"Do you want to go check on Ash and the others?" Cynthia asked, looking back at Lucas while holding Shauna and Tomoyo in her arms.
Lucas pursed his lips and shook his head. "No, there's no point. We'll see them at the venue tomorrow anyway."
"How is the tournament format arranged for tomorrow? Are there still multiple matches happening at the same time?" Lucas asked, holding the cute, pink Mime Jr. in his arms.
"No, it's one match after another. After all, there are only thirty-two people, so it's just sixteen matches, which can be finished in one day. Besides, starting tomorrow, it will be held in the main venue, allowing the audience to feel the heat and passion of the battles more directly," Cynthia explained.
Lucas nodded. "That's good. It saves me from running around everywhere."
"Did you save us the best seats in the house?"
Upon hearing this, Cynthia gave a mysterious smile. "Yes, don't worry."
Seeing her mischievous smile, Lucas felt a twinge of nervousness. "Where are the seats? Tell me first."
"Don't ask. You'll know tomorrow."
Lucas: ————
"It's not going to be the seats next to you and Lucian and the others, is it?"
Cynthia paused for a moment, then continued walking toward the hotel with the two little girls, acting as if nothing had happened.
"I don't want that!"
"Are you even listening to me?"
"Has little Shauna been eating well lately?"
"Yes, I have, Big Sister Cynthia."
"That's great."
"Don't change the subject."
"What about Little Tomoyo?"
"Yes, I'm nice and full."
"You're great too."
"That's too much."
"By the way, when do you plan on taking off that red nose on your face?"
Lucas: ————
He scrambled to take off the red nose.
"I even went to the trouble of preparing lots of desserts and ice cream in advance. It seems someone isn't fortunate enough to enjoy them. Garchomp, do you want to come over and have some?" Cynthia stopped in her tracks.
She looked back and found that Lucas had already turned away, happily eating a popsicle with Gengar, each holding one.
Cynthia: ————
She looked at Garchomp.
Garchomp felt a bit embarrassed by her scorching gaze. It sharpened its scythes and looked at Cynthia.
"If she doesn't eat it, the rest is all yours, Garchomp. A whole cart full~"
"kao!————"
I definitely won't————you know me, I'm not that kind of Pokémon, it's just that he gave me too much————
Watching Garchomp run over, Cynthia gritted her teeth in frustration.
"Traitor!" Cynthia muttered.
"Exactly, traitor!"
"Yeah! Traitor!"
The three little girls accused Garchomp together.
Garchomp pretended not to hear them.
Cynthia walked along with Shauna and Tomoyo in her arms until she reached Lucas's side.
I can't handle you?
Lucas confidently put his hands on his hips in his mind.
The next morning, Lucas was braiding Tomoyo's hair while watching Shauna run out of the bathroom.
"Uncle, look, how is this?"
Shauna was wearing a Squirtle cheer outfit, a Squirtle hat on her head, and holding a small cheering flag in her hand.
"Very cute."
Upon hearing this, Shauna grinned, showing her slightly grown teeth. "Then I'll choose this outfit."
After Lucas finished braiding Tomoyo's hair, Tomoyo grabbed her clothes and ran to the bathroom. He looked at the bed full of Pokémon-themed cheer outfits; these had been sent over by Tomoyo's mother the night before.
How should I put it————
Having a female friend whose family sells clothes is simply an invincible advantage.
Tomoyo wore a pink Dragonair cheer outfit, complete with a little tail in the back.
Looking at the beautiful and cute Little Tomoyo, Lucas turned his head to glance at little Shauna.
She was wearing a turtle shell on her back, her teeth hadn't fully grown in yet, and she was munching on a sausage.
Seeing Lucas look at her, she grinned at him.
"Hehe"
Lucas apologized in his heart for comparing the two of them.
Besides Tomoyo and Shauna, the remaining Pokémon also brought their own cheering props.
Lilligant had a red flower stuck to her face and was holding a small flag. Gothitelle, acting out of character, held up a large flag with the word "Cheer" written on it. The Meowstics also put on little cheerleading skirts and held pom-poms————
"? Where's Gengar? Has anyone seen Gengar?"
Lucas looked around but couldn't find Gengar.
"It took a piece of clothing and ran out."
Tomoyo answered.
Lucas frowned, suddenly feeling that something was wrong.
"Gen gengar"
I'm back.
Speak of Gengar, and Gengar appears.
Lucas looked at Gengar.
His eyelids wouldn't stop twitching.
Gengar was dressed just like the cheerleaders on TV, wearing a pink cheer skirt, holding two little red flowers, and even had blush on its face————
Gothitelle and Lilligant gritted their teeth and closed their eyes.
Trying to convince themselves not to take action.
Lucas: ————
"Gen gengar?"
Are you stunned by my beauty?
After saying that, Gengar made a peace sign near its eyes and then winked.
