The sparkling stadium was filled with people, and cheers buzzed from the bleachers. Cameras were situated all around the arena and the stadium lights rained down onto the stage. Cynthia peered out, looking at the crowd that was going wild as the announcer welcomed everyone.

After the match-up was announced for the first showcase, Cynthia was quickly escorted to the League stadium, where official League battles took place. The stadium was filled beforehand, and Cynthia marveled at how fast things were proceeding. Suddenly, she was here, pitted against the veteran Champion Alder in a one on one battle.

Surprise aside, she was excited.

Battling is one of her fortes after all.

When the bell rang, she stepped out and headed to her spot on the arena, while Alder stood on the opposite side. While the announcer explained the rules, Cynthia readied herself, her Garchomp's pokéball snug in her hand. The announcer was soon getting to the introductions, and Cynthia looked up at the cameras that were slowly adjusting.

"Unova's reigning Champion, Alder!"

The eruption of cheers was deafening, with many Unovans sitting in the bleachers chanting Alder's name.

"Versus! The new Champion of Sinnoh, Cynthia!"

The cheers for her was a stark contrast compared to Alder's and she expected this. To the Unovans, she was only "another region's Champion" and a newbie one at that. It was not strange that she received less support than Alder, who is the Unova Champion. But the cheers do not affect her.

All she had to do, was to battle.

She flashed a smile towards the cameras and waved and suddenly the cheers increased in volume, surprising her. Not knowing what came over the crowd, Cynthia pressed the release button on the pokéball and her Garchomp emerged in a flash of white light. Similarly, on Alder's side, his Volcarona was released. The two beasts glared at each other intensely, which was mirrored in the eyes of the respective trainers

"Ready, Garchomp?" She grinned. Her partner growled in response and Cynthia readied herself, for the referee's signal.

Time to have fun.


The stadium had gone silent, a thumping tension breaking apart as Alder's Volcarona fell with an echoing thud. Garchomp stood victorious on the other side of the arena, the creature panting, visibly tired but not much hurt. The arena itself was in shambles, which was a testament to the intensity of the match.

The referee looked at the two trainers, the man stunned at the outcome of the match. Alder himself looked lost in thought, his wrinkled face in a state of shock, while Cynthia was standing on the opposite end, cross-armed and smiling.

"C-Cynthia wins!" The announcer finally mustered.

The disbelief and cheers exploded. Clapping ensued while shouts of displeasure followed. The Unovans were upset that once again, on their home ground, a foreign Champion had defeated their own. And what's more, this time, the match ended in less than fifteen minutes, which was half of the time it took for Leon's Charizard to defeat Alder's Volcarona.

The Sinnoh Champion was overwhelmingly powerful.

Meanwhile, in the front seats, Leon had stood up in shock, his mouth hanging open as he watched the scene unfold before him. Diantha was similarly astonished as she stayed frozen and eyes saucer wide.

"You've got to be kidding me," Leon cried out. "What's with that Garchomp?"

The Galar Champion then spun around, his eyes sparkling in glee as he shouted at Steven, "Say, did you see that Earthquake? It just destroyed the arena like nobody's business!"

"And it's supposed to be made of reinforced steel," Diantha exclaimed. "That's impressive. Cynthia trained it well."

"Right?" Leon replied enthusiastically. "I want to battle them!"

Diantha nodded her head in agreement before her gaze fell upon Steven. "Even so, I'm surprised that you didn't have much of a reaction, Hoenn Champion."

Steven blinked and turned around to face Diantha, who was looking at him intently.

"It's almost as if you expected her to win." She said with a knowing smile. "Did you battle against her before?"

Averting his gaze, he cleared his throat and replied, "Well, can't say I didn't."

Upon his reply, both Champions stared at Steven incredulously.

"Does that mean you've met her prior to today?" Leon asked.

Steven hesitated for a while before he finally nodded his head. Leon and Diantha exchanged glances, surprised.

"So, who won?"

Steven froze at Diantha's question. Leon looked at the Hoenn Champion expectantly; curiosity was written all over his face.

"Neither," he said softly.

"Neither?" Leon exclaimed. "So, a tie?"

The Hoenn Champion was silent for a while and his gaze slowly traveled across the stadium, before he laid eyes upon her gallant figure that was waving to the crowd. The stadium lights seemed brighter than before and the woman he had fallen for seemed even more radiant than ever.

"Fight me properly!"

Her strained voice rewound itself in his head.

"No," Steven said. "We… never finished the match."


Riley watched as the television blared out cheers and a triumphant announcement on Cynthia's victory. He smiled as the match highlights played. After grabbing his empty mug in hand, Riley headed to the sink to wash it.

The background played the commentary, how Garchomp had countered with a Dragon Claw before Volcarona's Flame Wheel could hit it, how a devastating Earthquake was dealt, destroying the entire arena in the process, and how quick-witted Cynthia was in formulating strategies on the spot to attack Alder's Volcarona.

Placing the mug on the drying rag, Riley then walked back to the living room. The match highlights had ended and the live camera panned back to Cynthia who exited the arena while waving towards the crowd.

It just struck Riley that Cynthia was far away. So far away from him.

A lonely feeling sank in his chest.

She is a Champion. A Champion in every sense of the word.

And he is merely…

The camera then switched to the remaining Champions who had been watching the match. Leon marveled at her battle techniques while Diantha expressed her surprise at the outcome.

When it came to Steven's turn, Riley's breath got caught in his throat. The Hoenn Champion smiled good-naturedly at the camera.

"She did well,"

Three short words and the camera immediately snapped back to Alder and the announcer began interviewing the Unova Champion. The veteran trainer started expressing his amazement, but his words were muffled out as Riley's fists were clenched tightly.

It was no ordinary smile.

It was the smile of a person in love.