Chapter 0721 Arceus's Messenger Was Tricked (Two-in-One)

“AZ, do you know what ‘friend’ means?”

The towering vagrant gripped the strap of his battered backpack, Princess Diancie by his side, her eyes bright with a smile.

“What…” the man said hoarsely, staring ahead.

“It means someone very important, who makes you happy just by being together, and you help each other out!”

Diancie said proudly, “Since I’ve started traveling, I’ve learned a lot~”

“Friend…” A flicker of memory swept through the man’s clouded gaze.

“Yes.” Diancie nodded, smiling gently. “AZ is my human friend, so staying together with me means AZ won’t be sad anymore, right?”

The man’s lips tugged into a faint smile. Slowly, he asked, “Why are you traveling, Diancie?”

“Because my country is in trouble.”

Diancie, unguarded and earnest, replied, “I am going to seek out the legendary Xerneas, and, with the power of its Fairy Aura, master the strength to create the ‘Holy Diamond!’”

“…You shouldn’t tell such important things to strangers.”

“But AZ and I are friends.”

The man fell silent for a long time, looking up into the sky. “A long time ago, my country was invaded. I too tried to seek the help of legendary Pokémon.”

Diancie blinked. “And then?”

“And then… I succeeded in finding them, and borrowed the strength of Xerneas and Yveltal.”

The man’s lips twitched. “So, I believe you can definitely do it too.”

“Thank you, AZ~” Diancie said politely.

“…I can take you to Allearth Forest,” the man offered after a moment, “if your attendants permit.”

Yveltal is about to awaken—if I borrow its strength, maybe it can finally end my eternal suffering…

Diancie turned and saw her three Carbink attendants had finally caught up.

Right now, the three attendants were staring at AZ’s enormous figure, shivering with fear.

“Don’t worry, this is my friend~”

“P-Princess… he looks more like a robber!” said a Carbink.

“Robber? What does that mean?” Diancie blinked.

Shoosh, shoosh, shoosh!

Spotlights dropped; an off-stage voice sounded out, Diancie looking left and right in confusion.

“A robber means, Princess Diancie, that we’ll be taking you now, meow~”

The trio, dressed in white uniforms, struck a pose. In the middle, Meowth licked his lips and pressed buttons—mechanical arms snatched the bewildered Diancie, shoving her into a sack.

“As per the Executive’s orders.”

Meowth glanced at the “not exactly trustworthy” vagrant and thought: “Better hide Diancie first and keep her safe until we meet the Executive!”

“Princess!” Carbink called out in panic.

The man hunched his shoulders, body shivering. The terror of losing Floette surged back in, and once again, hopelessness swept over him—helpless, dizzy, and overcome with nausea.

Jessie put her hands on her hips, glancing at the wheezing, towering man. “This guy… is he really that frail?”

“He looks malnourished. Forget him—meeting the Executive is more important!” James said.

“In any case, we’ll be leaving now, meow~” The trio hoisted up the sack with Diancie inside and vanished down the alleyway.

The three Carbink circled anxiously.

Hearing the commotion, Ash arrived at a run, glaring at the suspicious-looking King AZ, Pikachu at the ready:

“Don’t worry, Carbink, I’ll take care of this guy!”

Behind him, Clemont and Bonnie arrived panting for breath, Serena shouting, “Don’t be reckless, Ash!”

King AZ, irradiated by the Ultimate Weapon, stood three meters tall, white hair hanging past his waist, ragged, for years surviving off trash heaps.

An endless life had brought him no strength—instead, he resembled a guttering candle, burning down to its last.

On seeing Ash send out Pikachu, AZ was startled.

In the days of war, people strapped iron saddles to control Pokémon (as shown in the Arceus movie); no one knew what an apricorn ball was.

In AZ’s memories, “Beast Messenger” was the term for such people… To them, Pokémon were nothing more than machines of war.

“You…” AZ looked at Pikachu crouched on all fours, speaking slowly, “are the Messenger of the Thunder Beast.”

“What Thunder Beast?!” Ash retorted. “That’s my Pikachu! I’m a Trainer from Pallet Town, my name’s Ash—battle me in a Pokémon battle!”

“Trainer… Pokémon battle…”

AZ shook his head slightly, the shadow of a bitter smile on his lips.

Beasts—tools for war—now lived in harmony with “Trainers.”

“Trainer” was a term that wasn’t coined until just the last century; AZ had never fully understood the meaning behind it.

“Do what you like, Beast Messenger. Your Pikachu can’t kill me.”

