I don't think there's much else to say at this point, so enjoy the story.

I'm not doing anymore disclaimers by the way.

Chapter 2: A night like this

"So Celadon… I wonder how Erika has been doing."

Sabrina murmured to herself as the ship finally parted with its original port. She had been trying to get what happened with Surge out of her mind, and it had not really been all that successful. She was not sure what to do with the man. It is true that they had known each other for a long time, but that was just it. She was 2 for god sake, and he was 18 at the time. She did not mean to make him out like a pedophile, because god helped her that would have scarred her childhood forever. He was a fresh recruit in military school at the time, an underclassman of her father's. It was certainly not bad, how he was at the time. He was still full of energy, life and determination, and he was definitely ready for the world at that point. She met him when he was introduced to the family, by her father of course. Surge was a strange sight at that point, considering how she did not get to meet much of other people by then, and she had taken extreme interest in him. That was all for the past of course, since she was a toddler back then. If her mother had given her two sticks of chewing gum she is sure she would have been extremely interested in that too.

Sabrina suddenly flinched, to find that she had been lost in thoughts all this time. Her back was against the wall of her own room, instead of what she was supposed to do: meditating. She sighed, trying to shake away of her memories. It did work a little, enough for her to be able to concentrate again. It was unexpectedly harder for her to gather her thoughts up into a point of vanquish, which should be required for meditating. She scoffed, as it was obviously annoying her. She had been trying to stop thinking about Surge, but it did not work at all. It was bothering her immensely, considering how much she hated the man, even now more so. The only reason he still thought the two of them were still close was because of her mother always reassuring him that she was actually much sweeter than what her cynical exterior might suggest.

She grunted at that. Admittedly Sabrina was getting worked up with herself while she was in the room alone, which she could not stand. There was simply no reason for her to feel so uncomfortable about this. She was 22 already, and she was definitely able to handle herself. However, a part of her had to concede to the fact that she had definitely felt scared when Surge suddenly grabbed her hand from back then. He did not do anything out of spite, but that might not be the case every time. If she knew him at all, she knew that he hated giving up as much as she hated him. She did not expect him to let this go at all, and she might have to prepare for when he might show up next time. It was risky for her to have gone all this way without any of her Pokémon, and she cursed at herself for that. Even though she was a psychic, she tried to steer away from reading people's minds most of the time, considering how littered with trashy thoughts and incoherent intentions they usually were. She did not try to read Surge's mind either, even though someone simple as him would have been easy to read through, but that was exactly the point. He was always straightforward with his thoughts, making trying to read his mind a waste of energy. She made a mental note of preparing herself from now on, always keep her Pokémon with her at all times.

"We have arrived at Celadon and will stay here for the next two hours. Passengers who wish to make quick trips and visits are advised to leave immediately."

Sabrina snapped out of her trance after hearing that. She sighed, noting that she had been taken away from her thoughts for the last few hours. Since the ship was now at Celadon, Sabrina wondered whether she should stop and go on land for a while. Erika would probably be in her gym at this point, and Sabrina wanted to see her friend. Strange enough, Erika was one of the few persons that Sabrina could have called a friend, despite them not talking that much. It was simple, really. Erika recognizes Sabrina as a cynical person that usually does not want to be disturbed but appreciate the company most of the time, while Sabrina recognizes Erika as an overly nice person that actually has a lot of issues concerning trusts and personal life. Of course, Sabrina had read Erika's mind to know her secrets, but Erika was able to figure Sabrina out on her own, which to the female psychic was actually quite impressive, considering the cold face that Sabrina put on every time the two of them met over a meeting or similar events.

"Never mind that."

Sabrina gave up the idea of going ashore. Despite the fact that she could have gone to the Pokémon Center to pick up her Pokémon, or go visit Erika, she just did not feel like it. She had no intention of drawing her friend into something like this, and going ashore would just make Sabrina want to meet the botanist even more. So, to stay on the safe side, she decided to not go anywhere and tried to go on with meditating. It did work, so she really had no problem with that. Rather, she was somewhat concerned with when she would want to get back. The ship would be going around the ports a few times and would probably only land back and Saffron when the weekend comes. Sabrina admitted that she might not have thought this quite through. Of course the ship can turn around to make the drop, but since its being an expensive had a lot to do with the fact that she had to pay them in order to make that happen. Whether it was worth it or not, she really did not know, and she did not want to know.

She was supposed to be meditating after all.

