Author's Corner.
Lightning: Nyuhuhuhu! Scarlet's gloves are destroyed so he can't do any heroic stuff now- de arimasu. Finally, it's gonna be MY time to shine-de arimasu.
Alphinia *Yawns*: So the catboy can get jealous. Guess White's tactless rejection struck you hard.
Lightning: Shut it-de arimasu! I've still got a chance!
Aqua: Even with all the painfully obvious ScarletxWhite moments? I like your optimism, kiddo.
Cynthia: If memory serves, White indirectly kissed Scarlet last chapter.
Lightning: Eh...?
Shauntal: Then there was that scary dream of his when Scarlet2 kissed White...although that was to suck her blood. *Begins to blush heavily* Oh dear, I think I just got another inspiration.
Lightning *pales*: I've lost...I have nothing to live for- YEAH RIGHT! I WASN'T BORN YESTERDAY! I KNOW WHEN WHITE LIKES SOMEONE AND IT'S DEFINITELY NOT SCARLET-DE ARIMASU!
Shauntal *squeals*: The jealous type! I like that! *starts breathing heavily* The optimistic cowboy who wants the lone hunter all to himself despite the monstocity that lay under his cold exterior...I'm getting the chills for this! Ne Norbert, How does a Lightning x Scarlet Horroi sound?!
Lightning: AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! AND IT'S HILBERT-DE ARIMASU!
DISCLAIMER: SLYBILL OWNS POKEMON NOT! SO DEAL WITH IT!
Undella Town, Unova Region.
Lightning wiped the sweat off his brow and shifted his focus back to his dragon pokemon, Haxorus.
"Again! Dragon Claw and then Dragon Tail-de arimasu!" he cried and Haxorus rushed at him with its claws raised high. Unlike most trainers, this cowboy preferred hand-to-hand training instead of sitting and yelling from the sidelines. Lightning ducked the blow and did a hand spring, avoiding the tail that followed from the side. Sliding back against the sandy beach, he beckoned for Haxorus to continue and the pokemon willing aimed a Flamethrower at him. Lightning dodged it and continued his spar until Haxorus got his momentum up again.
"Now use Draco Meteor-de arimasu!" he finally ordered and the Axe Jaw pokemon crossed its arms before trembling violently as reddish-orange energy gathered at its abdomen. In seconds, a glowing ball formed at its mouth and Lightning nearly yelled success until the ball suddenly dulled and exploded, throwing sand and smoke everywhere.
"Almost had it there, cowboy," Cynthia called out from her seat on the patio. "You just needed to build up more momentum."
"Are you sure you don't have a TM or something?" he replied as he walked up to his dazed pokemon. Cynthia smiled and shook her head before sipping her wine and sighing at how sweet it tasted. Lightning sweatdropped at her laid-back manner and dusted the sand off his pants. "When exactly are you gonna help out-de arimasu? So far it's been over a month now and you only gave me a single piece of advise-de arimasu!"
"And I also said that that was all the advice you needed...for now anyway," she replied casually and shuddered as her Lucario massaged her shoulders. "A little more to the neck, Lucario...yeah, that's so great..."
"Oi!" Lightning snapped, getting frustrated. "I'm doing my best but this method isn't working! The least you could do is stop mooching off and give me more pointers- de arimasu!"
"Lower, Lucario. I want those muscles so free that it'd feel like my head would fall off."
This was the same every day. Lightning would train his butt off and Cynthia would simply relax or go out to Arceus-knows-where. All day.
"Sometimes I wonder why you bothered to train me-de arimasu," the exasperated blonde sighed and sat down on the sand. "I've got better things to do...like getting my last gym badge-de arimasu."
"Question, Lightning," the sinnohvian champion piped up, breaking him off his rant. "Why don't you just leave?"
Lightning pouted and crossed his arms. "Cos a hero never gives up on getting stronger-de arimasu..."
Cynthia smiled. "Nice answer. What makes you think you're a hero?"
She was reading him again and that made the cowboy scowl.
