"You said that she was the best. Ha! So much for that."

"C'mon, guys, give her a break!"

"Please! With skills like that, it's surprising she even beat a Gym Leader! Ha ha ha!"

Their snide laughter had always left her unable to retaliate. Her shock left her immobilized. No matter how much she cared for her Pokemon, she could never be the best. No matter how hard she payed attention in school, no matter how many battles she won or lost, she would always lose.

Standing up, that was the day she finally decided that she would put even more effort into what she did. Into what she could accomplish.

That was the day she decided she would become a Champion.

~*~Two years later~*~

"Cynthia! You have another challenger!"

"Coming, Grandma!"

That once-pathetic girl had accomplished her goal of becoming Champion, and her popularity was rising. Her apparently-unnatural fondness for Pokemon and gentle nature had left her with many fans and admirers. She was seventeen now, and her beloved Pokemon were some of the best in the land.

"Cynthia, I think it's time for you to see the world," her grandmother said after she beat yet another challenger.

"What? But Grandma, you need me here! What about--"

"Forget about us, we can take care of ourselves. We've got everything under control--have for years now. It's time for you to have a life seperate from this place. Celestic Town will always be here even when you get back, honey. And please remember, always keep that heart of yours, don't ever let it waver."

"I know, Grandma. ...I guess it is time for me to see the world, see new Pokemon. ...I'll see you all later."

Saying goodbye to her grandfather and little sister, she left in the next two days, having a grand farewell party. Her aim to see the world began...

~*~Days Later~*~

Her travels left her in the Hoenn region. She had beaten down the Elite Four of Johto, and had found herself in Hoenn next.

"Be careful, Missy. There's mighty strong trainers here," warned the boatsman, as they neared the island holding the Elite Four.

"Don't worry about me, I'm a strong Pokemon Champion!" Cynthia boasted confidently, her foot landing on the new land.

She made it through the caves unscathed, her Pokemon still fresh with health. She was immediately allowed entrance to fight the Elite Four, taking down the first, then the second, then the third, and the fourth...

Finally, she made it to the region's Champion.

I've heard stories about this one. That he's the only one even close to being able to defeat me, she thought as she went through the entrance.

There stood before her a man with silver hair, yet he was young. His sharp gold eyes met with her grayish-blue ones. He was strong--even she could tell that.

"Ahh, so you're the new challenger. Just got a warning from Sidney. Shall we battle, then?" he offered.

Unable to speak, just like so long ago, she merely nodded.

"Metagross, go!" he commanded, hurling a Pokeball. Out came the powerful Steel type, its four legs crashing onto the now-seemingly-weak framework.

"Shouldn't you save your best for last?" Cynthia suggested.

"Against you, I think not," Steven said with a half-smirk. "Also, I'm a little pressed for time. If we could wrap this up...?"

It dawned on her that he wasn't going to take her seriously.

"Fine, then, if you think this is just a game! Garchomp, show him what you've got!" she shouted, throwing out the Pokeball holding one of her most-beloved Pokemon. It came out with a devastating roar.

Two powerful Pokemon on the same battlefield caused the air to become tense and stranged. Neither made a move, awaiting the other to start.

"Hmph. Fine, then. But I warn you, I'm taking this as seriously as I can. I never think any battle is a mere game! Metagross, Shadow Ball!"

The massive creature created a purplish ball of energy in front of it, and shot it out at Garchomp.

"Dig!" Cynthia ordered, and the Pokemon obeyed.

"Metagross, Magnet Rise."

The Pokemon, despite its bulk, leviated in the air. This allowed it to dodge the Dig attack with surprising ease.

"Wha--?! Garchomp, Brick Break!" Cynthia commanded. The Pokemon moved accordingly.

"Meteor Mash!"

The two collided, each arm forced against the other. Finally, the steel arm won, making impact with Garchomp, hurtling it across the room.

"No!! Garchomp!!!" Cynthia cried, rushing to her Pokemon. She cradled its head in her arms. It was knocked out cold.

"Care to continue?" Steven challenged.

Cynthia got up, returning Garchomp to its Pokeball. She faced Steven with a strong, icy glare in her eyes. She got out another Pokeball and called, "Spiritomb!!"

