A/N: HIhihi I'm like, I lost it and wrote this in (almost) one setting because the idea was brewing in my head all day.

Well, I say "all day" but really it's been a headcanon I've had since I was a kid, before I even knew what headcanons were:

When you beat Cynthia and enter the Hall of Fame, Professor Rowan walks in. And he and Cynthia have a short exchange:

"It's been a long while since I last entered this room…"

"If your last time here was when I became Champion, then yes, that would be quite a long time ago."

And little me was looking at Rowan like "Wait…"

So yeah this is where that came from. I wrote this for fun but I figured I'll share it otherwise I'll never forgive myself. Platinum Version is very nostalgic to me, so hey.

Champion Professor Rowan is a concept too fun to pass on.

This is a 3-part story. Hope you enjoy!


- Part 1: The Confrontation -

"Garchomp! Garchomp! Come on! You have to get up! Get up!"

The young voice shrilled in the darkness. Her pleas almost didn't reach the land shark who struggled to do as much as lift its weight off the ground.

Hmmm… When was the last I've found myself backed into a corner?

"Come on, Garchomp! You can do it! Get up! Get up, please!"

The young voice wavered, on the verge of bursting into desperate tears. What a mess…oh what a mess she was.

I would have to say…it was way back then. All those years ago…

I think I actually cried back then? No…no I wasn't crying. But I was terrified…maybe. What I want to know…

The black and chrome floors reflected Garchomp's pained expression. The battlefield felt cold like ice, bitter against skin. As the dragon struggled to prop one leg, there was another creature who hovered at the opposite end of the field, the side where those challenged always stood firm.

The creature's red and blue body twitched and jerked as if it was on the verge of bursting. Its yellow eyes were unfocused and void of any emotion. Its head shook like a rattle, and as if it were struck by a brick, it spiraled in a mad circle. The sounds it made were the equivalent of a dying computer screaming for relief. Its voice was distorted and glitched, like the rest of its body.

And standing just behind that Pokémon…he stood in the shadows. He stared down the frantic child who was on her hands and knees. His face was almost obscured, but his eyes were sharp and cold.

She feared him.

I wonder…is this how all of my challengers felt? For every Trainer that tried to claim my title…they all wore that same expression of despair.

I knew despair once.

Am I foolish for wanting to seek out that feeling again?


- 0000 -

Sandgem Town, "The Town of Sand." A sandy town located right next to a brilliant beach. It was always redolent with the salty scent of the sea. The day felt especially joyful as the blue sky was only littered with a few clouds. The sun was not relentless, no. The temperature was at a comfortable level, the perfect weather to read a book outside.

Ironically, the beach wasn't what the town was famous for. If anyone were to ask, they would always point out Professor Rowan's lab. On the surface, it wasn't anything too impressive. It was a rather large building with a simple white wooden fence. It resembled a somewhat fancy house with a few quirks at best.

It was the inside that was a lot more impressive.

However, for some odd reason, Cynthia found herself hesitant to get anywhere closer to the old building. It had been a long time since she last stepped foot in the sunny little town. She didn't miss the eager glances from the town's natives. They noticed her presence, it was to be expected. Aside from her Champion status, she was also wearing all black—it made her stand out in a town of white sand.

On any normal visit, she would make the careless mistake of barging inside the lab without a word. It was always followed by her excited words that Rowan struggled to understand. He would always beg her to slow down.

He never once stated it out loud, but it was quite clear he felt overwhelmed whenever Cynthia rambled her latest findings to him. He was always the first to her them, it only made sense, but he was also the first victim to be held hostage by her endless chatter.

Perhaps that was why the approach to the door felt so different. There was no excitement bubbling and waiting to burst. There was nothing of interest she had to tell him that he didn't already know. She was sure that her reason for her untimely arrival was the last thing he would expect.

She knew. She was surprised herself. The day originally had different plans. She was supposed to check in the Battle Frontier and see how everything was running. Instead, she made the impulsive detour south. She was in front of the lab, unable to make up her mind. Loitering wasn't planned, either.

What am I so hesitant for? she asked herself.

There were no ill intentions behind her presence, but something had her tied down. She could go back, but there was no point. She already missed her meeting with the Battle Frontier Brains. There was no excuse for that explanation. If she walked away, she would had only succeeded in wasting her own time.

As she approached the door, she found that the day had changed. She could hear the young giggle of someone she once knew.


- 0000 -

The sky was clear, and there was a young child standing directly in front of the frame. She was restless on her feet, almost kicking grass on her blue dress.

"This is your lab?" she asked with a smile. "It's amazing! Is this where I could have gotten my own Pokémon?"

Standing next to her with a briefcase in hand was a professor. Her question seemed to have amused him as a smile formed on his face. "That would be correct, yes. This is where many aspiring Trainers come to select their very first partners. But, as I can see, you didn't choose your partner. Your partner chose you."

