"Sabrina, are you in there?"
Ash knocked on the door of what he assumed was Sabrina's room. It was the only room with the lights still on, and her unique psychic presence confirmed she was inside. Her mental energy was unmistakably strong.
"Come in," came Sabrina's calm voice.
Ash pushed the door open and found Sabrina seated formally on a tatami mat, a steaming glass of tea in her hand, wisps of steam curling up gently. The serene look on her face and the pale green tea gave the scene an almost otherworldly stillness.
"I didn't expect you to be into tea. That's a bit of a surprise," Ash said with a smile as he sat down across from her.
"Tea helps calm the mind. It's a good way to keep my powers under control," Sabrina replied softly, taking another sip from her cup.
Ash nodded but quickly shifted the conversation. "I wanted to ask you something. What happened to all the people in Saffron City? I heard rumors that you were turning trainers into dolls. Is that true?"
Sabrina set her cup down and looked at him directly. "I did turn some challengers into dolls in the past. But after I sensed your presence here, I released them all. As for why the city is nearly empty… That's not my doing. I heard that nearby towns and villages have been experiencing collapses, and many of the citizens have gone to help with the rescue and recovery efforts."
She paused, then added, "That said, not everyone has left. Some residents stayed behind to guard shops and buildings against theft. But with so few people remaining, many stores have shut down temporarily. Once the situation outside settles, they'll reopen."
As she spoke, Sabrina shifted her position, stretching her legs into a relaxed diagonal pose. Her black and purple stockings emphasized her slender figure. She let out a soft sigh of relief, clearly more comfortable—but seemingly unaware of how alluring the moment was. The gentle sound and the way she moved sparked a flicker of heat in Ash's gut. Still, his self-control held firm, and his face betrayed nothing.
"You've really changed a lot," Ash said, studying her expression. It was hard to believe that the elegant and composed woman before him was once the withdrawn and emotionally stunted girl from years ago.
"Oh?" Sabrina raised an eyebrow with a playful smile. "Are you saying you're interested in me? I wouldn't mind. That is, assuming Cynthia wouldn't get jealous."
There was a subtle glimmer in her eyes as she teased him, but Ash simply stretched his neck, cracking it with a sharp pop as he ignored her provocations.
"Let me collect the badges first. Emotional stuff can wait. Even if I were to develop feelings, I've got a ton to deal with after the League."
"So… you and Cynthia are an engaged couple after all," Sabrina said with a slight frown. Honestly, she hadn't expected another woman to already have a place in Ash's heart.
Her original plan had been simple. She knew Ash wouldn't actively pursue anyone—his personality didn't lean that way. But with his lineage as the heir of Professor Samuel Oak, he could have any number of admirers if he wanted to. She hadn't anticipated this shift in his demeanor.
What shocked her most was how much he'd changed. Ash usually came across as laid-back and careless, but when he used his psychic powers earlier, she saw a glimpse of the cold and distant boy he had once been.
"Yeah, I was against it at first," Ash admitted. "But after thinking it through… well, it's not like I'm losing anything. Cynthia made the first move, and honestly? I prefer something built on mutual emotions. That's why we're traveling together now—getting to know each other's personalities and habits."
After Sabrina finished speaking, Ash gave his answer with a relaxed tone. It was clear he'd grown more comfortable expressing himself, no longer trapped by his earlier emotional confusion. He understood now—there was no need to overthink things that didn't exist yet.
"So… how about it? Do you accept my terms?" Sabrina asked, not wanting to dwell on Cynthia any longer.
Ash nodded. "Yeah, I accept. And just so you know—I don't think you can beat me. I came on this journey to win, and I'm not leaving until I've proved I can."
Despite Sabrina's strength, Ash had no intention of backing down. The gap between them was still wide—but that wouldn't be the case for long.
Even if Sabrina used her psychic powers to temporarily elevate Kadabra's strength to Champion level, the boost wouldn't last long—ten minutes at most. Ash knew that even if he didn't actively attack, she'd eventually be worn down by the strain alone.
Among all human abilities, only those with psychic affinities could significantly amplify the power of Psychic-type Pokémon.
The enhancement could push a Pokémon up by two full tiers in battle strength. But it was important to note—only the power of their moves reached Champion-level. Their physical stamina remained unchanged. Otherwise, it would be completely broken.
"I won't lose," Sabrina said softly. "I've been preparing for this day for years."
Her head lowered, long purple hair falling over her eyes. If Ash had been closer, he might have seen the tears silently gathering in her eyes.
"Huh? What did you say?"
Ash was distracted. Now that he understood why Saffron City was deserted, his worry had faded. He hadn't been paying close attention when she mumbled, and her quiet voice made it hard to catch.
"It's nothing. Let's go eat. It should be ready by now," Sabrina said, brushing off his question. She stood up and headed for the door.
Ash didn't press her. He could tell she'd said something meaningful, but if she didn't want to repeat it, he wasn't going to pry.
"You go ahead. I'll grab Cynthia," Ash called out after they stepped into the hallway.
He turned toward Cynthia's room, leaving Sabrina behind.
For a brief moment, Sabrina stopped in her tracks, her steps hesitating. Then she silently resumed walking toward the dining area. She didn't dislike Cynthia—but the bond between her and Ash sparked a quiet jealousy inside her.
Sabrina had grown up in isolation. Even though her parents had been kind on the surface, she'd always known the truth: they feared her. Their affection had been mixed with unease. But Sabrina never blamed them. After all, it was hard to understand what couldn't be seen.
There were times when she wished she could give up her psychic powers altogether. But it wasn't something she could simply abandon. She had lived with them too long. And because she relied on them so heavily, she had never properly trained her body. Her physical fitness was actually lower than that of an average child. It was one of the many hidden costs of her power.
Ironically, Ash himself had sometimes envied her psychic abilities. Levitation, telepathy—those were things even his Sharingan couldn't replicate.
While his eyes gave him terrifying combat strength, they came with brutal side effects. The Sharingan couldn't help him with everyday conveniences the way psychic powers could. Sabrina's abilities, in contrast, were far more versatile in daily life.
...
TN:
Hope you Enjoy~😊
⚡ Support me on P-com/LordMerlin.
I'm grateful for your support! 🙇 ️