“Why does all the weird stuff gotta happen to me?” Ethan complained as he, Cynthia, and Caroline sat in a small booth at a diner in town. Pachirisu and Pichu were out on his side of the booth. Pachirisu was nibbling on some walnuts Ethan had stored away while Pichu had tested and tasted all the condiment bottles lining the table, deciding the ketchup was the best. The baby mouse was slurping on a ketchup packet like a mini Capri-Sun.
Cynthia and Caroline had looks of utter bliss on their faces. Today had probably been some archeological dream for the both of them. As they waited for their meals, Caroline was nose deep in her research papers as Cynthia looked wistfully out the window to the direction they had just come from.
Deciding that he was done being ignored by these two, Ethan kept talking. This time, he spoke about something that’d catch their interests. “Have either of you run into any Unown before?”
Cynthia blinked, coming out of whatever daydream she was having. “One or twice, yes. They were solitary and the sightings were very quick. It wasn’t anything like… that! Did they talk to you? It looked like the spelled out words! How fascinating! Also, where did they go?! I never knew they could phase through walls! Teleport, yes, but phase? No!”
“They spelt the words ‘welcome’ and ‘friend’. That was all. I don’t know much about their species. I can’t really help you out more than that.” Ethan stopped as a waiter walked over with their three meals balanced on outstretched arms. The young man effortlessly dropped them off and asked about refills, then left.
Cynthia was having what looked to be a club sandwich of some sort with some nice and crispy fries, while Caroline was having a bowl of some sort of soup he’d never seen before. It was green, and Ethan didn’t think that soups could be green. Then again, it wasn’t like he was the end all be all sage when it came to soups.
Ethan himself got fried magikarp once again, as he knew he liked it and it seemed like most places offered it. He dipped a piece in some tartar sauce and bit into the hot golden fish. It was delicious.
As he grabbed a fry and stole the little dab of ketchup Pichu was pushing out of his packet, much to his frustration, Ethan asked about one of the main reasons he actually came with Cynthia to Celestic Town. “You said there was potential for mega stones, right? I don’t know about you, but the ruins here didn’t seem like a place where mega stones are found.”
Cynthia used a napkin to dab her lips, then replied all too casually. “Of course. You’re going to look through my personal collection. I was, admittedly, going to use it as part of your payment for the help with the avalanche, but I think what you showed us and translated today was worth much more than that. Did you ever decide on what you wanted, by the way?”
“Ask for money boy. It makes the world go round.” Caroline advised, sipping her soup without even looking away from her notebook. One hand with a pen, the other with a spoon.
“Actually, I think I do know what I want.” Ethan had been thinking about it for a few days now, and he’d been slacking. “I would like professional help with setting up the rooms in my barn for different types of eggs. I have no clue how to make them myself. I tried.”
“Done.” Cynthia’s quick finality at his ask made him think he should have asked for a little more. As if reading his mind, Cynthia also added, “I’ll give you a pair of pokemon that wish for a simple life and a family as well. A breeding pair.”
Ethan swallowed then gave her a concerned look. “Is that something you can decide? I think it’s best if we ask the pokemon beforehand and tell them what they’re in for.”
“They know. This was decided long ago.” She put her sandwich down and gave him a significant look. “You call yourself a breeder and all you have is Oddish you’re too attached too. Those Oddish are also unique, in that they know moves typically unused by them. You shouldn’t give those out or sell them to just anybody. Keep them. They will protect your ranch.”
Ethan… was still sceptical. He wasn’t upset quite yet, but depending on the answer to what he was about to say…. “So, you’re telling me you’ve been making decisions for my ranch behind my back?”
“No, Ethan.” Cynthia shook her head. “I just know you well enough by now to know that you might have needed some help. Joyce told me about your GTL visits and your meetings. If you don’t want who I have in mind, then you’re free to say no.”
“And who do you have in mind? I have a lot of pokemon now and I’m going to be housing Sunkern soon. That will take some of my time getting him to adjust.” Her answer was still not quite what he imagined, but at least she wasn’t forcing it on him like some of her other attempts to ‘help’.
“Indeedee. A psychic and normal pokemon.” Cynthia took a sip of her drink, then continued. “A friend was looking around for somewhere they could live in peace.”
The name of the pokemon didn’t spark any memories. It must have been a pokemon released after Sun and Moon. “Which friend? Where are these pokemon from?”
