Cynthia sighed in equal parts frustration and satisfaction. On the one hand, she'd managed to snag herself a smart, powerful Riolu who was sure to be able to help take on Byron's gym even in the current state, no questions asked. On the other hand, he had about as much self-control as a juvenile Pikachu and the personality of a Zangoose.
The first matches over the past three days had gone... decently, all things considered. After the first incident where Riolu just sped up to the opponent Sunkern and blasted it unconscious with a Force Palm whose power he seemed surprised with, he'd largely listened. Sometimes he would perform a maneuver that she didn't order but also didn't disagree with that would leave her surprised, such as mounting larger Pokemon for brief periods, kicking up dust to use as cover, and so on.
As injuries and fatigue from the repeated battles over the day ensued, however, he began listening to her less and less. After the second Pokèmon in a row that he just blasted through with a superpowered Reversal, Cynthia had decided to call it quits.
It was probably too early for Cynthia to ask a Pokèmon with a history of abuse to push itself to its limits so she could learn exactly how many hits it took to take it down. She'd put both of her other Pokèmon through that, but she guessed it came with a level of trust she and Riolu did not yet share. On the other hand, training with Budew and Gabite was progressing as fairly as she predicted it should, and thus was less noteworthy besides the two of them finally managing Sunny Day and Sandstorm respectively, which would grant her a good amount of versatility in the future.
"Number 41!" The brunette woman behind the counter hollered, and Cynthia's worries were momentarily forgotten as she raised her ticket and rushed over. "So, what will you have?"
"Well, let's see..." as she scanned the selection, a doubt struck in her heart. There were simply too many flavors to choose from! Of course, double chocolate chip vanilla ice cream was the superior choice, but the dastardly novelty of being able to try the flowery flavors of Floaroma in ice cream couldn't be underestimated!
"Um, just give me a second." She asked, pondering her choice. There was also the factor of which flavor she would choose; while the limited edition Gracidea flavor was something she never tried and was something of a legendary flower (curse her grandma for instilling her with all this useless knowledge), roses were a staple of the food industry. She didn't want to mix the flavors, lest she ruin the experience, but getting more than one ice cream at the same time might give her a stomach ache.
As the line passed her by, the cashier thankfully understanding of her gastronomic dilemma, she was startled back into awareness by a voice calling out her name.
"Cynthia, mon amie! Quelle chance pour nous de nous retrouver lors de cette belle soirée!" Fantina called, prompting Cynthia to turn around. The girl was as stunning as she'd looked back at the Chateau, with her wavy blue hair with purple highlights and a necklace of red pearls reminding Cynthia of a Misdreavus.
As Fantina took her hands in her own, Cynthia sweatdropped. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, Fantina, but I don't understand a lick of Kalosian."
The coordinator blinked. "You're right, oui! I apologize, I got carried away. Come, let us sit down! Let's have a minute bit of everything to celebrate our reunion!" She said, raising her finger to note to the person behind the counter that that was what she was ordering- getting a bemused stare in return before the woman shrugged and dutifully began scooping ice cream.
As they sat down to sample the ice cream, Fantina spoke up again. "I did not expect you to restes ici in Floaroma, to be truthful- I'd imagined by this point you'd be knocking away at Byron's door, sans tabou!" she chortled, and Cynthia sighed.
"That was the plan, to be completely honest. But one thing led to another, and between having to deal with a Might attack in Eterna, then capturing a new teammate, and an inconvenience at Charon's Old Chateau, I fell behind schedule."
"Behind schedule, she says!" Fantina huffed. "The Gym season started last month, and you've already struck une arène and are well on your way to the next!"
"I'd much rather take on the Victory Road and the Elite Four early when I don't have to wade through a sea of other trainers to do it," Cynthia grumbled in return.
"Ah, already aiming for le Route Victorie. But then again, I'm aiming for Top Coordinateur, so we're both shooting for the stars, oui?"
"Yeah…" Cynthia trailed off. "I guess we're both aiming to dethrone Dawn in our own ways, then."