The child beamed and bounced on her feet again. Held in her arms was a restless Gible who seemed to feed off her energy. The young dragon let out a feeble roar. It still needed work.

"Yeah. I raised her all by myself! She hatched from an egg, and we've been friends ever since!"

"I know for sure that you two will grow to become something incredible," the professor said.

"Just like you?" the child asked. "Will I grow up to become as strong and amazing as you, Professor Rowan? I want to research Pokémon, too! And Gible—Gible wants to get as strong as strong can get, right? Isn't that right?"

Gible let out a chittering cry. It almost sounded like a laugh.

"Hahaha. Perhaps we'll see. But don't seek what other people achieved simply because they have something. If you want to become strong, you should do so on your own path. Take the time to fully understand what it is that you want to do, Cynthia. It's one thing to feel inspired. It's what you do with that inspiration that truly matters."

"And I told you what I wanted to do! I said I want to become a powerful professor!"

He laughed again. At the time, Cynthia didn't see what was so funny.

"Aw, come on! You're the smartest person and nobody can beat you! That's the best thing in the world!"

The door was pushed open, and the professor turned to address her. "There is no such thing as being the most powerful, or being the most intelligent. No matter how much you gain, there will always be something or someone a step ahead of you. For as long as you live, you will learn something new. Take it to heart. Even I am not invincible."

"Whaaaaat? That doesn't make any sense!" The young Cynthia followed him inside. "You're not making any sense!"

"Hm, then by all means, prove me wrong. Go ahead and grow stronger. If you can't defeat me, then maybe you are right."

"See? And that's—hey! What are you saying?!"

The laughter carried on as the door closed behind them.


- 0000 -

Cynthia opened her eyes as she lingered on the memory. It took for her to see a stranger staring at her for her to realize that maybe, she stood at the doorway for a little too long.

"Everything okay over there, Champion?" the stranger called, his tone cautious.

"I'm perfectly fine. I didn't mean to worry you." Cynthia had to hold down her embarrassment. "I was just enjoying the sun for a moment!"

Not the best lie in the world. The stranger didn't appear entirely convinced.

"Uh…yeah! The weather is lovely today, isn't it?"

Cynthia smiled, and she finally made an effort to knock on the door. The small conversation couldn't possibly get anymore awkward.

To her relief, the door opened, revealing one of the few lab assistants that worked inside. The moment they met eyes, he stepped aside, half startled. It gave her a small laugh.

"Discovered something new?" the assistant asked. Perhaps he anticipated a hundred words to assault him.

"I'm only here to pay the professor a small visit. I won't trouble you for too long," she promised.

"Oh, no! No, no! Stay for as long as you like! We don't mind one bit!" The lab assistant was flustered. It was quite amusing.

She gave him a small bow of thanks before she stepped inside. Compared to the warm humidity outdoors, the laboratory felt cool and brought instant relief. A part of Cynthia wondered why she thought it to be a wise idea to arrive somewhere that could get so hot with the clothes she had on.

As she walked further inside, the other assistants stopped their activities just to watch her from their stations. There were several eyes on her, except for the pair she was looking for. Confusion crossed her for a second, until she remembered there was one other place the professor would be whenever he wasn't working.

Her boots clacked across the white tiles as her eyes shifted to the right side of the room. There was an opening there. The closer she got to it, the more her nose picked up on something.

He's having lunch, she noted to herself. Probably something quick. He's planning to jump straight back into his research.

The kitchen came into view at last. Professor Rowan sat at a table, taking the final bite of a sandwich he had prepared. He was writing in his notebook, making an effort to work even while he was having his meal break. Cynthia would scold him for it, but she knew she was no better.

"Hm. It's been quite a long time since you've made your way here, Champion," he said.

Cynthia paused just before her foot could cross the barrier from lab to kitchen. The strong scent of warm coffee stung her nose. She made an effort not to squinch her face—she never liked the smell of coffee.

A quick glance at the counter, and she pinned down the source. It looked like he was just done with brewing not too long ago. It was a quarter empty already.

"I promise, I'm not here to talk your head off," Cynthia said. Her words were enough to have him stop everything, but only for a few seconds.

"Come. Sit. You must be hungry." Rowan had set his mug down as he stood from his seat. He opened his mini-fridge and searched through the items inside. "I assume you desire something sweet? Vanilla, perhaps?"

She failed to hide her smile. Of course the professor knew her too well. "You shouldn't have to trouble yourself, Professor—"

"Oh, no, no. You are my guest, and I am more than happy to serve you."

Once he made up his mind, there was no changing it. He already brought out a pint of ice cream from the freezer, and a box of cones from the cabinet above. It was almost comical, as if he predicted her visit.

"Go on. Take a seat."

