Chapter 5: Rematch the Saffron Gym!
After May was awarded her first Kanto contest ribbon, Ash and his friends were right about to leave Saffron City to head for the Battle Arena for Ash's second Frontier Symbol, until they ran into a scary presence from his past, Sabrina.
What could she want with Ash? We're about to find out.
Sabrina lead everyone to the Saffron Gym.
"So uh Sabrina, how are your parents doing?" Ash asks.
"Both of them are doing excellent. Father has taken over the duties of watching over the psychics while my mother has gotten a job at Silph Co." She explains.
"It's nice to see you three getting along." Brock said.
"Yes, these past few years have good for my family." Sabrina said as they entered the main room where the arena was.
"Huh? You know for a Psychic Type Gym I thought it would be like the Mosdeep Gym but this one looks pretty average." Max said.
"The Mosdeep Gym is run by two children interested in space. I do not have the need for flashy arenas or custom features. My Pokemon are more than enough." Sabrina said.
"Yeah..we know.." Ash looks away.
Looking at some paintings on the wall one painting's eyes grew and looked right at him.
"Whoa!" Ash said startled causing Gengar to appear out of the painting laughing.
"Boy that Gengar just loves to mess with people," May said.
"Yeah, and I sure didn't like it," Max huffed. Still upset from his earlier prank on him.
"Gengar has made this gym much more entertaining since you left him here." Sabrina giggles.
"Gengar was one of your old Pokémon Ash?" May asked.
"Well..not officially May," Ash admits, confusing her. "I never really caught Gengar."
"Never caught it?" She asked.
"You see I brought him with me after going to Lavender town, but he followed me back." Ash explains.
"Gengar," The ghost floats by, saying what Ash was saying was true.
"So wait you were going to battle her with a still wild Pokémon?" Max asks.
"Eh..ahaha kinda.." Ash rubbed his head, embarrassed. "Although he never did battle to begin with.." He muttered under his breath.
"In the end, Haunter did help defeat her though." Brock chuckles as Sabrina walks to the opposite side of the arena.
"So Ash think you're good enough to beat me in an actual Gym Battle?" Sabrina asks.
"A gym battle?" Ash asked. "Uh but I'm not collecting badges this time."
"Technically we never officially finished our rematch. My father gave you the badge because Haunter made me laugh." Sabrina points out.
"Say what?" May and Max both said in disbelief, looking at Ash. "That's how you got this badge?"
"Uh yeah." Ash admits rubbing the back of his head embarrassed.
"Pika.." Pikachu held his hear. Nearly all Ash's Kanto badges that were collected weren't really that..deserved.
"Wow Ash talk about pathetic. You actually stunk worse than May." Max said and May bonks him on the head.
"Can it, you're not even a trainer so you can't say nothing," she grunts, as Max rubs his bump on his head.
"Thank you May," Ash said satisfied.
"So Ash ready to see if you can actually earn my badge?" Sabrina asks.
"You know what Sabrina. You're on. Once I beat you I can shut Max up about this." Ash said.
"Hey." Max calls out.
"Oh zip it." May said as Ash walked to the arena.
"We'll use three Pokémon and just like a standard Gym Battle only you can substitute." Sabrina explains.
"Fine by me." Ash nodded as torches were lit around the field by a flash from Sabrina's eyes.
"How did she do that?" Max asks surprised.
"Psychic Powers." Brock simply replies.
"P-psychic powers? Are you serious? I thought that was just a myth," May gasped.
"Nope, it's all too real." Brock shudders at the memory.
"Go Hypno." Holding out a Pokeball, Sabrina uses her powers to launch it out releasing her first Pokemon.
"Hypno." The yellow hypnotist Pokémon came out.
"Woah she moved the ball without throwing it! She IS psychic!" Max went ballistic.
"What's that?" May brings her PokéDex out.
