Chapter no.296 Austin's Tournament part 1

[ Celdon City - Pokemon Center ]
[ Richie's POV ]
( ~ Barf ~ )
Looking up from the sink, I couldn't help by sigh with exhaustion visible on my face.
Even with months of therapy, seeing someone get killed infront of you isn't easily to deal with.
" Pika !"
Sparky, the Pikachu exclaimed in worry causing me to put on a forced smile.
" Don't worry buddy, I just ate something bad."
I said but seeing Sparky not convinced I answered," Let's get something to eat."
My words caused Sparky to nod his head.
Walking out of my room towards the cafeteria, I saw a weird trainer wearing some kind of mask that caused everyone in the pokemon center to turn towards said trainer.
The gothic cyber punk mask wearing trainer walked towards nurse Joy who smiled.
" Welcome to the pokemon center, what may I help you with ?" Nurse Joy said causing a red dot to glow on the cyberpunk mask.
" Can you give him a basic checkup ?" A robotic voice called out from the masked trainer as he released Steve, the Omanyte from a PokeBall.
Absolute silence formed in the pokemon center as a wave of shock moved through everyone.
Looking at the shocked look of everyone, Steve raised his tentacles.
" Praise me mortals."
Austin inside the daft punk mask rolled his eyes at Steve's God complex.
" Y,Yes, it will take a few minutes."
" Very well." Austin answered back, as Nurse Joy left with Steve.
" Excuse me !" A loud trainer asked from behind Austin who just glanced back.
" You are excused." Austin's words caused the loud trainer to scamper before he exclaimed out.
" Would you like to trade your Omanyte with my Rhydon ?" The loud trainer said causing Austin to just give him a poster.
The loud trainer blinked while Austin began to distribute poster to everyone in the lobby.
Richie looked at the poster that looked like it had been made by a child but what caught everyone's attention was the promotion of a tournament stated on it with the grand prise of a Fossil Pokemon on it.
On first glance, this seemed like a joke but everyone had just seen an Omanyte in the masked Austin's hands causing them to take this tournament promotion seriously.
" Hey, Sparky, do you want to enter ?" Richie asked his partner who nodded vigorously.
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" You know if I didn't get this call, I thought you have forgotten about little old me." Cynthia said with a smirk as she looked at her Pokenav on which Austin just rolled his eyes.
" Don't worry, it is impossible to forget the Queen of Sinnoh." Austin answered back causing a tired Cynthia to smile back.
" Quite the way with words you have there, Mr Ketchum." Cynthia said causing Pikachu's ears to stand up immediately.
" She said Ketchum, not ketchup." Austin replied causing Pikachu's ears to stand down resulting in Cynthia giggling.
" You seem ... tired."
" Tell me about it, these last few days have been hectic in Sinnoh. With the confirmation of the four world's theory and the emergence of these new pokemon. I had to deal with so many interviews, public seminars and my pile of paperwork has been increasing."
" ..... is it ok to talk to me while your busy ?"
" No ! " Cynthia shouted," no, I just needed someone to talk to. Seriously! What is wrong with these people ? I work day and night yet .... yet ...." Cynthia had a few tears built up in her eyes as she looked at her shaking hands.
Sometimes she wondered if she was older then these officials would take her seriously, that her world would carry some kind of meaning in her region.
Maybe she should just quit.
" Cynthia " Austin warmly said as Cynthia looked up with a few tears in her eyes," Can you take a deep breath ?"
" Austin, I ...."
" Just do it, for me."
" Fine."
Cynthia took a few deep breaths.
" Now relax your face."
Cynthia followed after Austin's instructions.
" Now relax your shoulders."
Cynthia laid on her chair, completely exhausted mentally and physically.
" When was the last time you slept."
" 3 to 4 "
" Hours ?"
" Days ?"
" .... "
" .... "
" Cynthia."
" I know but what can I do. I have all of these expectations to meet." Cynthia said while covering her eyes.
" Cynthia, do you personally know these people that have such expectations for you ?"
" No."
" Then why bring yourself such pain for people you don't even know."
" ( ~Sigh~ ) I don't know."
" Cynthia, would you please take care of yourself? Just think of what I must feel when I see you like this."
Cynthia smirked and teased," Very pretentious of you to think like that."
" What ? Can't I care for my friend."
" Austin, can you please place your hand on the screen ?"
Without much question, Austin did said task which Cynthia reciprocated.
Looking at his screen, Austin couldn't help but smile as Cynthia had fallen asleep on.
" Well, sleep tight and don't let those assholes get you. You are working hard and one day everyone in Sinnoh will recognize that you are there champion." Austin whispered as he closed the call.
Looking at the black screen, Cynthia sighed.
" You bastard, always saying stuff like that." Cynthia said while trying to hide her beaming smile and blush.
...
Meanwhile in Celdon City, Austin took a deep breath as he placed the Pokenav down.
" Hey Ash, you won't believe how big of a crowd that has gathered. There's like over a million people here." Yellow said while coming into the room.
" Well, I am sure they all came after seeing your beautiful poster."
" Really!"
" No."
Puffing out her cheeks, Yellow stomped on Austin's foot.
" Meany."
" Come on, you know I was joking."
" Really!"
" Yeah, yeah, but enough joking around let's get this tournament going."
" I still don't get how this is going to attract team rocket's attention."
" What's the prize of the tournament ?"
" A fossil Pokemon."
Yellow slowly said before it clicked in her head.
" Oh !"
" Exactly."
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[ Omake Paragraph ]
At times, on a dark and lonely night, travelers on mountain slopes far from civilization will hear a woman's haunting cry echo through the air. Most dismiss it as a mirage, for those who hear the cry are typically so exhausted that they will see mirages as surely as if it were the desert, but some, desperate for shelter, food, or signs of human life, will investigate further.
They will typically believe what they discover to be a human woman, short enough to be called a midget or dwarf, although few use those words in their presence. Their faces are black; not the dark brown bordering on black seen so frequently in African peoples, but a black tinted with purple which bears no resemblance to any on Earth. They will not speak, appearing to be mute, but gesture and draw a message and lure the travelers to their caves with a promise they will provide for them a place to stay for the night, but this night shall come at a horrible cost.
While they sleep, the Jynx (for the woman is no human at all) will plant a strange kiss on their lips, and if they make it down the mountain, they will be dogged with bad luck for the rest of their lives. It is from this curse that the term jynx or jinx (as the spelling of the term has been standardized in a way which hides its etymology) derives, for when a Jynx kisses a human, they suck out their good fortune and live with great luck for the rest of their days.