That's why I don't make any schedules or anything. I barely manage to hold onto them for long. Though I've met the deadline in this, it was a big struggle. Hopefully I'll be able to continue weekly updates. No promises though.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
Xxx
Bravery!
"You won?" Nurse Joy questioned the blonde as she took her three Pokémon from her. Cynthia nodded excitedly. "Congratulations."
"Thank you." Cynthia replied gratefully. She turned on her feet and left for the cafeteria. The blonde had to take lunch and then finalize her next move. She could leave for Fuchsia or go back to Saffron.
Cynthia pulled out her pokedex and checked her money. The blonde frowned at the amount it showed. While victories against Gym Leaders rewarded a lot more pokecash than in trainer battles, Cynthia didn't think it was enough to last her to Fuchsia.
'What should I do?' The blonde questioned as she sat down on her table, a simple green sandwich in front of her. 'Saffron is the best choice. And my only choice too…'
The blonde ate her lunch slowly, considering her options. Even after she was finished, she was thinking. The blonde wanted to take the challenge Route 16, 17, and 18 proposed and train.
She didn't want to lose again.
Especially after her previous loss.
"I'll check Suzie out first." Cynthia decided. "Besides, I have this complete day to spend. Might as well make the most of it." She briefly wondered if she could buy one of Erika's perfume but, remembering her financial crisis, shot down the idea.
She'll buy it later.
Cynthia got up from her seat, leaving the Pokémon Center for Scissor Street. Hopefully she won't charge in exchange for seeing Roselia. Scissor Street wasn't that far from her current location, about a thirty minute walk.
Cynthia picked up her pace. She wasn't short on time but it'll give her more time to explore the city of flowers. The blonde rechecked her Pokégear for the fastest route and nodded.
"Huh?" Cynthia said, looking at the crowd outside the Police Station. That was unusual. All she managed to spot was a tearful well-dressed woman in her mid-thirties being comforted by a man roughly the same age.
Cynthia thought they looked familiar. She couldn't quite place her finger on it but she was sure she saw them somewhere. Maybe in the newspaper or something?
Lost in her thoughts, the blonde bumped into a green haired girl. "Sorry." Cynthia apologized. The girl, in her early twenties, waved it off
"Don't worry." She replied, looking at the Police Station. "What happened there?" Cynthia shook her head.
"Nope. Was just passing by." Cynthia answered. The old couple she had seen got into a car and the automobile sped off. The crowd began to disperse.
"Well, better return to my salon then." She sighed.
"Are you Suzie?" Cynthia questioned, properly realizing the girl. Suzie nodded. "I was just heading to your salon." Suzie blinked.
"Oh. Your good name?" She asked.
"Cynthia." Our blonde replied.
"I'm sorry Cynthia, but I actually have closed my salon for today." The blonde gave her a questioning look. "Can you return tomorrow?"
"I'll leave tomorrow." Cynthia sighed. "Well, I'll swing by another time then." Suzie gave her an apologetic look.
"Sorry for the inconvenience." Cynthia shook her head.
"No problem at all." She smiled. "I'll take my leave now." The blonde nodded and Suzie left.
'There goes that plan.' Cynthia thought. She saw Officer Jenny leave the Police Station, looking exasperated. She could try to get some information from her.
"Officer?" Cynthia called, reaching up to her. "Do you have a minute?" She nodded. "What happened there?"
"That's none of your concern." She replied.
"I just want to help-"
"We have it under control. No need to involve yourself." She cut in. "Anything else?" Cynthia shook her head. Officer Jenny walked past her, mounting her bike.
"Well, that was cold." Cynthia grumbled. The blonde shrugged, at a loss of what to do next, and decided to retreat back to the Pokémon Center.
Her good mood was ruined.
Xxx
The blonde entered the Pokémon Center and walked into the lobby. Sitting down, Cynthia decided to look at the TV to find something worthwhile.
"-The daughter of the Mayor of Celadon has been kidnapped." Cynthia heard. "The police have yet been unable to spot the kidnappers." The footage that rolled with the news saw the kidnapped girl.
The blonde blinked and her mind clicked. That's where she saw the two outside the Police Station! She had briefly caught their glimpse when returning from her first match against Erika!
