Pursuing Cynthia

Chapter 7: Plans, Pranks, and Public Embarrassment

Eterna City had an energy to it that was hard to ignore. Trainers bustled from place to place, eager to prove their skills, while others haggled with merchants over the price of berries. Everywhere I turned, someone looked like they knew exactly what they were doing.

Naturally, I stuck out like a Bidoof in a flock of Pidgey.

"Alright, we need a game plan," I said, pacing back and forth near a fountain in the city square. "Something to make sure we don't walk into that Gym looking like amateurs."

Chatot tilted its head. "You mean like you already do?"

I glared at it. "No negativity. This is a brainstorming session."

"Brainstorming implies a brain," Chatot said. "Do you even know what type Gardenia uses?"

"Yes," I said, puffing out my chest. "Grass-types. The guy at the Pokémon Center told me."

"Wow, your detective skills are unmatched," Chatot said. "Maybe next you can figure out that the sky is blue and water is wet."

Ignoring the sarcasm, I sat down on the edge of the fountain, watching as Psyduck waddled around, staring blankly at the water.

"Okay," I said, thinking aloud. "We have Gible, which is… not ideal against Grass-types. Psyduck is, uh… Psyduck. And Shroomish is also Grass, so that's out. Bidoof…"

"Don't say it," Chatot interrupted. "Don't pretend Bidoof is going to save the day."

"Bidoof could be a sleeper hit," I argued.

As if on cue, Bidoof rolled onto its back nearby, legs flailing in the air.

"Sure," Chatot said. "A real powerhouse."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "We need to find something strong against Grass-types. Maybe a Fire-type or a Flying-type."

"Oh, great idea," Chatot said. "Too bad you're about to make it impossible to find one."

"What are you talking about?"

Before Chatot could answer, a kid ran past, holding a net and chasing after a flock of Starly. One of the birds swooped low, startling Bidoof, who promptly panicked and ran in circles, bleating like a lost sheep.

"Bidoof, stop it," I said, trying to grab it.

"Now you've scared the Starly," Chatot said, flapping its wings. "This is why we can't have nice things."

The Starly scattered, one of them swooping low and knocking my hat off before disappearing into the trees.

I stood there, hatless and defeated, while Chatot snickered.

"Good job," Chatot said. "You've officially scared away every potential Flying-type in the area."

"Let's just go train," I muttered, picking up my hat and jamming it back onto my head.

We headed toward a grassy area on the outskirts of the city, where wild Pokémon were more plentiful. Bidoof recovered quickly from its meltdown and waddled alongside me, looking completely unbothered. Psyduck, as usual, stared off into the distance, lost in its own world.

"Alright," I said, scanning the area. "We just need to find something useful. Something strong. Something—"

My sentence was cut off by a loud squawk as a Murkrow swooped down from a nearby tree, aiming straight for me.

I ducked just in time, but the bird wasn't done. It circled around and dive-bombed my bag, snatching a berry from the pocket before flying off.

"Hey!" I yelled, running after it.

"Careful," Chatot said. "If it poops on you, I'm not cleaning it up."

The Murkrow landed on a branch, cawing loudly as it enjoyed its stolen prize. I glared up at it, trying to decide if I should bother chasing it or just let it have the berry.

"Do something," Chatot said. "This is the closest thing to action you've had all day."

"Fine," I said, grabbing Gible's Poké Ball. "Gible, let's scare it off."

Gible appeared in a flash of light, growling up at the Murkrow. The bird squawked again, flapping its wings as if daring us to come closer.

"Dragon Rage," I said.

Gible let loose a burst of energy that shook the tree, causing the Murkrow to squawk in surprise and drop the berry. It fluttered off into the sky, leaving us victorious.

"Good work, Gible," I said, picking up the berry.

Chatot landed on my shoulder, tilting its head. "You realize this means you just had a full-on battle with a bird over a snack, right?"

"I'm counting it as a win," I said.

"Of course you are."

We continued searching the area, but after an hour of wandering and encountering nothing but Bidoof and Wurmple, I was starting to lose hope.

"This isn't working," I said, flopping onto a patch of grass.

"Wow, what a surprise," Chatot said. "You're bad at something."

I glared at it. "What do you suggest, then?"

Chatot paused, as if deep in thought. "Quit."

"Not an option."

"Fine," it said. "Why not just use your existing team and wing it, like you always do? It's not like planning is your strong suit."

I thought about it for a moment. Chatot wasn't wrong—my team wasn't exactly ideal, but they'd gotten me this far. Maybe it was time to stop overthinking and just focus on making the most of what I had.

"Alright," I said, standing up. "We'll train with what we've got. No more chasing wild Pokémon, no more distractions."

Chatot let out a sarcastic cheer. "Finally. Progress."

As we headed back toward the city, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was going to be another disaster. But hey, at least it would be my disaster.

As we walked back into Eterna City, I noticed something was off. The atmosphere felt a little too lively, like the whole town was buzzing with anticipation.

"Is there a festival going on?" I asked, looking around.

Chatot tilted its head. "If there is, they probably heard you were coming and declared it 'Local Disaster Awareness Day.'"

