"Allen!!! Cynthia!!!"
Grandma Wilma's face was filled with fear as she shouted at the top of her lungs. The howling wind swallowed her voice, carrying it into the endless white void.
'If not for this goddamn snow...' She cursed under her breath, clutching her thick cloak tightly as the frigid air bit at her exposed skin.
Her visibility was severely reduced, forcing her to squint through the swirling flurries that danced wildly around her.
"Allen!!! Cynthia!!! Do you hear me?!!!"
She called again, desperation creeping into her voice. No answer. The storm raged on, and the fear in her heart only grew heavier.
"Ta~ria!!!"
Altaria chirped anxiously, doing her best to maintain Safeguard, shielding Grandma Wilma from the worst of the elements. But even with the mystical shield, the cold was relentless.
To conserve energy, Grandma Wilma had instructed her Altaria to stay still—every unnecessary movement would only drain their strength faster.
"Allen!!! Cynthia!!! Do you hear me?!!!"
Darkness.
A dull, aching pain throbbed in Cynthia's head as she slowly opened her eyes. The faintest slivers of light seeped through cracks in the packed snow, illuminating the cold, damp walls around them.
"Allen…?" Her voice was weak, barely more than a whisper. She reached out, her fingers fumbling in the darkness until they brushed against something warm.
"I'm here." Allen said and immediately grasped Cynthia's ice-cold hands, pulling them close to his mouth.
"Haa... haa..." He exhaled warm breaths over them, trying to chase away the bitter chill. Cynthia didn't protest—she only shivered, letting the warmth sink into her numb fingers.
The Safeguard was no longer protecting them. Either Grandma Wilma was too far away, or—no, Cynthia refused to let her mind go there.
"Where are we?" she murmured.
"Cave… I think. Haa... haa…" Allen's breath was still labored, his body shuddering from the cold.
Cynthia nodded faintly, though Allen couldn't see her. After a long pause, she whispered, "We're trapped, aren't we?"
DING~DING~DING
A sudden chime echoed through the cave, breaking the silence. At the same time, a small, trembling figure buried beneath the snow shifted.
"Ching! Bun!"
The little bunny that had been clinging to Allen's back wriggled free, shaking off the snow that had nearly buried it. Cynthia's eyes widened before lighting up with joy.
"I knew you two wouldn't abandon us!" She hurriedly reached out, wrapping the tiny Pokémon in a warm embrace.
"Vee~!"
Eevee, who had been tucked safely by Cynthia, let out a delighted cry upon seeing the little friends it had made back at the daycare. It nuzzled against the newly uncovered pair, its fluffy tail wagging despite the cold.
Seeing them filled Allen with relief, even if they were still trapped. At least, they weren't alone. After hugging them, Cynthia suddenly lowered her head as she remembered something.
Her voice grew even smaller, as if weighed down by guilt. "I'm sorry, Alle—"
Hearing this, Allen let out a tired breath but gently patted her head.
Why was she apologizing?
Why was she speaking like this was the end? He refused to accept that.
They were going to make it out.
"Allen!"
"Cynthia, where are you?!"
"Allen! Cynthia!"
Grandma Wilma's distant shouts barely reached them. Before long, Cynthia and Allen heard it too. Their eyes lit up with hope.
"Grandma Wilma, we're here!" Cynthia cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted in a random direction, while Allen joined in, yelling with all his might.
Upon hearing their voices, Grandma Wilma sighed in relief.
She turned to her Altaria, worry etched across her face. "Aria, can you still do it?"
Aria shook her head weakly. She still had some energy left, but if she launched an attack or pushed herself any further, she would be completely drained.
Maintaining Safeguard while flying through the storm had already taken a heavy toll on her.
Grandma Wilma bit her lip. She knew she couldn't push Aria any further. She clenched her fists. She had to find another way.
"Stay with me, Aria," she whispered, gently stroking the exhausted Pokémon's feathers.
Then, she turned her gaze toward the entrance of the cave, which was blocked by snow, and shouted, "Hang on, you two. I'm coming!"