"Oh my." Cynthia breathed.
"Calls of ransom have also been made." The news reporter continued. "The mayor refuses to give in though, even though his daughter's security is concerned. What's going in his mind?"
Cynthia wondered whether privacy actually existed in the media's eyes or not? Always poking their nose in the wrong matter. The mayor could be planning something for all they knew. Didn't mean he didn't care about his daughter!
The blonde opened up her pokégear map and looked over Celadon. There were a lot of places the mayor's daughter would be kept in. She could also be kept in clear site yet shrouded and hidden well.
"Hm." Cynthia hummed, raking her head. For all she tried though, she was unable to come up with a solid place. She just didn't understand a criminal's mindset enough.
"Not my matter anyway." Cynthia pursed her lips and closed her pokégear. Though the blonde wanted to help the mayor's daughter, she also didn't want to risk it.
She could be hurt and her Mom would surely cancel her journey if that happened. The blonde was barely able to dodge that during the Hidden Village incident.
The blonde gritted her teeth a bit at the memory. Even though it had been nearly two months since the incident, she wasn't unable to shake it off.
Wait, it had been nearly two months already? The blonde couldn't help but wonder just how time flied. That was the last time she saw Ash… the blonde shook her head.
They were travelling separately from now on! The blonde had to come to terms with that! She had her Pokémon with her, they were enough. Cynthia bitterly admitted that Ash might've not even thought about her.
It was a bit of a stretch, but not something utterly impossible. Ash might've forgotten her in favor of training and his Pokémon. It would be in her best interests to stop dwelling in the past too.
"Hey." The blonde broke her train of thoughts and looked up. Paul, the trainer she had seen at the Celadon Gym, was there.
"Hello." Cynthia said, scooting to the side to make some space for him. The blonde embarrassedly realized that she was occupying an entire couch. Hopefully no one saw her…
"You won the match?" Paul questioned his eyes on the TV.
"Yeah." Cynthia answered. "Her Gloom was very tough to beat. His stench kept messing up my plans."
"You must've battled a different team." Cynthia nodded. "Wonder why she didn't fight me with the Gloom and Tangela though."
"Good thing you didn't battle with them." Cynthia told him. "Both are a pain to fight against. You got off easy."
"I like a challenge." He retorted simply. "Hopefully Lt. Surge would be more challenging." Cynthia blinked. Erika was easy? Either he was very strong or he was bluffing.
"How did you win?" She asked. "I almost lost my entire team to her. Nidorino barely managed to push through."
"I only lost my Grotle due to Poison Powder. My other Pokémon made quick work of her." Cynthia was pretty impressed. She didn't want to admit it but Paul was stronger than her.
"How many Pokémon do you have?" The blonde asked. Paul got up.
"It was nice meeting you but I have to go." The Sinnoh Native told the blonde.
"Okay." Cynthia replied back slowly. "Hope we meet again." Paul nodded and walked away, leaving Cynthia alone. The blonde spared one last look at his retreating figure before sighing. "He's even more socially awkward than me."
She got up, looking at the TV News before deciding to retreat to her room. She didn't have anything to do at the moment. 'I'll prepare for Lt. Sure or Koga. Where should I go though?'
She retreated to her room, pulling out her pokedex. Koga was an adept Poison Type Specialist who relied more on traps and strategic fighting rather than straight on fight. He was pretty tricky to defeat, even more than Erika and her Tangela.
Lt. Sure was his complete opposite. He was an Electric Type Specialist and relied on brute force. His Raichu was infamous for its power and electric blasts. Many opponents who lost against him were admitted in the Pokémon Center for a nice time.
He was one of the few reasons Cynthia didn't want to go to Vermillion just yet. She needed to practice more and train her Pokémon to be more versatile. Erika was the last easy Gym Leader.
Lt. Surge, Koga, Sabrina, Blaine, and Giovanni all were tough. The latter three were mostly avoided due to their reputation. Sabrina was a Psychic Type Specialist and on par with Giovanni in strength.
Giovanni used Ground Types in his battles and despite their multiple counters, posed quite a threat. His Rhyperior alone wiped teams and he didn't even use said Rock/Ground Type much.
