Cynthia

Cynthia in Diamond and Pearl
Cynthia
Species	Human
Affiliation	Elite Four (Sinnoh)
Hair color	Blonde
Eye color	Gray
Relatives	Grandparents Sister
Voiced by	Allegra Clark (2019)
Debut	Pokémon: Diamond/Pearl Versions

Cynthia is a supporting character and the Sinnoh Elite Four champion who was first featured in Pokémon: Diamond, Pearl and Platinum Versions. She uses Pokémon of varied types.

Background

Cynthia was a trainer whose grandparents and sister lived in Celestic Town, but Cynthia's own home remains unknown. At one point she traveled with a Pokédex from Professor Rowan and became champion of the Pokémon League by defeating the Elite Four after going on various adventures with her Pokémon, described as having happened "a long while" ago. She worked as an archeologist.

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum

In Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, she was traveling throughout Sinnoh to research the myths of ancient Sinnoh due to wanting to know how people and Pokémon interacted in the olden days (and possibly due to knowing something about Team Galactic's plans).

She first met Lucas/Dawn at Eterna City. She recognized them as Rowan's latest Pokédex-bearing trainer and introduced herself to them as well as giving them HM 01: Cut and, in Platinum, a Togepi egg. When the trainer meets her by the Verity Lakefront after defeating Crasher Wake, she speaks to them about the legendary mirage Pokémon and gives them a SecretPotion for the Psyducks on Route 210, additionally asking Lucas/Dawn to deliver an Old Charm to her grandmother as a favor. Reminiscing on her own adventures, she then expressed her wish that Lucas/Dawn would get to meet all types of Pokémon and learn the secrets of the mirage Pokémon.

Cynthia next appeared to Lucas/Dawn at Hearthome City after they completed the gym challenge there, apparently having trouble tracking them down, in order to thank them for completing the favor for her. She mused about how she had initially believed that Team Galactic were just eccentric freaks but since then have come to think they may pose some real threat. Cynthia then referred Lucas/Dawn to Canalave City's library and went off on her way. In Platinum, Cynthia would also come to Lucas/Dawn and Mt. Coronet once Cyrus summons Giratina and accompanies him into the Distortion World. After Lucas/Dawn faced Giratina, Cynthia expressed believing that was destined but still wishing that she could have been the one to face Giratina. She also professed the importance of the human spirit to Cyrus, although the message did not reach him.

In all three versions Lucas/Dawn met her next at the Pokémon League HQ, when they battled her for the championship. She thanked them for Mt. Coronet and noted they had overcome personal weaknesses and various challenges to get so far, and Cynthia could feel the trainer's learned power emanating from them. Cynthia was defeated, at which point she praised the trainer's passion and calculated coolness, believing that they could overcome anything. After a brief reunion with Professor Rowan, Cynthia led Lucas/Dawn to be registered in the Hall of Fame as the new champion of Sinnoh.

In Platinum, Cynthia would then appear before Lucas/Dawn at the Celestic Ruins and explain her long-winded theory about an alternative explanation of the theory that the cave painting that was apparently about Uxie, Mesprit and Azelf summoning either Dialga or Palkia at the Spear Pillar, thinking that the painting instead involved Dialga, Palkia and Giratina summoning another more powerful Pokémon- the original Pokémon (later to be known as Arceus). Cynthia would also visit the player's villa on random days or after the player purchases a piano.

HeartGold/SoulSilver

She also appeared in HeartGold and SoulSilver for a special event (although it is uncertain whether this takes place before or after the events of Diamond/Pearl/Platinum). She visited the Sinjoh Ruins and when Gold/Lyra arrived with Arceus, she was impressed and could sense a strong energy emanating from their Pokéballs, similar to that of Dialga, Palkia and Giratina. She then guided Gold/Lyra to the Mystri Stage, where the trainer's Arceus gave life to either a Dialga, Palkia or Giratina of their own. Cynthia realized that they have witnessed the one moment no one has ever seen before, that of a Pokémon egg being born; she went on to compare the world to an egg and wondered if Arceus was trying to teach them why new life is considered sacred. At this point, Gold was returned to Johto by the same mysterious force that brought him to the ruins in the first place (caused by Arceus's powers combining with that of the Unown).