Ignoring the bird's endless sass, I followed the crowd toward the city square. A small stage had been set up, surrounded by Trainers and spectators. At the center stood a tall man in an obnoxiously sparkly outfit, gesturing dramatically as he spoke.

"Welcome, one and all, to Eterna City's Pokémon Showcase! Witness incredible battles, dazzling displays of skill, and—most importantly—free snacks for participants!"

My stomach growled audibly.

"There it is," Chatot said. "The real reason you're interested."

I ignored the jab and pushed through the crowd, making my way toward the registration table. A bored-looking woman sat behind it, scribbling names into a logbook.

"I'd like to join," I said, trying to sound confident.

The woman raised an eyebrow, looking me up and down. "You sure about that?"

"Of course," I said. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Before she could answer, Chatot leaned closer to my ear. "Because you're about as coordinated as a Psyduck doing yoga."

I shoved Chatot off my shoulder, which only made the registration woman's eyebrow climb higher.

"Name?" she asked.

I gave it, and she jotted it down before handing me a number.

"Good luck," she said, though her tone suggested she wasn't entirely convinced I'd survive.

I joined the other participants near the stage, glancing nervously at the Pokémon they had with them. One Trainer had a Charmeleon casually flexing its claws. Another had a Kadabra meditating, its spoon glowing faintly.

And then there was me, with a Bidoof chewing on its own tail, a Psyduck staring at a cloud, and a Chatot that was actively trying to sabotage my confidence.

"This is going to be great," Chatot said, flapping back onto my shoulder. "I can't wait to see how fast you lose."

"I'm not going to lose," I said, though my voice lacked conviction.

The host stepped onto the stage, his voice booming through a microphone. "Let the Eterna Pokémon Showcase begin!"

The first Trainer stepped forward, sending out their Kadabra. It levitated its spoon and made it glow with a rainbow of colors, drawing gasps from the crowd.

The next Trainer's Charmeleon performed an impressive display of Ember, lighting a series of torches arranged on the stage.

I felt a bead of sweat roll down my face.

When it was my turn, I stepped onto the stage, trying to ignore the stares from the audience.

"Let's show them what we've got, Gible," I said, tossing out its Poké Ball.

Gible appeared, growling enthusiastically.

"Use Dragon Rage!" I said.

Gible unleashed a blast of energy that… completely missed its mark and blew apart one of the decorative torches.

The crowd fell silent, save for one guy in the back who let out a poorly disguised laugh.

"Strong start," Chatot muttered.

"Let's try again!" I said, my voice a little shaky. "Dragon Rage, but aim lower this time!"

Gible growled and fired another blast, which hit a stack of props on the side of the stage, sending them flying into the audience.

A small child caught a foam boulder and cheered, but the rest of the crowd was less amused.

"Alright, maybe we'll try something different," I said, waving awkwardly to the audience. "Bidoof, your turn!"

Bidoof waddled onto the stage, looking absolutely thrilled to be there.

"Okay, use Rollout!" I said.

Bidoof spun into action, rolling across the stage in a perfect arc… before veering off course and crashing directly into the host, who let out a loud yelp as he fell backward into a pile of confetti.

The crowd burst into laughter.

I stood there, frozen, unsure if I should laugh along or try to apologize.

"Thank you for your, uh… unique performance," the host said, brushing confetti off his sparkly suit as he climbed back to his feet.

I recalled Bidoof and slinked off the stage, my face burning.

Chatot let out a wheezy laugh. "You know, I don't think they'll forget you anytime soon."

"Let's just go," I muttered.

I tried to leave the square as quickly as possible, but I barely made it a few steps before bumping into someone.

"Oh, sorry—" I started, then froze when I saw who it was.

Cynthia stood in front of me, her usual calm smile firmly in place.

"Hello again," she said. "I saw your performance."

I stared at her, my brain short-circuiting. "You did?"

"It was… creative," she said, her tone polite but unreadable.

I felt like melting into the pavement. "Thanks. I think."

She chuckled softly. "It's good to see you trying new things. Not every Trainer is willing to step out of their comfort zone."

Chatot leaned closer. "I think she's trying not to laugh at you."

"I'll, uh, do better next time," I said, scratching the back of my head.

"I'm sure you will," Cynthia said. "Keep it up."

She walked away, leaving me standing there with a mix of embarrassment and something that felt suspiciously like hope.

"She didn't call you a lost cause," Chatot said. "That's progress."

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "This day can't get worse."

At that moment, a Wingull flew overhead and dropped something wet on my shoulder.

Chatot cackled. "Oh, this is the best day ever."

I stood there, staring into the distance, wondering if it was possible to file a complaint against the universe.

I trudged back toward the Pokémon Center, my head hanging low. The laughter from the crowd still echoed in my ears, and the image of Bidoof crashing into the host replayed on an endless loop in my mind.

Chatot perched smugly on my shoulder. "So, just to recap: you destroyed the stage, humiliated yourself in front of an entire city, and somehow managed to make Cynthia think you're a performance artist instead of a Trainer. Great work."

"Don't remind me," I muttered.

"Too late. It's permanently seared into your legacy."