Blaine was a Fire Type trainer and though he had softened in battling due to his age, he was far from being a pushover. To find his gym was a challenge in itself and defeating his Magmar was pretty difficult too.
Cynthia wasn't ready to battle any of them. Though the blonde could take on Lt. Surge and Koga with enough preparations, the battle with Erika proved that she must be prepared to expect the unexpected.
Cynthia put her pokedex aside and reached inside her backpack. Pulling out the incubator, she began to chat to it. Nothing particular, just rambling about random stuff.
Cynthia felt the egg move at her voice and smiled.
It was close to hatching.
She was sure of it.
Xxx
"Hey Erika!" Cynthia called out to the distraught Gym Leader. Erika saw the blonde approaching and, handing her pokéballs to Nurse Joy, hugged the blonde.
"How are you Cynthia?" She questioned. The blonde smiled.
"I'm doing just fine." She replied. "Another tough challenger?" Erika nodded. "Why the long face? Something happened?"
"It's nothing." She shook her head. "It's just that, with the mayor's daughter being kidnapped, it's a lot of pressure on me."
"Any update on her location?" Erika shook her head. "Not even a clue?"
"Nope. If we had, we would've already acted on it." Erika looked at her wrist where a petal shaped watch rested. "Anyway, I have to get going back to the gym." She spoke up apologetically.
"No problem." Cynthia replied. "Will you be free tomorrow?" The blonde asked. Erika shrugged.
"I don't have any scheduled battles currently." Cynthia's hand dropped to one of her pokéballs.
"I want some tips from you." Erika blinked. "I have a Roselia. A friend gifted it to me. I want some tips on how to raise it."
"Sure. Just visit me tomorrow first thing in the morning." Erika replied enthusiastically.
"Thank you." Cynthia nodded. Erika then took her leave and left leaving her alone in the lobby. The blonde wasn't feeling sleepy and she already had her dinner too.
Deciding to explore Celadon for a bit, she left the center. The sun had just set and it was getting dark. Cynthia contemplated whether she should leave or not.
It was getting dark and she wasn't feeling entirely secure due to the ongoing mayor's daughter abduction. Cynthia shook her head to get rid of the thought.
"I travel alone daily." She muttered, making a move. "Why should I get worried about some kidnappers?" Her hands rested on her waist, where her pokéballs were. "Besides, they're here to protect me."
With that positive thought, the blonde left to explore the city.
Celadon was a green city, with pollution held at bay from the greenery. It wasn't that populated either. Cynthia enjoyed the cool air that ran over her and blew her hair.
Kanto was getting warmer as it approached its hottest period. During Kanto's hot summer, travelling was pretty hard to do. The heat would peak at unbearable levels in few certain areas and many trainers would hold off their journey until the temperature eased.
Cynthia had no such mind of doing so. She would simply keep on pushing and acquire at least six badges before putting her journey on hold. That way, she wouldn't have to worry on the later parts of her journey.
"Celadon is pretty cool." Cynthia commented. She had her upper coat at the Pokémon Center, leaving only her black shirt on. The blonde enjoyed the chill air and exhaled in happiness.
Cynthia wondered whether she should call her Roselia out. She'll certainly enjoy the sights. Her hand rested on the pokéball but she denied the idea.
A lot of people would gawk at the foreign Pokémon and make her feel uncomfortable. Cynthia didn't want that. She'll call her out later. The blonde reached the local market of Celadon and looked at the various street foods.
Window shopping most of them, she resisted very hard at an ice cream vendor. Try as she might though, her inner kid won and she purchased a double scope cone.
"This will never get old." Cynthia giggled to herself, licking her chocolate flavored one. Though vanilla was her favorite, she liked to deviate.
Cynthia caught someone looking at her from the corner of her eye and gripped Squirtle's pokéball tightly. The person, a man in his late twenties, must've realized the same thing and looked away.
Cynthia decided not to heed him any attention and focused on her ice cream. Fifteen minutes later, the blonde had finished her cone and was wondering on what to do next.
"Hey," The blonde stiffened and turned around, finding the same man from earlier looking at her.
"Yes?" Cynthia asked back a bit uncertainly. She quickly took a look of her surroundings and found the parts to be mostly empty. It wasn't much lit as well.