Lucas: ————
"Come here for a second."
"6"
Lucas beckoned.
"Gen gengar"
What do you want?
"You come here first."
Lucas dragged Gengar over and pinned it to the bed. "Let me tell you, if you dare to go out like this today, we are through."
"Gen gengar" "6"
You are violating a Pokémon's wishes! I'm going to report you!
"The Champion of the League is one of my people, you think I'm afraid of you? Garchomp, Gothitelle, hold it down. Lilligant, go get me a wet towel."
The Pokémon took action immediately, as if they had been enduring Gengar's outfit for a long time.
"Gen gengar"
I don't want to! Little Shauna, save me!
"Oh my, I'm so full, I can't hear anything."
Help me————
Lily of the Valley Conference arena.
Lucian sat in the Elite Four's seat, watching Cynthia take her place on the Champion's throne, and asked her in confusion: "Strange, where is Lucas?"
Cynthia sat upright on the Champion's throne, looking at the empty seat below the Elite Four. "He refused to sit there."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Lucian sighed. "I was hoping to chat with him."
"Then where is he sitting?"
Aaron asked Cynthia.
Cynthia signaled with her eyes.
Everyone looked and saw Lucas walking into the special viewing area with the two little girls and a bunch of beautiful and cute Pokémon, with a dejected Gengar following behind him.
"So that's where."
Lucian said softly.
"So many Pokémon? It seems reserving this spot was a wise choice."
Flint said, looking at the Pokémon surrounding Lucas.
"The tournament has begun."
Cynthia said in a low voice.
Everyone straightened up, their expressions serious.
Lucas looked at the dejected Gengar sitting beside him. He sighed and reached out to pull at its mouth corners. "That really didn't look good. Tomorrow, I and Lilligant and the others will dress you up to look really cool, okay?"
Gengar rolled its eyes.
"Gen gengar"
It's a deal!
Seeing this, Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. "It's a deal."
Just then, a voice came from the arena.
"After many days of competition, the Top 32 of our Lily of the Valley Conference have finally been decided. Next is the even more intense Top 16 tournament, which is the opening to the most exciting part of the tournament: the Top 16, Top 8, semifinals, finals, and finally, the crowning of the Champion."
As soon as the host finished speaking, a wave of cheers erupted at the venue.
"Starting from today's matches, some of the most powerful Trainers in the Sinnoh League will be sitting in the audience every day, watching the competitors' matches and cheering for the contestants they support!"
Another wave of noise erupted.
Even Lucas couldn't help but be caught up in the excitement.
Beside him, the hopeless Gengar had already snatched Lucas's small flag and was cheering non-stop.
"Hopeless."
Gengar turned back and gave him a look.
Hmph!
As the host read out each name, spotlights shone on the Sinnoh Elite Four, triggering waves of wild cheering.
After introducing the Elite Four, the host paused for a long while.
"Next is the most powerful Trainer in our Sinnoh League, the undefeated Champion, Cynthia!!!"
The spotlight shone on Cynthia. She sat upright on the Champion's throne, a gentle yet distant smile on her face. She sat in her seat and waved her hand. "Good luck, everyone."
The cool voice had just faded.
"Ah!!!!!"
"Champion Cynthia!!!!!"
"Cynthia!!!!!"
The atmosphere at the venue reached its climax.
He looked at Shauna and Tomoyo beside him.
"Go Big Sister Cynthia!!!"
"Big Sister Cynthia!!!"
By the way, aren't you cheering for the wrong person?
Lucas thought to himself, but he took a deep breath.
Then.
"Cynthia!!!!!!"
Just as the arena was settling into silence, Lucas's voice rang out.
Lucas listened to his own voice echoing throughout the venue.
His old face flushed red.
The Pokémon beside him were either turning their heads away or looking at the ceiling. Only Lilligant, Gothitelle, and Ninetales were laughing wantonly in front of Lucas.
Gengar: Hopeless~
It even made a face.
You're so hopeless.
Lucas gritted his teeth in anger.
Hearing this voice, Cynthia's lips curled up unconsciously.
Lucian, sitting nearby, had his face turned red from holding back.
He took off his glasses, pretending to wipe the lenses, and took the opportunity to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
"Pfft."
Flint couldn't hold it in and laughed out loud.
"Hmm?"
Cynthia turned her head slightly and looked at Flint.
Flint coughed twice and quickly sat up straight.
"Sorry, Boss, my bad."
Flint covered his microphone and apologized sincerely.
Only then did Cynthia turn her head back, satisfied.
The previously quiet arena, following that shout from Lucas, fell into a frenzy once again.
"Champion Cynthia!!!!!"
"Cynthia!!!!!"
"Champion!!!!!"
The host took a deep breath. After finally managing to control the atmosphere at the venue, a shout from out of nowhere meant he had to regain control all over again.
