A New Journey in Pokémon

[Common]

Mc:this is just deformed English

Cynthia: what the fuck is English

Click to shrink...

I can not wait for that to happen lol

 

[Common]

Cynthia was tired.

Not the dramatic, collapsing-on-a-fainting-couch kind of tired. The quiet, bone-deep exhaustion that came from back-to-back League meetings, two arbitration disputes between Gym Leaders, and a three-hour excavation review that could have been an email.

She had just removed her coat when her phone rang.

She stared at it.

She glanced at the caller ID.

Grandma.

Cynthia closed her eyes briefly.

"…Of course."

She answered.

"Grandma, it's almost—"

"I've cracked it."

Cynthia paused mid-step.

"…Cracked what?"

"The script," Carolina said, voice vibrating with barely contained energy. "Pre-Sinnoh Glyphic Pattern Type-3. It's a tactile linguistic system. Fully structured. Repeating syntax. Cynthia, it's a complete language."

Cynthia leaned against the wall.

That woke her up faster than coffee.

"That's not possible," she said automatically. "That archive has been studied for decades."

"Yes," Carolina replied. "Incorrectly."

There was the sound of papers shuffling on the other end. Excited pacing. Possibly mild academic hysteria.

"Grandma," Cynthia said carefully, "how?"

A pause.

"…Ethan."

Cynthia blinked.

"…I'm sorry?"

"He can read it."

Silence stretched between them.

Cynthia glanced at the clock.

She considered several possibilities.

None of them were sane.

"He can read," she repeated slowly, "a script that every specialist in Sinnoh has failed to decode."

"Yes."

"And how exactly is he doing that?"

"He says it's called Braille."

Cynthia frowned. "I've never heard of it."

"Neither has anyone else," Carolina snapped. "Which is precisely the point."

Cynthia pushed off the wall and began pacing.

"Grandma," she said, voice lowering into Champion-mode calm, "Ethan is five."

"Almost six," Carolina corrected automatically.

"That does not improve the situation."
"He read a line verbatim," Carolina insisted. "'The Royal Giant must rest between uses. If overworked, even it will break.' Cynthia, that directly links to the mythological interpretation regarding—"

"—Regigigas," Cynthia finished quietly. "I'll be there first thing in the morning… You are letting Ethan get his sleep, right?"

"As much as I regret it, he's currently asleep," Carolina replied. She paused, thinking rapidly. "Do you think we could have him translate the inscriptions at Snowpoint Temple as well? They're not Pattern Type-3, but if this 'Braille' is a broader system…"

Cynthia exhaled slowly.

"So that psychic diagnosis the doctor mentioned after his accident," she said carefully, "might actually be legitimate?"

===
Morning came too quickly.

Ethan shuffled downstairs in socked feet, hair sticking up in impossible directions, Eevee padding loyally behind him.

He rounded the corner into the kitchen—

—and stopped.

At the table sat his grandmother.

And across from her—

A very tired-looking Cynthia.

Cynthia's posture was straight out of habit, but there were faint shadows under her eyes and a mug of coffee in her hand that suggested she had not slept nearly enough.

Papers were spread across the table.

Transcriptions.

Rubbings.

Charts.

Ethan blinked.

"…Morning?"

Both women turned toward him at the exact same time.

It was deeply unsettling.

Eevee froze mid-step.

Cynthia offered a small, deceptively calm smile.

"Good morning, Ethan."

Carolina's expression was far too neutral.

Ethan's gaze dropped to the papers.

Raised dot patterns.

Translation notes.

The word Braille written in Carolina's sharp handwriting.

Ah.

So this was happening today.

He looked back up at them.

"…Why does Aunt Cynthia look like she fought a Garchomp?" he asked innocently.

Cynthia did not blink.

Carolina, however, pointed at him.

"No. This is entirely your fault. Finish breakfast. We're going into town to get you winter gear."

Ethan froze.

"…Winter gear?"

"Yes," Carolina said crisply. "Boots. Coat. Gloves. Hat. Preferably something rated for subzero wind."

Cynthia took a slow sip of coffee, watching him carefully over the rim of the mug.

Ethan processed that.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"To Snowpoint Temple," Cynthia replied calmly. "Though that trip will be a few days from now. I need to clear time from my Champion duties first."

She set the mug down.

"Today," she continued, "you'll be translating more of this Braille."

Carolina slid one of the tablets forward across the table.

Ethan stared at it.

"…What happened to breakfast?" he asked.

"Chomp!"

