LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 138: A Date with Diancie
The setting sun's glow bathed Xerneas in a golden light, enhancing its divine presence.
"Everyone, please go back," Xerneas said to Angie and the Pokémon.
"Xerneas, take care. I hope we'll meet again someday," Angie said.
"It will happen," Xerneas replied with a voice full of warmth. "Although it was only a short half-day, I am very glad to have met you all."
Xerneas' gentle gaze swept over the Pokémon in front of it and finally landing on Diancie.
"Diancie, you haven't yet grasped the Fairy Aura, have you?"
"The Fairy Aura?" Diancie asked in confusion.
"Yes!" Xerneas nodded. "Only by understanding the Fairy Aura can you truly unlock your own abilities."
Diancie, still puzzled, asked, "So how do I comprehend the Fairy Aura?"
"Come here," Xerneas said.
Diancie nodded and walked up to Xerneas' side.
Xerneas moved closer, resting its forehead against Diancie's, and immediately the antlers on its head emitted a brilliant rainbow glow. Soon, a cascade of light enveloped all the Pokémon present, including Diancie.
How warm... how comfortable!
The Pokémon couldn't help but marvel, and Angie felt the same sensation.
As Diancie was bathed in the glow, Angie could clearly feel the Aura within Diancie becoming stronger and more vibrant.
After a long moment, Xerneas stopped releasing the Fairy Aura and turned to Diancie, asking, "This is the Fairy Aura. Do you understand?"
Diancie seemed to grasp part of it but shook its head, still unclear.
Xerneas didn't elaborate but simply said, "The Fairy Aura is the force of life, and it is your own being that nurtures life."
With that, it added, "I must leave now."
The two Charcadet and Oinkologne hurried forward, unwilling to part, and embraced Xerneas.
Xerneas smiled. "Do not be sad, we will meet again."
The crybaby Charcadet wiped its eyes and nodded its firmly.
Xerneas gave a nod to Angie and the Pokémon before turning around, leaping gracefully, and vanishing into the setting sun.
"Alright, let's head back."
After Xerneas' figure disappeared completely, Angie spoke to everyone.
Back at home, Angie remembered the notification from the system that had appeared when Xerneas ate, so he opened the system.
Sure enough, the system immediately popped up a notification.
[ Congratulations, master, on completing the achievement: Hosted a Legendary Pokémon. ]
[ Reward: Secret Fortress Energy System activated. (Note: The energy system has been modified to convert the Soul Heart of Magearna into the Sacred Diamond of Diancie.) ]
Seeing this reward, Angie was taken aback. An energy system? What's it for? His mind was filled with curiosity.
"Angie!" Diancie approached. "I just received a system message, the Secret Fortress Energy System has been activated."
Angie nodded. "It's the reward for hosting Xerneas! But what exactly is this energy system for?"
Diancie explained, "There are many uses! First, once the energy system is activated, the Secret Fortress can enter flight mode, functioning like an aircraft."
Angie gasped, "The Secret Fortress is big enough to fly?"
Diancie nodded. "Did you forget? The Secret Fortress was originally called the Sky Fortress."
"Ah, right~" Angie finally realized and then asked, "Does it have other functions?"
"Of course," Diancie nodded. "The second point is that after the Secret Fortress has energy, it can activate an attack mode."
"Attack mode?" Angie asked.
"Yes, the Secret Fortress's attack can even knock down Legendary Pokémon!" Diancie said seriously, without realizing it.
"Knock down Legendary Pokémon?" Angie widened his eyes, and after a long pause, he said, "it's no wonder there's so many people wanted to fight over Magearna to control the Sky Fortress back then."
"Is there anything else?" After calming down, Angie continued to ask.
"Then there's the practical aspect of our daily lives," Diancie replied. Then it asked Angie, "Do you know where the water and electricity we use every day come from? Why is it that when I, Munchlax, and Komala use the food you make, we don't generate happiness points?"
"Huh?" Angie was stunned by Diancie's question. He stammered, "Isn't water and electricity provided by the system? You're my family, so it's not surprising that there are no happiness points provided, right?"
Actually, he had never thought about these things before.
Diancie was speechless. "The system can't just provide these things for free! You have to pay happiness points when you buy things from the system shop, so why would the system work for you for nothing?"
"Then why?" Angie's not-so-sharp mind was confused.
Diancie explained, "Because I, Munchlax, Komala, Drizzile, Gengar, Metagross, Pawmi, and even the newly joined Magearna and Volcanion—all the happiness points generated from eating are consumed in our daily living needs.
Since this is implicit, the system never made it clear!"
"Oh, I see now!" Angie said, realizing. "So, after the energy system in the Secret Fortress is activated, all the energy we need for daily life will come from the Secret Fortress, and you all will start generating happiness points from meals as well, right?"
"Exactly!" Diancie nodded.
From now on, the power system, water purification system, waste disposal system, and more in the home will all be powered by the energy system of the Secret Fortress. More specifically, it will be powered by the Sacred Diamond.