'Where am I?' The blonde asked herself. The man approached her, closing the distance between them. Cynthia back stepped making him chuckle.
"Why so scared huh?" Cynthia was questioning herself the same thing.
"What do you want?" The blonde asked instead. He grinned.
"I-" He was interrupted as someone approached him from behind.
"Mike! We need to move the mayor's daughter!" He hollered. "The police may have gotten our location!"
"Gr." He looked at Cynthia. "Damn police." Cynthia's eyes widened at what the other said.
"Wait," She felt her heartbeat quicken. "You're the kidnappers of the mayor's daughter? Where is she?" She questioned. Mike chuckled and gripped one of his pokéball.
"You shouldn't have known that." Cynthia gripped Squirtle's pokéball and threw it, calling the water turtle out. An Arbok emerged from Mike's pokéball. His partner called out an Abra.
The Arbok lunged at Squirtle who quickly used Withdraw. Cynthia felt her limbs freeze as the Abra began to constrict her. Squirtle fired off a Water Gun into Arbok's mouth, making him splutter and release him.
He then fired off an Ice Beam, hitting him in his hood and partially freezing him. Abra picked Cynthia up and was about to throw her down when Squirtle blasted him with Water Pulse.
"Poison Tail Arbok!" Squirtle saw the incoming muscular tail and withdrew. Though his shell absorbed the hit, it also sent him skidding back.
"Psychic Abra!" A pink glow enveloped Squirtle and he was lifted in the air.
"Protect!" A green barrier lit up, blocking the Psychic and the Poison Tail from Arbok. "Now use Scald! Target the Abra!" Cynthia clipped another pokéball from her waist and called out Roselia. "Cover him with Energy Ball!"
Roselia and Squirtle worked in tandem, covering the other. Arbok was unable to attack Squirtle since he had to dodge the Energy Ball and Abra was too busy redirecting the Scald.
Squirtle came rolling in, smashing into the Psychic Type with Rapid Spin. Abra hit the ground hard and struggled to get up. Squirtle knocked him out with Headbutt.
The kidnapper returned his Abra and threw two more pokéball. A Rattata and Koffing came out. Cynthia ducked under a Poison Tail, barely dodging.
Roselia threw a Leech Seed and it wrapped around the poison snake, following up with Magical Leaf. Squirtle quickly dodged a Bite from the Rattata and blasted him with Ice Beam. Koffing appeared above him, glowing.
Squirtle recognized the move and used Protect, blocking the Self Destruct. Rattata, Arbok, Cynthia, Roselia, and the two kidnappers were hit however.
Cynthia felt stars dance in front of her eyes as her eyes tried to adjust to the darkness after the sudden explosion of light. She felt someone sneak up behind her and gasped.
An arm wrapped up around her neck and a figure pressed her back against his chest, restraining her. "Stay still." He growled. Squirtle, who had finished up the Rattata, looked at the Arbok and him warningly.
Arbok snaked forward, slapping Roselia with Poison Tail and then biting down with Fire Fang. Roselia let out a cry of pain as she was shaken wildly.
Cynthia slammed her elbow into the attacker's chest hard, pushing him back. She turned and punched him in the face, breaking his nose and knocking him down.
Arbok threw the limp Roselia to the side and snarled at the Squirtle. Cynthia returned her Grass Type and growled as a Zubat, a Sandshrew, and an Ekans came.
She reached for Nidorino. He'll make quick work of them-
The blonde froze as she remembered her three Pokémon were with Nurse Joy. Seeing her look, the man grinned. "Only the Squirtle is left! Attack!"
"Protect!" Cynthia shouted. Squirtle withdrew into his shell and a green barrier erupted around him. Their combined attacks bounced off and Squirtle quickly hit the Sandshrew with Water Gun.
Arbok used another Poison Tail which Squirtle endured with Withdraw. As he was sent flying, the water turtle came out and managed to blast Zubat down with Water Pulse.
Landing down, Squirtle quickly bounced off with Rapid Spin and hit Ekans with Ice Beam. Cynthia smiled as the three struggled to recover from the attacks. She had this in the bag.
Cynthia felt movement behind her and slammed her foot on the man's neck, knocking him out. She saw Squirtle finish off Zubat and Ekans, leaving only Sandshrew and Arbok.
