Disclaimer: I own nothing here.

Peacekeepers

AN: Well it looks like the anime is going to throw a bunch of filler at us before we get to see Steven and Cynthia. But that's fine, I'll just work on this story and wait to see if they get a scene together (or maybe even battle each other?!) dare I even hope for that?! Aahhh!

Anyway I have a lot of head-canon ideas concerning Cynthia and Steven and their past. A lot of things have not been confirmed about them, so I make it up as I go. Also, it is my hope to update once a week, but no promises, as I am still getting back into the swing of writing.

Chapter Two – Predicament


To say that Cynthia felt nervous was an understatement. She stood at the entrance of the recreation chamber inside Sinnoh's Pokémon League building and put on the bravest smile she could muster. As the newly appointed Sinnoh champion, it was her duty to greet and introduce herself to the other regional champions as they arrived for her coronation ceremony.

Ever since her crowning victory over the former champion two days prior, Cynthia had come to a sudden realization in her trainer career. Battles were the easy part and she could practically stride through them in her sleep. Socializing was a different matter altogether.

It wasn't that she felt uncomfortable in all social settings. Children for one, were an unassuming group that she could easily relate to. But at seventeen, she still felt terribly awkward and inexperienced around her peers and adults, and perhaps, she was not at all prepared for everything that came with being a champion.

Thankfully, after years of practice throughout her Pokémon journey in Sinnoh, she had mastered the art of faking confidence when dealing with people outside of battle. She was also thankful for her long bangs, which provided camouflage for the beads of sweat sliding down her cheeks from the stress.

She had already met and exchanged pleasantries with two of the other champions, Lance from Kanto and Alder from Unova. Both of them redheads yet with two entirely different personalities.

Lance seemed cordial enough, though he was very quiet and withdrawn. Cynthia got the feeling he didn't care for socializing with his peers any more than she did at the moment.

Then there was Alder, who was a bit too friendly in Cynthia's opinion. He seemed harmless enough with his flirtatious words and gestures, but she would keep her guard up around him regardless.

Both men were gracious enough to move on afterward and helped themselves to refreshments, talking between themselves and allowing her to continue with her greeting duty.

The next champion to enter the chamber was a young man, perhaps around her own age, who instantly stole her attention. With short, spikey hair the color of glacier ice and gleaming eyes to match. He stepped forward to meet her with a confidence that was either innate or heavily practiced. His tuxedo-like attire was elegant and seemed perfectly attuned to him and his charming features.

Cynthia was struck with such a strong sense of deja vu, as though she recognized him but couldn't place from when or where. Something about his face and hair, but mostly his sharp eyes, seemed faintly familiar. It was a nagging tug at the back of her mind, but it wasn't really an unpleasant feeling, per se. Perhaps she had seen his picture in a tournament at some point...

She suddenly remembered just in time that she was supposed to greet him. "H-Hello, I'm Cynthia. Pleased to meet you." She also noted out of the corner of her eye that another man had entered behind him, with matching emerald hair and eyes and a frivolous looking outfit to boot.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Cynthia. I'm Steven, Hoenn's champion." He brought a hand to his chest and gave a polite bow before meeting her gaze again with a gentle smile. "Congratulations on becoming champion."

Charming and handsome, Cynthia thought as she smiled back, genuinely. She felt a strange relief in her chest, being able to drop her facade and offer something real for a change. Absently, she wondered how strong his team was...

"My, my, quite the young beauty, aren't you?" the man with emerald hair commented as he drew beside Steven, his eyes flashing with mischief as he met her gaze.

"Please ignore my friend Wallace. He is my predecessor." Steven's face faltered into a displeased sneer aimed at the other man before shifting back to Cynthia with a strained, apologetic smile. "And he clearly forgot to bring his manners today."

"Nothing I haven't endured already," Cynthia replied with an amiable huff. She gave Wallace a nod of acknowledgment, for some reason not feeling as uncomfortable with his behavior as she had been under Alder's attention. Though it was a bit unnerving how he continued to study her, as though he were reading her like a book... Almost as if he could see right through her brave front.

"At any rate, it's unacceptable behavior," Steven said and gave his friend a pointed glare. "Wallace, you owe her an apology."

