Chapter 308: The Little Blonde Girl and the Puppy
Will and Lucario didn't communicate. Although Will was curious why Lucario had asked Carmela to bring him back.
Lucario was also quite interested in this puppy of his own kind.
But both sides were rather reserved.
So they didn't talk for a while.
Probably both waiting for the other to speak first?
In Will's eyes.
Lucario was just a junior.
In terms of using Aura Power, Will was eighty years ahead of him.
But in Lucario's eyes, the situation was the same.
In his view.
Will was just a little puppy.
According to his own past situation, he felt the current Will should be full of curiosity, looking up at him, this majestic and aloof senior, with adoration and reverence.
"Riolu, aren't you interested in Lucario? Don't you think he's handsome?"
Cynthia sat beside Will, blinking curiously.
"Not very interested."
Will shook his head.
He really wasn't interested in Pokémon like Lucario.
Or rather.
He knew too much about them.
Although Lucario was a very rare Pokémon.
His appearance rate in games, anime, and fan works was quite high, even having his own movie. No need to explain why.
Naturally because of Lucario's high popularity.
To attract traffic, Lucario naturally had to appear often.
Because of this.
Will knew this Pokémon quite well.
Naturally, he couldn't be very interested.
"Aww~"
Cynthia was slightly disappointed.
She had thought Will might be attracted to Lucario and thus want to stay.
Stupid Lucario!
Ignoring him from now on!
Lucario, helping Carmela prepare dinner in the kitchen, raised an eyebrow.
He sensed Cynthia's emotions.
Although he couldn't directly see Cynthia's inner thoughts, having watched her grow up, he could more or less guess them.
Lucario felt speechless.
He was practically the Dou E of the Pokémon world (a figure wrongly accused/suffering injustice).
At this time.
Carmela turned to the dog beside her:
"Lucario, did you ask me to bring Riolu back because you want Cynthia to catch him?"
"Woof."
Lucario nodded, then shook his head.
"Hm?"
Carmela frowned.
"That's only one reason, wanting to give Cynthia a chance. There's another reason. That Riolu... is unusual."
Lucario communicated with Carmela telepathically via Aura.
Not guarding against the three little ones outside.
But he felt that without using human language, Carmela might not understand this reason.
"How so?"
"That Riolu has great talent, at least better than I was. And his Aura is quite abundant, so much so that even without trying to sense it, I can't ignore his presence."
Lucario explained specifically.
"Really? That's indeed remarkable."
Carmela raised an eyebrow.
She knew best whether her Lucario was talented or not.
Her Lucario was the child of her mother Carolina's Lucario (implied, or just Carolina gave it to her?). Carolina, as a Pokémon Professor (Professor Carolina is Cynthia's grandmother in the anime), had commented that Carmela's Lucario's talent far exceeded his peers.
And the little puppy outside had even higher talent than Lucario.
This was indeed a rare thing.
However.
Even knowing this.
Carmela wouldn't deliberately help Cynthia catch that Riolu.
Such things depended on fate.
Even if forced, it should be Cynthia's own effort.
At the dinner table.
The little shark (Gible) was held in Carmela's arms.
Will wasn't surprised at all.
He knew Carmela liked holding things; she felt uncomfortable without something in her arms.
Back when Lorelei brought Will over for training, he spent at least half the time in Carmela's arms.
As for Will.
"Riolu, say ahh~"
Cynthia held her spoon toward Will.
Will looked at Carmela with pleading eyes.
But Carmela turned a blind eye.
She was busy feeding the big-mouthed little shark.
Just then.
"Hm? Cynthia."
Carmela rubbed the little shark's small hand, staring at her teeth.
"Hm?"
"Gible seems to be evolving soon."
"Mm, I know. I've been training hard with Gible recently."
Cynthia wasn't surprised.
She estimated Gible should be evolving soon too.
"Is it preparation for traveling?"
"Mm!"
Cynthia nodded vigorously.
"Do you plan to challenge the Sinnoh League?"
"Emmm, not very interested."
"Hm?" (x2)
Will was surprised along with Carmela.
He couldn't help but be surprised.
The future Sinnoh Champion said she wasn't interested in challenging the League.
"I don't like Pokémon battles very much. I just like Pokémon themselves, and researching myths and history."
Cynthia spread her hands.
Will blinked.
He found Cynthia might have the same personality as Carmela (or maybe he means Cattleya? Or the previous Carmela mentioned as "Butterfly Orchid"? Let's assume he means the Carmela he knew).
"Is that so? Then you plan to travel around and see?"
"Mm! I want to explore the ruins in various regions!"
