After returning home, Ange first applied medicine to the wounds of the unconscious Diancie, Munchlax, and Drizzile. Furthermore, he fed them Berries to restore their stamina before sending them to their respective rooms to rest.
Next, he gave a Rawst Berry to the burned Metagross and finished treating its injuries.
Because Haunter and Ange had been protected behind Diancie and Metagross, its injuries were not very severe. Consequently, Ange merely fed it a few Berries to restore its energy and asked Dolliv to use Grassy Terrain for it.
After bathing in the Grassy Terrain, Haunter immediately became lively again.
When Pawmi returned from outside, it saw a strange Pokémon in the house and began to size up the stranger curiously.
At that moment, Ange came downstairs with Haunter. Pawmi immediately dashed to Ange's side, climbed up his pant leg all the way into his arms, and pointed at Magearna.
Paw paw~ Who is that?
Ange introduced it, "This is Magearna, my friend."
Paw~ Pawmi nodded, nesting obediently in Ange's arms while still eyeing Magearna with curiosity.
It looks like a princess! Pawmi thought.
Although Diancie also looked like a princess, it was occasionally very fierce, especially in the training room, which was completely different from Magearna's quiet temperament.
Seeing that Ange was finally free, Magearna asked impatiently, "Magea magea~" Prince, how can you be here? Weren't you...
"Don't worry, let's sit down and talk slowly," Ange said with a smile. He pulled out a chair for Magearna to sit on while he sat opposite it, holding Pawmi.
Then, Ange recounted his experiences in detail, from waking up in the tomb to settling on the Nebel Plateau, opening the shop, meeting the Pokémon, and managing the plateau.
As for why he woke up after sleeping in a tomb for five hundred years, Ange did not blame Eliphas this time. After all, Magearna was the Pokémon who knew Eliphas best, and such a lie would be easily exposed. Instead, he attributed it to Diancie.
Since the world knew little about the Mythical Pokémon Diancie, Magearna was equally uninformed and thus believed Ange's words without a doubt.
"Actually, Diancie evolved from my original Carbink. Influenced by some unknown power, it underwent a mutation, which in turn saved me while I was on the verge of death."
Only then did Magearna realize that the Prince was actually still alive when he was sent into the mausoleum.
Those quacks from the royal hospital! Magearna thought indignantly.
After Ange finished his story, Magearna couldn't help but sigh.
"Magea magea~" Diancie is amazing.
"What about you, Magearna? Why are you on the Nebel Plateau? And being with the legendary Volcanion..." Ange asked, voicing the confusion in his heart.
Hearing Ange's inquiry, Magearna's thoughts drifted back to the past.
Five hundred years ago, a rebellion broke out in the Azoth Kingdom. Someone attempted to overthrow the monarchy and seize Magearna to control the secret fortress and start a war.
To prevent Magearna from falling into the wrong hands, Queen Anna asked Eliphas to take it away from the Royal Capital and hide in a place unknown to anyone.
However, midway through the journey, Eliphas suddenly remembered something. He hid Magearna in a concealed location and hurried back to the Royal Capital.
The hidden Magearna was terrified. Ultimately, it never saw Eliphas return; instead, it was found by a group of pursuers.
While fleeing in a panic, Magearna accidentally entered the Nebel Plateau and fainted in the flower bushes on the western side, where it was eventually found by Volcanion.
Volcanion helped Magearna drive away the pursuers and protected it. Since then, it had stayed by Volcanion's side, and five hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.
After hearing Magearna's memories, Ange felt a surge of emotion.
"You've worked hard, Magearna," Ange said, standing up to give it a hug. "I am very happy to meet you again!"
This was a reunion that spanned across time.
"Magea magea~"
Magearna hugged Ange back, crystalline tears appearing in its eyes.
Five hundred years had passed; its Queen was gone, and Eliphas, who created it, was gone too. It never expected to see Prince Ange again. For it, this was the greatest comfort.
Although the Prince had been in poor health back then and couldn't play with it, and they weren't extremely close, meeting an old friend was already an incredible occurrence.
After letting go, Ange asked, "Magearna, do you want to live with me?"
His parents and sister were all gone. Magearna's presence made him feel that he had truly lived five hundred years ago.
"Magea magea~" Of course!
Magearna agreed without hesitation. Since both it and the Prince lived on the Nebel Plateau, living together seemed only natural.