"HYPNO, THE HYPNOSIS POKÉMON. THE EVOLVED FORM OF DROWZEE. HYPNO IS ABLE TO PUT PEOPLE TO SLEEP BY SWINGING ITS PENDULUM. IF MADE EYE TO CONTACT WITH THIS POKÉMON, IT MAY PUT YOU TO A DEEP SLEEP."
May gulped, nervously making sure she sets her eyes on Ash's side of the field and not Sabrina's.
"Alright, Corphish! I Choose you!" Ash throws the lobster Pokémon out.
"Corphish!" He lands on field.
"Hypno Psybeam." Sabrina said as Hypno fires a multi-colored beam from his pendulum.
"Corphish dodge and use Bubblebeam!" Leaping out of the way Corphish fires multiple bubbles at Hypno.
"Shadow Ball, then Hypnosis." Hypno cancled out the bubbles by firing a ball of darkness form the palm of its hand which popped them all.
"Quick Harden!" Ash said as Corphish's body glowed white, decreasing some of the attack power as it striked.
"No.." Hypno activated Hypnosis by swining its pendulum into Corphish's eyes.
"Cor. Cor." Corphish said falling under the trance.
"Oh no Hypnosis puts yout Pokémon to sleep instantly," Max said.
"Ash do something!" May panics.
"Hypno Confusion." With glowing eyes, Hypno sends Corphish smashing into the ceiling.
"Corphish! Use that impact and wake up!" Ash yelled upwards.
As Corphish falls face-first into the arena, everyone heard a groaning noise as he woke up.
"Phish." Corphish growls getting up.
"He's awake!" Max said.
"Thank goodness," May said relieved.
"Well that's one way to wake up." Sabrina said.
"Corphish Crabhammer!" Ash said as Corphish attacks Hypno.
"Use Drain Punch." From the recoil, Hypno's free fist becomes surrounded in a green energy with yellow streaks spiraling around it.
"Corphish use Bubble Beam from your other claw and stop it!" Ash said.
Opening his claw, Corphish blasts Hypno with Bubblebeam making him fall back.
"Now Crabhammer again!" Swinging his other claw, Corphish nails Hypno.
"Hmm impressive so far.." Sabrina said to herself.
"What was that attack she was gonna do? Drain Punch?" May asked never hearing it before.
"It's an attack when the user punches the opponent, they steal the opponent's health for their own," Brock explains.
"So Sabrina would have healed her Pokemon while hurting Corphish." May realized.
'That was a close one,' Ash thought in his head. It'd be best to just stay out of Hypno's close range and move to long range attacks. "Corphish, Bubble Beam again!"
'Sneaky move Ash, but remember I don't get surprised easily.' Sabrina said in his head.
Hypno blasted the bubbles with Psybeam easily. "Now Shadow Ball." Hypno opened his hands and sends the ball flying in Corphish's direction.
"Corphish, Crabhanmer and send it back to Drowzee!" Ash points. Corphish's pincers glowed and smacked the Shadow Ball right at Hypno.
"Drain Punch!" With a glowing fist, Hypno destroys Shadow Ball before it could damage it.
"Dang it." She countered her own move.
"Now Psybeam." Hypno blasts Corphish with a multicolored blast, knocking him back.
"Corphish Harden quick!" Raising his defense, Corphish pushed through the attack making it stop.
"Confusion." Hypno's eyes glowed and traps Corphish again.
"Corphish break through it!" Ash said but Corphish was thrown into the wall.
"Now Hypno Drain Punch!"
"Corphish Vice Grip quick!" As Hypno swings his fist, Corphish traps his arm in his claws.
Corphish then did his own version of Submission and flipped them both over, while also sending Hypno crashing down to the floor.
"Hypno." Sabrina said surprised.
"Sorry Sabrina but I'm not the same trainer I once was." Ash declared.
Sabrina stood there, before a small smile appeared on her face."So it would seem."
"Now Bubblebeam!" Ash points as Corphish blasts Hypno knocking him to the ground with swirly eyes.
"Well it appears you win this battle." Sabrina said.
"Alright, good job Corphish!" He cheered.
"Corphish Cor." Corphish smiles.