The mass of spirits came forth, its demeanor devastatingly eerie.

"Metagross, Iron Head," Steven said, using one of the moves effective towards Ghost types.

The bulky Pokemon obeyed, rushing forth with an uncanny speed.

"Spiritomb, Sucker Punch!" Cynthia shouted with a powerful voice. She now aimed to win. Again, the steel body won, and again, a mere one-hit K.O. defeated the Pokemon. It was the same again, and again, and again, until Cynthia was out of useable Pokemon.

She was on the verge of tears. How could she lose...? All the training she had done, all the love and care and consideration and knowledge she put into training her Pokemon...

A hand set on her head. She looked up, her eyes fresh with tears, to meet the same man she had just battled look down at her with gentle, actually gentle eyes.

"You did well," he said in a soothing tone.

The voice came as a shock to her. His gentleness seemed like something from a dream.

"You have a lot of promise, I can tell that. I expect great things from you, Cynthia," he said her name, even though she had never told him.

She blinked, the tears not pouring out. That's right--even though she had lost, she still had those who looked up to her, who aspired to be her. She couldn't be that lost little girl who would cry each time she lost like a spoiled child. She had to be strong.

She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and gathered herself up. She met the golden eyes of Steven with confidence, and security.

"I won't be beaten by you, not next time," she promised him.

He met her confidence with a smile. "I hope that will be," he replied.

~*~Three years later~*~

It had been so long since her losing battle with the Champion of Hoenn. Cynthia had heard he had retired to a man named Wallace, and she highly doubted he was as good as Steven.

She had come across many trainers since then, only a few actually able to beat her. She no longer would collapse and cry, instead congratulate them like Steven had her. That only led to greater popularity.

One day, she recieved a visitor.

"Cynthia! Another visitor for you! Says he's a friend!"

A friend? she thought as she made her way to the door. She froze in shock to see her visitor.

"Hello, Cynthia," he said in a cool tone. "You wouldn't mind coming with me to get something to eat, would you?"

Her shock made her forget her words, and she obliged with a harsh nod, making heat rush to her face. She had never lost that admiration she had for the one man who had been able to beat her in the three years they hadn't heard from each other. She knew he had been traveling abroad, just not in the Sinnoh region.

They made their way to the restaurant by Lake Valor. They sat down amongst the other trainers after being rewarded their seats from the match they had. He hadn't lost his touch.

"I've noticed you've gotten better," he complimented her after ordering. They both could hear the whispers around them about two Champions being in the restaurant.

"And I've noticed you haven't lost your touch," she remarked back, taking a sip of water.

"Let me get to the point: I've retired from being Champion, as you have no doubt heard."

"But of course. And I'd like to ask why. You're still so young!"

"Ha ha, yes. Only a few years older than you, I do believe. But...I don't know, being Champion wore off on me, and I decided to travel a bit before I get too old."

"You mean, you wish to live out your life?"

"In other words, yes. And, what I'm about to say may sound a bit brash or sudden, but...would you mind accompanying me?"

Not wanting to take things too seriously, Cynthia replied: "Steven, I'm grateful you would bother requesting this of me, but...I have my job as Champion as well, and--"

"I understand that, but...think about it, wouldn't it be better if, somehow, you could take a small break? ...Spend some time with me?"

That last part sounded strained, like he was embarrassed. She saw a tint of red in his face, and tried to think it was the lighting. She couldn't try hard enough.

"I-I have to think..." she said, her responsibilities taking control of her. She shook her head harshly. "What am I saying, sure! I'll go with you. Let me just--"

Right as she was about to get up to tell her grandparents that she would be leaving again, Steven reached out for her hand. She was taken aback, and turned to him slowly.

"...Cynthia...I...Never mind. Do what you were doing," he said, regaining his composure and lifting his head to meet hers.

She felt a bit warm, her face especially, so she went outside, wrote down a quick note telling her grandparents her situation, and told her Togekiss to deliver the letter she wrote. Watching her Pokemon fade into the distance, she leaned back against the building and sighed.

I'm too young for this yet, she thought to herself, feeling glad for some reason as she returned to the restaurant to finish her meal with Steven before they left. For whatever may await them...