Magearna.
Aoki's voice was a soft murmur in the quiet space, a gentle summons that hung in the air.
Click—click—
The metallic surface of the Pokeball responded, a tiny seam appearing with a faint sound. From within the darkness, a pair of crimson eyes peered out, surveying the surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
Magearna's gaze settled on Aoki, who offered a small, seemingly friendly smile. Yet, a profound sense of confusion washed over the Mythical Pokemon. Her unique Soul Heart ability, which allowed her to sense the emotions, thoughts, and even the physical state of any being near her, detected nothing from this human. It was as if she were trying to read a blank page; the usual symphony of feelings was entirely absent. This was a phenomenon she had never encountered before.
Magearna was a being of immense gentleness, driven by an innate desire to care for and heal other Pokemon. An inability to feel the heart of the human who held her Pokeball was deeply unsettling. Aware of this particular ability, Aoki had, of course, prepared a countermeasure. A carefully maintained psychic barrier, not unlike the principles of Aura, shimmered around him, deflecting her empathetic senses.
Pushing past her confusion, Magearna turned her attention to the other Pokemon in the room. Her eyes moved over Slowking, Honchkrow, and Florges, and her initial apprehension was quickly replaced by surprise and then dawning relief. She could feel the powerful, positive bonds these Pokemon shared with the human. Their auras radiated trust, respect, and a deep-seated camaraderie. To Magearna, a Pokemon who valued harmony above all else, this was the most convincing evidence that Aoki could not be a malevolent person. Her tension eased considerably, and the memory of being captured by Honchkrow faded into irrelevance.
Emboldened, she fully emerged from her Pokeball, her movements hesitant as she watched for Aoki's reaction. Seeing his expression remain neutral, she felt a wave of relief. Then, her eyes fell upon Tyranitar and Aggron. She immediately noticed the lingering traces of their recent battle, the hidden injuries that marred their powerful forms. A deep sense of compassion surged within her, overriding all other concerns.
With a soft whir of her metal joints, Magearna hurried towards the two large Pokemon, her small hands waving with purpose. This was her nature; she could not stand to see another creature in pain. Observing this display of innate kindness, Aoki felt a complex stir of emotions. His original, coldly logical plan had been to secure Magearna, extract her Soul Heart for study, and utilize her as a resource. Yet, faced with such pure, selfless concern, he found that course of action impossible to follow. In a strange way, this inability to be completely ruthless was a reassurance, a confirmation that a significant part of his humanity remained intact.
Tyranitar and Aggron were taken aback by the small Pokemon's sudden, anxious approach. Aggron, in particular, seemed flustered; a faint blush was visible on its face where the metal plating was thinnest, a detail noticed only by Aoki and the observant Tyranitar.
Bang—
A soft, almost floral sound echoed as Magearna extended her hands. In a flash of gentle light, they transformed into two beautiful, intricately crafted bouquets of metallic flowers, which she presented to the wounded Pokemon. Tyranitar and Aggron stared in stunned silence for a moment before low, rumbling sounds of pleasure emanated from them, their expressions softening into genuine smiles. Sensing their true happiness, Magearna's own face lit up with a joyful glow.
Her attention then shifted to the slumbering form of Volcanion. It rested on a patch of soft grass that Aoki had instructed Florges to prepare earlier, a small consideration to improve the scene for Magearna's benefit. Volcanion's injuries were already healing rapidly under the influence of the grassy terrain. Seeing the steam Pokemon sleeping so peacefully, Magearna felt a warm fondness. She had not seen him rest this soundly in a very long time and decided not to disturb him, unaware that it was the subconscious sense of her nearby presence that allowed Volcanion such deep, tranquil sleep.
Just as Aoki began to formulate his approach to communicate with Magearna, a Pokeball on his belt began to glow with a vibrant pink light. He quickly retrieved it, his eyes widening with anticipation. This was the Pokeball containing the mutated Carbink. After a long period of waiting, was the transformation finally nearing its completion?
He released the Pokemon onto the soft grass. The creature that emerged was strikingly different from an ordinary Carbink. Its body, usually a dull grey, was now a brilliant, translucent pink. Its form, typically stout and rocky, had become more slender and refined. According to the continuous scan from Aoki's internal system, the mutation progress had skyrocketed to ninety-nine point nine percent. This was a sudden and dramatic leap from the eighty percent he had observed before arriving in the Kalos region. Only the faintest sliver of change remained.
Magearna was instantly captivated. The pink diamond Pokemon shimmered with an otherworldly beauty, a sight that appealed to her deeply. More importantly, she felt a strange and immediate connection forming between her own soul and the radiant Carbink. Aoki's enhanced perception, fueled by his psychic powers, confirmed this observation. A tangible link had been established, and through it, a magical energy brimming with vitality was flowing from Magearna into the Carbink.
Fairy energy. Aoki understood. The Soul Heart was a creation of concentrated life force, and Fairy-type energy was, in essence, a manifestation of that very same vitality. Magearna, a Steel and Fairy-type, was unconsciously channeling her own essence into the evolving Pokemon, a process neither of them seemed to be controlling.
A tiny horn, no larger than a thumb, detached itself from the Carbink's body and floated in the air between them. This horn acted as a conduit, focusing the stream of energy from Magearna and directing it deep into the Carbink's core.
"Horn of Xerneas," Aoki whispered to himself, his mind racing. The presence of an artifact tied to the Life Pokemon, Xerneas, here was significant. It brought back the sensation of being watched earlier. Could that mysterious presence have been related to Xerneas itself?
As Magearna's fairy energy continued to pour into it, the Carbink began to undergo its final transformation. A brilliant, pink aura erupted from its body, so dense it resembled swirling, luminescent smoke that clung tightly to its form, obscuring it from view.
Florges glided gracefully to Aoki's side, her expression one of fascinated awe. As a powerful Fairy-type Pokemon in her own right, she could perceive the incredible intensity of the energy being exchanged. The sheer concentration of fairy power emanating from the level-fifty Magearna and the sub-forty Carbink in this moment far surpassed what she, a fully evolved Pokemon with Champion-level strength, could produce. It was a testament to the unique and potent nature of the event unfolding before them.
Aoki monitored the Carbink's status through his system, every sensor focused on the moment of metamorphosis. The mutation was at its climax. Upon its success, the Carbink would become Diancie. The implications of creating such a rare and legendary Pokemon were immense, a strategic asset that could alter all of Aoki's future plans.