"Impressive, but I think you'll find this one to be a familiar challenge. Go Alakazam." Firing a Pokeball, the final form of Abra appeared.
Ash and Pikachu flinched. "Oh great...it evolved again." Ash gulps.
He takes his PokéDex out, "ALAKAZAM, THE PSI POKÉMON. THE EVOLVED FORM OF KADABRA. ALAKAZAM HAS AN IQ OF OVER 5,000. WITH THE HELP OF ITS TWO SPOONS IN ITS HANDS, ALAKAZAM CAN PERFORM SUPERNATURAL ABILITIES."
"Ash fought that thing when it was an Abra and a Kadabra. Neither time he was able to beat it." Brock gulps.
"Well..maybe times has change..I hope." May said.
"Pika." Pikachu said.
"Don't worry Pikachu, this won't be like last time." Ash assured.
On his side, he sees Corphish was worn out. And with his knowledge on Sabrina's Alakazam in particular, he knew it wouldn't last a second.
"Corphish return!" Ash recalls him. "You did a great job, but now you should leave the rest to us."
"What Pokemon is Ash gonna use now?" Max asks.
"Too bad he doesn't have Gengar on his side. That would have helped." May said.
"Don't worry before we came over Ash gave Prof. Oak a call for some of his Pokemon." Brock said hopeful.
"Grovyle, I Choose You!" Ash throws out the gecko Pokémon as he lands and puts a twig in his mouth. He sent Pidgeot back home in exchange for him.
"Nice Grovyle is so fast there's no way Sabrina will be able to stand up to him." Max grins.
"Max, I wouldn't be cocky. Alakazam are strong beyond psychic types," Brock warns.
"Grovyle Quick Attack!" Ash said as Grovyle races in.
"Reflect." Holding his spoons out Alakazam makes a barrier stopping Quick Attack.
"Now Psychic." Alakazam crosses its spoons and it becomes surrounded in an blue aura and trapped Grovyle with its mind powers and sent him backwards harshly.
"That attack is still as brutal as I remember." Ash cringed.
"Alakazam Fire Punch." Charging in flames surrounded Alakazam's fist.
"Dodge and use Leaf Blade!" With glowing green blades, Grovyle slashes Alakazam away.
"Hmph, that's going to be a problem..Disable." Sabrina said.
Alakazam throws its spoons in the air, then crosses them. The spoons glow red and the spoons release a red shock that struck Grovyle. Grovyle found himself not able to use his signature move!
"Oh no. Not that move." Ash gasps.
With Disable and Reflect to shut down his attacks Sabrina uses her other ones to completely overwhelm her opponents.
"What will you do now without your strongest attack Ash?" Sabrina challenged with a grin on her face.
"I'll use this! Fury Cutter!" Charging in Grovyle slashes Alakazam dealing super effective damage.
"Woah! Fury Cutter?!" Max gasped.
"I never saw Grovyle use that move!" May said.
"Guess someone has done a little training while staying with Prof. Oak." Brock realized.
Alakazam stood back up. "One attack won't save you the entire battle Ash." Sabrina said.
"No, but I won't go down without a fight! Bullet Seed!" Ash said as Grovyle fires glowing seeds.
"Use Psychic." Sabrina said.
Stopping the seeds in midair, Alakazam sends the seeds flying backwards.
Ash tells Grovyle to use Quick Attack to speed pass all seeds that were aiming towards him. "Now jump!" Grovyle leaps and wall jumps.
"Divebomb Fury Cutter!" Leaping down Grovyle swings his blade in.
"Block it." Using his spoons, Alakazam takes the full force of the attack but uses his spoons to trap Grovyle in front of him.
"Grovyle.." Ash grits his teeth.
"Fire Punch." Nailing Grovyle with a close range punch he was sent crashing to the ground.
"Grovyle!" Ash runs over. "Are you alright?"
"Grovyle.." Grovyle grits his teeth as he tried standing back up.
"Don't push yourself Grovyle, if you want to switch I-" Ash tried to say, but Grovyle just held up his hand to stop him.
