After confirming the identities of Millis and Argus, Officer Jenny said, "Well then, Prince Ange, I will take these two with me. Thank you for your assistance."
"It was only what I should do," Ange replied.
Subsequently, Officer Jenny took the Millis father-daughter duo and their Pokémon away, departing on Jeremy's aircraft. Furthermore, regarding the duo's own aircraft, Officer Jenny would send someone else to tow it away later.
Watching Jeremy's aircraft leave, Volcanion said with a bit of pride, "Wasn't this all thanks to me this time? Otherwise, you wouldn't have even known there were intruders!"
Volcanion actually felt a bit self-conscious about the fact that it usually had nothing to do and spent all day idling on the plateau while Ange still paid it a salary. It was not a Pokémon that wanted to eat for free. Therefore, having helped capture Millis and her father, Volcanion could not resist showing off just a little.
"Yes, yes, it's all thanks to you!" Ange said with a smile. "You deserve the most credit."
Hearing Ange's praise, Volcanion was instantly satisfied.
At that moment, Ash looked at Volcanion with curious eyes and asked Ange, "Mr. Ange, what kind of Pokémon is this? Why isn't it in the Pokédex?"
"Hmph, humans again!"
Noticing the presence of Ash's group, Volcanion let out a cold snort, turned around, and walked away with Infernape and the others.
Ash and his friends were baffled by Volcanion's attitude.
"Volcanion doesn't like humans very much," Ange said with a smile. "However, it doesn't have any bad intentions, so don't mind its attitude."
Ash's group nodded blankly.
Furthermore, Ange added, "As for why Volcanion isn't in the Pokédex, that's because Volcanion, like Diancie, is a Mythical Pokémon. Your Pokédex probably doesn't have data on Diancie either, right?"
Upon hearing this, Ash's group suddenly understood. Conversely, they were secretly amazed that Mr. Ange had two Mythical Pokémon at his home.
Afterward, Ange led Ash's group and Diancie back into the house.
At that moment, Magearna came downstairs wearing an apron. It wore gloves and carried a tray in its hands.
"Du~ ki~ du~" Ange, we have guests, right? I baked some egg tarts; let the guests try them.
Saying this, it happily placed the egg tarts on the table.
Seeing another Pokémon they had never encountered before, Ash and Serena instinctively pointed their Pokédexes at it. Noticing this, Magearna even gave the two of them a gentle smile.
[No data available] the Pokédex stated.
"Mr. Ange, is this... another Mythical Pokémon?" Clemont asked.
Ange nodded with a smile. "Correct."
"That's unbelievable," Clemont remarked.
A third Mythical Pokémon!
"Everyone, please sit down and try Magearna's handiwork," Ange said. "It is currently undergoing dessert training, so please give some suggestions after you taste them."
Ash's group and Diancie sat around the table, and Ange and Magearna distributed the egg tarts to them one by one.
Bonnie took a bite impatiently and then exclaimed, "Mmm~ it's so delicious! It's the taste of happiness." Saying so, she stuffed the rest into Dedenne's mouth.
Serena also couldn't help but sigh, "Eating this egg tart makes one feel a sense of peace." She likewise shared the other half with her Fennekin.
Ash couldn't say anything particularly special; he just kept saying how delicious it was.
""It is very delicious,"" the Princess of the Diamond Domain said with a sincere tone, holding the egg tart with both hands.
Majima, Nate, and Juuk all spoke up to agree with the Princess.
"Du~ ki~ du~"
Magearna was very happy to hear everyone's praise. It happily took the nearby Diancie's hand to spin in circles, but then its left foot tripped over its right, and it almost fell.
Ash and the others were startled and instinctively cried out, "Be careful!"
Fortunately, Diancie caught it in time.
"Du~ ki~ du~"
After regaining its balance, Magearna smiled sheepishly.
After finishing the egg tarts, Ange began chatting with Ash's group about the Fairy Aura and Xerneas.
"Mr. Ange, can your Diancie use the Fairy Aura?" Clemont asked curiously.
Ange nodded. "It can."
Hearing this, Diancie, who was sitting next to Ange, reached out her hands, and a pink glow blossomed in her palms.
""It's the Fairy Aura! How amazing!"" the Princess of the Diamond Domain exclaimed.