"Cynthia, did you know Steven here is also newly appointed as a champion? I'd say he's only a couple of months your senior." Wallace spoke offhandedly, outright ignoring Steven's demand and glare. Instead, he slowly turned to his friend with a roguish smirk. "I would very much like to see how the two of you fare against each other."

"Wallace," Steven hissed in warning through grit teeth, his hands turned fists at his sides. He was either embarrassed or agitated by the suggestion.

By contrast, Cynthia was both ecstatic and relieved. A battle? With Steven? She had been thinking that same thing just a moment ago. "That sounds delightful!" she practically chirped in agreement. Anything to get away from this stuffy meet and greet she was forced to contend with.

Steven's ice-blue eyes snapped back to her like lighting to a rod. "Really?" He suddenly seemed as eager as her for a match despite his initial reaction to the suggestion.

Cynthia was glade for it; she was so ready to step back into the element she knew best. She wasted no time skirting around the men and gestured for everyone to follow. "Yes, of course. I'll show you to the training court."

Upon facing Steven from across the combat field, Cynthia noticed the smile on his face had taken on a different attribute. No longer just confidence and friendliness but maybe... joy? Had he been hiding behind a forced smile as well?

"How does a one on one battle sound?" Wallace asked as he took up the judge's mantle off to the side of the field.

Both champions gave a nod of approval and Cynthia made the first move by tossing out her Pokéball containing Garchomp, whom flashed into existence with a mighty roar.

Steven moved his hand to select a ball from his belt but before he even touched the one he had decided on, a different one suddenly released itself from its containment with a roar to match the former. "Aggron?" The huge metal beast turned his intense eyes from Garchomp to his master and back again. "You want to have a go then?"

In answer, Aggron took to all fours and scuffed at the ground in anticipation, all the while staring down his opponent, who in turn, was also growing more agitated. "Well, alright, if you're that worked up about it..."

The battle that unfolded was both chaotic and savage, with both champions blanching at the disobedient behavior of their respective monsters. In the end, it only ended in a tie because Garchomp and Aggron simultaneously used hyper beam, resulting in a huge explosion that knocked them both unconscious.

Cynthia and Steven were both struck speechless for a long moment, before finally recalling their Pokémon and proceeding to apologize profusely to one another. Little did they know that the rivalry between their monsters would become a recurring hassle in the future.


Foggy awareness and disorienting nausea slowly woke Steven from his unusual slumber. His head swam terribly as he sat up and surveyed his surroundings.

He was no longer in the peaceful glade, where he had spent almost three weeks exploring ruins that had nearly just killed him. Instead, vast plains of lush grasslands spread out around him for as far as he could see, with the exception of a dense forest stretching out behind him. Only the warm sun and blue sky above was the same.

Wracking his brain for a plausible explanation, Steven recalled his last memory before blacking out; that of being forced to part ways with Cynthia due to a disagreement between their Pokémon.

Then there had been an odd chiming sound overhead and after that everything had gone dark. Perplexed, Steven closed his eyes and listened carefully for a moment, but he heard no distinctive chime. He did, however, detect a familiar sound, like a clamor of voices. It was faint and far away, but it reminding him of the cheering crowds during a yearly championship tournament.

Dismissing the noise as too far away to be concerned over, he turned to regard a much closer sound. "Ugh," Cynthia grumbled and sat up from a place on the grass not even six feet away. With one look, he could surmise that she too was suffering from similar symptoms of dizziness and nausea.

Whatever had happened to them clearly wasn't a natural occurrence, though Steven would have to puzzle it out later. "What happened?" Cynthia murmured to herself, hand to head in confusion as she looked around and met Steven's gaze. "Steven? Where are we?"

"I've no idea," he replied, his eyes turning upward. "But I'm sure I heard a strange sound from the sky before I passed out..."

"Oh that's right. Then you heard it too," Cynthia said, her gaze also inspecting the sky.

They both made a startled noise when a small, green creature suddenly materialized in the space between them. "Hush, humans," the creature's voice echoed in their minds. It was like a soothing hum, feminine and gentle. "I am here to assist you."

"It's a Celebi!" Steven and Cynthia both exclaimed, not even bothering to temper their excitement.

"Just like the artwork in the ruins!" Steven added in amazement.

Cynthia leaned around the hovering Pokémon and shot a narrow look his way. "So there was something in there besides shiny rocks."