"Hoh?" Fantina blinked, before shaking her head. "Non. It is a, how do you say it? A common mistake, but Dawn is not the Top Coordinateur. Her and Princess Salvia are simply doppelgangers of one another. Besides, a new Coordinateur took the spot this year, a woman named Zoey! The style of her and her Gallade are, simply magnifique."
"I should make time to see a Contest, one of these days." The blonde mused. "While most of the techniques I've seen shown there are mostly for show, the battle showings of the second part might be worthwhile…"
"How about participating in one then, mon ami? The contest date is right around the corner, apres tout, and a magnifique girl such as yourself could stand to lean a bit back from the brutish sport of battling to nurture ta grace, oui?"
Cynthia paused, considering that. "I could… it's a shame my cutest Pokémon won't want to participate, though. I assume looks are a big part of the competition."
"Ho? What kind of Pokémon is it? I've seen your Budew and Gible. Gible is probably a little turbulente, but Budew might do the trick."
"Well, yeah, but… hmmm. Well, I guess I might as well ask the girls if they want to compete. Riolu is more likely to bite my nose off for even suggesting it. Which is a shame, since he's clearly well trained and smart…"
"Riolu?" Fantina gasped. "Serieusement? That's a rare Pokèmon, and quite popular too! Though…" a frown quickly slipped on her face. "Aren't they usually quite gentle Pokémon?"
"Perhaps ordinary ones. Mine was a rescue from an evil group that mistreated and drugged their Pokémon and… well, is quite angry."
The coordinator drummed her fingers on the table for a moment, scooping up a bit of rose-flavored ice cream before speaking up again. "Oh, ça me rappelle! I forgot to thank you, in my haste, for the help in the forest! Here!"
And with that, she handed a small bell tied to a ribbon to Cynthia.
"This is…" the girl trailed off, unsure.
"A Calm Bell. You said your Riolu had anger issues, oui? That should help settle his angry spirit." As Cynthia marveled at the bell, looking at it with interest, she clapped. "But enough about Pokémon. The ice cream is melting, let us dig in!"
As Cynthia released her Pokèmon, she glanced at Cyrus. "You sure I can trust you to handle this?"
They'd gathered at the northern edge of Floaroma, at Cynthia's request, due to her supposedly wanting to practice something with the nearby meadow's flowers.
The boy rolled his eyes. "Do you believe Palmer doing this solo to be a more appropriate alternative?" That got Cynthia to shut up quickly, teeth clacking shut. "Then yes, you can trust the two of us to handle your Pokèmon properly. The exercises you assigned are more observatory in nature than anything else, and it'll do me good to learn to control a wider range of personality types. Go do your frolicking, we'll catch up sooner than you think." He smirked slightly.
"What the hell does that mean, you asshole? I'll have you know I'd do just fine in handling Cynthia's Pokémon for her!" Palmer shot back.
"...right." And with that, Cynthia turned to address her Pokèmon. "We have a slight change of plans. Apparently, the Floaroma contest is in less than a week, and while I was intent on watching either way, apparently we got granted a chance to enter ourselves."
"...lu. Rio lu, lu lu rio." The short canine replied, staring deeply unimpressed at her. If Cyrus had to guess, he was not enthused about the idea. "Gah, bite!" "Deeeew!" The other two, on the other hand, seemed much more cheerful about it. And on that note...
"I'd meant to ask you earlier. Where'd you get your hands on a Riolu?" Cyrus inquired.
"Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy?" Cynthia replied haughtily, prompting his palm to meet his face. Ever since she'd discovered he helped his father with renewable sources of energy, that annoying sentence came up. "Found him half dead in a brawling cage over in a Might hideout in Eterna. Wasn't claimed by anyone, so..." she trailed off. "He's a little pissy. Just in general, at everyone."
Cyrus blinked as the Pokèmon in question struggled for a moment to get only two of its three fingers to flex before raising the middle one at Cynthia. "I see. Would you be interested in trading him for one of my own Pokèmon? He seems like the perfect specimen for my research."