After the host shouted for silence for a long time, the venue finally returned to calm.
Contestant waiting area.
————
A spiky-haired boy with brown hair toyed with the Poké Ball in his hand.
"The Manager's voice? The Manager is here?"
He muttered to himself, "Don't worry, Manager, I won't lose."
On the other side, a boy with dead fish eyes, hands in his pockets, looked at the screen and heard that familiar voice.
"Manager, you came too?"
He glanced at the match schedule and turned to walk toward the match tunnel.
Just wait, Manager, I will prove that my philosophy is stronger than his.
On another side.
"? The Manager came too?"
Ash heard the voice coming from the screen and shouted happily.
"Pika Pika!"
"We must do our best and not disappoint Lucas!"
Ash said to Pikachu, who was standing on his shoulder.
"Pika Pika!"
A girl walking behind him heard this, stopped, and looked at the boy in front of her, who had a Pikachu on his shoulder and was wearing a baseball cap. She walked up to him.
"You know Lucas too?"
Ash heard the voice, turned back, and saw a girl.
"Yeah, do you know Lucas too?"
Ash was even happier to see someone else who knew Lucas.
"Yeah, I have a very good relationship with Lucas!"
"Me and Pikachu too!"
"That's great, let's watch together."
"Yeah!"
Aran and Ash became friends just like that.
On the other side, Lucas was in the audience.
"I forgot to ask them for a match schedule."
Lucas said, holding Mime Jr. in his arms and standing in the spectator stand, looking at the arena.
"Ni-ni."
Match.
Mime Jr. was wearing a little cape today, a cape identical to Lance's.
Lucas had specially prepared it for Mime Jr.
That's for stealing our Alcremie's snacks!
Dastardly Dodo-bird!
"Huh? Is he the first one to appear?"
Lucas looked at the boy walking out of the match tunnel, still with his crossbody bag, vest, and hands in his pockets.
The first match is Paul's battle.
After Paul walked out of the match tunnel, he looked up at Lucas, and Lucas smiled and nodded at him.
"Good luck."
Paul clenched his fists.
Then he walked onto the battlefield.
"Uncle, it's Brother Paul."
Shauna shouted excitedly to Lucas.
"That's right, his match is the first one. Let's cheer for him together!"
"Okay!"
Shauna, with the Squirtle shell on her back, waved the little flag in her hand. "Brother Paul, go!"
Tomoyo also joined in the cheering.
Lilligant and the others also started waving their flags.
Lucas glanced around the spectator stand. "Strange, why is such a large stand empty? Is it just us?"
It's a pity that no one is watching in such a large stand when the view is so good.
Lucas sighed.
While Lucas was thinking, the battle on the field had already begun.
The first Pokémon Paul sent out was Staraptor.
"Oh? Did Paul catch another Staraptor?"
Lucas watched Staraptor quickly defeat the opponent's Drapion. He placed Mime Jr. on the railing, letting it sit there, and leaned his hands on the railing himself. "This Staraptor looks like it's been raised very well."
"Gothitelle."
It trusts him very much.
Lucas turned his head to look at Gothitelle, who had come to his side.
Gothitelle smiled slightly at him.
"It seems his progress is not just in strength————"
Lucas chuckled.
Psychic-type Pokémon are always very good at perceiving the inner thoughts of Pokémon.
Paul skillfully used rotations and type advantages to win the match.
Not long after, it was Gary's turn. Gary's commanding and fighting style leaned a bit toward being flashy.
In other words.
It's showing off————
But that's normal, after all, he is a young master.
Having won the battle, he even high-fived Shauna and Tomoyo in the spectator stand from afar.
"Hehe."
Shauna wiped her nose with her hand and made a hehe sound.
Tomoyo was also very happy, with Dratini lying on her head, watching intently.
Next was Aran.
He also easily defeated his opponent.
Ash was second to last.
Ash is always evenly matched with his opponent.
No matter who it is.
He always manages to get a few of his Pokémon swapped out by the opponent before finally winning the match.
Although Lucas already knew the outcome, he still felt exhausted watching it.
After Ash won his match and they were watching the final battle, Mime Jr. suddenly turned back to look at Lucas.
"Ni-ni."
Sorry Lucas, I don't know how to battle.
Lucas was stunned for a moment.
Then he smiled and held Mime Jr. in his arms. "It's okay, Mime Jr., you just need to live happily. Do whatever you like, because as long as you are with us, we will be very happy. As for battles, just leave those to Gengar and the others."
Lucas lifted Mime Jr. above his head.
Feeling Lucas's sincere emotions, Mime Jr. smiled and nodded.
"Ni-ni~"
***************************
Thoughts on where the plot is heading? Let me know in the comments! If you're enjoying the ride, please leave a quick review and toss a few Power Stones my way. Every bit of support means the world! 🙌