Sabrina sighed, seeing how it was an hour after the ship had taken its anchor and left Celadon's port. She completely missed the destination of which the S.S. Anne was heading at the moment, but she really did not find it in her to care. After all, this was supposed to be a cruise, and she was doing her best to enjoy that fact. Of course, some random distraction popping into her head once every few minutes did not help her case. Now, however, those were a lot less about Surge and how annoying of a man he was, but rather about Erika. Sabrina was becoming self-conscious that she had been thinking of the botanist a rather too much for her own liking. Even though the psychic considered her co-worker a friend, she must admit that the two of them never actually did have much of a civilized conversation. She remembered the last League meeting quite clearly at this point. Memories started gushing into her, causing her to subconsciously made note of a lot of detail. Sabrina lost her cool back then, practically screaming at everyone and heavy curses were flown around at an extensive expense. It was a silly discussion, in her opinion. It happened when Giovanni suddenly disappeared off the face of the Earth, and everyone was either frantically trying to find him or frantically trying to find a replacement for him. Her memories were not clear on how exactly did that kind of topic turned into a screaming match, but she remembered how it ended. At some point, she stormed out of the room to break a random window somewhere. When she came back, she was rather surprised to find that Erika had been defending her opinion, which she found was odd. Using her powers, the psychic had gone as far as checking Erika's thoughts to see whether she had any ulterior motives, but found none. As far as she was concerned, Erika had no obligation to do her any favors, yet she did anyways. It made an impression on Sabrina at the very least.

She smiled rather sheepishly. That was when she started to realize that Erika was rather different from all of the other members, who had been either completely clueless or filled with their own plans. Sabrina did appreciate having someone standing up to her, and especially if that someone was actually as innocent as she sounded. Well, of course, that had something to do with the rumors.

Sabrina took a moment to note what she had heard about Erika after that point. There was seemingly an undying opinion on the internet that the botanist was totally gay. Apparently they had some very interesting photos of the Celadon gym leader being "overly concerned" for her female gym members. Honestly, Sabrina suspected that the conclusion was drawn from the fact that the gym itself was full of flowers and rainbows, and had never seen any trace of male working any kind of job there. Of course, that excluded those perverts that occasionally can be seen peeking over the far window, or the tabloids with their cameras in hand, ready to take pictures as soon as Erika was found out having some kind of relationship with any girls in that gym. It did not even work though, Sabrina worked. Not once was there a confirmed and/or legitimate source of information concerning Erika's sexual orientation. As far as the psychic knew, her friend could be gay, or hell bent straight and it would not make much of a different. Sabrina was pretty conscious of her own, so there was apparent problem with thinking of what her friend might have been.

The female psychic herself had gotten quite a lot of rumors, considering how she could read people's mind and find out what they were thinking about her. Almost everyone she had met, Surge being one of the more glaringly exceptions, thinks that she was most likely asexual. She had to hand it to them that it was a very likely scenario, considering how she never actually showed any kind of interest in anyone at all. Surge was not going to believe that, even though everyone that knew about how close they were would definitely tell Surge to back the hell off. In their opinion, Sabrina may or may not be asexual, but there was definitely no way Surge was going to have the slightest of things to do with that.

Sabrina smiled to herself; at least she was not standing out that much. She would have hated that. Looking at her watch, she took notice that it was almost dinner time already. The night was approaching rapidly as it had already been more than four hours when the ship had left Celadon. She decided that she would go up to the upper deck and get herself some night air first, as she hoped that it would clear her mind.

She wasted no time in doing so. Only there was a bit of a problem: someone else was there. Sabrina did not like to make a fuss, since at least the other person had the decency to not hog up all of the best spot for himself (?). Sabrina pulled up a longue chair of her own and settled down. She had planned to have this time to herself.

"Hello?" Sabrina knew well that the other person was trying to stir up a conversation with her. She could have cared less though. She figured that if she would just stay quiet long enough, he or she would just get the idea and be quiet. Although that voice was just a tad bit familiar, Sabrina noticed. "Sabrina?"

Sabrina tilted her head to be able to take a better look at whomever it was that apparently knew her name. It was a funny thing too, because obviously judging by the voice that person was a woman, and she was sure she had no appointments with any at this moment. After a few silent moments, the psychic was able to recognize who it was.

"Erika, it has been a while." Sabrina smiled at the uncanny coincidence. There she was only a few hours ago, torn between whether to go up to dry land and meet this woman or not. How ironic that she was here the whole time in between.

"It really has." Erika appeared to be excited as well. "I was actually looking for you!"

"How so?" Sabrina craned an eyebrow. Usually people would just stay away from her, if it weren't for something important.