Cynthia turned around to stare at the Riolu, who had gone stock still for a moment, just staring at her with his wide, red eyes, expression blank. After a moment, she shook her head.
"I'd have considered it, but given the trouble I went through to get him to agree to come with me, I'm not sure it's a good idea. He is a good Pokèmon and besides, Rowan and the professor would be cross with me." She shrugged. "And on that note... c'mere, Riolu." she gestured him closer, and he approached with narrowed eyes, looking practically ready to bolt. She pulled out a strip of cloth from her purse and tied it around its neck. "A friend gave me this bell that supposedly helps you stay calm so you don't pull what happened yesterday on Cyrus, alright? Be a good boy." With that, she booped its nose, and the Riolu reeled back in disgust before reaching up to touch the bell. "I've tied it so you can tear it off at any moment if you don't like it, alright? Just don't go chucking it away- return it to Cyrus, at least."
After a moment's staring between the two of them, the Riolu reached up to snatch the handkerchief out of her front pocket before opening it and gesturing it around its neck. Cynthia tilted her head.
"I suppose that wouldn't look too bad." she murmured, tying the neckerchief around the 'mon. Standing up, she, addressed the rest of her Pokèmon. "I will be working with Budew for the first round of the appeal. Not because I don't think you're up for it, Gabite" she coaxed when the larger Pokèmon began protesting, prompting Cyrus to roll his eyes. "But because she will be getting next to no specialized training these coming weeks. I don't want to alter a fighting style that works well against anything that isn't Steel types just to face the gym leader. So, you two are going to train your strengths and weaknesses against Steel type opponents with Cyrus while I train with Budew, and once the contest is over, I'll come pick up where he left off. Understand?"
A chorus of acknowledgment rose from her Pokèmon. "Very well. Let's go, Budew."
As Cynthia and her weakest Pokèmon walked off, the two remaining ones turned to him; Gabite looked frustrated and bored, while Riolu was staring at him with the same open suspicion he'd regarded Cynthia with a moment ago.
"So, Cyrus, what were you thinking? Wanna battle it out, this time with Cynthia's Pokémon thrown into the mix?" Palmer asked, somehow already managing to look pumped.
Cyrus sighed. "And what makes you think this would go any different than the other times you have challenged me? If you failed to notice, you've yet to beat me once over the dozens of challenges you issued, and it just so happens that Cynthia entrusted her strongest Pokémon to me."
"Well- wait, no way! I have Gabite, you only have that tiny Riolu! No way it's stronger than Gabite!"
"Just like there was no way that my tiny Sneasel could beat your big, strong Rhyhorn? Save it. I'm heading over to Flint'n Steelworks. The workers there should prove adequate preparation for my Pokèmon's upcoming match against Byron."
With that, he ducked down to Riolu's level. "Here is how we're going to do things. For the time being, you are my Pokèmon. We will not be friends nor owner and pet; merely trainer and fighter, both seeking to become stronger. Fail to perform adequately and be punished. Exceed expectations, and be rewarded. Do you understand?"
Thankfully, it seemed like there was a certain level of intelligence in this Riolu, since it was glaring hard at him, red eyes full of pure hatred that a dull beast was incapable of. After a moment, it nodded.
"Sheesh, Cy, you pull that crap with all of your Pokèmon? It's a wonder they listen to you at all." Palmer replied, turning to stare at Gabite. "Well, buddy, you know the drill, it's like our old invertibattles with Cynthia, only for the next two days. You up for showing up Cyrus and Riolu?"
"Gaaaaaaaa!" The dragon roared happily, turning to grin savagely at Riolu. "Ga, bite!"
"Lu, lurio." The other rolled his eyes.
"Come on, then. We're burning daylight. Let's be off." And with that, the two boys in tandem palmed the Pokèballs Cynthia had given them and fired red beams at their respective Pokèmon. Gabite went in without a hitch... but Riolu deftly dodged the beam, shaking his head.
