Pursuing Cynthia

Chapter 3: Of Rivalries and Rare Encounters

After leaving Oreburgh City, I felt like a man on a mission. Sure, I'd just been obliterated by Mira in front of a crowd, and sure, my team consisted of a burping Bidoof, a perpetually annoyed Psyduck, and a snarky Chatot—but I had something more important than skill.

I had determination.

And also, a growing list of injuries from my questionable decisions.

Route 207 was a rugged, hilly area dotted with patches of grass and the occasional boulder. It was a hotbed for wild Pokémon and young Trainers looking for a challenge. For me, it was a chance to catch something stronger.

"Alright, team," I said, surveying the terrain. "Today, we expand the roster!"

"What exactly are you hoping to find?" Chatot asked, flapping lazily beside me.

"Something that doesn't faint when you sneeze on it," I replied, glancing at Bidoof, who was happily rolling in the dirt.

Just as I was about to start searching, I heard a familiar voice.

"Well, if it isn't the guy who almost drowned Psyduck in the Gym battle."

I turned to see a boy about my age with spiky brown hair and a cocky grin. He was dressed in standard Trainer gear and carrying a Poké Ball in his hand.

"And you are?" I asked, already dreading the answer.

"The name's Dax," he said, crossing his arms. "Future Sinnoh Champion and your new rival!"

"Rival?" I blinked. "We literally just met."

"Doesn't matter," Dax said. "You're clearly aiming for the top, and I can't have you getting in my way."

Chatot snorted. "Oh, don't worry. He's more likely to trip over his own feet than get in your way."

Ignoring Chatot, Dax pointed dramatically. "I challenge you to a battle!"

Dax sent out his first Pokémon: a Machop.

"Great," I muttered. "Another Machop."

"Scared?" Dax taunted.

"No," I lied, sending out Psyduck.

"Machop, use Low Kick!"

Before I could react, Machop darted forward and swept Psyduck's legs out from under it. Psyduck flopped to the ground, groaning in frustration.

"Psyduck, Water Gun!"

Psyduck retaliated with a blast of water, sending Machop skidding backward. It wasn't enough to knock it out, but it was a start.

"Not bad," Dax said, smirking. "But let's see how you handle this. Machop, Karate Chop!"

The attack hit Psyduck squarely, and I knew it was over.

"Psyduck is unable to battle!"

"Alright, Bidoof," I said, sending out my loyal (if slightly clueless) companion. "It's all you!"

To my surprise, Bidoof actually managed to dodge Machop's next attack and land a critical Tackle, knocking it out.

Dax looked genuinely shocked. "No way! Did that Bidoof just—"

"Win?" Chatot finished. "Yes. Somehow."

Unfortunately, Dax's next Pokémon was a Ponyta.

Bidoof didn't stand a chance.

"Chatot, you're up!"

Chatot gave me a long, exasperated look before reluctantly flying onto the field.

"You owe me for this," it muttered.

"Just distract it!" I said.

To my surprise, Chatot managed to avoid most of Ponyta's attacks by flapping erratically and squawking insults. Ponyta grew visibly frustrated, and Chatot landed a few decent Pecks before getting knocked out by a Flame Charge.

"Another win for me!" Dax declared, striking a victory pose.

"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled, recalling Chatot.

As Dax walked away, promising to crush me again in the future, I couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and determination.

"I'll get stronger," I muttered. "Just you wait."

As I trudged along the route, licking my wounds, I heard a familiar voice.

"Are you alright?"

I turned to see Cynthia standing a few feet away, her golden hair shining in the sunlight. She had her Garchomp by her side, and her expression was one of genuine concern.

"Oh, hi!" I said, trying to act casual while hiding my bruised ego. "I'm fine! Just… training."

She glanced at my team, most of whom were either fainted or chewing on rocks. "Training can be tough at first," she said, offering a small smile. "But you'll get there."

Her encouragement was like a Hyper Potion for my soul.

"Thanks," I said, scratching the back of my head. "I guess it's all part of the journey, right?"

"Exactly," she said. "Every battle is a step forward, even the losses."

I nodded, feeling slightly less like a failure.