"I've got all the makings of one. Cool hair, cool clothes, tough pokemon and a rocking sense of style-de arimasu!"
Lightning didn't notice his Haxorus roll its red eyes in embarrassment.
"You do, don't you..." Cynthia giggled hysterically and brushed the hair from her eyes as she remembered a certain yellow-eyed trainer and his wild antiques. "You modelled yourself after Black."
Lightning's green eyes widened a little before he huffed. "Right as always, O Great Champion-de arimasu."
"I thought so. That's probably what's holding you back," Cynthia stated and got off her chair before pulling out a pokeball and summoning her Garchomp. "Unless you free your mind, your feelings won't reach Haxorus' and in turn, it won't feel determined enough to master Draco Meteor."
"So you're saying that Haxorus doesn't trust me-de arimasuka?" Lightning asked and looked at his pokemon who in turn averted its gaze. "I wonder why..."
Cynthia and Garchomp strolled over to the other end of the beach and the woman rested both hands on her hips, her battle pose.
"Let's find out, Lightning."
The cowboy tensed. This was the first time Cynthia was challenging him to a spar and even if it was just to access him, Lightning felt that he would get outclassed.
"Don't worry, hero-boy," she called out and winked. "Isn't a hero supposed to take on any challenge no matter how hard?"
"Tch! Let's do this Haxorus," the teen ordered. Haxorus got up slowly and strolled past its master before stopping a little way before Garchomp, Cunthia's strongest pokemon. The very thought of battling it made the dragon's heart beat a little.
"Take the first move, Lightning."
"No. Lady's first-de arimasu."
The blonde smirked. "Fine. Garchomp, Brick Break!"
Garchomp raised a claw and roared as it glowed bright red. Then the pokemon began its charge towards Haxorus. Lightning was lucky. On a normal basis, she would've called for a blindingly-fast Dragon Rush.
"Rapid fire Dragon Pulse!" he ordered and Haxorus fired off several glowing balls of light at the incoming opponent. As expected, the clearly-overrated pokemon simply let the attacks hit. Each ball exploded upon contact and that would've KO'd many of Lightning's past foes. But the cowboy knew better. Garchomp rushed out of the smoke with its claw still raised and ready to strike Haxorus.
"Dodge-de arimasu!" he cried as soon as Garchomp got close enough. Haxorus immediately crouched, avoiding the attack before raising its tail high. A clear warning of Lightning's strategy. "Dragon Tail!"
Haxorus spun and slammed its thick appendage into Garchomp's red belly and pushed with all its might. As the attack got an added power up from the momentum, Garchomp was sent back but only slightly. However, that was enough for the cowboy and he called out his next attack.
"Dragon Pulse again and then use Dragon Claw!"
However, "Beat it back and use Slash."
Garchomp gave a casual swipe of its arm and deflected the ball before kicking off, dust trailing behind its feet as it aimed its scythe-like claws at Haxorus. In response, the Axe Jaw pokemon let its arms glow before slashing with all its might. The attacks connected and Haxorus' veins bulged as it struggled to outmuscle its much leaner opponent. Unfortunately, Garchomp was just too strong and with a swing of its other claw, the Mach pokemon sent Haxorus skidding into the sand.
"You're not making much use of Haxorus' main strength," Cynthia remarked as Garchomp looked down on the slowly rising dragon. "A good trainer makes use of their pokemon's best known assets."
"Assets-de arimasuka?" Lightning echoed and stared at his pokemon. The razor sharp tusks protruding from its mouth glistened in the sun and the cowboy facepalmed for not noticing that long, long ago.
"Haxorus would've deflected Garchomp's slash if it had used the tusks. Always keep that in mind," Cynthia added and beckoned for the battle to continue. "Let's continue. I think I'm getting closer to the root of your problems."
Lightning nodded and patted Haxorus lightly. "Let's do this-de arimasu."
"Garchomp, Dragon Pulse!" Cynthia ordered.
"Counter it with your own Dragon Pulse!" Lightning shot back.