Hand to the back of his head, Steven offered a sheepish smile. "Well, yeah. Sorry, I didn't have a chance to mention-"

"Humans please," Celebi cut in, sounding a bit annoyed by their chatter. "I don't have much time to explain your situation."

"Situation?" Steven wondered aloud and made a generic gesture at their surroundings. "You mean like where we are?"

"Not where, but when," Celebi corrected. "I've transported both of you and four of your Pokémon to a time far into the past." Just as she spoke, four bodies began to stir in the tall grass nearby. "I wasn't able to bring all twelve of your Pokémon, nor did I transfer your capture devices, since such technology does not yet exist here."

"Excuse me, but," Cynthia ventured politely, probably not wanting to offend the only creature that could take them back home. "Why exactly did you bring us here? I've heard stories about Celebi, how they're very curious and, forgive my saying so, but... meddlesome."

Celebi tipped her head at the woman, her large blue eyes blinking intelligence. "I suppose that's true for some of my brethren." The Pokémon's voice sounded amused before she turned her attention to the two big monsters beginning to stand, one dark blue, the other a shining silver. "However I brought you here because two of your Pokémon seem to have a problem."

Just as she finished speaking, the two titans began roaring furiously at each other. Even so, Steven and Cynthia could still clearly hear Celebi's telepathic voice. "It seems to me that neither of you realize what the real problem is between them. What's more, your method of avoiding the issue has only made the matter worse. Therefore, I have removed your ability to recall them."

"I'm sorry, but," Steven began patiently, though he had to raise his voice to be heard over the raucous. "How does taking us back in time help solve the problem?"

"I never said it would," Celebi answered with a chirp and a furtive glance at Cynthia. "Perhaps I'm just meddlesome." With a grand yawn, the mythical Pokémon began drifting towards the nearby forest. "Transporting all of you has drained me and I need to sleep. I will come find you when I've recovered and return you to your time."

"Hey wait!" Steven called, though his attention was torn between following Celebi and helping Cynthia calm their rampaging Pokémon. "What about our other Pokémon? Will they be ok? How long will you be asleep? How will you find us?"

"The others will be fine, I told them to wait in the glade," Celebi replied, sounding drowsy. "Don't worry, I'll find you..." Her voice trailed as her hovering faltered. "When the time is..."

When she disappeared into the treeline and her voice faded completely, Steven turned fully to the predicament of his Aggron, who was still thrashing around with Cynthia's Garchomp. "Hey Aggron, can you cut it out and look around already?"

Cynthia had been trying to do the same to no avail. She sent him a deflated look. "It's no use." She sighed and shook her head. "Maybe we should just let them hash it out and get it over with."

Steven turned his gaze to the edge of one field, where he could hear the sound of shouting had gotten louder. "I don't think we have time for that." With a fierce determination, he looked around for his other Pokémon and spotted his Skarmory close by as it preened itself, completely disinterested in its fellow's battle. "Skar, can you help me out?"

The metal bird perked his head up and squawked affirmation as he crouched for launch. Steven turned back to Cynthia and noticed she had already beckoned her Togekiss to her side. "I'll go for your Garchomp," he started, then smirked when she appeared to already know his plan.

"And I'll target your Aggron," the woman finished, sending her flying type off with a nudge. "Go Kiss, use Aura Sphere and get Aggron's attention!"

Steven gave his Skarmory the signal to attack and the bird swooped into the air. "Use Steel Wing on Garchomp!"

Both attacks nearly crossed paths as they stuck their targets dead center, causing the metal dinosaur and the ground dragon to stagger backward and away from each other, momentarily stunned.

The interruption was enough for both champions to leap in between their monsters, strangely confident that the other would not attack from behind. "Now look Gar, this is serious!" Cynthia shouted. "Didn't you hear what Celebi said? We're stuck in the past! This is no time to be bickering with each other!"

Her words seemed to reach both Garchomp and Aggron, as they both paused to look around at their surroundings in confusion. "That's right!" Steven added, fervently, pinning his Pokémon with a stern look. "We need to work together for the moment so we can get back home, understand?"

Both Garchomp and Aggron appeared to physically droop, nodding their heads with an affirmative grumble, properly chastised.

"Right," Steven said and made a sweeping gesture with both hands. "Now both of you, call a truce. We need to hurry and follow Celebi."

