Chapter 212:Diancie is Planting Trees! The Anxious Diamond Kingdom!

For Natsume's Farm, gym battles are just a part of daily life.

The noisy areas are, after all, only the gym's battle venues.

Most areas of the Farm still give off a sense of beauty and relaxation, like a painting.

Natsume walked quietly along the ridges of the Farm's fields with Diancie by his side.

In the fields, most of the hearty grains had already begun to turn yellow.

Soon, they would fully ripen.

Natsume looked at Diancie, who was walking beside him, and said, "Diancie, you don’t need to respond to me every time during battles."

"While it’s not a big deal at this stage, it will definitely slow down your offensive rhythm later."

Diancie nodded and replied, "Understood. I will correct it."

Natsume smiled at the serious Diancie. "You don’t have to answer so formally either."

Diancie hesitated. "But Minister Carbink taught me this way since I was young."

"Minister Carbink said that I must understand etiquette."

"Is that so?"

Natsume said, "It seems your country's minister must be a very serious Pokémon."

Diancie nodded. "Mhm."

Diancie immediately began venting to Natsume. "Actually, I find it strange too."

"But Minister Carbink always says with a straight face that I am Princess Diancie and should act like a princess who understands etiquette and all that."

Natsume listened to Diancie's complaints and asked, "Has it been to human countries?"

"Yes, it has."

"Minister Carbink said that when it was young, it traveled to many places and countries, and even served as a royal Pokémon for a time, attending to a queen."

"Wow, that’s impressive."

As Natsume and Diancie walked and chatted, they talked about ordinary things.

Through these conversations, Natsume gained a deeper understanding of Diancie.

"Sandslash~"

Up ahead, Sandslash was helping to dig a new pond.

Natsume planned to dig three small ponds in three directions of the Farm, and then leave one large pond.

Combined, it would be just enough to complete the task.

Beside the pond, there was a pile of tree seedlings.

These were the fruit trees to be planted around the pond.

"Sandslash."

Sandslash, standing in the half-dug pond, looked up and waved at Natsume.

Beside it were some tourists who had come to experience life on the Farm.

One of the Farm's must-visit spots: Sandslash Teacher.

No matter where Sandslash was on the Farm, it was always surrounded by many people and Pokémon.

"Great work, Sandslash. You've already dug so deep."

"Sandslash~"

Sandslash pointed to the people and Pokémon around it.

Sandslash explained that it was because everyone was helping that the progress was so fast.

"Natsume Gym Leader."

Several tourists beside Sandslash also greeted Natsume.

One of them joked, "Natsume Gym Leader, do we get a salary?"

Natsume nodded and replied, "You do."

As soon as Natsume finished speaking, several bottles of fresh milk appeared in front of them.

"These are from our Farm's Miltank. Please, have some."

"Thank you so much! I was just about to go get some water."

"Wow, it smells amazing. Furret, you should try some too~"

Natsume smiled faintly as he watched the cheerful people and Pokémon in the muddy pit, then turned to Diancie and asked, "Have you ever planted trees before?"

Diancie shook her head.

"When I was in my country, I only practiced creating sacred diamonds every day."

"I never did anything else."

Natsume asked, "Do you want to give it a try?"

Diancie looked at Natsume eagerly. "Can I?"

Natsume smiled. "Of course."

"It's very simple. I'll teach you."

"Yes, Natsume~"

Natsume handed the shovel to Diancie and said, "The first step in planting a tree is to dig a hole."

"Start by digging a hole about two to three times the size of the soil ball under the tree seedling."

"Yes, Natsume~"

Diancie took the shovel and began digging enthusiastically.

"The soil here is so soft. It feels like it’ll be easy to dig through."

Even though it was just digging a hole, Diancie found it quite interesting.

"Next, fill the hole back in with some topsoil."

"Yes, Natsume."

Diancie pushed some of the freshly dug soil back into the hole.

"Now we can place the tree seedlings inside."

"Yes, Natsume."

Natsume looked at Diancie with a hint of helplessness. "It seems this overly polite habit of yours will take some time to change."

"Yes, Natsume—oh, no, I mean—"

Natsume chuckled at Diancie’s flustered expression. "Don’t worry. Just start covering the soil."

"Also, we need to build a small soil ridge around the tree seedlings."

"A small soil ridge?"

Diancie paused her movements, looking a bit embarrassed. "Natsume, what’s a small soil ridge?"

"It’s this."

Natsume crouched down, gathered the soil with his hands, and patted it firmly, creating a small ridge around the tree seedlings.

It looked like he had made a little pot for the tree seedlings.

Diancie exclaimed in amazement, "So this is what a small soil ridge is!"

"That’s amazing~"

Click~ Click~

The flash of a camera suddenly went off.