"Gro." Grovyle said as he managed to get onto his feet.
"Reseliant young fighter, I could've sworn that Fire Punch would be at its end." Sabrina said.
"You can't knock me and my Pokémon down that easily." Ash said determined.
As Sabrina looks at him she saw a hint of blue in his eyes for a few seconds.
'What's this? What was that just now?' She's thought raising an eyebrow.
"Grovyle use Quick Attack!"
"Stop them with Psychic." Sabrina said as Alakazam stops Grovyle in his tracks.
"Bullet Seed!" While he was trapped Grovyle fires Bullet Seed.
The seeds smacked into Alakazam's face, breaking his focus and making Grovyle move in and crash into him originally. "Now Fury Cutter!"
"Fire Punch." As Grovyle swings his arm Alakazam ducks under before nailing him with a flaming uppercut sending him crashing to the ground with swirly eyes.
"Grovyle!" Ash gasped.
"A valiant effort but not enough." Sabrina said.
Ash returned him back to his ball. "I'm sorry Grovyle. Thanks for trying your best."
"If you want to beat me Ash you'll have to tap into all the power you have." Sabrina called out.
'Tap into all of my power?' Ash thought he was doing good just now.
"The last time we fought there was fear in you and I can still see it. The fear of me and what I would do to you. Like I would turn you into a doll." Sabrina declares.
Ash was dumbfounded by this. To think she could see all of that in his eyes.
"W-what did she say?" May's eyes were widen in horror.
"Turn him into a doll?" Max stepped back.
"I'm afraid so." Brock cringed at memory.
"As long as you still fear me Ash I will beat you again and again. If you want to win you to face me with everything you have. Face your fears." Sabrina said with glowing eyes as her powers emitted around her. Her hair was flaring upwards, freaking everyone out in the room.
"You know what I take it back. I don't blame Ash for taking the badge for making her laugh." Max panics holding May in fear.
While May holds onto Brock for comfort. Pikachu panicked behind Ash.
Looking at her, Ash steps back in fear as the bad memories came back to him.
The impossible gym leader he has never officially defeated due to her psychic powers and psychic Pokémon. Ash then heard the creepy giggling in his head.
The same giggling from Sabrina's childlike presence.
"Let's play together forever.." The line played in his head.
'No not that again.' Ash cringed in fear.
"Come on Ash! This is embarrassing!" A male voice booms.
Turning to the door they look to see Sabrina's father watching them.
"W-who's that?" May stuttered.
"S-Sabrina's father." Brock recalled.
"I didn't think it was possible but you're even more pathetic than when I first met you. When your Haunter ditched you right before battle, your only hope of beating my daughter disappeared you somehow mustered up enough courage to battle my daughter without your ace. What happened to that trainer?" He said walking towards them.
That made Ash's eyes snap open. "Path-pathetic?!" He said now filled with anger. "I don't know who you're talking to, but I am not and never was pathetic!" Forgetting about his fear of Sabrina. "I'm more than the same trainer than I was years ago, and even if I was, I'm not going to let this get in the way of me winning!" He yelled at him before turning to Sabrina with a flare in his eyes. "You want me to go at full power?" He pulls his next Pokéball at him. "You asked for it!"
Throwing the Pokeball into the air Noctowl hoots before flying in and landing in front of Ash.
"Noctowl.." Brock gasped, seeing the shiny Pokmeon
"Looks like Ash got more than one from Prof. Oak." Max said.
"And now he's more driven than ever." May said amazed.
"You're going down Sabrina and Noctowl is just the Pokemon to help me do that!" Ash declares.
Sabrina stares at him before a grin appeared on her face as her powers died out, "Let's see then. Psychic."
"Ala!" Alakazam holds its spoons out and his eyes.
"Noctowl, fight back with Extrasensory!" Ash yelled. Noctowl's eyes glow gold and it opens its beak, releasing a multicolored circular beam with white crescents around it at the Alakazam. As the beam circled around Alakazam, it lifts him up. With a swoop, Alakazam was thrown down.
