Want to read ahead. You know where
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"Ms. Cynthia, your earrings are so pretty~!"
Dawn leaned in with an admiring smile, eyes sparkling.
"I heard you're going to be a guest at the Hearthome Festival! Is that the outfit you'll be wearing for it?"
The moment she saw Cynthia, she couldn't help but start chatting enthusiastically.
It all started after Sam introduced Ash to Cynthia over a video call not long ago.
Later, by chance, they ran into each other again during their travels.
Since then, partly because of her connection to Sam, Cynthia had given Ash a few pointers in battle.
Helpful ones.
So now, she was more than just the Champion to them.
She was... a familiar face.
Cynthia smiled gently, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Thank you, Dawn. Your outfit's adorable, too."
Then, with a graceful nod, she asked, "Are you planning to compete in the Hearthome Collection as well?"
As soon as there were others around, Cynthia naturally shifted back into her composed, elegant demeanor.
That refined air of hers, regal and poised, always seemed to draw attention without even trying.
Meanwhile, Ash practically bounced with excitement.
"I've been training my Pokémon just like you taught me!" he said, looking straight at Sam.
"And in battles, I followed your advice too!"
His voice grew louder as his enthusiasm swelled.
"Thanks to your guidance, Sam, my team and I have gotten way better!"
Grinning from ear to ear, Ash dug into his bag and pulled out a small case with careful hands.
"Look! These are the Badges I've earned so far!"
He held it open proudly.
Inside were four Gym Badges, neatly arranged and gleaming under the sunlight.
"Nice going, Ash." Sam smiled, nodding with approval.
"I'll keep working hard, Sam!" Ash replied with renewed vigor, puffing up his chest.
He was already gearing up to share the details of every single battle on his journey so far.
But before he could get started, Brock suddenly wedged himself between them, gently but firmly shoving Ash aside.
"Whoa, hey!" Ash stumbled back with a surprised yelp.
Without missing a beat, Brock grabbed Sam by the arm and pulled him aside.
"Sam…" he said in a hushed, excited tone, rubbing his hands together like a man about to receive treasure.
"So? Did you bring it?"
Sam blinked, thrown off by how intense Brock looked.
The guy had a grip like a Primeape on caffeine.
"…Can you let go of me first?"
"Oh, right! Sorry."
Brock laughed sheepishly and released his arm, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.
Still curious and clearly hopeful, he looked over toward Cynthia with barely concealed excitement.
Sam sighed and turned to walk toward her.
Dawn had just finished saying something, and Cynthia gave a small laugh in response.
Sam leaned in a little and quietly asked, "Hey, Cynthia. About the autographed photo of Diantha, did you manage to get it?"
Cynthia's smile faltered for a second, her eyes flicking from Sam to the distance, where Brock stood, practically vibrating with anticipation.
"…Diantha?" she echoed, raising an eyebrow.
Sam pointed with a thumb over his shoulder.
Brock was wringing his hands like he was waiting for Santa Claus.
"Yeah. It's for him."
Realization dawned, and Cynthia's expression relaxed into amusement.
"I asked Diantha to send me a few," she said smoothly.
"I've got them with me."
Without another word, Cynthia reached into her bag and pulled out a small folder from her backpack.
She handed it over to Sam with casual grace.
Before the folder could even settle in Sam's hands, Brock lunged forward and snatched it.
"An autographed photo of Diantha!" he gasped, clutching it like a priceless gem.
"I… I finally got it!" His voice trembled with emotion.
"And, wait… there's more than one?!"
He carefully spread out the signed photos in his hands, eyes wide, lips quivering.
It was as if the heavens had opened up and gifted him with divine treasure.
"These… these signatures are the real deal!" he whispered, almost reverently.
"With these, I might even, no, I will stand out in Diantha's fan club!"
He clutched the photos to his chest like a badge of honor, tears brimming at the corners of his eyes.
"…I might even become the president of the entire fan club because of this!"
There was a beat of silence.
Cynthia blinked.
Ash stared.
Dawn exchanged a look with Pikachu.
Pikachu: "Pika… chu???"
Sam shrugged at Cynthia, clearly unfazed.
"Told you. It was for a friend."
Cynthia gave him a look, half-amused, half-teasing.
"Mm-hmm."
Her smirk said 'I'm watching you', but her eyes held a flicker of fondness.
Time passed quickly, and soon, the Contests in Hearthome City officially began.
The venue was packed, every seat filled, the crowd buzzing with anticipation.
Spotlight beams crisscrossed the air, and colorful lights danced across the stage.
Thanks to Wallace from the Hoenn region, the Pokémon performance scene had surged in popularity.
His relentless promotion and elegant appeal had transformed these competitions into a cultural sensation.
Now, more and more Trainers and Coordinators were drawn to the unique style of battling with flair.
Participants, especially new faces, were getting treated like rising stars.
The crowd held glowing signs and light sticks, cheering on their favorites.
Fans waved banners and shouted names, adding an electric energy to the air.
Television networks, recognizing the growing hype, had dispatched full production crews with high-end equipment.
Multiple cameras were positioned to capture every dazzling moment of the show.
As the lights in the stadium dimmed, all attention focused on the main stage.
The spotlight dropped onto the host, Vivian.
She stood tall and confident at center stage, her microphone poised like a conductor's baton.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Vivian's voice rang out across the stadium with practiced charm,
"Welcome to the Hearthome City Collection!"
The crowd responded in thunderous applause and cheers.
"Before we begin, allow me to introduce our panel of distinguished judges for this event."
She gestured grandly as each judge appeared on the display screen behind her.
"First, the Director of the Collections Committee, Mr. Contesta."
A polite round of applause followed.
"Next, the President of the Sinnoh Pokémon Fan Club, Mr. Sukizo!"
"Remarkable!" he declared, smiling into the camera.
"And of course, someone every Trainer in the region knows and respects, Nurse Joy!"
Cheers erupted at the mention of her name.
Vivian let the applause settle before continuing, her tone shifting with a bit of flair.
"But wait, those aren't our only honored guests!"
A ripple of excitement moved through the crowd.
"This year, Hearthome City has invited someone very special, our very own Sinnoh Champion, Ms. Cynthia!"
A roar of applause burst forth from the audience.
"And alongside her…" Vivian added, her voice lifting with a grin, "The renowned historian and Pokémon expert, her fiancé, Professor Samuel Lockwood!"
The lights shifted.
A soft, golden beam landed on a corner of the stage.
There stood Cynthia, poised and radiant.
Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she wore a sleek, elegant evening dress that shimmered under the lights.
It complemented her beauty with quiet sophistication, powerful yet graceful.
Beside her stood Sam.
Clad in a tailored black suit, personally selected by Cynthia, he looked calm and confident. Tall and composed, he carried himself with the quiet authority of someone used to being in command of his own story.
Cynthia's left hand gently held Sam's arm.
Her right lifted in a graceful wave toward the audience, her smile both warm and distant, an icon of charm and strength.
The crowd erupted again.
The pairing was striking: the powerful, poised Champion and the sharp, collected Professor.
A picture-perfect couple.
A wave of camera flashes lit up their corner of the arena.
For a moment, the Contest faded into the background.
All eyes were on them.