Fireworks illuminated the night sky over Alamos Town.
The lody of Oración faded into silence.
Soone pulled out a mobile phone, its faint glow lighting up their face as they eagerly tapped on a song.
The opening notes of Uchiage Hanabi began to play, drawing the attention of everyone near the plaza's fountain.
"Perfect timing…" soone murmured.
"After surviving that disaster, we owe it all to Natsu-sensei… and Wallace."
"I heard this was dedicated to a friend from Sinnoh, composed by… wait, Natsu-sensei?"
"Yeah, thanks to Natsu-sensei for smashing those Temporal and Spatial Dragons."
"I—I an, this song was also written by Natsu-sensei?!"
Another firework shot into the sky, drowning out the gasps of surprise.
Natsu and Cynthia returned to a nearby hotel to rest.
"Where's Gengar?" Cynthia glanced around.
"Probably practicing boxing with Darkrai," Natsu said, recalling the classic line from The Dark Knight.
"Is it okay to let it train all night?"
Natsu sighed. "It's always like this at ho… Besides, Ghost-types't just drop dead from exhaustion."
Cynthia paused, realizing the logic, and nodded slightly.
The hotel room was cramped—a narrow bathroom, a staticky CRT TV, and a plastic nightstand.
At least it was clean, with soft lighting and a potted plant by the TV adding a touch of life.
Cynthia eyed the small double bed, then lifted her gaze to Natsu, silent.
"Even the fancy hotels need rebuilding," Natsu shrugged. "Palkia's spatial powers really dropped the ball."
"Push the beds together," Cynthia said.
"Huh?"
Cynthia bent down, her back turned as golden hair cascaded over her slender waist, and shoved the bed sideways with a grunt.
Thud!
She clapped her hands together, smiling. "There."
Natsu studied the newly ford "king-size" bed and mused,
"If you'd said that earlier, I'd have booked a different room."
"Wasn't this the only one left?" Cynthia's icy stare cut through him.
"Ah, right. Almost forgot." Natsu slapped his thigh.
Cynthia pointed to the floor beside the bed.
Natsu shook his head.
Cynthia arched a brow, her smile growing sweeter.
"Rotom, co help." Natsu crouched down. "And set an alarm for tomorrow."
Rotom Pokédex levitated over, tugging at a corner of the bedsheet.
"Roger that, Rotom~!"
Cynthia crossed her arms, watching as Natsu fluffed a pillow, her gaze softening slightly.
An hour later.
Natsu lay on the "king-size" bed, turning onto his side to face Cynthia in her blue shirt.
Moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a glow on her golden hair and sharp nose, one eye peeking out with quiet warmth.
"Aren't you hot?" Natsu asked.
"No."
"I am."
"Shh." Cynthia closed her eyes, long lashes brushing her cheeks. "We have to return to the Sinnoh League tomorrow. Sleep."
Her voice carried exhaustion.
Rushing to Alamos Town, unlocking the space-ti rift, battling the Temporal and Spatial Dragons…
In a single day, she'd shown the resolve expected of Sinnoh's Champion.
Natsu watched her steady breathing, the pale curve of her neck, her delicate face almost luminous.
Their breaths slowly synced, the only sound the ticking of an old clock.
After a long mont, Natsu leaned in, brushing a kiss against her lips before turning away.
"Sylveon, use Yawn."
"Sylveon~(´ω｀)"
Moonlight bathed the room, a breeze stirring the curtains as a faint blush colored the golden-haired beauty's cheeks.
...
April 1st, Thursday. Clear skies, no wind.
Alamos Town was decked in decorations, Drifloons drifting overhead.
Natsu sat on the edge of the bed, dark circles under his eyes, yawning.
"My physique is turning Ash-like? Even Yawn can miss now?"
Cynthia was changing, slipping into her signature black trench coat over the blue shirt.
Black wide-leg pants, high heels, a flick of her golden hair cascading down her back.
"The Spear Key, Lustrous Orb, and Adamant Orb…" Cynthia frowned. "I might need to take them to Grandmother for analysis."
Natsu nodded.
The reason he'd been able to summon the "Red Chain" was due to the Spear Key's recognition back in Solaceon Ruins.
It involved archaic script, ripple aura—maybe even the "Rainbow Wing's" influence.
Now, the Spear Key had gone dormant, acting like it didn't know him.
The Lustrous and Adamant Orbs still reacted faintly to his aura, but barely.
Natsu clicked his tongue.
"These orbs are total tsunderes. Just like those dragons."
At least he'd snagged fragnts. He'd load them into Rotom later.
Cynthia hesitated. "About that Red Chain…"
Natsu looked up. "You've got your duties as Champion. Do what you need to."
Cynthia's eyes flickered before she gave a firm nod.
When Natsu had chained the dragons, she'd felt a flicker of fear.
For a mont, he'd mirrored figures like Cyrus, Lysandre…
Even the shadowed legend of Kanto, Giovanni, long absent from the scene.
"Natsu." Cynthia took a deep breath, golden hair framing determined eyes. "No matter what, I'll be here."
The mood turned solemn. Their eyes t, and a smile tugged at her lips.
"Until the day you take my place at the Sinnoh League."
"That's when we go public?" Natsu's eyes glead.
Cynthia averted her gaze. "Y-You'd need to confess properly again first."
"Then I'll go buy a ring. Diancie brand work for you?"
"Confessing isn't proposing."
"Got it. I'll pick an auspicious date and head to Celestic Town to ask for your hand."
"Don't bother Grandmother!"
...
