The group of teens having stopped at another Pokemon Center watch the televised battle between Lucian versus Champion Cynthia from the comforts of a Pokémon Center.
They watched as Lucian's Bronzong used its Flash Cannon on Garchomp. Garchomp comes out unscathed by blocking the attack with its fin. Garchomp follows up with Giga Impact, knocking out Lucian's Bronzong.
Cynthia had successfully defended her Champion title.
"Wow isn't she so powerful?" Ash says with awe.
"She sure is, I mean it takes a lot to be champion of a region, it's not something anyone can be Ash, and it's a lot of work that's for sure," Harmony says with a grin, "It's a lot of paperwork, that's for sure." she jokes, knowing full well that was what Leon complained about the most was the paperwork.
Though as the teens were talking amongst each other they overheard a young Trainer informing his friends that Cynthia is over in Amity Square, so of course, Ash wanted to check it out as well.
After spotting Cynthia as she had made her way over to the nearby ruins featuring images of Palkia and Dialga.
This was where the teens found her adding themselves to the crowd surrounding Cynthia.
All of sudden, Paul showed up. Ash was excited about seeing Paul, saying that he's finally got two Badges. Though after asking how many Paul had received, Paul brushed it off. He then challenged Cynthia to a battle.
Many people in the crowd were shocked at this action, and even more so when Cynthia agrees. Paul requested a six-on-six match.
Harmony scoffs at Paul's ask of it rolling her eyes, "He's not nearly strong enough to even take on her Garchomp let alone a full six on six." she points with narrowed eyes, "He's up to something."
Cynthia called out her Garchomp, while Paul chose Chimchar; a choice that surprised Cynthia, as well as the crowd, due to its disadvantage as a Fire-type.
Paul commanded Chimchar to use Fire Spin and then Dig. Once hit with Fire Spin, Garchomp also uses Dig under Cynthia's command. Garchomp strikes her opponent underground, knocking Chimchar out.
As Paul recalls it, he scolds it for its loss, which doesn't sit too well with either Cynthia or Ash who was fuming at Harmony's side.
"Calm down, please?" Harmony whispers to him, "It might just be something else, he's not hurting Chimchar, please calm down Ash." she says her hand moving to rest on his arm with a look of worry in her eyes at the amount of Anger in his.
Paul then called out his Weavile, a much better type matchup. He ordered Weavile to use a Blizzard attack, and despite being a super-effective hit, it did not faze Garchomp at all.
Garchomp then used Dragon Rush, which caused Weavile to freeze instead of trying to dodge. Paul yells at Weavile to use Ice Beam. However, Garchomp dodged the attack not once, but twice and slams itself into Weavile, knocking it out cold.
Paul then sent out his Murkrow. Immediately, he tells Murkrow to use Haze, which Garchomp dodged with ease. Murkrow flew behind Garchomp and Paul told it to use a Sky Attack. Cynthia had Garchomp counter with Giga Impact. After returning the fallen Murkrow, Paul smirked to himself, leaving everyone confused as he had lost half of his team in short order.
Paul called out his Torterra and started things off with a Giga Drain. Since Giga Impact left Garchomp unable to move for at least a turn, the Giga Drain hit its mark and managed to weaken Garchomp.
Torterra followed up with Frenzy Plant, though Garchomp blocked the attack with its fins, much to Paul's astonishment.
Cynthia then told her Garchomp to use Brick Break. Garchomp pushed the Frenzy Plant vines away and jumped into the air, hitting Torterra with Brick Break on its head, taking it down and out.
Paul then gave up the battle, to which the crowd responded by poking fun at him. Ash, with newfound respect, rebuked the crowd and complimented Paul on a great battle.
Paul says goodbye to Cynthia and walks away.
As he walked away both Harmony and Ash realized that wasn't where the Pokémon Center was.
"Paul waits, you're going the wrong way, your Pokemon suffered quite a bit and need to be looked at by Nurse oy, or someone at least," Harmony says moving over to stop the teen from leaving.
"You know I quite agree with Harmony about that Paul, your Pokemon fought hard and need to rest a bit," Cynthia speaks up.
This made Harmony freeze a bit, she hadn't expected Cynthia to remember her, after all, she had only met her a few times in Champion League meetings and those silly Gala's that Leon dragged her to, no matter how much she kicked and pouted he wouldn't let her leave early from those things. That being her mingling and hiding out only for her to end up meeting a few other trainers that were highly more skilled than her.
Cynthia's remark about using Harmony's name made her friends look at her with a gaping mouth and she flushes.
"Later, I'll tell you later," she murmurs, shoving Ash a bit as he had swamped to her side looking like he had a million questions about what just had happened for her to know the Champion of the Sinnoh region.
Unfortunately, when the group got there, Nurse Joy claims that she needed to perform surgery on an injured Pokémon.