"Interesting, fighting Psychic attacks with Psychic attacks." Sabrina's father said joining Brock, May and Max.
"It's been awhile sir," Brock tells him.
"I'll say it has. I'm lucky I teleported here when I did." He said.
"Teleport?" Max asks.
"Oh yeah he's Psychic too." Brock points.
"It runs in the family?" May blinked.
"You could say that." Sabrina's father chuckles.
"Fire Punch." Sabrina said as Alakazam swings his fist.
"Dodge and use Shadow Ball!" Flying up Noctowl hurls a dark sphere at Alakazam sending him flying. "That was for Grovyle!"
(Mewtwo Strikes Back OST -Real and Copy! Which are the Strongest plays)
Noctowl added fuel to fire by going down for a divebomb, but Alakazam teleported to avoid contact. Alakazam began firing a Psybeam at him.
"Double Team, Go!" Ash said as Noctowl created copies of itself. Psybeam passed by a shadow clone. "Fly to confuse him!"
With a hoot, Noctowl went around in circles.
As all the copies flew around everyone looked to see where the real one could be.
Firing Psybeam, Alakazam took out three copies but didn't notice the real one ram into it from the side.
"Guess your power couldn't track the real Noctowl." Ash said.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. This match isn't over yet. Disable." Sabrina warned and then ordered. With glowing eyes, Alakazam stops the Double Team revealing the real one.
"Can't hide now," Sabrina smirks as Alakazam took fire and blasts him with Psybeam.
"Noctowl hang in there!" Ash said as Noctowl flew up just before crashing into the ground.
"Psybeam."
"Use Air Slash!" Flapping his wings Noctowl fires a blade of air that slashes Psybeam in half. It grazed Alakazam in his sides.
"Alakazam Fire Punch." Alakazam tried to attack but because of Air Slash he ended up flinching.
"Now Shadow Ball!" Using this opening, Noctowl blasts Alakazam with Shadow Ball sending him crashing to the ground with swirly eyes.
As Ash pants he realized what just happened, "I-I did it..I finally beat Alakazam." He said before smiling.
"Not bad, Ash you really have improved." Sabrina said returning him. "But now it's time for my best Pokemon."
"Alakazam wasn't her best?" Max gasps.
"But then what is?" May asks.
Sabrina snaps her fingers and leaping out Gengar stood at her side.
"Gengar." He grins.
"Gengar?!" Everyone except Sabrina and her father exclaimed.
"Aside from Alakazam, ever since I've gotten Gengar, I've been unbeatable," Sabrina says. "Trainers hardly ever gets to Gengar, but when they do, they were in for a nightmare they'd never wake up from." She explains while Gengar made funny faces.
"Wait this is a Psychic-type gym and she's using a Ghost-type." Max said.
"Her gym, her rules. There's nothing that says she can't use it." Sabrina's father points out.
"He's right." Brock said remembering some gyms in Kanto don't use the correct typing of Pokémon.
"So Ash has to battle the very Pokemon he gave to her?" May gulps.
"Well Ash?" Sabrina asked. "Are you up for a reunion battle?"
"I've come this far and I am not backing down." Ash said determined. Noctowl tilts his head with anticipation.
"Good to hear. Gengar use Will O Wisp." Sabrina said as Gengar hurls multiple fireballs.
"Air Slash!" Ash said as Noctowl fires a blade of air that easily blew away the flames.
"Use Psychic." With glowing blue eyes, Gengar traps Noctowl and sends him crashing into the ceiling.
"Extrasensory!" While cringing, Noctowl's eyes glowed and blasts Gengar, bringing him down the the ground.
"Gengar use Dark Pulse."
"Noctowl Shadow Ball!" Flying around both Pokemon fire their sphere attacks clashing multiple times as they raced around the gym trying to get the upper hand.
"Wow, Noctowl's fast for his size." Max said. "I thought all Noctowl were bigger than that."
"A Normal Noctowl maybe but Ash's Noctowl is shiny making it faster and stronger than a normal one." Brock explains.
"I sure love to see him, Pidgeot and Swellow in a race," May said. "Oh that reminds me," she turns to Sabrina's father. "Why'd you say all that stuff at Ash earlier?"
"It's because of Ash I have my family back. When Ash first came here, that kid ignored every single warning I gave him and thanks to him and Haunter my daughter stopped using her powers to torment others. I felt I owed it to him to help knock some sense into him. Whenever I insulted him, Ash always was eager to prove me wrong." He smiles. "He wasn't the brightest when I met him but man did he have the guts to prove me wrong."
"Wow," May said with wonder. "Ash really made an impact on this family."
'Besides, if I can see it, Sabrina must see it as well.' He thought looking at Ash to see a faint light emitting from him.
"Noctowl, Extrasensrory!" Ash yelled.
"Gengar Venoshock!" Releasing poison coated electricity it struck Noctowl making him scream in pain.
"Venoshock?" Never seen that before.
"Ash! Venoshock can poison your Pokémon!" Brock warned him.
"What?!" Ash gasps as Noctowl started to pant as poison appeared under his eyes.
He cringed as the poison kicked it. "Damn..hang in there Noctowl!" Ash yelled.
"Venoshock again." Sabrina grins.
"Dodge it!" Ash said as Noctowl took flight.
"When a Pokémon is poisoned if Venoshock hits you again the damage is doubled." Sabrina's father points out.
"Yikes, Ash better watch out or Noctowl's down for the count." Max gulped.
As Noctowl flew around Gengar chased after him keeping the attacks coming.
"I gotta shake him. Noctowl dive!" Ash said as Noctowl dove towards the ground.
Gengar flies after to follow but at the last second Noctowl turned around.
"Now Shadow Ball!" Firing Shadow Ball it nailed Gengar just as it closed in.
Gengar smashes into the marble column.
"Now Air Slash!" Ash said as Noctowl flew in.
"Dodge." Disappearing into the wall Gengar dodges it. Coming to a halt, Noctowl stopped and was looking all over for Gengar.
He never noticed a shadow moving around the walls. Ash sees this and gasped. "Noctowl! The shadows on the wall! That's Gengar!"
Noctowl turned to attack, but Gengar leaps out and blasts him Dark Pulse. He lands on the ground in pain, only made it worse when the poison from Venoshock kicked in.
"Valiant effort Ash but it wasn't enough. Gengar Psychic." Lifting the rubble from the column Gengar was about to crush Noctowl under it.
'No. I can't lose.' Ash growls tightening his fist when his eyes glowed blue but he didn't realize it. "Noctowl blast Extrasensory straight through the middle!"
As the rubble came falling in Noctowl blasts a hole right as it landed making an opening big enough to avoid being crushed.
"Phew, that was close." May sighed. Flying through the hole Noctwol perches atop the rubble.
"Your Noctowl won't last much longer." Sabrina said.
"I don't need much longer. Because Noctowl and I are winning this." Ash declared.
The owl hoots declaring his victory will happen.
"Gengar Venoshock and Psychic." As Gengar fired Venoshock, he used Psychic to make them fly towards Noctowl.
"Air Slash and fly straight through!" Creating a giant blade of air Noctowl flew in as fast as he could using it to cut through the Venoshock.
"Come on! Come on! COME ON!" Ash roars as Noctowl burst through the attacks and nailed Gengar dead center.
"Gen!" Gengar cries out, making Sabrina faulter in shock.
"Impossible." Sabrina gasps as Gengar crashed to the ground with swirly eyes. "I-I lost."
"We did it. We won!" Ash cheered as Noctowl hoots in agreement.
"Alright Ash!" May cheered.
"He beat her!" Max cheered.
Brock sighed with relief. "Boy that match sure had me on the edge."
"Well he really has grown." Sabrina's dad smiles.
"Gar." Gengar groans.
"Guess the joke is on us today Gengar." Sabrina said looking at Ash to see Noctowl perch on his arm.
