Chapter 0799: Cynthia Wants Me to Propose(Two-in-One)

March 20, Sunday, Spring Equinox.

Snow blanketed the foothills, the sky vast and clear, cloud seas swirling, the silhouette of a Skarmory gliding by.

Mount Hokulani stands at an elevation of four thousand meters, the highest point in all of Alola. Whether day or night, reaching the summit always offers the finest views in Alola. The observatory atop the mountain is a holy site for astronomy enthusiasts from around the globe.

It’s said that Mount Hokulani’s starry sky is the clearest in the world.

And before the stars emerge, arriving at Mount Hokulani gives you the chance to witness one of the most beautiful sunsets on earth.

Four large optical binoculars stand at the summit, their silvery shells mirroring the snowy ground. The circular observatory anchors the center, managed by the future Elite Four and Steel-type specialist, Molayne.

There is only one road to the summit—a winding, double-lane hillside route notorious for hazards: darting Magnemite and Golem tumbling down from rockslides.

As you reach the gentler slopes, the clouds spread like a blanket beneath.

Some have even snapped shots of Altaria or spotted the rare Magnezone.

Right now, a unique “Exeggutor Bus” wound its way up the mountain, its body painted with long-necked Alolan Exeggutor. Only two passengers rode within, gazing dreamily out the windows.

A black-haired young man and a golden-haired beauty sat together, facing the window. The seat rattled as Natsume leaned against the rail by the door; Cynthia rested a Togepi on her knees, nestled at Natsume’s side.

The driver’s seat was empty. Gengar, wearing a familiar cap, lounged boldly behind the wheel.

A Rotom from the transit company, hidden inside the steering column, angrily demanded that Gengar get out.

“Gengar~” Gengar grinned, clinking his ice-cold soda against the steering wheel.

Outside, clouds unfurled like a painting, cold mountain air drifting in.

“How much longer?” Cynthia asked softly.

“Half an hour.” Natsume inspected the bus’s decorations. “The ‘Exeggutor Bus’ is an Alolan specialty, so I wanted to ride it up.”

“Mmm.” She murmured gently, turning to rest her head on Natsume’s shoulder. Black-and-gold hair brushed his neck, tickling slightly.

Natsume looked down. Her golden hair veiled her face, spilled down her waist and knees, eyelashes long, her complexion snowy and exquisite as she peacefully meditated.

Peering out the window, the mountains slipped away behind, altitude climbing ever higher among swirling clouds, the sky deepening.

“We’ll reach the summit just in time for sunset,” Natsume thought, inhaling the soft scent of her golden hair.

At 6:15 p.m., the Exeggutor Bus arrived at the observatory’s platform, still ten minutes’ walk from the peak.

Gengar, backpack on, was the first to leap down.

Turning, Gengar scooped up the waving Togepi, carrying it down the steps.

“Togepi doo-ee~” Togepi giggled, dancing in the snow.

Natsume, in a scarf, stepped into the crunching powder, exhaling white clouds.

“Who would’ve thought you’d need winter gear in tropical Alola?”

“Mount Hokulani rises four thousand meters above sea level, but if you count from the ocean floor, it’s over ten thousand two hundred meters tall.”

Cynthia, in a black coat, hugged herself for warmth. “Even higher than the world’s tallest peaks.”

Natsume looked up toward the observatory at the mountain’s crest.

Ula’ula Island is modeled after Hawaii, and Mount Hokulani after Mauna Kea—one of the world’s best stargazing sites.

As the Exeggutor Bus pulled away, Natsume and Cynthia stood by the signpost, footprints left in the snow.

“There’s the shrine, dedicated to Tapu Bulu. Want to visit?” she asked.

Natsume followed her gaze—a Hawaiian-style shrine, bells on the torii gate, a pink Oricorio dancing nearby.

“Can you pray for love there?” Natsume joked.

“Who knows?” Cynthia smiled softly.

The sky grew grayer, reflected in the snow. They walked close together, the roofs and shrine covered with snow, but the training grounds in the center were lush and green, crawling with Charjabug.

“Tapu Bulu has mastery over plants. Its Ability is Grassy Surge,” Natsume explained. “Rillaboom’s Ability is the same, plus Grassy Glide; in a real battle, it’s even more practical than Tapu Bulu.”

“You’ll get punished for saying bad things about an island guardian at their shrine.”

“I’m only being honest.”

Above the shrine, Tapu Bulu descended with regal presence, glaring down at the uninvited guests.

Its golden bell tail jingled; its nose ring glinted as it frowned at the pair.

Without warning, Tapu Bulu gave up its appearance and zipped away toward the horizon.

Gone in a flash!

Natsume and Cynthia left the shrine.

They made their way toward the summit observatory.

The observatory stood above the clouds, where atmospheric interference was low—a prime site for skywatching.

