"Not now, though." Jason pivoted. "First I'm collecting every Paldea Gym Badge."
At that answer, Cynthia blinked—then those calm, clever gray eyes rippled with a lovely smile. She couldn't help reaching out with her other hand to pinch his springy body.
"What? You want to be Champion too?" Her tone teased, but behind it was genuine fondness.
"Of course." Jason answered without missing a beat; he even tried to "straighten up" his blobby form to look imposing. "I told you before—I won't just be the strongest Pokémon, I'm going to be the strongest Trainer, too!"
Coming out of a harmless pink slime, the declaration had a ridiculous kind of charm. But Cynthia didn't laugh at him. She watched him—the simple black-dot eyes with that steady seriousness—and her smile grew softer, more doting.
"Good, good." She withdrew her hand and instead patted his "head." "I believe you."
She held his gaze and added gently, "When you really do become Paldea's Champion, let's have a proper spar, you and I."
"Deal!" Jason shot back, unflinching.
Cynthia chuckled and let it drop. She tugged over a thin coverlet and pulled it up over Jason—and over herself. The light clicked off. Darkness fell, and only the moon spilled silently across the floor.
"Good night, Jason."
"Good night, Cindy."
Jason didn't fall asleep at once. He pulled up his personal status pane.
[Name: Jason | Species: Ditto | Ability: Limber | Type: Normal |
Base Stats:
HP: 82
Atk: 48
Def: 48
SpA: 48
SpD: 48
Spe: 48
Unassigned: 0
Held Items: Wide Lens, Bent Spoon, Tera Orb. Available Forms: Ceruledge, Armarouge, Garchomp, Tinkaton, Roaring Moon, Iron Valiant…]
This Zero foray paid off big. Not only did he secure a Tera Orb—he filled a pile of Dex pages: Glimmet line, Roaring Moon, Iron Bundle, Iron Valiant, Brute Bonnet, Gabite line, Garchomp, Lucario, Feebas, Eevee, Togepi, Spiritomb, Gastly. The entries pushed his HP way up and made his in-battle toolbox far richer.
Next morning, sunshine poured down. Paldea's international airport thrummed with partings and reunions. Beyond the span of glass, planes laced the blue with contrails.
At the VIP lounge, Jason, Iono, and Nemona came to see Cynthia off. After a night's rest, she'd regained all her Sinnoh-Champion poise. Black coat, gold hair perfect, faint smile in place—only her eyes held a quieter note of parting.
"I can make it from here." She turned with a smile.
"Safe travels, Cindy," Jason said first.
"Cynthia, next time you're in Paldea I'm treating you to our best sweets!" Nemona waved like a banner.
"Miss Champion, don't forget my stream when you get back! I'll promo you on-air!" Iono never wasted a plug.
Cynthia answered each in turn, but her gaze, inevitably, settled on Jason. She seemed to be committing him to memory. Then as if remembering something, the corner of her mouth curled; in a half-joking, half-earnest tone she made the same invitation she'd been turned down on last night:
"Jason, not going to reconsider coming to Sinnoh with me?"
The air froze for a beat. Iono and Nemona's sunny faces clicked off like switches. They stepped up in perfect sync, flanking Jason left and right like two kittens guarding their bowl, eyes sharp as knives at Cynthia.
"Um… Miss Champion," Iono said first with a sugar-sweet smile whose meaning was anything but, "there's only one flight a day from Paldea to Sinnoh. You should hurry to the gate. Would be a shame to miss it."
"Yeah, exactly!" Nemona chimed in hard. "Planes don't wait. Not even for Champions. Better get moving—don't hold up official business."
Between the lines: beat it, stop poaching our Ditto.
As if Cynthia couldn't hear the subtext. Watching the two brats bristle like guard dogs—terrified she'd whisk him away—she didn't get angry; she almost laughed. The little ache of parting in her chest eased, brightened by mischief. She ignored them and kept her eyes on Jason, sweetening the bait.
"Jason, Sinnoh has plenty of Pokémon you won't find in Paldea. And our poffins beat your sandwiches, hands down. Most importantly…" She stretched the words out, kept speaking under their mounting glares, and dropped it lightly: "I'll give you one-on-one Champion coaching. With my help, your 'strongest Trainer' goal will take half the time."
Direct hit.