The energy system of the Secret Fortress functions as a conversion device.
The other Sacred Diamonds created by Diancie can support the operation of the Diamond Domain across the world, and supplying just Angie's home is naturally a small task.
Angie thought for a moment and asked Diancie, "The energy of the Secret Fortress is from your Sacred Diamond. Are... you okay with that?"
Hearing this, Diancie's face showed uncertainty. "I don't know... maybe we should try it?"
Angie nodded.
It was already evening when Angie instructed his three apprentices to cook dinner for the Pokémon. He then went with Diancie to the fifth floor of the Secret Fortress.
The central energy system of the Secret Fortress was located here.
At this time, there were no other Pokémon on the fifth floor of the Secret Fortress, only a few fish in the pool that Angie and the others hadn't had a chance to eat yet.
Under Diancie's control, a black iron lump suspended above the pool slowly opened, splitting into two halves like a Poké Ball. The space between the two hemispheres was where the Sacred Diamond was to be placed.
"Let's begin," Angie said to Diancie.
"Mm~" Diancie nodded, feeling a little nervous.
It stretched out its hands, pointing them at the energy center. Immediately, countless pink lights quickly gathered in front of its palms, a phenomenon caused by the large accumulation of Fairy-type energy.
Gradually, a huge pink diamond slowly began to take shape, and Angie felt a surge of joy inside.
It's done!
However, no more than three seconds later, the half-formed pink diamond shattered into sparkles, disappearing.
Diancie dropped its arms in disappointment. "I... I can't do it."
Seeing this, Angie approached and gently patted its head. "It's okay, take your time, there's no rush. We've been fine without the energy system until now, right?"
Diancie said, "If I can fully harness the Fairy Aura, maybe I can create the Sacred Diamond."
Angie encouraged, "Practice slowly, you'll definitely master it. I believe in you! We'll leave the energy issue for now and talk about it later."
"Mm~" Diancie nodded softly.
Angie stayed by Diancie's side, comforting it, and they left the Secret Fortress together.
Because Diancie hadn't successfully created the Sacred Diamond, it remained downcast for a long time, even lacking the energy to eat dinner.
During dinner, as everyone practiced their cooking, Diancie was unusually distracted, frequently zoning out. Munchlax, Drizzile, and Gengar exchanged glances, unsure how to react.
When Angie took his three apprentices and Pawmi to practice Aura training, Diancie quietly sat by itself, seemingly lost in thought about the Fairy Aura.
Angie faintly saw the pink light gathering in the palm of her hand, flickering on and off.
For a period of time, Angie often saw Diancie standing by the edge of the wall in a daze. Sometimes, it gazed at the rising sun, sometimes at the playful Pokémon, or it lowered its head to stare at a flower just beginning to bloom or a grass sprouting from the ground...
It even stopped watching its favorite show and abandoned the half-finished hand-dyed crafts.
Angie, having no idea how to help with controlling the Fairy Aura, could only silently stay by Diancie's side, sometimes sitting quietly with it, other times making delicious food to cheer it up.
Days passed.
Diancie kept pondering the words Xerneas had spoken before it left: "The power to create life lies within you!" It still couldn't understand the meaning behind those words.
One morning, before Angie set off for Munchlax's Home, he said to Diancie, "Diancie, how about we take a stroll around the city this afternoon?"
Diancie paused. "Stroll around the city?"
Angie nodded. "Yes, just the two of us!"
"But there's so much to do at home..." Diancie looked uncertain.
"Oh, don't worry, the house won't fall apart just because you're gone for half a day! It's settled then, we'll meet at Munchlax's Home at noon!"
With that, Angie quickly ran off, leaving Diancie standing there, lost in thought.
After a long while, a smile appeared on Diancie's face. It understood Angie's intentions.
Diancie had been contemplating the Fairy Aura for so long but had yet to fully master it, so Angie wanted to take it out to change its mood.
Suddenly, Diancie felt lighter in its heart.
At 10:00 AM, Angie immediately locked up the shop. After sending off Kecleon, Meowstic, Espurr, and Ralts, he stood quietly by the space portal, waiting for Diancie.
Before long, Diancie arrived as promised.
"What are we going to do?" Diancie asked.
"First, let's fill our stomachs!" Angie replied.
Diancie asked in confusion, "Why not eat lunch at home before we go out?"
Angie rubbed his forehead in exasperation. "How can you not be romantic at all?"
"Romantic?" Diancie looked puzzled.
"Oh, never mind! Just come with me!" Angie said, grabbing Diancie's hand and leading the way.
With Diancie full of questions, Angie took it to a very fancy restaurant.
As soon as they entered, a waiter approached and asked, "Do you have a reservation?"
This restaurant was very popular in the royal city, and without a reservation, it was impossible to get a table. Angie had made the reservation five or six days in advance to secure a spot.
Angie nodded. "Yes, we do." He then showed the waiter his reservation number on his phone.
The waiter quickly pulled out a tablet to verify, and after confirming Angie's identity, he said, "Mr. Angie, please follow me."
