Over there, after Diancie had prepared living spaces for Solrock, Lunatone, and Tyrunt, it led them to the plaza for a meal.
Lunatone and Solrock chose to share a room, while Tyrunt had a separate one.
After helping them select their rooms, Diancie also provided all the necessary daily supplies.
Since the meal wasn't ready yet, Diancie took the opportunity to formally introduce Solrock, Lunatone, and Tyrunt to everyone.
Naturally, everyone warmly welcomed the new companions, eagerly stepping forward to greet them.
Thanks to their friendliness and enthusiasm, Solrock and Lunatone quickly blended into the family.
Since both were Psychic-type Pokémon, they became familiar with Meowstic, Gardevoir, and the others first.
Tyrunt also found its own social circle, quickly bonding with Drilbur, Lairon, and Sirfetch'd.
While waiting for food, Tyrunt and Lairon started playing a head-to-head wrestling game.
The two Pokémon pressed their heads against each other, testing their strength.
"Buneary~ Buneary~"
"Bunnelby~ Bunnelby~"
"Pachirisu~ Pachirisu~"
...
Buneary, Bunnelby, Pachirisu, and Pancham formed a circle around them, jumping and cheering for both sides.
In terms of strength, Tyrunt was no match for Lairon. However, Lairon was considerate of the young newcomer and pretended to be evenly matched, playing along with the still-immature Tyrunt.
Tyrunt wasn't playing out of competitiveness, so even though Lairon faked a close match, it still found the game exciting and had a great time.
With Angie's return, everyone was already in high spirits, and the arrival of new members made the plaza even livelier than usual.
Tonight, as usual, Yveltal joined the dinner at Xerneas' invitation.
However, even in this setting, Yveltal maintained its usual cold and imposing demeanor, sitting quietly with an aura that warned strangers to stay away.
Perhaps only Honchkrow and the Murkrow flock weren't intimidated by it.
They proudly surrounded Yveltal like a royal guard protecting their monarch.
Dark energy constantly flowed from Yveltal's body, creating a field of darkness around it. The wisps of black energy were eagerly absorbed by the Murkrow as they hopped around within it.
Unlike the aloof Yveltal, Xerneas' side was far more warm and harmonious.
Xerneas lay on the ground, surrounded by Spritzee, Floette, Ralts, Swablu, Bellossom, and Vileplume, chatting with them affectionately.
Ralts shared stories of its experiences working at the city. When it got to the funny parts, Floette and the others burst into laughter.
Even Xerneas' face showed a smile.
In the kitchen, Angie and his two apprentices were busy working.
Angie was cooking, Munchlax was steaming buns, and Inteleon was preparing soup.
Surprisingly, the one assisting Angie with chopping vegetables was a Doublade.
Its blades flashed rapidly across the cutting board, slicing a plump white radish into evenly sized shreds.
Angie couldn't help but praise it, "Doublade, your knife skills are just as good as mine!"
"Doublade~ Doublade~"
Delighted by the compliment, Doublade spun happily in the air before redoubling its efforts.
It had volunteered to help chop vegetables. Initially, Angie had only given it a few casual pointers, but he was surprised to find that Doublade's cuts perfectly met his standards.
Pleased by its skills, Angie gave it a few more tips, and in no time, Doublade's technique improved rapidly—soon, it was nearly on par with Angie himself.
It was practically a natural-born master of cutting!
Angie figured Doublade's exceptional skills likely stemmed from its past dedication to sword training.
The Aegislash lineage from Glittering Cave had once been nurtured by a royal family and had a well-established swordsmanship training system. The move "Sacred Sword" was their signature technique.
Both Angie's and Astrid's Doublade knew this move and had mastered it through rigorous training.
With Doublade's help, Angie's cooking efficiency improved significantly.
Not only did Doublade chop vegetables, but it also assisted in food preparation and plating according to Angie's instructions—it was truly reliable.
Even though it didn't have hands, its ribbon-like appendages were so flexible that they functioned even better than a person's hands.
Before long, the food was ready. Under Diancie's direction, the two Meowstic, along with the Gardevoir and Gallade couple, entered the kitchen to carry out the dishes and buns.
After not having Angie and Munchlax's cooking for several days, everyone ate like a storm sweeping through the land.
Lunatone and Solrock were tasting Angie's food for the first time. They had thought the food they ate outside was already delicious, but they never expected Angie's cooking to be even more exquisite.
Forgive their lack of vocabulary—they couldn't find the words to describe it.
Being able to come back with Angie was truly wonderful! The two Pokémon couldn't help but think.
