"Here."
Fang Yan scooped out a little of every flavor, forming a multicolored ball, and handed it to Cynthia along with a spoon.
"Thank you."
Cynthia thanked him politely, took the ice cream, gently scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to her mouth.
"Mmm..."
Her eyes instantly narrowed. She swallowed and said, "It's delicious."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Fang Yan grinned, then prepared a serving for Garchomp too.
"Graaow."
Garchomp swallowed it in one bite, her crimson eyes fixed on Fang Yan.
Sensing the powerful aura radiating from Garchomp, Fang Yan focused his attention.
[Garchomp] [Type: Dragon, Ground] [Gender: Female] [Ability: Sand Veil] [Known moves: Dragon Claw, Dragon Breath, Slash, Sandstorm, Dragon Rush, Dragon Cheer, Draco Meteor, Swords Dance, Outrage, Scale Shot, Thunder Fang, Fire Fang, Flamethrower, Breaking Swipe, Sandstorm, Earthquake.] [Mood: Happy (so happy not to have to work)] [Status: Vigilant] [Friendship: 10 (thanks for your ice cream)] [Description: Sinnoh Champion Cynthia's ace, towering above the competition.]
"Hiss..."
Looking at the moves Garchomp knew, Fang Yan couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath.
As expected of a Champion's ace. Too bad she doesn't know Dragon Dance.
"What is it?"
Cynthia asked.
"Oh, nothing. Let me introduce you to our friends at the Pokémon Day Care."
Fang Yan came back to his senses and smiled as he looked into Cynthia's bright eyes.
After he finished introducing the Pokémon at the Pokémon Day Care, Gengar returned with Vespiquen and the Combee.
"Geng-"
I'm back.
"Geng?"
Who's this?
Gengar floated over beside Fang Yan, looking curiously at Cynthia and the Garchomp beside her.
Gengar sensed the powerful aura surrounding Garchomp.
"Geng?!"
S-so scary...
Even so, Gengar still floated in front of Fang Yan.
Fang Yan patted Gengar's little bottom, signaling that everything was fine.
"Gengar, this is Cynthia, the Champion of our Sinnoh Region, and that's her ace, Garchomp."
"Champion Cynthia, this is my... ace, Gengar. I'm the owner of this Pokémon Day Care, Fang Yan."
Fang Yan introduced Gengar, then formally introduced himself.
"Hello, Gengar, and Fang Yan."
Recalling how Gengar had stood in front of Fang Yan without hesitation just now, Cynthia felt even happier.
"Just call me Cynthia."
She spoke softly, then looked at Gengar and said, "This Gengar really trusts you. You two share a strong bond."
"I really trust Gengar too."
Fang Yan looked at Gengar beside him and smiled.
Then he motioned for Cynthia to wait a moment before turning to Vespiquen. He scooped out a generous serving of ice cream for her and the Combee and drizzled sweet Honey over it.
"Thanks for all your hard work lately. Try it and see if you like it."
Vespiquen stared at Fang Yan. After a while, she reached out her claws and took it.
"How's life here? Everything all right?"
Vespiquen took a bite of ice cream and nodded.
They really liked it here. It was beautiful, clean, and full of laughter.
Honey made in this kind of environment would have a better flavor and taste sweeter.
It would be even better if a certain Pokémon didn't keep coming over to ask for Honey.
"That's good. There's something I'd like your help with. You know that bit of Honey you gave me a while ago? I used it up today, so I wanted to ask you for a little more."
Fang Yan scratched the back of his head, flashing a harmless smile.
Vespiquen stared at him without saying a word.
"Don't worry. From now on, I'll use it sparingly. I won't ask you for any more until you give me the next batch."
Fang Yan immediately gave his assurance.
Vespiquen looked at the ice cream in her claws, then at Gengar nearby and Garchomp a short distance away, before finally looking at Fang Yan.
In the end, with Gengar and Garchomp's help, Vespiquen reluctantly nodded.
After all, this was what they had agreed on in the first place, Vespiquen told herself.
Then she flew back and brought him a jar of Honey, taking a jar of ice cream with her when she left.
