A few days later, as the team from Sinnoh arrived at the port of Slateport City by ship, Cynthia's journey in Hoenn entered its countdown.
The day before departure, Cynthia went with Steven to Rustboro City to visit Lionel.
The morning sun shone through the mist on the beach, turning the fine sand into warm gold, while the sea breeze rustled the coastal vegetation on the shore.
Lionel was leading his Pokémon in special training behind the manor.
The area where the beach met the shallow sea was divided into several zones, and each Pokémon was focused on improving its skills.
Tyrantrum was in the gravity field created by Metang; every step felt like walking through thick mud.
It kept snarling, its powerful hind legs exerting forceful pressure as it waved its short forepaws, struggling to execute Dragon Claw.
The claw-wielding dinosaur made a soft popping sound as it sliced through the air, shattering the silk balls that Larvesta aimed at it.
Tyrantrum was honing its physique and mastery of its Dragon-type skills within the gravity field.
Larvesta, positioned at the edge of the zone, occasionally spewed flames to aid its teammate's dodging practice.
Simultaneously, the gravity environment also trained Larvesta, improving the accuracy and proficiency of its fire-based attacks.
Metang wasn't idle either, hovering within the gravity field while undergoing its own session.
The gravity zone affected Metang itself; a faint electric current swirled around its metallic body as it used Magnet Rise to resist the pull of the force.
Having consumed rare metals and ores from the Devon Corporation's warehouse over the past few days, the immense pressure helped it digest the materials, slowly transforming them into the energy needed for its upcoming evolution.
Milotic, meanwhile, trained alone in the distant surf. It gracefully traversed the vast ocean, its tail fin slapping up waves several meters high.
Occasionally, Milotic would plunge into the deep sea, surfacing covered in water droplets.
Lionel knew it was likely searching for powerful opponents like Sharpedo or Gyarados in the depths to test its strength.
Lionel wasn't worried; with Milotic's current power and recovery skills, it could easily protect itself in its home element.
Suddenly!
Just as Tyrantrum was gathering its strength for another strike, it shuddered, a low growl emanating from its throat.
In Tyrantrum's perception, it once again sensed an extremely powerful Dragon-type aura.
While not as overwhelming as the presence in the hidden chamber of Meteor Falls, it still sent shivers down Tyrantrum's spine.
"What's wrong?" Lionel asked.
Tyrantrum turned its head toward the entrance at the back of the manor.
Lionel followed its gaze and saw Steven walking along a path accompanied by a tall woman.
She wore black hair clips with yellow stripes and a sleek black coat over a matching suit.
Her long, flowing golden hair and high heels gave her the aura of a dignified queen.
This was none other than Cynthia, the Sinnoh League Champion!
Beside Cynthia stood a Dragon-type Pokémon with a strikingly aggressive form.
It had a head resembling a jet fighter, its open mouth revealing sharp fangs. This was her signature partner, Garchomp.
Don't let its dual Dragon/Ground typing fool you; Garchomp is a master of high-speed movement.
Its body is covered in small scales that reduce air resistance and can even create air blades during flight.
Pokémon: Garchomp
Type: Dragon / Ground
Classification: Mach Pokémon
Ability: Rough Skin (Damages the opponent upon contact)
Moves: Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Crunch, Dual Chop, Sand Tomb, Dig, Sandstorm, Dragon Claw, Dragon Tail, Scale Shot, Brick Break, Swords Dance, Shadow Claw, Draco Meteor, Dragon Rush
Looking at the data, Lionel couldn't help but marvel at its power.
Almost all essential Dragon-type moves had been mastered, from Dragon Claw to Draco Meteor.
Although Garchomp traditionally cannot learn Dragon Dance, the combination of its speed and Swords Dance makes it a terror on the battlefield.
Lionel remembered that during Mega Evolution, Garchomp's claws and the fins on its forearms fuse into huge, razor-sharp scythes.
While its Attack power sky-rockets, its Speed actually decreases slightly.
As Lionel's thoughts raced, Cynthia's Garchomp suddenly moved.
It blurred, piercing through the sand and appearing instantly in front of Tyrantrum.
This Garchomp was exceptionally robust, standing over two meters tall.
However, next to the nearly three-meter-tall Tyrantrum, it still appeared somewhat smaller in stature.