Both attacks tore towards each other and collided before exploding and causing a small sandstorm. Smirking, Lightning decided to use the ensuing weather condition as a cover.
"Dragon Tail!" he commanded and Haxorus shot into the thrown up sandstorm. Unfortunately, Cynthia shook her head and tutted at his command. Haxorus jumped into the air before rapidly bringing its tail down on Garchomp but both trainer and pokemon gasped as Garchomp seemingly disappeared in thin air and avoided the attack.
"Garchomp is a Dragon/Ground type Pokemon. It's also got the ability Sand Veil which boosts evasion in a sandstorm so it's no surprise that Haxorus' attack was avoided. Slash!"
Haxorus barely touched down before Grachomp's claws raked its armoury hide. The action repeated until Haxorus was flung back to Lightning who rushed to his pokemon's side and checked it for injuries.
"Don't worry. It's just a spar so Garchomp didn't put in a third of its effort into that attack," the blonde said soothingly as Haxorus got back up and sighed in relief at the fact that it wasn't hurt.
Lightning on the other hand was appalled. Garchomp's strength, skill and speed were like none he'd ever seen before and that made his heart drop at how far away his goal of helping Haxorus seemed. Furthermore, it looked like Cynthia's bond with it far exceeded that between Lightning's and Haxorus' (they only acted like casual friends if you looked closely enough).
"C'mon hero. Aren't you gonna continue?" Cynthia piped up, cutting him out of his thoughts. "You're not one to brood anyway."
"Hey!" he snapped, taking offence but deciding to let it slide.
"Let's do one last round," the woman offered and Lightning tugged on the brim of his large cowboy-hat. Perhaps he could use this chance to build up Haxorus' momentum in a real battle.
"Brick Break again."
"Rapid Dragon Claw-de arimasu!"
Haxorus slammed its claws into Garchomp's claw before using the other hand to grab the other oncoming claw. With a grunt, it flung Garchomp over its head and raised its tail again.
"Dragon Tail!" Lightning ordered and Haxorus' tail came down on Garchomp's chest as it fell, slamming the Mach Pokemon further into the sand. Garchomp got up quickly and dodged another tail swing before raising its own claws and initiating a round of punches, dodges and slashes between the two dragons. Immediately Haxorus' muscles began to ripple, Lightning felt that it was time and pointed to the sky.
"Draco Meteor!" he cried.
"Step back, Garchomp," Cynthia calmly said and watched Haxorus cross its arms and let the energy pile up in its abdomen. Initially, it had taken half the last month to gather the energy and the other half control it. A feat often envied by even Dragon Masters as it took a year at least to master Draco Meteor. Even the prodigy Cynthia had to take four months off during her travels to help Garchomp learn the powerful move in preparation for the League in Sinnoh.
The red ball formed above Haxorus' black jaws and swelled in size, gathering more and more energy around itself and forming a ring as it spun slowly.
"Just a little more..." Lightning muttered, clenching his fist. It was working. It was finally working. Just a little more.
Haxorus launched the ball.
"Yes!" Lightning exclaimed. The ball rocketed skywards...and dulled before falling back down as a tiny grey rock that fizzled into ash upon impact. "No...NO! GOD-I mean- ARCEUS DAMMIT! WHY CAN'T WE GET IT RIGHT ALREADY-DE ARIMASUKA!"
Cynthia closed her eyes and mumbled something to her self before facing the ranting cowboy. "Garchomp, Dragon Rush."
"AND AFTER I WORKED SO- Eh?"
Garchomp grinned. And disappeared.
"Ah shit," Lightning cursed as the air started to tremble. Instantly, the nearest palm tree got severed in half and several bursts of wind whipped through the air. "Where is it? Where is it?!"
Haxorus looked around frantically for the opponent. heart beating erratically until it felt like it would literally burst. Then it caught sight of a purple blur. But it was far too late as Garchomp's claw came straight for its face, going so fast that Lightning could've sworn on his hat that the claw was literally cutting the air. Even for a spar, this was too much and Haxorus was sure that it was going to sport a twisted muzzle for the rest of its life.