Caroline’s spoon clinked into her empty bowl, letting her know that she was out. She tore her eyes away from her notes, then joined the conversation. “They’re from the Galar region, and so far it is the only known region where you’ll find them in the wild.”
“Lucian got a pair to work with, but they didn’t want the same things in life.” Cynthia shrugged as she began looking through the menu—the desert page filled with over a dozen flavors of ice cream. “He thought that maybe you’d like them but has been hesitant to reach out because he also has a favor to ask of you which he isn’t sure is appropriate. Being a psychic, that man seems to overthink a lot. He sees what he wants to see sometimes.”
“Is it about my weird ability?” Ethan asked. They had talked about potentially working together to find out more about it. Now, with Meloetta giving him a hint into how it might work… it was probably about time to reach out.
“No. He didn’t know Girafarig could evolve and wants help. It’s actually why his Girafarig kidnapped you that one time. She wanted to evolve as soon as possible.” Cynthia smiled, finding the situation amusing. With hindsight, it maybe was… only a little though.
“Oh, I could do that. Does he not know how to do it?” Ethan gave Pichu one of his fries to see if the little mouse liked them. Pichu didn’t even try to eat it until Ethan put some ketchup on it.
“Nobody knows how to do it, Ethan.” Cynthia stated, still searching through the menu. “Do you know how?”
“Yes. It’s similar to how Aipon or Piloswine evolves; through learning a specific move.” Ethan threw in Piloswine because he knew that Cynthia now had one herself.
His comment had the intended effect, as Cynthia’s eyes slowly rose from her menu. “Oh? And what moves would those be?”
Ethan put on a smug grin, then chomped into one of his fried fish, making a loud snap. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Caroline laughed as Cynthia clicked her tongue in annoyance at not getting the answer. The older woman then snickered at her granddaughter. “She’s been calling that old icy miser in Johto about how to get it done and he’s been silent about it.”
From context, Ethan assumed she meant the ice-type gym leader from Johto… Pryce? Didn’t he lose his Mamoswine or something in the past? Ethan wished his memory was better, as time went on, he seemed to remember less and less.
Being a gracious friend, Ethan decided to stop being a tease. “Ancient Power for Mamoswine. Twin Beam for Girafarig. Tell Lucian that if he needs help to come by and I’ll tutor it for him.”
Ethan finished his food and drank the rest of his lemonade, then collected his two pokemon. Caroline, having also finished her food, gave him a head nod off into the distance. The world spanning signal for ‘let’s talk’. She then spoke aloud. “Get myself and Ethan whatever flavor you eventually decide on, Cynthia.”
“Mhmm…” Cynthia was already back to scanning the list of flavors, lost in her decision.
Caroline got up and Ethan followed. She led them out the entrance and then sat down on a bench placed right outside. With a par, she told him to sit. Ethan sat down and turned to her, waiting for her to start. It was obvious she wanted to say something to him personally, without Cynthia hearing.
“You’re a good man, Mr. Reed.” She began, using his surname and not his first. “I probably don’t need to say this to you, but if you hurt my granddaughter I will end you.” Ethan snorted, but it didn’t look like Caroline was joking. He only found it funny because even he had the intention to do so, it’d be a suicide mission without Caroline’s input. Garchomp would make quick work of him.
“Cynthia had many friends in her younger years but once she became champion, everyone wanted something; a favor, some money, connections, you name it. When she said no, they stopped pretending. Do not pretend with her. Continue treating her as you have been and I will consider it the greatest honor.” She finished, taking a deep breath and letting loose a sigh.
“Don’t worry about it.” Ethan waved her off. It was nice to see that Cynthia’s grandma went out of her way to make sure she wasn’t being taken advantage of. Being the Champion, he bet she always had people pretending to be nice. “Though, do tell her to stop trying to help me without asking. It’s one of her bad habits. I do not need her hand-outs to be her friend.”
“Oh, don’t get me started on her habits. We’re going to be sitting here for the next ten minutes before she eventually decides on a flavor for her ice cream.” Caroline gave him a smirk, and the memory of Cynthia in the anime at the Rocket’s Ice Cream stand came to his mind. He laughed softly and nodded.
“Wanna give me some blackmail?” He asked.
“Why, let me tell you the time she tried teaching her pokemon about Earthquake…”