FEPW Chapter 60 Love What I Love

Searching it's something everyone does throughout their lives.

And Pokémon, especially those who are open to bonding with humans, are no different. They, too, are searching for a Trainer who truly matches them.

That search can take a long time. So long, in fact, that missing even one opportunity could mean never finding another. When you look back, regret tends to creep in, regret over what might've been.

But Jumpluff chose Luther. And just the same, Luther chose her.

Was there any regret? No.

Luther had never been someone brimming with confidence. He'd always stumbled along, getting by without applause or recognition. For someone like that, building confidence wasn't just difficult, it felt impossible.

Naturally, then, Luther shifted the conversation toward the topic of confidence, how to find it, how to keep it.

The question seemed to catch Cynthia off guard. She paused with her teacup halfway to her lips. "That's surprising," she said. "You sounded so sure earlier when you talked about Jumpluff. It's a little unexpected to hear this from you now."

"I guess that's the issue," Luther said quietly. "My current confidence feels like it's built entirely on a streak of wins. Which makes me afraid of losing… afraid of new challenges. It's like I'm clinging to success just to keep myself standing."

Mai picked up her plate and walked over to the grill, mumbling something about helping out.

Luther reached out and tugged gently on her sleeve, signaling that it really wasn't necessary.

He knew what she was trying to do, give him some space to speak privately with the Champion. But this wasn't something he felt needed to be kept quiet.

Cynthia furrowed her brow, thoughtful. "Hmm... you've really thrown me with that one. Honestly, I wasn't so different when I first started out. I doubted myself. I didn't know if I had any real talent or if I was just pretending.

"For me, it was the victories that slowly built my confidence too. But over time, I stopped worrying about failure. It became just another part of the journey. Losing doesn't scare me anymore."

Luther had always believed Cynthia's confidence was something innate, something she was born with. From every interview, every match she'd fought, she always seemed untouchable, composed, unbeatable. He never imagined he'd hear her admit to doubt.

Mai's eyes lit up as she typed furiously into her phone's memo app, clearly saving Cynthia's words like precious quotes for future reference.

Diantha gave Luther a sidelong glance and smiled faintly. "You could say she's been waiting for a loss. Specifically, a loss here in Sinnoh, where she was shaped as a Trainer. Under Sinnoh's battle rules."

Luther blinked, then nodded slowly as the meaning clicked.

"All life, when it encounters other life, brings something new into the world."

Cynthia chuckled. "Oh, so you've studied that old stone tablet too? I just shared that quote with two young Trainers earlier today. They've got potential, I can feel it."

"You mean Ash and Paul," Luther said. "They're like light and shadow, total opposites. The way they've grown, the paths they've walked… they've turned into rivals who sharpen each other. Do you think someone like that is who you're waiting for?"

"I'm not looking for a mirror image or an opposite," Cynthia said. "I'm looking for someone who can stand across from me in a battle… someone who'll go all-out and push me to the very limit. Only then can I see where I still need to grow.

"If you find your confidence, you might be that person."

"Why not Diantha?" Luther asked.

Diantha dabbed at the corner of her mouth with a napkin. "Lance challenged Cynthia once. His Dragonite lost to her Garchomp, and she still had a Milotic left in reserve."

"Steven fought her to the bitter end, and it ended in a draw. Cynthia respects him immensely. But Steven's reached his ceiling. He's focused, determined, but maybe too much so. He sticks mostly to Rock, Ground, and Steel types. We've tried convincing him to diversify, but he won't budge."

"More than that," Diantha added, "Steven has no real desire to keep growing stronger. He sees the Champion title as a duty, a weight he bears out of responsibility. He's been waiting for someone new to rise up and take his place, but no one in Hoenn has stepped up."

"Lance is the same," Cynthia said. "Back in the day, he was my equal. But after he became an investigator, his focus shifted. He started slipping. Like Steven, he's stuck in one battle style, too attached to Dragon types. It makes him predictable."

Luther understood. Among all of them, the only one still chasing strength through battle... was Cynthia.

After Alder's partner Pokémon passed away, he fell into deep sorrow. Diantha is often preoccupied with her many commitments. Someone like Cynthia, who remains fiercely focused on competitive battling, is becoming increasingly rare.

But even the sharpest competitive edge dulls when life becomes routine and passion fades.

Cynthia could feel herself growing stagnant. Battles, once thrilling and full of purpose, had started to feel like little more than a pleasant diversion.

It seemed to be a path all Champions eventually walked: immense strength giving way to a sense of emptiness. To fill that void, they had to find new, meaningful pursuits, or risk being consumed by boredom.

Cynthia enjoyed her relaxed lifestyle, but deep down, she feared that her pride in battle, her honed instincts, her decisive edge, would gradually fade away. That fear left her caught between contentment and uncertainty.

Lance had chosen the path of investigation. Steven became a Champion almost by accident, and once the title lost its charm, he returned to his beloved stones and ancient relics. Diantha had her own career in the spotlight.

Everyone had their own struggles. And each Pokémon League quietly believed that the Champions from other regions had it better.

"Please delete anything related to my battles with Lance and Steven," Cynthia said with a half-smile, placing a freshly grilled skewer on Mai's plate. "And let's keep it off the record."

Mai quickly cleared the notes from her phone, erasing all mentions of the other Champions.

Noticing that the restaurant's owner and his wife were getting flustered behind the grill, Cynthia rose to help out, and Mai followed right after her, sticking close like an eager assistant.

Back at the table, Luther turned to Diantha. "Do you have any advice for building confidence?"

"I've been performing on stage since I was a child," Diantha replied. "From a young age, I was trained to face any situation with poise. Confidence often comes from gradual exposure and a nurturing environment."

"What I can offer you," she continued, her clear blue eyes locking onto his, "is a way to release your burden."

"I think your lack of confidence comes from a deep fear of failure. But more than that, it's the fear of being laughed at, of being judged. I don't know what kind of harsh environment shaped that mindset, but clearly, you care too much about what others think."

Luther stayed quiet. Every word Diantha spoke seemed to strike right at the heart of his insecurities.

"You just said you're afraid the confidence you built from victories might crumble, right?" Diantha asked gently. "But that's not real confidence. That's vanity. You built an image of strength for the applause, the admiration.

"But Cynthia's eyes, they only reflect the things she truly values. So stop worrying about the crowd."

"Focus on those who care about you, and let their opinions be the only ones that matter." Diantha smiled as she saw Luther's tense expression ease. "In the end, love what you love."

"Thank you... so much!" Luther said, pausing with a stunned look before a flush of excitement rose in his cheeks.

He'd never imagined that the knot of anxiety and doubt he'd carried could be so simply unraveled. Diantha hadn't just answered his question, she'd given him clarity.

Love what I love.

That was all he needed. To treasure the emotions he held for the people and Pokémon that mattered to him.

His Pokémon. His friends. They were the source of his confidence.

He had been looking too far ahead, forgetting the strength right beside him all along.

Ralts, Marill, Jumpluff, Mismagius, each one of them had changed his life. As his eyes swept over them now, he felt something ignite in his heart, a passion stronger than ever before.

Back when he first arrived in this world, Luther had aimed to give himself a clear goal, a driven path forward. He clung to the dream of his past life: to challenge and defeat the legendary Trainer, Tobias.

But now, he had a new goal. A truer one.

To grow stronger together with his Pokémon, until the day he could stand tall, someone worthy of being the person Cynthia was waiting for.

He no longer needed to win championships. He didn't need global fame or the cheers and accolades he used to crave.

Victory no longer defined him.

Because this time… it was about proving something to himself.

(End of Chapter)

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