AZ turned away, muddy shoes squelching as he looked ahead. “Now, I need to save my… friend…”

“Pikachu?” Pikachu tilted its head at Ash.

Ash scratched his own head in confusion.

Bonnie scooped up Dedenne, gaze lowered. “I don’t know why, but he looks so sad.”

The three Carbink kept circling in distress.

“What in the world are they saying?” Serena asked.

“Aha—now’s the time for technology to shape the future! Clemont Engineering, activate!”

Clemont pushed up his round glasses, pulled an analyzer from his backpack. “This device can translate Pokémon language frequencies into human-readable text.”

He aimed it at the leading Carbink; the screen showed their desperate plea.

[Princess Diancie has been taken away by people in white uniforms! The tall man is going to save Princess Diancie!]

“It really works!”

Ash’s eyes sparkled. “Science is amazing!”

Just then, the analyzer began to spark, on the verge of collapse.

Boom!!

The device exploded, leaving Ash and Clemont charred black, hair turned into afros, black smoke puffing from their mouths.

“Honestly…” Serena complained helplessly, “I told you it was unreliable.”

“In any case, people in white uniforms means Team Rocket.”

Ash shook off the black soot. “We need to hurry and save Diancie!”

“Brother, what kind of Pokémon is Diancie?” Bonnie’s Dedenne peeked from her head.

“She’s a mutated individual among Carbink. I have her profile in an ancient text.” Clemont pulled up an image on his mobile phone for Ash and the others.

“So pretty!” everyone exclaimed in unison.

“No time to waste—Bunnelby’s scent tracking can pick up Diancie. This way!”

……

Brackish Town, clock tower.

Moonlight streamed through the glass windows, casting a silver glow across the floor.

The clock tower’s mechanical gears creaked and whirred, the attic piled high with miscellaneous items.

The Team Rocket trio were now staring, eye to eye, with the elegant Princess Diancie.

“We really are lucky, meow~” Meowth grinned. “We finished the Executive’s mission so easily!”

“You’re robbers, aren’t you?” Diancie asked.

“We’re Team Rocket,” Jessie replied. “We’re here to keep you safe.”

Diancie lifted her chin and said regally, “A robber is someone who takes away other people’s precious things at will… I just learned that!”

“This world’s a complicated place, meow~” Meowth wagged a finger.

“Innocent young girls like you should stay here and let us protect you,” James said.

“Sorry, but I need to go now.”

Diancie leapt gracefully, passing right through the middle of the trio. She spoke elegantly, “I wish you all health and happiness.”

“We can’t let you leave just yet.” James blocked Diancie’s path.

“At least make some diamonds for us before the Executive arrives, meow~” Meowth said, rubbing his paws.

“Diamonds? So the reason you brought me here was because you wanted me to make diamonds.” Diancie looked left and right.

“That’s right,” Jessie said with hands on her hips. “With diamonds, we can buy a huge mansion, become star celebrities!”

“Or trade for mountains of fish cans and gold coins, meow~”

“All right, then~”

Princess Diancie brought her hands together, a dazzling light blooming from her palms. “I’ll grant your wish.”

The trio’s faces were full of surprise; they hadn’t expected Diancie to be so compliant.

Next, great, clear pink diamonds poured from Diancie’s palms, the wave of diamonds lifting the trio into the air.

The luster of the diamonds sparkled so brightly that the trio were blinded, flailing and swimming in the ocean of gems.

Smiling softly, Diancie skipped down the attic stairs, removed the crossbar, and opened the door.

Outside, moonlight poured through, illuminating the small staircase. The round pink diamond atop Diancie’s head shimmered with moonlight, her figure cloaked in a veil of silver.

She lifted her ruby-bright eyes and looked at the two unexpected guests who appeared at the entrance.

A black-haired young man in a casual shirt, and a blue-haired man dressed in a suit.

Diancie locked eyes with the two of them. A silent pause settled over all three.

……

Five minutes earlier.

Kalos Region, Brackish Town.

Evening fell and the city lights came on.

The battle tournament on the main street was still in full swing, bustling with excitement.

Gengar hovered at Natsume’s side, while Natsume’s eyes kept straying toward the “Baby Cup.”

“Let’s focus on the investigation, Natsume-sensei,” Steven saw right through him.

“Sorry, professional habit.”

Natsume cleared his throat, glancing at his mobile phone. The tracker showed the trio’s signal pointing toward the small town’s clock tower.

He lifted his eyes: the clock tower was right at the center of the plaza, a Gothic spire piercing the night sky—easy enough to spot.