The shout came from directly behind him.

A plate was set down on the table—

—and Ethan absolutely shrieked.

He nearly launched out of his chair as a massive, blue-gray shape loomed over him.

Hammerhead.

Fins.

Teeth.

Eevee bolted under the table.

Ethan looked up an the Dragon-type blinked down at him, eyes bright, expression smugly pleased with itself.
In one clawed hand, a perfectly balanced breakfast plate was set down in front of Cynthia, who took another calm sip of coffee as if nearly giving a child cardiac arrest was part of the morning routine.

"Good morning to you too," she said mildly. "Garchomp insisted on helping."

Garchomp gave a proud rumble, clearly pleased with both the plating and the psychological warfare.

Ethan clutched his chest.

"You can't just— just— stealth deploy a land shark!"

"Chomp," Garchomp replied, entirely unrepentant.

Carolina adjusted her reading glasses, unfazed.

"He did not stealth deploy. You were distracted."

Cynthia nodded, finally picking up her fork.

"You need to work on your situational awareness," she said evenly. "Especially if you intend to explore the forest out back more. A lack of awareness can land you in trouble."

Ethan stared at her.

"You sicced a pseudo-legendary on me during breakfast," he said.

Cynthia paused mid-bite.

"…Pseudo-legendary?" she repeated, one brow lifting slightly.

Garchomp tilted his head.

"Chomp?"

Carolina slowly removed her glasses.

"That's a new term," she said evenly. "Care to explain?"

Ethan immediately realized he had made a mistake.

He pointed at his plate instead.

"Is this Oran berry reduction? That smells like Oran berry reduction. Did Garchomp make the sauce? That's impressive motor control for claws that size—"

Carolina did not blink.

Cynthia set her fork down again.

"Ethan."

He deflated slightly.

"I don't know," he said, waving a hand vaguely. "I just kinda know, y'know?"

Silence.

Both Carolina and Cynthia paused.

They looked at him.

They looked at each other.

Then, unexpectedly—

They nodded.

"…Yes," Carolina said after a moment, as though that explained everything.

An Ethan could only sit there confused.

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Honestly can't wait to see how he explains Psuedo legendaries. And how each region has at least 1 (Hoenn is special cause they couldn't decide on Salamance or Metagross)

 

[Common]

Celestic Town was alive with activity—a proper metropolitan hub in Sinnoh, layered atop centuries of history.

Glass-fronted storefronts and modern transit lines wove between stonework that predated the League itself. Streets bustled with commuters, tourists, trainers, and scholars. Pokémon moved just as freely—delivery Chatot fluttering overhead with parcel straps, a pair of Machoke assisting with construction under careful supervision, children laughing as a Buneary darted between benches.

The air carried the warm scent of bakeries, street food, and distant sea wind drifting in from the coast.

But the "town" portion of Celestic was, in many ways, a polite fiction.

The true Celestic Town—the one printed in history texts—was the preserved heritage district at its heart. Ancient stone paths. Weathered wooden buildings. The ruins and cavern systems protected under cultural authority. The place where Sinnoh's creation myths were etched into rock walls older than recorded civilization.

And today, Ethan was seeing all of it with wide, openly curious eyes.

This wasn't Maverik's memory.

This wasn't secondhand knowledge or inherited context.

This was real.

A Growlithe trotted past on police duty, tail wagging as its handler chatted with a street vendor. A pair of elderly women shared tea outside a café while their Lilligant carefully pruned decorative ivy climbing along a balcony. A Rotom flickered inside a digital billboard overhead, briefly glitching into a smiley face before stabilizing.

Cynthia's eyes softened, and then, unexpectedly, she giggled.

"It's a lot more than you expected, isn't it?" she asked, her tone teasing but warm.

Ethan nodded slowly, taking it all in, his small hand gripping the strap of his coat. "Yeah… it's… kind of amazing."

Cynthia smiled faintly at that—soft, satisfied.

"Good," she said. "It should be."

She guided him down the main avenue, Garchomp trailing a polite distance behind them so as not to cause traffic incidents. People still parted instinctively anyway.

Their first stop was a winter outfitter near the northern end of the district—large windows displaying insulated coats, thermal layers, snow boots rated for mountain conditions.

Ethan stopped dead in front of a mannequin wearing what looked like enough padding to survive an avalanche.

"I'm going to look like a Swinub," he muttered.

Cynthia hummed thoughtfully. "A well-prepared Swinub."

Inside, it became immediately clear that shopping with the Sinnoh Champion had… perks.