As for Tyrunt, it had eaten Angie's food before, but back then, Angie had only made it beef bones. Today, it finally got to experience Angie's full cooking skills, and it devoured the food ravenously.
Everyone finished their meal thoroughly—even the soup was soaked up with bread until not a single drop remained.
Since they hadn't seen Angie in several days, no one hurried to leave after dinner. Instead, they gathered in small groups at the square, chatting with Angie.
Even Xerneas and Yveltal stayed behind.
Laughter and conversation filled the air as everyone took turns sharing interesting stories from their experiences.
The warm orange glow from the entrance lights cast a soft radiance on everyone's faces, giving both humans and Pokémon a gentle, heartwarming glow.
As they talked, someone suddenly suggested that everyone showcase their talents to welcome the new members. The atmosphere in the square became even more lively.
The first to perform was the Altaria family.
"Altaria~ Altaria~"
"Altaria~ Altaria~"
The Altaria couple gracefully entered the scene, flapping their wings and giving a synchronized gentleman's bow to everyone.
"Swablu~"
Finally, the little Swablu made its adorable entrance, landing beside its parents.
It tried to mimic its parents' bow, but instead of elegance, its clumsy movements made it all the more endearing.
The Swablu family's performance was a song.
"Altaria~"
"Altaria~"
"Swablu~ Swablu~"
The Altaria couple's beautiful voices, combined with Swablu's innocent and charming harmonization, mesmerized the audience.
Next up was the Gardevoir family.
"Gardevoir~"
Gardevoir appeared in the center of the square with a Teleport and gracefully lifted its skirt in a lady's curtsy.
Gallade then leaped into the scene beside Gardevoir, striking a dashing pose while swinging its arms. Blades of wind from its Leaf Blade skill gently brushed against everyone's faces.
The audience burst into enthusiastic applause.
Finally, little Ralts slowly waddled to the center between its parents, completely ruining the elegant atmosphere that Gardevoir and Gallade had built up.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Ralts tilted its head in confusion.
"Ralts~ Ralts~"
I haven't even started performing yet—why is everyone laughing?
That only made everyone laugh even harder.
The Gardevoir family's performance was a dance.
Gardevoir performed an elegant ballet, while Gallade showcased a cool street dance.
As for Ralts… well, let's just say its performance was best left unmentioned. Other than being cute, it had nothing else to offer.
Next up was Dusknoir, performing a magic show. Lately, it had been obsessed with magic tricks from television shows.
"Dusknoir~ Dusknoir~"
It waved its large hands, and the single eye on its head emitted an eerie glow.
Unseen by the others, a black vortex appeared behind the Scovillain.
Then, everyone saw the yellow stripe-like mouth on Dusknoir's abdomen suddenly open. It reached into its pitch-black belly, rummaging around.
Suddenly, a Capsakid was yanked out of its belly.
The Capsakid screamed in fright.
Then came the second one, and the third one.
By the time the Scovillain couple realized what was happening, all three of their Capsakid were gone.
Frightened and furious, the three Capsakid simultaneously opened their mouths and fired Bullet Seed at Dusknoir.
But with their limited strength, how could they possibly harm Dusknoir?
Dusknoir simply extended both hands and skillfully caught every seed the Capsakid spat out.
"Pawmot~ Pawmot~"
At this moment, Pawmot scurried forward, holding a glass jar.
Dusknoir understood immediately and placed all the seeds into the jar in Pawmots hands.
Before the three Capsakid learned Bullet Seed, they produced spicy seasoning mainly by shedding their teeth, a highly inefficient method.
Now that they had mastered Bullet Seed, they could produce spicy seasoning through their expelled seeds.
This method was both stable and efficient.
Dusknoir's actions made the Capsakid even angrier, but since they couldn't win against it, they could only dash back to their parents and complain.
As a result, Dusknoir received a stern scolding from the Scovillain couple and sulked away, head drooping.
Performing magic tricks is tough!
Actually, Dusknoir had been quite creative—the trick it performed combined its innate ability with the move Phantom Force to achieve this effect.
Meanwhile, Pawmot, holding the glass jar, ran up to Angie with an expectant expression.
"Pawmot~ Pawmot~"
Look, Angie, so many seeds!
The jar holding the spicy seeds was repurposed from an empty candy container.
Angie poked Pawmot's forehead and said helplessly, "Yes, yes, you're the cleverest one."
"Pawmot~ Pawmot~"
Pawmot happily hugged the jar and sat beside Angie, continuing to watch the performances.
After Dusknoir, the next act featured Tropius and the two Dollive.
Tropius flew through the air, carrying the Dollive on its back. The Dollive condensed Energy Balls and tossed them skyward, while Tropius used Air Slash to slice them apart.
