Cole's Special Ability grew stronger with use, but he hadn't expected it to advance so suddenly today.
He thought "advance" was the right word to describe it, since this was his first time having this Special Ability and he wasn't quite sure. When he tried controlling the energy, his mastery felt more natural than before.
Just as Cole was about to seize the moment and continue Carbink's treatment with his enhanced ability, a crisp sound rang out — the diamonds embedded in its body began falling off one by one.
"What's happening?" Cole asked, startled.
This couldn't be his fault, could it?
"Carb~ Carb~"
Carbink quickly explained that there was nothing to worry about — when one of its species reaches a certain stage of growth, the diamonds naturally fall off and regrow. This shedding was actually a sign of increasing strength, and each cycle made them more powerful.
This wasn't Carbink's first time shedding. The new diamonds would grow back harder than before, providing even better defense.
Hearing this, Cole breathed a sigh of relief. At least everything was fine.
Though... Carbink did look rather plain without its diamonds. But he kept that thought to himself — no need to hurt the Pokémon's feelings.
Suddenly, Cole heard something.
Crunch... Crunch... Crunch...
"What's that sound?" Cole turned to find the little Larvitar happily munching on one of Carbink's fallen diamonds.
Those teeth must be incredibly strong to chew through diamond.
"Larvitar, what are you doing?!"
Cole's sudden shout startled the little one, making it drop the half-eaten diamond with a clang.
"Yow~ Yow~" — Nothing... nothing at all...
Larvitar nervously shuffled its feet, inching toward the door in an obvious escape attempt.
Cole blocked the doorway, "Why do you always try to eat everything in sight!"
Larvitar hung its head, fidgeting with its little fingers, feeling utterly wronged: It's just eating a rock! Can't eat silver ore, can't eat this either!
At this point, Carbink hopped over to tell Cole that its fallen diamonds were useless anyway, so Larvitar might as well eat them.
When the little one heard this, it looked at Carbink with teary eyes: Wuwuwu... you're so nice! From now on, we're brothers from different parents!
{T/N: Carbink has no gender.}
Carbink became embarrassed by its reaction.
"Am I being unreasonable for not letting you eat that? You eat everything in sight — what if you get a stomach ache?" Cole said irritably.
"Yow~ Yow~" — That won't happen!
Larvitar said with puffed cheeks, and when Cole wasn't looking, it darted back to the half-eaten diamond, picked it up, and continued eating.
Crunch~ Crunch~
So crispy and delicious!
Cole was left speechless.
After the treatment, all the Pokémon went back to sleep.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
Cole got up early the next morning to return to school after the holiday.
With Hatterene at home now, he no longer had to wake up early to make breakfast and could sleep in contentedly each day.
After breakfast, he shouldered his backpack and headed to school. As he walked out the courtyard gate, he heard sounds of battle nearby. When he went to investigate, he found Larvitar and Carbink doing morning training.
Though Carbink usually appeared quiet and gentle, it was surprisingly decisive in battle.
Larvitar charged headfirst toward it, attempting an Iron Head attack. But it had barely taken two steps when transparent rocks suddenly erupted from the ground, repeatedly striking it and making it cry out.
✲ Stealth Rock ✲
That was clearly Carbink's move.
After the Stealth Rock attack ended, Larvitar regrouped and resumed its charge. Just then, rocks materialized above its head, poised to fall.
✲ Rock Slide ✲
"Yow~"
Larvitar shouted, its little fists swinging rapidly with flashing white light, smashing all the falling rocks.
✲ Rock Smash ✲
When Larvitar was first born, it only knew three moves: Leer, Sandstorm, and the inherited Iron Head. Rock Smash was learned later.
After destroying all the falling rocks, it looked up and glared fiercely at Carbink, its eyes wide open — which only made it look adorable. This was the Leer move, meant to reduce the opponent's defense.
What Larvitar didn't know was that Carbink's Clear Body ability made it immune to such effects.
Taking this opportunity, Carbink shook its body, causing its newly grown diamonds to shine brightly as its form became more angular.
That's right - overnight, its diamonds had grown back. Though still small, they gleamed much brighter than before.
The move Carbink had just used was Sharpen, which increases attack power. While this type of Pokémon naturally possesses outstanding defense and special defense, its attacks tend to be weak. Without powering up, its strikes would be mere tickles.
Larvitar swung its little fists and charged at Carbink with a "waaah", when suddenly sharp, spear-like rocks materialized around Carbink.
Under its control, the rock spears shot out with a "whoosh whoosh whoosh" but didn't strike Larvitar — instead forming a circle around it. Carbink was clearly holding back.
The little one, startled, plopped down in the middle of the circle with tears welling up in its eyes.
Seeing this, Carbink immediately became flustered.
"Larvitar, why are you crying? Get up." Cole called out as he approached, "It's just sparring, and Carbink didn't even hurt you. What are you crying for?"
Larvitar pouted, reluctantly standing up and holding back its unshed tears.
Not even allowed to cry — where's the justice in that!
"No crying during practice matches with friends!" Cole added.
Afraid of having its food rationed, Larvitar could only nod obediently.
Fine, I won't cry. I can endure this — just wait until I'm strong enough to beat you all up!
Cole turned to Carbink and said, "Carbink, you're really strong. Did Sister Ember train you?"
In that short exchange alone, it had skillfully used four moves — Stealth Rock, Rock Slide, Sharpen, and Stone Edge. It was clear it had undergone special training.
