Ange dismounted from Espathra and asked in confusion, "Ash, why are you all here?"
"Mr. Ange, so you are the owner of this place?" Ash said.
"I am," Ange nodded.
"We are accompanying Diancie here to find Xerneas," Ash answered.
Upon hearing this, Ange looked at the other Diancie, who was currently staring wide-eyed at his own Diancie.
Majima, Nate, and Juuk were also stunned. They looked back and forth between Ange's Diancie and their own princess, muttering to themselves.
"There are... two princesses!"
Who could have imagined that outside the Diamond Domain, there would be another Diancie princess? Generally speaking, only the massive population of Carbink in the Diamond Domain had a chance of producing a mutant Diancie.
"Um... hello," Ange's Diancie spoke up first.
"Greetings," the Princess of the Diamond Domain replied with a curious gaze, greeting Ange's Diancie in return.
Both were Diancie, but it was clear that Ange's Diancie, having lived with humans for a long time, was more socially refined, while the Princess of the Diamond Domain was more pure and innocent.
At that moment, Majima hopped over to Ange along with Nate and Juuk.
"Lord Ange, we meet again."
"It's you guys," Ange said with a smile.
The three Carbink nodded repeatedly. Nate stepped forward and said, "It is truly an honor to meet Lord Ange again!"
"I am honored as well," Ange said. "I didn't expect you to be Diancie's subordinates."
"We were also very surprised to see a princess by Lord Ange's side," Juuk said.
Majima and Nate nodded in agreement.
"I was also surprised to encounter a second Diancie," Ange said.
At this point, Serena asked curiously, "So Mr. Ange knows Majima and the others?"
"Lord Ange is the one I mentioned before," Majima explained. "He saved us and gave us food. Without Lord Ange's help, we wouldn't have found the princess so quickly."
"So that's how it was," Ash and the others realized.
"How did you come to the Nebel Plateau?" Ange asked curiously.
"It's like this..." Clemont explained.
It turned out that the Diamond Domain where Diancie lived was a vast underground world existing in various places across the globe, inhabited by many Carbink. The ruler of all Carbink was Diancie.
The Diamond Domain existed because it was supported by the Holy Diamond created by Diancie. However, after many years, the Holy Diamond supporting the kingdom had finally reached the end of its lifespan, and the newly born Diancie had not yet mastered the ability to create a new one.
If the method to create a Holy Diamond wasn't mastered soon, the entire Diamond Domain would be destroyed due to the loss of energy, leaving many Carbink without protection and homeless. To create a Holy Diamond, one needed to grasp the Fairy Aura, and seeking the help of Xerneas was the most direct way to do so.
Therefore, under the suggestion of Minister Carbink, Diancie left the Diamond Domain and embarked on a journey to find Xerneas with Majima, Nate, and Juuk. Along the way, Diancie was targeted by thieves due to its rarity and special abilities, and was ultimately saved by Ash's group. Thus, Ash's group decided to help Diancie find Xerneas together.
Diancie had the ability to sense Fairy Aura, and places where Xerneas passed would have lingering traces of that energy. Following the residual Fairy Aura, Diancie led Ash's group all the way to the Nebel Plateau.
After listening to Clemont's explanation, Ange said, "I see... Xerneas has indeed been to the Nebel Plateau."
Hearing Ange's words, Diancie and Ash's group showed looks of joy. However, before they could celebrate for three seconds, Ange spoke again.
"But Xerneas left a long time ago."
"What? No way!" Ash wailed.
Diancie and the Carbink also looked disappointed.
Seeing Ash's group and Diancie looking dejected, Ange suggested, "Would everyone like to come to my house for a while? After traveling for so long, everyone must be tired."
"Yes! Yes!" Bonnie shouted, raising her hand happily. "I want to see what Mr. Ange's house is like!"
Ash's group and Diancie looked at each other and finally agreed to Ange's proposal.
"Then let's go. Follow me."
With that, Ange and his Diancie climbed back onto Espathra's back to lead the way for Ash's group. Serena, seeing that Espathra was a Pokémon she had never seen before, took out her Pokédex and aimed it at it.
An image of Espathra immediately appeared on the Pokédex, along with an introduction.
[Espathra, the Ostrich Pokémon. A Psychic type and the evolved form of Flittle. Its large eyes release psychic power that can immobilize opponents. It also releases psychic energy from the gaps in its colorful frills, allowing it to sprint at speeds of 200 kilometers per hour. Contrary to its appearance, it has a very violent temperament.]
After hearing the introduction, Ash and the others were very surprised. They couldn't imagine that the beautiful Espathra was actually a violent Pokémon.