As she turned to leave, she paused and looked back. "Oh, and take this. It might help."

She handed me a small bag of berries before walking away, her Garchomp following closely behind.

For a moment, I just stood there, clutching the berries like they were the greatest treasure in the world.

"Did you see that?" I whispered to Chatot, who was perched on my shoulder. "She smiled at me!"

Chatot rolled its eyes. "Congratulations. You're now marginally less pathetic in her eyes."

But I didn't care. Progress was progress.

With Cynthia's words echoing in my mind, I felt a renewed sense of determination.

"Alright, team," I said, turning to my motley crew. "No more messing around. It's time to get serious."

"Define 'serious,'" Chatot said.

"Simple," I said, holding up the berries. "We train, we catch stronger Pokémon, and we prepare for the next Gym."

"And then what?" Chatot asked.

"And then," I said, grinning, "we show Dax, Mira, and everyone else that we're not to be underestimated."

Bidoof burped. Psyduck sighed. Chatot muttered something about delusions of grandeur.

But deep down, I knew we were finally on the right track.

Armed with Cynthia's berries, a vague sense of encouragement, and an even vaguer understanding of what I was doing, I marched forward with renewed determination.

"This is it," I said, holding up the berries like they were the Holy Grail. "These are the key to our success!"

"How exactly?" Chatot asked, perched on my shoulder.

"Well," I said, thinking quickly, "we'll use them to heal up, train harder, and… uh… bond as a team!"

Psyduck stared at me blankly, while Bidoof tried to eat one of the berries, stem and all.

Chatot sighed. "We're doomed."

Despite Chatot's pessimism, I was determined to make progress. We spent the next couple of hours battling wild Pokémon, honing our skills, and occasionally getting chased by angry Geodude.

Psyduck's Water Gun became more accurate, and Bidoof discovered it could learn Rollout, which was a game-changer. Chatot, meanwhile, spent most of its time dodging attacks and providing unhelpful commentary.

"Nice miss!" it squawked as Bidoof's Rollout slammed into a tree instead of a Zubat.

"Focus, Bidoof!" I said, trying to sound like an authoritative Trainer.

Bidoof just wagged its tail, looking proud of itself.

Still, progress was progress, and by the time we reached the edge of Route 207, I actually felt somewhat competent.

Our path led to a cave entrance, dark and foreboding. A sign out front helpfully read: *Wayward Cave – Trainers Beware.*

"Wayward Cave, huh?" I said, peering into the darkness. "This could be a good place to find some strong Pokémon."

"It could also be a good place to get lost and eaten by wild Zubat," Chatot muttered.

Ignoring the ominous warnings, I stepped inside, only to immediately trip over a rock and fall flat on my face.

"This is going well," Chatot said dryly.

As I picked myself up, I noticed something glimmering in the shadows. At first, I thought it was a trick of the light, but then I saw it: a small, dragon-like Pokémon with glowing red eyes.

"Is that… a Gible?" I whispered, my heart racing.

Chatot squawked in disbelief. "What are the odds?!"

"Don't jinx it," I said, fumbling for my one remaining Poké Ball. "This could be the catch of a lifetime!"

The Gible noticed us and let out a playful growl, baring its tiny, razor-sharp teeth. It didn't seem hostile, but it was clearly ready for a fight.

"Alright, Psyduck," I said, sending out my partner. "This is your time to shine!"

Psyduck waddled onto the battlefield, looking more annoyed than usual.

"Use Water Gun!" I shouted.

Psyduck fired a jet of water at Gible, who dodged it effortlessly and retaliated with Sand Attack. Psyduck let out an irritated quack as sand got in its eyes, flailing around blindly.

"This is bad," I muttered.

"Understatement of the year," Chatot added.

Despite the setback, Psyduck managed to land a lucky hit, spraying Gible with water and weakening it just enough.

"This is it!" I said, hurling the Poké Ball.

The ball struck Gible, and it disappeared inside with a flash of light. The ball wobbled once… twice… three times…

*Click!*

"I DID IT!" I screamed, jumping up and down like a lunatic. "I CAUGHT A GIBLE!"

