Dinner was prepared quickly, and today Ange and the others made noodles.
Gengar made the noodles, while Ange, Munchlax, and Drizzile prepared the side dishes. There were five flavors to choose from: Tomato and Egg, Braised Pork Ribs, Braised Beef, Spicy Chicken Giblets, and Shredded Pork with Pickled Greens.
Looking at the sumptuous dinner before her, Serena said in surprise, "Is this the noodle dish you can only eat at Munchlax Home in the evening?"
Ange nodded and said, "Yes! My Gengar is the head chef at Munchlax Home at night!"
"That's amazing," Serena praised.
Gar~
Gengar hid shyly behind Ange upon hearing the compliment.
"Everyone must be hungry, so let's start eating," Ange said.
So, everyone chose their favorite flavors and began to eat.
Slurp slurp~
Slurp slurp~
Soon, the only sound left at the dinner table was the noise of everyone eating noodles.
Finally, after finishing a bowl of noodles and taking a large gulp of soup, Ash said happily, "That was delicious!"
Gulp~ gulp~ Pikachu held a large bowl even bigger than its own body. Mimicking Ash, it took a massive gulp of soup, patted its round belly, and lay down on the table.
Pika~ pika~ It really was delicious!
The Princess of the Diamond Kingdom also accidentally ate too much. It gently rubbed its belly and let out a very loud hiccup by mistake. The eyes of everyone (and the Pokémon) suddenly shifted toward it.
The Princess of the Diamond Kingdom covered its mouth, its face turning red, and said bashfully, "That was very impolite of me."
Hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.
After dinner, Ange's family chatted with Ash's group and the Princess of the Diamond Kingdom for a while. Ange showed a look of surprise when he learned that Oinkologne and Charcadet had volunteered to help Ash and the others find Xerneas.
However, he did not stop them. He simply said to Ash's group, "Then please take good care of Oinkologne and Charcadet on the way."
Ash patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Ange. With me around, Oinkologne and Charcadet will be fine!"
Then Ange added, "By the way, you're setting off tomorrow morning, right? I have to go to the Azoth Royal Capital for work early tomorrow, so I might not be able to see you off. Please forgive me."
Clemont hurriedly said, "No, no, no. Mr. Ange, you took us in and even treated us to a delicious dinner. We are already very grateful. Please go about your business and don't worry about us."
Ange nodded. "Then you should have breakfast before you head out!"
After chatting with Ash and the others for a while, Ange had Diancie arrange guest rooms for them while he took his apprentices to train.
Ange practiced other recipes unlocked by the System with Munchlax and Drizzile, Gengar specialized in practicing noodle making, and Magearna focused on its dessert making.
Because the System had not unlocked any recipes related to desserts, Magearna could not use the materials provided by the training room for practice, nor could it use the training room's teaching system.
However, the benefit of the training room was its special flow of time. This feature alone was enough for Magearna to quickly improve its dessert-making skills.
Midway through their training, Diancie, who had gone to arrange the guest rooms for Ash and the others, returned. As usual, it transformed into a "demon coach," pointing out their mistakes with a serious expression and a strict attitude.
When the training ended, Ange and the others went back to their rooms to sleep.
The next morning, Ange went to the Royal Capital for work as usual, taking Drizzile, Ralts, Meowstic, and Espurr with him.
When he left, Ash's group had not even woken up yet!
While eating breakfast, Ash asked, "Has Mr. Ange already left?"
Diancie nodded. "Yes, Ange wakes up very early every day! If he's late, he won't make it in time for the shop's opening."
Serena sighed, "Mr. Ange really works too hard."
Diancie smiled but said nothing.
In reality, Ange didn't work as hard as Serena and the others thought. He did wake up early every day, but he only worked half-days. He could rest however he wanted in the afternoon.
Currently, various tasks on the Nebel Plateau had already gotten on the right track, and there wasn't much Ange needed to worry about or handle personally. Therefore, he was usually quite free in the afternoon.
After breakfast, Ash's group and the Princess of the Diamond Kingdom bid farewell to Diancie. Accompanying them, of course, were the two Oinkologne and the two Charcadet.
Diancie and Magearna walked with them all the way to the edge of the grassland.
