"Noi! Noi!"
(Crash into it! Smash it!)
The two Noibat vented their pent-up frustration as they rammed forward, their small bodies wrapped in dense Dragon-type energy, grinding straight through Sableye.
The Sableye that had been chasing a Carbink had no time to react. By the time it came to its senses, it was already embedded deep into the rock wall.
Its gem-like eyes were knocked loose and fell to the ground only to be snatched up by the Noibat and crushed between their teeth with sharp crack crack sounds.
Defeating just one clearly wasn't enough to satisfy them. They immediately began searching for the next target.
Like ghosts lurking in the darkness, they hunted down the sneaky Sableye one after another.
With each successive battle, the dragon blood within the Noibat began to boil more intensely. The potential for tempered growth within them was completely awakened.
"Noi—"
The two Noibat exchanged a glance, moving in perfect tacit understanding.
They transformed into two phantom-like shadows and launched themselves at the final Sableye.
That one, more cautious than the rest, sensed something and reacted quickly.
Dozens of glittering gem-like projectiles spread out like a net, either blocking or knocking down the charging Noibat. Seizing the opportunity, it darted away to hide.
The Rock-type move, Power Gem, dealt double damage to Noibat.
"Noi~"
(Left.)
"Noi~"
(Right.)
The two little ones cried out in unison. Their voices carried the resonance of a dragon's roar as the Dragon-type energy within them surged violently. Their bodies began spinning at high speed, transforming into brilliant violet tornadoes.
The incoming Power Gems were shredded to pieces.
At the same time, the other Noibat shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, rushing behind Sableye.
Upon reaching its designated position, it too erupted with immense Dragon-type energy, becoming a deep purple whirlwind.
"Noi~"
(This is our blood-boiling combo move: Dual Bat Drill!)
With their dragon-like roar, the two Noibat slammed into Sableye simultaneously.
The two torrents of Dragon-type energy collided, sandwiching Sableye in the middle. Its body was continuously sliced and battered, suffering massive damage.
Watching from the rear of the cave, Noivern swallowed hard.
This move… isn't meant for me, right? It can't be, right?!
The more it thought about it, the less confident it felt. Noivern decided it had better strike first in the future.
From this day forward—no more drinking (crossed out)!
These past few days it had relentlessly suppressed the two little Noibat. If their strength surpassed its own… the consequences…
Just imagining it made Noivern shudder.
It had to remain the strongest one.
As the energy aftershock dissipated, the two Noibat hovered in midair, their wings trembling slightly. The move had drained them significantly.
Their chests rose and fell rapidly, yet their eyes shone with extraordinary brightness and excitement.
Just you wait, Noivern. One day we'll make you kneel and sing "Conquered."
The battle ended. The two Noibat gently bumped into each other. At that very moment, the boiling dragon blood within them reached its peak. A brilliant white light burst forth from their bodies.
They… were evolving!
…
Holding a large hamburger in one hand, Silas walked toward the cave while eating, intending to see whether Noivern and the others had returned.
At the same time, he wanted to check on Diancie's condition. Calculating the timing, her mutation should be completing within these few days.
He first arrived at Noivern's nest and saw three Noivern of nearly identical size sprawled separately on the ground.
Walking closer for a better look, Silas was startled.
They had been perfectly fine yesterday. Why were all three bruised and battered today, covered in injuries?
After observing carefully, he realized that although the wounds looked severe, they were actually minor. Whoever had attacked them had exercised restraint.
"Ouch! Didn't you go rescue the Carbink? How did you end up beating yourselves into this state? Who did this? Was it Sableye?"
His footsteps had been light, and even after walking around them, the Noivern hadn't noticed him.
Only when he spoke did they realize he was there.
"Noi~!"
(Silas, you're here!)
The least injured one leaned forward, inviting him to pet it.
After a moment's observation, Silas recognized it as the youngest one. Though it had evolved into Noivern, there was still a trace of youthful immaturity about it, making it easy to identify.
"Who beat you up like this?" Silas asked curiously.
At that moment, the Noivern lying on a pile of gemstones spoke up.
"Noi! Noi… Noi~"
(There's no justice! Two against one—where's the fairness in this world? So black-hearted! They even targeted my beautiful scales!)
"Noi~!"
(What kind of dragons are these? No pride at all! Ganging up on their big brother! And no one even helped me, just watched as I got beaten up! Oh my Arceus…)
Its voice grew increasingly tragic as it continued to complain.
From a corner of the cave, several Carbink huddled together.
"Bink Bink~"
They had something to say as well.
The three bosses had returned and immediately started fighting. With their tiny arms and legs, the Carbink couldn't help even if they wanted to—and choosing sides would have been impossible.
Silas looked them up and down, astonished.
The Noivern's carefully polished and well-maintained dragon scales, meticulously tended by the Carbink were either scratched or bent. Not a single one was intact.
It looked pitiful and miserable. Combined with its wailing complaints, it was almost unbearably tragic.
"Who hit you like this? That's just heartless!"
"Noi~"
(Exactly! The two who beat me have no conscience at all! Completely deranged—hardly dragons anymore!)
The eldest Noivern continued its sorrowful accusations.
The Carbink quickly divided into four small groups. Three went to tend to their respective Noivern bosses, while one hurried to Silas's side to explain what had happened from beginning to end.
After listening to the Carbink's explanation, Silas understood the whole story.
So that was it.
The two newly evolved Noivern had refused to accept the authority of their elder, so they fought inside the cave.
Fortunately, they had held back and hadn't gone too far.
The Carbink had tried to intervene, but the dragon aura emitted by the Noivern had been too overwhelming for them to approach.
Shaking his head, Silas decided not to bother further.
With a dragon Pokémon's natural recovery ability, such minor injuries would heal within a day.
"Being brothers with you guys sure isn't easy."
"Fight all you want, I won't interfere. But if you hurt the Carbink, you'd better think twice."
Ignoring the Noivern's continued complaints while they enjoyed the Carbink's attentive care, Silas turned and walked deeper into the cave.
He had just learned that the Carbink Minister had arrived, and he intended to meet it.
Led by a Carbink, he passed through layer after layer of guards until he reached the innermost chamber.
The elder Carbink hurried over and brought him to Diancie's diamond cocoon.
"Mr. Silas, the Carbink Minister says Her Highness Diancie is about to complete her transformation."
"Then my timing couldn't be better," Silas said, stepping forward and placing his fingers against Diancie's diamond.
[Diancie (In Mutation): Current Progress: 99.99%]
"Yes. If you hadn't come, I would have sent a Carbink to fetch you."
Confirming that everything was proceeding normally, Silas's gaze shifted to the elderly Carbink beside them. That must be the Carbink Minister.
After exchanging a few words with it, a faint pink mist suddenly rippled through the air before his eyes.
It formed concentric waves like water spreading outward. Nearly liquefied Fairy-type energy began to diffuse, instantly covering the entire cave.
The Carbink closed their eyes in bliss, gazing fervently toward the depths of the cavern.
The three Noivern stiffened.
It felt as though they were drowning—an inexplicable sensation of being targeted washing over them.
Far away, in a certain place in Kalos, an ancient tree swayed gently. Multicolored light flickered along its trunk as if responding to the change.
(End of Chapter)
TN: I'm so dumb I thought Diamond Minister was kind of another pokemon.