Hearing the sound of the Pokédex, Espathra glanced back at Ash's group, its large eyes flashing with light. Serena trembled in fear.
Ash, however, was not afraid. He said excitedly, "A Pokémon I've never seen before!"
"Wait, even Ash hasn't seen it?" Serena asked in surprise. In her eyes, Ash was a powerful Trainer who had seen a lot, so she didn't expect him not to recognize this Pokémon.
Ange smiled and explained, "Espathra mostly live in the Paldea region. They aren't easily seen in other regions. I remember Ash is from the Kanto region, and he probably hasn't been to Paldea, so it's normal not to recognize Espathra."
"So that's why," the group realized. Ash silently noted the Paldea region in his heart.
Clemont looked at the surrounding fruit groves. Some trees were still blooming, while others already bore thumb-sized fruits. Beautiful Vivillon were flying among the trees. He asked Ange, "Mr. Ange, did you plant all these fruit trees?"
"I did," Ange answered with a nod. "But the Pokémon mostly take care of them for me. I'm just reaping the rewards."
Clemont nodded.
Under Ange's guidance, the group quickly passed through the fruit grove and officially entered the Nebel Plateau.
As Ash and Diancie entered the Nebel Plateau, a Honedge silently followed them inside. Meanwhile, on a dynamic airship some distance from the Nebel Plateau, a father and daughter were monitoring Diancie's every move through the Honedge.
"Dad, another Diancie has appeared!" the daughter, Millis, said in surprise.
Argus, who had been leaning lazily in his chair eating chocolate, suddenly sat up straight. "Two Diancie?"
Millis nodded. "Yes!"
"Then aren't we about to strike it rich?" Argus said excitedly.
Diancie had the ability to create diamonds. If they could get their hands on one, they would have a continuous stream of wealth. However, the father and daughter knew very well that before mastering the Fairy Aura, the diamonds created by Diancie would disappear after a while, making them meaningless.
Therefore, they followed Diancie all the way, not rushing to act. They even provided help when Diancie encountered difficulties, waiting for Diancie to find Xerneas and learn the Fairy Aura before moving to capture it.
"But the second Diancie seems to have a Trainer," Millis said with a frown.
"I didn't expect someone to actually catch a Diancie," Argus said, surprised. Then, an insidious smile appeared on his face. "But what if it has a Trainer? Have you forgotten who we are?"
Hearing this, Millis laughed along.
Indeed, they were the international thieves, the Steels! Steel was the surname of Millis and her father Argus.
On the way back, Ange encountered Infernape, who was patrolling with Hippopotas, Hippowdon, Lairon, and Drilbur. He waved to the Pokémon, and Infernape immediately led them over.
Seeing the Infernape, a hint of nostalgia appeared on Ash's face because he also owned an Infernape. Ange beckoned to Infernape. Infernape was puzzled for a moment but still leaned in close to Ange.
Ange glanced cryptically at the sky and then whispered something in Infernape's ear. Infernape looked at the sky in surprise. In the next second, it suddenly leaped into the air and threw a punch at the empty sky.
Fire Punch!
Flames bloomed in the air, followed by a scream. A Honedge appeared out of thin air, wobbling as it fell toward the ground.
On Millis and Argus's side, they were observing everything on the Nebel Plateau through the Honedge, but as Honedge was defeated, their monitor went blank. Although Honedge could turn invisible, it couldn't hide its Aura, so Ange had discovered it immediately.
Infernape picked up the Honedge and threw it at Ange's feet before leading the Hippopotas and others back to their patrol. Ange picked up the unconscious Honedge and, after a brief search, pulled out a cracked camera.
"Mr. Ange, this Honedge..." Clemont asked with a frown.
"Didn't you realize you were being monitored?" Ange asked in return. "This Honedge has probably been following you the whole time."
Ash's group was shocked and looked at each other. They hadn't noticed at all.
"Could it be them?" Serena guessed.
"Who do you mean?" Ange asked.
"A man and a woman. One wears a ninja outfit and the other a wizard outfit. They have been chasing Diancie and are said to be famous thieves," Clemont explained.
Actually, Clemont was referring to the thieves Riot and Marilyn. They had also targeted Diancie and had attacked several times along the way. The ones who had helped Diancie escape them were actually Millis and her father.
"It's definitely them!" Ash said decisively.
In the eyes of Ash's group, Millis and her father, who had helped them before, were good people, so he didn't suspect them at all. Ange didn't know about the existence of Millis and her father, so he naturally assumed the Honedge was the work of the ninja and wizard thieves Clemont mentioned.
