Chapter 67: Ash vs. Sabrina
Hearing Brock's words, Ash hesitated for a moment, then said uncertainly, "Brock... I should be able to beat Sabrina, right? After all, I caught Haunter! Ghost-type Pokémon aren't afraid of Psychic-type Pokémon!"
Hearing Ash, Brock thought for a moment and said, "Then let's go, Ash! Let's challenge Sabrina! If you can't win, I'll take over."
Hearing Brock, Ash nodded and quickly walked towards the Saffron Gym. Seeing this, Brock also followed Ash towards the Gym. Misty, Daisy, and Melanie saw Ash and Brock leave, hesitated for a moment, then also followed Ash towards the Saffron Gym.
By now, Brock's group had arrived outside the Saffron Gym. Misty, nearby, asked worriedly, "Ash, are you sure you can beat Sabrina?"
Hearing Misty, Ash nodded and said, "I'll definitely beat her! And then get the Gym Badge!" Hearing Ash's determination, Misty didn't say anything further.
After speaking, Ash walked to the Saffron City Gym's entrance, knocked on the door, and said loudly, "Hello! I'm here to challenge the Gym!"
Shortly after, the door suddenly swung open by itself. Seeing this, Ash wasn't scared and just walked inside. Brock saw Ash go in and followed him. As he entered, he said to Misty and the others beside him, "Misty! Daisy! Melanie! You three should probably wait outside for Ash and me!"
Hearing Brock, Misty and the others thought that Brock telling them to wait outside was for their own good, so they didn't say anything. Seeing Misty didn't object, Brock added, "Misty, Daisy, Melanie, maybe wait for Ash and me at the Saffron City Pokémon Center instead!" As soon as Brock finished speaking, he walked into the Gym. Hearing Brock, Misty and the others headed towards the Pokémon Center.
Meanwhile, on Brock's side, just as he walked into the Gym, he saw this scene: Ash had already sent out his Haunter, and Sabrina had also sent out her Kadabra. They were already prepared to battle.
So, Brock walked off to the side, sat down, and watched the battlefield. He saw Haunter and Kadabra standing there. Just then, Ash commanded Haunter, "Haunter! Get ready to battle! Use Lick attack!"
Hearing Ash, Haunter stuck out its tongue and attacked towards Kadabra. Shortly after, Haunter's tongue licked Kadabra. Perhaps Ash's protagonist halo kicked in, because Kadabra was subsequently paralyzed by Haunter's Lick!
Seeing this, Ash decided it was a good opportunity. He commanded Haunter again, "Haunter! Use Shadow Ball!"
Hearing Ash, Haunter gathered a large black ball in its hands, then launched it towards Kadabra, since Kadabra was paralyzed. Shortly after, the large black ball was about to hit Kadabra. Sabrina, nearby, saw this, stared intently at Kadabra, and then said just one word, "Teleport."
Just as the Shadow Ball was about to hit Kadabra, a force spread around Kadabra, and then Kadabra vanished from that spot. Just like that, Kadabra dodged Haunter's Shadow Ball.
Shortly after, Kadabra reappeared on the battlefield. Sabrina commanded Kadabra, "Use Psybeam."
Hearing Sabrina, Kadabra fired an incredible beam of light towards Haunter.
Seeing this, Ash told Haunter, "Haunter! Quick, turn invisible! Then dodge the Psybeam!"
Hearing Ash, Haunter immediately vanished from that spot. Sabrina, on her side, saw this, closed her eyes, then sensed Haunter's position. Then, using telepathy, she commanded Kadabra, "Kadabra! Attack towards the west, 3 o'clock direction!"
Seeing Sabrina close her eyes, Ash sighed quietly and whispered, "Good thing Ghost-type counters Psychic-type... otherwise I'd lose again." Subsequently, Ash saw Kadabra firing a Psybeam towards a specific direction. Just then, Ash thought, Could it be that Kadabra knows Haunter's position?!
Just then, Brock's voice reached Ash's ears, "Ash! Quickly tell Haunter to dodge! Sabrina probably used her psychic powers to find Haunter's location!"
Hearing Brock, Ash replied, "I know!"
After speaking, Ash shouted towards the field, "Haunter! Quickly move from your position!" Hearing Ash, Haunter intended to dodge, but time waits for no one. Just as Haunter heard Ash's command, the Psybeam reached its position. Just like that, Haunter was struck by Kadabra's Psybeam.
Watching this scene, Brock thought, Ash is about to lose... It should be my turn to go up and battle Sabrina now. After finishing this thought, Brock looked back at the battlefield. He saw that after being hit by Kadabra's Psybeam, perhaps due to Sabrina's good luck, Haunter had become confused.
Meanwhile, Ash was beside the field telling Haunter, "Haunter! Snap out of it! Your battle isn't over yet!"
Sabrina, on her side, saw this and said coldly, "Ash, I advise you to just admit defeat!"
Just as Sabrina finished speaking, Ash's Haunter zipped over in front of Sabrina and started doing all sorts of funny things and making funny faces. When Sabrina finished watching Haunter's performance, a happy smile appeared on her face. And on the battlefield, Kadabra also lay on the ground, laughing heartily! Just like that, Ash won!
Brock, watching from the side, saw this scene and thought, Damn it! I have to actually defeat the opponent to win my battles! Look at Ash's battle style... that protagonist halo is too powerful! Even a situation where he's about to lose can turn into a win!... This world is so unfair!
Seeing this outcome, Ash looked completely clueless and asked, "What the heck just happened?! Does this count as me losing, or me winning?!"
Just as Ash finished speaking, a voice came, "Ash! Congratulations on defeating Sabrina!"
Ash looked towards the direction the voice came from and saw the uncle who had told him to catch a Ghost-type Pokémon walking over. Seeing him, Ash asked curiously, "Uncle! What are you doing here?!..."
Before Ash could finish his sentence, the uncle took a golden-yellow badge out of his pocket, handed it to Ash, and said, "Congratulations, Ash! This is the Saffron Gym badge. It belongs to you."
Ash accepted the badge, looking cluelessly at the uncle. The uncle then continued, "Ever since Sabrina learned psychic powers, she has never laughed so happily like this before. Seeing her laugh this time... I feel very gratified. She can finally be like a normal person again!"
Hearing the uncle's words, Brock said, "So you're Sabrina's father! Which means... you're the former Saffron Gym Leader!"
Hearing Brock, the uncle simply nodded but didn't say anything further.
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