The Energy Balls exploded upon impact, scattering tiny green lights like fireworks, creating the illusion of a glowing rain shower in the night sky.
Everyone gasped in amazement and erupted into applause and cheers for the three Grass-type Pokémon's performance.
Following them, Watchog, Vivillon, Wooper, and Espathra took turns performing, each earning waves of cheers from the crowd.
Gengar returned midway through the show and later joined the performance lineup with Poliwrath and Poliwhirl.
Poliwhirl and Poliwrath shot streams of water, which Gengar controlled telekinetically, continuously reshaping them mid-air—one moment forming a chubby Munchlax, the next a majestic Yveltal…
Gengar's precise control, honed through its noodle-stretching training, left everyone in awe.
The grand finale featured a spectacular firework show performed by Delphox, Infernape, Ceruledge, Armarouge, Chandelure, and the Scovillain couple.
Infernape, Ceruledge, Scovillain, and Chandelure launched flames into the sky, while the Psychic-type Delphox and Armarouge used their telekinetic powers to control the flames, making them dance in the air and illuminate the entire night sky.
The fiery spectacle earned the title of Best Performance of the Night.
Angie sat on the doorstep steps, holding a Komala in his arms. To his left sat Munchlax, to his right was Pawmot, while in front of him sat Diancie and Magearna. Above his head, a Doublade hovered.
The flickering red firelight cast a glow on his face, reflecting his gentle smile.
"Munchlax~"
Munchlax, upon seeing its trainer's smile, instinctively reached out and hugged his arm.
Angie glanced at Munchlax, rubbed its head, and asked,
"Munchlax, are you happy?"
"Munchlax~"
Munchlax nodded vigorously. As long as it could be with its trainer, every day was happiness.
Angie smiled. "I'm happy too."
He hoped this peaceful and joyful life would last forever.
After the performances, everyone gradually dispersed.
Angie also took Munchlax, Inteleon, Gengar, Diancie, Magearna, Komala, Volcanion, Metagross, Pawmot, Passimian, and Doublade to the third floor.
Once they arrived, Gengar eagerly floated over to Angie.
"Gengar~ Gengar~"
Master, where's the gift you mentioned?
Angie chuckled. "Hold on, I'll give it to you now!"
Saying that, he took out a crown embedded with a Gengarite from his system storage.
Gengar's face lit up with excitement.
"Gengar~ Gengar~"
Master, is this for me? It's so pretty!
The crown, inlaid with colorful gemstones, was indeed exquisite.
"Of course!" Angie nodded and handed the crown to Gengar.
Gengar carefully took the crown, placed it on its head, and shyly asked.
"Gengar~"
Master, do I look good?
Angie playfully responded, "You look great! You look just like a queen now."
Gengar, adorned with the dazzling crown, was undeniably adorable.
Of course, Gengar had always been adorable.
The other Pokémon chimed in, showering Gengar with praise.
Gengar, overwhelmed with flattery, covered its face and floated around in embarrassment.
Angie grinned and whispered, "Gengar, this isn't just any crown. The largest gemstone in the center is actually a Mega Stone."
Gengar's eyes widened in disbelief. It immediately removed the crown and examined the Mega Stone curiously, running its chubby fingers over it.
"Gengar~"
Master, is this my Mega Stone?
Angie nodded. "Of course. Why else would I give it to you?"
"Gengar~"
Gengar, overjoyed, wrapped its arms around Angie's neck and gave him a big lick on the cheek.
"Gengar~ Gengar~"
I love Master the most!
Angie shivered from the tingling sensation.
Help, that was Lick!
"I… I love you too, Gengar…" he stammered.
Once he recovered from the paralysis, Angie took out the Key Stone he had confiscated from a Team Flare member.
"Gengar, let's see if we can Mega Evolve!"
"Gengar~ Gengar~"
Gengar nodded his head eagerly.
Angie hung the pendant around his neck, grasped the Key Stone, and, mimicking Alain's dramatic tone, declared.
"Key Stone, respond to my voice! Unleash Gengar's true power!"
Diancie and Magearna were both amused by Angie's chuunibyou-like tone, leaning their heads together and covering their mouths as they laughed in secret.
Munchlax and Pawmot, on the other hand, were much more straightforward. They flopped onto the couch, clutching their bellies as they rolled around laughing.
Angie: =(*)
But as his words fell, the Key Stone in his hand radiated a dazzling light, and at the same time, the Mega Stone held by Gengar shone brilliantly.
The two lights intertwined, gradually enveloping Gengar.
Within the glow, Gengar's form underwent a massive transformation.
