Chapter 40: Cynthia (II)

"You seem well. Five years is quite the long time, is it not? I know we've kept in touch, but it's been a while since I've last seen your face, Ricky. Time sure flies, huh?", The woman replied, cracking a smile.

"It really does. You went ahead and accomplished a journey of your own. How does the seat of a Champion feel, Cynthia?", Ricky asked. He was truly happy for the woman currently seated on screen before him. Ricky first met Cynthia during one of the two sessions of Professor Oak's Summer Camps. She was in the first round. Back then, she remained quiet and aloof, and was quite shy to others. With her was her trusted partner, a Shiny Gible. She was very similar to Ricky, who had a Shiny Alolan Vulpix then.

But now, ten years later, Cynthia set off on a Pokemon Journey of her own, and eventually rose into becoming the youngest Champion, with her trusted Shiny Garchomp at her side. It was rumored that it could even Mega Evolve! It wasn't just that either. She was crowned as the youngest Champion! Even Red and Blue paled in comparison to Cynthia.

"Indeed. I take it that something has happened. You wouldn't video call me like this unless you had something to say, so out with it.", Cynthia replied.

"Nothing goes past you, eh? Well it is something big. I just set off on my own adventure. It won't be long until I climb all the way up. One of these days, we'll come to the Sinnoh Region. It won't be immediate, but you'll see us enter the Sinnoh League. How does that make you feel, miss Youngest Champion?", Ricky questioned with a wide grin.

"Oho? So you finally set off, have you? Then I'll be waiting. It takes both guts and determination to challenge elite trainers. But knowing you, I needn't worry. You grew up in a line of Champions, so it's only going to be a matter of time for you. I have high hopes.", Cynthia answered with confidence.

"To receive such praise from a Champion herself. Now I feel more pressured now, haha! It will likely be a while, though. I did message you, but we're back in Kanto. In fact, we're on our way to challenge the first gym.", Ricky explained how his present situation was. Ricky was more used to the aspects of battling compared to Serena and Lillie, so he was going to use this short period of travelling to get them up to speed, while giving them some pointers. He wanted to challenge Brock right away, and hopefully find some rare Pokemon inside Viridian Forest!

Ricky's next targets were the following two Pokemon: A Light Ball Pikachu, and a Scyther! He was hoping Serena could nab a Dragon Dance Charmander and a Seed Bomb and Grassy Glide Bulbasaur. Lillie could catch a Charmander too, but it wasn't needed, since she had Fennekin. Ricky might suggest Lillie to focus on catching a bug Pokemon.

"True. Of the available regions, Kanto is one of the shorter ones. There aren't as many sights to see. I could see you doing a blitz of Gym Battles. I think you can hold your own ground, but if you ever need a pointer, I'm all ears.", Cynthia happily replied, cracking a rare smile.

"Suggestion taken. I don't want to take up too much of your time, since you are probably busy with that other side hustle of yours. I'll reach out again once we've made some good progress here. Expect to hear more good news soon.", Ricky said with a confident tone. He wasn't worried about himself, he was more worried of what Serena and Lillie will do against the first half of Kanto.

"'We'?", Cynthia mused, picking up what Ricky had just said. "I see. So those two girls are with you then.", Cynthia guessed.

"Yes. I have high hopes for them, just as you do for me. We are all planning to enter the Indigo League. They might be newbies now, but they already showed me good prospects. One of them just had their first battles earlier today.", Ricky answered. He recalled Lillie's battle earlier in Route 1. Her battle motions were fluid, and she had zero hesitation to command her Bulbasaur. She immediately knew the exact move to follow-up with, allowing her to catch that Pidgey.

"I see. It'll be an interesting round of battles this time. Perhaps I should go spectate in person.", Cynthia replied, wondering if it was worth a visit to the Kanto Region. Unlike other Champions who remained static, Cynthia often roamed around. Apart from battling, she was an archeologist. She loved exploring ruins. Kanto didn't have many noteworthy ruins apart from Mount Moon and its extremely rare meteorite, but after hearing Ricky say he'll enter the Indigo League with such confidence, Cynthia was already starting to think otherwise.

Perhaps it was worthwhile for Cynthia to pay a visit to the Kanto Region?

Thinking that, Cynthia smiled back.

"Well, it'll be up to you in the end. I just wanted to let you know of our new progress. Like I said before, once we make some good progress, I'll contact you again.", Ricky said.

"Got it. Thank you for updating me. I wish you luck on your adventure, Ricky. Do send my regards to Professor Oak. Oh, and if you somehow make it all the way to the Sinnoh League and beat me in battle, I don't mind giving you a little date~", Cynthia responded, teasing Ricky at the very last moment. Ricky couldn't properly register what she had just said to him before the video call ended, making himself alone inside the pc booth.