"But those ruins are guarded by local Leagues. Ordinary trainers aren't allowed to enter. If you want to enter those places, becoming a famous trainer in a regional League is the easiest way."
"Eh?!"
Cynthia was stunned; she hadn't expected this at all.
"Challenge the League, make a name for yourself, and the local League will invite you to join. This is the simplest path."
Carmela, speaking from experience, guided her daughter.
She had similar thoughts to Cynthia back then.
Actually, their lineage wasn't very interested in battling.
However.
To research history and Legendary Pokémon, having considerable strength was absolutely necessary.
There were many ruins in this world where the Pokémon inside still retained their past habits.
Simply put.
Quite ferocious.
They might pounce on humans upon sight.
For a rookie trainer to rashly enter those ancient ruins was practically suicide.
"So that's how it is."
Cynthia stroked her chin and nodded.
"I understand. In that case, I'll challenge the Sinnoh League first."
"Mm, you'd better hurry. The registration and schedule for the Regional Conference are not complicated yet. In two years, it might be different. I heard the League has ideas about reforming the competition system."
As a top trainer in the Sinnoh League, it was normal for Carmela to know some news.
Will raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
The development of Pokémon culture in this world was generally slow.
In his previous life.
By League Year 180, the Regional Conference elimination rounds had already changed from 3v3 to 6v6, and the system of eight Gyms was added.
But.
In this world, League Year 182, the Regional Conference elimination rounds were still 3v3, and there was no concept of eight Gyms and Elite Four (in the modern sense/tournament structure).
However.
The reform was probably happening in the next two years.
"Then I need to catch one more Pokémon, right?"
Hearing this, Will looked at Cynthia.
You're counting me in, aren't you?
Hey hey, don't count me in without permission.
Will still remembered.
Back when he followed Lorelei to participate in the Regional Conference for the first time, and then met that old hag Agatha in the finals.
Three Lv. 70 Pokémon brought out.
Beating him, Lapras, and Cloyster like babies.
Too much fun.
"No, two more. You only have Gible now."
Carmela shook her head, lifting the little shark in her arms.
"Hmm..."
Hearing this, Cynthia turned to look at the puppy beside her.
Don't look at me.
Will buried his head in his food.
Child Cynthia was nice, at least much better than child Lorelei.
Remembering his last life, he was eating offerings happily when Lorelei rushed up with a smelly mop and beat him up.
Knocked him out and captured him directly with a Dive Ball.
Compared to Lorelei.
Cynthia could be considered very polite.
After dinner.
Cynthia invited Will for a walk outside.
Will had nothing to do, so he agreed.
This time.
The fierce-tempered little shark didn't follow.
The grasslands near Celestic Town at night were tranquil, reminding Will of the grasslands outside the Dragonite Kingdom a thousand years ago.
Although it was midsummer.
Because Celestic Town was close to Mt. Coronet and the Alabaster Icelands (Snowpoint area), the night wind wasn't hot, just warm.
The two little ones strolled leisurely on the grassland.
Groups of fireflies flew past. One suddenly fell behind, seemingly exhausted.
It landed on Will's nose, glowing quietly.
Completely unaware of where it had landed.
Just as Will was about to blow it away, a pair of small hands suddenly covered his nose.
The next moment.
Cynthia cupped her hands together in front of Will.
"Riolu, look."
Cynthia slowly opened a crack between her hands.
The firefly flew out from the gap hurriedly, flickering as it flew toward the sky.
Will and Cynthia watched the firefly fly into the sky together, then came back to their senses and smiled at each other.
Passing a certain tree.
Will looked up and saw Pecha Berries growing on the tree.
He climbed up in a few steps and picked two berries.
Compared their sizes in his hand.
Handed the larger one to Cynthia.
"Thank you, Riolu."
Cynthia grinned, holding the berry and taking a big bite.
Will bit down too.
The next moment.
"Bleh~" (x2)
The two little ones knelt on the ground simultaneously, spitting out sour water.
This Pecha Berry looked big, but it wasn't ripe; it was so sour they threw up.
"Hahaha." (x2)
After recovering, Cynthia and Will looked at each other and laughed heartily.
They threw away the Pecha Berries and leaned against the tree together, counting the little stars in the sky.
After a while.
The sky grew darker, and the air turned slightly cool.
"Let's go back."
Will stood up first.
"Mm!"
Cynthia quickly stood up too.
The two little ones walked one after another on the way home.
The little blonde girl walking behind glanced secretly at the puppy in front, then quickened her pace, reached out, and gently held his hand (paw).
The puppy shook it, and seeing he couldn't shake her off, he let her hold it.
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