"Damn!" Casey cursed, looking up at Austin. "If not for your dumb luck it would have been my win."

Austin tilted his head in recognition of her comments, something that made the girl grow even more indignant.

"Go, Chikorita!" Casey yelled, revealing her last and final pokémon.

An extremely cute sauropod pokémon appeared in front of Austin and Scyther . Chikorita had a pale white body coloration with a large, green leaf on her head. Surrounding her neck, were vine buds in a pattern of a necklace.

Austin looked at Scyther as he wanted to bang his head to the wall.

Scyther was damaged from the electric attacks that he tanked from Electabuzz.

Why didn't he teach Scyther any healing moves ?

Austin tried to return Scyther only to fail as Scyther looked at Austin and the look in his eyes told him everything.

Scyther still wanted to battle.

Taking a deep breath , Austin's eyes opened with determination.

If his partner doesn't want to back down then he will oblige by doing the same.

" Casey's last pokémon is a Chikorita. Can Chikorita win against the injured Scyther and then defeat whatever mystery pokémon Ash has kept for his second and third battler?"

As if in answer, Chikorita sent a couple of razor leaf attacks towards Scyther which was completely blocked by Scyther's razor wind

"Chikorita, use roar ."

A loud ear piercing roar erupted from Chikorita as Scyther was forcefully switched out with the small confused Charmander who immediately readied himself as he gazed at Chikorita.

" Use Dragon Pulse, Charmander." Austin commanded, and almost instantly, a sphere of draconic energy hit Chikorita right in the face, sending her off, tumbling down towards the end of the rocky field.

Meanwhile seeing this Cynthia's eyes narrowed as a thought filled her head.

' How is that possible ?!'

"I forfeit." Casey spoke up suddenly.

"Are you sure?" The referee asked.

Casey nodded.

" Chikorita cannot defeat Charmander, and Ash still has another pokémon unused, besides Scyther. Continuing the battle would only drag it out, nothing else."

Austin stood shocked at that, before a tiny smile formed on his lips. "It was a good battle, Casey. Your Electabuzz was one tough nut."

"And don't forget that." Casey scoffed, before recalling Chikorita and walking away.

"Casey has forfeited the battle. Ash Ketchum is the winner." The commentator yelled into his megaphone.

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" That was one hell of a battle out there ." Gold proclaimed only for his mouth to shut as Kris glared at him for cursing.

" Thanks ." Austin replied as he ate his dessert.

" Ash,you have a little bit on the side ." Yellow said as she used a handkerchief to wipe the cream from the side of his lip.

Gold and Kris looked at the blushing yellow before looking at each other with a smirk.

Brock came towards the group with a smile but the bite marks on his neck told Austin where he was ?

" Want some desert , Brock ? "

" No , Thank you ! I just want to sit down."

Austin sweat dropped as he looked side to side as many rich women were giving Brock the stink eye.

' How many women did Brock try to flirt with ? ' Austin thought as he looked at Brock's neck which was filled with bite marks.

' Crobat , really did a number on him .'

" Have you checked out who your next opponent is?" Gold asked curiously as Austin shook his head

Misty came towards the group who were huddled together as Austin checked out his opponent.

" What are you doing ? "

In response to Misty's question,Yellow replied ," We just checked out , who Ash's opponent would be next. "

"So… out with it? Who's it?"

" A trainer from Viridian city called Ken ."

Misty saw Brock's frown as she asked.

" Brock, something wrong ?"

" This Ken trainer is 5 years older then Ash."

Brock's words went through the group's head who had no idea what Brock was trying to say by stating Ken's age but Misty's eyes widened as she got it.

Ken was a trainer from the time when Giovanni was the gym leader of Viridian city.

( ~ Gulp ~ )

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" I'm not sure if I should be enthusiastic or terrified, Steven," Cynthia, remarked quietly as she read the report on the Armoured Pokemon . "The fact that such a psychic, whether human or pokémon could exist… is downright terrifying."

"I know." Steven's countenance shifted into a frown. "I've been around psychics all my life, but from all the videos I have seen of it , this one is… odd, unnatural… Alien."

"Maybe because he was human, or something?" Cynthia put forward, inwardly deciding to make a call to Lorelei, the Ice-Queen and one of the Kanto Elite Four. For one thing, she and Lorelei were cousins of sorts, and for another, Lorelei was apparently in the psychic-master Sabrina's good books. Besides, it wasn't like Champion Lance would be terribly accommodating should he hear that a Champion of a distant region is poking into matters beyond her concern.

Then again, it is beyond my concern. At least as a Champion.

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Later in the afternoon , Austin and Cynthia were standing by the deck, watching a pair of seagulls fly in the evening sky, and particularly, Squirtle alongside a scared Krabby, who were having the time of their lives mostly squirtle, swimming in the slightly turbulent waters of the sea.

" I have to say Mr Ketchum , I am impressed. It takes many trainers years to figure out that there is more to Pokemon battles than just strength."

" How long did it take you to figure it out ? " Austin asked as he glanced at the woman .

Cynthia smirked ," It's a secret ."

Austin rolled his eyes as he looked at the beautiful ocean.

For a second , he wanted time to just stop as he enjoyed the serenity and calmness of this moment.

" So…" Austin hesitated a bit, "what exactly do you do all day? I mean, you said you're with the Sinnoh League, and you aren't participating in the tournament. So, what do you do all day?"

"Why, Mr. Ketchum?" Cynthia teased. "Are you demonstrating an interest in me?"

Austin flushed. "No—nothing like that." He ignored Cynthia's laughter and continued, "I mean, you are knowledgeable about pokémon, and so natural with them too. Pikachu certainly agrees."

" Pika " Pikachu said as he hopped onto Cynthia's head.

Cynthia's cheeks flushed a little red at that praise as Austin tried to pull Pikachu down but Cynthia was much taller than him.

Cynthia smiled and said ," Need a ladder ? "

In response Austin just huffed at being called short before asking.

"So, I was wondering what you… you know, do with the League work and everything, all day. I'm sure you'd have loved to take part in the tournament."

"Well…." Cynthia drawled. "I've had my own share of tournaments during my life as a trainer."

Austin asked. "During your life as a trainer? How long have you been doing that?"

Cynthia laughed. "It's not right to ask a lady her age, you know."

Austin flushed pink. "I was not—never mind."

Cynthia chortled at his reactions. It was fun getting a rise out of him, considering how honest his reactions were. " Three years."

Austin widened his eyes. "You've been a trainer for three years?"

Strange. She looks much older.

Cynthia bobbed her head. "In Sinnoh, we acquire our trainer licenses at twelve."

"Twelve ? But why twelve when everywhere else is ten ?"

Cynthia chuckled. "You should take that question to your Champion, then."

"I will," Austin replied with conviction. "When I challenge the Champion and the Elite four, I'll take the matter to them."

Cynthia nodded. Considering how instinctive Ash's speed of growth as a trainer along with his creativity was, she couldn't imagine it would be too far off before he actually gained the calibre to even consider challenging the Elite 4.

" You didn't answer my question, you know." Austin continued. "What do you do for the League?"

"I…" Cynthia pursed her lips. There were no issues with revealing her identity, but it wouldn't be funny. "Tell you what? Let the tournament end. There'll be a grand party after that, in which all the different League envoys will be introduced in public. I'll introduce you to my friends, and you will know what my job is."

"Okay…" Austin intoned curiously.

" Shirona , Can we have a pokémon battle? ." Austin asked as he was curious how strong his new friend was ?

Cynthia raised an eyebrow. "You sure know how to show a lady, a good time."