However, he didn't take the matter to heart. He smiled and said to Ash and the others, "Let's go."
Ash's group nodded and continued toward the house with Ange.
Meanwhile, with Millis and her father.
"Dad, what do we do? Honedge was captured!" Millis said anxiously.
"Let's go," Argus said, standing up from his chair. "We're going to get Honedge back."
At that moment, an Aegislash and a Doublade appeared on either side of Argus, firmly indicating their support. Like the Honedge, they were Argus's Pokémon and had performed great service during his career as a thief, so Argus could not give up on Honedge.
"Then let's head out!"
Millis had no objections to her father's decision. Although they were thieves, their attitude toward their Pokémon was no different from that of any other Trainer. Their Pokémon were their companions and family!
Subsequently, Millis piloted the airship toward the Nebel Plateau. The airship possessed invisibility capabilities, so when it flew into the Nebel Plateau, the patrolling Talonflame, Staraptor, and Altaria did not discover its presence.
However, shortly after the airship entered the Nebel Plateau, Volcanion, who was napping on the grass, suddenly raised its head. Although it couldn't see the airship, its perception of air currents was incredibly sharp, and the currents moved by the ship caught its attention.
An intruder! Volcanion thought.
When the airship flew directly above Volcanion, Volcanion released the arms on its back, and a large amount of steam erupted from them. In the next second, it charged into the sky and crashed into the airship, causing it to shake violently.
"What's going on?" Argus asked.
"It seems a Pokémon has attacked us!" Millis said, struggling to control the airship.
However, Volcanion had already launched an attack. A large amount of fire poured from its arms, turning into rings of flame that surrounded the entire airship.
It was Fire Spin!
"How could a Pokémon have discovered us!" Argus's face looked terrible.
"I don't know!" Millis said, frantically wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Under the burning flames, the airship's invisibility was disabled. At the same time, Millis and Argus inside were affected by the high temperature and had to force the airship to land.
As soon as the airship hit the ground, Infernape led the Hippopotas and others to surround it. At the same time, Talonflame, Staraptor, and Altaria, hearing the commotion, also blocked the airship from the sky.
"Watch it," Volcanion said to the Pokémon. "I'll go inform Ange."
It didn't act against the people inside the airship, intending to leave it to the other Pokémon. It was also time for the little ones to see a real battle! The Pokémon all nodded.
Once Volcanion left, Millis and her father emerged from the airship, looking very disheveled from Volcanion's heat. Finding themselves surrounded, they realized things were bad and immediately planned to break through and escape.
"Aegislash, Shadow Sneak!"
As Argus spoke, a long shadow extended from Aegislash and silently wrapped around behind Infernape, striking its back. Infernape staggered. Aegislash wanted to continue the attack, but Hippowdon leaped forward and used Crunch on Aegislash, stopping its movement.
Seeing this, the nearby Doublade drew its twin swords and used Night Slash on Hippowdon, trying to rescue Aegislash. At that moment, Drilbur jumped high and used Shadow Claw on Doublade, knocking it back. Having studied under Metagross for so long, Drilbur was no pushover.
Seeing her father's two Pokémon at a disadvantage, Millis pulled out a Poké Ball. With a flash of red light, her Chesnaught appeared. Without needing a command, Chesnaught whipped out two vines, bound Drilbur, and threw it away.
Seeing this, Staraptor in the sky quickly flew over to catch Drilbur. Two Altaria used Ice Beam simultaneously, firing two white rays of light at Chesnaught. Chesnaught crossed its arms in front of its body, and a large number of green spikes emerged from its frame, blocking the attacks.
It was Spiky Shield!
On Infernape's side, it was very angry after being ambushed by Aegislash. It immediately used Flamethrower, breathing fire at Aegislash. Seeing this, Aegislash quickly shook off the Hippowdon and used King's Shield to protect Millis and Argus behind it.
Doublade tried to attack Infernape, but Hippopotas stepped forward, leaped up, and tackled Doublade to the ground, opening its mouth to use Crunch. The Dark-type Crunch was doubly effective against Doublade, leaving it heavily injured.
"Doublade!" Argus shouted in worry.
Then, Hippowdon also pounced over and used the Ground-type move Bulldoze, which was also super effective, stomping hard on Doublade. Doublade immediately lost its ability to battle.
Infernape had already rushed in front of Aegislash, using Fire Punch to land blow after blow on its shield. Although King's Shield's defense was strong, its success rate would drop if used continuously. Finally, under Infernape's continuous output, Aegislash's King's Shield state was broken.