Ricky only leaned back in his armchair. These chairs were pretty fancy. It was very similar to using an internet cafe in his previous life. He began to go over what he covered with Cynthia.

Cynthia was such a dominant figure in the Pokemon World. She wasn't like other Pokemon Trainers. She was insanely strong, and she had a very powerful team backing that power up. Cynthia only lost to Ash in Pokemon Journeys because of plot armor. They were trying to make Ash come out as the victor after so long. Cynthia should have won that fight, but ended up losing. That was how deadly a character she was in the Pokemon World.

Could Ricky really become triumphant against her, and try to woo her over? He didn't know.

But it sure gave Ricky one hell of a goal to work toward, apart from just experiencing what the Pokemon World had to offer!

"Looks like someone is in a good mood. I take it the call went well?", Serena's voice called to Ricky, who was presently resting his back against the chair. After checking out the room on the second floor and settling down, Serena and Lillie came out from the second floor and greeted Ricky.

"Well, things have taken an unexpected turn. If we display good progress, Cynthia might pay a visit to the Kanto Region, and spectate the Indigo League.", Ricky explained.

"Wow! Now that's pretty big. She's the youngest trainer to ever take the seat of Champion, right? We'll have to meet up to her expectations!", Serena replied with anticipation.

"Uh-huh. We'll need to put more effort into raising and training our Pokemon. I just greeted Pidgey for the first time too. She's becoming quick friends with the others. Serena and I already registered her information in our Pokedex, so why don't you do that with yours before you forget?", Lillie happily responded, bringing out Pidgey's Pokeball.

Even if it was one of the beginning Pokemon a trainer would encounter, Pidgey was particularly special of these Pokemon. Its final evolution, Pidgeot, gained the ability to Mega Evolve once Mega Evolution was released. Pidgey was worth training compared to other beginning Pokemon! It really was a shame that Ash released his Pidgeot. He could have kept it to Mega Evolve. Ricky might persuade Ash to keep his Pidgeot this time around just for that very reason.

"Sure, let's see if your Pidgey lucked out. We didn't stay around Route 1 for long, so I'm not expecting anything crazy. Plus with that call now over, it's 3PM now. We made excellent time by arriving at Viridian City's Pokemon Center before the day was over. We can go do our planned shopping and grab a bite out. Does that work with you two?", Ricky suggested.

"Sure does! We'll need to stock up on some potions if we want to get our Pokemon ready for the first gym. Lillie and I don't have trainer accessories either. We'll have to do some good shopping today. Item Pouches come first, so we can store other stuff. Being a Pokemon Trainer is really nice when it comes to these perks!", Serena happily responded.

"I know right? Item Pouches are essential to Pokemon Trainers. They let us carry items several fold for any situation we may come across.", Ricky answered. As he said that, he used his own Item Pouch to retrieve his Pokedex. Opening up the Kanto page, he started to register Lillie's Pidgey. That was one thing to add, they didn't need to have the Pokemon be outside of their Pokeball to gather its data. One could just have their Pokeball out, just like this!

Pidgey's information started to display before Ricky.

"Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokemon. It is docile and often avoids conflict, unless one seeks it out for a challenge. Once a Pidgey feels threatened, it will ferociously strike back with a flurry of pecks or wind gusts. It is known to kick up sand with its talons to distract its target in an attempt to fly away.", The Pokedex said.

Pidgey

Normal Variant

Nature: Naive

Gender: Female

Ability: Keen Eye

Known Moves: Tackle, Sand Attack, Gust, Work Up, Heat Wave, Defog, Tailwind, Pluck, Brave Bird.

"Wow.", Ricky mused, not expecting for Lillie to encounter such a Pidgey. It only showed off Gust during Lillie's battle, so Ricky didn't think too much of it then. "You did actually luck out. This Pidgey is definitely worth raising. You'd be surprised with how many special moves Pidgey's line can learn. Not many know it has access to Heat Wave.", Ricky mused.

"Yeah. I'm already excited to start using Pidgey in battle. I hear they are easy to train too!", Lillie responded.

Looks like things were already progressing well for the trio!

*

[POKEMON ROSTER]

Ricky: Shiny Alolan Ninetales, Shiny Rowlet, Shiny Froakie, Charmander

Serena: Kantonian Vulpix, Shiny Litten, Chespin, Squirtle

Lillie: Alolan Vulpix, Shiny Popplio, Fennekin, Bulbasaur, Pidgey