"Stop!"
The claw froze. 1. Arceus-damned. cm. from Haxorus' face and the wide-eyed pokemon could only shrink back as wind billowed from the very force of the near-fatal blow's pause.
Lightning stared at the attack before letting out a nervous chuckle...and fainting on the spot.
...
"I kinda lost myself at the moment," Cynthia remarked and gave herself a short rap on the head. "This girl always forgets her position as a Champion heh heh."
Lightning only grunted in response and stared in disdain at his wet clothes. "Jeez, you didn't have to throw me into the sea to wake me up-de arimasu..."
Cynthia chuckled again before her expression went calm. "I know what the problem is."
The ear-shaped bunches on his head stuck up as Lightning's interest re-ignited and he scooted closer to the blonde. "Really?! What is it-de arimasuka?!"
"Fear."
Lightning blinked. "Huh?"
"I'm sure you don't wish to remember it, Lightning...but I think it had something to do with how you got your injuries."
It was only then that Lightning's childish expression ceased and was replaced by a more uncertain look. "...Oh..."
"You'll have to tell me sooner or later," Cynthia added and put a hand on his shoulder. "You never went all out when you fought against me because something was holding you back. By extension, your pokemon probably felt that you were looking down on it and as a result, couldn't bring itself to try too hard for you."
"No! How would you know-de arimasuka?!" he found himself objecting sharply. "I'd never look down on my pokemon! Ever!"
"Then look at Haxorus' moves, Lightning."
Lightning froze.
"Dragon Claw. Dragon Tail. Dragon Pulse and Outrage," Cynthia counted, using her dainty fingers for emphasis. "For a pokemon of its level, I'd say Outrage is the only move worthy of its pride."
The cowboy found his hands in his hair, scratching it in slight embarrassment. She was right. Haxorus should know better moves other than the basics.
"You didn't teach it any high-end moves because you were afraid, right?" Cynthia asked, peering closely into his eyes. "Especially as Haxorus are particularly known for naturally learning extremely powerful...and life-risking moves."
Right again. Lightning often remembered the times he had seen other Haxorus on TV using moves like Giga Impact, Double Edge and Guillotine. Moves which his Haxorus had displayed full capability of learning...but he didn't allow it. Mostly because if such moves failed or missed, the dragon's were often rendered temporarily immobile or terribly weakened to the point where just about any move could bring about severe injuries or worse...death. Many a Haxorus had even died upon using moves like Giga Impact twice despite their weakened states.
"I don't wanna lose it..." he murmured and saw his knuckles turn white as frustration and worry filled his heart. Dragon pokemon were extremely tough but also extremely delicate and he knew just how much effort he had put into raising Haxorus from the injured Axew he had found months ago.
"You need to tell me what happened that day you were injured."
With a nod, Lightning began his summary. How he'd met the mysterious duo who called themselves Team Plasma's Dragon Knights. How Alphinia had attacked him without warning and nearly destroyed a section of the train. How he had sent out Haxorus and Boufallant to stop her rampaging Salamence and save the people on the train. When Salamence had gone berserk when it looked like he had gotten the upper hand. When Boufallant was knocked unconscious with one swift hit from Draco himself. When Salamence pummelled Haxorus to a bloody pulp. When the cowboy got in the way of its oncoming Dragon Tail attack and got his side crushed in an attempt to save Haxorus. And finally when Draco walked up to him, took his arms and crushed the bones into powder with the things like tentacles springing from his back. Only when one split his skull against the wall, did he pass out from the pain. But he never forgot those red eyes, jeering and laughing at his weakness.
"I was so scared," he muttered, voice reduced to a shuddery whisper. "Me, a hero, scared of dying...But I was even more scared for my pokemon especially Haxorus. By the time I woke up, I was here and I've only been feeling ashamed of myself for these stupid feelings. Deep down, I ain't no hero-de arimasu. I couldn't even stop those people from derailing the train-de arimasu..."