Black/White

She later traveled to Unova in Pokémon: Black and White Versions in order to investigate the Abyssal Ruins and satiate her curiosity. Cynthia had at some point befriended Caitlin of Unova's Elite Four (as well as beaten her in battles), and Caitlin let Cynthia stay at her villa in Undella Town. Caitlin apparently had villas like that all over the world, all of which Cynthia was welcome at. When Hilbert/Hilda visited, Cynthia noted their striking resemblance to Lucas/Dawn, particularly in their intense eyes. Cynthia offered them a battle to get to know each other better. She noted that her Pokémon were radiating in their Pokéballs, wondering if Hilbert/Hilda was the reason and who they were. When she was defeated, Cynthia felt her expectations had been surpassed and confirmed that they reminded her of Lucas/Dawn. Cynthia departed due to having plenty of things to investigate back in Sinnoh, but she looked forward to meeting Hilbert/Hilda again.

Cynthia returned to the villa every spring and summer as those were her favorite seasons to visit Unova. She could be rebattled by Hilbert/Hilda, and she was also visited by gym leaders and Elite Four members such as Lenora (whom she knew from sharing archeological research), Elesa, Skyla, Shauntal and Caitlin.

She reappeared in Black and White 2, where her encounters with Nate/Rose were recycled from the previous game, except that Cynthia made no note of this trainer reminding them of Lucas/Dawn. She also competed in the Pokémon World Tournament, taking part in the Champions Tournament.

Sun/Moon

In Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Cynthia traveled to the Alola Islands and appeared as a competitor who could be battled and recruited at the Battle Tree.

Pokémon Roster

Cynthia uses the following Pokémon for the Elite Four challenge in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum:

• Spiritomb
• Lucario
• Gastrodon (Diamond/Pearl only)/Togekiss (Platinum only)
• Milotic
• Roserade
• Garchomp

In Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, she uses the Diamond/Pearl version of her team for the first match and the Platinum version for the first rematch. For subsequent rematches, she uses a variation of her Platinum team that also replaces Roserade with Porygon-Z.

In Black and White, she uses the following roster:

• Spiritomb
• Milotic
• Braviary
• Lucario
• Eelektross
• Garchomp

For tournament fights in Black 2 and White 2, her potential team could contain some or all of a group of Pokémon that matches her roster from Platinum, with the exception of containing a Glaceon in place of her Milotic.

For Battle Tree fights in Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the pool of Pokémon that she would use two or three of for battles included Milotic, Spiritomb, Garchomp, Lucario and Togekiss.

In Other Pokémon Games

Cynthia was featured in Pokémon Masters, with Garchomp as her partner Pokémon. As a playable sync pair, Cynthia and her Garchomp could be recruited at random through the game's Sync Pair Scout feature during limited time periods. There was also a Sygna Suit variant of Cynthia with Kommo-o that was also available during limited time periods. This game followed the Platinum version of events for her, as she remembered Cyrus going into the Distortion World.

Within the Main Story, Cynthia first appeared in Chapter 1, where she and Rosa were being hassled by some locals who wanted a battle even though Cynthia's Pokémon needed to rest. Scottie/Bettie was able to take care of them for her, which earned her gratitude. She was later shown to have made it to the finals of the Pokémon Masters League tournament, and she appeared in Chapter 21, where she apprehended the majority of the Team Break members stationed in one location while others were distracted by Scottie/Bettie's team and Calem. At the end of Chapter 25, it was revealed that Cynthia would be Scottie/Bettie's first opponent in the quarterfinals. The battle took place in Chapter 27, where it was shown that her teammates were Caitlin and Darach. Cynthia decided to use her Sygna Suit and Kommo-o for the battle, even though she had not used either for battle yet. She also motivated Caitlin for the battle by acknowledging her as a rival and taking her on in a one-on-one battle. During the quarterfinals battle, Cynthia's team was defeated by Scottie/Bettie, and Cynthia accepted her defeat gracefully.

Cynthia was also featured in the Story Event "Two Champions", where she and Lance decided to battle each other. The battle was crashed by Clair and Iris, who were then joined by Rosa, and Cynthia joined forces with Lance and Scottie/Bettie to defeat them. Afterwards, Cynthia and Lance decided to hold off on the battle in order to allow their Pokémon to rest, and Lance also felt that the PML finals would be a better setting for their battle. Another prominent Cynthia appearance was in the Legendary Event "New World Dilemma", where she helped in the effort to defy Cyrus. Ultimately, she donned the Sygna Suit and used Kommo-o to defeat Cyrus's Palkia and drove him away.

Other Appearances

Other Media

• Cynthia has appeared in several episodes of the Pokémon anime, startig in the Sinnoh-based series. She was shown defeating Paul with ease in one episode and helping to stop Team Galactic from stealing the Lustrous Orb in another episode. Cynthia also helped in the big battle against Team Galactic later on. She has also been seen in smaller appearances battling Elite Four members such as Aaron, Lucian and Flint. One of her last full appearances during the Sinnoh episodes was when she was shown as one of the people overseeing the Sinnoh Conference. Cynthia has also made cameo appearances in the opening/closing credits of the twelfth and thirteen anime movies, being seen battling Palmer in one instance. She later appeared in several episodes of the Unova-based series, where she was shown to be staying at a villa as in the games. She had an exhibition match against Caitlin for the Pokémon World Tournament Junior Cup, which ended in a draw, and she watched the tournament's other battles unfold. She also battled Iris and gave her advice during the tournament.
  • In the Pokémon anime movie "I Choose You!", which is set outside of the anime's normal continuity, one of Ash's traveling companions is a girl named Verity, who is Cynthia's daughter. Cynthia herself is only seen in a photograph.
• Cynthia began appearing in the Pokémon Adventures manga during the Diamond/Pearl arc, where her actions were more directly tied to stopping Team Galactic. She first showed up at Eterna City to investigate Rad Rickshaw's disappearance and witnessed a training session of Dia, Pearl and Platina, and she gave Platina some advice. Soon afterwards, Cynthia was able to save Rad Rickshaw using primarily her own Pokémon while the other trainers watched. She was later called by Mr. Backlot to investigate missing Psyduck, which led her to travel to Route 210 on bicycle while letting Dia, Pearl and Platina ride on her Garchomp due to running into them again. She gave the Psyduck the SecretPotion, met with her grandmother and left them with her Garchomp while she returned the Psyduck to their owners. Cynthia notably traveled to Team Galactic's headquarters in this version and tried to battle Cyrus herself, but she was defeated. She and Platina rode to Spear Pillar on her Garchomp, where they witnessed and took part in the arc's final battles.
• In the Pokémon Generations anime, which adapts scenarios from the games, she appeared in one episode based on Platinum, where she confronts Cyrus, only for Giratina to appear and take him away.

Trivia

• Her English name of Cynthia may come from another name for Artemis, a Greek goddess of the hunt, wilderness, wild animals, the moon and chastity. The name's association with the moon could be a parallel with Cyrus's association with the Sun. Her Japanese name is Shirona, which is named after the Japanese name for the white-fruited nandina, which is said to symbolize "love growing stronger" and "good home" in the language of flowers.
• Although she originally appeared to be a native of Sinnoh (Celestic in particular), in Platinum she claims that the location of her home as well as its region is a secret. This implies she is actually not from Sinnoh, and her having to stay at someone else's villa in Unova implies that is not her home region either.
• She is notable as the second champion character to note the similarity between player characters, with Steven Stone having made a similar yet vaguer statement about Ethan/Lyra in HeartGold/SoulSilver.
• Her actual home is apparently messy.