The clerk straightened instantly. "C-Champion Cynthia! How can we help?"

"Winter gear for Snowpoint conditions," Cynthia replied calmly. "Child-sized. Layered insulation. Waterproof outer shell. Wind resistance is non-negotiable."

Ethan blinked.

This wasn't casual aunt mode.

This was expedition logistics mode.

Within minutes, he was being measured, fitted, rotated, and lightly manhandled into thermal underlayers, wool-lined pants, and a thick down coat that made him resemble a particularly fashionable Spheal.

He waddled experimentally.

"I can't bend."

"You can," Cynthia said mildly. "You're being dramatic."

He attempted a crouch. It was slow. Mechanical. Deeply undignified.

Garchomp made a low rumbling noise that sounded suspiciously like amusement.

"Traitor," Ethan muttered.

Boots came next—heavy, insulated, with serious tread. Gloves with reinforced fingertips. A knit hat that covered his ears entirely.

Cynthia crouched in front of him, adjusting the scarf herself, tucking it properly under his collar.

"Snowpoint Temple isn't forgiving," she said quietly. "Cold like that isn't uncomfortable. It's dangerous."

Her tone wasn't teasing anymore.

Ethan nodded seriously.

"I'll stay close," he promised.

She searched his face for a moment, then seemed satisfied.

"Good."
===

Ethan walked beside his aunt while the land shark behind them carefully carried an impressive stack of shopping bags—winter coats, boots, gloves, and several sets of everyday clothes balanced neatly in its claws.

He was only just beginning to remember why he had hated clothing shopping as a kid.

Too many layers. Too many decisions. Too much standing still.

"Hey, Aunt Cynthia?" he asked, looking up at her. "Why are we getting so many clothes? Don't I have some back home? Won't Mom bring them?"

Cynthia didn't answer immediately.

She adjusted the strap of one of the lighter bags on her shoulder, gaze forward, expression calm and composed in that Champion way she had perfected.

"Well," she said evenly, "Snowpoint requires specialized clothing. What you had before wouldn't be sufficient."

"That's not what I meant," Ethan replied.

Garchomp's tail swayed slowly behind them, careful not to knock over a mailbox.

Cynthia's eyes flicked down to Ethan for half a second—measuring, thoughtful.

Then, very smoothly:

"Would you like ice cream?"

Ethan blinked.

"…What?"

"There's a place two streets over that makes excellent strawberry swirl," she continued casually.

"Sure!" Ethan responds.

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

I was hoping he would explain the pseudo legendary thing but oh well. And LoL family bonding over ice cream!

 

[Common]

I was hoping he would explain the pseudo legendary thing but oh well. And LoL family bonding over ice cream!

Click to shrink...

So it's a funny thing I got going on where they think Ethan is a Psychic, when realistically us looking in know he's not but to them he just knows this stuff some how.

As for explaining Sudo-legendaries how exactly would you go about explaining Pokemon base stats and how having over 600 is a qualifier

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

As for explaining Sudo-legendaries how exactly would you go about explaining Pokemon base stats and how having over 600 is a qualifier

Click to shrink...

Just by saying how there are some Pokemon (usually just one per Region ) who's Potential ceiling is significantly higher than other pokemon. To the point that if one is trained well enough it can and will be able to defeat Minor Legendaries (Mon like Darkrai and such) hence the name Psuedo legendary. The fact it's also the apex species of their region and this rare also is a part of this

 

[Common]

Every now and then, Eevee's tail flicked as Ethan folded a shirt wrong, unfolded it, then tried again with a quiet sigh.



The pile on the bed stubbornly refused to look organized.



"…I forgot how much clothing shopping sucks," Ethan muttered.



"Vee."



He leaned back against the side of the bed, letting his head thump lightly against the mattress as he stared up at the ceiling.



Tomorrow.



Snowpoint Temple.



His thoughts circled the problem again, chewing at it from every angle.



If the system worked the way he suspected it did, meeting the legendaries here might unlock them the same way raids or encounters did back home…



But that meant getting to them first.



"…What was the puzzle for Regigigas again?" he murmured.



Ethan stared at the faint, semi-transparent Pokémon GO interface hovering in front of him. The familiar window floated in his vision like a ghostly overlay.



Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wished—really wished—he could just Google it.



The thought had barely finished forming when the window flickered.



Ethan blinked. The overlay vanished. In its place— His phone's home screen.



"Oh."