He looked stricken. He sounded stricken.
No doubt, psychologically impaired or traumatised from the attack, Cynthia reasoned. "There's something else I want to know. I saw your trainer card and it stated you started with an Oshawott. I'm sure it would've come in handy if it had an ice move."
Instantly, Lightning's face paled and his eyes went half-lidded. "He evolved into a Samurott. And yes, he knew Ice Beam-de arimasu."
"So what happened to him?" she asked. "Throughout the time you stayed with me, I never saw him."
The cowboy simply looked at the fountain ahead and uttered two words in the most emotionless voice Cynthia had ever heard.
"He died."
Plain and simple with no speech suffixes whatsoever.
For the first time in eight years, Cynthia felt uncomfortable and she shifted her head down apologetically. "I'm sorry. Blondes have this way of being stupid and bringing up these kind of-"
"Cynthia-san. It's okay. You didn't know anyway-de arimasu," Lightning cut in and got off the seat before shoving his arms in his pockets. "He was the reason I started fearing for my pokemon. A while back, I was like every other trainer. Me and Samurott would battle recklessly and learn all the high-end moves we could find in our efforts to become the best team ever. Then I tried teaching him Hydro Cannon."
"A move that requires you to be of Elite Four Class before you can even think of teaching it to your pokemon? What were you thinking?" Cynthia blurted before cursing her know-it-all brain and bluntness.
"I ask myself the same question everyday-de arimasu," Lightning laughed softly and threw a bitter smirk at the sea. "He couldn't handle the move as expected and, unknown to me, fell terribly ill. Even so, he would mask it behind that proud gaze of his and battle with everything he got. He didn't last very long-de arimasu..."
Young men of Lightning's nature don't cry. That's what Cynthia had always believed for a long time, thinking that all they did at such situations was grit their teeth and move on with those shonen smiles of theirs. However, she had been forced to backtrack on two very rare occasions. When a certain diamond-eyed trainer she had met in Sinnoh had lost a good friend when they had challenged Team Galactic (a bunch of less dangerous psychos who wanted world destruction) and now, as Lightning's shoulders trembled ever so slightly as tears splashed against the floor.
Even so he still had that smile on his face. "That's why I never let Haxorus learn such moves...that's why I was so scared...and now I see that that's why I failed them..."
Cynthia got up and walked up to the boy who in turn threw a silly grin.
"But look on the bright side, at least Samurott let me keep his Searmitars," he joked and leaned against the patio's railings.
"I know how you feel, kiddo." Cynthia pointed to the necklace above her chest. "I lost my Torterra to illness too and I kept his tooth so I wouldn't forget him."
Lightning arched a brow. "Coincidence is a bitch-de arimasu."
"Tell me about it," she remarked with a sigh before leaning against Lightning's arched back. "But you know that what's past is past and there's nothing you can do to change it."
"Gee thanks-de arimasu," Lightning deadpanned and put his head in his arms. "I'm not letting Haxorus or any of my other pokemon suffer that fate."
Cynthia kept silent for a moment before starting to play with the ring on her finger. "You know you need to move on, right?"
"I have moved on-de arimas-"
"No you haven't. If you had, you would've learned from your mistake and worked on it."
Lightning wanted to retort. Wasn't he already learning from it now and banning Haxorus from learning reckless moves?
"And don't think what you're doing is right because it's not. Only bad trainers stunt their pokemon's growth by restricting their potential."
Silence. Lightning paused to consider that statement. He'd never looked at it that way before. In hero terms, that meant villain and by no means did he want to be labelled as one. Yet here he was, limiting Haxorus' ripened potential and acting all nice and dandy about it too.
"I didn't know..." he could only blurt out as shame suddenly stung his eyes. No wonder Haxorus wasn't so fond of him anymore. He treated it like a freaking infant for Arceus' sake and was slowly shredding its pride and dignity as a Dragon Type. Why hadn't he seen that? Would Samurott be happy if he found that out? Was this...what a hero would do...?