"A new champion has been crowned." Erika stated. Sabrina at this point had already understood what the botanist was trying to say. It was apparently exactly what Surge was supposed to tell her. She could not help but look bored, which apparently bothered Erika. "We are to gather up in a meeting three days from now, at the Indigo Plateau. I was assigned to inform you."

"I'm not going." Sabrina stated coldly, which earned her a surprised gasp. The psychic did not understand exactly what she did to deserve such an action. She was sure that the image she had been putting up for the last few years being in the League would make people get the fact that most of the time she just did not care. "Don't be like that. You know I really hate that kind of occasions."

"But you have never refused to go to one before!" Erika couldn't help but protest. Sabrina did not seem to take it to heart though. She was not about to have to go out of her way to explain herself. She was a consenting adult after all.

"Well, I can't take it anymore." Sabrina shrugged. She had no mind to argue at the moment, although if it came she would be hard-pressed to suppress it. "I won't go anymore. It is not like my being there ever mattered to anyone. People would just go ahead and decide without me anyways."

"That's not true!" Erika couldn't help but retorted. Sabrina seemed rather surprise at that notion. Erika certainly would be a strong and capable person, but Sabrina never really expected her friend to act out like that. It was starting to get on her nerves. "You... I..."

"ERIKA!" Sabrina's sudden action silenced the female botanist. "Just, stop, please? I'm not here to fight anyone."

"But…" Erika simply could not finish her sentence this time around. The large ship's phone echoed through their ears, ending any hopes of a comeback for the botanist:

"Passengers, please help yourselves to the dining hall to enjoy our luxurious dinner. Our theme tonight is: Couple's night."

"Do you wanna come?" Sabrina extended her hand towards Erika, earning her a confused look from the short-haired woman. Sabrina felt that it was rather funny of her friend to react like that. She was definitely not as open about relationships as the psychic. "Don't look at me like that. You're coming too, obviously. Why not just go together?"

"Oh, yes, most definitely." Sabrina smiled at that. She really did not have many intentions in mind when she casually invited her friend like that, but she was a bit afraid of Erika backing away if she picked up something that she was not comfortable with. Erika took psychic's hand, stepped off the chair and walked with Sabrina towards the lower floor, where the dining hall was located. Their hands never broke apart; however, which Sabrina was rather content with. It appeared to her that Erika was comfortable with how things between them were as she was.

It was not long before they reached their destination. The room was a lacking one, so it was not hard to find a table to their likings.

"What would we be serving you ladies today?" The waiter, apparently trying his best to acquire a French accent, came over to them and said. "May we suggest the couple's deal; it is our special for the night."

"Oh, but we're... not a couple." Erika smiled awkwardly, trying to stop the waiter from getting the wrong idea. However, it didn't fly that well.

"We would have the special, please." Sabrina ended the conversation with about the most pretentious smile Erika has ever seen her mutter. The waiter had not the slightest idea, though. He simply took off, leaving the two women alone.

"Why did you..." Erika inquired, but was cut off once again.

"Simply because that would save us both some money, and there are simply no reason not to." Sabrina's smile turned genuine over the course of the conversation. "Is it really that bad?"

"No, I guess not." Erika smiled in return. Sabrina was happy that her friend did not feel weird about it. She certainly did not mean to. "So, why are you here Sabrina?"

"Surge called me." Sabrina answered bluntly. It was a bit amusing how Erika reacted with a crestfallen reaction.

"Why?"

"He wanted to ask me out."

"Oh..." Sabrina, without even the slightest need to read the botanist's mind, was sure that her friend was disappointed hearing that. Perhaps, Erika was different than what Sabrina had imagined her to be at first. "So did you accept?"

"Are you crazy? Of course I didn't!" Sabrina forcefully retorted. Her flustered reaction caused a smile to creep on to Erika's face, without the botanist even knowing it. Sabrina herself also did not quite know why her reaction was so harsh. "What are you so happy about?"

"Oh, it's nothing." Erika controlled herself and settled down. Sabrina was definitely taking a notice of that. "Why didn't you though?"

"Why would I? I barely know the guy!" Sabrina couldn't understand what Erika was thinking even considering it. Well, to be fair, not many people knew that she was actually homosexual. It was one of those topics that were never really brought up. However, she did not want to talk much about her past with Surge, so she would rather just use the easiest of explanations. "I'm not even interested in men."

"What?" Erika could not help but flinch at that notion. Sabrina did take that as her friend was definitely surprised.