Cynthia decided to heal Paul's Pokémon by herself, to which Brock told her that he'd love to help out. Croagunk decided to come out of his Poké Ball to use Poison Jab on Brock but stops once he sees Cynthia smiling at him, and blushes instead.
Cynthia was quickly able to treat Paul's Torterra with a Super Potion.
Cynthia was then able to move on to Chimchar, giving it a pill and encouraged it to rest up.
Cynthia then told Paul that his Pokémon were all healed and very well trained, especially his
Torterra. Paul reveals that Torterra was his starter Pokémon. He also says that he had traveled around Hoenn, Johto, and Kanto, explaining that this is where he caught his Murkrow and Weavile. Along with failing to win any of their Pokémon League Conferences, before coming back to Sinnoh, where he caught Chimchar.
When Cynthia complimented Chimchar, Paul complained with a scoff that Chimchar didn't do well against Garchomp.
Ash then argued that Paul didn't care how many Pokémon got hurt, though Paul defended his training methods.
On top of that Harmony grabbed Ash's arm trying to calm the other teen down, but Ash was still becoming angrier, saying that he has to support his Pokémon.
Upon Paul saying that he wanted to become stronger, Cynthia took everyone back to the stone tablet in Amity Square and read it to them.
Harmony though was half-listening, as she looked at the tablet tilting her head in confusion. Just like before with the Adamant Orb she felt some sort of connection towards the tablet and she couldn't figure out why, but it was broken when Cynthia started talking about it.
Cynthia claimed that before reading this tablet herself, she used to train endlessly. Then she discovered that all Pokémon have different personalities and she wanted to get to know all of them.
On their way back to the Pokemon Center Harmony and Cynthia were the first to notice Team Rocket, the others soon also took notice of the trio and started to chase after them.
Team Rocket, however, was able to reach their balloon and begin their ascent. It was then that Chimchar then woke up, and quickly used Ember on Team Rocket.
Before Ash can react and call out Staravia, and Harmony could call out her Braviary, Paul sent out his Ursaring and told it to use Hyper Beam. Chimchar jumps away from Team Rocket right before the attack collides with them, and sent them blasting off.
Chimchar fell to the ground, getting injured once more. However, Paul didn't seem to care, as he called Chimchar useless for being captured by Team Rocket.
Dawn called Paul out, as she was getting fed up with his attitude towards pokemon. But Harmony and Cynthia are able to stop the yelling, pointing out that what mattered now is that Chimchar is okay. Cynthia however, advised Paul to stay the night at the Center, and he accepted her recommendation.
Later that evening, Cynthia and the group of teens watch as Sinnoh Now reported that the Lustrous Orb, an item related to the Legendary Pokémon Palkia, had just been uncovered by archaeologists at the Celestic Town ruins.
The Lustrous Orb was related to the Adamant Orb, the one they had seen almost be stolen in Eterna Historical Museum a few days prior. Cynthia then decided it is time to head to Celestic Town, saying goodbye to the group of teens.
"Wait! Cynthia!" Harmony calls out handing Chu to Ash as she raced after the champion of Sinnoh.
"I had a question!" she states stopping a bit to catch her breath as Cynthia turned around to face her. "When you were at that tablet, like the first time or even now, do you get a feeling or something?" she asks softly, "Because I got the same feeling I did when we ran into the Adamant Orb, back in Eterna City. It felt welcoming and also relieved like I was getting into something that I had been missing my entire life." she admits.
Cynthia hums, "It could be possible, I understand getting a feeling of sorts Harmony, but what you're describing is not one I've seen or felt, I might have to ask my grandmother about it, but I do not have an answer for you. I'm sorry Harmony." she says.
Harmony sighs, "Alright, I figured I should at least ask, it's weird, I've studied in the Vault in Galar but never had this kind of feeling with those relics, that's why I thought something was wrong. Thank you though, I hope we see you again! Take care!" she calls out waving to the champion.
As she did so Chu raced up to her jumping on her shoulder and nuzzling her cheek, "Oh hi Chu, how are you?" she says rubbing the head of her partner who cooed happily.
"Everything okay? You rushed off to talk with Cynthia and she seemed to get worried?" Ash's voice trails off to her as she turns around to see him in the Pokemon Center's doorway..
"Yeah, everything's fine, I had a question about the ruins. Her grandmother might reach out and let me know something if she finds anything. Are you ready to head to Alamos Town? Because I can't wait for that contest, it's going to be so pretty to see and use the surrounding stage to my pokemon's advantage! And I bet there will be plenty of trainers to battle there too!" she tells him as the two walk back inside conversing about what they will do the next few days until they reach Alamos Town.
Another chapter is done! Next time we see the group of four is at Alamos Town with trouble from Darkrai!