With a glare, Cyrus tried again. This time, he managed, only for Riolu to burst out of the Pokèball a moment later with a growl.
"I don't think Riolu wants to stay in the Pokèball, Cyrus."
"I can see that." Cyrus huffed, before staring at the smaller humanoid. "Will this be your only act of defiance, or are you planning to make this difficult?"
After a moment, the Riolu shook his head.
"Uhh, is that a "No, I'm not planning to make this more difficult, or no, this won't be my only act of defiance?" Palmer asked, rubbing his head. The Riolu promptly smacked himself in the face in a very human gesture before painstakingly raising a single digit.
"I see. It doesn't matter to me if you wish to stay outside or not, as long as you comply. Let's go."
As they began walking north, towards the Flint'n Steelworks, Riolu dashed forward and out of view due to the presence of trees in the meadow. Cyrus briefly wondered whether to be worried, but given the blue shape occasionally poking his head out of somewhere before being gone another Quick Attack later, he decided that it was probably alright.
"Little thing's full of energy, huh? I guess it makes sense. Think I read somewhere that they can go whole days without food and still march on like troopers." Palmer chuckled.
"Indeed, Riolu are known for their resilience. What's more, the Lucario evolutionary line is known for being able to fight back all the harder when brought to their limits- not unlike a member of the starter trio, though it doesn't seem to count as an Ability like theirs does."
"I see…" Palmer stroked his chin, with an empty look on his face.
"Like Rowan's Grotle."
"Oh! Yeah, that thing's a beast when cornered." Palmer grinned before his expression turned thoughtful. "I actually did petition for a Chimchar, you know? But when we met, I just knew that we wouldn't vibe together, so I decided to return it to the Professor."
Cyrus balked. "You decided to let go of such a rare, strong Pokémon… because your initial impression of its personality was poor?!" He had not petitioned for a Pokémon because he knew that his chances of getting one would be astronomically low when the Professor knew that he had his Murkrow, a perfectly competent Pokémon already. But this clown had just turned down a starter?!
"Ehhhh… it's less that I didn't like him, more that he just wasn't really interested in fighting, more of a prankster. It's kind of like I'm giving priority to Rhyhorn- my other Pokémon doesn't really like battling if she can help it. Still pulls through when I need her though, don't you?" he added in a lighter tone of voice, prompting one of the Pokéballs on his belt to wiggle in response.
"Unbelievable…" Cyrus shook his head. He should see about getting a hold of that Chimchar if the Professor hadn't already given it away to someone else. He knew that there was little chance of it, but apparently shooting one's shot in a hopeless situation was a good way to get by if Palmer's showing was anything to go off of. "Let's just get going. Hopefully, we can reach close to the Steelworks today so that we can get fighting first thing tomorrow."
"Ehhh?! We're not going to get any fighting done today?" Palmer balked, and Cyrus shook his head.
"The workers aren't there just for our entertainment, especially after a long day of work. Best we approach them during working hours, where they're more likely to entertain us in order to skip a few minutes of work."
"That's!" The blonde paused, before rubbing his chin. "Really smart, huh? I do hate working, and I love battling. They probably think the same too."
"Shamefully, that type of point of view is extremely common…" Cyrus muttered, continuing to walk ahead.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?! Cyrus!" the blue-haired researcher just sighed. It was going to be a long walk.
Cynthia's usual training method didn't work. While she thinks over a new one and prepares for the Floaroma contest with Budew, let's have a brief intermission with our other buddies, Cyrus and Palmer.
I'm sure nothing can go wrong at a company with a goofy name such as Flint'n Steel.
If you wish to support my writing, you can check me out on the place of patrons where I post five chapters ahead. Alternatively, you can always PM me in private if you wish to commission something written where we can hash out the details. Otherwise, a review is still more than enough, and I can't be thankful enough for it.
I now also have a Discord Server! If you want to come talk to me about anything and interact with other people reading my works, here's the link! /xuSVQY7bw3
Drink water, stay awesome. Nick of Name, out. :)