"Then I'll be in your care from now on!" Ange reached out his hand to Magearna.
"Magea magea~" I'll be in your care!
Magearna placed its hand in Ange's palm.
"Magea magea~" Will we live here from now on?
Magearna turned its head to look around the environment of Diancie's Grand Cafeteria.
"Yes," Ange nodded.
"Magea magea~" Then can Volcanion live with us too?
Magearna asked again. It had lived with Volcanion for five hundred years and had long since grown accustomed to its presence.
Ange nodded readily, "Of course." However, he then looked hesitant. "But Volcanion doesn't seem to like humans very much."
"Magea magea~"
Magearna patted its chest, guaranteeing Ange that Volcanion would definitely not hurt him again.
Ange teased Magearna, saying, "Then I'll leave my personal safety in your hands, Magearna."
"Magea magea~"
Magearna squinted its eyes and gave a confident assurance. Given its relationship with Volcanion, there would be no problem.
As they chatted, Ange casually used the Eye of Observation to check Magearna's data.
Magearna
Type: Steel, Fairy
Ability: Soul-Heart
Gender: Genderless
Level: 56
Moves: Helping Hand, Curl Up, Rollout, Magnetic Flux, Iron Defense, Psybeam, Aurora Beam, Misty Terrain, Lock-On, Shift Gear, Trick, Disarming Voice, Charge Beam
Individual Values
HP: 31
Attack: 31
Defense: 31
Special Attack: 31
Special Defense: 31
Speed: 31
Seeing this data, Ange was a bit stunned.
Perfect Individual Values were within his expectations. Diancie had learned from the System that the Individual Values of Legendary Pokémon are naturally perfect, including Mythical Pokémon and various major or minor deities.
Even though Magearna was man-made, since it was classified as a Mythical Pokémon, it could not be an exception.
But Magearna's level... how could it be lower than Diancie, who had slept for five hundred years!
Looking at Diancie's current data:
Diancie
Type: Rock, Fairy
Ability: Clear Body
Gender: Genderless
Level: 65
Moves: Tackle, Harden, Diamond Storm, Guard Split, Smack Down, Flail, Ancient Power, Rock Polish, Light Screen, Rock Slide, Reflect, Dazzling Gleam, Power Gem, Play Rough, Amnesia, Psych Up
Individual Values
HP: 31
Attack: 31
Defense: 31
Special Attack: 31
Special Defense: 31
Speed: 31
Magearna not only lagged behind Diancie in level, but even its move pool was quite meager. Both were Anna's Pokémon, yet the Sylveon now protecting the Azoth Royal Family had a level so high that Ange still couldn't see through it.
Why was the difference so massive?
In truth, what Ange didn't know was that since its birth, Magearna had been raised by his sister as a mascot and had never trained. Later, upon coming to the Nebel Plateau, it was protected by Volcanion and lived a carefree life every day. Other than playing, it did nothing else, making training even less likely. It had never even fought a battle.
Its current level was purely thanks to living long enough, accumulating bit by bit over time. After all, not everyone could raise their level just by eating and drinking like Ange's Pokémon.
Despite his surprise, Ange didn't think there was anything wrong. A low level was just a low level; it wasn't a big deal. Actually, Level 56 wasn't exactly low; most wild Pokémon didn't reach such a level, unless they were in a special situation like Area Zero.
Retracting the Eye of Observation, Ange said, "Magearna, let me show you around the house and arrange a room for you to stay in."
"Magea magea~"
Magearna nodded happily.
Next, Ange led Magearna on a tour of the house while they chatted.
The human and the Pokémon talked a lot. Magearna told Ange about its life on the Nebel Plateau over the years and shared more stories about Anna. Conversely, Ange answered many of Magearna's questions, explaining why he looked so healthy now and how he could communicate with Pokémon.
During this time, Metagross went back to its room to rest due to its injuries. After listening to Ange and Magearna's conversation, Pawmi quietly pulled Haunter aside to whisper.
Upon learning that Ange and the others had been bullied by a Pokémon named Volcanion, it immediately flew into a rage. Puffing out its cheeks, it prepared to settle the score with Volcanion.
Daring to bully the mouse's caretaker? Simply lawless!
Haunt~ haunt~
Haunter grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and hauled it back.
