Chapter 52: High-Level Judges
"Frost?" Cynthia muttered in confusion as the man in question jumped down onto the field.
"What a thrilling match you guys." He praised as he walked towards Cynthia and Garchomp.
"How long have you been here?"
"Well… we missed the start but luckily were in time to witness your entire counter-attack, by the way, you and Garchomp were amazing." Frost added while making Cynthia feel giddy inside.
While Frost turned around to praise Diantha and Gardevoir, Cynthia, on the other hand, picked up on Frost's words.
[Wait…. What did he mean by "we".]
She looked at the now mostly broken stands and saw three rangers staring down at the field not showing any movement at all.
"What is up with them?" she voiced her worries.
"Don't bother about it they just had a certain revelation nothing else." He smiled while returning with a barely conscious Gardevoir supported by his shoulder with Diantha following shortly behind
"You two are still the best…." Diantha sighed as she gently stroked Gardevoir's head.
"Don't sell yourselves short you two made it pretty hard for us," Cynthia replied as she fed Gardevoir an Oran Berry slightly revitalizing the defeated Pokemon.
"Thanks for the help but I should let her rest now." Diantha thanked Frost for supported her Pokemon as she recalled her back to her Pokeball.
"Anytime," Frost replied as he felt the weight disappear from his shoulder
Cynthia like always thanked Garchomp before recalling him as well making the tension in the air whittle down.
"So why are you here in the first place? Don't tell me you were missing Cynthia." teased Diantha as she herself was curious about the Ranger's presence inside the gym at such a random hour.
"Diantha!" Cynthia burst out as she flushed red due to her friend's tactics.
"Ha... no, I just wanted to see their Pokemons to get an idea of their strengths but we didn't expect you two to be having such an intense bout." Frost rubbed his neck while replying.
Diantha wondered who he was talking about as Cynthia pointed towards no half-destroyed stands and the three Rangers sitting there.
"Oh but man… we did a number on this place didn't we." Diantha said as she saw the dangling if not broken ceiling lights.
"I suppose we did overdo it." Cynthia replied which a childish grin.
Frost sighed at the Champion's ignorant behavior as he returned to his original purpose.
"Oye! You three shows over get down here and let me see your Pokemon."
Hearing this the dejected-looking Rangers stood up and slowly trotted their way down the half-broken stairs of the viewing stands.
"What is the point now anything we show is not going to surpass them." Leaf said while looking towards the two Champion ladies and Spark nodded in agreement.
"NO excuses or no food for you." Frost reminded them.
Spark and Leaf immediately sprung both revealing a single Pokeball each.
"Manectric!"
"Tsareena come out!"
Cynthia looked at the two Pokemon with much interest.
[This is a good opportunity to learn more about the Rangers abilities but these Pokemon…..] she thought but Diantha intervened.
"Exactly what I expected to be honest." Diantha said.
"Alder was right about her strengths I guess the old man didn't lose his mind after all." She continued while eyeing Leaf's Tsareena and then shifting her gaze to the electric type and immediately something caught her eye.
Cynthia also didn't miss the familiar-looking stone on the discharge pokemon's collar.
"Oh, so you can mega evolve little one." The Kalos Champion continued as she knelt down to pat Manectric on his head who simply nodded in agreement.
Although both the Champion's were also criticizing their Pokemon's Leaf and Spark's eyes were fixed on only one man. Even the Pokemon were surprised to see his face after so long.
Frost eyed the Pokemon carefully with a stern look not letting his facial expression give anything up.
"Ember you too." He asked the redhead who in reply slipped her hand in her coat and threw a Pokeball in the air revealing her Pokemon to everyone.
Cynthia was particularly interested in Ember's Pokemon for reason she could not point to but when the red light faded she was surprised at the outcome.
[Well judging by her personality I guess it suits her after all.] Cynthia summed up as she smiled after seeing the magnificent flames on the mature looking Rapidash that presented himself on the field.
"Now that is a keeper." Diantha said as she approached the Flame Horse for a closer inspection but the Pokemon immediately growled as if asking her to maintain distance.
Diantha stopped midway as she was respectful towards the Pokemon's wish as well.
"Now now Rapidash behave look who is here." Ember said while looking towards Frost.
The Pokemon glanced at Frost their eyes locked for only a brief moment and Cynthia only caught what happened next barely as her escort was tackled down on the ground.
"Frost!" she yelled in fear but stopped when she heard Frost's laugh as he was petting Rapidash with a smile .
"You've grown last time I saw you, you were a Ponyta, I see Ember's treating you well." He said as he continued to pet the Pokemon despite him being on the ground.
The Pokemon neighed in glee after hearing Frost as Diantha responded.
