Pursuing Cynthia

Chapter 6: Eterna and Eternally Unprepared

Eterna City wasn't just a city—it was a beacon of hope, civilization, and, most importantly, functioning bathrooms. After days of wandering through forests, tripping over roots, and battling against wild Pokémon that looked at me like I was the joke of the week, the sight of the city's gates was like a full Restore for my soul.

"There it is," I said, pointing toward the tall buildings in the distance. "Our next stop. And no more forests."

"For now," Chatot said from my shoulder. "But don't get too comfortable. With your luck, you'll find a way to get lost inside the city itself."

I ignored the comment.

As we approached the city, the hustle and bustle of Trainers, vendors, and locals filled the air. It was the kind of place where you could feel the energy of the Pokémon world—quite literally, considering there was a Luxray casually walking past, sparks flickering along its fur.

"I'm going to head straight to the Pokémon Center," I said, already imagining the comfort of a real bed.

But before I could take another step, something cold and wet hit the back of my head.

I froze. Slowly, I reached up and touched the spot, feeling a sticky, slimy residue.

"Did someone just—"

"You got hit by a Wingull," Chatot said, cackling. "Direct hit, too. That takes skill!"

I spun around to see a Wingull perched on a nearby lamppost, its expression somewhere between smug and completely oblivious.

"Oh, come on!" I yelled. "I just got here!"

The Wingull let out a loud squawk, as if mocking me, before flying off.

"Good start," Chatot said. "You've already made an enemy."

I sighed, wiping my head with the edge of my shirt. "Let's just get to the Center."

The Pokémon Center was as busy as the streets outside, filled with Trainers chatting about battles, trading tips, and showing off their teams. I stepped up to the counter, trying to act like I belonged here and not like someone who had just been assaulted by a seagull.

Nurse Joy greeted me with the kind of smile that said, *I know you're a mess, but I'm paid to be polite.* "Welcome to the Pokémon Center. How can I help you today?"

"I, uh, need my team healed," I said, placing my Poké Balls on the counter. "And maybe some emotional support."

She blinked, then smiled again. "Of course. It'll just be a moment."

While my team was being tended to, I found a seat in the lounge area and took stock of my situation.

"So," I said to Chatot, who was perched on the armrest of the chair. "We're in Eterna City. What's the plan?"

"I don't know," Chatot said, pecking at its wing. "Try not to embarrass yourself? Oh, wait."

I rolled my eyes. "I mean the real plan. We've got to get ready for the Gym here."

Chatot tilted its head. "Do you even know what type the Gym Leader uses?"

"Well…" I hesitated.

"That's a no," Chatot said, sighing. "Let me guess. You're planning to wing it again and hope Gible saves you?"

"Of course not!" I said defensively. "I'm going to… ask someone!"

I stood up and glanced around, trying to spot someone who looked knowledgeable. My eyes landed on a young man sitting at a nearby table with a stack of strategy guides and a laptop. He had the vibe of someone who probably knew the EV stats of every Pokémon in existence.

"Excuse me," I said, walking over. "Do you know anything about the Gym Leader here?"

He looked up, adjusting his glasses. "Gardenia? She specializes in Grass-types."

"Grass-types," I repeated. "Okay, good to know."

"You should bring Pokémon that are strong against Grass," he continued. "Like Fire, Flying, or Bug-types."

"Right," I said, nodding. "Of course."

Chatot leaned closer to my ear. "Do we have any of those?"

"No," I whispered back.

The guy raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything, turning back to his laptop.

"Thanks for the info!" I said, quickly retreating before he could ask any follow-up questions.

Chatot sighed. "Well, this should be fun. Can't wait to see how Bidoof tackles a forest of doom."

"Maybe we can train Shroomish," I suggested. "It's Grass-type, so it won't have a disadvantage."

"Great idea," Chatot said sarcastically. "Nothing says 'future Champion' like matching Grass with Grass and hoping for the best."

I groaned. "We'll figure it out."

After picking up my team from Nurse Joy, I decided to explore the city a bit. Eterna was bigger than I expected, with winding streets, bustling markets, and enough alleyways to get lost in three times over.

At one stall, a vendor was selling berries shaped like hearts, claiming they increased friendship with Pokémon. At another, an old man was trying to unload what he swore was a "lucky Magikarp."

"Is that Magikarp even alive?" I asked, staring at the fish lying motionless in a shallow tub of water.

"It's just saving its strength," the man said confidently.

Chatot leaned in close. "I think it's saving its strength for the afterlife."

I moved on.

Near the edge of town, I spotted a group of kids playing with their Pokémon in a park. A Pachirisu was darting between a Machop's legs, while a Budew danced in circles nearby.

One of the kids noticed me watching and waved. "Hey, you're a Trainer, right?"

"Uh, yeah," I said, stepping closer.

"Wanna battle?"

I froze. The kid couldn't have been more than eight years old, and yet the confidence in his eyes sent a chill down my spine.

Chatot squawked softly. "Careful. He's probably got an Arceus hiding in his backpack."

"Maybe later," I said quickly, backing away. "Gotta… prepare for the Gym, you know."

The kid shrugged and turned back to his friends.

Chatot snickered. "Dodging battles with children. Truly the mark of a Champion."

"I'm pacing myself," I muttered.

We wandered back toward the Pokémon Center, where I decided to sit down and reevaluate my strategy—or lack thereof.

"We've got time before the Gym," I said. "I just need to figure out the best way to train. Maybe there's a good spot outside the city."

Chatot tilted its head. "Or you could focus on not being terrible. Just a thought."

I buried my face in my hands. "This is going great."

Bidoof burped from its Poké Ball.

Psyduck sighed from its Poké Ball.

