Chapter 1 : Light.
The ground shook violently as the shockwaves from what transpired a few seconds ago settled. She had just arrived at the scene moments ago, Cyrus was definitely gone, consumed by the Pokemon of the Shadows "Giratina" she'd only heard rumors that Team Galactic were trying to summon this Pokemon but now it was safe to say they were very much true,as for her she wasn't given the time to process what had happened as Mars and Jupiter's desperate cries for their master snapped her back to reality.
"What!?..." her voice leaked as the sound of sirens filled the air.
Her eyes fluttered open as the sunlight leaked in from the curtains. She was back in a familiar setting her bedroom she recalled inside her home in Celestic Town, rubbing her temples, Cynthia frowned.
'It was a dream...'
Sighing deeply she reminisces as Cyrus's final moments had she been even a few seconds late she would have missed it.
Cyrus had died that day not that he was a good person by any stretch of the imagination but Cynthia couldn't help but feel slightly responsible for it, after all she had frozen when Giratina first showed up. Her job was to stop Cyrus's madness and bring him in, not leave him to perish or worse be consumed by Giratina, but there was no point thinking about it now after all this was all in the past.
Looking around her gaze fell onto her study where the paperwork for this year's Pokemon League she had been desperately trying to finish lay unattended. They had begun preparations just a few days ago but piles of paper had already started to flood into her office forcing her to take some back, an year ago they had just wrapped up the League before she was swept up to go to Kalos. The Incident in Lumiose City was one she could never forget after all that was when she first met... She stopped her thoughts as this time her eyes fell on the telephone on her bedside table.
'He never called, not once.'
Ever since she returned, the Rangers back in Sinnoh were more than happy to ask and accept Cynthia's help in numerous operations spanning across her home region. Needless to say she was quite happy to be needed and very much glad that her wish of doing more was being fulfilled. But even still she wasn't privy to the information regarding the specialists or in her case "Specialist" she was always told the same thing that if the specialists needed help they'd approach her on their own but as days turned into weeks and then into months she felt saddened.
"Is calling to say "hi" that big of an ask." she huffed in annoyance.
Looking at her clock it was late in the morning and she knew Jervis would come knocking anytime so she saved him the trouble and stood up to draw the curtains revealing her grandmother's nursery and behind it the vast forest of her home estate. The lush tapestry was one thing she loved about this place as it allowed her Pokemon the freedom to move around not confined to their pokeballs. It wasn't a training day so waking up late was acceptable but then again she couldn't dawdle any longer as the crisp knock on the wooden door jolted her out of her trance.
"I am up, Jervis! I'll be there in a few minutes." she half yelled as she hurried to brush her teeth.
"I was quite surprised to find you awake milady, after all you didn't have any training scheduled today so I figured you'd be taking it easy." Jervis spoke while setting her plate for breakfast.
"That was the plan but then I figured it would be best if I didn't fall back to sleep. I need to finish the paperwork for this year's league." she replied while biting into her egg sandwich.
He only nodded as he stood quietly near the door waiting for Cynthia to finish her meal. A butler through and through and Cynthia always wondered why he decided to become one afterall it was a very disciplined life. Only once she was finished with the food did Jervis move again as he handed her the paper for the day and swiftly went to work on picking up the dirty plates.
"It seems you were busy yesterday evening." Jervis comments coyly as his gloved hand points at the circled newspaper article.
"Ah.. hehe" she laughed sheepishly as she read the article's headline.
'Drug Ring Busted near Oreburgh'
"I only helped in finding them, the Police handled the rest, I heard there was shooting but luckily no one got hurt." she added as she finished reading the page.
"Well that explains why you got back home at such an odd hour last night."
"Ah you noticed that too."
Jervis only smiled at her and only when he returned to the kitchen a deep sigh escaped her lips.
'If Jervis knows about this grandmother definitely knows...'
Soon Jervis's light footsteps became louder and louder as she framed her question.
"Jervis I didn't see Grandma around, has she gone to work early?"
Adjusting the vase on the table Jervis spoke calmly "Yes she did leave home early and since you have woken up early, why don't you make time to visit her."
Jervis asking her to visit her wasn't a coincidence she knew that so she quickly counter questioned her eldest aide.
"Has she asked for a word with me?"
"Yes, she did express her interest in speaking with you, she has been worried about you for quite some time now so please do go and have a chat with her today."
"I will thank you for the meal Jervis, if you don't mind please call Garchomp I'll leave as soon as possible."
"Very well."
The Celestic Town Historical Research Center was a place that was very close to Cynthia's heart as she practically grew up in the confines of its brick walls, observing her grandmother uncover relics from the ground below or walking over the marble floor of the museum section Cynthia greeted one of the curators as she turned towards the rooms reserved for the staff, stopping in front of one particular room she took a deep breath as she knocked twice on the oak door.
