But after truly arriving here, she spent most of her time with Ash investigating the Plates, dealing with the King's issues, and looking for a way back to the present.
It wasn't that she suddenly stopped liking ruins; it's just that some things have to be prioritized over preferences.
Ash thought for a moment and suddenly grinned.
"Then after everything's done, sis can go out and have fun more often."
"You can visit whichever ruin you want, anyway you're so strong, there's no need to worry about danger in the wild."
Cynthia turned her head to look at him.
"Sounds easy to say."
"It is easy." Ash replied with a matter-of-fact look, "A Champion isn't forbidden from taking a vacation forever."
Cynthia was taken aback and then couldn't help but laugh.
"That's true."
The smile on her face gradually widened.
"But right now I'm still young, so it might be a bit too early to completely shirk off Champion duties."
"I can't learn from Steven, that guy forgets who he is when he sees a rare stone."
Ash's interest was piqued immediately.
"Is Mr. Steven really that obsessed?"
"Of course it's true."
Cynthia's tone noticeably relaxed when mentioning other Champions.
"When that guy sees a stone he's interested in, lots of things can be set aside for a while."
"So Mr. Steven is actually that kind of person..."
Ash suddenly felt like he'd discovered some secret history of a Champion.
Cynthia laughed and gave a gentle reminder.
"When you see him in the future, don't say I told you."
"Don't worry!"
Ash immediately patted his chest.
"I'm a loyal fan of yours, sis, absolute secrecy!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu, who had somehow come closer, also raised a paw, Teacher Dapi will keep the secret too!
Cynthia looked at the two creatures acting all serious but couldn't find them entirely trustworthy.
"What about you? Why don't you share your travel stories with me?"
She tossed the topic back to Ash.
"I have so many stories." Ash perked up, "Which part do you want to hear?"
"Why not start from your very first journey?"
"That would take a long time."
"We don't have anything else going on tonight anyway."
Ash thought for a bit and then simply began picking moments from his first official journey to narrate.
Pikachu chimed in from time to time, and when Ash said something different from what Pikachu remembered, Pikachu would jump up and tap Ash's shoulder with a paw.
Cynthia sat nearby watching the boy and his mouse argue more and more seriously, her smile never fading.
Many things she'd only ever seen the outcomes of in competition footage or news reports, but hearing them directly from Ash was an entirely different experience.
Especially those seemingly thrilling experiences that outsiders might find intense; Ash often summed them up in a few words, with his clearest memories actually being about who battled alongside whom, which Pokemon grew at the time, and the friends he'd met on the journey.
When Ash eventually became a little thirsty from talking so much, Cynthia handed him some water.
"No wonder Pikachu is so strong now."
"Hmm?"
"You two have been through so many battles, and you've grown together all along the way."
Cynthia looked at Pikachu munching on some food.
"If he continues at this rate, by the time we get back, I'll probably have to seriously consider how to face you in battle."
Ash's eyes immediately lit up.
"Sis, do you think we'll face each other in the Eight Great Masters tournament?"
"As long as you keep moving forward, there's always a chance."
Cynthia smiled as she looked at him.
"And I really want to see just how strong you and Pikachu can get by then."
"It's a deal then!"
Ash immediately extended his hand.
"Once we're back, if we really meet in the Eight Great Masters, let's have a serious battle!"
"Pika!"
Pikachu swallowed the food in its mouth and nodded firmly.
A Champion match it is!
Cynthia extended her hand and high-fived Ash.
Slap!
"It's a deal."
"I won't go easy on you just because you call me sis."
"I wouldn't want you to!"
Ash laughed even more joyfully.
"If we're going to battle, it has to be against the strongest version of you, sis!"
Cynthia watched his resolute demeanor, a bit of expectation also growing in her silver-gray eyes.
"Then I'll be waiting for you."
Time passed bit by bit as they chatted casually.
Typhlosion rested against a rock, Samurott lay on the other side, Goomy had long ago curled up and fallen asleep beside Ash, and Eevee was already curled into a ball leaning against Cynthia.