All of his apps sat exactly where they should be. Messages. Browser. Maps. Everything. And in the top right corner, next to the battery icon—

Signal bars the Verizon logo visible.



Ethan stared at the screen.



"…Wait…. What?"



Ethan didn't really have time to think as sleep took him.

===



Ethan woke to the strange sensation of being lifted.



Not gently nudged awake.



Actually picked up.



Strong arms slid under him and hoisted him off the bed like he weighed nothing.



His brain was still halfway asleep.



"Mom?" Ethan murmured groggily, voice thick with sleep.



He blinked blearily, face pressing against a familiar coat as cold morning air brushed his cheeks.



Cynthia froze.



Not dramatically. Not visibly to anyone who didn't know her.



Just… completely still.



For a moment, the Champion of Sinnoh—archaeologist, strategist, and one of the strongest trainers in the world—simply stood there holding a half-asleep six-year-old who had just called her mom.



Her golden eyes lowered slightly.



Ethan was already drifting again, cheek pressed into her shoulder, completely unaware of the emotional landmine he had just stepped on.



Cynthia exhaled slowly.



"…Close enough, I suppose," she murmured under her breath.



She shifted her grip slightly, settling him more securely against her hip.



"Garchomp," she said quietly.



"Chomp."



The large dragon stood near the door with the calm patience of something that could shatter mountains but currently functioned as luggage transport.



Cynthia carried Ethan back to the bed and sat him upright for a moment.



He swayed like a sleepy noodle.



"Stay with me for a second," she said gently.



"Mm."



He did not stay with her for a second.



His eyes were already half closed again.



Cynthia suppressed a small smile and began dressing him anyway.



Thermal shirt. Thicker pants, wool socks, a light insulated under-jacket.



He barely reacted as she maneuvered his arms through the sleeves and pulled the zipper up.



The heavier snow gear would go on later.



"Boots when we arrive," she said quietly, mostly to herself.



Snowpoint was cold.



Even by Sinnoh standards.



She brushed a hand through his hair, fixing the worst of the sleep tangles before lifting him again.



Ethan immediately slumped against her shoulder.



"Mom…" he mumbled again, faintly.



Cynthia paused a second time.



Then continued walking as if nothing had happened.



"Come along," she said calmly.



Behind them, Garchomp lifted the bags of winter gear and rumbled once in quiet amusement before following Cynthia outside into the early morning cold.



Waiting at the curb was a League Dragonite Bus.



Not a machine shaped like one.



An actual Dragonite.



The large orange dragon stood patiently in the street, thick insulated flight harness secured around its torso and shoulders. A reinforced passenger carriage—painted in Sinnoh League colors—was attached behind it with heavy suspension lines designed to stabilize the load during flight.



The Dragonite's antenna twitched as Cynthia stepped outside.



"Draaa," it greeted pleasantly.



A bundled League handler stood beside it with a clipboard, checking the straps and wind stabilizers.



When he noticed Cynthia approaching, he straightened immediately.



"Champion."



Cynthia nodded once in greeting, Ethan still half-asleep against her shoulder.



"Morning."



The handler glanced down at the sleepy child and then back up, choosing the professional route of pretending that was completely normal.



"Snowpoint route is clear. Winds are light today."



Behind her, Garchomp carefully set the luggage beside the carriage.



"Chomp."



Dragonite glanced over at the ground-dragon curiously, tail swaying.



Ethan stirred slightly at the low rumble of the large Pokémon nearby but didn't wake fully. Instead, he just tightened his grip on Cynthia's coat.



"…Warm," he mumbled.



Cynthia allowed the faintest hint of a smile.



"Yes," she said quietly. "Let's keep it that way."



The handler opened the carriage door.



The interior was built for northern routes—thick padding along the benches, reinforced windows, and a small heating unit humming softly near the floor.



Cynthia stepped inside first, still carrying Ethan against her shoulder.



He barely reacted, only shifting slightly as the temperature changed.



"…Mm."



She sat down on one of the padded seats and adjusted him so he was resting more comfortably against her side. His head tipped against her shoulder again almost immediately.



Outside, Garchomp lifted the luggage and carefully loaded it into the rear storage rack of the carriage.



"Chomp." And the land shark was recalled into his pokeball.



The handler secured the latch with a practiced motion.



"All set," he said, giving the side of the carriage two firm knocks.



Outside the window, Dragonite lowered its stance slightly as the harness lines tightened and locked into place.



Its wings spread, Ethan stirred again at the faint shift in motion, eyelids fluttering.