At that moment, Talonflame descended from the sky, covered in roaring flames, and slammed hard into Aegislash. It was using the powerful Fire-type physical move, Flare Blitz. Aegislash wailed and fell to the ground. Infernape didn't hesitate to jump on top of it and delivered another Fire Punch. The Fire-type move was super effective against the Steel-type Aegislash, and it immediately lost its ability to battle.
The situation with Chesnaught was similar; Spiky Shield also became less successful the more it was used. Under the continuous barrage of Ice Beams from the two Altaria, Chesnaught could do nothing but defend. Finally, after multiple uses, Chesnaught made a mistake and was hit by both Ice Beams simultaneously, instantly turning into an ice sculpture.
Millis and Argus sat on the ground in despair. At that moment, several vines appeared, binding the father and daughter tightly. It turned out that Gogoat and Skiddo had arrived after hearing the noise.
Meanwhile, with Ange. He had just brought Ash and the others home and hadn't even had time to sit down when he heard Volcanion's loud shout from outside.
"Ange! Ange! Are you home? Come out quickly!"
"That's Volcanion's voice," Ange said upon hearing the sound. He then said to Ash's group, "Wait a moment, I'll go out and check."
Volcanion? Who was that? Ash and the others wondered. Out of curiosity, they followed Ange outside.
"What's wrong, Volcanion?" Ange asked.
On the second floor, Magearna, who was practicing making desserts in the kitchen, poked its head out to check the situation upon hearing Volcanion's voice. It was still wearing a floral apron.
"Intruders have come to the plateau," Volcanion said. "I've caught them. Come and see!"
Ash and the others were very surprised to see a Pokémon they had never encountered before. Ash and Serena both took out their Pokédexes and aimed them at Volcanion, but the devices responded:
"No data available."
Ash, Serena, and Clemont looked at each other in shock.
"Intruders?" Ange asked, surprised.
Volcanion nodded and said with certainty, "They had an invisible airship and were acting very suspicious. They definitely mean no good. I wouldn't be mistaken!"
"Let's go, I'll check it out with you," Ange said.
Volcanion nodded and turned to lead the way. Ange called up toward the house, "Metagross, could you come with me for a moment?"
Since there were intruders, Ange decided to bring Metagross along just in case.
"Meta~"
Metagross, who was preparing lessons inside, flew out from the balcony. Pawmi was sitting on its head.
"Paw~ Paw~" Pawmi waved happily at Ange.
"Let's go!" Ange said.
Ash and the others quickly followed, thinking they might be able to help if Mr. Ange ran into any trouble.
When they arrived at the scene, they saw Millis and Argus bound in several layers of vines. Ash's group was stunned when they saw Millis.
"Why is it you..."
Clemont looked at Ange and said, "Mr. Ange, could there be some misunderstanding? This lady helped us once. She doesn't seem like a bad person."
Millis, grasping at a lifeline, quickly explained, "Yes, we aren't bad people. We were just passing by and were suddenly attacked by the Pokémon here for no reason. Our airship was even destroyed."
"Is that so?" Ange looked at the pair with a half-smile. "Whether you're bad people or not is easy to determine."
Ange beckoned to a Fletchinder in the sky. Fletchinder flew down, and Ange whispered a few words in its ear. Fletchinder flapped its wings and flew off. A moment later, it returned carrying Ralts and placed Ralts next to Millis and Argus.
"Now, tell me again whether you are bad people or not," Ange said.
Ralts could easily sense if a person was lying. This time, the father and daughter remained silent.
At that moment, Metagross controlled Robert 2 to walk over. Robert 2's eyes emitted two beams of light that scanned Millis and Argus, inputting their photos into the computer to compare them with information on the network. Metagross was very efficient at filtering online data, and soon Robert 2 spoke:
"Information found on the two individuals. Female, Millis Steel, 16 years old, member of the Steel Thieves. Father is Argus Steel. Male, Argus Steel, 41 years old, member of the Steel Thieves. Daughter is Millis Steel. The Steel Thieves are international thieves and wanted criminals, responsible for multiple theft cases..."
After hearing Robert 2's words, Ash and the others looked at Millis and her father in disbelief.
"So you were targeting Diancie from the start? You helped us only because you had ulterior motives?" Serena asked.
Seeing their identity exposed, Millis stopped pretending. "That's right!" She blurted out the reasons for helping Ash's group and Diancie.
Ash and the others were dumbfounded.
"Alright," Ange said. "Let's leave these two for Officer Jenny to handle."
He then dialed Jeremy's number. Soon, Jeremy arrived at the Nebel Plateau with Officer Jenny.
Millis:
Argus: