AN: Yay! Two chapters in one day! Don't get used to it, lolz. Enjoy~
Chapter Two
When Sabrina awoke the next morning, she found that Meloetta had cuddled up beneath her chin over the course of the night. The gym leader allowed herself a gentle smile.
Really, what a child, she thought fondly, sitting up slowly so as not to disturb the sleeping creature.
Suppressing a small yawn, Sabrina made herself a cup of herbal tea and turned on the morning news. This was the daily routine she used to prepare herself for facing the world.
However, what the dark-haired psychic saw on the news that morning shocked her. This was it, this was what Nocturne had warned her about.
Well, if there was one thing Sabrina refused to do, it was to stand by and act helpless. No, she was going to stop things before they became catastrophic. She called the still sleeping Meloetta into its pokeball, grabbed her black coat and began her journey away from Saffron City.
That same morning Erika, the renowned gym leader of Celadon city, was preparing to take her usual morning stroll, when one of her students ran up to her.
"M-Miss Erika! Have you watched the news this morning?" she asked frantically.
Erika frowned. "What has upset you in such a way?"
Tears began to well up in the little girl's eyes as she looked at her mentor. "T-the gym leaders in the other cities! They've gone missing! A-and their gyms have been destroyed!"
Erika's eyes widened in shock. "What? When did this happen? Are they all missing?"
The student quickly shook her head and sniffled. "N-no. It all started yesterday morning. Pewter City was the first to be attacked, then Cerulean in the afternoon. Now this morning they're saying Vermillion has been struck too!"
Erika let her student's words sink in. If Lieutenant Surge was defeated and taken, then these people were tough. The Vermillion city gym leader was like a big, stubborn brick wall.
The mentor turned back to her student. It wasn't hard for her to put two and two together. If recent patterns still applied, then Celadon City would be the next target on the list.
"Evacuate everyone and their pokemon from the gym. Make sure that they find a safe place, please."
The girl looked at the gym leader with a mix of sadness and awe. "But M-Miss Erika what about¾"
"I will protect my city and my gym." she said firmly. "That is the responsibility of a gym leader, is it not?"
The student nodded, leaving to go carry out Erika's orders. The gym leader, on the other hand, let out a shaky breath and stared at her hands. They were trembling.
Is it weak of me to feel afraid? Erika wondered, tucking her hands back into the sleeves of her kimono. She decided that a walk in the outside gardens would be beneficial. She needed to clear her mind if she wanted to come up with a feasible plan to stop whatever threat that was approaching her domain.
The blossoming flowers were as beautiful as ever, and Erika couldn't help the delighted smile that surfaced as a result. She truly loved nature.
Suddenly, something flew towards her and hit her square in the chest. She was knocked to the ground by the force of the impact. She winced and sat up, causing whatever had hit her to fall into her lap.
She soon discovered it was a pokemon. If she wasn't mistaken it was Celebi, the legendary Guardian of the Forest. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was hurt. Little cuts and bruises covered its tiny body.
"Oh dear, you poor thing!" she exclaimed, gingerly taking it into her arms and holding it close. "Allow me to take you back inside the gym, I believe I have some full restores there."
Celebi let out a weak cry before relaxing into her arms. Erika quickened her pace, wondering what could've happened to leave the poor little creature in such a state.
After carefully applying the full restore, she placed the now sleeping Celebi onto a bed of flowers to rest. They were at the heart of the gym, and Erika couldn't help but wonder if Celebi's arrival had been a mere preamble to what was approaching.
Crash!
One moment, Erika was silently watching the slumbering Celebi, the next, the glass roof of the gym was shattered and Erika found herself thrown to the ground. A metallic restraint constricted her, binding her arms at her sides. Suddenly, an electric jolt tore through her spine and forced her face to fall forwards into the grass.
"Well, well, looks like we got lucky today." a rugged voice said from above.
"Sure does!" another voice replied. "We got the gym leader, and we found that pesky pokemon. Easy as pie too! Our seniors had a difficult time capturing that Surge guy, I heard."
Erika looked up to see two men standing over her, clothed in red trench coats. One had a beard. She struggled to speak with the metallic ropes constricting her lungs. "Why…are you…doing this…?" she demanded feebly.
The two men stared down at her curiously. "Hey, this one's kind of cute…" the bearded one mused.