Metang's gravity field hadn't dissipated, but Garchomp seemed completely unaffected, standing steadily on the sand while leisurely flicking its tail.
It was as if the force had no effect on it at all.
Only after Metang deactivated the field did Tyrantrum stretch its suppressed body.
It looked down at the Garchomp before it.
Although it knew Garchomp's strength far surpassed its own, the pride of an ancient Dragon-type prevented Tyrantrum from showing weakness.
It launched a defiant growl.
Garchomp roared back. The two dragons stood forehead-to-head, a low, vibrating hum echoing as their feet carved craters into the sand.
Cynthia called out softly, "Alright, Garchomp, he isn't an enemy. Greet him properly."
Garchomp turned and growled at Cynthia, then went back to its confrontation with Tyrantrum, showing no intention of backing down.
Cynthia turned to Lionel with a helpless smile.
"You're Lionel, right? I'm Cynthia. Sorry, but that's just how Garchomp is. He always likes to compete with his own kind. He probably sees that your Tyrantrum is bigger than him and is feeling a bit competitive. Don't worry, he won't attack. He's just a bit temperamental."
"It's alright," Lionel replied.
"Tyrantrum used to be like that too. When he was a little Tyrunt, he would play head-butting games with Beldum. Even when it hurt, he would pretend nothing was wrong."
Cynthia laughed, feeling a sense of kinship, and shook Lionel's hand. Lionel noticed the Key Stone ornament on her wrist.
"I have to thank you for discovering the secret of Mega Evolution," Cynthia said.
"My Garchomp can now complete the transformation. With a little more practice, it should be able to stabilize that form."
She paused, her spirits lifting. "Don't worry about the Deino. This time when I go to Unova, I will definitely help you get the best one."
Steven added, "Drake and Cynthia's Mega Evolutions have both been successful. Wallace's Altaria is still being tested. The League is working hard to research more Mega Stones."
Suddenly, a splash appeared on the sea. Milotic gracefully swam to the shore and gave Cynthia a friendly greeting.
"Is this your Shiny Milotic?" Cynthia's eyes lit up.
"What a wonderful creature." She gazed at the ocean, her voice filled with delight.
"Once your team grows stronger, I really want to have a full battle with you. I think it would be a lot of fun."
She then turned her gaze back to the two dragons and said, "By the way, your Tyrantrum was resurrected from a fossil, right? I watched your battle videos; your tactics were fantastic. The combination of Sandstorm and Dragon Dance, was it?"
Hearing the words "Dragon Dance," Garchomp suddenly stopped its posturing.
It abruptly raised its head and ran to Cynthia's side, staring intently at Lionel as if it were deeply concerned by the question.
Tyrantrum followed, glaring at Garchomp, but Garchomp was only waiting for Lionel's answer.
Lionel's eyes darted between the two and he said calmly, "Champion Cynthia, you're mistaken. It's not the Dragon Dance move. Tyrantrum doesn't know Dragon Dance. In the sandstorm, it just uses small movements to boost its status. As for Dragon Dance... only weak Dragon-type Pokémon need it. Truly powerful Dragon-type Pokémon don't need that move at all."
Cynthia was completely stunned. Her mouth gaped open, her eyes widened, and her face was filled with disbelief.
It was a complete departure from her usual composed demeanor.
She never expected Lionel to say something like that with a straight face—it was a blatant lie!
She had watched his videos and knew Tyrantrum used the move, but she was flooled by his sheer audacity.
Meanwhile, Garchomp's eyes widened when it heard that Tyrantrum "doesn't know Dragon Dance."
It looked at the big dinosaur, and a friendly smile crept across its face.
It had felt awkward about being smaller, but now it found this "big guy who can't dance" strangely appealing.
When it heard the second half of the sentence—that only weaklings use it—Garchomp's eyes lit up.
It nodded excitedly and wagged its tail vigorously in the sand.
Tyrantrum, enjoying Lionel's petting, widened its amber eyes in confusion.
I clearly know Dragon Dance, so why is he saying I don't?
Despite its doubt, Tyrantrum obediently nodded along.
Seeing Tyrantrum "confirm" the statement, Garchomp let go of its previous rivalry.
It proactively approached, extending its forepaw to shake hands with Tyrantrum.
The ancient dragon hesitated for a moment, then extended its short, stubby claw to meet Garchomp's in a gesture of goodwill.