The stadium was packed to capacity as the new league season officially began.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena with excitement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the start of another league season!"
He paused for the cheers to die down before continuing.
"Rookies would go at it again, but before that we have an exhibition match just like at the start of every league season. This is always one of the most anticipated battles of the entire event. Two powerful trainers who have history between them will face off once more. It is going to be a treat for all of you watching here and at home."
The crowd roared in anticipation. The announcer smiled widely.
"You could also call this a rematch of a semifinal league match years ago. Will the victor remain the same or will the other trainer manage to get her payback? The stakes are high. The crowd is ready. This is not just any exhibition match. This is a battle between two of the strongest psychics in the league. Get ready, everyone. It is about to begin."
The lights focused on the battlefield as the announcer built more hype.
"So without further ado, let us get on with the exhibition match. Let us introduce the first person. She has taken the role of her father as the Saffron City Gym Leader. The queen of psychics and some… men even call her queen of beauty, Sabrina!"
Sabrina walked onto the stage with her usual cold and elegant demeanor. She wore her signature dark outfit, her long hair flowing behind her as she took her position. Her expression remained ice-cold, showing no emotion. The crowd reacted instantly, especially her dedicated fan club.
A large group of male fans in the front stands jumped up and down, waving banners with her name.
"We love you, Sabrina!" one shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Gorgeous, we are with you!" another screamed, nearly falling over the railing.
"I would let you step on me, my goddess!" a third fan yelled, holding up a giant heart-shaped sign with Sabrina's face on it.
Some fans had dressed up in costumes resembling her Pokémon. One man wore a full Alakazam outfit and kept bowing like a buttler every time Sabrina glanced in his direction.
Another held up a sign that read "Sabrina, my heart is your Kadabra." A few even pretended to faint when she looked their way, falling into their friends' arms.
It was both funny and slightly creepy how obsessed they were. Some fans had brought binoculars just to stare at her from far away, while others threw flowers onto the battlefield, forcing the staff to quickly clean them up.
Sabrina ignored the commotion completely. She stood perfectly still, her eyes focused only on the opposite side of the field. Her cold beauty only seemed to fuel the fans more. They screamed louder, some declaring their undying love while others argued among themselves about who loved her the most.
The announcer waited for the noise to settle before continuing with even more energy.
"And on the other side is the king of surprises, the business tycoon, the legendary trainer as well as the legendary slayer, Gym Leader of Moonwood Town, Gladion… VORTEX!"
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. Gladion walked out with his usual confident stride. The cheers grew even louder as people stood up and chanted his name.
The energy shifted from Sabrina's fanatical love to pure hype for the powerful gym leader. Gladion's reputation as an undefeated force in major battles made him a massive favorite among the audience. The announcer kept hyping him up, listing his achievements and reminding everyone of his recent victories.
Gladion walked up with a wry smile. 'I could understand all titles but legendary slayer. I never managed to slay anyone. Dude, some legendaries might take offense and just hunt me down. He is going to get me killed in the process of praising me… but… I kinda like it.'
His wry smile slowly turned into a confident smirk as he soaked in the applause. He looked across the field at Sabrina, their eyes meeting. The crowd sensed the tension and grew even louder.
"It is finally time for our rematch," Gladion said with a smile. "Let us hope you have improved considerably and got some tricks up your sleeve because otherwise it would be just too easy."
Sabrina's lips curved into a small, confident smile. "Oh, I have some tricks alright. I have spent years preparing for this day. Do not think I will make the same mistakes as last time. My psychic power has grown stronger, and so has my team. I will show you that raw power is not enough when facing true psychic mastery. Try not to lose too quickly, Gladion. I want this to be entertaining for the crowd."
She paused, her eyes sparkling with challenge. "After all, it would be embarrassing if the so-called undefeated gym leader fell in the first few minutes. Do not disappoint me."
The crowd went wild at their exchange. Then Sabrina delivered the final blow with perfect timing.
"Do not think that I would go easy on you just because we are a couple, you know."
The announcer froze for half a second before exploding with shock.
"Did we hear her correctly, folks? Did she say that they are a couple? The two gym leaders are a couple!!!"
The entire stadium erupted. People shouted in surprise and delight. "Wow, they do look good together!" one fan screamed. "From rival to romance… it is a perfect story!" another added loudly.
The revelation spread like wildfire through the stands. People who had come just to watch a battle were now fully invested in the drama. Cameras flashed everywhere as people tried to capture the moment.
In the male fan section, chaos broke out instantly.
"Nooo, my Sabrina is taken!!" one man cried, falling to his knees.
"Gladion, you devil!! You took our goddess's purity!" another shouted, clutching his chest like he had been stabbed.
"How will I live to see her in another man's arms?" a third wailed, tears streaming down his face.
Some fans were more humorous in their despair. "They do not even look good together," one man said before immediately correcting himself.
"Who am I kidding? Gladion has looks, talent, charm, and lots of money. How was I ever going to compete against him?"
Another fan stood up and shouted, "I challenge you to a duel, Gladion! For Sabrina's hand!" before his friends pulled him back down.
Another started writing sad poetry on the spot. "My love was a psychic flame, now extinguished by a very wealthy man… how cruel is fate."
Gladion looked at Sabrina with a wry smile and spoke telepathically. 'You did it on purpose, did you not?'
Sabrina smirked and replied telepathically, 'I just wanted to mark my territory and let everyone know that… you are mine.'
'What a tsundere,' Gladion said.
'You need to tell me one of these days what that even means,' she replied.
The referee, ignoring the wild crowd murmurs, stepped forward and explained the rules clearly. It would be a 6 vs 6 battle. Each trainer could switch Pokémon two times. The battlefield was set as a forest environment. The battlefield w
would remain the safe until one trainer lost half of their team.
-----Author Notes------
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