The sun shimmered on the horizon, casting golden light over the ocean as three powerful Pokémon soared through the sky—Ash's Charizard, his loyal Pidgeot, and Cynthia's graceful Garchomp. Riding their backs were Ash and his three partners: Misty, Sabrina, and Cynthia.
Below them, a lush, uninhabited island came into view. White sand circled the edges like a pearl ring, and tall palm trees swayed in the ocean breeze. A small freshwater spring sparkled in the center, surrounded by wildflowers and soft grass—a hidden paradise chosen by Ash for one reason:
They finally needed time. Just them.
As they descended, Charizard gave a proud roar, flaring his wings as he landed. Garchomp touched down elegantly, while Pidgeot swept across the beach, kicking up a swirl of sand before gracefully settling beside them.
Ash hopped down first, Pikachu leaping from his shoulder with a happy "Pikaaa!" and Eevee bouncing right behind with an excited chirp.
Misty stretched with a satisfied sigh as she released Togepi from its Poké Ball. "This is perfect. Just us, no battles, no drama—finally."
Togepi squealed happily and waddled into Sabrina's arms, where it was gently cradled.
Sabrina, calm as ever, looked around with a soft smile. "No psychic interference, no stress. The tranquility is… grounding."
Cynthia remained silent at first, standing at the edge of the beach. Her golden hair caught the breeze, her eyes locked on the ocean. Ash walked up beside her, quiet for a moment, before speaking.
"You okay?" he asked, gently placing a hand on hers.
She nodded, though her eyes shimmered faintly. "It still feels like a dream. After all those years, waiting… wondering if I'd ever see you again. And now here you are—laughing, smiling, holding my hand. It still doesn't feel real."
Ash pulled her close, his voice low. "I never stopped thinking about you, Cynthia. Not once. This moment—it's ours now. No more waiting."
Cynthia wrapped her arms around him and rested her forehead against his. "Then let's make the most of it."
From a distance, Misty watched them quietly, her smile soft. She nudged Sabrina with her elbow. "She's been holding that in for ten years, huh?"
Sabrina nodded, her expression unreadable, though her voice betrayed a rare warmth. "And now she's finally exhaled."
Later that evening, the four sat around a small campfire Ash and Pikachu built. Eevee napped in Ash's lap while Misty roasted berries on a stick, and Sabrina softly hummed a tune to a sleepy Togepi.
Cynthia lay beside Ash, her head on his shoulder, fingers laced with his. "This," she murmured, "feels like peace."
The island was paradise incarnate.
Gentle waves lapped the golden shore as palm trees swayed in the breeze, casting long shadows under the late afternoon sun. Above, a few Wingull cried in the distance, riding warm air currents. It was perfect—quiet, untouched, away from everything. Just what Ash had wanted.
He sat by the campfire, legs crossed, Pikachu napping beside him, and Eevee curled peacefully in his lap. Around him sat the three women who shared his heart—Misty, Sabrina, and Cynthia.
Misty lounged nearby, poking the fire with a stick while cradling a snoozing Togepi. Sabrina sat upright, sipping warm tea in silence, observing the crackling flames with a soft gaze. Cynthia leaned into Ash, her head resting on his shoulder, her expression tranquil—but distant.
Ash looked down at her, hesitated, then finally asked, "Cynthia… What was life like for you after I left your time?"
Her breath caught slightly.
The others looked up. Sabrina set her cup down. Misty stopped stirring the fire. Even Pikachu, sensing the shift in mood, opened one eye.
Cynthia didn't answer right away. Her fingers laced with Ash's, as if she needed to feel his pulse before she could speak.
Finally, in a low voice, she said, "When you disappeared—when time pulled you back—I remember standing there… in silence. Alone. I couldn't breathe. Not at first."
Ash's throat tightened.
"I went back to Celestic Town," she continued, her eyes distant, speaking like someone reciting from a diary written in the soul. "The elders didn't believe me, of course. How could they? I was just a girl who claimed she fell in love with someone from the future while helping the gods of time and space restore balance."
She gave a dry chuckle. "It sounded like a fairytale. Even to me."
"But I had your necklace," she whispered, brushing her fingers against the glowing blue crystal that hung near her collarbone. "Your aura was in it. I could feel it—still warm, still alive. It pulsed whenever I held it close. It was the only thing that reminded me it wasn't just a dream."
Ash squeezed her hand. She didn't stop.
"The years passed. I trained. I studied. I eventually became Champion of Sinnoh, just like the legends said I would. People called me strong, noble, even distant. But they didn't know why."
She looked up at him now. "It's because I was waiting for you. Every sunrise. Every full moon. Every moment of silence between battles—I waited. I didn't let anyone in. No one could understand. You were gone… but not gone."
Tears shimmered in her eyes but didn't fall.
"I would walk through ruins hoping to feel your aura again. Sometimes I would hold the necklace at night and whisper your name. Just once, I wanted to hear your voice again. See your smile. Feel your hand."
Now the tears fell.
"And then one day… I felt it. That heartbeat. That pull. I didn't think. I just flew—Garchomp and I—we didn't stop until we found the source."
Ash gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Cynthia… I'm so sorry I left you. I didn't even get to say goodbye."
"You said goodbye the way that mattered," she replied, smiling through her tears. "With your aura. And your heart."
There was a long, heavy silence—then Misty let out a slow breath, her voice soft. "That's… beautiful. Painful, but beautiful."
Sabrina added quietly, "You waited a decade. In silence. With unwavering love. That's not just strength… it's devotion."
Cynthia turned her gaze to them. "I wasn't the only one waiting. You've both loved him too, haven't you?"
Misty smiled. "Since before he even knew what the word 'love' meant."
Sabrina gave a rare smirk. "He still barely does. But we've all taught him in our own way."
Ash chuckled sheepishly, scratching his cheek. "Hey, I'm trying, okay?"
Cynthia leaned into him again. "You're doing just fine."
As night fell, the four of them lay on the soft sand beneath a blanket of stars. Pikachu curled at Ash's side, Eevee nestled beside Cynthia, while Togepi slept peacefully in Misty's arms.
No cameras. No League responsibilities. No legendaries or space-time rifts.
Just them.
The people who loved each other beyond space, beyond logic, beyond time.
And for the first time in years, Cynthia fell asleep not with longing, but with peace.