"Come on in." told the voice from inside.
"Oh it's you." Carolina spoke in a soft tone.
"My bad Grandma were you expecting someone else?" Cynthia spoke teasingly.
"Oh hush you, so Jervis spoke to you? Oh who am I kidding of course he did."
"Is everything okay ?" Cynthia spoke with concern.
"With me I am peachy I am just... I worry for you child." she spoke as she gestured to Cynthia to take a seat which she promptly took.
"About me?"
"Who else will I worry about if not you?"
"I am fine Grandma" Cynthia replied as she rolled her eyes.
"Are you really? You were great for the first few months after your return from Kalos but afterwards you have had this look on your face." Carolina spoke calmly as she poured some water for Cynthia.
To be completely honest she was quite pissed at the fact that a certain someone couldn't dial a certain landline number in six months but she had sworn secrecy about the specialists and needed to be very careful with her next words. Her grandmother isn't an idiot and she is very good at catching Cynthia's lies.
"It's nothing Grandma", she tried to downplay her inner conflict.
"I am just tired I guess with all the new work that I have been getting but don't get me wrong I am very grateful for it, keeping Sinoh safe is my main priority."
Cynthia truly believed this was enough to buy some time but for some reason Carolina's face contorted into discomfort.
"Now don't get me started on your 'New' work, I keep hearing about the Champion's escapades with the Police, it doesn't help that you keep quiet about it and I only get to hear it through the morning paper."
"Grandma, we've talked about this."
"Yes yes I know I am not stopping you but I am just saying you doing such work while being this moody is very risky"
"Moody?" Now it was Cynthia's face which was distorted.
"Yes, very moody last time you were like this you ended things with Steven so tell me this, did the guy you met in Kalos not reach out or something?"
The room felt extremely hot to Cynthia and she wasn't sure it was because of the heater.
"How can you just jump to such a conclusion!" she shrieked at the older lady who in return just laughed.
"Honey I have raised you or have you forgotten that fact."
"But it's... not..." Cynthia's face flushed red.
"Stop, I am not questioning your choice or anything but don't worry too much, men are thick-skilled. He must have a good reason to not reach out to you out of all people."
"Is it that obvious?" Cynthia sighed in defeat and Carolina's smile widened
"Only to me... and probably Jervis but he won't admit it." she replied coyly.
"Uhhhhh" Cynthia cringed slightly more at that.
"Anyways you should be going back to the league if I remember correctly that the preparations for this year's tournament have already begun."
Dejected and defeated Cynthia turned around to exit.
"And honey?" Carolina spoke just as her granddaughter reached for the door.
Cynthia stopped and turned.
"Don't worry too much and if you ever need someone to talk to you know where to find."
A smile just automatically appeared on her face as Cynthia said softly.
"I know, take care of yourself."
"Now off you go you've got work to do." Carolina shooed and Cynthia left the office.
"What a handful this child is." Carolina mused as she returned back to her work.
Stepping out of the research center the sun was out but the wind was still chilly as Cynthia draped her scarf around her neck, she called out Garchomp who gave her a curious glance before allowing her to climb on her back.
"We have a long flight ahead of us Garchomp, take me to the league tower."
Her ace acknowledged as he lept in the air with astonishing agility.
Cynthia was quiet for the first few minutes but soon sighed.
"Gar-Gar.."
"Huh? Oh I am fine Garchomp just thinking.."
"Gar….gar gar garachomp?"
"Oh not you too! But you are not wrong, it's just… I don't know I got what I wanted but still I…I" Cynthia faltered as she failed to complete her words.
"Gar-Garchomp." her Pokemon asserted.
"Yeah, nothing to do but wait."
Even Garchomp understood his trainer's feelings, she wanted to see the man with the snow fox but could not do anything about it at the moment so he resumed the flight not pushing the subject further.
"I do miss him." Cynthia mused idly and Garchomp returned a sharp gaze and chose not to reply.
The rest of the way Cynthia spoke only about work and that too only once to answer her cellphone informing Bertha that she'd be reaching the League in an hour or two.
Author's Notes:
Wow this story has been lying dormant for quite some time now I just reposted the original chapter with fixed english here and there I doubt its perfect but better than last time I hope. God I slept on this fic too long and only recently has my mind finally gotten back to it. Initially I hoped to completely fix Champion and Ranger Alike (prequel to this fic) first before writing this one but I was too wrapped up in life to do either so I left it all. I don't know what I lacked back then honestly I have forgotten it was a mix of no motivation and a huge writers block but I think I'll plot the story points for this fic all over again (it has been years since I read my notes on this fic) I'll re write the next chapters not from scratch but will change them significantly so they don't feel as rushed as before. I don't promise any schedule until I have sorted my notes again and I do apologize for that.
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Until Next Time
PEACE