Cynthia decided to take the seat across from where he sat. She waited patiently as she listened to him move about. It didn't take long for him to return with a cone of ice cream in hand. It appeared to be doubled-scoop, with the top layer holding bits of cookies as an added bonus. She had to rein in her excitement just to stay composed.

"Thank you." Gently, she took the cone from his hands. She didn't want to make her happiness too obvious.

Rowan reclaimed his seat, and he picked up his pen in a heartbeat. He was never one to waste time.

The room held a warped scent of bitter coffee and sweet vanilla cones. As she slowly enjoyed her treat, she tried to keep her eyes off the very plain coffee the professor never flinched at drinking. It was terribly dark and without a hint of cream. How anyone found pleasure in drinking something with such a strong flavor, it was a mystery she struggled to comprehend for years.

The soft but rapid pen strokes accompanied the subtle buzz of the lab equipment. Professor Rowan filled the pages of his notebook with impressive speed. From the few words Cynthia could make out upside-down, it appeared he was looking into the lost evolutions of ancient Sinnoh. He even made an effort to doodle a strange Arcanine that appeared to have wooly fur. He wasn't the best at drawing, but it was still amusing.

"It intrigues you too, doesn't it?" he asked, never skipping a beat in his writing. "I've been researching Pokémon evolution for several years, and yet there is still so much to be discovered. This region held a vastly different atmosphere centuries ago."

"You're talking about when Sinnoh was called by a different name," Cynthia realized. "Back when it was Hisui."

"Hm." He nodded, his eyes never leaving the paper. "But I know you've spent sleepless nights conducting your own research on its history. That's not what you are here for, is it?"

Cynthia smiled. "You know me quite well, Professor."

"Grown tired of Johto, have we? When you told me you would pay the Sinjoh Ruins a visit, I was half convinced you would not return for another fortnight. What happened there?"

"Confidential, I'm afraid."

"So it seems Champion Lance has spoken to you. I understand completely. I won't pester you over it then."

Cynthia was halfway finished with her cone when the professor turned to a blank page. He was already filling the first line when he spoke again.

"You've grown bored, haven't you?"

The question caught her off-guard. All she could do was laugh. "I can't possibly be that much of an open book."

"Well, you've kept your promise," Rowan said. "You haven't said a single word about any new findings, unless all those new findings involve something classified between two Champions."

"I may have tormented Lance for some time," Cynthia admitted.

Rowan hummed.

"Have you paid your grandmother a visit?" he asked.

"Oh, yes. I have. I've stayed in Celestic Town for a while, and we had a lovely chat. And well, she made the suggestion that I should pay you a visit. It has been four years. And here you are, acting as if you never left Sinnoh in the first place."

"Cynthia."

Rowan set his pen down, and he clasped his hands together as he settled them on the page. The very motion made Cynthia freeze, as if she were a child caught stealing candy in the middle of the night.

"You aren't here to make small talk with me, now are you?"

With a defeated sigh, she allowed her shoulders to rest. "No, Professor. What gave it away?"

"I would like to point out body language, but you have always carried yourself in such a composed manner. But what I do know is that you don't just drop by unless you have the intention to do something that requires my attention."

An amused breath escaped her. "You stand corrected. I am not here for a simple chat. But if I am in your way—"

"You know I am always lending you my ears. You are the Champion, aren't you?" Rowan waited for an answer. Upon not getting one, he continued. "Your challengers have all fallen flat lately, haven't they?"

"Not a single one got past Roserade," she answered. "Which is a bit odd. They usually find the wall against Milotic. Even the few that did get there couldn't break past her. It was…a bit saddening to see their defeated faces. And now there's a new problem: Volkner has grown too powerful. Not a terrible thing, no. But I haven't had a single Trainer step foot in the Pokémon League simply because they don't have that final badge they need. It's been months. And now he's starting to complain…"

The professor nodded. "A Champion's curse, they like to call it. Lance and Steven experience this all too well. And then you have Leon…he's in an entirely different league."

"Are you suggesting I should challenge him?"

"Not in the middle of the Gym Challenge, I'm afraid."

Cynthia had finished her cone. The ice cream was gone.

"Is Palmer not available to accept your challenges?" Rowan asked. "Surely you can scale the Battle Tower in no time just to reach him."

"As much as I would love to, we have battled plenty of times in the past. Things have grown…unfortunately predictable. It's quite a shame actually. He was the only Trainer who kept me on my toes for a time."

Rowan sighed.

"It's not arrogance, I promise," Cynthia waved her hands.

"Then what will you have me do?" Rowan asked. "If Palmer is no longer giving you the challenge you are seeking—if the Elite Four struggles against your might, well, it seems you've reached your peak. Trainers are afraid, no, terrified of you now. The things children say at the playground are quite amusing. The stories they tell…you've built a powerful reputation."

"I am well aware."