"Interesting none of the others had such an expression once they met Frost."
"Rapidash and Ponyta both types of Pokemon only let people they absolutely trust touch them anyone else and the flames can burn them, I thought you knew that Diantha before you approached him,"Cynthia asked as Frost picked himself up.
"I know I know but I couldn't resist you know they all are so interesting," Diantha replied in her defense.
Cynthia didn't argue there as although the Pokemon were clearly inferior in power to a Champion level Pokemon they all shared a similar aspect.
Other than the outburst from Rapidash towards Frost none of the Pokemon showed too much personality but not in a bad way it was not like they didn't have any it was just that they were clearly trying to hide Cynthia glanced towards Diantha who smiled back clearly noticing this already.
[She was always better a judge of Character.] Cynthia thought as Frost asked both the Champions.
"So what are your opinions?"
The three of them blanched at this as they didn't expect that Frost would ask for such a thing from the Champions having witnessed how trained and professional their Pokemon were just moments ago the Rangers could not help but feel a bit nervous.
"HUH? Leader, what I thought you were judging us?" Ember spoke up for the three of them.
"They are trained well, fitting to be a Ranger's Partner, as for their health Manectric looks slightly thin for his size although it isn't a fatal concern but I recommend you feed it more proteins so you can increase his physical strength other than that they all look fine," Diantha spoke up first.
"I agree." Cynthia nodded as her friend summed it up.
"I see… I'll take care of him thank you ma'am" Sparks answered diligently and Frost smirked.
"Good." Replied Diantha, happy that the young ranger accepted her suggestion.
Cynthia eyed the three Pokemon for slightly longer than Diantha but didn't say anything.
Frost's eyes met Cynthia as she blinked not sure what else she could add to Diantha's observations.
"Well you heard them Good job you three you pass," Frost replied with a thumbs up and a smile that made Ember and the other two rangers take a sigh of relief.
"But wait we still haven't shown you our moveset," Leaf added as she realized this.
"Ah no need just tell me later you don't need to show the moves themselves… oh, look at the time we are late for dinner." Frost said as the three Rangers nodded and recalled their respective Pokemons.
"You guys going out?" Diantha voiced her question.
"Well no but I was going to buy everyone else food tonight," Frost replied.
"Well… will Stone be there?"
"Diantha!" Cynthia flushed red embarrassed by the Kalos Champion's openness.
[I can't believe her sometimes.] she internally facepalmed.
Frost who realized her actual motive somehow kept himelf from laughing as he decided to play dumb.
"Yes everyone will be there and you know what I just had an idea why don't the two of you join us, you know as thanks for showing us such an awesome match." He asked while looking at his teammates.
"I don't mind in fact I would like to talk to both of you more after today." Leaf said with her cheery voice as usual.
"Yes, I would also like your opinion on the food I should feed my Pokemon." Spark added.
All eyes were on Ember as she was the only one who didn't voice herself in this.
"I…." she began although she wanted for this to be a personal affair but seeing that Frost herself suggested it her mind could not disagree no matter how she tried although it stung her again just like back when she saw Frost watching the battle looking at Cynthia and her Garchomp.
"Don't mind…." She ended.
"It is settled then the Kalos and Sinnoh Champion's are joining us… but wait oh I didn't think about that."
Frost's concern was that since the two Champions were joining them he couldn't just hold the dinner in his room where all the rangers were initially planning to eat as the room couldn't accommodate such a crowd plus it wasn't made for dinners.
When he voiced his doubt Diantha chuckled and said
"No problem since you guys invited us so kindly we can have dinner in Cynthia's room doing that we can also stay out of the public eyes since the last time you two went for dinner everyone came to know."
"Wait but why my room." Cynthia protested.
Diantha didn't even consider replying as was already imagining how she would converse with Stone.
[It is no use she has decided.] Cynthia sighed as she replied.
"Please feel free to come by…." She replied in utter defeat completely different from the result of the Pokemon battle.
"Thanks, Champion we owe you one." Said Frost.
"Yes, you guys are the best." Leaf added making Cynthia not completely feel dejected from Diantha's manipulations.
"Alright move it guys get everyone to Cynthia's room by 9 I will arrange for us our meal," Frost said as everyone made their way out the broken gym of Luminous Pride.
Author's Notes:
I hope you guys still enjoy these I know it is a bit slow but that is how I know how to write I will try to have better pacing in the next story… don't worry this is not the last chapter I am just acknowledging some of the suggestions you guys have pointed out in the comments. Instead of suddenly changing my writing style I would change it in the next story. Also, I would like to thank "Savixf" as I took your suggestion for Leaf's Pokemon. As always feel free to share your views and PM me any questions you have regarding the story. Until Next Time
PEACE