"That's just my opinion," Cynthia stated and straightened up before starting for the door. "I'm not saying you should be reckless. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be afraid to utilise your pokemon's power wisely. That's one of the most important things that helped me get this far."
Lightning slowly got up and adjusted his hat. Cynthia couldn't see his face as his back was turned but she smiled none the less at the way he twisted the hat over his head. Slowly he turned his face and gave Cynthia a blank stare before his mouth curved upwards and formed into a toothy grin (dubbed his hero face by yours truly).
"Hey Cynthia-san," he stated and tapped his forehead. "Is that a wrinkle-de arimasuka?"
The blonde suddenly went on high alert and slapped her hands over her forehead with a horrified expression on her face. "Wrinkle?! I need a mirror...and foundation!"
By the time the champion came back with a mouthful of complaint at his lie, the cowboy was gone.
"Hmph, Jhotonese," she remarked with a fold of her ams before looking up at the sky. "Black, looks like I've done it again and accidentally created another hero."
...
Haxorus sat in the sand and let the ocean waves lap at its black feet. Pointing its red eyes to the horizon, it lifted a stubby arm and felt that it could just reach where the sky touched the water if it reached hard enough. Back when it was an Axew, it remembered its mother gathering all the baby Axew together and telling them that only the greatest Haxorus could touch that sky. With Lightning, that childhood dream almost seemed true...until he lost big bro Samurott and all went to nought.
"Oi!"
Haxorus twitched and looked to the side to see his master in the distance, running towards him with a big smile on his stupid-looking face. Sighing in sad resignation, the pokemon made to stand when Lightning slid across the sand with a fist raised high.
"LET'S SEE YOU GRIT THOSE TUSKS-DE ARIMASU!" he cried...and socked Haxorus! Right in the face! Despite being a human, Haxorus remembered how strong its master could be and it was no surprise that the pokemon was knocked into the nearest trash can...a good 10 meters away. The act was brash and stupid, just like Lightning and as such the cowboy had not only found himself with a swollen right hand (try punching a brick wall with all your might, that's how hard Haxorus skin felt) but he had also incurred his pokemon's wrath.
Nostrils flaring and eyes blazing, Haxorus clambered out of the trash can and glared madly at his owner who spread his arms wide and gave a grin.
"Angry, partner-de arimasuka? Good. Cos you're gonna let it all out right here, right now-de arimasu!"
The pokemon faltered a bit and looked at Lightning as anger simmered down to confusion. What?
"I realised what an ass I was. No hero tries to stunt his partner's growth and I'm sorry it took me so long to realise that-de arimasu!"
Haxorus gave Lightning a doubtful look but it changed as the teen threw his hero smirk again and made his next statement known.
"You're gonna become the strongest Haxorus the world has ever seen. And then we'll touch the horizon together. Believe it or not, that's my real dream." Lightning stepped closer and put one hands on his hip while extending his other one to Haxorus. "So...what d'you say, partner?"
Haxorus' red eyes widened in happiness. Lightning was back to his old self now and it was finally going to learn high-end moves! And then we'll touch the horizon together... it mentally remarked and realised that they shared the same dream. That was awesome and Haxorus was ready to go the distance with this kid. But first.
BAM!
Lightning flew across the beach, spinning wildly all the way until he crashed through Cynthia's door, down her carpet and right up to her feet as she sat down drinking a cup of tea. As he was upside down, the woman could see his black eye clear as day and immediately guessed what had happened. She laughed.
"I suppose everything's settled now," she asked with a smile although she knew the answer.
Lightning grinned wildly at the three Cynthias he was seeing.
"Cynthia-san! I challenge you to a battle-de arimasu!"
...
"Congratulations, Hil- I mean- Albert. You've mastered Draco Meteor. And in a month and a half to boot."
Cynthia ran her fingers through her hair. "Man, with all these kids surpassing me, I won't be so high and mighty like I used to be."
