Creak—
Nozomi pushed open the door.
He had imagined many possible scenarios—Perhaps a horde of Team Rocket members was waiting behind it, ready to ambush him and drag him off to Giovanni as soon as he stepped inside.
Or maybe, more reasonably, the door would open onto a battle arena where Sabrina stood, her Pokémon at her side, already prepared to fight.
But of all the things Nozomi had envisioned, what he actually saw was not among them.
"What… is this situation?"
Beyond the door was a room that looked like a cozy living room.
A fireplace burned softly. A couch sat before it. A plush carpet cushioned every step beneath his feet.
For a moment, Nozomi felt so disoriented that if not for the Poké Ball gripped tightly in his hand, he might've thought he had time-traveled again.
His gaze fell on the figure seated on the sofa before the fireplace.
"Sabrina?"
Nozomi frowned slightly.
The long, straight black hair certainly looked like hers—but considering how much the story of this world had already diverged from the "original," he wasn't about to jump to conclusions.
"We meet again," Sabrina said, turning her head slightly. Her delicate face remained calm, emotionless, as she spoke words that left Nozomi baffled.
"Meet again? Have we… met before?" he asked, genuinely confused.
He had no recollection of ever meeting Sabrina. Not in this life, nor in the fragments of his predecessor's memories.
"So, you never noticed…" she murmured, a hint of disappointment flickering across her face.
Her tone triggered a sudden realization in Nozomi's mind. "Wait—don't tell me… that Alakazam was you? Or rather, it was being controlled by you?"
He immediately recalled the Alakazam he'd encountered back in Lavender Town during his clash with Team Rocket.
He had assumed it was the Pokémon of some Rocket executive, sent to protect the scientists working there.Now it seemed that Alakazam had been under Sabrina's remote control all along.
If that was true, then there was only one conclusion—
Sabrina had ties with Team Rocket.
Nozomi's expression remained neutral, but his fingers tightened around Metagross's Poké Ball.
"So… the one who tried to save Team Rocket yesterday—that was you?" he asked, wanting confirmation.
Sabrina tilted her head thoughtfully, then nodded. "You could say that. But…"
"But what?"
"You probably won't believe me, but I never intended to join Team Rocket."Her tone was serious.
You've got to be kidding me.
Nozomi almost laughed out loud.You helped Team Rocket, admitted your involvement—and now you say you never planned to join them?
"Believe it or not," Sabrina continued evenly, "it was just a transaction. They offered something I couldn't refuse."
Under normal circumstances, Sabrina wouldn't talk this much.But she had her own network of information—and she already knew about Nozomi's connection to the League, and even his friendly ties with Lorelei of the Elite Four.
She didn't want to be mistaken for a Rocket sympathizer. That was why she was explaining herself.
"What kind of offer?"
Nozomi asked, though he had no way to tell if she was lying.If she weren't a psychic, he could've read her heartbeat to check—but against another psychic, that was impossible.
"Mewtwo," Sabrina said bluntly. "A Psychic-type Pokémon of unparalleled power. I can't defeat it. Giovanni offered to let me study its psychic abilities—in exchange for my cooperation with Team Rocket's next operation. You can understand, can't you? For a psychic, that kind of offer is… irresistible."
At that, Nozomi finally understood.
Psychics sought powerful Psychic-type Pokémon, and vice versa—their bond strengthened both sides. A powerful psychic could help a Pokémon grow, while a powerful Pokémon could in turn refine the human's psychic strength.
Considering Sabrina had been able to remotely control an Alakazam, it was clear that Alakazam could no longer keep up with her expanding psychic power.So when Giovanni came knocking, she accepted.
"So, if you've already made a deal with Team Rocket, why tell me all this?" Nozomi asked.
"I saw your battle that day," Sabrina replied, and for the first time, passion flared in her eyes—wild, almost fanatical. "When your Metagross changed into that form, I could feel it. Its power was on par with Mewtwo's!"
"…You're not saying…"
"I never trusted Team Rocket. And Giovanni is far too stingy—he only agreed to lend me Mewtwo for three days."She leaned forward slightly. "So I want to join forces with you. Together, we take Mewtwo from him. Then you can lend it to me for research… just a month, that's all I ask."
"…"
Nozomi was speechless.
You've got some nerve, lady.
Even he, as Metagross's Trainer, didn't dare dream of snatching Mewtwo from Giovanni. Where did she get this confidence?
Seeing his expression, Sabrina thought he was afraid and quickly added,"Don't worry. When I last interacted with Mewtwo, I sensed a faint trace of resentment toward Giovanni. It's weak, but it's there. Mewtwo is searching for its own purpose. If you can defeat it, I believe it won't reject the idea of a new Trainer."
Nozomi felt dizzy.What had he come to Saffron Gym for again?How had this turned into Sabrina persuading him to capture Mewtwo?
And yet… he couldn't deny he was tempted.
If what she said was true, there was a chance.
Only one issue remained.
A regular Poké Ball could never contain a Pokémon as powerful as Mewtwo.
As that thought crossed his mind, Sabrina snapped her fingers. A silver briefcase floated over to him and landed softly at his feet.
Click.
The case opened on its own.
Inside lay a single Poké Ball—sleek, metallic, and unfamiliar.
"I know what you're worried about," she said. "This is Silph Co.'s latest prototype. In theory, it can capture any Pokémon—including Legendaries. No successful tests yet, but… if you can defeat Mewtwo, this ball should be strong enough to hold it."
Nozomi suddenly felt like Sabrina was acting more like his system than the system itself.
She'd basically handed him the equivalent of a Master Ball. Giovanni must've been cursed by eight generations of bad luck to ever partner with her.
As for Nozomi—He had no reason to refuse.
"Deal."