Cynthia sat on a park bench, sipping milk tea and nibbling on a crepe, her mind wandering.
There were only three days left until Volkner's challenge, and she had already arrived at Lily of the Valley Island, home to the Sinnoh Pokémon League, to prepare.
Two new messages blinked on her phone, one from Diantha and the other from Professor Rowan.
"I'll be in Sinnoh in a week." Diantha's message was brief, as usual.
The Kalos Pokémon League was currently on a short hiatus, giving Diantha some free time. Sinnoh was her preferred destination, though she occasionally visited Kanto as well.
Lance, the Kanto Champion, had recently faced Diantha in an exhibition match. While he left satisfied, ready to continue honing his Dragon-types, Diantha had smiled for the cameras, her Fairy-types taking the spotlight.
"Times have changed, Lance," She had said, her words quickly making headlines.
It was no secret that Diantha had been working alongside the Kalos League and Pokémon researchers to promote the official recognition of the Fairy type. Lance's defeat had conveniently fueled the narrative, though insiders knew part of his loss was due to playing along for the show.
The media buzzed with debates over the outcome. Commentators speculated on which regional Champions and Elite Four members truly held the edge in strength.
Lance's insistence on adhering to the earliest, most traditional Johto League rules only added fuel to the fire. He refused to incorporate newer moves from other regions, favoring a classic battle style. His Dragonite, for example, used only Dragon Rage in their match, ignoring modern Dragon-type moves.
It was his way of making a statement: battle strategies must evolve with the times. Facing off against Diantha's Dazzling Gleam was a clear demonstration of the shift in power. Yet, the media took this as a sign of weakness, branding Lance as the "weakest Champion."
Cynthia, however, had little patience for such conclusions. In her view, Lance's willingness to sacrifice his reputation for the greater good was a testament to his character. By participating in the match, he accelerated the League's adoption of modern battle formats.
Diantha's success played right into the League's ambitions. As both a Champion and a fashion icon, she was a powerful figure in the public eye. Her growing clothing brand further cemented her influence, inspiring aspiring Trainers and driving consumer trends.
The Sinnoh and Kalos Leagues held little sway over Cynthia or Diantha. One was an undefeated legend, the pride of Sinnoh; the other, a glamorous symbol of Kalos' evolving League. Both held their own against the pressures of politics and fame.
Meanwhile, Alder remained distant, still mourning the loss of his beloved Pokémon. The League understood this wasn't the time to place the burden of leadership on him.
Steven was another matter entirely. The Hoenn Champion was notorious for being unreachable, endlessly engrossed in his geological pursuits. Coordinating anything with him was a logistical nightmare.
Other regional Champions lacked either the influence or the standing to shoulder the role Lance had taken. And so, Lance had stepped forward willingly, knowing full well the consequences.
The Johto League protested, unwilling to see their Champion ridiculed. Yet Lance's simple response silenced any objections: "I am willing."
To challenge Lance's resolve, they would need to find someone capable of defeating him under the old rules. But so far, no challenger in the Johto League had succeeded.
League reform came with growing pains. That was something all League insiders acknowledged. The diversity of Pokémon battles depended on Trainers and researchers pushing boundaries, discovering new techniques, and embracing change.
Resisting evolution out of fear of failure had never been the spirit of Pokémon training.
With technological advancements and deeper research into Pokémon, the development of new moves had progressed through the collaborative efforts of both humans and Pokémon.
Professor Rowan's message was unusually long.
It contained a detailed incident report alongside his own explanation, recounting how Luther had been ambushed by a Misdreavus and the discovery of a strange amplification device afterward.
Cynthia frowned as she read. Amplification devices weren't new to her. Early in her career, she had faced down an underground gambling ring where an Ursaring, enhanced by one of these devices, exhibited terrifying strength. For most Trainers, encountering such a Pokémon would mean a hasty retreat.
She despised anything that harmed Pokémon in the name of power.
The reappearance of these devices was alarming. Cynthia knew the Pokémon League's investigation team would need to act swiftly.
Luther's injuries, thankfully, weren't severe. Rowan had even sent a photo of Luther, his arm wrapped in bandages.
Marill, Ralts, and Jumpluff had managed to subdue the nearly berserk Misdreavus equipped with the device. The incident reminded Cynthia of her own past battle. However, Luther's Misdreavus, having defeated over twenty Pokémon, seemed far more dangerous than the Ursaring she had once faced.
Her fingers tapped lightly on the bench, lost in thought.
A breeze swept through the park, pushing her bangs aside. Startled, Cynthia realized two hours had slipped by.
She stood up, quickly polished off her crepe, finished her milk tea, stretched, and cast a glance at the Champion League gates towering in the distance.
"I look forward to meeting you," She murmured.
---
Luther was finally free of the bandages.
After the nurse carefully checked his wrist for any lingering issues, she removed the plaster. The weight that had burdened him for a week was gone, leaving Luther feeling refreshed.
Two days earlier, he had dozed off in the Misdreavus monitoring room, only to be awakened by an unexpected movement. The Pokémon that had once trapped him in a dream had stirred— but this time, instead of malevolence, Misdreavus's gaze was eerily calm.
The other Pokémon in the ward had celebrated with cheerful cries, yet Luther, unwilling to disturb them, simply left without approaching Misdreavus.
Professor Rowan, now assured of Misdreavus's recovery, had returned to the research lab, accompanied by Houndoom and other abandoned Pokémon. Though the other researchers assisted with day-to-day tasks, the Professor's presence was essential for major decisions. Too much time had already been lost.
But at least the abandoned Pokémon had found a new home.
Sachiko stayed behind to care for Luther, though he insisted he could manage on his own. However, he soon realized her version of "care" simply meant ensuring he enjoyed his time in Oreburgh City. Apart from meals, she was nowhere to be seen.
The hospital meals were surprisingly good. Balanced and nutritious, the generous portions left Luther marveling at how satisfying the cafeteria's servings were.
Meanwhile, in the monitoring room, Misdreavus was also eating. A small mountain of Pokémon food had been prepared, and she nibbled cautiously from the top.
The cursed ribbon that had once bound her was gone. She should have been free, renewed. But something felt wrong.
The Misdreavus Luther had encountered in dreams, even the one that had attacked him, had been brimming with emotion. Yet now, she seemed oddly lifeless.
Since her revival, she had spent two full days lying motionless in the ward, stirring only to shuffle over to her feeding bowl at meal times. She should have been lively, but instead, she was a hollow shell of what she had once been.
The test reports showed everything was normal, and Nurse Joy, who was treating the Misdreavus, confirmed it.
Luther pushed the door open and approached the Misdreavus, who seemed completely unaware of his arrival, continuing to eat Pokémon food bite by bite.
Luther picked up a piece of boneless pan-fried fish and held it to the Misdreavus's mouth. "This is a must-order from the hospital cafeteria. It's the most popular dish here. Want to give it a try?"
The Misdreavus looked up at Luther and surprisingly shook her head.
Jumpluff, standing behind Luther, darted forward and snatched the fish, glaring at the Misdreavus with a defiant expression. It wasn't that Jumpluff disliked her — he just couldn't forgive the one who had beaten him so badly.
Ralts lingered outside, unwilling to enter the monitoring room. Her memories of the Misdreavus were far from pleasant. Marill, however, showed no such reservations and was already busy munching on the Misdreavus's leftover food.
Luther scratched his head, relieved that the Misdreavus didn't seem upset. She neither ignored him nor showed the hostility she had in Purple Leaf Forest. That meant her recovery was progressing well.
"Honestly, I initially thought about capturing Houndoom. He looked so powerful, all muscle and presence. But I guess I was wrong, your strength was what really shocked me," Luther said, rubbing his nose sheepishly. "Houndoom's doing well now. Professor Rowan may seem strict, but he genuinely cares about Pokémon."
The Misdreavus remained expressionless at the compliment about her strength, but her demeanor softened when she heard Houndoom and the abandoned Pokémon had found a home.
After that, an awkward silence hung in the air. Luther and the Misdreavus exchanged glances, both struggling to find the right words.
"You know... she's beautiful. And I'm serious. That dress wasn't ugly at all, I actually liked the color scheme." Luther's voice was gentle.
The Misdreavus trembled slightly.
Tears welled up in her eyes. The acknowledgment of the girl, the one whose memories the Misdreavus carried — shattered the calm mask she had worn. All the emotions she had suppressed came rushing forth.
Luther wasn't just saying empty words. Though he didn't know the girl's name, he had seen her resilience, kindness, and unwavering spirit through the Misdreavus's dreams. If the world couldn't acknowledge the girl's beauty, then perhaps it was simply too harsh.
It was good that the Misdreavus could cry. At least she wasn't locking her emotions away.
Luther picked up his meal box, but to his dismay, Jumpluff had already devoured the fish. With a sigh, he resigned himself to scraping up the last of the rice.
By the time he finished eating, the Misdreavus had calmed down, though a flicker of irritation lingered in her expression.
However, her frustration only grew when she glanced at her feeding bowl and saw it was completely empty. The furious expression that Luther remembered from that fateful night returned.
Marill, her belly visibly rounder, lay on her back, limbs splayed as she rubbed her stomach and let out a satisfied burp. Despite having already eaten her fill, she had polished off the Misdreavus's entire mountain of food, leaving the bowl spotless.
Perhaps Professor Rowan needed to investigate whether Marill was truly a water mouse Pokémon; she might as well have been a Munchlax in disguise.
The Misdreavus glanced at Luther, and he could immediately guess what she was thinking.
"It's fine. I don't mind." Luther gave a small shrug.
Using Psychic power, the Misdreavus effortlessly lifted the stuffed Marill into the air. Marill wriggled and flailed in midair, panic written all over her face, while the Misdreavus wore a sly grin.
Luther, holding Jumpluff in his arms, helped close the monitoring room door. He planned to take Ralts and Jumpluff outside for some fresh air. Leaving Marill, who was too full to move, under the Misdreavus's care seemed like a fitting arrangement.
(End of Chapter)
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