"Garchomp, use Dragon Breath and send that Sandslash away,"
Cynthia commanded, her voice calm yet firm, carrying an undeniable authority that even the enraged Sandslash seemed to momentarily recognize.
Her blue eyes, usually so gentle, held a steely glint of command.
Hearing her command, Garchomp opened its massive jaws, and a torrent of purple draconic energy erupted forth.
The air crackled with power as the Dragon Breath took on the distinct shape of a majestic dragon, its eyes glowing fiercely as it hurtled towards the Sandslash,
its power evident in the way the surrounding leaves rustled violently in its wake.
Seeing that powerful attack, X's eyes sparkled with an intense light, wider than they had ever been.
It was as if something deep within the newborn Charmander had awakened, a primal instinct and admiration for such raw power.
Wow... that's so cool! I wanna be able to do that someday!
After the Dragon Breath struck the Sandslash with a resounding thud, sending it tumbling backwards and disappearing with a frustrated cry that faded into the distance, Cynthia turned her attention towards Ash.
Her expression softened instantly, worry replacing the sternness.
With a graceful leap that belied her height, she descended from the boulder and gently touched his cheek,
her blue eyes filled with concern, scanning his face for any sign of injury.
"Are you alright, Ash?" she repeated, her voice soft and laced with worry, her touch sending a shiver down his spine.
Ash blinked, finally shaking off the shock that had momentarily paralyzed him.
His heart was still pounding in his chest, partly from the near-attack and partly from Cynthia's sudden appearance.
"Yeah," he said, a relieved smile spreading across his face, a warmth blossoming in his chest at her concern.
"Yeah, thanks for saving my ass out there."
Hearing his affirmation, she let out a relieved smile, her shoulders visibly relaxing, and said,
"I am glad you are alright, Ash."
Her smile, warm and genuine, made his heart beat a little faster for some reason, a familiar flutter he hadn't felt in a while.
He suddenly felt a bit flustered by her closeness.
"You're too... too close," he stammered, a blush creeping up his cheeks as he realized the proximity of her face.
Her scent, a mix of wildflowers and something uniquely hers, filled his senses.
"Hmph, what's wrong with me being close?" she huffed playfully, a teasing glint returning to her eyes.
She took a small step back, but her gaze remained fixed on him.
"By the way, what were you doing in this forest? Don't you know it's dangerous?"
"Ahh, I kinda didn't expect it to be like this," Ash said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, his cheeks still slightly flushed.
He felt a little foolish for getting into such a predicament.
"Hmph, I guess you have a 'Pokémon' now, but it's still dangerous,"
she huffed, and for some reason, she emphasized the word "Pokémon" with a slight pout, her eyes narrowing playfully as she looked at the two Charmanders huddled behind Ash's legs.
"Umm, Cynthia, had I made you upset for some reason?" Ash asked, noticing her slightly different demeanor.
He couldn't quite place it, but there was a hint of something more than just concern in her eyes.
"Upset? Yes, you did," she said, crossing her arms over her chest, though her tone remained light, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
"After not accepting my offer to have Gible, you went ahead and got two Charmanders!"
She continued, a hint of playful accusation in her voice, her eyes twinkling mischievously,
"Heh, and you said you would get one when you start your journey."
The Gible she was referring to was the special Gible her grandmother, the renowned Professor Carolina, had entrusted to her to give to Ash as a gift.
It was a rare and powerful Pokémon, and Cynthia had been excited to give it to him.
But he had refused back then, saying he wanted to start his journey properly by choosing a starter Pokémon on the same day he received his trainer license, wanting the full experience like every other trainer.
It had secretly broken Cynthia's heart, even though she hadn't shown it.
Cynthia might appear cool and calm in front of everyone else, but she melted completely in front of the cuteness of her little hubby, and his rejection of her gift had stung more than she let on.
"Sorry, that time I didn't know that the trainer license age requirement would increase," Ash said quickly, thinking of a plausible excuse, hoping she wouldn't be too mad.
"Ah, that thing is also going on now, isn't it? Heh...Thank goodness I got my license before they passed the new Law," Cynthia said, a slight understanding expression softening her features, but a small pout still lingered on her lips.
She remembered how relieved she was to narrowly escape this new law.
"It seems those that already got the license aren't needed to wait," she added, a hint of pride in her voice, though her gaze softened as she looked at Ash.
Ash felt a slight pang of envy. Lucky her, he thought, then his mind drifted back to the reason Cynthia was here.
But then he remembered the Gible.
"Cynthia," Ash said, his eyes lighting up with a sudden thought, his previous embarrassment forgotten, "since I've decided to get Pokémon now, can you give me the Gible now?"
His expression turned into that of an adorable, pleading puppy, his eyes wide and hopeful, his lower lip slightly trembling.
Cynthia melted instantly, her resolve crumbling at his irresistible cuteness.
"Ah, if my hubby wants it, I can't help it," she said, her voice a soft and slightly flustered murmur, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink.
She blushed deep and gently patted his head, her long fingers stroking his messy black hair, a loving smile gracing her lips.
Even though Ash was only 4 years old, and Cynthia was 10 years old, Cynthia already stood tall at 175cm, a significant height difference compared to Ash's 130cm, making the head-patting gesture even more endearing.
"Ahem, good thing I brought him together with me," she said, managing to regain a semblance of her usual calm, though a hint of pink still dusted her cheeks.
She reached into her bag, her movements fluid and graceful, and took out a sleek, red and white Poké Ball.
"Come out, Gible," she said, tossing the Poké Ball gently into the air.
With a flash of white light, a small, shark-like creature appeared.
It had a large head with a prominent fin on top and sharp, pointed teeth that gave it a mischievous grin.
"Gib, gib," it muttered, its head tilting as it looked around with wide, curious eyes, clearly confused by its new surroundings.
Then, its bright red eyes spotted Ash, who was looking at him with a hopeful expression, his face radiating anticipation.
And then, before Ash could say anything, the little Gible let out a delighted cry, its small body wiggling with excitement, and lunged at him, its small but sharp teeth latching onto his head in a playful bite.
"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Ash screamed in surprise and mild pain, his hands flying up to try and dislodge the biting Pokémon, a comical look of shock on his face.
Though it was just a playful nip, the pressure from Gible's teeth was still enough to make Ash yelp and stumble back a step.
Cynthia watched the scene unfold, her hand covering her mouth as she tried to stifle a laugh, but a giggle escaped nonetheless, her melodious voice ringing through the forest. "Looks like it likes you, Ash."
"But my dear," Cynthia said gently, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she watched Gible happily gnawing on Ash's head, "if you really want to make him your own, you have to battle him."
"After all," she continued calmly, her gaze steady and insightful, "if you know the temper of Dragon-types, they don't obey easily. They respect strength, and a bond forged through battle is the strongest."
Ash looked into her calm, intelligent eyes and felt a blush warm his cheeks again, this time mixed with a sense of determination.
He then looked down at Gible, who had finally released his head and was now curiously sniffing at his leg, its sharp little nose twitching.
"So, Gible," Ash said, looking directly at the little Land Shark Pokémon with a newfound determination, a spark of challenge in his eyes, "mind if I challenge you to a battle?"
Gible looked up at Ash, its red eyes blinking, and then with a quick, enthusiastic nod, it hopped off his leg and bounded back towards Cynthia, stopping a few feet in front of her, its small body poised and ready.
"Gib, gible!" it chirped excitedly, its small body quivering with anticipation, its sharp teeth flashing in what looked like a determined grin.
It seemed like he was more than ready for a battle.