the part about Rex's healing ability was omitted—Gurkinn was left stunned.
To think they had actually discovered the Diamond Kingdom and even met the mythical Diancie!
But more than envy, Gurkinn felt joy—his granddaughter had clearly grown from the experience.
After all, he himself had never seen a mythical Pokémon in his long life, let alone Diancie.
And he understood: without Rex and his Carbink, they'd never have made it into the Diamond Kingdom. It was simply fate—Rex was one of those rare, blessed trainers, the kind who constantly encountered legends where others could only dream.
Gurkinn's respect for Rex deepened. Over the next few days, he even shared more of his own personal knowledge of aura training—his way of investing in a young man he believed would go far.
(End of Chapter)