Ash and the others waved goodbye to Diancie and Magearna as they walked.
"Diancie, Magearna, go back now! No need to see us off further," Serena shouted.
"No need to see us off," Bonnie also shouted while skipping along.
Once the backs of Ash and the others disappeared, Diancie and Magearna held hands and headed home.
Ash's group followed behind the Oinkologne and Charcadet, who were skipping ahead.
The first place they were heading to was the forest where Oinkologne, Charcadet, and Xerneas had first met.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, while passing under a cliff, a Carbink with an unusually thick beard suddenly walked out of a cave. Several smaller Carbink followed behind it.
Seeing that Carbink, the Princess of the Diamond Kingdom (hereafter referred to as Diancie) cried out in surprise, "Minister Carbink!" Saying this, it ran toward the Carbink along with Majima, Nate, and Juuk.
It turned out that this Carbink was indeed the Minister Carbink of the Diamond Kingdom. It was the longest-living Carbink in the Diamond Kingdom, and its status was second only to Diancie.
Furthermore, it had personally witnessed Diancie's birth into the world.
"Princess!" Minister Carbink greeted.
Like Majima, Nate, and Juuk, Minister Carbink could also use Telepathy.
"Minister Carbink, why are you here?" Diancie asked in confusion.
"Princess, something terrible has happened," Minister Carbink said with a serious expression.
"What happened?" Diancie had a bad premonition in its heart.
"Princess, please come with me!"
With that, Minister Carbink led Diancie's group into the cave they had just come out of.
"Princess, they are..." Minister Carbink asked, looking at Ash's group as they walked.
Diancie happily introduced them to Minister Carbink, "They are friends I met during my journey. They have helped me a lot along the way and are now assisting me in searching for Xerneas."
Hearing this, Minister Carbink sincerely expressed its gratitude to Ash's group.
As the group walked along, a collapse suddenly occurred ahead, giving them a big fright.
"What is going on?" Diancie asked Minister Carbink in confusion.
The Diamond Kingdom was supported by the Holy Diamond; such a thing should not be happening.
Minister Carbink replied with a look of sorrow, "Princess, the life of the Holy Diamond has finally reached its end. I came here specifically to inform you of this matter."
"How could this be?" Diancie looked shocked.
"Princess, please follow me."
Under Minister Carbink's guidance, Diancie and Ash's group arrived at a spacious underground space. This area was part of the Diamond Kingdom. White pillars of diamonds stood everywhere on the ground and at the top of the space.
However, the diamond pillars that were once brilliant and bright had now lost all their luster. They had turned into black, decayed stone pillars and were constantly collapsing.
The original Diamond Kingdom was not like this. It was powered by the Holy Diamond, and brilliant diamond paths connected various parts of the world, forming a vast Carbink empire.
But now...
"How did it become like this..." Diancie looked at the scene before it in disbelief.
Minister Carbink took a step forward with a solemn expression and said, "Princess, the most urgent matter is that you must master the Fairy Aura as soon as possible and then create a new Holy Diamond. Only then can we stop the Diamond Kingdom from heading further toward destruction!"
"But... but I still can't do it," Diancie said sadly. "My country has become like this, and yet I knew nothing. I have failed in my duties."
Saying this, Diancie shed tears of guilt.
At this moment, Ash walked over to comfort it, "Diancie, crying won't solve the problem. We will definitely find Xerneas. Besides, isn't there still Mr. Ange? The Diamond Kingdom will be fine!"
Thinking of Ange, a light finally returned to Diancie's eyes.
Minister Carbink heard this and asked in confusion, "Who is Mr. Ange..."
Majima, Nate, and Juuk stepped forward and scrambled to tell Minister Carbink about Ange.
Oinkologne and Charcadet stepped forward with faces full of pride.
Chaka~ chaka~ With Ange around, you have nothing to fear!
Honk honk~ honk honk~ Yes! Yes! Besides, there's us! We will definitely take you to find Xerneas!
Minister Carbink was shocked after listening. "Unbelievable. There is actually a second Princess in this world. The Diamond Kingdom is saved!"
"Let's hurry up and find Xerneas," Ash said.
"Right, let's go find Xerneas!" Diancie said with a determined tone.