Director Molayne greeted them, scratching his head with a smile:

“We’re closed to ordinary visitors tonight due to some risk from the upcoming meteor shower. But for two Champions, that’s no problem at all.”

“I recall you’re related to Sophocles?” Natsume asked.

“Yes, I’m his cousin. That guy owes you a lot, thanks for looking after him.”

“Not at all. I think Sophocles’s dream of being an astronaut was surely inspired by his elders.”

Molayne laughed. “That guy’s still got a long way to go. Come, the sun’s almost setting—I'll take you up the tower.”

“Well…”

“The observation tower is westward. I’ve got paperwork to do, so I’ll leave you to it!”

The observation tower rose about six meters high, with astronomical binoculars, a bench, and white metal spheres along the edge.

Climbing to the top, a bracing chill hit them—the air fresh, and the view suddenly vast.

Rolling clouds spread below, a white carpet with not a single gap, as if one could step out and walk all the way to the golden sun.

Mount Hokulani’s altitude set the tower above the cloud sea; standing there, the world was an ocean of white.

At the rim, the sunset blazed gold, beams scattering in the blue sky, a faint rainbow arching. The cloud sea burned orange-red.

Natsume breathed deeply of the crisp air. Gengar hovered behind him, stretching its cheeks with both hands and mumbling: “Gengar…”

The sun seemed to slip along the clouds, ready to drop below the snowy horizon. It fell, slow but steady, colors deepening, orange-red brilliance almost fierce.

Suddenly, a small, cool hand slipped into Natsume’s. He turned to Cynthia.

Her profile, lit by the afterglow, was radiant—flushed with delicate pink, her nose graceful, a slight smile on her lips as she gazed at the sun’s end.

He held her hand, sitting together at the edge—two unmoving statues, Gengar levitating at the left, Garchomp standing to the right.

The two of them sat more than four thousand meters above sea level on the bench, leaning quietly into each other. The sea of clouds at their feet, the sunset before them, their silhouettes cast in black.

Time felt slow and infinite, the sun transforming from gold to scarlet, half of it dipping behind the clouds. Rainbow hues faded to a band of orange-red, then as the sun finally fell, only a flare remained before it disappeared.

Day ended; night fell.

……

At 7:15 p.m., Molayne gave Natsume-sensei and Cynthia a tour of the observatory, displaying a meteorite carrying Deoxys genes.

At 7:45, Natsume-sensei borrowed the observatory’s kitchen, preparing dinner with an invitation for Molayne to join. Trainer and Pokémon feasted together.

At 8:30, data confirmed the meteor shower was imminent.

At 8:40, analysis predicted the meteor shower would arrive promptly at 10:30 p.m.

“There’s something strange,”

Molayne said in the data room, scratching his head, “That comet crossing tonight has an 80% chance of carrying a lifeform. I just hope it isn’t Deoxys…”

“Could be worse,” Natsume replied. “Might be Eternatus.”

Molayne blinked. Eternatus, like De

“If that happens, Natsume and I will help handle it,” Cynthia said calmly, sharing a small smile with Natsume. “But I have a feeling… it’ll be a Pokémon we know well.”

Natsume: “I know Deoxys quite well too… ow…”

She was pulling on my cheek as she said it!

Camping at the summit was technically forbidden, but Molayne made an exception, promising to spend the night in the research lab, tracking the comet live.

The tent was a heated special edition, still in the shape of “Gigantamax Gengar.” Sleeping in Gengar’s wide-open mouth, it brought a strange sense of security.

Night winds rustled, the sky still and silent, clouds swirling below. The observatory seemed to float in the air, drifting endlessly.

The camp was wide open, enough to release all of Natsume-sensei and Cynthia’s Pokémon.

Lucario stood on the edge, gazing up; Garchomp guarded Cynthia from behind.

Blastoise silently appeared next to Lucario, nudging his sunglasses—Lucario looked over, surprised.

Tyranitar tried to gobble the observatory’s white meteorite but was stopped by a frantic Rotom Pokédex.

Spiritomb settled quietly, choosing a trusted teammate to hide behind—Sirfetch’d.

“Sirfetch’d!” Sirfetch’d gripped leek and shield, standing tall, asleep with one eye open.

No one knows what Sirfetch’d endured for a bit of laziness!

Togepi paced with a mobile phone, searching for the best signal around camp.

Arcanine, regal and mighty, stood at the cliff’s edge, gazing at the sky.

Once a fluffy pup, now it bore a trace of that King Arcanine majesty—like Blue Oak’s “Lion King” Arcanine.

Darkrai meditated aloofly; Victini nibbled macarons with joy; Meloetta hummed softly.

Latias’ calls were cheerful, racing Togekiss in playful loops over the observatory.

