Draco: Threeshot. #BrickJoke

Pokémon and all related properties © Nintendo.

Part 3: Diamond Princess Rescue

When Serena reached Hotel Richissime, she found a confrontation happening just outside.

A Rich Boy was standing in front of the door, holding a Poké Ball before him that he was cupping from below, and before him was a Pokémon that must have been Diancie. Her lower body was a gray rock that incompletely encased a jewel, like a Carbink; the jewel visible was not the pale blue that Serena expected, but a bright pink. Her upper body was humanoid, with a white covering like a dress; a golden ring circled her neck like a necklace, and Serena couldn't tell if the second pink diamond was embedded in Diancie's chest or suspended between the points of the ring. More diamond formed a headdress around her head, with two long crystal tails and a bright circular shape resting in its forehead.

Surrounding her and the Rich Boy were no less than five Ace Trainers, and a horde of Volcarona were knocked out around them.

Diancie seemed to notice Serena approaching as the Rich Boy snapped at his opponents. "Had enough yet? Be good boys and girls, and back off!"

"Hey!" Serena's yell drew the Rich Boy's attention as she dashed towards him; he turned, surprised, as she came to a stop at the edge of the horde. "What do you think you're doing?"

The Rich Boy scoffed. "What do you think I'm doing?" he snapped. "I'm defending myself from a bunch of commoners who tried to gang up on me, thinking it would make them strong."

"Defending yourself with a stolen Pokémon?" Serena retorted. "I don't think you're in a position to complain about underhanded tactics!"

"Stolen?!" one of the Ace Trainers exclaimed.

"Who are you to throw accusations at someone like me?!" the Rich Boy snapped.

"I'm with the Looker Bureau," Serena proclaimed. "Our most recent clients asked us to help, because a Pokémon was stolen from them - the Diamond Princess!" She aimed a finger at Diancie. "And after following the trail, I find you standing here, using her to fight - and she looks an awful lot like she doesn't want to be part of this!"

"You wench!" the Rich Boy retorted. "I don't have to stand here and tolerate your slander!"

He held out the Poké Ball in his grip; Diancie looked like she was trying to flee before she was withdrawn into the Ball, and the Rich Boy shifted his grip and dashed into the Hotel. Serena charged in after him to find him diving into the elevator; with a quiet curse, she quickly dashed to the employees-only stairwell, thankful now that she'd taken a few jobs at Richissime when she was short on cash during her journey as a Trainer.

There was a Lady waiting for the elevator on the third floor when the Rich Boy arrived; she gave a yelp of astonishment as he dashed out, almost colliding with her. "Sorry, sorry!" the Lady insisted. "Are you in a hurry?"

"No hurry enough to be disrespectful to a lady," the Rich Boy insisted. "I just need to collect a few things I'd forgotten before I depart. If you'd wait for me in the lobby, I'd be happy to make it up to you."

Serena couldn't believe what she was hearing; the Rich Boy noticed her coming out and sprinted away, and the Lady stepped into the elevator with a confused look on her face. After a moment, Serena decided to use his departure to her advantage, and slipped back into the stairwell before ascending towards the top floor; she stepped out and dashed into one of the suites, finding the Ninja Boy and his entourage waiting there.

"Oh!" the Gentelman exclaimed. "Miss Serena, wasn't it?"

"Your thief is here," Serena announced. "In the hotel. I'm on his tail. We'll get Diancie back for you."

"Really?" the Black Belt cheered. "Thank you, so much!"

With a nod, Serena stepped back out of the suite, making her way to the elevator. She took it down to the entrance hall, finding the Rich Boy standing there; he seemed to be flirting with the Lady from earlier, though he groaned in annoyance on seeing that he was still pursued.

"Would you leave me alone?" he snapped. "A common weakling like you shouldn't get in my way."

Serena scoffed. "You know, for a Rich Boy, you seem awfully reluctant to put your money where your mouth is."

The Rich Boy started. "Pardon?"