Carbink nodded shyly.
"Can you show me all the moves you've learned?"
Having just returned yesterday, Cole hadn't had a chance to properly understand Carbink yet.
"Carb~"
It nodded in agreement.
"Then let's begin."
As Cole finished speaking, a white barrier suddenly materialized in front of Carbink.
"That's Reflect!" He recognized this move instantly — Daisy knew it too, so he was very familiar with it.
Next, Carbink leaped up and slammed its body into the ground. A yellow beam spread across the surface, creating instant cracks.
"Earth Power!"
Cole recognized this move as well — after all, it was this very move that had caused him to fall into that hole and end up at Ember's house.
After demonstrating Earth Power, Carbink's body gleamed with a metallic sheen: Iron Defense, a Steel-type move that enhanced defense.
Carbink truly lived up to its reputation for exceptional defenses. It had a natural talent for defensive moves. Beyond Reflect and Iron Defense, it showed Cole Magic Coat, a move that reflected status effects.
It could even learn Light Screen from Daisy, and under the right conditions, Safeguard as well.
With these abilities, Carbink would surely become an outstanding defensive Pokémon!
Besides these moves, it also knew Dazzling Gleam, Gravity, and Stomp. Among all of Cole's actively trained Pokémon, Carbink had mastered the most moves.
Ember had taught it every single one.
Cole praised Carbink warmly, then suddenly remembered school. He grabbed his backpack and ran.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
As expected, he was late.
"Reporting in!"
Standing at the doorway, Cole looked sheepish — class had been in session for over ten minutes.
"Come in." The teacher didn't scold him.
Being a well-behaved student with good grades, and this being his first tardiness, the teacher simply let him return to his seat.
After he sat down, Daniel leaned over and whispered, "Cole, did you have too much fun during break and oversleep?"
Cole ignored him. As Daniel was about to make another sneaky comment, the teacher's voice cut through.
"Student Daniel, if you have so much to say, why don't you come up to the podium and share it with everyone?"
Daniel stood up and said with a straight face, "Teacher, what I'm saying is nonsense, not worth hearing."
The classmates burst into laughter at this.
"Sit down and pay attention in class, no more chatting!" The teacher glared at him angrily.
Daniel stuck out his tongue and sat down with a grin.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
After school, Cole went to Bryan's house to deliver the recipe and materials for making Carbink's special Pokéblocks, hoping Bryan could help make them.
Bryan examined the recipe and exclaimed in surprise, "Where did you get this Pokéblock recipe? It's brilliant!"
Cole asked, "Bryan, do you know Miss Ember?"
Bryan looked at him in surprise, "You've met her?"
Cole nodded, "This Pokéblock recipe was given to me by her."
Bryan's eyes widened, "I see—don't tell me you also agreed to help her raise Diancie?"
"You know about this too?"
Bryan said, "Of course I know! She competed for the Elite Four position just to learn Diancie's secrets from the League. When she discovered the League had no information, she resigned immediately."
At this point, he gave a somewhat bitter smile.
"Her desire to raise Diancie isn't a secret — those of us old-timers all know about it. So many years have passed, and she still hasn't given up."
So many years? Cole caught onto the key phrase.
"Bryan, is Miss Ember very old? She looks like she's only in her teens to me."
"Teens?" Bryan laughed, "Actually, I don't know exactly how old she is, but she's definitely not in her teens. It's been twenty years since she resigned from the Elite Four, and even back then she looked like she was only in her teens. Maybe she's as old as I am!"
In this world there were many mysterious things — even immortality existed, let alone maintaining a youthful appearance. Who knew how old Ember really was?
"That can't be possible, right?" Cole said uncertainly.
"Who knows? Besides, when she resigned from her Elite Four position, it wasn't just because she couldn't learn Diancie's secrets. They say that was just the surface reason. She resigned after having a conversation with the League Chairman. What exactly they discussed, no one knows to this day. I suspect that conversation was the real reason she resigned..."
Bryan was... quite the gossip.
Probably because he got caught up in chatting with Cole, he started sharing all sorts of unconfirmed rumors about the League.
As a veteran Elite Four member, he knew many League secrets. When it came to Ember's affairs, he certainly knew more than Gurkinn.
Bryan got carried away with his stories, and Cole was equally absorbed in listening. They continued until nightfall, when Siebold finally came to interrupt them.
"Grandpa, you shouldn't spread unconfirmed stories so carelessly." He said helplessly.
Bryan replied irritably, "Do I need you to tell me that? I'm not telling just anyone — Cole won't spread it around. Right?"
"Of course, I can keep a secret." Cole quickly promised.
That evening, he stayed for dinner before heading home.
Before leaving, he made sure to chat with Buneary for a while, departing only after confirming it was settling in well.
Watching Buneary and Heliolisk's reluctant farewell, Cole felt a lump in his throat — and it wasn't from eating too much dinner.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
The next day when Cole returned home for lunch, he noticed Daisy watching TV. He didn't think much of it until she called out to him with an agitated expression.
"What's wrong, Mom?" Cole asked, puzzled.
"Garde~ Garde~" — Honey, come quick, something terrible has happened — your good friend is in trouble!
"Who? Who's in trouble?" Cole couldn't immediately think who his mom meant.
He hurried over and took the computer she handed him. On the screen was a video with the title:
[Famous Philanthropist Lysandre Breaks Promises, Deceives the Public!]
✲✲✲
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