"Hehe~"

In the muddy pit below the pond, a few tourists were watching Natsume and Diancie with warm, motherly smiles.

The sight of humans and Pokémon harmoniously working together always felt heartwarming.

Especially with Diancie, who looked so beautiful yet gave off an air of innocence.

"Sorry, Natsume Gym Leader."

Miyu stepped forward apologetically. "The scene just now was so beautiful that I couldn’t help but take a photo."

"Here’s the photo I just took."

Natsume walked over to Miyu and looked at the photo she had taken.

In the picture, Natsume was crouching slightly, his hands resting on the dirt, his expression gentle.

Diancie stood in front of him, holding the shovel with both hands, her eyes filled with wonder as she looked at the newly planted tree seedlings.

"Natsume, it really looks just like us!"

Diancie exclaimed as she gazed at the photo.

Natsume looked at Diancie, who was peeking out from between him and Miyu, and said, "That’s because it is us."

"Wartortle~"

At that moment, Wartortle and the others came running over.

"Perfect timing."

Natsume turned to Wartortle. "Can you help me water the seedlings?"

"Wartortle~"

Wartortle saluted and began spraying water into the small soil ridge.

Once the water filled the ridge, it slowly seeped into the dirt.

"Wartortle~"

Diancie looked at the tree seedlings and asked, "Is that all we need to do?"

Natsume smiled softly. "Yes, that’s all."

"Okay~"

Diancie said with determination, "I’ll take care of the rest."

"Alright, go for it, Diancie."

"Yes, Natsume~"

Above the Farm, as the sun slowly sank below the horizon, the sky quietly unfolded a breathtakingly colorful canvas of twilight.

Dreamlike clouds drifted gently across the sky.

Natsume leaned against a fruit tree, gazing up at the sky.

The clouds, stirred by the wind, looked like a galloping Rapidash or a soaring Pidgeot.

Clouds could always transform into all kinds of Pokémon, depending on your imagination.

It was the perfect scene for daydreaming.

The noisy sounds began to fade along with the sunlight, and the number of buses on the main road dwindled.

"Noivern~"

A dark figure flew across the sky.

Natsume looked up slightly and waved at Noivern. "Good evening, Noivern."

"Noivern~"

Noivern landed beside Natsume, stretching out its wings.

Noivern let out a yawn.

Natsume smiled. "Did you sleep well today?"

"Noivern~"

"Natsume~"

Diancie and the others came running over.

"I’ve finished planting all the tree seedlings."

Natsume stood up and brushed the dirt off his clothes.

Around the pond, thanks to Diancie’s efforts, a circle of fruit trees had been planted.

Diancie, however, looked quite messy, covered in dirt.

"Let's go. It's about time."

"Head up the mountain, take a bath, and then get ready for dinner."

"Yes~ Natsume~"

As Diancie followed Natsume toward the bamboo grove on the mountain, a beautiful flute-like sound suddenly came from ahead.

Diancie asked curiously, "Natsume, what is that sound?"

"That? It's Lilligant playing."

"Manaphy~"

While Natsume was talking to Diancie, Manaphy suddenly leaped out of the river stream and jumped toward Natsume.

Behind Manaphy, Phione and the others floated quietly.

Natsume reached out and caught Manaphy, smiling. "Off work already, Manaphy?"

"Manaphy~"

Manaphy nodded with a grin.

Manaphy had returned for dinner.

Diancie looked at Manaphy curiously.

Natsume introduced, "Don't let this guy's cuteness fool you. He's also the prince of the sea."

"Ah."

Diancie was startled and quickly said, "My apologies, Prince Manaphy."

Manaphy scratched its head, looking at Diancie in confusion.

Natsume chuckled. "Like I said, no need to be so formal."

Natsume led Manaphy and Diancie toward the hot spring inside the bamboo grove.

Lilligant was sitting by the hot spring, her legs soaking in the water, her skirt-like leaves spread out loosely.

Natsume waved. "Hey, Lilligant."

"Lilligant~"

"Lilligant, this is Diancie. She seems very interested in your flute."

Lilligant turned to look at Diancie.

Diancie quickly said, "You play so beautifully. Can you teach me?"

Lilligant smiled and nodded, then handed Diancie a bamboo leaf.

Diancie took it and blew hard.

Snap~

The bamboo leaf broke.

"Manaphy."

Manaphy, held by Natsume, burst into laughter.

Diancie blushed in embarrassment and whispered, "I guess I'm not very good at this."

"Lilligant."

Lilligant comforted her and then patiently began teaching.

Although the grass flute was a move, if the goal was just to make sound, it wasn't too hard to learn.

While Diancie was learning from Lilligant, Munchlax, Teddiursa, and Piloswine came rushing over.