The azure sky stretched endlessly, a white contrail streaking across it as Garchomp soared past at breakneck speed.
Seeing the usually composed Cynthia blush was a rare sight indeed.
Natsu gazed up at the sky, his mood lifting.
Could this be...
"Cynthia Young Lady, Want to Confess?"
As for those two orbs... the backlash was too severe. Even if they were handed to him for free, Natsu wouldn't take them.
Unless, one day, the Temporal and Spatial Dragons ca begging—then he might reluctantly consider using them.
With a haughty hum, Natsu tapped Pick Up and retrieved the Lustrous Orb·Fragnt and Adamant Orb·Fragnt.
At first glance, they were just shiny pearls and diamonds—only smaller.
"Anything under a carat is basically scrap."
Natsu pinched the diamond between his fingers, squinting at it, then glanced at the pearl.
"Hmm... Even if they're useless, I could probably sell them to Steven for a mansion."
Fortunately, Natsu wasn't too obsessed with money these days.
A mansion would co naturally once the ga launched.
Worst case, he could always... rely on softer options.
"Rotom!" Natsu called out. "Co here! I'm giving you an upgrade!"
Rotom floated over, its chanical arms scratching its head in confusion as it eyed the shiny objects in Natsu's hand.
"I get it, Rotom!"
Its eyes suddenly lit up.
"This is Alamos Town's treasure!"
Natsu: "...Well, you're not wrong."
Rotom could automatically adjust its forms based on whatever object it possessed.
Loading the pearl and diamond was surprisingly simple—just a flicker of electricity, and it was done.
"How do you feel?" Natsu asked eagerly.
"Burp~" Rotom hiccuped. "Full, Rotom!"
"Once you're full, continue working. Today we need to make seven cans of Pokéblocks."
"System Overload, Rotom!(⊙x⊙;)"
...
After so experintation, Natsu realized the so-called "ti and space" enhancents mostly just improved GPS accuracy and clock precision...
Natsu: "Two mansions worth of power... for this?"
Rotom puffed up proudly. "No more navigation errors, Rotom!"
Natsu: "...Okay, that's actually useful."
His old GPS had a habit of dumping him in the middle of lakes.
But with Palkia's spatial powers backing it up? Was there any GPS more precise?!
"Guess even if I get locked in a dungeon, I can count on Rotom to call for help now."
Thinking back to the anomalies in Alamos Town, Natsu rubbed his chin.
"If I can't reach Red... at least I can ask Ruby's Celebi for backup."
Additionally, Rotom had mastered Ally Switch and Electric Terrain with newfound proficiency.
Now, shouting "Rotom, save !" would trigger an instant Ally Switch.
Even against Ash in a wild battle, he stood a chance...
Natsu: "...Ash wouldn't punch Rotom into scrap tal, right? Probably not..."
"System Overload, Rotom!o(╥﹏╥)o"
As for the ti-based functions, Rotom's tirs were flawlessly precise—whether as an alarm clock or for cooking, not a millisecond off.
As everyone knew, legendary-tier appliances ca with preservation, flavor-enhancing, and other premium features.
Ingredients left in Fridge Rotom erged upgraded.
Dishes cooked in Oven Rotom tasted even better.
This was the power of legendary kitchenware in the hands of a true chef.
Natsu's eyes widened in realization.
"Good grief. With space-ti-forged utensils, what hope does the dark cuisine world have against ?!"
Rotom Pokédex blinked in confusion.
"Hurry up with those Pokéblocks. Next ti, I'll tell you the tale of Detective Wash Rotom."
"Long live understanding, Rotom!(✧ω✧)"
...
With the two fragnts loaded, Rotom's appearance hadn't changed much—just diamond and pearl accents added to the sides of its Pokédex form, giving it an oddly "luxurious" vibe.
Natsu paused. "Will other forms have these too?"
Rotom scratched its head. "They're tucked in the corners, barely noticeable, Rotom!"
"I see..." Natsu sighed in disappointnt.
"And here I was hoping to casually flex my Rotom·Diamond Rolex."
Rotom: Σ(°△°|||)︴
Trainer's tastes are... unique, Rotom!
...
The fragnts needed ti to fully integrate, so Rotom's upgrades remained subtle for now.
Natsu left the hotel, planning to grab lunch before checking on Gengar.
At the Pokémon Center buffet, he happened to run into Ash.
"Natsu-sensei," Ash slurped spaghetti noisily. "You look exhausted."
Setting down his Moomoo Milk and croissant, Natsu took a seat with a sigh.
"Couldn't move all night."
"Couldn't move?" Ash's limited move knowledge kicked in. "Like Hyper Beam recoil?"
"...Close enough," Natsu muttered, lifting his glass.
"Wait...!" Ash's eyes sparkled with realization. "You were training to use Hyper Beam all night?!"
Natsu choked. "Cough! Hack!"
Ash's fists clenched in excitent, flas practically dancing in his eyes.
"I knew it! Humans can learn Pokémon moves!"
That had to be Natsu-sensei's secret to strength!
Heads turned at nearby tables.
Natsu's expression turned complicated.
"This is how weird rumors get started..."
"Did Riley from Iron Island teach you that?"
"Yeah! He can fire Aura Sphere with his bare hands!"
"Keep at it." Natsu gave Ash's shoulder a firm pat. "Aim to one-shot Bewear with an Aura Sphere."
Then he turned to gaze out the window, his face bathed in what could only be described as "the light of justice."
Ash, abandoning his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master to instead master the art of firing Aura Sphere with his fists...
Could this... be the path he'd never imagined?
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