"You're strong." The second man said, visibly shaken. Cynthia gave him the scariest look she could give.
"Where is the mayor's daughter?!" She asked. "Tell me now!" Arbok snarled and lunged forwards. Cynthia ducked down, his fangs snapping just above her head, and grabbed his tail.
She swung him down, slamming him down and making him dizzy. His tail glowed and Cynthia was forced to leave it lest get poisoned. Cynthia stepped back, dodging his Poison Tail.
Squirtle knocked out Sandshrew and showered Arbok with Scald, burning his back. Arbok snarled and lunged at the water turtle who engaged him.
"Tell me and no one has to get hurt." Cynthia told him slowly. "We don't have to do this." He was shaking from fear now. The blonde was sure he'll answer with a bit more pressure. "Tell me!"
"No!" Squirtle hit the ground in front of Cynthia, coming out of his shell. The blonde bit her lip at his condition. Squirtle was pretty bashed from the fight. He had taken down how much, six Pokémon on his own?
'He's poisoned.' Cynthia realized. Her eye turned to Arbok who himself was near fainting. 'If Squirtle faints, I'll have no Pokémon to defend myself with.' Her eyes widened. She activated her pokégear and looked up for Officer Jenny's number.
Arbok and Squirtle fought again. The man must've realized what she was doing and engaged her himself. Cynthia's eyes widened as she was tackled to the ground.
The man put his hands around her throat and squeezed. Cynthia grabbed his hands and dug her nails in, trying her best to force them off.
"No you don't." He gritted his teeth. Cynthia felt the pressure increase and struggled. She let go of his hands and slapped him on his face instead.
Cynthia bit down on his wrist hard making him cry in pain. The blonde felt the metallic taste of blood and kicked him off her. Getting up, she pushed him down and gave him an angry stare.
"Where. Is. She?" Cynthia questioned. "I can have you turned in for life. If you tell me, I'll let you go." That was a complete lie, but the blonde doubted he'll know. He seemed pretty new to this stuff anyway.
"O-okay." He stammered. Cynthia waited patiently. "It's in-" He slammed his forehead in Cynthia's, knocking her back. "Tough luck bitch!" He cursed.
Cynthia was about to get slapped when Squirtle targeted his feet with Ice Beam. His feet froze in a block of ice and Cynthia pushed him down. "Great job Squirtle!" Cynthia told him breathlessly. "Rest for now." She returned him and looked at the trapped man.
"How about fighting me?" Cynthia turned around and felt her breathe catch in her throat. A third man was standing in front of her and in front of him was a young girl not older than five.
"Leave her alone." Cynthia told him. He gave her a grin and dropped to one knee, caressing the girl's hair.
"How about no?" A Fearow stood beside him, giving her an evil stare. "Behind you." Cynthia turned around just in time for a bone to whack her in the face.
She stumbled back, dropping to one knee. A Marowak stood behind her. "You're trapped girl." Cynthia spared one look at her Pokégear and resisted the urge to grin. The call had connected to Officer Jenny.
"Leave the daughter's mayor alone now!" She hollered.
"I won't." He replied. "How about I add you to the list too?" Cynthia read a board behind him.
"Near the abandoned factory of silk. Rose Road." The man gave her a confused look and his eyes trailed to the pokedex. "Quickly!" The call disconnected.
"You bitch!" The Marowak lunged at Cynthia again. The blonde was struck to the ground. "The police will take some time to reach." He lifted the girl up and threw her on Fearow. "You cannot stop me. Finish her Marowak."
Marowak lifted his feet, preparing to stomp the blonde. Cynthia rolled to the side, dodging his attack, and got up. Marowak threw his bone forward and the blonde ducked.
The blonde hit Fearow on his face making him stumble back. The blonde hit the Boomerang on its return journey and knocked it off its course.
"Okay then." The man snarled. "Earthquake and Hyper Beam. No chances!"
"Aerial Ace!" A black white blur flew forward, slamming into the Marowak and pushing him back. It quickly turned and hit the kidnapper, knocking him and the girl off Fearow. "Get her now!"
Fearow intercepted the blur. His Steel Wing knocked it back and its talon gripped the girl from her back. Cynthia looked at the new comer and saw an avian from her former home region.