"Congratulations," Chatot said, rolling its eyes. "You've now officially peaked."

As we left Wayward Cave, I couldn't help but feel like I was finally making progress. With Gible on my team, I was one step closer to becoming a serious Trainer—and maybe, just maybe, impressing Cynthia.

Of course, fate had other plans.

The moment we stepped back into the sunlight, I heard a commotion nearby. A group of wild Stunky had surrounded a young girl, their tails raised menacingly.

"Help!" the girl cried, clutching her Pachirisu.

"Don't worry!" I shouted, rushing toward the scene. "I'll save you!"

Chatot groaned. "Oh no. Here we go again."

The Stunky turned to face me, their eyes narrowing.

"Alright, Gible," I said, sending out my newest Pokémon. "Let's show them what we've got!"

Gible growled eagerly, ready for battle.

"Use Dragon Rage!" I commanded.

To my surprise, Gible unleashed a burst of energy that sent the Stunky scattering in all directions. The girl stared at me in awe, clutching her Pachirisu tightly.

"Thank you!" she said, running over. "That was amazing!"

"No problem," I said, trying to look cool.

"That Gible is so strong!" she added. "You must be a really skilled Trainer."

Chatot snorted. "If only you knew."

As the girl walked away, I turned to see a familiar figure approaching. My heart skipped a beat as Cynthia stepped into view, her golden hair glinting in the sunlight.

"Impressive," she said, smiling faintly. "Not many Trainers could handle a group of Stunky so efficiently."

"Oh, it was nothing," I said, trying to act casual. "Just another day in the life of a future Champion."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "A future Champion, huh? Well, you certainly have the determination."

Chatot muttered something under its breath, but I ignored it.

"I see you've caught a Gible," Cynthia said, kneeling to inspect my newest team member. "That's a rare find. You must have a knack for spotting potential."

My face turned bright red. "Uh, yeah! Totally! I mean, Gible and I… we just clicked, you know?"

She chuckled softly, standing up. "Well, keep up the good work. I'll be keeping an eye on your progress."

As she walked away, I felt a mix of exhilaration and terror.

"She said she'd keep an eye on me!" I whispered to Chatot. "That's a good thing, right?"

"Sure," Chatot said. "Unless she's just waiting for you to embarrass yourself again."

But I didn't care. For the first time, I felt like I was genuinely making progress—not just as a Trainer, but as someone Cynthia might actually respect.

Cynthia's words lingered in my mind as she disappeared down the path. *"I'll be keeping an eye on your progress."* That simple sentence was enough to send my mind spinning in two very different directions. On one hand, she clearly thought I had potential. On the other, she might have just been watching for the inevitable comedy of errors that followed me like a cloud.

Chatot flapped back onto my shoulder with a sigh. "Well, that went better than expected. She didn't laugh at you outright."

"She thinks I have potential," I said, clutching Gible's Poké Ball like it was a trophy.

"She thinks you're entertaining," Chatot muttered, but I chose to ignore it.

With my spirits soaring, I turned to my ragtag team: Bidoof, who was attempting to chew on a nearby rock; Psyduck, who looked like it regretted every life decision that had led to joining my party; and Gible, who was staring up at me with a toothy grin, clearly eager for more action.

"All right, team," I said, pointing dramatically. "We've got momentum now! No more losing to guys like Dax. No more being the joke of Sinnoh. We're going to train hard, battle harder, and—"

Gible interrupted me with a loud belch, followed by a contented hiccup.

I sighed. "And maybe work on our image a little."

The path ahead twisted toward Mt. Coronet, where towering cliffs loomed like an ominous warning. As we climbed higher, the air grew colder, and the sounds of bustling towns were replaced by the occasional cry of wild Pokémon.

It wasn't long before we ran into trouble.

The first sign was the rumbling.

"Did you hear that?" I asked.

"Nope," Chatot said. "Definitely didn't hear the ground shaking and the distant sound of doom."

Before I could respond, the source of the rumbling appeared: a massive Onix, slithering down the mountain path with the grace of an angry truck.

"Run!" I shouted, diving to the side as the Onix roared and slammed into the ground where I had just been standing.