“The Pokémon we’re about to meet…” Natsume was silent for a moment. “Steven, be mentally prepared—don’t be too surprised!”

Steven looked faintly puzzled.

As Champion of Hoenn, he’d travelled far and wide. What Pokémon hadn’t he seen by now?

He’d even seen Mew in Natsume-sensei’s garden… Steven thought to himself that ever since traveling with Natsume, he’d developed nerves of steel.

Legendary and mythical Pokémon around Natsume-sensei no longer fazed him.

Approaching the clock tower, Natsume fell into thought.

Xerneas’s Fairy Aura enhances Fairy-type energy, increasing vitality and life force.

Its signature move, “Geomancy,” gathers Fairy-type energy from the environment, drastically boosting its Speed, Special Attack, and Special Defense.

It was rather similar to the Pixie Plate’s effect…

After all, the Arceus gained power by drawing on Plates, too.

Natsume’s mood was complicated.

Arceus probably knew all along that the Pixie Plate was related to Xerneas, but, because of its status, couldn’t act directly. That’s why the “Messenger of Arceus” got sent out instead!

“When I next see Arceus…”

Natsume thought, “I’ll have to seriously discuss the rewards next time!”

Darkrai picked up on Natsume’s unease and paled.

The next time meeting Arceus!?

No one knew when that might be, but if Arceus showed up in person, it was never for anything good!

The clock tower was now close.

Natsume placed his hand on the wooden door, just about to knock, when the crossbar slid away and the door creaked open.

Natsume and Steven both froze in place.

Brilliant Princess Diancie, her entire body wreathed in moonlight, walked proudly out of the clock tower.

She raised her bright eyes and matched gazes with both men. A trace of confusion flickered past her gaze, then she smiled elegantly and pursed her lips.

“Good evening, gentlemen.”

Natsume instinctively looked at Steven.

The blue-haired man’s eyes flickered, his voice dry: “D-Diancie…”

Natsume grinned.

It was rare to see Steven actually flustered.

Jewels, moonlight, speaking Pokémon—

This was a critical hit for Steven. His HP bar had to be zero!

Princess Diancie asked in surprise, “Do you two know me?”

Steven quickly recovered, exhaling slowly and adjusting his suit. “My name is Steven Stone. I heard the Mineral Kingdom was in crisis, so I’ve come to investigate together with Mr. Natsume.”

“Hello, Princess Diancie.” Natsume smiled. “This is Gengar!”

“Gengar…” Gengar scratched his head shyly, not even sticking out his tongue for a funny face.

“Steven, Natsume, Gengar~”

Diancie’s gaze swept across each of them, covering her mouth as she smiled. “I’ll remember you all. But… I need to meet up with my companions first.”

“Three Carbink?” Natsume recalled the events of the main story.

“Have you seen them? If you have, please tell me where they are—I’ll be sure to properly thank you!” Diancie said earnestly.

Natsume felt a bit touched.

She really had the manners of a princess…

Just then, wails echoed out from inside the clock tower.

“My diamonds! My diamonds!!”

Natsume blinked.

Those three idiots must have been dazzled by diamonds that are destined to vanish!

“For safety’s sake,” Steven said carefully, “before you meet up with your companions, please allow us to accompany you, Princess Diancie.”

Diancie looked at Steven, then Natsume, then smiled. “You don’t seem like robbers… So, I’ll allow you to come with me!”

“Found them!”

A Bunnelby dashed around the corner of the alley.

Behind it came the winter-capped man and Ash’s group.

Ash skidded to a halt, surprised: “Steven? Natsume-sensei!”

Bonnie and Clemont’s eyes sparkled. “Natsume-sensei!”

Natsume felt a mix of emotions.

So, after all, he’d reunited with Ash’s group. Yveltal was unavoidable now…

Steven frowned slightly, nudging Natsume—directing his attention to the unnaturally tall man.

Natsume met the murky gaze beneath the man’s white hair.

For an instant, The Power of One transcended time and space; he saw the tragic war of 3,000 years ago, a despairing king, the destruction wrought by the Ultimate Weapon…

This man, whose story he knew so well, who shouldn’t even exist here—King AZ.

Natsume momentarily lost himself.

The man sensed something too; his pupils shrank as he looked at Natsume in shock.

This person wasn’t only a Beast Messenger. He was the Messenger of that Deity who sees all!

Why had he come here…?

Or had he already sensed Yveltal’s awakening and come to solve it?

Diancie stood between the two groups, glancing left and right before smiling:

“Is anyone hungry? I can pay with Ores—please, let’s have a meal together~”