"Actually, the reason my Diancie was able to comprehend the Fairy Aura was thanks to Xerneas's help!" Ange said with a smile.
Envy appeared on the Princess's face upon hearing this.
At this point, Ash had a sudden idea: "Then can Mr. Ange's Diancie create the Holy Diamond? If Mr. Ange's Diancie helps, wouldn't the crisis of the Diamond Domain be resolved?"
Hearing this, the Princess and the three Carbink all looked at Ange and Diancie with looks of surprise and joy.
"My Diancie can indeed create the Holy Diamond and can help the Diamond Domain resolve its crisis," Ange said. "But what about the future? The Holy Diamond has a lifespan. Is the Diamond Domain going to rely on outsiders forever?"
Hearing Ange's words, the Princess and the Carbink all lowered their heads in shame.
Ash scratched his head sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I spoke without thinking."
"Pika~ pika~" Pikachu stood on the table and patted Ash's arm to comfort him.
Ange shook his head and said, "You can go look for Xerneas first. If you can't find it, then come back to me. My Diancie can help you temporarily resolve the crisis, and then you can continue to look for Xerneas slowly afterward."
""That's right,"" Diancie nodded. ""I would be very happy to help you!""
The Princess and the Carbink once again showed joyful smiles; this was indeed the best way.
""Thank you very much to both of you,"" the Princess got down from her chair and bowed, expressing her gratitude to Ange very sincerely.
As they chatted, evening approached. "It's getting late," Ange said. "Would you like to stay at my house for the night?"
Clemont scratched his head. "How could we impose like that?"
"It's fine," Ange laughed. "If you don't stay here, you'll have to camp outside in the wild."
The group had no choice but to follow Ange's suggestion.
Just then, Ange's disciples returned from playing outside. After introducing them to Ash's group, Ange said, "You guys sit for a bit; I'll take Munchlax and the others to prepare dinner."
"Then let us help?" Serena suggested.
She felt quite bad about eating and staying for free.
Ange waved his hand. "No need, just rest well. We'll be ready soon."
Serena had no choice but to sit back down.
While Ange and his disciples were cooking, Diancie walked in.
"Why did you come in?" Ange asked while he was busy.
""There is a mission!"" Diancie whispered.
Ange wasn't surprised. "It wouldn't be related to the Fairy Aura, would it?"
Diancie smiled and gave Ange a thumbs-up.
Ange clicked on the System mission list and indeed saw a new task.
[Temporary Mission] Help the Princess of the Diamond Domain find Xerneas — Pending.
Ange was speechless. How was he supposed to help her find Xerneas? He hadn't put a tracker on Xerneas.
Should he just... forget this mission?
After informing Ange about the mission, Diancie left the kitchen.
Once outside, Diancie said to Ash's group and the Princess, ""Would you like to walk around before it gets dark?""
"Can we?" Serena asked, interested.
""Of course,"" Diancie nodded. ""I will lead the way!""
Diancie bent down to pick up the Mareep following her, tucked two Spinarak into her pockets, and led Ash and the others out the door.
At this time, the Pokémon were returning from their work stations one after another, gathering in small groups in the plaza to discuss what tonight's dinner would be.
Seeing so many Pokémon gathered together, Ash was extremely excited.
"Are these all Mr. Ange's Pokémon?" he asked.
""Everyone is a Pokémon working on the plateau and a partner to Ange,"" Diancie replied. ""However, you can't say they are Ange's Pokémon because Ange isn't a Trainer like you.""
"That makes sense," Ash's group realized.
Subsequently, the group released their own Pokémon.
Ash's Pikachu and Froakie; Serena's Fennekin; Clemont's Chespin and Bunnelby; and Bonnie's Dedenne. Before long, their Pokémon were playing together with the Pokémon of the plateau.
At that moment, the two Charcadet who had gone out on an adventure returned on the backs of two Oinkologne, silhouetted by the setting sun.
Ash was the first to notice them. "That's..."
He pointed his Pokédex at the four Pokémon.
[Oinkologne, the Hog Pokémon. A Normal type. Males and females have different appearances. Males pride themselves on their fine, glossy skin. They release a concentrated scent from the tip of their tail that can cause female Pokémon to fall head over heels for them. Females release a floral fragrance that can heal surrounding Pokémon. Their muscular legs allow them to easily leap over five meters high.]