"…Big… Pidgey…" he mumbled.



Cynthia blinked once. And the carriage took off.

 

[Chronodevil]

Adult software on kid hardware, always amusing to see the little moments where they sync up and the ones where the whole system crashes.

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Oddly wholesome. And Man this is gonna be fun. Dude can literally fact check himself.

 

[Gaffhook]

Hit Cynthia right in the feels. TFTC

 

[Common]

Ethan woke to the feeling of violent shaking.


For one disoriented moment, his brain decided the world was ending.


The floor rumbled beneath him, the walls vibrated, and something deep and powerful roared through the air outside.


His eyes snapped open.


He grabbed his pillow instinctively—


—and immediately froze.


The pillow was warm.


Very warm.


Also soft.


Also breathing.




Ethan slowly tilted his head upward. A mass of long blonde hair filled his vision. His cheek was pressed against a very familiar black coat. His arms were wrapped around—




Oh.


Oh no.




That was not a pillow. Ethan went completely still. Very slowly, very carefully, he lifted his head.




Cynthia, who had apparently allowed the half-asleep child to curl against her sometime during the flight, opened one grey eye.




She looked down at him.




Ethan looked up at her.




"Morning, sleepyhead," Cynthia said, voice warm with quiet amusement. "Did you sleep well?"




Ethan blinked once.




Then he smiled.




"Yes I did, Aunt Cynthia."




Cynthia's eyebrow twitched slightly.




"Call me big sis," she said mildly. "Aunt makes me feel old."




Ethan nodded automatically, still waking up.




"Where are we?" he asked, turning his head toward the window—




—and immediately froze again.




White.




Endless white.




Clouds stretched below them like a second sky, broken only by jagged mountain peaks punching through like dark teeth. Snow whipped past the reinforced glass in thin, streaking lines as the Dragonite's wings beat steadily against the high-altitude air.




They were high.




Very high.




Ethan pressed a hand lightly against the window.




"…We're flying."




Cynthia followed his gaze, completely unfazed. "Yes."




That was it. Just yes.




Ethan slowly turned back to her. "We are very high. What's is this carriage thing called?"




"The League's Dragonite bus," she explained. "And despite the name, it's not public transport. It's strictly managed by the League and reserved for priority travel. Dragonite are… difficult to raise to this level. Sinnoh only has around thirty capable of this kind of sustained flight with a full carriage."




Ethan nodded slowly.




"…Oh."




He turned back to the window.




Clouds drifted beneath them like an ocean. The Dragonite's wings moved with steady, powerful beats, each one sending a faint vibration through the carriage.




Thirty.




Ethan kept his mouth very, very shut.




Because in the back of his mind—




His actual Dragonite count sat somewhere well above fifty.




He'd stopped keeping track after a while.




Most of them were fully powered up. Pokémon GO level 50 equivalents. Optimized. Maxed.




And that wasn't even considering Mega Evolution.




Ethan stared out at the sky, expression carefully neutral.




"…Huh," he said.




Cynthia glanced at him briefly, catching the tone.




"…Something on your mind?"




"Nope."




He did not elaborate. Squinting as he believes he saw Snowpoint come into view in the distance.


=====




The door opened, and the cold hit like a wall.




Ethan stepped out and immediately sucked in a breath. "Okay—yeah—that's cold."




Cynthia, of course, didn't react at all. She moved forward like this was a pleasant morning stroll, coat shifting slightly in the wind. Garchomp followed behind, carrying their bags without the slightest complaint.




Waiting at the edge of the landing platform was a young woman. She stood perfectly still despite the wind, long blonde hair barely shifting, her presence calm in a way that felt… heavier than it should have been.




Caitlin inclined her head as Cynthia approached.




"Cynthia."




There was familiarity there. Respect.




Cynthia's expression softened, just a little. "Caitlin."




For a brief moment, Caitlin's gaze shifted to Ethan. Something unseen brushed across the space between them, only for the blond to suddenly flinch.




She gave the smallest nod toward Cynthia.




Cynthia's eyes sharpened in return. Message received.




Ethan, meanwhile, was completely oblivious to the silent exchange happening over his head. He was too busy trying not to freeze solid.




"…Hi?" he offered.




Caitlin's attention settled on him again, her expression softening slightly. "Hello, Ethan."




Ethan blinked, then glanced between her and Cynthia.




"…Okay, so are you two ready to find Regigigas?" Ethan asks with a smile.




