The first thing that began to change was the diamond on its head. Originally just a single diamond, it slowly split apart under the infusion of pink energy, transforming into four octahedral diamonds. The excess energy from these diamonds then extended downwards, forming two long diamond clusters that took the shape of a pink crown. The changes, however, were only just beginning. The diamonds of varying shapes in the center of the small diamond bit slowly morphed into a single, huge, round pink diamond, dazzling and brilliant in its intensity. Its body became more slender, and the two small ears on its head began to change shape, becoming more like delicate hands. A circle of white fluff in the middle of its form slowly evolved into a white, skirt-like structure, wrapping around the body of the small diamond creature as its new form fully emerged amidst the ongoing mutation.
Its small blue eyes transformed into two large, ruby-red eyes, and a small mouth became visible beneath the covering of diamonds. The diamonds that had covered its mouth now coiled around its neck, the minerals reforming into an arc-shaped golden ring with a pink octagonal diamond set at its center. Judging from its current appearance, it no longer resembled the small diamond it once was. Magearna stood to the side, observing the transformation with a focused gaze before looking down at her own body, feeling a slight sense of inadequacy. Centuries of wear and tear had caused the vibrant paint on her body to fade, leaving only a silvery-white exterior with intricate patterns. Compared to the radiant being before her, the gap felt significant. Yet, Magearna did not leave; she understood that this was the most critical moment in the diamond Pokemon's life, and she herself was the primary source of energy for this mutation.
The energy within Magearna's Soul-Heart had not diminished over the years but had instead increased. The mysterious science of the ancient Azoth Kingdom had collected a vast amount of Pokemon life energy from the very beginning, and when creating the Soul-Heart, special settings were implemented allowing it to absorb the life energy floating in the air, continuously replenishing itself. This was the only way to ensure that the aerial fortress would always have sufficient power and endless firepower. It was said that the fortress, capable of conquering the world, drew all its energy from Magearna's Soul-Heart. Of course, possessing such a technologically advanced fortress five hundred years ago might have been enough for world domination. But five hundred years had passed; scientific research in the outside world had not stagnated, and the strength of Pokemon could not be underestimated, making the idea of conquering the world now seem like a joke, though the military deterrence it offered was still considerable.
The changes in the small diamond's body were entering their final stage. The pink mist that had been emanating from around her form slowly converged, merging completely back into her body. It could no longer be called a small diamond. The fragmented diamonds on her body had transformed into complete, large octahedral diamonds, and her figure had fully changed, now distinctly possessing the characteristics of a small, humanoid girl. A soft whisper escaped her as the surrounding pink mist was fully absorbed. The ground, previously invisible beneath layers of sand, now saw something frantically drilling upwards, driven by an unknown energy. Flowers began to bloom from under Diancie's feet, then, as if triggered by a mechanism, they spread out wildly in every direction with Diancie at the epicenter. A vast sea of flowers slowly materialized, turning everything within sight into a blossoming landscape, the flowers themselves seeming to welcome Diancie's appearance.
Witnessing this scene, Magearna's eyes almost turned into heart shapes. Her favorite thing in the world was flowers, and the sudden appearance of so many was like heaven to her. She began to dance gracefully amidst the sea of flowers, her movements elegant and noble, a clear reflection of her time studying with the royal family of the Azoth Kingdom, like a white swan dancing among the petals. Diancie opened her eyes, taking in the scene which felt somewhat unreal. The other Pokemon in Aoki's team were also infected by the joyous atmosphere, feeling a profound sense of happiness. Diancie looked at her new hands, then down at her body, somewhat unsure of what had just transpired.
Aoki walked over to her with a warm smile. "Lord Aoki—" Diancie's voice sounded, slow and tentative. After speaking, Aoki didn't react immediately, but she herself was stunned. She could make herself heard. It wasn't actual sound, but rather, similar to Volcanion, a form of telepathic communication, perhaps wave guidance or some other mysterious energy; the exact nature was unknown. In any case, Diancie had not yet adapted to this new ability. "Congratulations. Now, I should call you Diancie," Aoki said, his smile containing a hint of complexity. Diancie, the princess of the diamond Pokemon, had unexpectedly appeared under such circumstances. With Diancie's presence, it meant an endless supply of wealth. Aoki felt a brief pang of nostalgia for the days when he had struggled for money.
He thought back to the time when he carried out hunter guild missions everywhere for mere millions of Pokedollars, a feeling he genuinely missed. Unfortunately, there would never be such an opportunity or sensation again. Poverty had nothing to do with him anymore, and thinking about it evoked a sense of wistful nostalgia and mixed emotions within Aoki. In the future, he would be able to live a life of such luxury that he could buy two cups of soy milk, drink one, and pour the other out; he truly looked forward to such an extravagant existence. "Di...An...Cie?" Diancie muttered the name softly, still not fully comprehending that after her transformation was complete, she had become the being the Diamond Minister had always spoken about: Princess Diancie.
Diancie looked at Aoki, her ruby-like eyes filled with deep doubt, confusion, and bewilderment. The sudden and profound change was difficult for her to process. Aoki understood how she felt; it was like the ugly duckling turning into a swan after the winter passed, or a little beggar discovering she is a princess. The shift in identity was too immense to accept all at once. "Diancie, all of this was destined from the moment you began to follow me. You just need to slowly get used to it and accept it. In the future, you will become the true princess of the diamond Pokemon," Aoki said with an air of confidence, not a hint of doubt on his face.
"Is it destined...? A princess? Princess Diancie...?" As Aoki spoke, the confusion in Diancie's eyes gradually began to clear, replaced by a growing brightness. A deep sense of admiration and respect for Aoki shone in her gaze. Was everything going according to Lord Aoki's plan? Aoki accepted the credit without any outward sign of guilt—though, it couldn't be said he was entirely wrong. When the small diamond first showed signs of change, no one else had noticed; it was Aoki who discovered her potential. He had kept her by his side, providing an endless supply of energy and food to accelerate her transformation. Otherwise, in the resource-limited environment deep beneath Dream Island, who knew how many years it might have taken for the mutation to complete? If the mutation had not been nurtured from the beginning, it might have stagnated or even faded away entirely; such an outcome was not impossible. Therefore, when Aoki made this claim, he did not feel particularly guilty (a feeling he was largely accustomed to by now).
"Yes! Lord Aoki, please continue to take care of me in the future!" Diancie smiled, deciding to stop overthinking and simply follow Lord Aoki obediently. After all, since she had begun following Aoki, she had never been treated unfairly.