[Charcadet, the Fire Child Pokémon. A Fire type. Its life took residence in a piece of burning charcoal and became a Pokémon. Even when facing a powerful foe, it will fight with a burning will. Once it enters a battle state, its firepower rises to 1,000 degrees Celsius. It likes to eat Berries with a high fat content.]
"More Pokémon I've never seen!" Ash muttered to himself.
Diancie's ears were sharp; hearing Ash's muttering, she introduced them, ""Oinkologne and Charcadet, like Espathra, are Pokémon that Ange brought back from Paldea.""
"So that's how it is!" Ash nodded.
Charcadet and Oinkologne ran over happily, but they mistook the Princess for their own Diancie. Just as they were about to excitedly show off today's harvest, they heard Diancie say with a laugh:
""Charcadet, Oinkologne, I am over here.""
The four Pokémon were stunned. They looked at their own Diancie, then at the Princess, feeling a bit confused for a moment.
Diancie introduced them, ""These are guests visiting our home.""
When they learned from Diancie why Ash's group was here, Oinkologne and Charcadet jumped for joy, volunteering to lead Ash and the others to find Xerneas.
""You want to help?"" Diancie asked.
"Honk honk~" That's right, that's right!
"Honk honk~" We are friends with Xerneas; we will definitely be able to find it!
The two Oinkologne said while jumping around.
Ash and the others looked with confusion at the inexplicably excited Oinkologne and Charcadet.
Seeing this, Diancie explained, ""It was because of an invitation from Oinkologne and Charcadet that Xerneas came to visit the Nebel Plateau. They say they are willing to help you find Xerneas.""
""Really?"" the Princess looked at Oinkologne and Charcadet with a face full of anticipation.
Oinkologne and Charcadet nodded vigorously.
"Honk honk~" With us around, don't you worry.
The female Oinkologne bragged.
"Honk honk~" Yes, yes!
The male Oinkologne echoed his wife.
"Chaka~"
"Chaka~"
At this time, the two Charcadet took Diancie's hands, one on each side, and led her toward the house.
""What is it?"" Diancie asked.
"Chaka~" Good stuff.
The crybaby Charcadet said happily.
So Diancie and Ash's group returned inside.
The well-behaved Charcadet took a backpack off its back and then took out items wrapped in leaves, pulling out a dozen of them.
""What are these?"" Diancie asked curiously.
Ash and the others also craned their necks to look.
"Chaka~ chaka~"
The well-behaved Charcadet smiled as it opened one of the leaf wraps, revealing small berries inside that looked like gems. Each berry was about the size of a fingernail and was a purplish-black color. Just looking at them made Diancie salivate.
""What kind of berries are these?"" Diancie asked.
Oinkologne and Charcadet shook their heads; they only knew they were edible, but what they were was beyond their understanding.
At that moment, Robert 2 passed by. Diancie waved to it, and Robert 2 immediately came over.
""Robert 2, what are these?""
Light flashed from Robert 2's eyes as it scanned the photo of the berries into its database. After comparing it with online data, it provided the answer.
[Raspberry, a shrub plant of the Rosaceae family... The ripening period for wild raspberries is from June to August... Strange, it shouldn't be ripening season yet!]
Robert 2's question was also Metagross's question.
"Chaka~ chaka~"
At this time, Charcadet gave the answer.
It turned out that they had found these raspberries on a mountain, and that mountain was a volcano.
"So that's it. Then it's not strange; the high temperature around the volcano allowed the raspberries to fruit and ripen early," Robert 2 nodded and then turned to leave.
""Then let's have a taste,"" Diancie said.
Saying this, she brought a basin, poured all the raspberries in, and took them to be washed.
Returning after washing, Diancie distributed the raspberries to all the Pokémon present. Of course, she kept a portion for Ange and the others.
The raspberries were sweet and sour and very delicious. Diancie popped one into her mouth and couldn't help but shiver.
Not only were they delicious, but they also worked up an appetite!
"The taste is a bit like a Mellon Berry!" Clemont remarked.
Serena nodded. "Indeed."