POV: Cynthia / LOCATION: Treeshroud Forest

Almost a month has passed since our last encounter at Galactic. The passing days endured the brunt of the whirlwind of consequences that rained down on our heads.

Firstly, I have my Pokemon back. All six of them. The successful raid on HQ turned up many sinister secrets, most of them residing within the basement Laboratory. Although we knew that Galactic was stealing Pokemon, we never thought they would carry out actual experiments. Needless to say, all the stolen Pokemon were returned to their Trainers. The bombs were all dismantled. Everything else was confiscated.

Speaking of bombs, that remote Cyrus held actually activated the giant antennae outside HQ. To our relief, it was just a bluff… an ill-prepared, wholly convincing one that forced my hand into delivering the final blow. That brought the question of why. Why would a meticulous schemer like Cyrus suddenly break façade and threaten everyone with a desperate lie? It was a minor question in the whole scheme of things, but it was one that bothered me the most.

Speaking of Cyrus, he's currently in custody. Looker told me that he regained consciousness only a few days ago, and the police was waiting until he can walk again to begin their interrogation. A lump formed in my throat while Looker pratted on about recent developments.

"How badly was he hurt?" I said.

The detective replied with a hasty, "W-Well, the good thing is that he's still alive! Thanks for all your help again, C-Cy… Champion!"

That raid was a traumatic experience for everyone. For Looker, it was his first time leading a major operation—and his first time bearing the consequences of picking between two poisons: shoot Cyrus, or shoot Crobat. The gung-ho fool knew that shooting Cyrus would have caused countless casualties if the "bomb" was to detonate, but on the other hand, he couldn't just shoot a Pokemon while he himself raised a Croagunk. One Pokemon or thousands of both human and Pokemon lives?

"You made the right choice," I assured him over and over. "Shooting Crobat was the only way we could've stopped Cyrus."

Thankfully, the sniper merely nicked Crobat's wing. It is still alive.

With Cyrus gone, Galactic is no more. Let me rephrase that: The company has been rebuilt into Neo Galactic Energy, headed by our former informant Charon who had gotten himself on the detective's good side. In the grand (re)opening, Charon acknowledged the pain and suffering that "that madman" had imposed upon the Sinnoh region, and that he, Charon, would strive to restore the trust between Neo Galactic and Veilstone City. I had to go because I was the Champion, otherwise I'd be at home and away from that bullshit. Charon also advocated for the full pardoning of everyone involved in old Galactic, claiming that they were simply blinded by Cyrus's poisonous charisma. If there's something that Charon did right, it was that he painted his former boss as a delusional cult leader hell-bent on world domination.

I haven't been to Neo Galactic HQ in Veilstone. I have no intention of seeing anyone from there, and the sudden boom in League challenges conveniently gave me the excuse of not going. After Jubilife TV station sensationalized the news, people from all Sinnoh flocked to the League, some hoping for a battle with the Champion, some just there for the experience of standing on hallowed grounds.

Was I happy for the extra attention? Maybe. Was I annoyed that they wouldn't stop pestering me? Hell yeah. Even the Elite Four wasn't spared from the limelight, the case being especially bad for Lucian and Flint who had garnered a rabid fan base overnight. It got so problematic that we had to temporarily shut the League down.

Now without the burden as the Champion, I traveled around Sinnoh, visiting old friends and family. I made sure to visit Grandma in Celestic Town. She made sure to rub that moment of recklessness in my eardrums, screaming at me for letting my rage take over, for using such a devastating attack when I hadn't mastered it yet. My response was always the same: hop on Togekiss and GTFO.

Presently, I am en route to a location called Treeshroud Forest on a personal favor from Looker. Since he's swamped with work, he asked me to return a stolen item confiscated deep within Galactic HQ.

It is a strange item, one that doesn't belong to our world. As Togekiss soars over the brilliant blue skies, I take it out of my bag, my breath growing shallow when its ghostly green glow washes over my trembling fingers.

What is this? It looks like a gear, but I've never seen anything as big and intricately decorated before in my life. Instead of being carved from wood or steel, the material is a pulsating bluish… something. The gear emits a peculiar energy as if it's a living, breathing thing.

What the hell has Cyrus gotten his hands on? Looker dismissed this gear as a mere relic from the past, but I can't shake off this very off-putting feeling… an unease that shakes me to my very core.

Treeshroud Forest is as unremarkable as its name. It's the same setup as Eterna Forest: lush trees, dewy grass, a nice, sweet breeze every five seconds or so.

I run into someone quite unexpected outside the forest entrance. He sees me, and his bushy white beard twitches into something that resembles a smile.

"Hello, Cynthia. What brings you here?"

"Afternoon, Professor Rowan. I'm just here to return a stolen statue."

Rowan's eyebrows rise at the sight of the enigmatic gear. "In my sixty years on this earth, I have no seen quite an object like that. Mind if I accompany you?"

"Of course not."

The good thing about Professor Rowan is that he keeps mostly to himself in matters outside his research. We trod through the tree-shrouded forest in relative peace, the tranquility often punctured by his remarks about the local flora, his nosily chewing mochi, and his old loafers scraping across the leaf-poisoned ground.

Since I have no idea where to put this thing, I drift aimlessly down a large path that cut deep into the heart of the forest. A clearing lies at the end of the road. Within the crumbled stone edifice is a bare indention in the earth.

"Has this always been here?" Rowan mutters. "This stone structure doesn't appear to be manmade, nor was it constructed by natural means…"

A shiver runs down my heart. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, I was simply musing to myself. Although, this place does feel alive somehow..."

Without further ado, I return the gear to its tomb. The blades of grass around me quiver slightly, yet otherwise nothing extraordinary happens.

It is only after we leave Treeshroud Forest does Rowan turn around, his brows furrowed.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Have you noticed how still the forest was? We haven't glimpsed a single Pokemon while we were there."

"Maybe they're scared of humans."

Rowan strokes his chin pensively. Doubt remains in his steely eyes. "Perhaps I'm overthinking matters, but I'll go back for a second look. I'll see you later, Cynthia."

I give him a small smile. "Later, Professor."