"You're right!" said the other, grabbing Erika by the chin and forcing it upwards to get a closer look. "Maybe I could play with her a little bit before we take her back to the boss…"
The bearded man smirked. "Only if you share." At this they both laughed, and Erika felt a genuine sense of fear rush over her. She struggled against her restraint, but the device did not even budge. If anything it seemed to grip her even more tightly.
"Re-Release me…this instant!" she commanded in a shaky voice.
The men both laughed at her weak request. "I love it when they fight back!" the bearded one exclaimed.
"Yeah, feisty!" the other agreed, reaching down to undo the top of Erika's kimono. No…it couldn't be…they were actually going to violate her! Erika frantically began struggling again, trying to reach her pokeballs, but to no avail. My first time…Erika thought helplessly, Someone please, anyone! Help me!
"Gallade! Use Psycho Cut!" a voice shouted. Erika knew that voice, it was familiar and somehow comforting.
The two men leapt backwards as a blade of pure energy sliced through her bindings. She was free to move now, but her body felt slightly weakened. Nevertheless, Erika forced herself to her feet. She'd be darned if she were going to let these two get away with their intolerable actions.
She must've risen too quickly however, because her knees gave way. She would've fallen back onto the ground if not for a pair of strong slender arms holding her shoulders to steady her. A faint scent of herbal tea and lavender enveloped her, and Erika felt comforted by it.
"Are you alright, Erika?" a soft voice asked.
Erika turned and smiled gratefully at her savior. "I'll be fine thanks to you, Sabrina."
Sabrina nodded and turned to glare at the two men, who by now looked pretty pissed off.
"Who the hell is this bitch?!" the bearded one spat angrily.
The other, however, looked slightly unnerved. "Wait a second…isn't she the leader of Saffron?"
"Is she? Good! We'll take 'em both!" the bearded one declared.
They both sent out their pokemon. The bearded man had a Toxicroak, Machoke, and Muk, while the other man had a Rhydon, Golem, and Electabuzz. Six pokemon total.
Sabrina smirked. "Shall we team up, Erika? I doubt we'd need more than one pokemon each."
Erika nodded, face set in determination. "Alright then."
Erika called forth her Lilligant. Sabrina kept out her Gallade.
"Are you trying to make fun of us?!" the men shouted.
Sabrina glared at them. "You really don't know anything, do you? Or perhaps you've forgotten who we are?"
"What are you getting at?" the bearded man demanded.
"I am Sabrina, 'The Master of Psychic Pokemon'." she stated, "And this girl here is Erika, 'The Nature-Loving Princess'. Do you get it now?"
The bearded man glared, while the other seemed to realize something. "Uh…maybe we should…" he began shakily.
"I don't really care what you two are!" the bearded man yelled, "I'm going to break you!"
"Very well." Sabrina said with a sigh. "Gallade! Use Psychic!"
Suddenly, all of the bearded man's pokemon flew up into the air, only to be slammed back into the ground. All of them had fainted. He looked outraged.
"W-What?! How did you¾"
"You really should learn about type match ups. Your poison and fighting type pokemon are no match for my psychic types."
Erika took this as her cue. "Lilligant! Use Petal Dance!"
A beautiful array of flower petals flew about the room, swirling faster and faster until the other man's pokemon were swept up into the floral vortex and slammed into the walls. They all fainted as well.
"And your rock and electric types don't fair too well against my grass types, either." Erika stated.
"I-I don't believe this!" the bearded man yelled, "Beaten by two women!?"
They both returned their pokemon to their pokeballs.
"This isn't over." they said threateningly, throwing down smoke bombs.
After the haze cleared, they were both gone. Erika allowed herself to drop down onto her knees, the exhaustion of the whole ordeal finally taking its toll. A gentle hand rested on her shoulder. "They'll be back." Erika said quietly and with a hint of unease.
"And we'll be ready." Sabrina replied firmly. "I need to make them pay for what they did to you. Or almost did."
Erika blushed when she realized that her kimono was still a little messed up at the top, revealing a good portion of her collarbone. Then she felt the warmth brought on by Sabrina's words. She's almost like a prince, isn't she?
"Thank you again, Sabrina." Erika said shyly, "For saving me."
Sabrina smiled softly at her. "Of course."
So? What do you think? : )