"Don't go making trouble. You can't even beat me, so how are you going to settle scores with Volcanion? Just wash up and go to sleep!"
Paw paw~
Pawmi put its hands on its hips, looking very defiant.
What's so great about a Volcanion? Never even heard of it!
Suddenly, its eyes darted around as if it had thought of a clever idea. It struggled out of Haunter's grasp, landed on the floor, and bolted out the door.
Haunt~ haunt~ Where are you going?
Haunter shouted in a hurry.
Hearing the commotion, Ange poked his head out from upstairs and asked, "Haunter? What happened?"
Haunt~ haunt~ Nothing! Nothing!
Haunter said quickly.
Ange didn't think much of it and continued showing Magearna their new home.
Meanwhile, on Volcanion's side.
Under the guidance of Pancham and the others, it first arrived at the fish farm.
Through the surface of the water, Volcanion could see the fish swimming inside in schools. It was a very lively and pleasing sight.
"That human raised all of these?" Volcanion asked.
Pan pan~ Yes! Our Ange is amazing, right?
Pancham put its hands on its hips proudly.
Skii skii~ Skitty ran to the edge of the lake, reaching out a paw to dab at the water, trying to hook a small fish and creating ripples on the calm surface. However, the fish swam too fast, leaving it to stare blankly at the water.
Helio helio~ Ange said that when the fish grow up, we will have many, many fish to eat.
Heliolisk explained.
"Are you so sure he will actually let you eat them?" Volcanion said disdainfully.
Pan pan! He will, definitely!
Skii skii! Ange isn't the type of person who breaks his word!
Helio helio! Exactly, exactly!
The three Pokémon refuted Volcanion simultaneously, their faces full of disagreement.
Volcanion: ...
Is it that serious? I was just speaking casually.
Next, the three Pokémon led Volcanion along the lakeshore to visit the orchard. Rows of fruit trees that had already sprouted flower buds were neatly arranged, making one feel joyful just by looking at them.
Pan pan~ pan pan~
On the way, Pancham chirped incessantly, describing to Volcanion how they had planted the trees bit by bit. Skitty and Heliolisk would chime in from time to time.
Volcanion instinctively tried to dampen their spirits: "That human just wants to exploit you, making you work as free labor!"
Pancham froze. Grabbing the layers of fat that had already circled its belly several times, it asked, "Pan pan~" Is there such a thing as this kind of exploitation?
Only then did Volcanion notice that Pancham had grown into a little fatty. Skitty also looked round and plump, just like a small ball. Only Heliolisk had sleek body lines, with smooth, hydrated scales and firm, powerful muscles underneath.
This... certainly did not look like exploited Pokémon.
"Hmph... it's all just sugar-coated bullets!" Volcanion remained stubborn.
The four Pokémon walked along the shore until they reached the fruit forest on the riverbank.
Inside the forest, Floette was happily flying among the trees while maintaining a Grassy Terrain. Since their work was finished, Quilladin and Weepinbell were playing hide-and-seek, their laughter echoing through the woods.
Such relaxed and joyful laughter... Volcanion searched its memory. Did the Pokémon of the Nebel Plateau used to laugh like this? Maybe they did, but it couldn't remember.
Walking to the edge of the riverbank, Volcanion noticed the Veluza striving to climb the waterfall.
"Are those also Pokémon of our Nebel Plateau?" Volcanion asked.
Helio helio~ Yes.
Heliolisk stepped forward to answer.
Pan pan~ pan pan~ Ange brought them back from somewhere else!
Pancham added to Heliolisk's words.
Glancing past the energetic Veluza, Volcanion noticed the Seaking, Goldeen, Magikarp, and Feebas mixed among them. It immediately sensed the difference between these Magikarp and those of the past.
It paused and asked the three Pokémon beside it, "The Magikarp and the others seem different from before." They had become more vibrant, no longer appearing as lifeless as they once did.
Pan pan~ pan pan~ Probably because they can eat their fill every day. They've grown fat just like me.
Pancham didn't understand the deeper meaning of Volcanion's words and answered casually.
Volcanion shook its head, continuing to watch the Magikarp and Feebas climbing the waterfall without blinking. It saw that even though they were slapped down into the pool by the current time after time, they still resolutely chose to keep climbing upward.
It didn't understand.
Why would a single human bring such massive changes to the Nebel Plateau?