"Good job Noctowl, I knew you had it in you." Ash said congratulating him.
"Hoo." Noctowl hoots.
"Well Ash that was very impressive. You beat me." Sabrina said walking up to him. "You've gotten stronger since we last met."
"Well I uh, thought it would be a repeat of last time, but you really got me through my edge."
"You have lots of power Ash, and even powers I never knew about. I hope you become aware of them." Sabrina said.
Ash raised an eyebrow. "P-power? Me? I don't have any powers."
"Oh yes you do, I saw it during our battle." Sabrina nods.
'What is she talking about?' Ash thought.
"Gengar." Gengar smiles congratulating them.
Ash snapped out of it and smiled. "Boy and I thought battling wasn't your style Gengar. But man you proved me wrong."
"Gengar." Gengar said giving him a hug.
"Yeah you've gotten really tough. If you were with me we would win tons of battles." Ash said.
That gave Sabrina an idea. "Well..why can't he?"
"Huh?" Ash surprised.
"Ash, Gengar has done more than enough for me and my family. I think it's about time I gave him back to you." Sabrina said.
"R-really? Are you sure?" Ash gasped.
"I'm sure." Sabrina nods.
"What do you say Gengar? Up for officially being my Pokémon?" Ash asks.
"Gengar!" The ghost type replied with a wide smile.
"Alright, go Pokéball!" Ash said throwing one of his empty Pokéballs at Gengar, in which it tapped him instantly, sucking the ghost inside.
Wiggling a few times, the ball clicked before being transported away. That marked Ash's first official capture since he arrived back in Kanto.
"Now I have a Ghost type on my team." Ash grins eager for his next Frontier challenge.
"PiPikachu!" Pikachu smiles.
"You did good kid, now that was a battle to remember." Sabrina's father smiles.
"Thanks a lot and Sabrina I'm really glad we met up again. It's good to see you happy with your family." Ash said.
"So uh you're not going to…get mad and use your powers on us?" Max gulps.
"No, not unless you really make me angry." She smirks causing Max to use May as a human shield.
"H-hey! Don't use me as your protection! You're supposed to be the man!"
"No thanks, I actually want to make it to my 10th birthday!" Max said.
"Are they always like this?" Sabrina asks.
"Sadly yes.." Brock sweatdropped.
"Do you want me to turn one into a doll?" Sabrina offers.
"Tempting, but no thanks." Ash said.
Soon they were all outside of the gym.
"Guess that's everything done here in Saffron." Ash said, ready to hit the road.
"Not yet, this is for you Ash." Sabrina said handing him his hand, Ash saw it was a red bandanna. "It's a Focus Band. You never know when you might need a little help in your battles." Sabrina said.
"Cool, thanks Sabrina." He said pocketing it.
"And this is for luck." Leaning in Sabrina gives Ash a peck on the cheek causing Ash's eyes to widen while May froze in complete shock.
"Uh..h-huh?" His face flushed lightly with a totally blank look on his face.
"Goodbye Ash." Sabrina smiles.
As they walked away, Ash was all warm and fuzzy while May was cold and bitter.
She thought to herself, 'W-why? Why did she do that to him? And why didn't I like it?'
After an explosive rematch against Sabrina and a touching reunion with Gengar, Ash and his friends leave towards the next Frontier Brain, but it appears this challenge also seems to bring new feelings to our attention.
Party Data:
Ash (On hand): Pikachu, Cyndaquil, Phanpy, Corphish, Noctowl and Grovyle
At Oak's Lab: Bulbasaur, Kingler, Muk, Tauros (x30), Snorlax, Heracross, Bayleef, Totodile, Swellow, Torkoal, Glalie, Pidgeot and Gengar
May (On hand): Combusken, Munchlax and Squirtle
At Petalburg Gym: Beautifly and Skitty
At Oak's Lab: Bulbasaur
Brock (On hand): Forretress, Mudkip and Geodude
At Pewter Gym: Onix, Crobat, Forretress, Ludicolo
Next Time: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew