A/N

I don't know anything about the Sinnoh episodes and plotline...I wrote this based on what my younger sister told me. So if there are any blatant errors or anything, I'm sorry!

P r o l o g u e

Challenging Cynthia again had been a very stupid idea.

Paul would know, after all.

Why he had done it, he didn't know. It was pure impulse; he saw her standing by the ice cream truck like he had the Summer before. Cynthia had sauntered over to a bench before sitting down, savoring the frozen treat that rested in her delicate hands. She gave it a lick, running her tongue along the cool, creamy feel of the chocolate-chip ice cream, oblivious to everything around her.

Of course, it had been a pure coincidence that she had been there, in the outskirts of Veilstone. Paul had intentionally gone to pick up a cone filled with Mint-Chocolate chip ice cream for himself, but the sight of the Sinnoh champion, without a doubt, had distracted him.

Courage welled in his insides as he watched her from a nearby water fountain. Just last summer, when he had been a mere boy of fifteen, Paul challenged Cynthia to a match in quite a similar location. He remembered the look of perplexity she had when he had asked for a battle outside of the arena without previously beating the Elite 4. It was something he would forever cherish, such a look coming from a strong and confident individual like herself. She was, after all, the first female champion. Almost every girl he knew, including Dawn, admired her and strived to be like her.

Since last summer, Paul felt like he had grown a lot as a person and a trainer. He had grown several inches and finally had left the awkward stages of boyhood. He also traveled quite a bit in the past year, gaining more experience for himself and his Pokemon.

Paul scratched his chin as he debated whether or not to approach the Champion. It wasn't a fear of her that was holding him back; for a goddess of battle, she didn't have the turgid ego that most people expected her to; it was just that he had a fear of losing once more.

He continued to stand still, just eying her. Thoughts whizzed through his mind as he pondered what to do.

Cynthia suddenly was on her feet, the sound of her high heels clicking against the pavement resonating through his ear drums. He jumped to his senses and realized that it was now or never; she was going to leave. If he didn't act now, she'd be gone.

"Cynthia!"

It felt awkward just saying her name right then and there. She wasn't a friend, she was the champion, and he felt extremely weird saying her name so...casually.

The blonde woman turned her head to see a young, purple haired man approach her. His green eyes sparkled with determination, something she rarely saw. After an instant, it hit her. This wasn't no ordinary trainer.

It was Paul, of course. The boy who had challenged her last summer and had to forfeit from the battle. He had painfully lost to her, and the fact that he was back for more not only intrigued Cynthia, but it fascinated her as well. His perseverance was incredible.

"Well, hello Paul." she replied coolly, the slightest of smirks crawling across her face. "It's been awhile, yes?"

Paul was astonished for a second. She had remembered his name. How and why, he didn't know. Perhaps it was he had lost so miserably to her? He knew for a fact that she saw thousands of trainers faces each year, yet she had remembered his name.

"Only a year." he replied, hiding as much as his emotion as possible. Without knowing it, both of his hands found their way into his pockets.

"You speak the truth." she replied, resting one hand on her hip. "What is it that you want?"

Paul didn't blink as he met her intimidating stare. "I'd like another rematch with you." He stood tall and proud, almost as if he were the champion in this situation.

Cynthia's smirk widened as she tried to hold back her laughter. "You don't give up so easily, do you Paul? I like that in trainers. Yes, you may have a rematch." She grabbed a Pokeball in her right hand and tossed it up and down in her palm.

Now it was Paul's turn to grin. "Wonderful. Let's get started then."

Cynthia beckoned Paul to follow her as she strode into an empty soccer field. "It will suffice."

Paul followed in her tracks, before nodding. "As long as I get my battle. Oh, and don't go easy on me."

His smirk widened.

Cynthia laughed to herself, before throwing her Pokeball on the ground. Garchomp arose, eager to be out in the open air. "Oh, you won't have to worry about that at all, Paul."

He didn't.

Xxx