"We can do that in a minute, Ethan. Why don't you go inside to get out of the wind while Caitlin and I talk out here for a minute," Cynthia asks




"OKAY!" Ethan said brightly, flashing a grin as he shuffled forward.


He immediately regretted the enthusiasm.


The moment he stepped fully onto the platform, the cold hit him again, and the sheer bulk of his winter gear turned walking into a slow, awkward waddle. Boots too stiff, coat too thick, gloves too padded—he looked like a very determined, very bundled marshmallow trying to navigate ice.


Cynthia and Caitlin watched him hobble inside the nearby building, the door shutting behind him with a dull thud, cutting off the worst of the wind.




Once he was out of earshot—


Caitlin's calm expression slipped.




"Cynthia," she said quietly, "what in Arceus is that child?"




Cynthia didn't answer immediately. Instead, she studied Caitlin carefully.




"So," she said, voice measured, "you did feel something."




Caitlin exhaled slowly, her gaze drifting toward the door Ethan had just disappeared through.




"'Feel' isn't the word I would use," she replied. "Trying to comprehend his thoughts was worse than trying to read a Porygon-Z."




That… was not said lightly.




Cynthia's expression didn't change, but something in her posture sharpened. "Explain."




Caitlin's eyes narrowed slightly as she searched for the right words.




"It's not just noise," she said. "It's… layered. Structured in ways that don't align. Surface thoughts, yes—but beneath that? There's something else. Something older. Disconnected. Like multiple frameworks trying to exist at once."


She paused.


"And then it stops. Like hitting a wall that shouldn't be there."




Cynthia folded her arms, staring out toward the storm for a moment. "…That does not align with anything we've seen so far."




"Then fill me in," Caitlin said calmly.




Cynthia exhaled quietly before answering. "Well… besides him changing his name—which, frankly, I don't blame him for, considering I wasn't exactly stable after my parents died—there's the knowledge."




Caitlin's attention sharpened.


"Knowledge?"




"Things he shouldn't know," Cynthia continued. "Details that are either regionally restricted or outright classified. Evolution methods—accurate ones—for species outside Sinnoh. Combat optimization beyond what a child should grasp. And…"


She hesitated just slightly.


"He can read the lost script. The one we've been trying to decode for decades. He calls it 'Braille.'"


Caitlin's eyes narrowed further.




"And that Eevee?"




Cynthia's gaze flicked briefly toward the building.


"He trained it to use techniques far beyond its developmental stage. Not instinctively—deliberately."


There was a quiet pause.




"He has Kanto-classified knowledge," Caitlin said slowly, "just… in his head?"




"Yes and probably more."


===




Inside, Ethan stood near the doorway, just far enough in to avoid freezing but close enough to peek through the door.


Snow whipped past outside, wind howling just loud enough to muffle anything resembling a normal conversation.


He leaned slightly, trying to angle himself for better hearing.


"I wonder what they're talking about…" he muttered.


"Gar."


Ethan jumped.


"OH—Arceus—!"


He spun around, clutching his chest as Garchomp loomed directly behind him, somehow having entered without making a sound.


"…Garchomp," Ethan said, breathing hard, "please stop doing that."


"Gar," Garchomp replied, completely unapologetic.


Ethan narrowed his eyes.


"You are way too big to be sneaky."


Garchomp tilted its head.


Clearly disagreeing.


Ethan glanced back toward the door, then leaned in slightly toward the massive dragon like he was about to propose a criminal conspiracy.


"…Say, Garchomp," he whispered, "can you keep a secret from Big Sis Cynthia?"


Garchomp's eyes narrowed slightly. "Gar?"




Ethan swallowed a bit nervously he could tell he had offended the land shark. "I want to teach you dragon dance, but you can't tell big sis because it relates to my powers."




Then leaned down slightly, eyes locking onto him with a much sharper focus.


"…Garchomp."


That tone had changed.


Interest.


Ethan nodded quickly. "Yeah. Boosts speed and power. Stacking potential. You'd hit harder and move faster—like, a lot faster."


Garchomp stared at him for another long moment.


Then straightened.


Slowly.


"…Gar."


Ethan exhaled, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "So that's a yes?"


Garchomp crossed its arms.


Then gave a single, firm nod.


Ethan grinned as he pulled out an elite tm from his in game bag.

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

You absolute madlad! Teaching Cynthia's Garchomp Dragon Dance! Leon will never recover from this. All jokes aside this was awesome. Can't wait till Garchomp shows it off.

