Michina—
A small town located in the Sinnoh region.
In truth, Michina isn't especially famous within Sinnoh. Aside from being an ancient town centered around historical ruins, its only notable feature is its stunning natural environment.
But then again, the world of Pokémon is full of unique and beautiful natural landscapes.
As for ancient ruins...
In a world built around Pokémon Trainers, people interested in archaeology are relatively few. And compared to other ancient ruins, Michina doesn't have any particularly significant advantages.
Because in truth, there's not much worth researching in Michina's ruins—except for that thousand-year-old legend… the legend of the god of creation!
After spending a day resting in Veilstone City, Lucas and Marnie arrived at this town.
"This place really is beautiful."
The two of them walked along a lush, grassy path that led toward a sparkling, crystal-clear lake. Marnie's eyes sparkled with a rare glimmer of amazement.
It was a stunning little lake, its surface glittering under the sunlight like rippling starlight—truly picturesque.
"Michina's environment really is second to none," Lucas smiled, praising the scenery.
"So, Lucas," Marnie turned her head slightly, tilting it with curiosity as she blinked her large eyes, "why exactly did we come all the way out here? Don't tell me you brought me here just to enjoy the view."
Sure, the scenery was beautiful—but it was still just scenery. Marnie didn't believe for a second that Lucas would go so far as to take a plane to Sinnoh just for that.
"Why not? Enjoying this breathtaking view with Marnie—it's a pretty great feeling."
The corners of Lucas's mouth curled into a gentle smile as he looked at Marnie's delicate little face.
"Speak human."
Marnie rolled her eyes cutely. She wasn't buying it for a second.
"Have you read up on Michina's history?" Lucas shrugged, not dragging out the mystery any longer. He turned to gaze at a towering mountain not far off.
That was Mount Michina—and at its peak stood the ruins of Michina, also known as the site of the Ancient Temple!
"It's said that a thousand years ago, Michina faced a terrible disaster that turned the entire area into a barren wasteland. But the people of Michina received the blessing of a god."
"And from then on, Michina grew rich and fertile, eventually becoming the town, we see today."
Marnie thought for a moment. That was something she'd found online the night before when looking up information on Michina.
After all, Lucas clearly had a strong interest in the town, so she'd done a bit of research—but based on the information available, Michina didn't seem particularly special.
"That's right," Lucas nodded. "A thousand years ago, an unprecedentedly massive meteor descended from the sky above Michina. Had it struck the ground, it's likely the entire Sinnoh region would've been wiped out."
His eyes gleamed faintly as he spoke, recounting Michina's ancient past.
The apocalypse-bringing meteor—that was the disaster Michina had once faced.
If it had been a small meteor, the impact might have been negligible—maybe it wouldn't even have made it through the atmosphere. But a world-ending meteor? That was no joke.
And the term "world-ending" doesn't just refer to the immediate destruction from the impact itself.
What's truly terrifying about a giant meteor crashing into a planet is the global shockwaves it sends through the environment—disasters that ripple outward in deadly succession.
Take Lucas's past world, Earth, for example—how did the dinosaurs go extinct? It wasn't because they were hit directly by a meteor. It was because the meteor's impact triggered a mass extinction event.
Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis—an endless chain reaction of natural disasters caused by the shockwave of the meteor. That kind of destruction is enough to plunge all life into despair.
"And then a god appeared and stopped the meteor from striking the earth. But even though the meteor was shattered, its fragments still ravaged Michina."
"And due to the massive shock, the god itself was injured—its very source of life was knocked loose by the impact. Without its life source, the god was on the verge of death."
"In the end, it was a kind-hearted human who helped the god recover its source of life, allowing it to awaken once more."
"In gratitude and trust toward that human, the god took five pieces of its own life source and forged them into the Jewel of Life, which was then used to restore the devastated land."
Lucas recounted the story slowly. But as he spoke, a faintly mocking smile crept onto his lips.
Yes—
The one who stopped the meteor was none other than the legendary Pokémon said to have created the world itself: Arceus!
And Arceus' source of life—was none other than the seventeen elemental plates.
Yet despite being the creator god, and despite placing its full trust in humanity, Arceus... well, let's just say things didn't end well for it.
"What happened after that? And who exactly is this god?" Marnie was listening intently. As soon as Lucas paused, she immediately asked.
"Arceus—the god who helped Michina's land recover and flourish."
Just as Lucas was about to answer, a pleasant female voice rang out from behind them.
He turned around, and when he saw who it was, a glint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
A cascade of golden hair, a graceful and mature figure in a sleek black outfit, her elegant bangs covering one eye—an absolute beauty with a classic, refined air.
That familiar face—it was Cynthia!
And standing beside her was another golden-haired beauty, her long hair flowing freely. Her face was exquisitely delicate, and she wore a white-and-pink fitted gown. Her entire aura radiated noble elegance and the air of a young heiress.
Caitlin!
The two women before them were unmistakably Cynthia and Caitlin.
"What a delightful encounter," Lucas's eyes narrowed slightly as he subtly observed the pair of stunning "sisters" walking gracefully toward them.
These two women were anything but ordinary. And what a coincidence, running into both of them here.
But why was Caitlin still in Sinnoh? By now, she should've already given up her position as a Frontier Brain and traveled to Unova to begin her training—and eventually become one of the Elite Four.
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The Pokémon world has never lacked for beautiful women. After all, the environment here is so idyllic. And ever since the Pokémon League was established and unified the world, things have—at least on the surface—become very peaceful.
In the eyes of the general public, crime is extremely rare.
Compared to Lucas's previous world, Earth, the people of this world live far more harmoniously.
Otherwise, would parents really let sixteen-year-old boys and girls travel the world on their own?
