"So you're saying, Ash, that even after Team Galactic stole the Adamant Orb, they'd still dare show up at Celestic Town's Historical Research Center to try and take the Lustrous Orb—knowing I'm personally guarding it?"
Cynthia elegantly served coffee to Ash, Dawn, and Anabel as they sat together in her cozy home, the rich aroma of the brew filling the air.
Ash calmly shared his "thoughts" with her.
Of course, what he called a theory was actually just his knowledge of the original storyline.
Still, Cynthia was confident.
As the recognized Champion of the Sinnoh Pokémon League, she couldn't imagine Team Galactic would dare make such a bold move under her watch.
Dawn and Anabel nodded in agreement, equally dismissive of the idea.
Ash glanced at the three confident women but didn't say anything to refute them.
If they didn't believe it, then so be it. They'd see for themselves soon enough.
He had already decided—not to intervene until Team Galactic made their move at Spear Pillar atop Mt. Coronet.
There, alongside Pokémon Hunter J and Cyrus's entire Galactic force, he'd end it all in one fell swoop.
__
"Why, look at all the guests we've got today! Cynthia, aren't you going to introduce me?"
An elderly voice rang out as Professor Carolina entered the room, just returning from the Historical Research Center.
Cynthia immediately stood to introduce everyone.
"Oh my, so you're the boy I saw in that video chat with my granddaughter earlier. Tell me, young man—are you planning to pursue my granddaughter?"
?!
?!
?!
Ash and Cynthia both froze in stunned silence!
A rare blush spread across Cynthia's usually composed face.
"Grandma! What are you even saying all of a sudden…"
The air turned awkward fast.
Ash felt a strange emotion bubbling inside—he hadn't expected Cynthia's grandmother to break the ice like that.
A divine assist, really.
Now that the topic had been exposed, it would definitely linger in Cynthia's mind the next time she looked at him.
Professor Carolina, meanwhile, ignored her granddaughter's embarrassment and turned back to Ash.
"If you really want to pursue my granddaughter, then you'll have to beat her in strength as a Pokémon Trainer first. Only then can you pass my test! So you better train hard!"
Her greatest pride wasn't her own accomplishments as a Pokémon historian, but the fact that her granddaughter had become the Sinnoh Champion.
She loved boasting about Cynthia to anyone she could.
"He's already beaten Lucian," Dawn suddenly chimed in, unable to keep quiet anymore.
Professor Carolina's tone had carried a subtle trace of disdain toward Ash—and Dawn wasn't having any of it.
After all, Ash had saved her and Anabel from the depths of the Reverse World. In Dawn's heart, Ash was a hero.
So without thinking, she blurted out that Ash had even gained the upper hand in a battle with Wallace.
She was careful, though—remembering Ash's warning not to reveal anything about Latias, Darkrai, or Mewtwo.
Even so, Professor Carolina was stunned.
As a researcher herself, she of course knew who Wallace was—the current Champion of the Hoenn League!
His status was equal to Cynthia's.
And Ash had gained the upper hand in their match?!
Even Cynthia turned and looked at Ash in surprise. His growth had been way too fast!
The last time they met, he had just defeated Lucian…
Riiiiiing!
The house phone rang, cutting off their conversation.
Professor Carolina answered it, and her expression immediately changed.
"Quickly—we have to get to the Celestic Ruins! Someone's trying to steal the Lustrous Orb! The ruins have already been attacked!"
It was happening.
Team Galactic had made their move.
__
Celestic Town – The Celestic Ruins
These ruins had only recently been unearthed.
It was here that the Lustrous Orb—paired with the stolen Adamant Orb—had been discovered.
The orbs were originally meant to be displayed together to study their resonance, and the Adamant Orb had been transported from Eterna City's Historical Museum for that purpose… only to be intercepted by Team Galactic.
Now, the Lustrous Orb was the only one left—and a key target.
Officer Jenny's precinct had already sent reinforcements to guard the area.
But with Cyrus placing an inside man, Team Galactic was more than ready.
They attacked the Celestic Ruins without warning!
When Ash, Cynthia, and the others arrived, they were relieved to learn the Lustrous Orb hadn't been stolen—yet.
Both Cynthia and Professor Carolina instinctively breathed a sigh of relief.
"We can't let the orb stay here any longer," Carolina said firmly. "If they attacked once, they'll come again. We have to move the Lustrous Orb immediately!"
Though Cynthia had a nagging feeling something wasn't right, the reality of the attack made her go along with her grandmother's plan to relocate the orb.
"If it were me," Ash said coolly, watching the two women carefully remove the orb from its vault, "I wouldn't have moved the Lustrous Orb at all. Team Galactic's entire goal is to lure you into doing exactly that."
Cynthia and Carolina both froze for a moment—but didn't stop.
Ash didn't push them. He needed the situation to unfold like this.
Cynthia was strong—strong enough to earn his respect.
And strong people only submit to those stronger.
He knew neither of them would have listened anyway.
Sure enough, Carolina shook her head. "It's too dangerous to leave it here. If there's another attack, the chamber might get destroyed. If the orb shatters, the consequences will be far worse."
As expected.
Ash just shrugged.
"Pika…" Pikachu frowned, clearly sensing something wasn't right.
Cynthia gave Ash a small, apologetic glance. She could see the logic in his words—but she also trusted her own judgment. With her there, surely she could handle anything.
But just like the original timeline… they fell into Team Galactic's trap.
The Lustrous Orb was stolen!
Strangely enough, Cyrus himself didn't appear.
Had he been there to witness Ash in person, his expression would've been… something else.
With both the Adamant and Lustrous Orbs in their possession, Team Galactic's plans accelerated.
Officer Jenny quickly moved to suppress the news and enforce a communications lockdown.
Cynthia, meanwhile, stood stunned.
Ash and the others continued their tour of the ruins, while Cynthia finally approached him again, unwilling to accept her failure.
She hadn't been afraid of defeat—but what frustrated her was that she had been warned.
Warned, and still outplayed.
It shook her self-confidence.
Ash, along with Dawn and Anabel, were admiring a newly unearthed mural in the ruins.
At the center of the mural was a massive, sun-like symbol.
Around it was an enclosing triangle.
"Mesprit, Azelf, and Uxie," Ash said softly. "Next up, Team Galactic will make their move to force the Lake Guardians to appear."
As he spoke, he turned and looked directly at Cynthia, who had just arrived.
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T/N:
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