"You're a Trainer, aren't you?" Serena scolded. "You can't just assume that someone is weak without fighting them." She aimed a finger at him. "Let's have a battle, you and me. If I win, you give back the Diamond Princess you stole."

"Let's assume for the moment that I would ever hand over what's rightfully mine," the Rich Boy scolded. "What do I get when I win?"

Serena smirked. "Well, I guess you'll be the Champion, then."

The Rich Boy's expression fell, just briefly, before he glared at her. "I won't be intimidated by your hot air, wench!"

He seized a Ball from his belt and threw it forward, and Serena smirked as a Vivillon emerged from it; she reached for her own belt, sending out Delphox in response. The two Pokémon eyed each other for a moment before Vivillon swept his wings forward, and a Silver Wind rushed forward; Delphox braced against the blow before drawing out her wand, whereupon she swished a ring of Mystical Fire before her and then flicked it forward to wash over the Scale Pokémon with all the force she could muster.

Growling, the Rich Boy withdrew Vivillon, sending out a Pangoro to take its place; Serena acted in return, withdrawing Delphox and sending Lucario out. The two Fighting-types assessed each other for a moment before charging at one another; Lucario made contact first, beating down the Daunting Pokémon with Close Combat, and Pangoro tumbled back, hitting the ground roughly.

"You think you're strong, do you?!" the Rich Boy snapped as he withdrew Pangoro. "Let's see how- huh?" He reached for his belt. "What happened to-?"

"Ah ah ah."

The voice beside him caught him off-guard; the Lady he had been speaking to was nowhere to be found. Now standing at his side was a figure in a form-fitting black suit, with orange on the shoulders, wearing a helmet with a segmented LCD display on the visor - of which four out of seven segments were illuminated to form an E.

"You can't use a Pokémon that's not yours to decide whether or not you give it back."

The Rich Boy yelped, stumbling away; Serena smiled, withdrawing Lucario. "Thanks for the backup, Essentia."

"My pleasure," Emma returned. A cord-like shape extended from her belt, connected around the button of a Poké Ball; Emma seized the Ball and handed it to Serena, who accepted it with a nod. "I can deal with him, if you'd like to return the Princess to her rightful Trainer."

"Don't mind if I do."

+x+x+x+

The Ninja Boy and his entourage were most relieved to see Diancie safe and sound when Serena returned to the suite, and the Diamond Princess returned the notion when she was released from the Poké Ball. The young master, who had apparently yet to see the Pokémon his men had endeavoured to find, took a minute to observe before turning to Serena. "So, um... Remember what I said about what we were going to do with Diancie?"

"Yeah," Serena confirmed. "You're not interested in a beautiful Pokémon, right? You want to find her a good Trainer."

"Well... you're a good Trainer, aren't you?" the Ninja Boy prompted.

Serena started. "Quoi!?"

"You went out of your way to save her from a Pokémon thief," the Ninja Boy pointed out. "So I know you're not going to mistreat her. And you were able to fight off the guy's other Pokémon, which means I know you can keep her safe." He turned to Diancie. "What do you think, Princess? Do you want to stay with Miss Serena?"

Diancie gave a joyful cry, turning to face Serena.

Serena chuckled awkwardly. "I-If you'd like, I guess," she admitted.

"In that case," the Gentleman proclaimed, reaching into his pocket, "you will also want this." He drew out a small stone that Serena immediately recognized as a Mega Stone. "The Diancite we found will enable Diancie to Mega Evolve."

"Can you use Mega Evolution?" the Ninja Boy asked as the stone was handed over. "I bet a Mega-Evolved Mythical Pokémon like Diancie would be crazy strong!"

"I-I can," Serena confirmed. "Would you like to see it?"

The three of them all nodded in affirmation; with a small giggle, Serena handed the Mega Stone to Diancie. The Diamond Princess accepted the stone, holding it between two hands; then Serena drew back her sleeve to expose her Mega Ring, took a deep breath... and touched the Key Stone.

And the Diancite gleamed in reaction.