Chapter 218: Stop Fighting. The League Has You Surrounded (Power Stone Milestone Extra Chapter)

Just as the two sides reached a stalemate, a clear voice came from the entrance to the hideout.

"Dad, stop fighting."

Ruri stepped out of the darkness with her arms crossed, her expression calm.

"Ruri?"

Steven froze for a moment, but quickly slipped back into his villainous persona.

"Hmph! My precious daughter, have you come to persuade your father? It’s useless! This Heart Diamond already belongs to me!"

"Dad, stop being so stubborn."

Ruri shook her head with a heartbroken expression.

"The League has this entire place surrounded. Put the diamond down and come back with me to turn yourself in, okay?"

"Impossible!"

The Dark Ore King swept his cape aside.

"There are only two things I’ve ever loved in this life—stones and your mother! Your mother is already gone, so now all I have left are stones!"

Steven thrust out one hand.

"Metagross, Meteor Mash!"

Metagross erupted with blinding white light.

Its entire body transformed into a silver meteor as it shot straight toward Elaria and Diancie.

Kirlia immediately raised a psychic barrier in front of them, but the force of the Giga Impact was simply too great.

After only two seconds—

Cracks began spreading across the barrier.

"Diancie!"

Elaria turned around and grabbed Diancie’s hand.

"You created that diamond, didn’t you? It’s a treasure that belongs to you and all the Carbink."

"So you have to take it back yourself!"

Hearing Elaria’s words, Diancie thought of her people who were still suffering.

At that moment—

Her resolve became stronger than ever.

The Heart Diamond in the Dark Ore King’s hands suddenly began to glow.

Steven instinctively let go.

The Heart Diamond hovered in midair for a brief moment before flying straight toward Diancie.

Metagross’s Giga Impact was already right in front of them.

Diancie took one step forward and gently caught the returning Heart Diamond in both hands.

Then she raised her head.

The diamond crown atop her head erupted with a circular shock wave.

Metagross was blasted backward, flipping through the air three times before crashing headfirst into a pile of ore.

"My people are still waiting for me."

Diancie held the Heart Diamond in both hands, her voice soft but firm.

"This is my kingdom. My responsibility."

"No one can take it away from me."

The moment those words fell—

The Heart Diamond erupted with an even more brilliant light.

Diancie successfully Mega Evolved.

With her new power, she completely defeated the Dark Ore King and brought the Heart Diamond back to the Diamond Domain.

The instant the Heart Diamond was returned to its place in the temple ceiling—

Every Carbink that had turned to stone regained its vitality at the same time.

Diancie stood at the highest point of the temple and began to sing beneath the restored Heart Diamond.

Its light spread outward with her song—

Illuminating the entire underground kingdom.

[THE END]

The lights in the screening hall came back on.

Thunderous applause immediately erupted from the audience.

Lance applauded while turning toward Lorelei beside him.

"Don’t you think Steven’s character was a little too realistic?"

"Realistic?"

Lorelei raised an eyebrow.

"I think they already toned him down."

Leon nudged Raihan with his elbow.

"What did you think of Wallace’s entrance?"

"Way too flashy."

Raihan thought about it for a moment.

"But it does suit him."

"I thought so too."

[VIP Chat Group]

[May]: That was so good! Especially when Diancie put the Heart Diamond back at the end! The entire Diamond Domain started glowing! (ˊᗜˋ)

[Iris]: And Diancie and Elaria worked together so well! It was their first time acting together, but their chemistry onscreen made it look like they’d been rehearsing for ages!

[Steven]: Ah, that was perfect. I’ve decided. I’m recording this movie and playing it on a loop every single day at Devon Corporation headquarters.

[Mr. Stone]: ...Steven, I’ve given up on asking you to come back and take over the company. Just hurry up, get married, and bring me back a granddaughter.

[Steven]: Dad, people believe in marrying for love these days. Stop rushing me!

[Mr. Stone]: Your parallel-world self is already a father, while the real you is still single. Does that make any sense? Why can’t you learn something from Asher?!

[Steven]: ? How am I supposed to learn that?!

[Brock]: Damn it, I want to learn too, but there’s no way to learn something like this!

[Asher]: Ahem. It’s all skill.

[Gary]: What skill? I don’t see any.

[Asher]: Then that just means you still have much to learn, little bro-in-l—

[Asher]: [Message deleted.]m

[Gary]: ??? What did you just say?

[Asher]: Nothing. You saw it wrong.

The video continued playing.

After the premiere ended, the guests gradually began leaving.

Before long, only a few members of the main production team remained inside the screening hall.

Steven was dragged out by the back of his collar by Ruri, who said they were going back so he could finally sign all the documents that had piled up while he was away.

Before leaving, Wallace spoke with Diantha for a while.

He told her that if another suitable role came up in the future, he would still be willing to make a guest appearance for free.

After all, he felt that movies might also be another way to showcase the charm of Pokémon.

Meanwhile—

Elaria was sitting in one of the front-row recliners, talking with Diancie beside her.

"Diancie."

Elaria turned her head toward her.

"What did you think of the movie today?"

"It was wonderful. I’ve never experienced anything like this before!"

"Really? That’s good."

Diancie clasped her small hands together on her lap and lowered her head in silence for a while.

Then she looked up and spoke with an incredibly serious expression.

"Elaria, I... I want to keep making movies."

Elaria blinked.

"Really?"

"Mm."

Diancie nodded firmly.

"Today, I wasn’t just watching my own performance. I could also see the audience’s reactions and hear their applause."

"That’s something I never experienced back in the Diamond Domain."

She paused for a moment.

"I was thinking... There must be many other stories in this world just like the Diamond Domain’s."

"Those stories could also become something that everyone in the world can see—something that can move their hearts."

Diancie raised her head.

Her red eyes looked directly into Elaria’s.

"So I want to stay with you."

"Through movies, through songs, through every way we can think of—I want to tell those forgotten stories to more people."

"Okay!"

Elaria smiled and held out her hand.

"Then let’s make lots and lots of movies together."

"We can even put the Green Dragon and the Chubby Fish in them!"

Diancie tilted her head.

"Green Dragon?"

"She means Rayquaza and Kyogre!"

Hoopa floated beside them and planted its hands on its hips.

"With Hoopa around, you can meet any Pokémon you want!"

"Really?"

Diancie’s eyes immediately lit up.

"That’s wonderful! I’ve always wanted to play a princess riding a dragon!"

"Of course you can."

Elaria smiled.

Then, after a brief pause, she held a Poké Ball out toward Diancie.

"But anyway..."

"Let’s take care of each other from now on, Diancie."

"Mm. Let’s take care of each other, Elaria."

Diancie nodded and reached out to touch the Poké Ball.

A flash of red light appeared.

The Poké Ball gave a small shake.

Click.

Capture successful.

Hoopa immediately reached through one of its rings and pulled out a miniature crown, waving it excitedly in the air.

"Welcome to Elaria’s team, Diancie!"

"As a founding veteran of Team Elaria, Hoopa hereby grants you the honorable title of First Diamond Princess!"

"Starting today, Diancie will officially be the beauty representative of Team Elaria!"

"Hoopa, didn’t you say you were the beauty representative before?"

"That’s different!"

Hoopa puffed out its chest.

"Hoopa is in charge of being cute! Diancie is in charge of being elegant!"

"Clear division of responsibilities! No conflict at all!"