"A Staravia?" Cynthia saw Paul and grinned. Paul was glaring at the Fearow and his owner. Her eyes trailed to the girl and how Fearow was digging his talon in her back.
"You've got backup too I see." The kidnapper commented. "No worries. Fearow, kill her." Cynthia's eyes widened.
Thankfully, Paul was prepared.
Fearow froze in his moments and was pulled off the girl. Cynthia smiled as an Abra, no doubt belonging to Paul, threw Fearow off her.
"Run!" Cynthia yelled. The girl got up and ran towards Cynthia. The blonde, knowing Staravia had engaged Marowak, approached her and hugged her tightly.
"I've got more!" The man growled and reached for his pokéballs. Abra froze him up with Psychic and threw him on Fearow.
"Freeze!" Cynthia sighed in relief as the police reached their location. Staravia knocked out Marowak through some serious attacks and returned back to Paul.
She heard the little girl weeping and kneeled down. "Hey, you okay?" The blonde questioned. She kept on weeping uncontrollably. "Hush, it's okay." She whispered, hugging her tightly.
"Cynthia!" The blonde looked up and saw Erika approaching her. A large, powerful Venasaur was behind her. "What are you doing here?" Cynthia gestured her to wait.
The blonde saw the three men being cuffed and thrown into a police vehicle. Their Pokémon were returned to their pokéballs and taken from them.
"I'll tell you later." Cynthia mouthed to the Gym Leader and went back to consoling the kid. She saw Paul return his Pokémon and approach him.
"You okay?" The blonde nodded. Officer Jenny approached them.
"I want you two to come with me please." Her voice seemed serious. The blonde remembered the meeting with one of them in Cerulean and inwardly shivered.
"Sure." She replied and got up, the girl still in her arms. She seemed to have quieted down by now and was sleeping, most probably due to exhaustion.
"Here please."
Xxx
"I think I asked you," She pointed at Cynthia who was getting tended to by the police's medic. "Not to involve yourself."
"I did not involve myself." The blonde replied. "I was exploring Celadon City-"
"At such a late hour?"
"If I can travel Kanto alone and face off Pokémon, both tamed and wild, then what's with exploring late?" Cynthia questioned. "Anyway, one of them, Mike, I remember, attacked me. His partner came and rambled about holding the mayor's daughter. One thing led to another and the third member came with her, maybe wanting to check up on his men, and fought me."
"What about you?" She looked at Paul.
"Was roaming the city. Heard them fight and got here. Helped her fight against them." Officer Jenny sighed.
"It's lucky she called me in time." She gestured to Cynthia. "I'm not pressing any charges just because you helped save her. But," She glared at Cynthia. "I won't entertain anything like this again. Do you understand?"
Cynthia nodded, holding an ice pack to her cheek. "Saying this especially to you since you have a track record of getting in trouble."
"It's just my second time."
"And hope it remains that." She interrupted coldly. "Got it?" Cynthia nodded. "Your Pokémon are with Nurse Joy. You'll get them in the morning with your other team."
"Ok." Cynthia sighed and felt exhaustion creep into her. "Thanks for showing up officer."
"It's my job." She got up and walked off, leaving the two alone in the office. "Rest up kids."
"Officer Jenny?" Cynthia called making her stop. "How's the mayor's daughter?"
"She's fine. Resting at her home." She left then. Paul got up.
"Why did you intervene?" The blonde questioned him. "I remember you saying it wasn't my business and stuff."
"The mayor's daughter isn't." He corrected.
"And I am?" Cynthia pressed. Paul grunted.
"Think what you want to." He left the office leaving Cynthia alone. The blonde got up and walked out, wanting to get to the Pokémon Center and crash on her bed.
The sense of accomplishment she felt was pretty high.
Xxx
The blonde stirred as someone knocked on her door. "Huh?" The blonde opened her silver eyes and looked at the door. Taking a few moments to properly wake up, she got up.
Opening the door, she was surprised to see the mayor's family outside. "Hello dear." The mayor greeted. Their daughter ran forward, hugging Cynthia tight.
Cynthia gave her a sweet smile. "Hey sweetie." She smiled, lifting her up. "Come in." The blonde stepped aside, letting them enter inside.