"You did that on purpose, didn't you-de arimasuka?" Lightning deadpanned before hi-fiving his exhausted pokemon. "And we learned new moves too. Good job, Haxorus-de arimasu!"
Haxorus roared proudly and carried Hilbert into the air, swinging him around in its wild celebration.
"I guess that means you're ready to leave," the woman sighed and walked over to her Garchomp (who still won BTW. What? It IS overrated) before recalling it back into its ball. "I've helped you pack your stuff. You can set out when you're ready."
"Yatta!" Lightning cheered and bowed low. "Arigatogozaimsu!" ("Thank you" for those who don't watch subbed anime).
"You're very welcome, Lightning," she replied and flicked her hair. "I did some snooping around while I was out and I found out that White's on a trainer journey. Give her my regards if you run into her."
"I will-de arimasu!" Lightning answered with a salute and passed the woman to head inside and get his stuff. As he did, Cynthia noticed something different about him. Wasn't Lightning as tall as her shoulder a month ago when she had first found him? Now he was pretty much looking down on her now. And his voice was a little deeper now too.
Slowly, the woman's mouth curved into a smile and she felt that feeling all mothers got when they looked back on their children.
"Everyone's growing," she muttered. Was this how she'd feel when Aedan grew up too? If so then she'd better don her cloak and wipe off Team Plasma for good if she wanted Aedan to grow up in a safe place.
"Hey Cynthia-san!" Lightning called out from the patio. In his hands were two letters.
"What?" she asked as he ran up to her and handed the letters over. Her eyes widened upon opening them. "They're both invitations to the Red Moon Ball at the end of the month."
"Eh? Like THE party held at Lacunosa Town-de arimasuka?" he gasped and sighed dreamily. "I wish I could go-de arimasu."
Cynthia held one out to him. "It's strange, but you were invited to come along too."
Lightning blinked. "That is strange. I understand why they'd pick you to go but an ordinary trainer like me...?" The his head got big headed. "Nyahahaha! So they've finally recognised my heroic deeds-de arimasu!"
Cynthia and Haxorus only sweatdropped in reply. Five minutes later, Lightning held the black bandanna Cynthia had given him to replace his torn red one and bowed again to the woman.
"Thanks for saving my life. I'll never forget this, Cynthia-san," he stated solemnly.
"I just hope the clothes fit your style since you pretty much outgrew the others," she replied with a small laugh. "Be careful on your way. And don't forget what you learnt here."
"Hai!" Lightning uttered and straightened up before tying the bandanna round his head like a headband. Yeah, this looked better than the hat.
Cynthia extended a hand. "I hope we meet again. Probably at the Red Moon B-"
She couldn't finish her sentence as surprise etched her features. That was to be expected. Lightning was hugging her.
"You're a good mom, Cynthia-san. Aedan is the luckiest boy in the world-de arimasu," he remarked and smiled softly. "I'll be the hero you taught me to be. Sayonara."
With that, he tore away and raced down the beach and towards the main town itself with only the Underwater Tunnel to Humilau City in his line of sight. He'd heard that there was a tough Water-type Gym Leader there and he just had to challenge him.
Cynthia watched him go and that brief feeling of loneliness washed over her. She shook it off however and flipped the letter in her hand. S. That was the word engraved at the back. Somehow, her intuition told her that something big was going down there and not the positive kind too.
"Lightning better make it there," she muttered and walked back home. "I might need his help when things get rough."
The champion had done her job of leading the youth back to the path of a hero. As she donned her black champion's cloak with the hair accessories, she couldn't help but think that now was her own turn to clear that path and hunt down Team Plasma.
Author's Corner
Lightning: I got a chapter...to myself de-arimasu...YES! YES!
Scarlet: Why, Slybill? Thought you made it a point to make each chapter relevant to the story.
Slybill: I think showing Lightning's own personal growth IS relevant, Scarlet. Plus, Lightning's my favourite character and this is necessary for the big parts he'll play in future.
Lightning: YES! YES!
Slybill: Although this is the last time I'll do a solo chapter on him.
Lightning *pales*: Eh?