Begrudgingly, both Pokémon in question stepped closer and offered a fore-paw, or in Garchomp's case, a claw. Not looking at one another, they swatted claws together with a grunt, establishing a truce as they were told.

Having succeeded in their assignment, both flying types glided down and perched on their comrades, Togekiss on Garchomp's shoulder and Skarmory on Aggron's. "Steven's right," Cynthia agreed with an uneasy glance in the direction of the thunderous shouting. "I don't like the sound of that. Sounds like... Like an army."

"I imagine it is, assuming we're as far into the past as Celebi said," Steven replied grimly as he made for the treeline, Cynthia and the four Pokémon trailing behind. "For now, let's just take cover in the forest and find Celebi."

As Steven led the way into the sun dappled forest, he was alert to any sounds of danger, his eyes scanning the thick foliage for Celebi. He paused, his icy gaze narrowed with suspicion as Cynthia drew beside him and quietly voiced his thoughts. "It's oddly quiet."

Steven nodded his agreement, still looking around for Celebi. Either the forest was unusually quiet, or the raucous of the nearby army just made it seem quiet in comparison. In any case it was making him feel uneasy and he could see from the way Cynthia clenched her fists that she was on edge too. "There!" he hissed as he spotted the mythical Pokémon curled up on a mossy rock and already sleeping soundly.

"Celebi," Cynthia called softly as they both converged on the sleeping Pokémon. "Please wake up. We have more questions!"

Celebi's face contorted in response, her mind-voice radiating annoyance. "No... I... Sleep." As if to reinforce her words, vines shot up from the ground and proceeded to completely enclose her in a protective cocoon, resembling an egg.

Both humans stepped back in alarm and turned to each other. Steven offered a deflated smile and a shrug. "I guess that means: come back later...?"

"As if we have time for-" Cynthia's reply was cut short as both she and Steven stiffened with a sudden dread, their Pokémon all growling intensely as they gathered around their masters like a shield.

Although they were all on high alert, not even Garchomp's outrageous speed could detect the attack when it came. As it was, Steven moved on pure instinct when he lunged for cover, haphazardly pulling Cynthia with him and scarcely dodging the deadly assault.

"Kah!" snarled the assailant, a mere blur of black and blue, its bladed fists leaving a gleaming, deadly trail where both champions had been standing seconds earlier. It perched on a branch of a nearby tree as Garchomp and Aggron roared furiously. Skarmory and Togekiss were more concerned over their masters, who were curiously lying in a disheveled heap on the forest floor.

Steven had intentionally landed on his back to break her fall, though that meant she was practically lying on top of him. Despite their awkward positions on the ground, neither trainer dared to move as they both assessed the danger. Cynthia's gaze narrowed at their attacker, a motionless shadow in the trees. "Is that a Lu-?"

"Impressive!" a male voice crooned just as another figure emerged from the shadows, lighting deftly on a large, moss covered boulder just out of striking distance.

He appeared fairly young, probably still a teenager, with sharp blue eyes, black hair tied back, and wearing what resembled a kimono. "My Lucario rarely misses his targets." He tipped his head at the pair with a childish curiosity and casually placed a hand on the hilt of a sword hanging at his hip. "You two aren't from around here, are you?"

Neither champion chose to reply or move from their odd positions on the ground, both realizing without a word that they were safest there, where their Pokémon could easily shield them from any attack.

"Not a word eh?" the teen scoffed and shrugged indifferently. "Doesn't matter. I'll just be returning to my lord with this prize, if you don't mind." With a mocking salute and uncanny agility, he leaped off the boulder and disappeared back into the shadows, his Lucario swiftly following suit with something round tucked under one arm.

With the danger suddenly gone and perplexed by the entire encounter, Steven and Cynthia's eyes gradually met and they slowly came to realize the provocative position they were in. "Eh?" Cynthia chirped in a blend of surprise and embarrassment as she was practically lounging on his person. "S-Sorry!" She quickly scrambled off of him and stood up, proceeding to cover her face with one hand, mortified. "With everything that happened, I didn't realize-"

"No, really, I should apologize," Steven cut in as he too stood up and bowed his head, right arm pulled up across his chest. "It seems I acted without thinking and broke the first rule of being a gentleman."