 

[TikkyMikk]

Haha make the land shark more OP

 

[JoyousCanius]

This is incredible so fat! Keep writing peak~

 

[Common]

The deeper chamber of Snowpoint Temple opened up around them—vast, cold, and impossibly old. Pillars carved from solid stone rose toward a shadowed ceiling, their surfaces covered in the same raised-dot script, though far denser here. Snow had drifted in through cracks in the structure, collecting in quiet mounds along the edges of the room.


Cynthia stepped in first, boots crunching softly against frost-hardened ground, her breath faintly visible in the air.


Behind her, Caitlin followed at a measured pace, eyes already half-lidded in focus as her psychic senses brushed carefully against the space.


"Ancient," Caitlin murmured. "And… heavy."


"Yeah," Cynthia agreed quietly.


Her gaze shifted to Ethan.


He stood a few steps ahead of them, small figure in oversized winter gear, staring at the walls like they were speaking directly to him.


Cynthia folded her arms.


"So," she said, voice calm but carrying easily in the chamber, "does anything jump out to you, Ethan?"


Ethan didn't answer immediately. He walked forward instead, boots leaving small impressions in the thin layer of frost, until he reached one of the central pillars. His gloved hand pressed lightly against the stone—


Then he pulled the glove off with his teeth. Direct contact with the pillar.



"…Yeah," he said after a moment.


Cynthia's attention sharpened. "What does it say?"


"Rock. Steel. Ice."


The words left his mouth—


—and something moved.


A deep, grinding shift echoed through the chamber, ancient stone dragging against stone. Dust shook loose from the ceiling as a hidden mechanism, untouched for centuries, finally responded.


Cynthia turned instantly.


"…What did you just do?"


Ethan opened his eyes.


Ethan smiles in response, he knows he has his Aunt spooked but if he wants to get to Regigigas then he needs to speed this along.


That was when the wall opposite them split.


Not dramatically.


Not explosively.


But with slow, inevitable certainty—like something that had always been meant to open, just waiting for the right key.


A seam appeared.


Then widened.


Cold air poured out from the darkness beyond, sharper than before—older.


Caitlin's posture straightened slightly, her usual calm tightening just a fraction.


"…That wasn't a coincidence," she said quietly.


"No," Cynthia agreed.


Her eyes flicked back to Ethan.


"You triggered it."


Ethan looked between the opening doorway and the two of them.

"Come on," he said lightly. "Don't you two feel it calling?"


It was a complete lie. There was no mystical pull. No ancient voice.


He was just cheating the snowpoint temple puzzle.


But it sounded good, very mysterious but even more it was convincing.


And, most importantly— Distracting.


Before either of them could respond, Ethan turned and started down the newly revealed staircase, small boots thudding softly against the worn stone steps.


"Ethan—" Cynthia started.


Too late.


He was already going.


Cynthia exhaled sharply and moved after him without hesitation.


Behind them, Garchomp gave a low rumble and followed, far less pleased about the situation.


Caitlin lingered for half a second longer at the threshold, gaze fixed on the darkness below.


"…He's leading us somewhere," Caitlin said quietly.


Then she followed.


The descent was longer than it should have been.


The staircase spiraled downward through stone that felt older with every step, the air growing colder, heavier—like the temple itself was pressing in around them. Even Cynthia, composed as ever, kept her hand close to a Poké Ball now.


When they finally reached the bottom—


Ethan was already there.


Of course he was.


Standing at another pillar.


Waiting.


Cynthia slowed as she stepped off the final stair, eyes locking onto him. "…Ethan."


He didn't look back.



His bare fingers moved across the stone faster now—more confident, more certain.


"Ice. Rock. Steel. Rock. Ice."


The moment the final word left his mouth—


The chamber answered.


A deep, resonant rumble rolled through the floor, stronger than before. The walls themselves shifted, ancient mechanisms groaning as something vast and hidden responded to the sequence.


Stone slid against stone.


Dust fell.


Something moved far below.


Then—


Ethan grinned.


"Come on! One more to go, Big Sis Cynthia!" he called, already turning. "I hope he finds us worthy—although with you here, I'm not too worried!"


And then he ran.


Straight into the next passage.


"Ethan—!"


Cynthia moved instantly her boots slamming against stone as she took off after him, expression tightening in a way Caitlin hadn't seen before.


She did not like that sentence. Not one bit.


Behind her, Garchomp snarled low in its throat and surged forward as well, far less restrained now.


Caitlin followed last, slower—but her gaze was sharper than ever.


"…Worthy," she murmured under her breath.