"Sorry if we woke you up." The mayor's wife apologized.
"Not at all." Cynthia said, flushing a bit. "I slept in actually."
"You went to sleep very late too." She pointed out.
"True." Cynthia turned to the girl. "What's your name?" She asked.
"Sara." The blonde nodded and set her down.
"I'll be back in a minute." Cynthia entered the washroom and quickly made herself presentable. For one, she still had bed hair and was in her pajamas.
Coming back out, she saw the mayor typing something in his mobile. "Thanks a lot for saving my daughter dear." The mayor's wife thanked her. "I was really worried about her. The police was unable to do anything."
"It's no problem Ma'am." Cynthia replied shyly.
"Just call me Angela." She told her.
"Okay then." The blonde nodded.
"You must be wondering why I'm here, right?" The mayor asked. Cynthia nodded. "Check your pokedex." Cynthia picked up her pokedex and saw an alert.
She pulled the pokedex down and gave the mayor a surprised look. "Wha-"
"You're a Pokémon trainer." He intervened. "You're also low on funds. Consider it an expression of my gratitude."
"I already told you." Cynthia began. "That I'm happy enough. You don't have to do this."
"I actually have to." He pointed at Sara. "She's the one who suggested it. She told me all about how you struggled against the Marowak and how close you were to fainting."
"You're very brave." Sara praised shyly. "When I grow up, I want to be just like you." The blonde smiled.
"Happy to hear that." The blonde grinned.
"So, I hope you accept my gift." The mayor replied, getting up. Cynthia shook her head.
"I don't want money to save someone in need." She retorted. "I'll feel bad about it."
"Please don't. You didn't save Sara because of money. There was no mention of award or anything to save her. You did that selflessly. You risked your life to save our daughter. I don't want you to die like some unfortunate trainer low on resources." The mayor replied.
"Don't think we're doing this out of pity or trying to buy you out either!" Angela added. "Cynthia, truth be told. Ever since your saved our daughter, Sara hasn't been able to stop rambling about you. You are her idol. You're like a second daughter for me Cynthia. So please, accept this gift."
"Well," Cynthia sighed. "If you insist." Sara, Angela, and the mayor got up. "It was nice meeting you." She extended a hand for the mayor. He shook it.
"Why don't you visit our home?" Sara questioned. "We'll have lots of fun there!" Cynthia gave her a sad look.
"I would love to but I need to leave for Fuchsia." She answered. Seeing her sad look, she quickly added. "I'll make sure to visit the next time, don't worry."
"Okay." Sara smiled brightly.
"Do contact us when you come back to Celadon City." Angela told her. "I would love to spend more time with you."
"Sure." Cynthia gave her another smile. "Stay safe, okay Sara?" She told the girl. Sara ran forward and hugged her tightly. Cynthia crouched down and hugged her back.
"Guess we'll be on our move now." The trio got up and left the room, leaving Cynthia alone. The blonde, now fully awake, decided to make her move.
'I'll go buy up stuff for the route quickly.' Route 16, 17, and 18 were pretty long and dangerous. Cynthia would be far away from civilization for a long time.
Thankfully, she had a lot of cash now. She'll be able to survive a lot better now.
A new day, a new experience.
Fuchsia City.
Here I come.
Xxx
Response to reviews:
Issei182: Thanks for the quick review! Yours came under an hour I think.
Hero of all: Battles take the longest time since I have to think about various battle styles and counters that the trainer may adapt etc. Our protagonists will get their dragons, don't worry. Not gonna rob Cynthia of her star Pokémon ;)
Cobb: I'll consider your suggestion. Here's the next update, now wait patiently for the next one lol.
UltimateCCC: You'll find out.
Mark Andrew: Gloom's part was the hardest to write. I was really wondering how to implement its special stench. Hope I did Erika's team justice. About Erika's 180 while battling, you'll find out later on.
Maximusthenoble: Rayshipping is my favorite shipping of Pokémon. And I won't be including Galar or Alola in my story. Those regions just suck! Not sure about Z Moves though but we'll be sticking to just Kalos. No worries about dragapault. Ash and Cynthia will both catch Pokémon out of their usual roster as you may have already noticed. Thanks for the long review!