Jump~

Munchlax and Teddiursa leaped into the hot spring.

Splash~

A huge wave of water.

"Munchlax~"

"Teddiursa~"

Munchlax and Teddiursa let out comfortable hums.

Munchlax had clearly found a good friend at the Farm.

By the hot spring, Piloswine screeched to a halt and didn't jump in immediately.

It cautiously looked at the hot spring, seeming hesitant.

Munchlax and Teddiursa exchanged glances, then together they reached out and pulled Piloswine in.

Splash~

Another huge wave of water.

"Piloswine~"

Piloswine quickly stood up and shook its fur vigorously.

Water droplets flew everywhere.

Natsume splashed water at them and laughed. "Take it easy, you guys."

"Teddiursa~"

Teddiursa scratched its head, then extended its palm toward Natsume.

Natsume waved his hand slightly. "Better share it with Munchlax."

As Natsume spoke, Munchlax pounced and began licking Teddiursa's palm eagerly.

"Munchlax~"

"Dude, you smell so good~"

Teddiursa's palm secreted the honey it stored, and Munchlax, who would eat anything, naturally loved this treat.

"By the way, Diancie."

Natsume suddenly looked at Piloswine and said, "Can you teach Piloswine Ancient Power?"

Diancie looked at Piloswine, who was shaking its fur. "Of course. Should we start now?"

"No rush. Let's start tomorrow."

"Yes, Natsume~"

Natsume suddenly laughed at Diancie's automatic response.

Diancie asked suspiciously, "Natsume, are you laughing at me?"

"Not at all."

"But I feel like you are laughing at me."

"It's just your imagination~"

Diancie puffed out her cheeks, looking unbearably cute.

"Indeedee~"

Indeedee walked over at that moment, reminding them of the time.

"We've been soaking for so long already."

Natsume said as he stepped out of the hot spring.

"Thank you, Indeedee."

Natsume took a towel from Indeedee's hand.

"Indeedee~"

Indeedee handed one to Diancie as well.

Natsume dried himself with the towel and then draped it over his neck.

Diancie imitated Natsume's actions.

Natsume looked at Diancie with the towel around her neck and found the scene so amusing that he laughed again.

"Natsume, you're definitely laughing at me now."

"Not at all~"

Underground Kingdom.

The Carbink Minister hurriedly arrived at the cell where Meltan was imprisoned.

When it saw the empty Diamond cell, it felt as if the sky had fallen.

"Darn it!"

The Carbink Minister exclaimed anxiously, "That rude creature must have kidnapped Princess Diancie!"

"Minister, what should we do now?"

The Carbink Minister immediately declared, "Of course, we must rescue Princess Diancie!"

The Carbink Minister said sorrowfully, "Princess Diancie will surely suffer if she's taken by such a creature. This is absolutely unacceptable."

A nearby Carbink said, "But if Princess Diancie had resisted, we would have heard something, right?"

"After all, that creature doesn't seem very strong."

The Carbink Minister paused for a moment upon hearing this, thought for a while, and then affirmed, "I understand!"

"That creature must have deceived our pure Princess Diancie!"

The Carbink Minister grew even more furious as it spoke.

The Carbink Minister believed that Princess Diancie could never be at fault.

Therefore, no matter what happened, it must be Meltan's fault.

"We must not let it get away! All Carbink capable of battle, assemble!"

The Carbink Minister commanded, "Let's go rescue our Princess Diancie together!"

"Carbink~"

The surrounding Carbink immediately began to gather.

The number of Carbink in the Underground Kingdom was astonishing.

Soon, nearly a thousand battle-capable Carbink had assembled in the central square of the Underground Kingdom.

The Carbink Minister waved its hand. "Let's move out!"

They passed through the underground tunnels, heading toward the Towada Lake mine or vein.

"Carbink!"

Soon, a Carbink discovered traces of Meltan's previous battle.

The Carbink immediately reported its findings to the Minister.

The combined power of the moves Meltan had unleashed earlier was immense, turning the dirt here into scorched earth.

The Carbink Minister looked at the traces left by Meltan and said angrily, "Just as I thought!"

"Princess Diancie must have been here."

The Carbink Minister began to imagine the scenario: "It must have been here that our clever Princess Diancie realized she had been deceived."

"So Princess Diancie began to resist."

"Then, that evil and brutal Meltan forcibly attacked our Princess Diancie."

"It must have happened like this!"

"Our poor Princess Diancie."

The Carbink Minister's voice even carried a sob.

The Carbink all showed expressions of anger.

"Everyone, keep searching!"

"We must rescue our Princess Diancie."

"Carbink!"

The underground tunnels echoed with the unified response of the Carbink.

They continued forward and soon reached the end of the tunnel.