POKEMON CHAMPION OF SINNOH - CYNTHIA
We step up to the champion. I want to lead with Betsy, but Pitch won't leave my side. I'll have to trust her.
"Knost!" Cynthia shouts waving to me as I cross the room to stand in front of her. "I've been watching your matches so far. You've gotten stronger since we last met."
"I've come to challenge your title as Pokémon Champion of Sinnoh, Cynthia." I shout.
"Right to the point." She says with a laugh and a coy smile. "No time for even a little small talk?"
"I'm serious! Don't go easy on me like you have in the past!" I yell. "I'm going to take your spot and I want to have earned it!"
"I wouldn't dare go easy on you." She smiles with narrowed eyes, unclipping a Pokeball from her belt. "You'd never forgive me if I did..."
"Then you're ready?" I say standing standing tall as Pitch steps in front of me and Cynthia nods in acknowledgment. "Ok, then! Let's go Pitch!!!! Use...."
-Pitch vs Spiritomb. Pitch uses Crunch. Spiriting uses Embargo. Pitch uses Earthquake. It's a Critical hit!!! KO!!!
-Milotic next. I switch Jon into Surf that takes him down to 87 hp. Milotic uses Aqua ring. Jon uses Wood Hammer! KO!! Jon lives the recoil on 21 HP!!!!
-Lucario comes out next as Aqua leaps out to defend Jon. Aqua takes a an Aura Sphere. Aqua dies. Betsy comes out and takes an Aura Sphere. Betsy drops to 118 HP. Betsy uses High jump Kick...KO!!!!
-Roserade next. Swap to Bonnie. An Energy ball takes Bonnie down to 116 hp. Bonnie uses Fly. Fly misses. Crit Shadowball. To 31 hp. Bonnie uses Fly, but hails still up! Bonnie lands the attack!!! Jon jumps out to try to stop the hail. He's too late. Bonnie dies to hail damage.
-Jon uses Wood Hammer in a fit of rage as Cynthia sends out Gastrodon. KO!! Jon dies to recoil.
-Pitch walks out as Garchomp comes out for Cynthia. Garchomp uses Brick Break. Pitch uses Yawn. Pitch uses Protect. I try to call Pitch back, but he refuses to return. Pitch uses Earthquake! CRITICAL HIT KO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE WIN!!!!!
WE ARE POKÉMON CHAMPIONS OF SINNOH!!!!!
Cynthia approaches me as I fall to my knees to gather my fallen Pokémon into my arms. I pick up Bonnie as Cynthia puts her hands on my face and turns my eyes up to meet hers.
"Just a few minutes ago you were the most powerful trainer. And now you might be the most powerful of all trainers." She speaks slowly and compassionately. "You gave the support to your Pokémon needed to maximize their power. And you guided them with certainty to secure victory. Like we'd hoped, together, you and these Pokémon can now overcome any challenge." She puts her hand under my chin as I try to dip my head. "Look at me.." she says as I look up, tears falling. "I'm glad I got to be your final battle for this part of your journey...things will get more complicated from here, but just believe me when I say...I love you." She says staring deep into my eyes and then stands. "Take the lift." She says pointing behind me. "I'll meet you up there."
I take a minute to mourn, calling Bonnie, Jon and Aqua back to their balls for the last time. I pass Cynthia as I step onto the elevator and wipe my face as it starts to ascend. In a matter of moments we're at the top, at least 5 stories higher than we were.
I step off of the elevator and look up to see Cynthia waiting for me.
"How did you get up here? Is there another elevator or...?" I ask a little bewildered.
"This," she says looking around, "isn't what it seems." She continues walking towards me. "Ok, close your eyes." She says smiling, looking down at me.
I close my eyes.
"Ok, now...don't freak out." I hear her say. "Open your eyes."
I open my eyes and...'I'm taller than her?' I think. I look down to check 'I'm not standing on anything...'. "How am I taller than you....?" I ask stepping back.
"Knost," Rowan says appearing out of thin air as I jump back in fear, "your last battle was splendid."
"Holy?!" I yell.
"Don't just jump through the veil like that!!!" Cynthia yells. "You scared me half to death!"
"Ha." Rowan belly laughs. "A child I enlisted to fill my Pokedex. It makes sense I be here. But I shouldn't keep referring to you as a child anymore Knost. Now that you've grown into our most decorated champion...and you're 6' 3" again."