Inside the cave.
Cynthia clutched his sleeve. "Allen… how can we get out of here?"
"Sigh, we need to thank Absol properly this time..." Allen muttered under his breath.
"Ab… what?" Cynthia blinked, confused, no idea what he was talking about.
But then she saw Allen reach into his jacket and pull out three Pokéballs. Her eyes lit up.
Only then did she remember—Allen had instructed her to pick up all the Pokémon from the daycare earlier.
Allen took a deep breath and tossed the Pokéballs into the air. In three flashes of light, Cherubi, Buizel, and Magby appeared.
The moment Magby emerged, the frigid air hit its molten body like a slap. It shuddered violently, eyes widening in panic. The cold was unbearable—far beyond anything it had ever experienced. It let out a distressed cry.
"Magby~! Magby~?!"
Its breath came out in small puffs of white mist, and for a moment, fear gripped it. But then, the familiar warmth of Allen and the other friends filled its nose, bringing a sense of comfort.
Even so, the cold was dangerous—it could weaken Magby beyond recovery if they didn't act fast. Allen noticed it too. He opened his palm and felt a faint breeze drifting through the cave.
That meant there was air circulation—an opening somewhere—but he dismissed the idea of searching for an exit that way. Instead, he turned to Cherubi.
"Cherubi, can you use Sunny Day here? Just like we practiced back then?"
"Allen, what are you trying to do?" Cynthia asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
As expected of Cynthia, her curiosity was unmatched. But Allen was more than happy to explain to establish his name as Sinnoh's Champion big brother early on!
"Cherubi isn't an overly active Pokémon. Given the chance, it would simply bask in the sun for as long as possible. They rely on its withered secondary head to store extra nutrients, making it one of the best Pokémon at conserving energy."
And right now, that ability could be their lifeline.
Just like Fire-type moves become stronger under brighter sunlight, Pokémon with Chlorophyll can move faster due to increased energy intake—just like real plants thriving under intense sunlight.
With a determined cry, Cherubi launched an orb of light into the air, illuminating the cave in a warm glow.
Now that he could finally see Cynthia from head to toe and confirm she was unharmed, Allen let out a relieved breath.
"Cynthia, you must remember this," he then said seriously. "When using Fire-type moves in a cave like this—whether to warm up or for anything else—you must never forget the first rule. There must be air circulation or at least some airflow. If there isn't, don't even try. Do you understand?"
In the future, other than becoming a Champion, Cynthia was known as an archaeologist, which meant her life would revolve around ruins and caves like this. It was not a bad idea to teach her early on.
Cynthia nodded seriously, then tilted her head cutely. "Why?"
"We breathe because there is oxygen in the air, and fire also needs oxygen to burn. So if you make a fire, the oxygen will run out quickly. If the oxygen is gone, how will you breathe? Also, remember, fire in a closed space can also poison you and make you sick! So be careful and always make sure there is airflow before burning something in a closed place like a cave!"
"Oh." Only then did she realize.
"But are you using a Fire-type move just now?" she asked as she looked toward the orbs. "It's beautiful," she mumbled.
Allen smiled. "That's because there is airflow. Try lifting your hand and feel the wind. Moreover..." Allen trailed off as he gazed toward the snow that blocked the entrance of the cave. "We need to get out of here quickly," he said before looking at Magby, who was already comforted by the presence of Sunny Day.
"Magby, use Flamethrower!"
Magby let out a determined cry before taking a deep breath. Flames flickered in its mouth, growing hotter and stronger as the energy from Sunny Day fueled its power.
With a powerful roar, Magby unleashed a stream of scorching fire toward the snow blocking the cave's entrance.
The intense heat clashed against the icy barrier, causing steam to rise as the snow rapidly melted away.
Cynthia watched in awe, her eyes reflecting the glow of the flames. "Magby is so strong..." she whispered.
Allen followed. "Of course! Fire-type Pokémon get even stronger under the sun. That's why Sunny Day is so useful."