That wasn't a child guessing anymore.


That was someone who knew what was at the end of this.

====

Ethan was out of breath by the time he reached the third pillar, small chest rising and falling as cold air burned in his lungs. Even so, there was a bright, excited grin on his face.


He had made it.


He yanked off his glove again, barely even noticing the sting of cold this time, and pressed his hand against the ancient stone.


Then he turned, looking back at Cynthia.


And smiled.


"Steel. Ice. Rock. Ice. Steel. Rock!"


The final word rang out—


—and the temple answered.


Not with a rumble.


Not this time.


With something deeper.


Heavier.


A thunderous shift echoed through the chamber as the massive door ahead of them began to move. Stone screamed against stone, dust cascading down in thick clouds as mechanisms that had not moved in centuries roared back to life.


Cynthia skidded to a stop just behind him.


"Ethan—!"


Too late.


The door was already opening.


Slowly.


Inevitably.


Like something that had never intended to stay sealed forever.


Cold air flooded out from within—colder than anything they had felt so far. Not just temperature.


That Presence was ANCIENT it made the air itself feel heavy an it made it hard to breath.


Caitlin stopped at the edge of the chamber, her composure cracking for the first time as her eyes widened slightly.


"…That's not just a Pokémon," she whispered.


Behind them, Garchomp tensed, claws digging slightly into the stone as a low, instinctive growl rumbled from its chest.


"Garchomp…"


Ethan barely noticed. Because in the corner of his vision—


Ding.


The familiar, soft chime echoed through his mind as the translucent interface flickered to life for just a second.


[Legendary Encounter Registered]

[Regigigas — Unlocked]


Ethan's breath hitched. Then— He smiled.


Got it.


His eyes lifted, locking onto the massive shape resting deep within the chamber. Even in the dim light, it was unmistakable—colossal, unmoving, the embodiment of something that had shaped continents and then simply… stopped.


Sleeping.


Waiting.


And then—


A sudden weight yanked him backward.


Ethan let out a small yelp as he was pulled firmly against something solid.


Cynthia.


Her arm was locked around him, pulling him back without hesitation, placing herself between him and the chamber in a single, fluid motion.


"Absolutely not," she said, voice low and sharp.


Ethan blinked, looking up at her.


"…I was just looking."

"No," Cynthia replied flatly, eyes never leaving the darkness ahead. "When we get back, you are grounded."

There was a beat.

Ethan tilted his head slightly.

"…Is my mom dead?"

The question landed like a stone in still water.

Cynthia froze.

Not physically—but something in her posture locked, just for a fraction of a second too long.

Behind her, Caitlin took a slow step forward, expression tightening as her focus shifted fully to the chamber.

"…It's dormant," she said quietly. "But not inactive."

Cynthia didn't respond right away.

Her grip on Ethan didn't loosen.

If anything—it tightened, just slightly.

Then, without looking down at him, she spoke.

"No." Cynthia responds

"Liar!" Ethan snapped, the word cracking louder than anything else in the chamber. "I overheard you and Grandma talking! Cyrus killed her—I just know it!"

The sound carried.

Echoed.

Bounced off ancient stone and disappeared into the vast darkness ahead, Cynthia and Caitlin flinched as the echo came back at them really not wanting to wake the sleeping giant.

"Ethan, you lovely little boy… now is not the time for this discussion. I just want you to know you are loved," she said, her voice carrying a quiet warmth that seemed almost at odds with the cold, immense chamber. "Could you please seal this chamber so we can leave and come back later?"

Ethan blinked, glancing around at the massive, dormant Regigigas. "…Uh, I don't know how," he admitted, his voice small.

Cynthia nodded, already moving decisively. "Caitlin, stay here with Garchomp. I need to go back out of the temple and call League support."

Ethan frowned. "Why? Regigigas won't wake up unless you bring at least three of his Regis—and three of them are in Hoenn, and the other two are in Paldea!"

Cynthia's expression went through a myriad of emotions an she sighed to herself. Before grabbing Ethans hand an the two matched towards the exit.

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

LoL Lil dudes just casually dropping all the scientific bombs. Can't wait I see what he says next

 

[Common]

LoL Lil dudes just casually dropping all the scientific bombs. Can't wait I see what he says next

Click to shrink...

Lol im working on like chapter 22 for this right now, an let me tell you the scientific bombs only get crazier... You dont have access to my google doc do you?

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

You dont have access to my google doc do you?

Click to shrink...

God I wish! The wait is killer!