"What is happening?!" I yell my heart trying to jump out of my chest. "Why am I taller?" I throw my arms up. 'They're hairy?' "Why are my arms hairy? Ugh?!"
"Drop the veil!" I hear Cynthia yell.
The room moves around me. The wall in front of me disappears. I see..."Enma.." I gasp. And Bonnie and Lagertha. I walk forward touching them to prove their mass. "They're real..." I say walking forward. Tango, Aqua, Jon...Ronin...Everything comes flooding back.
"They didn't die." I stop in my tracks as the memories fill my mind once again. "Red!!!" I yell as my Charizard from Kanto, Red, runs up to me and envelopes me in a huge hug. "Hey buddy!" I cry. "Oh wow! You're getting stronger! Wow and Mach and...none of them died..." I stumble into Red trying to right myself.
"That's not what this was about." Rowan shakes his head with a straight face. "Their pain was real, unfortunately, and they did have to be revived, but you know all of this just give yourself a minute and it will all be coming back to you."
"Wow." I smile wider than I can remember ever smiling before. "They're all ok!"
"You had to believe that the journey, the loss and the victories, were real." Cynthia chimes in. "You caused irreparable damage to your body when you fought having your memory wiped. That's what happened with Steven. He just...lost it."
"I was right there." I admitt shaking my head. "I can't deal with the deaths anymore."
"You chose them for a reason." Rowan says putting a hand on my shoulder, trying to reassure me. "There were options. You chose death. To numb yourself to it."
"Well it hasn't worked." I continue to shake my hand and brush his hand from my shoulder. "If I've learned anything it's that the deaths stack."
"But Knost, you were convinced.." he reiterates stepping towards me again.
"Y-you don't go numb, you just get overwhelmed!" I yell feeling the emotion of death sweep over me once again. "And they never go away! Even seeing them there, right in front of me, I can't forget!"
"Knost..." Cynthia steps towards me.
"What?!" I snap. "I'm, I'm sorry beautiful. I just...." I catch myself as I see her smile. "Beautiful?" I turn towards her. "Hey! Hey, hi!" I yell picking her up with a spinning hug.
"Hi handsome." She replies.
"Oh my gosh! Hey are you ok?" I say examining her face as she leans into to kiss me. "Are you staying safe?" I ask and she nods.
"Yes, good. Can we get back on task." Rowan interrupts. "You don't want death that's fine. In the next simulation instead of your Pokémon dying, when they faint, you will be compelled by the Hypnos to release them. Send them home."
"Ok yeah, that's better," I nod still holding Cynthia tight. I look around. "What is this all for? Why can't I remember that?!"
"You made me promise not to give you back that specific set of memories...." Cynthia says gently. "I've already broken that promise once. I can't do it again."
"Why?" I ask. "What's the worst that could happen?"
"You'd stop." Rowan interjects. "You'd let down tens of thousands of men and Pokémon protecting us so that you and the others could complete your tasks."
"But, if you need to know then...." Cynthia adds.
"No." I smile looking at her again. "Just...at some point soon..."
"I know..." she replies.
"So," I close my eyes putting memories together like puzzle pieces, "I'm earning the trust of my Pokémon and I'm earning the trust of the Legends that frequent specific regions." I set Cynthia down and start to pace. "What did we need from this region?"
"Another trainer, originally from Kanto as well, has already obtained the Legendary trio, so we just need the Heatran." Rowan says typing on a wrist band.
"What do our resources look like?" I ask.
"What you have is what we have for now." Cynthia replies.
I search through my bag "5 greatballs and 3 Ultraballs?" I ask continuing to look through the nooks in my bag.
"Sorry." Cynthia walks with me as I start to pace again. "You know how difficult Pokeballs and healing items are to come by. We have a scout team out searching, but it's becoming more and more difficult."
"The Dialga you caught can only buy us so much time and that's only if it wants to cooperate." Rowan adds.
"Thats all part of the memories I can't access?" I ask and they both nod yes. "Ok, well. Seems like time is of the essence. Get me Betsy and Pitch..." I shuffle away from them. "Let's go catch a Heatran!"
"Wise choice." Rowan nods typing away on his wrist.
"Hurry back." Cynthia adds.
"Starting temporary memory wipe for Heatran event in 3, 2, 1...." a voice calls out over a loud speaker.
Next: Heatran, the most intelligent Pokémon in the world, and the End.