I let out a long sigh, trying to block out the bird's incessant commentary. Psyduck waddled behind me, looking as unbothered as ever, while Bidoof occasionally stopped to chew on the edges of lampposts. Gible was already back in its Poké Ball, probably trying to avoid being associated with the disaster.

And then there was Murkrow.

The dark-feathered menace perched on a nearby fence, cawing loudly as if mocking me. It had followed me ever since I'd caught it back in the forest, but it didn't seem particularly interested in listening to commands or even acknowledging that it was part of my team.

"Murkrow," I said, stopping to glare at it. "Can you at least try to behave like a team player?"

It tilted its head, then let out a loud squawk and flew off, disappearing over the rooftops.

Chatot cackled. "Looks like your 'team' just ghosted you."

"Do you think I should let it go?" I asked, watching as the Murkrow became a distant speck in the sky.

"Probably," Chatot said. "It's not exactly pulling its weight. Unless you count stealing berries and screeching at children."

I sighed. "Yeah, I think it's time. I'll release it officially when we're outside the city."

"Finally, a good decision," Chatot said. "You're learning."

I ignored the sarcasm and headed into the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy greeted me with her usual overly cheery smile.

"Welcome back," she said. "How can I help you?"

"Just healing my Pokémon," I said, placing their Poké Balls on the counter.

"And possibly my pride," I muttered under my breath.

Chatot let out a low whistle. "She's going to need a full Restore for that."

I shot Chatot a glare, but Nurse Joy didn't seem to notice as she took my Pokémon and disappeared into the back.

As I waited, I sat down in the lounge area and stared at the floor.

"So," Chatot said, breaking the silence, "what's the plan now? Besides sulking."

"We'll train," I said flatly. "And maybe… catch something better."

"Oh, so you're back to the 'catch and hope' strategy?" Chatot asked. "Bold move. Didn't work for Murkrow, but sure, let's try it again."

"Shroomish worked out," I said defensively.

"Shroomish didn't run away because it's too polite to hurt your feelings," Chatot said.

Before I could argue, Nurse Joy returned with my Pokémon, her smile as unwavering as ever. "Here you go. They're all in great shape."

"Thanks," I said, taking the Poké Balls and heading outside.

It was time to say goodbye to Murkrow.

Outside the city, I found a quiet spot near the edge of the woods. Murkrow was perched on a low branch, watching me with its usual disinterested expression.

"Alright, Murkrow," I said, pulling out its Poké Ball. "I think it's best if we go our separate ways. You don't really seem like you want to be part of the team, and I need Pokémon who are ready to work together."

Murkrow tilted its head, as if considering my words, before letting out a squawk and fluttering off into the forest.

"Well," Chatot said, "that went about as well as expected. Good riddance, I say."

"Yeah," I said softly, staring after the bird. "I hope it does okay out there."

"Don't get all sentimental," Chatot said. "It's probably already stealing someone else's berries."

I turned back toward the road, determined to focus on moving forward.

"Alright," I said, clapping my hands together. "Time to find a new teammate. Something strong, something dependable."

"Something that doesn't actively hate you," Chatot added.

I sighed.

After a bit of wandering, I stumbled upon a patch of tall grass near a small pond. It was quiet, the only sounds being the occasional rustle of leaves and the gentle ripple of water.

"This looks promising," I said, stepping into the grass.

As I walked, I kept my eyes peeled for any signs of movement. Psyduck waddled behind me, occasionally stopping to stare at random objects. Bidoof was busy sniffing the ground, its nose twitching furiously.

Then I saw it.

A small, orange-and-yellow Pokémon perched on a rock near the pond, its tail flame flickering softly.

"Is that a Charmander?" I whispered, barely daring to believe my luck.

Chatot flapped down to my shoulder. "Looks like it. Don't blow this."

I grabbed an empty Poké Ball and stepped closer, my heart pounding. The Charmander turned its head, spotting me immediately. Its eyes narrowed, and it let out a low growl.

"Alright," I said, holding up a Poké Ball. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."

Charmander responded by spitting a small Ember at my feet.

"The hard way it is," I muttered, sending out Psyduck.

"Psyduck, use Water Gun!"

Psyduck tilted its head, as if considering the command, before finally shooting a stream of water at the Charmander. The attack hit, but the Charmander quickly shook it off and countered with a Scratch.

"Don't let up, Psyduck!" I said. "Use Confusion!"

Psyduck's eyes glowed blue, and a wave of psychic energy rippled toward the Charmander, making it stumble slightly.

I grabbed my Poké Ball, my hands trembling. "Here goes nothing."

I threw the ball, watching as it struck the Charmander and sucked it inside. The ball wobbled once… twice…

Then clicked shut.

"I did it!" I yelled, holding up the ball. "We caught a Charmander!"

Chatot sighed. "Let's see how long this one sticks around."

Ignoring the bird's sarcasm, I held the Poké Ball tightly, feeling a renewed sense of determination. With Charmander on my team, things were finally starting to look up.

"Eterna Gym, here we come," I said, already imagining my victory.

Psyduck let out a deep sigh, as if it already knew how badly this was going to go.