"Although I suppose this means you may have challenged the strongest Trainers a tad too much. Palmer and your league members…you know their partners inside and out. It's almost like you've played the same game countless times. I suppose it's time you take a break."

That wasn't what she was hoping to hear. "Professor—"

"And now Volkner is barricading any potential Trainers from reaching you. I'm afraid it will be some time until you have a new challenger step foot in your door. I doubt challenging Volkner would fix this either. It seems the both of you are bored with predictability."

"That's why I am here," Cynthia said. "I'm asking for your assistance."

"I already gave you my answer. Take a break."

"But—"

"Unova has bigger beaches there. Why not fly over? They have lovely vacation homes. There's a spot in Undella Town right near the ocean. You'll enjoy the view, I'm sure of it."

Cynthia shook her head. "What I am looking for is not a vacation, Professor. I have taken plenty of breaks—most of them unprompted. You say I've reached the peak of my power? That is not true. There is someone out there who will one day step foot in my battlefield and best me in a single match. There is no such thing as a peak. You told me yourself."

"Yes, I have." Rowan took another sip of his coffee. "Seems you've reached a stalemate."

"Hardly the case. I am not invincible!"

Rowan looked at her over his mug.

"I tell myself this all the time, and still…why does it feel as if I may just be?" Cynthia asked. "Have I reached a level that no other person has managed to scale to yet? Hundreds of battles, countless faces…but the patterns are almost all the same. It's becoming more difficult to tell the battles apart—they just blend in together. I can't remember the last time Palmer surprised me. He has tried, he truly is trying. Taking a break will do nothing but remind me of where I currently stand."

"Usually, one would be quite happy to be such a formidable force," Rowan said.

"Well, I am not. I tell myself every day that I am not an immovable force, but the rest of the public is convinced! It has gotten to the point that children tell stories of Trainers simply surviving a battle against me!"

Rowan smiled.

"What? How is that funny?" Cynthia asked, baffled. "They make me sound like a heartless force!"

"Such is the life of a Champion."

"I do not want to be convinced that I am invincible! All it does is breed arrogance. And if the day comes that I do lose my title, all it will do is bring me sorrow instead of joy. I do not want to experience that, Professor."

"I understand."

"If I can at least taste the brush of defeat, then I will be reminded that strength isn't my fundamental. I am far more than that."

"For as long as you are aware, you won't have to worry about losing sight of yourself," Rowan assured her.

"No. No, I need to feel threatened. I've forgotten what it's like."

Rowan sighed. "Then wait a couple more months, and Alder will be more than happy to accept your challenge. What about Lady Diantha? Surely her mega evolution will keep you on your toes."

"Months?"

"They have their hands full, just as you do. Weren't you supposed to be attending a meeting today?"

Cynthia almost sulked back. "Professor, I am asking you for help."

"I gave your help," he answered plainly. "I don't know what else you want me to—"

Cynthia slammed both hands on the table's surface. The coffee mug rattled as the pen rolled off the notebook. Silence hung in the air.

A few lab assistants glanced back, concerned.

Rowan opened his mouth to object against her behavior, but he was frozen. He had caught the look in her eyes, a look he had not seen staring back at him in over a decade.

At that moment, he understood.

"Cynthia…" he started, his words slow and cautious. "It's been years. Several years—"

A single finger lifted and pointed. A few gasps were heard behind the Champion as she stood tall from her seat, staring down the stunned professor.

"I challenge you to a Pokémon Battle!"

Rowan's expression flickered to the slightest bit of fear. He casted a quick glance at his assistants, who were whispering among themselves. He looked back at Cynthia, who had not wavered in the slightest from her bold challenge. At that moment, he knew she would not change her mind.

With a deep sigh, Rowan closed his notebook and stood from his seat. He lifted his mug from the table and took a thoughtful sip of his coffee. The finger was still pointed towards him, almost like a drawn weapon that threatened his life. There was absolutely no escape. He was practically held hostage.

Once he set his mug on the countertop, he removed his pen and placed his empty plate in the sink. He stared at its reflective surface, and for a moment, he almost saw himself several years younger.

"…I understand," he said at last. "If that is what you desire. Although, I don't understand how this will benefit you."

Cynthia lowered her arm at last. She watched as he left the kitchen. "How much time do you need to prepare?"

Professor Rowan stood in front of his lab cabinet. His fingers fell on the drawer of the desk next to it. A simple tug pulled it open. It was lit from the inside, with a soft cushion laid out on the bottom.

"Not much time, actually."

He revealed a shrunken red and white spherical capsule held between his fingers.

Cynthia couldn't hide her smile then. "You kept them close to you all this time?"

Rowan returned the gesture. With a single tap, the Pokéball expanded to its normal size. It rested perfectly on the palm of his hand.

"When you hold such precious and valuable information that could flip the world over its head in the wrong hands…what would that make me if I wasn't prepared to defend it?"