Sylveon, with its ribbon, tied up the clingy Glaceon:

“Sylveon! (▼ヘ▼#)”

No funny business!

“Glaceon~ (つД`)” Glaceon swayed her icy fringes.

Glaceon missed the days when Sylveon was soft and easy to topple, but now the roles had reversed… (just kidding)

Natsume and Cynthia stood at the observatory’s edge, gazing at the starry sky.

The blue-black sky was thick with stars, every size and brightness, nothing to obscure their view, the air pure and clean, nothing blocking the heavens. Beautiful, dazzling, perfect—a night where all the starlight seemed to gather together.

“Feels like I could reach out and touch them,” Natsume whispered, stretching his hand skyward.

“So beautiful.” Cynthia’s gray eyes shimmered.

Natsume breathed a chilly breath, glancing at her.

Their eyes met, glimmering like the cosmos.

Natsume wanted to say something—his heart swelled with childish impulse, desperate to shout words that would be swallowed by snow and night.

But breath caught in his chest, heart pounding like a drum at midnight. He spoke softly:

“Cynthia, I love you.”

Cynthia’s gray eyes held him, curling into a smile, eyes like crescent moons.

“I love you too.”

At 10:30 p.m., the starry sky above churned like a whirlpool as meteors streaked overhead.

“Gengar, Gengar!” Gengar cried in awe, flattening itself on the ground to better stare at the heavens.

“Togepi doo-ee~” Togepi lowered its phone, eyes sparkling.

Natsume and Cynthia looked up—the meteors flared like embers, blazing across the sky. One exceptionally beautiful blue comet dragged a long tail, hanging still in the night.

“When did that comet appear?” Cynthia asked softly.

“No idea... but it’s beautiful—just like you, Cynthia,” Natsume answered.

Cynthia smiled, stepping softly back, hands behind her:

“Wishing stars, of course, require a wish.”

The starlight bathed her silken gold hair, her smile bright as diamonds, every strand gleaming.

For a moment, Natsume’s heart trembled. He asked,

“What did you wish for?”

“I won’t tell you,” Cynthia replied proudly.

“Then I can guess it.” Natsume smiled.

“And so can I guess yours,” she replied.

“Then close your eyes, make your wish on the shooting star, and we’ll say it together.”

“That’s childish,” Cynthia said, unable to hide her smile. “But… I’ll try.”

She closed her eyes, long lashes, lips soft and pink, skin flawless, murmuring:

“Have you made your wish?”

“Give me a moment more.”

“Ten—nine—three—two—one!”

Her eyes snapped open, confident: “Natsume—”

“Cynthia.”

Cynthia’s pupils dilated, reflecting the shimmering Master Ball, its lid opening to reveal the flawless Diancite nestled in red velvet—like the world’s most precious ring.

Natsume held the Master Ball, black hair fluttering in the wind, eyes soft, smiling as he said:

“Will you marry me?”

Meteor after meteor blazed across the heavens, the greatest meteor shower of all, while a beautiful blue comet dragged its tail.

Her golden hair rippled like silk, her gray eyes sparkling, breath caught in her throat as memory after memory flashed before her eyes:

The Tanabata meteor shower date, holding hands on Christmas, his stance before the Temporal and Spatial Dragons in Alamos Town.

The kiss after the battle at Michina, his confession in Sandgem Town, the blazing fires of the City of Wastes…

Her eyes turned red, her perfect face smiling through tears, brushing the golden hair from her cheek.

“If you want to catch a Pokémon, you have to risk shedding some tears.”

Natsume’s dark eyes glimmered: “But we’ll always need each other. When I think of you, gazing out at the endless stars, I feel content.”

“So, Cynthia.”

Natsume held out the Master Ball, his gaze gentler than ever:

“Please, catch me.”

Silence. The stars faintly trembled in the wind.

Cynthia’s eyes shone, smiling softly through her tears:

“I will.”

The starry sky spun in a fiery whirlpool, the meteor shower dazzling and grand.

Natsume gazed at Cynthia, his eyes flickering, cheeks flushing with bashful joy.

In answer came warmth—shy and burning—a kiss.

On the summit of Mount Hokulani, their silhouettes blurred above the world.

Night was long, the snowy ground home to a single ‘Gigantamax Gengar’ tent.

The blue comet seemed to open its eyes, a beam shining down on the observatory.

“Gengar~” Gengar bathed in the light, tilted his head curiously.

A small meteorite slowly fell down the beam, landing right in Gengar’s open hand.

“Gengar…” Gengar inspected the meteorite, scratching his head.

Why does this meteorite look so familiar?

“Garchomp…”

Garchomp gave the couple a sidelong glance.

That’s my cabbage! (｀Д´)

But…

Garchomp nodded, majestic.

I’ll allow this engagement!