Guided by the waiter, Angie and Diancie were seated at a window-side table, where they could clearly see the scenery in the restaurant's garden.
The garden housed many different Pokémon, and guests could go inside to play with them.
The waiter handed the menu to Angie, who quickly scanned it and pointed at the options, saying:
"First, we'll have a Pinap Berry Salad, followed by a Slowpoke Tail Soup, Honey-Glazed Roasted Kingler Meat, Garlic Clauncher Meat, a Cherubi Pudding for dessert, and a Bounsweet Juice to drink."
After placing the order, Angie returned the menu to the waiter, who was about to hand it to Diancie, but Diancie spoke up: "I'll have the same as Angie."
The waiter was surprised to hear Diancie speak but maintained his composure, saying nothing more.
"Alright, please wait a moment. Your food will be out soon."
As they waited, Diancie glanced around the restaurant. Seeing many elegant guests chatting and laughing, it quietly asked Angie, "Why did we come here to eat?"
Angie replied, "You eat my cooking every day, don't you want to try something different?"
Diancie shook its head. "No, I think your cooking is better than anyone else's."
Angie smiled and shook his head. "Now that we're here, just enjoy this meal and stop thinking about anything else. The important thing is to enjoy the process."
Soon, the Pinap Berry Salad was brought to the table.
Angie eagerly called out, "Quick, try the Hwang pear from this restaurant. It's said to be airlifted from the Alola region, and it's delicious!"
Angie smiled and nodded, "Right? I spent quite a while choosing this restaurant." He then picked up a jar of yogurt. "Here, it's even better with this yogurt. It's made with Moo Moo Milk, and it has a really unique flavor."
Diancie followed Angie's example and started enjoying the food, gradually pushing away any unnecessary thoughts from her mind.
After finishing the fruit salad, the Slowpoke Tail Soup arrived.
Slowpoke are slow in their reactions, and their tails don't have many nerves, so they don't feel pain even if their tails are severed, and they quickly regenerate. Moreover, their tails are considered a delicacy, making them a highly sought-after ingredient.
Slowpoke tails are rarely available for sale, as they are very scarce. In the farming process, the health of the Slowpoke must be carefully considered, and their tails are only harvested after a long period.
This restaurant was able to serve Slowpoke tail because they breed their own Slowpoke. Other restaurants could not offer it.
Angie called to Diancie, "Try it, this is their specialty. It's my first time having Slowpoke tail!"
Diancie nodded and scooped some soup with a spoon, placing it into her mouth. Immediately, she and Angie looked at each other, both showing surprise.
"So fresh!" Diancie exclaimed.
"Right!" Angie said happily. "I knew my choice wouldn't be wrong."
After the Slowpoke Tail Soup, the Honey-Glazed Roasted Kingler Meat and Garlic Clauncher Meat were served.
Don't be fooled by the names of these dishes. The Kingler and Clauncher here refer to the meat from their pincers.
Both Kingler and Clauncher regularly shed their pincers, which grow back stronger and tougher over time.
Due to rigorous training, the meat from these pincers is considered incredibly delicious. Some people breed these Pokémon specifically to collect their pincers after they molt and sell them in the market.
These pincers are hard to find, though, because they don't shed constantly; only after a long period will they molt again.
"This is also delicious," Diancie said, chewing slowly, pointing at the two dishes in front of her.
Angie laughed. "If you like it, eat more. If it's not enough, we can order more."
Diancie shook her head. "I'm full."
After the main course, the dessert arrived—Cherubi Pudding and Bounsweet Juice.
Angie explained to Diancie, "This pudding is made with Gogoat Milk, and it's topped with cherries from Cherubi. Diancie, try it."
Diancie nodded, scooping a spoonful and placing it into her mouth.
The pudding melted in her mouth, its smooth texture, rich milky flavor, and sweetness filling Diancie's senses. Another bite of the cherry on top was sour, sweet, and crisp, offering an excellent taste.
"Delicious," Diancie said, her eyes squinting in happiness.
However, after setting down her spoon, she added, "But I feel like the sheep milk in this pudding isn't as good as the one we have at home."
Angie smiled and motioned for her not to say that out loud—it would be rude to the restaurant staff.
Diancie giggled and stuck her tongue out.
Angie quickly finished his pudding and took a large sip of the Bounsweet Juice.
This drink was a unique combination of fruit juice and the sweat of Bounsweet. The flavor was quite special.
Bounsweet's sweat is particularly sweet, but humans can't drink it directly—it's too sweet. It needs to be diluted with water, and when the sweetness reaches the right level, it becomes a delicious beverage.
Desserts always bring happiness, and after drinking the Bounsweet Juice, both Angie and Diancie wore happy smiles on their faces.
After finishing their lunch, Angie and Diancie took a short rest before leaving the restaurant.
Angie smiled and asked, "How does it feel to eat out once in a while?"
Diancie blinked her eyes and replied cheerfully, "Not bad."
"Where to next?" Diancie asked.