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The chilly air has a bittersweet sting as Cynthia makes her way up to the Pokémon League - possibly for the last time. She never dreamed of being Champion, like so many do. She landed in the job after discovering her talents, honing them with many years of intense training before taking on the challenge. The previous champion commended her efforts - she was the first person to defeat all League members without any of her Pokémon being defeated.
She served nine years in the role, an uncommonly long time. Ten years on the horizon, and finally, a defeat. She can’t really be upset, though. Dawn is a formidable trainer. She will serve the League well, and given her young age, could easily surpass Cynthia’s tenure. But as she stands outside the building, the warm glow from within inviting her in, Cynthia realises she is upset.
She has given a third of her life to this job, sacrificing many of her own interests in order to keep the Sinnoh League running smoothly. And then Dawn appeared out of nowhere, stormed through the League with the speed that only a prodigy could, and snatched the title from her hands. Now, at almost thirty, Cynthia has to process the thought of starting over again.
She’s tempted by the thought of a rematch, of months of training and preparing. But she can’t go there. Dawn won, fair and square. Maybe she has simply lost her touch. Now, after all these years, having a rest will be what is best for her.
Before she can have that rest though, Cynthia has to get through tonight. She remembers, vaguely, the party thrown by the League to commemorate her becoming Champion. Mostly, she remembers being able to drink as much free champagne as she wanted, and meeting officials and trying not to embarrass herself. At least Dawn won’t have that problem.
The lobby of the Pokémon League is decked out in soft, twinkling lights, tinsel, and streamers, all pink. Cynthia has to remind herself that this is the party of a ten year old girl, and nothing to do with her. She’s just here to shake hands and smile politely. Dawn herself stands in the middle of the room, surrounded by reporters and league officials that Cynthia only vaguely recognises.
Her friend Barry is here – Cynthia recognises him from Spear Pillar. He’s a good trainer too. He kept up with Dawn right to the end, but could never quite surpass her. Professor Rowan is here too, Cynthia notes as she moves around the room. Lucas too, his junior assistant. She has to wonder if Lucas and Dawn are related – cousins, perhaps? Her eyes glance over the rest of Dawn’s assembled guests, and she freezes when she sees one in particular.
Contest star Johanna was Cynthia’s idol as a teenager. From posters on her wall, to travelling to Hearthome City specifically to watch her, Cynthia was obsessed. Johanna was already a top coordinator by the time Cynthia started her journey, hailed as one of the youngest at the time. Cynthia yearned to be her friend, the woman maybe ten years older than her. She could imagine herself in a younger sister role, mentored by the most talented coordinator in Sinnoh.
And here she stands, looking a lot cosier than she did fifteen years ago. Cynthia quickly counts in her head. Johanna must be about forty now, and she stopped doing contests about twelve years ago when she got married – a big deal for those in her fan club. The eyes and the hair colour and the sheer talent click in Cynthia’s mind – is Johanna Dawn’s mom?
Johanna spots Cynthia, and with a wide beam on her face, she crosses the room to Cynthia. The former Champion glances around, wondering if she could possibly be going to anyone else. Is there anyone around to make this interaction less awkward? Dawn is still in conversation with the reporters, and all the Elite Four members are scattered around the room. Johanna holds her hand out to Cynthia, who has no choice but to take it.
“Nice to meet you, Cynthia,” she says. Cynthia has to force her face into a normal expression. “I’m Dawn’s mom, Johanna.”
“Lovely to meet you too,” Cynthia manages. There is much more that she wants to say to Johanna. How she has admired her work for years, how she was a big fan when she was a teenager. But tonight is about Johanna’s daughter, not her. “Your daughter is an extremely talented trainer. One of the first to ever win the League at such a young age.”
“Some would say too young,” Johanna says, shaking her head. “I’ve been in meetings with lawyers and officials all week, drawing up contracts about how much Dawn is able to work, and what she’s expected to do. Really, these things should be left for adults only!”
“Might be worth complaining to the official board,” Cynthia says. It’s not the first time she’s heard of such discussion, but it usually comes from those who became Champion at a young age giving interviews as adults. Perhaps if a parent complains, the League will take things more seriously. (She doubts it, though. If children are allowed to be Gym Leaders, why not Champions?)
“I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on the situation,” Johanna says. “How are you faring? In all the excitement, I haven’t even gotten to pass along my thanks for keeping an eye on Dawn while she was on her journey.”
“I’m fine. And seriously, it was no trouble. Evidently, she didn’t need any help. She got here all by herself.”
“Still, I’m glad she had an older trainer to look up to. I always admired Fantina when I was a trainer. I’m sure you had someone too?” Johanna asks. She doesn’t smile as if she knows – she genuinely wants to know the answer. Backed into a corner, and trying to pretend that the flush across her face isn’t there, Cynthia sighs.
“Although there were many talented trainers in the Sinnoh region while I was journeying, I was always rather a fan of yours, Johanna.”
“Me?” She gasps. “Whatever for? Pokémon battles and Pokémon contests are so different to one another.”
“I just thought you were cool,” Cynthia gushes. “I was a teenager when you were hitting the big time, winning the Master Rank contests. It was cool to come to Hearthome City, and watch someone who clearly loved Pokémon as much as I did doing something that I could never imagine doing myself.”
“You never felt the urge to give it a go yourself?”
“No, actually. I knew I was good at battling, but had no interest in taking it further at the time. Nor did I want to learn a whole different style. My interests have always been in history and folklore – I guess now that I have more free time, I can dedicate it to learning that.”
“Or you could give contests a go,” Johanna jokes.
“I hardly think they’d let me enter.”
“Maybe not. But they do hold exhibition contests, on occasion. They invite me sometimes, along with people like Fantina, and Wallace and Lisia from Hoenn. If you’d be interested, I’m sure they could find an invite for you.”
“Competing with professionals? Me?”
“I think it’d go down a treat!”
“Well, I’ll think about it. It could be fun.”
“Wonderful! When everything has calmed down here, I’ll be in touch.” Johanna reaches out to shake Cynthia’s hand again. “Wonderful to see you tonight. I’m probably needed to rescue Dawn from more reporters.”
She wanders off with a smile. Cynthia exhales – she didn’t totally embarrass herself, and that’s what matters. Johanna seems to think highly of her, both as a trainer and as a friend to Dawn. Despite any complicated feelings she might have about the younger trainer, Cynthia is determined to continue keeping an eye on her.