Garchomp stood guard near the camp, occasionally raising its head to glance around.
As for Pikachu, who had just said it wasn't sleepy at all, nobody knew when it had already fallen asleep on Ash's lap.
Ash looked down at it.
"So this is 'not sleepy'?"
"Pika..."
Pikachu turned over in his sleep.
Cynthia chuckled, lowering her voice, "He fought the most today, let's not disturb him."
"You're right."
Ash gently picked up Pikachu.
"Let's sleep, no overtime tomorrow for anyone."
...
The next day, neither of them advanced any missions. Instead, they rode a Wyrdeer and leisurely strolled along the Cobalt Coastlands.
There was no Growlithe to track, no king to deal with immediately, and no rush to investigate the next Plate. They could finally just enjoy the original beauty of the area.
The vast ocean stretched to the horizon, the sea breeze carried a faint salty scent, and the sunlight reflected off the water in a vast expanse of glittering light.
Compared to the muddy and humid Crimson Mirelands, the Cobalt Coastlands were clearly more suitable for rest.
Ash glanced from afar at the silver-white beach and suddenly felt a twinge of regret.
"If I'd known, I would have brought my swim trunks."
Cynthia gave him a look.
"Are you really planning to swim?"
"It's such a nice sea."
"Pika!"
Pikachu immediately expressed his agreement.
Ash pointed at Pikachu.
"See, Pikachu thinks so too."
Cynthia chuckled helplessly.
"Then you two can go by yourselves."
Ash was taken aback.
"You're not going, sis?"
"Didn't bring a swimsuit."
Ash: "..."
That makes sense.
Without proper preparation, discussing it was just talk.
Pikachu: "..."
Expectations wasted!
They strolled, stopping occasionally to observe interesting Pokémon or to rest at a spot with a nice view, dismounting from the Wyrdeer.
Nothing occurred that day that required their intervention.
By evening, they returned to the hillside area where they camped the night before.
On the morning of the third day, after a simple breakfast, Cynthia looked in the direction of Jubilife Village.
"It's about time to head back."
Ash nodded.
"If we don't, Leader Cyllene might actually send someone to find us."
They found a secluded spot away from roads and prying eyes and chose a teleportation point they'd visited before in the Obsidian Fieldlands.
The Arceus Phone glowed, and the figures of Ash, Cynthia, and Pikachu vanished from the Cobalt Coastlands.
When everything came back into focus, they found themselves on the familiar grasslands of the Obsidian Fieldlands.
Cynthia took out the Celestica Flute and played a melody.
Soon, the sound of rapid footsteps approached from afar.
"Yo!"
Wyrdeer rapidly appeared from the other side of the grassland and quickly approached them.
Ash stared at Wyrdeer for a few seconds and suddenly rubbed his chin.
"Sis."
"What is it?"
"Have you ever noticed that Wyrdeer always arrives so quickly?"
Cynthia looked at Wyrdeer.
This issue hadn't been specifically considered before.
Whenever they blew the Celestica Flute in different areas, Wyrdeer seemed to come incredibly fast, almost unrealistically so.
Ash circled around Wyrdeer.
"Are you hiding any special abilities?"
"Yo?"
Wyrdeer tilted its head.
What ability?
Looking at the innocent expression, Ash decided to give up on further investigation.
"Never mind."
"With so many strange things about Pokémon, why bother?"
Cynthia laughed lightly.
"A sensible conclusion, let's go."
They climbed back onto Wyrdeer and returned along the road toward Jubilife Village.
As they approached the village, they dismounted before reaching the entrance, let Wyrdeer leave on its own, and then walked with Pikachu toward the village.
The guard responsible for registration was leaning against the side, yawning.
Upon recognizing the approaching pair, any trace of sleepiness vanished.
"Oh!"
"Our Hisui region's heroes have finally returned!"
Ash stopped in his tracks, and Cynthia followed his gaze.
"Huh?"
"Pika?"
Pikachu tilted his head, equally puzzled.
What heroes?