And Chatot, as always, muttered something sarcastic under its breath.

Tomorrow, I'd figure it out. Probably.

Eterna City was big—too big. The streets felt like a maze, and the people all moved with purpose, which was a stark contrast to me, who had purposefully walked into a lamppost within the first five minutes.

"Watch out, future Champion coming through!" Chatot squawked from my shoulder.

"Thanks for the reminder," I muttered, rubbing my forehead.

"You know," Chatot continued, "if you keep going like this, you're going to have a permanent dent. Maybe Nurse Joy can heal your dignity while she's at it."

"Do you ever stop?"

"Not when it's this easy," Chatot said with a chirp.

I sighed, doing my best to ignore the stares of passersby who were probably wondering why I was arguing with a bird. Luckily, only I could understand Chatot, which meant nobody else knew just how much sass it was packing.

"Okay," I said, straightening up. "First stop, the Pokémon Center. Then we'll…" I trailed off, realizing I had no idea what came after that.

"Then we'll what?" Chatot asked. "Wander aimlessly? Stumble into another disaster? Maybe challenge the Gym Leader without a plan? Oh wait, that *is* your plan."

I groaned and headed toward the Pokémon Center, doing my best to look like a Trainer who knew what he was doing.

Inside, Nurse Joy greeted me with her usual smile, which I was starting to suspect was less about kindness and more about silently judging every Trainer who limped through her door.

"Welcome to the Pokémon Center," she said. "How can I help you?"

I placed my Poké Balls on the counter, trying to seem confident. "Just a quick heal for my team. They've been working hard."

Chatot snorted. "Working hard at what? Rolling in dirt and losing to squirrels?"

I shot Chatot a glare as Nurse Joy took the Poké Balls, her expression unchanged. Either she didn't notice my muttering or she was too polite to ask.

While my Pokémon were being healed, I wandered to the lounge area and flopped onto a couch. Chatot hopped onto the armrest, staring at me.

"So," it said, "what's the plan?"

"The plan," I said, "is to figure out a plan."

"Solid start," Chatot said. "Maybe next you can plan to plan your plan. Really layer the incompetence."

I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "Okay, hear me out. We'll train for a bit, scope out the Gym, and—"

"And lose?" Chatot interrupted.

"—and *not* lose," I corrected.

"Optimistic. I like that," Chatot said. "Unrealistic, but I like it."

Before I could respond, Nurse Joy called me back to the counter.

"Your Pokémon are fully healed," she said, handing me the Poké Balls.

"Thanks," I said, taking them. "Now, let's get to work."

Chatot let out a dramatic sigh. "Here we go."

I stepped outside and immediately ran into a vendor who was shouting about "rare items for sale." He waved me over, his table covered in everything from TMs to berries to… was that a pair of sunglasses for Pokémon?

"Looking for something special?" the vendor asked, grinning.

"I don't know," I said, glancing at the items. "What's this?"

I picked up a small, smooth rock with a faint shimmer.

"That," the vendor said, "is an Everstone! Perfect for Trainers who don't want their Pokémon to evolve."

Chatot tilted its head. "Why would anyone want that?"

I nodded. "Yeah, why would anyone want that?"

The vendor looked slightly offended. "Some people prefer to keep their Pokémon the way they are. It's sentimental."

"Right," I said, setting the rock down. "I'll, uh, think about it."

Before I could leave, a small Pokémon darted out from behind the vendor's table—a Pichu, its cheeks sparking faintly. It squeaked and ran up to me, tugging at my pants leg.

"Oh no," I said. "Not this again."

Chatot cackled. "You're like a magnet for tiny, adorable chaos."

The vendor hurried over, scooping up the Pichu. "Sorry about that. This little guy's always getting into trouble."

"No problem," I said, backing away. "Good luck with… whatever this is."

The vendor waved as I made my escape, Chatot still laughing.

---

I decided to explore the city, hoping to find some inspiration—or at least avoid more awkward encounters. The marketplace was packed with people and Pokémon, the air filled with the smell of fresh bread and berries.

"Food!" I said, my stomach growling. "Let's grab something to eat."

"Finally," Chatot said. "I thought you were going to try living on pride and Bidoof burps."

We stopped at a food stall selling fried dumplings, and I ordered a box to go. As I handed over the money, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I turned to see a young woman with long blonde hair and a calm, elegant demeanor.

It was Cynthia.

"Oh!" I said, my voice cracking slightly. "Hi!"

Cynthia smiled faintly. "Hello again. How's your journey going?"

"Great!" I said, trying to sound casual. "Just, uh, exploring the city. Training. You know, Champion stuff."

Chatot whispered in my ear, "Champion stuff? Really? She's going to think you're delusional."

Cynthia's eyes flicked to Chatot, and I froze, suddenly realizing she might have heard me muttering.

"Your Chatot seems lively," she said.

"Yeah," I said quickly. "It's, uh, very motivational."

Chatot let out a squawk that sounded suspiciously like laughter.

Cynthia tilted her head slightly. "I've been watching your progress. You've come a long way."

My heart did a backflip. "You have? I mean, of course you have! That's what Champions do, right? Watch future Champions-in-training?"

She smiled again, the kind of smile that made you feel like you weren't a complete disaster even when you absolutely were.

"Keep at it," she said. "I'll see you around."

As she walked away, I turned to Chatot, my face burning.

"She smiled at me," I whispered.

"Probably because she's worried about your mental health," Chatot said.

"Doesn't matter," I said. "That's progress."

"Sure," Chatot said. "Baby steps, Champ. Baby steps."

I grabbed a dumpling from the box and stuffed it into my mouth, determined to enjoy at least one victory today.