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Just as Luther made his way toward the natural park, Cynthia was finally waking up.
Sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, casting soft rays across her face. Her hair was tousled from sleep, and she sat in bed with a dazed expression for quite a while before fully coming to her senses.
Glancing over at the now-empty bed beside her, Cynthia remembered that Diantha had left earlier that morning. Checking the time, she was surprised to find it was already ten o'clock.
After a relaxed wash-up and getting dressed, she applied a light layer of makeup to mask the fatigue from staying up late the night before.
Compared to Diantha's packed schedule, Cynthia's day was much more laid-back. She only had one planned task: to explore the deeper areas of the natural park on Eterna City's outskirts to examine some ancient stone inscriptions. Afterward, she'd be meeting Diantha for lunch.
In her early days as a Trainer, Cynthia had focused heavily on battling power— relentlessly training her Pokémon and charging forward without restraint. But over the years, she had come to value something deeper: the spiritual bond between Trainer and Pokémon. This shift in mindset had gradually drawn her toward the legends, toward the mythical Pokémon spoken of in stories.
If those legends were real, if such Pokémon truly existed with power beyond comprehension and intelligence to match... what were their thoughts? Their personalities?
She no longer pursued raw strength alone. Now, it was the challenge of facing an opponent whose mind matched their might; that was the kind of battle that intrigued her.
As she stepped outside, the scent of fresh cream drifted over from the cake shop next door. Cynthia, like Diantha, had a weakness for sweets. But while Diantha adored over-the-top sugary desserts, Cynthia found most of them a bit too indulgent...
Maple syrup poured over everything, frosting piled on like a Blizzard, just the thought of it made her hesitate.
Among the many thoughtful souvenirs Diantha often brought back from the Kalos Region were these decadent treats. Cynthia usually ended up sharing them with her Togekiss, who had an undeniable sweet tooth. Frankly, she suspected Togekiss's increasing roundness had a lot to do with Diantha's dessert deliveries.
As soon as Cynthia entered the shop, she drew a flurry of attention. Every customer turned to look at the tall, golden-haired woman who had just walked in.
The shop owner, a newcomer from the Kanto Region, didn't recognize her at first. But noticing the stir she caused, he quickly realized she must be someone important. With a subtle wave, he had his apprentice step aside and personally stepped forward to greet her, ready to introduce the cake varieties on display.
"Are Kanto-style cakes usually this sweet?" Cynthia asked, leaning down to study a row of colorful fruit cakes behind the glass. "Some Kalos desserts are so sugary they're hard to enjoy."
The shop owner chuckled, amused by her straightforwardness. "Since we've just opened up here in Sinnoh, we've tailored the flavors to match local tastes. That said, the honey cake from Kanto is still on the sweeter side."
Cynthia smiled and pointed at a cake shaped like a Jigglypuff, decorated with swirls of whipped cream. "I'll take this one."
After paying and receiving the wrapped cake, she was immediately surrounded by enthusiastic Trainers.
Some asked for autographs, others begged for selfies— Cynthia handled it all with practiced grace.
If Luther had been here, he would've realized instantly that fans behaved the same no matter where you went.
After offering a few polite apologies and gently easing her way through the crowd, Cynthia finally stepped outside. She took a bite of the cake and was pleasantly surprised. The shop owner really had put in the effort. The sweetness level was just right for the Sinnoh palate.
"Ga~~!"
Cynthia suddenly stopped, pressing her hand to her mouth. She leaned over the bag carrying her cake and discreetly spat something out.
A piece of pale, rubbery cartilage?
How in the world did that end up inside the cake? Was it some quirky Kanto twist on baked goods?
Thankfully, she hadn't gone far. Turning back, she re-entered the shop to find out what was going on.
By now, the cake she had bought was already sold out, and the shop was buzzing. The honey cake the owner had recommended earlier had become the new hot item, likely thanks to her mere presence.
Seeing her return, a few customers started to approach, but Cynthia politely sidestepped them and walked straight to the counter.
"Excuse me," She asked softly, careful not to draw too much attention. "Is cartilage a specialty ingredient in Kanto-style cakes?"
The shop owner froze, eyes wide with shock. Only moments earlier, he'd been informed that the woman who had bought that Jigglypuff cake was none other than the Sinnoh Champion. Now, hearing she'd found cartilage inside it, he stood there stunned for a moment.
Then, almost immediately, his face lit up with excitement.
"The grand prize has been claimed!" he announced loudly. "Miss Cynthia has discovered the cartilage— it's official!"
Seizing the moment for publicity, he gestured to the crowd while Cynthia stood by, offering a modest smile and a gentle wave in response to the cheers and congratulations around her.
In this moment, she was no different from Diantha— capable of switching into the perfect public persona at will. No matter how solitary her personal life might be, she could always put on the right face when it counted. Her emotional control and poised expression were things even Diantha admired.
