Whimsicott Ranch, the largest ranch in Mistralton City.
It's said that pillows and blankets made from the cotton spat out by Cottonee are lightweight, breathable, and considered high-end products.
The moment Caleb and the others stepped onto the ranch, they were surrounded by a swarm of Cottonee.
"Wow, it's so beautiful here!" Candice marveled as she looked at the sky filled with floating Cottonee.
Grass-type Pokémon really are the cutest.
"Cottonee are so fluffy. Hugging one must be super comfy," Gardenia added from the side.
In the sky, along with the drifting Cottonee, groups of playful and energetic Whimsicott flitted about.
Watching the flurry of white shapes in the air, Caleb couldn't help but smile—a bright, beaming grin that radiated sunshine.
Whimsicott... heh heh...
"Caleb? Caleb?"
Behind him, Gardenia tugged at his sleeve, looking curious. "What are you smiling about so happily?"
"Ahem, nothing. Just thought of something funny, couldn't help it," Caleb coughed awkwardly and tried to rein in his grin.
But Flint, standing nearby, immediately leaned in with a teasing smirk. "C'mon, share it. Make me laugh too."
"Infernape got one-shot by Garchomp's Earthquake. Funny enough for you?" Caleb replied with a straight face.
Flint: "..."
"Pfft."
Behind them, the three girls couldn't help bursting into laughter.
That was two years ago, right after Flint became a member of the Elite Four. He challenged Champion Cynthia, and his ace Infernape got KO'd by a single Earthquake from Garchomp.
A truly memorable page in the long and dark chapter of Flint's career blunders.
Watching as the joy drained from Flint and transferred to the three girls now covering their mouths to stifle laughter, Caleb asked with mock concern, "Why aren't you laughing anymore?"
"My teeth feel cold."
The group continued strolling and joking along the path.
Occasionally they'd bring up another one of Flint's embarrassing stories.
But you had to admit—Flint was a good sport. No airs about being Elite Four, and he just laughed along when people teased him.
Soon, they arrived at a wooden cabin.
It was one of the few buildings on the entire ranch.
In front of the cabin, a white-haired boy was collecting cotton from a Cottonee. When he saw Caleb, he immediately dropped what he was doing and ran over.
"You must be Gym Leader Caleb, right? Hello, hello! I'm 'Ordinary Whimsicott,' just call me Cyril!"
The white-haired boy extended his hand with a smile.
Caleb shook it politely. "Just call me Caleb. These folks came along with me—Candice from Snowpoint City, Gardenia from Eterna City, Maylene from Veilstone City, and the guy with the explosion hair is Flint, one of the Sinnoh Elite Four."
He introduced each one in turn.
As Caleb finished, Cyril's smile stiffened slightly, and his thoughts started racing.
Four Gym Leaders, one Elite Four… and then there's the one inside the cabin… Are you guys from Sinnoh planning to invade Unova?!
His mouth twitched involuntarily, but he kept his polite smile.
He quietly pulled Caleb aside to a secluded corner and lowered his voice.
"Uh... Caleb, say... just hypothetically, if you were to go up against a Champion, how good would your chances be?"
"Champion?"
The word had barely left Cyril's mouth when Flint suddenly popped up out of nowhere.
He hadn't been paying close attention earlier, and seeing Cyril so nervous, his brain filled in the blanks with his own dramatized version of events:
A shameless Champion, scheming with Cyril's sister to steal his family inheritance, forcing Cyril into a doubles match under duress...
Fuming with righteous fury, Flint shouted, "Outrageous! There are still Champions like that these days? I'm ashamed for that region! Hmph! Let's see who it is! I dare them to take on your grandpa Flint!"
He stormed off, yelling at the top of his lungs, and flung the cabin door open.
Cyril's face went pale. He tried to stop Flint, but the guy was already deep into his own imaginary drama and completely deaf to the world around him.
Bang!
The cabin door slammed open.
Inside were two people: a white-haired girl hugging a Teddiursa plushie, and a blonde woman elegantly sipping coffee on a wooden chair.
Flint, who had just charged in with righteous indignation, froze the moment he saw that familiar black trench coat and cascade of golden hair.
He opened his mouth, but all that came out was a stutter: "B-b-b... Boss Lady!"
The woman was none other than Sinnoh's reigning Champion—Cynthia.
Cynthia calmly set down her coffee, raised her cool and elegant eyes, and spoke in a flat, emotionless tone: "Who did you just call a shameless Champion, Flint."
When she emphasized those two syllables, Flint felt a chill shoot down his spine.
He swore it felt like Garchomp was pressing its claws right up against his throat.
Wait a sec—that sensation...
Garchomp really IS behind me!
Flint stiffly craned his neck and locked eyes with Garchomp, who looked at him with almost pitiful eyes.
Garchomp: Next life, maybe don't run your mouth.
The cabin door slowly shut.
The insulation was excellent—you could barely make out Flint's screams from inside.
But if we're talking about the person who looked most miserable right now—aside from Flint—it had to be Caleb.
He turned to the white-haired boy and said:
"You didn't mention the opponent was Cynthia?!"
If she brings out that unstoppable Garchomp, I'm toast!
Faced with Caleb's accusation, Cyril put on his best innocent look and said, "I only just found out too! My sister swore it was just some internet friend! You think I wasn't shocked outta my skin when Cynthia showed up at my place this morning?!"
Then, as if clinging to his last hope, Cyril lunged forward and wrapped himself around Caleb's leg, shouting like a brat, "Too late now! You already promised! You can't back out!"
"Let go! Let go! I'm just a tactician! Why me?! Look, there are three other Gym Leaders! Go ask them!"
Caleb pointed in desperation toward the girls.
But when he looked over, the three of them had all quietly turned their heads away—pretending not to hear.
Gardenia: Me, fight Cynthia? You joking?
Candice: I'm just a walking teddy bear.jpg
Maylene: You can't see me... you can't see me...
No backbone at all! Shame on you!
At that moment, the cabin door slowly opened. Garchomp stepped out first.
It tossed the battered Flint aside like a rag doll.
Then Cynthia followed, tall and graceful, her long golden hair cascading like a waterfall down her slender waist.
Her heels clicked with each step, exuding the overwhelming pressure of a Champion.
She lifted a hand to brush back a few windblown strands from her forehead, and as her gaze swept over the group, she paused for a beat.
"Caleb?"
Then she smiled gently. "So it's you. I've actually been looking forward to a match with you."
Crap. No way out now.