February 28th, Sunday. Sunny.
Departing from Heartho City, the transport of the [Adamant Orb] continued toward Celestic Town.
At this point, what they were transporting hardly mattered.
The two sat in the front seats. When their gazes brushed past each other, they shared a smile before looking ahead again.
Backseat.
"Gengar! (｀Д｀)" Gengar clutched its Reaper Cloth tightly. The ho chef's cooking was just fine—why did they have to feed us lemons?!
"Garchomp! (╥﹏╥)" Garchomp wept silently. The cabbages at ho were so fresh and tender—how could they just let them get stolen?!
The forgotten safe in the backseat remained silent.
I'm the main character here!
At least pay so attention to !
"Blastoise…" Only Blastoise dutifully kept watch over the bomb, deep in thought.
Wouldn't it be better… if I just threw this bomb away at so point?
According to the route, they'd reach Celestic Town by evening.
At noon, the two stopped for a break in Solaceon Town.
It was a leisurely little town, its main livelihood being Moomoo Farms, ho to a few farm owners and herds of Miltank.
Walking along the forest-lined path, they could see Gold's favorite Pokémon Day Care and the entrance to the Solaceon Ruins.
"It's said that the Solaceon Ruins are where Unown were first discovered in Sinnoh," Cynthia explained with a smile. "And in similar ruins across other regions, Unown are always found."
"Sounds like my specialty," Natsu said.
Cynthia didn't argue, rely pressing a finger to her forehead with a sigh. "Couldn't you be a little more humble, like Sirfetch'd?"
"Sirfetch'd!" Hearing the praise, Sirfetch'd raised its leek and shield with dignified composure.
No one understands knightly virtues better than !
Natsu stroked his chin.
Knowing Sirfetch'd, it's probably just timid…
But with Natsu-sensei's high emotional intelligence, he naturally kept that thought to himself and instead asked, "Shall we investigate the ruins later?"
Cynthia's eyes glead, as if to say 'You read my mind.'
With Natsu, an expert in ancient languages, exploring the Solaceon Ruins would be much easier.
Natsu smirked.
The young Cynthia hasn't yet realized—every gift in life cos with a price.
Once she's got enough translated research papers, she won't have any reason to refuse wearing that bunny girl outfit…
As they strolled through Solaceon Town, Cynthia glanced around, her black hair accessory swaying.
"It's changed a lot since I last visited."
"You used to co here often?"
"It was my grandmother," Cynthia said, gazing into the distance, her slender neck like a black swan's. "She loved the café on the mountain behind town. Their Moomoo Milk was supposedly top quality."
"Oho!" A chef's ingredient radar activated—Natsu's eyes lit up. "Let's check it out!"
"Aren't you afraid of running into her?"
Cynthia crossed her arms, resting her chin on a slender hand, eyes teasing.
"What's there to fear? Worst case, I'll make her so Moomoo Pudding."
"Gengar! (ˉ﹃ˉ)" Gengar suddenly popped out of Natsu's shadow.
Natsu: "I know, I'll make so for you first."
"Gengar~! (`▽′)"
The mountain café turned out to be a waitress café… Natsu had no idea what the owner was thinking, opening this in the middle of nowhere.
A waitress in a short-styled uniform, her features delicate, froze for a mont upon seeing Natsu's face.
"Here's your—"
Another waitress nudged her, and the first quickly clutched the tray to her chest, bowing hastily.
"Your Moomoo Milk and apple pie, please enjoy!"
Cynthia didn't seem bothered. Fingers interlaced under her chin, she watched Natsu with a gentle smile.
"You're quite popular."
"The Sinnoh Champion isn't any different."
"I've never… had that kind of experience," Cynthia murmured, glancing around, cheeks faintly pink.
She ant romantic experiences.
Natsu's apple pie nearly fell from his mouth. He wiped his lips with a napkin and nodded.
"Sa here."
For so reason, Cynthia felt a sense of balance restored. She slid the Cheri Berry pie toward him.
"For you."
"You're not eating it?"
"Don't you like Cheri Berries?" Cynthia asked, puzzled.
"Uh…"
Natsu stared miserably at the honey-drizzled pie, feeling the agony of being force-fed.
"I'll eat it!"
The two waitresses hugged their trays, exchanging a look of shared suffering.
So THIS is why they ordered so much?!
If you can't finish, just feed it to soone in need!
...
Solaceon Town wasn't far from Celestic Town, so there was no need to rush.
That afternoon, as planned, the two followed a lush green path to the Solaceon Ruins.
After ten minutes, the palace-like ruins ca into view, its arched entrance standing tall.
"Are those… Dialga and Palkia?"
Natsu eyed the vaguely familiar statues outside the ruins.
Cynthia nodded, her black coat swaying as she strode forward in high heels.
"Over here," she called. "There's sothing I want to show you."
"Let see!"
Beneath the Dialga statue was an inscription.
Cynthia traced the words lightly with her finger, reciting softly:
"Every eting of life with life…"
She moved to the other statue, completing the phrase:
"...gives birth to sothing new."
Then she stood between the statues, arms crossed, golden hair cascading to her waist.
"These are my favorite words."
A pause. Her voice lowered.
"Now I'm giving them to you."
Natsu blinked, then grinned.
"I'll tell you mine when I think of one."
"Such as?" Cynthia tilted her head.
"Like 'As expected of Natsu-sensei!' or 'Pokémon and Trainers resonate with each other!'—stuff like that."
"I'll look forward to it," Cynthia said, smiling.
The ringing of Rotom Dex shattered the warm silence.
"Beep… Incoming call, Rotom!"
Natsu glanced at the screen and nearly cursed aloud.
These three idiots actually have phone credit now?!
He answered, imdiately t with sobbing.
"Executive! Help! We're stuck again!!"
Natsu sighed deeply.
Oh, so NOW you know what 'again' ans?!
"Call after you've been blasted off," Natsu said flatly. (They'd be fine.)
"Nooo!! We barely got signal inside the ruins—you're our only hope!"
Natsu stared blankly, then turned toward the arched entrance. "Which ruins?"
"We were outsmarting this Pokémon Hunter J lady, but then we fell into our own Dig trap and wound up inside the Solaceon Ruins, ow!" owth wailed.
"Uh… that Dig trap," Jas added sheepishly. "Pretty sure we dug it?"
"Shut up!" Jessie and owth snapped.
"Solaceon Ruins?"
"Yeah! The place full of Unown—AHH, HELP!!"
The call cut out.
Natsu scanned the ruins. Faint explosions echoed from within.
Pokémon Hunter J was a notorious figure in Sinnoh. Even after Team Rocket's reform, she'd evaded capture repeatedly.
For these three to hold their own against her was… impressive, in a way.
"What's wrong?" Cynthia asked.
Natsu summarized the Team Rocket trio's situation.
Cynthia frowned slightly.
"You seem… quite close with Team Rocket?"
"Even Red joined Team Rocket once."
Not the ti to explain. Natsu shrugged. "They're… friends. I help when I can."
Cynthia slid her hands into her coat pockets, not pressing further. Her gaze shifted to the ruins.
"Then… shall we go in together?"
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