"If you ever retire from being Champion, come to Kalos," Diantha had once joked. "Two Champions starring together? Instant hit. Guaranteed box office gold."
Now, Cynthia found herself genuinely curious, just what kind of prize had she won?
It wasn't just Cynthia—many of the customers buying cakes had also overheard the conversation between the shop owner and his assistant, Mai. The excitement surrounding the so-called "grand prize" spread quickly, and everyone understood that it wasn't sitting on the gift shelf, it was hidden somewhere inside the shop.
So when a pink figure wearing a tiny chef's hat waddled out and stood in front of Cynthia, she was the first to react.
"Chansey?" Cynthia raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "This is the grand prize you were talking about?"
The shop owner gave a solemn nod, and Cynthia glanced around at the curious onlookers, her expression showing slight disapproval.
Picking up on her concern, the shop owner gestured for her to follow him to a quieter part of the store.
"Now that we've got a bit more privacy, you can explain," Cynthia said softly. She looked at the wide-eyed Chansey in front of her, the way the Pokémon beamed at her made it obvious that she already knew who Cynthia was.
Cynthia had never been comfortable with the idea of giving away Pokémon like door prizes. Trading was one thing, but handing a Pokémon off to a stranger purely by luck? That crossed a line for her. A Pokémon's trust wasn't something that should be raffled off. It was earned.
"This is actually her dream," The shop owner said, gently patting Chansey's head.
"I got her as an egg during a breeding showcase hosted by the Joy family in Celadon City. Back then, she was just a Happiny. Not long after she hatched, I met the love of my life. That changed everything— I decided to stop traveling and settle down."
"You gave up being a breeder?" Cynthia asked.
He shook his head. "No, I still breed part-time. I just stopped moving from town to town. Eventually, I chose Eterna City as my home. But Chansey... she's different. She wants to see the world, meet more Pokémon, and help those who are hurt or lost. She doesn't want to stay cooped up in a cake shop with me."
"Originally, I thought we'd travel together, meet Pokémon across regions... I thought I'd never stop wandering. But love made me stay. I didn't realize how much I'd changed until I saw her looking out the window all the time or sitting on the shop lawn watching Flying-types soar overhead."
"There were nights when she'd cuddle her Pokémon plushies like they were children and wouldn't even let my Dragonite near them," He added with a small, sad smile.
"In this new place, I didn't know who to trust with her. I wrestled with the idea all night. I know it's not the best way, but this is what I came up with. Foolish, isn't it? Even irresponsible?"
"It is... a little irresponsible," Cynthia admitted, though her tone wasn't harsh. "Anyone could've found that cartilage in the cake. What if the person who found it wasn't even a Trainer? Pokémon and Trainers need to match in temperament and compatibility, just giving her away like this isn't safe."
The shop owner scratched his head sheepishly but then smiled. "You must not have read the event rules carefully. I made sure to include a clause: only registered Pokémon Trainers who found the cartilage would qualify. And I added a note, 'Final interpretation rights belong to this shop. If conditions aren't met, a consolation prize will be offered.'"
Cynthia chuckled, realizing he'd at least tried to account for those possibilities. Still unorthodox, but not entirely reckless.
She crouched down and gently ran her hand across Chansey's head, then touched the smooth, warm egg in her pouch. "You raised her well," she said softly.
Praise from a Champion made the shop owner beam, and Chansey's eyes sparkled as she looked up at Cynthia, clearly waiting with hope.
"But... I already have a Blissey," Cynthia said with a trace of regret. "She manages things at my home and takes care of the Pokémon I'm not traveling with. I don't think my team is the best fit for another."
Chansey's ears drooped ever so slightly. The shop owner sighed too, knowing that Cynthia was right, there could be no forcing this kind of bond. Especially not with someone like Cynthia, whose team had been through so much.
"It's okay," He said. "There were two Pokédex holders who came by earlier this morning. I promised them that if they didn't find the cartilage, they'd still get a chance to meet her."
Hearing the phrase Pokédex holders, Cynthia's eyes lit up with interest. "In that case, since I'm the one who found the cartilage, I'll take responsibility. I'll come back later this evening. If those two Trainers are still around, I can help you evaluate whether they're a good match for her."
The shop owner looked genuinely touched. He quickly handed her a warm bag of honey toast that he had baked earlier while preparing cakes.
As Chansey escorted Cynthia out the door, the shop owner turned to the customers still snapping photos and updating their PokéNav feeds and shouted, "Fresh-baked honey toast, Champion Cynthia's favorite! Come and get yours while it lasts!"
For a split second, the shop was silent.
Then, the crowd erupted into chaos as the honey toast display was wiped clean in a matter of seconds, with Chansey scrambling around to restock trays as fast as possible.
(End of Chapter)