Meanwhile, Cynthia finished her ice cream and handed everything back to Mime Jr. She turned toward Fang Yan, saw that he was still talking with Vespiquen, and went over to Petilil.
Petilil looked at the beautiful Cynthia before her and, greeted by her warm, springlike smile, threw herself into her open arms.
"You're so cute, Petilil."
Cynthia played with the little leaves on her head, which had been trimmed very neatly.
"Lili~"
"You seem to really like him."
Petilil nodded, looked toward Fang Yan, and gave a sugary-sweet cry.
"This is Petilil, a Pokémon from the Unova Region."
Fang Yan came over to Cynthia with Gengar and introduced Petilil.
"I know."
Cynthia's voice rang out.
Fang Yan smiled awkwardly. She was a Champion. How could she not recognize a Petilil?
"But why is she here in the Sinnoh Region? Have you traveled to the Unova Region before?"
At Cynthia's cool, clear question, Fang Yan explained Petilil's circumstances to her.
Cynthia nodded, then looked down at Petilil in her arms.
"You're so brave."
Petilil happily swayed her little head.
Now she could bravely face what had happened in the past. She no longer felt sad when Fang Yan mentioned it in front of her, because she had already found her favorite Trainer, the best friends, and the best home.
"Would you like to have a lovely afternoon tea?"
"Hmm..."
Seeing Cynthia sink into thought, Fang Yan continued, "A Champion's work must keep you busy, right?"
Cynthia quickly nodded, then sighed.
"In that case, how about enjoying a lovely afternoon tea in this beautiful weather and letting yourself really relax?"
Cynthia blinked her beautiful eyes, then nodded.
"Sorry for the trouble, then."
Fang Yan waved a hand, then returned to the kitchen and brought out the desserts he had prepared earlier.
He glanced over and saw that Cynthia was already reclining in a chair beneath the parasol, holding Petilil in her arms.
After handing out desserts to the Pokémon, Fang Yan carried a slice of cake over to the parasol, set it on the table, and poured Cynthia a cup of his special milk tea.
"Try it."
Cynthia sat up, took a sip of milk tea first, then scooped up a bite of dessert with her little spoon.
"Yummy."
Cynthia said it with her eyes narrowed.
Hearing that, Fang Yan smiled happily, then joined Cynthia in giving their afternoon tea his full attention.
"They're all very attached to you."
Reclining in her lounge chair, Cynthia looked at the Pokémon nearby as she spoke.
"Honestly, I don't know why they trust me so much. If it weren't for them, this Pokémon Day Care might have closed down long ago."
"Hmm?"
Cynthia turned curiously toward Fang Yan, who was reclining in a lounge chair on the other side of the table, and voiced her curiosity.
Although this Pokémon Day Care was currently small and housed few Pokémon, it was the one where she had felt most comfortable.
Fang Yan told her about the Pokémon Day Care.
When she heard that he had come from the Donghuang League, she nodded. Mustard on the Isle of Armor was also from the Donghuang League, and he had held the Galar Region Champion title for many consecutive terms.
Then she listened as Fang Yan spoke about meeting Gengar, meeting Machamp and the others, and later Petilil, Vespiquen, Mime Jr., and more, as well as the story of a little girl.
Cynthia listened quietly. Only after he had finished did she speak. "The encounters between people and Pokémon are wonderful, aren't they? Although they're always full of uncertainty, the final outcome is often something we can accept, as though it were destined."
"It isn't just people and Pokémon. The same goes for Pokémon meeting other Pokémon, and people meeting other people. That's what makes every encounter so precious."
She understood why Gengar and the others trusted him so much. Pokémon raised with love would often repay it with love, even at the cost of their lives.
That was what Pokémon were.
"So precious, huh?"
Fang Yan gazed into the distance and murmured to himself.
"They really are precious."
Fang Yan chuckled.
"Thank you, Champion Cynthia."
"Cynthia!"
Hearing Cynthia's firmer tone, Fang Yan paused and looked beside him. Seeing Cynthia playing with Petilil, he smiled.
"All right, Cynthia."
"Then are you going to stay for dinner, Cynthia?"
Before you continue