Iono bristled. She hugged Jason's body to her chest like a prized merch drop. "We've got Pokémon Sinnoh doesn't, too! And Jason is my exclusive stream guest! If he leaves, my millions of fans will be heartbroken! You can't trample so many fans' feelings for personal reasons, Miss Champion!"
She darted Jason a look: Say you're staying.
Nemona wouldn't be outdone. She didn't grab, but she did step in, battle-heat bright in her eyes. "Paldean Trainers should stay in Paldea! Jason's goal is to challenge our Gyms and become our Champion! Miss Cynthia, your League is packed with talent—no need to poach ours."
Jason, in the middle, felt like a tug-of-war rope about to fray. He glanced left at Iono, right at Nemona, and then at Cynthia's cat-watching-a-fish smile.
"Er… everyone, relax, I—" he tried to smooth things.
"You don't get to talk!" the two snapped in chorus.
Jason: …All right. You three sort it out.
Cynthia, taking in their united front, only smiled wider. Arms folded, she drawled, "You're not wrong. But growth needs horizon. Stay in one place too long and you stunt. Jason's got the potential—do you want to pen him inside tiny Paldea?"
Which reframed their "stay!" as fair—in name—yet selfish. Iono puffed her cheeks. "Who says Paldea is tiny! Gorgeous vistas, rich bounty, and Tera phenomena you won't see anywhere else! Plus our Treasure Hunt—only here can Jason grow most completely!"
"Right!" Nemona boomed. "And only in Paldea can he have a rival who'll battle anytime, anywhere—me! He won't find a more enthusiastic opponent in Sinnoh!"
Jason cut her a look: facts, though…
Cynthia lifted a brow. "Sinnoh has no shortage of opponents. Our friend Mr. Steven Stone from Hoenn likes to travel—might bump into him. Failing that, I can spar him personally. I think my skill is decent."
Nemona faltered. A personal set with a Champion… that's a heavy lure. For a second she nearly talked herself into tagging along.
Iono yanked her sleeve and deployed her finisher. "Maybe we can't match your power—yet—but we beat you on popularity! If Jason stays and keeps guesting my stream, I guarantee within three months he'll be the world's hottest Pokémon star! Front rows, fans everywhere! You got that in Sinnoh?"
"Fame, hm?" Cynthia nodded thoughtfully. "Nice, but for a Trainer who really pursues strength… a hollow prize, don't you think?" She looked to Jason again, plainly asking for his take.
Jason's head throbbed. Thank the sky the boarding call chimed: "Now boarding for Jubilife City…" Final whistle blown.
Iono and Nemona both visibly breathed out. Cynthia knew the joke had run its course. Mischief faded from her face; warm focus took its place.
"Enough teasing. I've already handed you Mr. Steven's friend's contact—expert on minerals and specialty Poké Balls. About that ball you asked about, he might have ideas. Reach out."
Jason nodded at once. The real business. "Thanks, Cindy."
"Dummy—no need for thanks." She lifted a hand to ruffle him like last night, paused at the sight of two death-stares from either side, and softened it to a light tap. "I'm off."
"Safe flight!" Jason waved.
She nodded, gave the three one last look, and turned, stride smooth and sure toward the gate.
Only when that sleek silhouette vanished down the jet bridge did Iono and Nemona sag like they'd just survived a boss phase.
"Phew… finally gone," Iono thumped her chest.
"Mm." Nemona nodded—and then, as if by pact, each flanked Jason again left and right.
"Jason, you are not sneaking off after her," Iono warned.
"Yeah. You don't leave Paldea until you beat me," Nemona declared, sovereign as ever.
Jason could only smile wryly and nod.
Outside, a plane lifted through the glass and climbed for the horizon. All three turned and waved instinctively.
"Come visit Paldea again sometime, Miss Cynthia!"
"When I'm Champion I'll come to Sinnoh and challenge you!"
Their voices washed into the terminal bustle—but their hearts, surely, reached the clouds.
When the jet vanished, Jason turned—only for both girls to preempt him.
"All right, Miss Cynthia's headed home. I've got to reopen the Gym; challengers have been queued for days," Iono announced.
"Same. I've been out of school long enough—lots to handle as Student Council President," Nemona added.
They glanced at Jason and, in perfect sync, said, "Jason, we'll head out first. Come find us when you can."
Jason: ???
Just now you were terrified I'd get stolen. Now I'm chopped liver?
He sighed, saw them off, then looked over his shoulder at Gast (Haunter) and Iron Valiant.
~~~
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