"You didn't know, did you?" The female psychic seemed rather nonchalant towards her friend's reaction. It was to be understood, she thought. "No one ever asked, so I never did tell. Surge knows though, he used to be my close friend when we were younger, although he's like 12 years older than me. The damn guy, military man type, thinks homosexuality doesn't mean shit."

"Sabrina..." Erika spoke calmly. Sabrina was not sure what to make of that behavior, considering that she had just used quite the strong language. "Did you ever...?"

"What are you getting at?" Sabrina crossed her arms and huffed. Erika could be getting at a lot of things with that question, and the psychic did not like it.

"Well I mean: have you ever dated before?" Sabrina sighed, thinking how she was silly having suspected Erika having ulterior motives. She took her time to swallow that thought, not catching quite clearly what was happening at the time.

"Not really, I was aware, but I was just socially introverted." The female psychic shrugged. There was little she knew about dating a girl, if that what her friend wanted to ask. "Have you?"

"Eh?" Erika seemed to be taken aback by that. "What do you mean?"

"Really, you never noticed?" Sabrina seemed a bit surprised as well to see Erika shaking her head rather profusely. "Well, since you're usually with your girls inside the gym, rumors have been going around for quite a while."

"I honestly have no idea." Erika made a hand gesture of swearing honor. It amused her friend to no end. "What?"

"Well, I'm sorry." Sabrina could not help but chuckle. "You just seem kind of defensive about it."

"I don't mean anything. I just honestly never noticed."

Their conversation was cut off as the waiter returned with the order. It was something quite peculiar, at least that was the vibe being given. Moments later, their course was handed down on the table, pretty much everything you would expect for a romantic dinner.

"Would you like some fine wine?" The waiter asked.

"Yes please, her too." Sabrina held up her cup with a hint of flare in her eyes. She was not sure whether Erika drinks or not, but she was sure that her friend would just accept that nonetheless. It was a polite gesture, the least she could do.

"Is there anything else, ladies?"

"That would be all, thank you."

With that, the waiter left the two to be alone once again, which they appreciated. The meal was rather huge for their apatite, so they made a note to no try and act otherwise. The continuation was rather quiet though, as both of the women preferred to dine in silence. Of course, things were bound to change. Sabrina did not exactly hold back in her drinking at all. She was not much of a drinker, but at least she was confident that a few glasses would not get her tipsy. That was, however, before she discovered just how fine a wine she had been drinking was. It was getting her hot, despite her not exactly wanting to.

"You should have this. It's really good." Sabrina felt the urge to offer her friend the drink.

"Maybe later." Erika did exactly Sabrina expected her to do.

"I would hold you up on that."

Soon, the two of them felt like no longer pushing themselves to eat anymore. Sabrina handled the check, which Erika didn't feel like stopping. It felt like the right thing to do at the time for the female psychic.

"Come to my room, I have my wallet with me there." Sabrina did nothing but comply. There was little she could think at this point. Of course, her hands still held the wine bottle they had earlier. After the two made it to Erika's quarters, Sabrina found herself looking for the glasses within the room, ignoring what the other female was doing altogether. While Erika was trying to find the cash she brought, Sabrina was serving herself some more wine.

"Here, my share." Erika has finally reached her wallet, but turned around to find her friend quite less than sober. "Sabrina, you're drunk already."

"So?" Tipping herself under glass, Sabrina approached her friend, even though her motions weren't quite coherent. "You promised you'd have a drink when we get here, remember?"

"Well, I do, but..."

"But what? Are you going to walk out on a promise?" Sabrina was now sporting a wicked smile on her face, much different than her usual demeanor. "Come on~"

"Fine." Erika huffed, which Sabrina thought was cute. A wicked smile crept onto her face. "Give it to me."

Sabrina had a spark of idea in her mind. It was not quite clear of what she was getting at, but she would do it anyways. She tipped off the glass of wine into her mouth, but not quite drinking it up. Instead, she approached Erika, which caused the botanist to flinch slightly, but did not move. Sabrina grabbed her friend by the neck and pulled their lips together. Using her tongue, she forcefully pried Erika's weak resistance wide open and poured the flowing liquid into its intended destination. A full minute later, Sabrina pulled away, feeling pleased with her plan working out so perfectly.

"How was it?" She licked her lips slightly, smiling. She saw Erika standing there in disbelief, making what seemed to be an innocent that Sabrina thought was simply too cute. The alcohol was getting her down though, as she found it harder to move. "I told you this wine were good."

That was all she could get into her head, though, as she blacked out soon after, leaving her distressed friend in frantic.