Professor Carolina—an expert in ancient mythology and current director of Celestic Town's Historical Museum.
But to Natsu-sensei, her most critical identity was—
"She's my grandmother," Cynthia said with a smile.
"Should I… bring gifts when eting her?" Natsu hesitated.
"Huh? No need to be so formal. It's not like we're—"
Cynthia paused mid-sentence, then smoothly corrected herself:
"Let's focus on delivering the Adamant Orb first."
Natsu's eyebrow twitched.
You were about to say "eting the parents," weren't you?!
Well… sooner or later. Might as well plan ahead.
Maybe I'll cook for her?
Cynthia sealed the Adamant Orb inside its specialized case, its aura instantly muted.
"Mount Coronet's magnetic fields disrupt the orb, so we'll take the land route around it."
She lifted the case, sweeping her golden bangs aside.
"Three days' journey. No rush."
Though her tone was professional, a faint blush betrayed her—as if she'd only just registered the "et-the-family" implications.
After all… when selecting a partner for this task, she hadn't hesitated to choose him.
Cynthia glanced at Natsu, her steel-gray eyes flickering with uncharacteristic nerves.
This was the first ti she'd ever brought a man ho to et Grandma.
Officially, they were just colleagues.
But… neither Grandma nor she herself would buy that excuse.
For years, her only family had been Grandma and her Pokémon.
Now, she'd grown accustod to soone new sharing her life.
The undefeated Sinnoh Champion was just as clueless about romance as Natsu.
Are we dating now…?
Should I make the first move?
"Let's go. We'll depart tomorrow."
Cynthia turned away, her composure flawless—if one ignored her racing pulse.
Maybe Grandma can teach how to confess…
"Where are we staying tonight?" Natsu asked.
"My place."
Cynthia exhaled, smiling. "We'll leave at dawn."
...
By the ti they retrieved the Adamant Orb and returned to Sandgem Town, it was 10 PM.
The sleepy village lay silent under patchy streetlamp glow.
"Little Rotom, lights on!" Natsu called before even reaching the door.
Warm orange light flooded the villa instantly, wrapping them in holy comfort.
Cynthia's smile softened at the sight.
"When I lived with Grandma, I'd leave the lights on till she ca ho late. Fell asleep like that often."
"And now?"
"Now?" She chuckled. "Not afraid of the dark anymore. Ghost-types can't beat anyway."
Natsu blinked. "Fair point."
"Garchomp!" Garchomp smugly tilted its chin at him.
"Thanks to Garchomp."
Cynthia stroked its head, nostalgic. "Back when it was a Gible, I'd hug it to sleep… until Grandma woke up."
"Garchomp~" Garchomp nuzzled her affectionately.
Natsu hesitated.
"Want to ask about my parents?"
Under the starry sky, Cynthia's eyes glead. Her black fur collar frad delicate features as starlight draped over her cloak and slender waist.
"Go in first, it's cool outside." Natsu paused for a mont, "You don't have to tell ."
"It's alright."
Her breath ford a white puff in the early spring chill.
"They were strong trainers. So I… wanted to be strong like them."
She gazed downward.
"I used to think they left because they weren't strong enough."
A shadow crossed her face—gone as quickly as it ca—before she brightened.
"But I learned so things can't be solved by strength alone."
Fingers tracing Garchomp's scales, she murmured:
"Loving Pokémon, growing stronger together… that's my creed now."
The vast night stretched above them, constellations mirrored in her eyes—along with distant mountains, rivers, and the flow of ti itself.
After a pause, Natsu nodded solemnly.
"Mine too."
Getting stronger hadn't been his original goal.
Cynthia looked up, startled.
Under the gentle moonlight, their eyes t—lingering, drawing them closer.
Ti seed to slow. The babbling creek, rustling leaves, wind over the wilderness… all faded away.
Her floral scent enveloped him. The clouds parted, moonlight spilling over them like silver silk—
Suddenly, Cynthia jerked back, face burning.
"I-I need to secure the Adamant Orb!"
She fled indoors.
Natsu stared at her retreating figure, resolve crystallizing:
I will win this cabbage over.
"Gengar~" Gengar oozed from his shadow, poking his ribs with a shit-eating grin.
"You were WATCHING?!"
"Gengar~" It mid swooning, then rubbed its eyes exaggeratedly.
Natsu whirled around—
Three heads (Lucario, Blastoise, Sirfetch'd) snapped out of sight behind the villa's corner.
Above, Togekiss hovered in the clouds, Togepi giggling on its back:
"Toge-pii! ヽ(￣▽￣)ノ"
Sylveon watched from the opposite wall, ribbons wagging in bittersweet pride:
"Sylveon~ o(′^｀)o"
Then Natsu spotted the security cara aid at him.
"Smile for the lens, Rotom!"
"Don't make donate you to Professor Oak!"
"Rotom did nothing wrong! o(TヘTo)"
Post-drama, Cynthia seed to be avoiding him.
No card gas. No battles. Just an early retreat to her room.
Won. Unfathomable.
Resigned, Natsu petted Sylveon's fur, ntally replaying Ash's Pikachu :
"Serena, you'll never be as close to Ash as I am. Got it?"
"Blastoise… ヾ(?■_■)"
"Lucario… (ー`′ー)"
With the show over, Blastoise subrged into its tank (trembling at tomorrow's trip) while Lucario ditated.
Only Sirfetch'd rejoiced:
"Sirfetch'd!"
No training hell for three days!
...
Cynthia lay in bed.
The bedside lamp cast a warm glow as she hugged a Garchomp plush, one leg flung over the other.
Sleep evaded her.
Staring at the ceiling, she rembered lonely nights listening to the wilderness winds outside.
Now, Natsu was just beyond this door—probably watching TV with Gengar or reading with Sylveon…
She smiled, imagining the scene, then clicked off the light.
Darkness enveloped her—but for the first ti, it felt safe.
See you tomorrow.
Pulling the covers snug, Cynthia closed her eyes.
--------------------------------------
No More Waiting - The Story is Complete!
Love what you're reading? Get instant access to the entire story—all 450 chapters are available right now!
👉 Unlock everything: patreon/PokemonStoryWeaver
--------------------------------------
User Comments
0 comments from readers