So, the group left the Diamond Kingdom and returned to the surface. This time, Minister Carbink followed along as well.
"Princess, where are we going to find Xerneas?" Minister Carbink asked.
At this point, the well-behaved Charcadet climbed onto the male Oinkologne, stepped forward, and pointed to the distant forest.
Chaka~ chaka~ Go there!
When Minister Carbink saw the forest clearly, a look of shock appeared on its face.
"That place is..."
"What's wrong, Minister Carbink?" Diancie asked in confusion, seeing Minister Carbink's expression wasn't right.
"That is the Allearth Forest!" Minister Carbink said with a look of fear.
Ash asked, "Minister Carbink, do you know that place?"
Minister Carbink nodded. "That is a place known as the Forbidden Land!"
"Forbidden Land?" Ash's group and Diancie simultaneously looked confused.
Minister Carbink explained, "Many years ago, a Great Extinction occurred in the Allearth Forest. Countless lives vanished because of it. Since then, no one has dared to go near it."
"What is the Great Extinction?" Diancie asked, puzzled.
"It is a disaster where all life falls into darkness and all living creatures disappear and become extinct. I experienced that disaster personally. It was terrifying..."
Recalling the scene from those years, Minister Carbink couldn't help but feel fear in its heart.
It continued, "The one who caused the great disaster was the Legendary Pokémon—Yveltal."
"Yveltal?" Ash's group had never heard of this Pokémon.
However, Clemont had heard something about it. He speculated, "Could it be the Yveltal from the legends that can steal all life?"
"Yes!" Minister Carbink nodded. "It is known as the God of Destruction, the God of Death. It is the incarnation of destruction!"
"Back then, I almost thought I was going to die in that disaster. In my despair, the one who appeared and saved me was Xerneas," Minister Carbink recalled.
Serena said in confusion, "Why would Yveltal do something like that?"
Clemont thought for a while and said, "Perhaps it is to trigger a new power of life."
"Trigger a new power of life?" Ash and Serena exclaimed at the same time.
"Right!" Clemont nodded. "Death and life are not completely opposite. What follows a Great Extinction might be an even more vigorous force of life! I think that should be the meaning of Yveltal's existence."
Minister Carbink said thoughtfully, "What Mr. Clemont said might... be correct. Death and life are not opposites; they are interdependent!"
"Then are we still going to the Allearth Forest?" Serena asked.
"Yes! I'm going!" Diancie suddenly said with absolute determination.
"Princess..."
Minister Carbink, Majima, Nate, and Juuk all looked at Diancie with faces full of worry.
"No matter how difficult or dangerous it is, I must see Xerneas, master the Fairy Aura, and protect my country and my people!" Diancie's tone was firm.
"Princess..." Seeing Diancie like this, a look of gratification appeared on Minister Carbink's face. Immediately, it also said with a look of determination, "Go, Princess. Go to the Allearth Forest to see Xerneas. We will follow you all the way!"
"Yes! Princess."
Majima, Nate, and Juuk all echoed Minister Carbink.
"Diancie, we will accompany you too!" Ash and the others also said.
"Everyone..." Diancie looked touched.
"Then let's continue our journey!" Ash said loudly.
"Oh!!!"
After some cheering and encouragement, the group set off once again on their journey to find Xerneas.
On the way, Minister Carbink said as they walked, "Legend has it that after causing the Great Extinction, Yveltal turns into a Cocoon of Destruction and falls into a deep sleep. So now, Yveltal must be sleeping somewhere in the Allearth Forest. And it is said that anyone who disturbs the sleep of the Cocoon of Destruction will surely endure its wrath."
Clemont said, "So we must be careful not to disturb the Cocoon of Destruction while searching for Xerneas, right?"
Minister Carbink nodded. "Exactly!"
After walking for an unknown amount of time, Ash and Diancie's group finally reached the edge of the Allearth Forest.
Looking at the dense forest, Diancie said excitedly, "I sense it! It's the scent of the Fairy Aura. A very thick Fairy Aura! Xerneas must be here!"
"Great! That's wonderful!"
Minister Carbink and Majima's group smiled happily upon hearing this.
Oinkologne and Charcadet were also very happy. They would be able to reunite with their friend.
Xerneas: