Do you guys think that Chili and Cress ever had their fair share of panic attacks while Cilan was off on his journey?
Like, Cilan didn't just leave on a journey to become a better Pokémon connoisseur. He took off traveling with Ash freaking Ketchum, who, as we are all well aware of, is notorious for getting into his fair share of trouble. Like, this boy canonically died six times. SIX. This little 10 year old is quite literally a problem magnet.
Not only that, but we know how close the Striaton Trio truly are with one another. I mean, not only are they triplets (who, like twins, will often have a closer bond due to growing up and experiencing everything together), but they literally own and run a gym together. They canonically have an incredibly tight relationship, and do think and worry about each other constantly.
So, Cilan, their triplet brother, who they've done everything with their entire lives, basically just went off on a journey with this death-approaching little boy. And you're telling me that didn't cause just a little bit of conern?
Like, imagine Chili and Cress just chilling out at home and turning on the news one day and just casually seeing their brother up there.
"Oh, hey, let's see what's going on in Unova today." "Wow, there was a Venipede stampede in Castelia City? That sounds really dangerous." "Yeah, it looks like they're ordering evacuations." "That makes sense, I hope no one gets poisoned, that could be fatal-" "Uh, hey Cress?" "Yeah?" "You know, it could just be me... but... is that Cilan in the middle of the stampede?" "Oh- wait WHAT? WHAT THE FUCK?"
I feel like the first time it happened, they definitely called him afterwards as soon as they could and immediately went off on him. I’m talking full on yelling and "Cilan we let you go for two weeks and you get yourself caught in the middle of a STAMPEDE with POISONOUS POKÉMON??? What were you THINKING???"
Ash and Iris just kinda stare back and forth between them cause they don't know what it's like to have siblings. But Cilan just laughs it off like "Oh haha yeah sorry about that. We were careful, though! I promise it won't happen again!"
Only for it to happen at least 20 more times.
Chili and Cress just log onto the news each morning and experience their daily panic attack.
"Oh, hey, check it out! The Forces of Nature, Landarous, Tornadus, and Thundurus were spotted!" "No way! They haven't been seen in ages!" "Yeah, and there was a giant attack... Wait a minute..." "Isn't that..." "Yeah, that's Cilan." "Oh Arceus, not again!"
Over and over again.
"Hey, look at today's new story! Reshiram was summoned at the White Ruins!" "Seriously? That's crazy! People were still debating on whether or not that Pokémon was a myth!" "Yeah, and apparently this evil organization named Team Plasma were controlling Pokémon with these devices and making them go rogue! They were attacking civilians at every-" "Chili?" "Yeah?" "In the middle of that shot..." "Don't say it." "That's Cilan right there, isn't it?" "GOD DAMNIT!!!"
It's just a never ending cycle. Every time the boys think Cilan has learned his lesson, and every time they think that he just might keep his promise, he goes off on another death mission. In fact, it's become such a prominent part of their journey that it's now an inside joke between the travelling trio. Every time Ash, Iris, and Cilan escape from some dangerous experience, Cilan just sighs and goes, "Chili and Cress are gonna kill me," while Iris and Ash just nod along like, "Yup." Then they have to brace themselves for their fair share of yelling over the phone.
Not to mention that Chili and Cress are running a gym at the exact same time. So, not only do they have to worry about their brother who's halfway across the region and potentially getting himself killed, they have to prepare themselves to fight a bunch of different trainers and defend their name as gym leaders. They also have to make sure nothing goes down at the gym itself, because, as we know, Cilan worries about the gym constantly while he's not there. Chili and Cress are literally balancing holding up the first gym of the Unova Region by day and preparing themselves to hear the worst possible news by night.
The situation is quite comical, but, at the same time, I literally don't know how they kept themselves together while dealing with all of that. I'm sure Cilan finally coming home in one piece was quite a relief for them.
Those poor boys. They're such good brothers.