Gible, however, didn't seem fazed. It stomped forward, baring its tiny teeth at the enormous rock snake.

"No, wait!" I yelled. "We are not ready for this!"

But Gible had other ideas. It launched itself at the Onix with a Dragon Rage, the blast of energy striking true and knocking the Onix back slightly.

Slightly.

The Onix roared again, clearly annoyed, and retaliated with a Rock Throw. Gible dodged with surprising agility, landing another hit with Dragon Rage.

"Is this actually happening?" I muttered as Bidoof and Psyduck watched the battle unfold, both looking like they wanted no part of it.

To my amazement, Gible held its ground, dodging and countering with a ferocity I hadn't seen before. The Onix let out one final roar before collapsing, its massive body shaking the ground as it fainted.

Gible stood over its fallen opponent, puffing out its chest like it had just conquered Mt. Coronet itself.

"Unbelievable," Chatot said. "You somehow managed to win without tripping over your own feet."

I stared at Gible, still processing what had just happened. "You… you're amazing!"

Gible let out a happy growl, looking up at me with an expression that could only be described as, *"I know."*

The victory was short-lived, however, as the sound of approaching footsteps reminded me that we were still in the middle of a wild Pokémon-infested mountain.

"Hey, is everything okay up here?"

I turned to see a young woman with dark hair and a ponytail, wearing a miner's vest and carrying a sturdy-looking pickaxe. She looked around at the scene—the fainted Onix, Gible's triumphant pose, and me still sitting in the dirt—and raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, yeah," I said, brushing myself off. "Just… training."

She gave me a skeptical look. "Training, huh? Well, you've got guts, I'll give you that. Most new Trainers would've run from an Onix that size."

"Not me," I said, puffing up my chest. "I'm not just any Trainer."

"Uh-huh," she said, clearly unconvinced. "Name's Riley. I help with mining operations in this area, but I also keep an eye out for Trainers in trouble. You're lucky I came by—those wild Onix can get pretty nasty."

"Well, thanks, but we had it under control," I said, gesturing to Gible.

Riley smiled faintly. "Seems like you've got a strong partner there. Just be careful. Mt. Coronet isn't a place for overconfidence."

With that, she turned and headed down the path, leaving me feeling a mix of pride and mild embarrassment.

Chatot snickered. "She thinks you're reckless, you know."

"She thinks I'm brave," I corrected.

"She thinks you're a future cave accident."

Ignoring Chatot, I returned Gible to its Poké Ball and continued up the path. The climb grew steeper, the air thinner, but my resolve stronger. For the first time, I felt like I was truly making progress.

And then I saw her.

Cynthia stood on a rocky ledge, her coat fluttering in the wind, staring out at the horizon. She looked like a painting brought to life, the golden light of the setting sun casting a halo around her.

My heart skipped several beats.

"Hi!" I called, waving like an idiot.

She turned, her expression softening when she saw me. "It's you again. How's the journey going?"

"Great!" I said, trying to sound confident. "We just took down an Onix!"

Her eyebrows raised slightly. "An Onix? Impressive."

"Well, it was mostly Gible," I admitted, scratching the back of my head. "But I did some yelling and pointing, so, you know… teamwork."

She chuckled softly, and I felt like I had just won the lottery.

"You've got a good attitude," she said. "But remember, strength isn't just about battles. A true Trainer understands their Pokémon and helps them reach their full potential."

"Right," I said, nodding furiously. "I totally get that. I mean, I'm all about bonding and understanding and… uh… potential."

She smiled, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw a flicker of genuine approval in her eyes.

"Well, keep at it," she said, turning back to the horizon. "Sinnoh needs more Trainers who care about their Pokémon."

As she walked away, I felt a strange sense of accomplishment, even though I hadn't actually done anything.

"She smiled at me again," I whispered to Chatot. "That's progress, right?"

Chatot sighed. "Sure, if by progress you mean 'still not hopeless.'"

But deep down, I knew things were changing. Little by little, step by step, I was getting closer—not just to becoming a better Trainer, but to earning Cynthia's respect.

And if I happened to trip over a few rocks along the way, well, that was just part of the journey.