Originally round and plump, after Mega Evolution, Gengar became even more menacing and cool. Its body size also increased significantly, but because nearly half of it was hidden within a dimensional space, it actually appeared shorter than before.
Beyond that, its back was covered in spikes, and a golden eye had emerged on its forehead.
Since Angie's Gengar was Shiny, its Mega Evolution form looked vastly different from ordinary Mega Gengar.
A normal Mega Gengar had a dark purple body with a reddish glow on its lower half.
But Angie's Mega Gengar was completely white, with a soft pink glow on its lower half.
"Gengar~ Gengar~"
After Mega Evolving, Gengar could clearly feel the surge of power within its body.
Excited, it would vanish into the dimensional space one moment and suddenly reappear the next—sometimes on the floor, sometimes on the walls or ceiling, and even lingering mid-air with the help of the dimensional space. Its speed was dazzling to the eye.
Angie took the opportunity to activate his Eye of Observation to check on Gengar's status.
...
[ Mega Gengar (King's Proof) ]
Type: Ghost, Poison
Ability: Shadow Tag
Gender: Female
Level: 50
Moves: Perish Song, Shadow Punch, Hypnosis, Lick, Mean Look, Curse, Hex, Sucker Punch, Night Shade, Dark Pulse, Shadow Ball, Energy Ball, Psychic, Phantom Force, Sludge Wave, Will-O-Wisp, Mirror Move, Dazzling Gleam, Skill Swap, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Thunderbolt, Gunk Shot.
...
[ Individual Value (IVs) ]
HP: 31
Attack: 25
Defense: 26
Special Attack: 31
Special Defense: 29
Speed: 31
...
After looking at the data, he was stunned.
How did Gengar learn so many moves?!
Because Gengar rarely participated in battles, Angie hardly ever used his Eye of Observation on it. He never expected that checking it on a whim would nearly give him a heart attack.
And Gengar had somehow acquired a held item—when did he ever give it a King's Proof?
Wait!
He suddenly remembered—the crown!
Could it actually be a King's Proof?
Embedding a Mega Stone into a King's Proof… he had never heard of such a thing before.
Could it be some kind of ancient technology? What a fascinating idea.
Unable to figure it out, Angie pushed the thought aside and waved at the still-excited Gengar.
"Gengar~"
Gengar instantly flashed to its trainer's side.
"Gengar, have you been secretly learning moves from everyone?" Angie asked.
"Gengar~"
Mmm-hmm…
Gengar shyly nodded.
Wanting to become the best disciple for its master—not just in cooking but in strength as well—Gengar had been working hard in secret, seizing every opportunity to learn moves from other Pokémon.
For example, it had learned Dazzling Gleam from Xerneas, Thunderbolt from a Dragonite that visited the Nebel Plateau, Skill Swap from Mew, and Sludge Wave and Sludge Bomb from a Swalot…
It also discovered that the cooking training room wasn't just good for practicing culinary skills—it could also be used to train moves by taking advantage of time dilation.
So, it often snuck in to practice, and before it realized it, it had learned this many moves.
Hearing this, Angie smiled warmly and patted Gengar's head. "You really are… such a good kid."
He never forced his Pokémon to become stronger, but if they wanted to, he fully supported and encouraged them.
After all, there was nothing wrong with getting stronger.
"Gengar~ Gengar~"
Being praised by its master, Gengar became even shyer and couldn't help but hug him tightly, giving him a lick with its long tongue.
Once again… completely… numb…
After the initial excitement wore off, Gengar released its Mega Evolution form and carefully tucked the crown back into its belly.
Its belly was a dimensional space where it could store anything, so rather than putting things in Angie's system backpack, Gengar preferred keeping them inside itself.
With the Mega Evolution test complete, the Pokémon all lounged around the couch, enjoying their leisure time—some playing games, some watching shows, some scrolling through videos…
Since Doublade was the newcomer, it was still unfamiliar with everything. Munchlax quickly pulled it aside, and the two huddled over a smartphone, whispering to each other.
Before long, Doublade became fascinated with this modern technological marvel.
Seeing this, Angie chuckled and said, "I'll buy you one tomorrow."
"Doublade~ Doublade~"
Hearing that, Doublade immediately floated around in joy.
Seeing his Pokémon enjoying themselves so much, Angie smiled with satisfaction, then took out the Kangaskhanite.
What should he do with this thing?
Should he raise a Kangaskhan just for the sake of using its Mega Evolution?
That didn't seem necessary.
He preferred raising Pokémon according to his own heart, not for any other reason.
After all, he wasn't a trainer!
After some thought, Angie put the Kangaskhanite back into his system backpack.
He could figure it out later.