Ambition and evil still exist, but when compared to the total population of the world, they are the minority.
The generally superior living conditions and easily satisfied mindsets have led to increasingly happy daily lives—and naturally, young men and women tend to have better physiques and appearances.
And besides...
Let's be honest—the Pokémon world is half a supernatural world. When it comes to physical fitness and genetics, the average person here far surpasses that of Earth.
Even so, women like Cynthia and Caitlin—whose beauty and grace seemed almost divine—were extremely rare.
"Are you two here to visit the Michina Ruins as well?"
Cynthia walked up to Lucas and Marnie, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear and smiling gracefully as she greeted them.
"Yes," Lucas replied with a courteous bow. "We were curious about Michina, one of Sinnoh's more famous historical ruins, and wanted to see it for ourselves."
"And I truly didn't expect to run into Champion Cynthia in person."
Yes—Cynthia was now the reigning Champion of the Sinnoh region. Just last year, she'd won the Lily of the Valley Conference, defeated the Elite Four and the reigning Champion, and taken the title.
What's more, she was the first female regional Champion since the founding of the Pokémon League!
Crushing every Trainer in Sinnoh with overwhelming strength, Cynthia's cold and commanding battle style had earned the admiration of the entire region.
Even though she was a newly crowned Champion, she was already one of the most popular Champions across all regions.
The first female Champion in League history—plus her stunning beauty—it was no surprise she was adored by so many.
"Champion of Sinnoh?" Marnie blinked in surprise, turning to stare at Cynthia with awe.
She wasn't exactly up to date on the affairs of other regions, so she hadn't recognized Cynthia at all.
"It's clear that you're quite knowledgeable about the Michina Ruins," Cynthia said with a reserved smile, her eyes glinting slightly as she looked at Lucas.
"I've always been fascinated by ancient ruins, mythology, and history," Lucas replied with a calm smile, radiating an impressive confidence that was hard to ignore. "So, I might know a bit more than the average person."
And that wasn't just empty boasting.
Between his knowledge of the games, the anime, the manga, and all the mythological and historical data he'd collected in this life, Lucas really did know a lot.
After all, he'd always had a good habit—he liked reading.
"You're clearly no ordinary person," Cynthia murmured, her eyes quietly studying Lucas's handsome, self-assured expression.
That confidence, paired with his natural charisma—there was no way this young man was someone ordinary.
And as a seasoned Trainer herself, Cynthia's instincts were telling her that Lucas's strength as a Trainer was definitely formidable.
Even if it was only an intangible sixth sense without evidence, she trusted her gut.
"So, what brings Champion Cynthia all the way out here? This place is quite far from Lily of the Valley Island."
Instead of replying to her comment, Lucas asked Cynthia his own question with genuine curiosity.
Cynthia was born in Celestic Town, one of the oldest settlements in Sinnoh. Her grandmother was the town elder. Though her family wasn't quite one of the great aristocratic houses, it certainly wasn't ordinary either.
Growing up immersed in such an environment, Cynthia naturally developed a deep interest in mythology and history—which gave her that graceful, classically elegant demeanor.
She was easy to get along with and had a kind personality. But when it came to battles, she was cold, ruthless, and powerful—almost like a different person entirely.
So, her visiting the Michina Ruins made sense, given her interest in legends. But... she'd only just become Champion! The Pokémon League must've had tons of responsibilities for her to take care of.
And Caitlin?
While she was a powerful Psychic-type Trainer, she was known to have a frail body. Would she really be tagging along with Cynthia on such an extended archaeological trip?
No offense to Caitlin, but based on her delicate figure... Lucas was pretty sure he could knock out three of her with one punch.
"This is my dear friend Caitlin. Since she's about to leave Sinnoh, I wanted to bring her here one last time to look around."
Cynthia smiled and introduced the girl trailing one step behind her.
Caitlin's exquisitely beautiful face carried a gentle, graceful smile. She nodded politely to Lucas and Marnie, expressing her goodwill.
"Hello. I'm Lucas, from the Kanto region. And this is my companion Marnie, from Galar. Miss Caitlin, you truly are breathtaking."
Lucas smiled and briefly introduced themselves. Then he looked at Caitlin and sincerely offered his compliment.
When it came to beauty, Caitlin and Cynthia were about equal—but on a first impression, Caitlin's impact was even more striking.
Every gesture she made radiated elegance and noble grace. Combined with her flawless, porcelain complexion, most people probably wouldn't even dare meet her gaze—only feel inferior in comparison.
"Thank you for your kind words." Caitlin's smile didn't waver in the slightest. She lifted her skirt and performed a perfect aristocratic curtsey, her gentle, pleasant voice like a soft melody.
Looks like she hasn't left for Unova just yet
Lucas thought to himself, nodding slightly in response. He had a fairly good idea of Caitlin's situation.
He'd been keeping a close eye on changes in the Elite Four and Champion rosters across the regions.
Last year, there were no changes among the Unova Elite Four, which meant Caitlin hadn't taken her position yet. In other words, she had only recently made up her mind to change herself—and was preparing to travel to other regions for personal growth.
Caitlin—
She could be described as someone kissed by the goddess of fortune.
Born into a prestigious aristocratic family in the Sinnoh Region, her family background was extremely privileged. On top of that, she was someone who possessed a very rare and extraordinary gift.
Yes, from a young age, Caitlin was different from everyone else—because she was born with incredibly powerful psychic abilities!
Talent, aptitude, family heritage, beauty… One could say that Caitlin was born standing on the shoulders of giants, surpassing ninety-nine percent of the people in this world.
However, even someone like her was not free from misfortune.
(End of Chapter)