Cynthia tipped her head and blinked at him for a moment, clearly puzzled. Their four Pokémon mirrored her, all watching with rapt attention at the curious exchange. "Which is...?"

Steven gave his bowed head a tilt to meet her gaze with one steel blue eye. "To never touch a lady without her permission."

"Oh, is that all?" Cynthia said with a sigh of relief. "You don't need to apologize for that," she added as she turned and waved a bothered hand. "Besides, you probably saved my life, and also..."

Steven raised his head and a curious brow. "Also...?"

Cynthia turned back to him with a mischievous smirk and a deadpan. "You make a pretty good cushion."

"I- I see," Steven found himself stuttering in response, unsure if she was simply joking or flirting, or both. Admittedly, it took him much longer than it should have to work up a proper response, though he finally opted for a charming smile and respectful nod. "In that case, I'm happy to be of service."

That earned him a soft giggle from her despite the life-threatening circumstances they had just experienced some moments earlier. It seemed they were both more accustomed to dangerous situations than they were... social interactions.

Garchomp, having become both disinterested and disgusted by her master's antics, began sniffing around for their attacker's scent. When she suddenly realized something very important was missing she started growling and snarling urgently at both humans.

"What is it Gar?" Cynthia hurried over to her dragon with Steven right behind her.

"Celebi's gone!" both champions cried out in surprise and panic upon seeing the moss covered boulder where the fairy-like Pokémon had formerly cocooned itself. Garchomp hissed in affirmation, growing more agitated when Aggron moved closer as well.

"They must have stolen her when we weren't looking!" Cynthia exclaimed, though she quickly stifled her rising anxiety and turned to Steven with a calmer tone. "What should we do? We can't go home without her..." She casually raised a hand to her Garchomp's snout as the beast had begun growling at Aggron for his unchecked proximity. "Hush, Gar. Not now."

Garchomp reluctantly backed down with a grumble, to which Aggron huffed indifferently. Steven too was troubled by the turn of events, though he hid his sense of panic well, aside from furrowed brows. He brought a hand to his chin, thoughtful for a moment as he studied the landscape before making his reply. "It looked like the thief went that way, towards the sounds of the army. We could try and follow him-"

"I would advise against that, human," a new voice suddenly echoed in their minds.

Instantly, all four Pokémon spun to look in the same direction, once again snarling at the new threat. "Who's there!" Steven demanded as both he and Cynthia took up alert, defensive stances.

"Peace, humans. I mean you no harm," the mental voice said as yet another figure emerged from the forest's shadows. It was a male voice, though he was not human.

"Another Lucario?" Cynthia deduced, instantly recognizing his unique, familiar silhouette before he even stepped into the full light. She felt a sudden pang in her heart at the thought that she may never see her own Lucario ever again. She forcefully blinked the thought away and focused on the newcomer. "How can you talk telepathically like this?"

"I speak by means of the Aura, but I should think that's hardly a concern at the moment," the Lucario replied matter-of-factually with a curious tip of his head.

"Oh, of course, you're right," Cynthia agreed, feeling properly chastised until Steven leaned closer with a whisper that he had been about to ask the same thing.

"Hmm," the Lucario lowed thoughtfully. "Perhaps it would be better for you to speak with my master."

"And just who is your master?" Steven questioned, suddenly very curious of the person capable of training their Pokémon to speak.

"I'll take it from here, Lucario," yet another male voice sounded out as a human form, clad in dark clothing, emerged from between the trees. "Greetings strangers, my name is Aaron."


AN: Let it be known that Steven's rules for a gentleman are his own, though google does have "a gentleman respects women" as a top requirement, so it works I think? Also, I welcome reviews as they inspire me to update more regularly. As thanks for reading, I am going to try and add funny little bonus scenes at the end of each chapter, so here's the first one!

/o/o/

Back in the present – Ruins camp

Metagross, Excadrill, Cradilly and Armaldo sat on one side while Lucario, Glaceon, Milotic and Spiritomb occupied the other.

Celebi before disappearing with their masters: "I'm taking your masters on a little trip, so don't worry about them and behave yourselves!"

Silence.

Excadrill and Lucario: "Party time!"

Metagross and Milotic: "Absolutely not!"

Armaldo and Glaceon: Yawn. "Nap time!"

Cradilly and Spiritomb: Doesn't move.