Chapter 27
Leaf was feeling good.
Or at least, as good as she could possibly feel. Yesterday, the police finished counting all the casualties from the "terrorist attack." It was a number that could've been higher, but was still too many. President Ken appeared on TV to say the names of all the victims, offer condolences to their loved ones, and reiterate that the ones responsible would pay. Saffron City had been on edge since Team Rocket's takeover of Silph Co., but after the president's speech, a particularly dark air hung over everyone. At the Pokemon Center, a few trainers made some rather aggressive comments about Johto.
If people weren't talking about Silph Co., they were talking about Red and Blue. The media was rapidly digging up more information about them. That they were both from Pallet Town and knew each other their whole lives, that they both received their starter Pokemon from Professor Oak, that Red was the unknown trainer who defeated Blue on the S.S. Anne. A clear story was being spun. Blue was the Golden Boy, the grandson of the prodigious Professor Oak, the one everyone expected great things from. Red was the Underdog, the boy who grew up without a father and was unpopular at school, the unlikely hero. With both trainers on their way to the Indigo League, there was a lot of anticipation for the rivalry that would surely make history.
Leaf's escape from all of it was training. For the past couple days, Leaf spent much of her time in the routes surrounding Saffron, preparing for her Gym challenge. She wished she could completely stay out of the city, away from all the buzz, but she knew better than to relive her insanity at Fuchsia. Besides, her Pokemon were making decent progress. They were ready for the Saffron Gym and that was why Leaf was feeling good.
Leaf walked by the Fighting Dojo, the building next to the Saffron Gym where Red defeated several fighting-type trainers. She'd learned that a long time ago, the Fighting Dojo and an establishment called The Temple, whose trainers specialized in psychic-type Pokemon, competed to determine which one would be Saffron's official Gym. Since psychic Pokemon have the advantage over fighting Pokemon, The Temple won and became the Saffron Gym.
The Fighting Dojo was still bitter about its loss. A man in karate gear was standing outside the dojo, leaning against the facade. As Leaf passed, he called out, "Beat those psycho asses!"
Leaf smiled a little and entered the Saffron Gym.
The walls and floor were a deep blue, almost black. There was no light except for the two candles on the registrant's desk. She was an elderly woman with pure white hair, tied into a tight bun. She wore a purple robe and a wooden necklace, each bead the size of a PokeBall. Her eyes were closed.
"Leaf Green. Pallet Town."
The woman didn't write any of it down. She opened her eyes and said, "Leaf Green, see that door over there?" With a long, bony finger, she pointed at a door on the right. "You will enter a room with three more doors and a Gym Trainer, whom you must battle. If you win, you can pass through any door. Each new room will have more doors and possibly another Gym Trainer. Your goal is to get to Sabrina's room."
"So this Gym is a maze?"
"You could call it that. If you don't have any questions, you may begin your challenge."
Leaf didn't have any. She thanked the registrant and headed towards the door, stopping right in front of it. Feeling her pulse begin to rise, Leaf took a deep breath and opened the door.
The room was also dark, except there was a dim lantern on each side. A young man with lavender hair, wearing a blue robe, was meditating in the center. Without opening his eyes, he said, "You dare challenge our Gym?"
Leaf straightened. "Yes."
"My name is Cameron. What's yours?"
"Leaf."
Cameron opened his eyes. "I shall now see if you are truly ready, Leaf."
Cameron stood and backed away. Once he was on the other side of the room, he tossed a PokeBall. Inside this azurite room, the PokeBall's light was blinding. When the light faded, a pink hippo-like Pokemon stood in its place. Leaf remembered seeing this Pokemon, Slowpoke, in the Safari Zone. She knew just the one to battle it.
Dratini looked around the room, cocking his head when he noticed his empty-eyed opponent. He briefly glanced at Leaf. Dratini was understandably confused by their location. His body was also a bit stiff. He was nervous, but not close to fleeing, which was a huge improvement in Leaf's eyes. At the team picnic, the dragon made it clear he wanted to become strong and since then, had been training hard. He was ready to start battling for real.
"Slowpoke, use Headbutt!"
The Slowpoke charged at Dratini. True to its name, it didn't move very fast. Leaf smirked. "Dratini, use Dragon Rage!"
"Disable!"
Dratini launched the purple shock wave. The Slowpoke barely dodged it and locked eyes with Dratini, eyes shining. Instantly, the shock wave disappeared. Dratini huffed in surprise.
"Confusion!"
The Slowpoke's eyes glowed blue. Dratini cried out as he was lifted off the floor and forcefully thrown back down.
"Dratini, use Twister!"
Wind whipped around the Slowpoke, whose groan of pain was slightly delayed. When the Twister ended, the Slowpoke didn't look as if it'd taken much damage.
"Confusion!"
The Slowpoke and Dratini took turns attacking. After getting hit with Confusion, Dratini would use Twister, which didn't seem to be affecting the Slowpoke enough. For a Pokemon that was arguably slower than Psyduck, it was quick to use Confusion once the Twister was done. And Leaf could tell by how each time he was slower to get up than the last, and how each Twister seemed to be weaker, that Dratini was getting close to fainting.
Biting her lip, Leaf returned Dratini. She felt terrible that after his newfound determination, after a few days of rigorous training, he couldn't win his first battle. She would need to come up with something for Dratini later.
Cameron winced when Leaf sent Haunter out. Hastily, he ordered, "Confusion!"
Last week, Leaf looked up the name of the branch attack Venusaur had used at Silph Co. After learning it was called Frenzy Plant, she decided to look at her other Pokemons' Pokedex entries. She realized she needed to start checking them more regularly. Some of them had learned what seemed to be useful moves.
"Shadow Punch!"
As the Slowpoke's eyes began to glow, Haunter clenched its right hand. It darkened and so quickly that Leaf could barely see it, shot forward, punching the Slowpoke square in the head.
Cameron was stiff as he returned his Pokemon. "Go ahead and pick a door," he said curtly.
There were two doors on the left and one behind Cameron. As usual, Leaf would have to use her intuition to navigate herself. Her intuition was telling her that Sabrina would be around the center of the Gym, and the door on the left further from her would somehow lead her there. Ignoring Cameron, who was staring her down, Leaf marched over to the door.
The room was empty. There was a door by each corner. She was at the bottom-right corner. The door at the bottom-left would bring her closer to the center, but Leaf felt herself hesitate. This Gym was supposed to be a maze. Assuming Sabrina was at the center, it'd be too easy to just go through any door facing it. Leaf decided to go with the door at the upper-right corner, diagonal from her.
This room was also empty. Leaf wasn't sure if that was a good thing. It occurred to her that she could open every door––that could give her a better sense of how this Gym was structured––but that would increase her chances of meeting a Gym Trainer and she needed her team to be as healthy as possible for Sabrina.
Leaf picked a door on her left. Another empty room. She went for the first door she saw, the one directly across from her.
A black-haired woman in white robes was balancing on her left leg, eyes shut. Her right one was bent, foot resting on her left thigh. She held her hands above her head, pointing upwards. Leaf was about to say something when the woman opened her eyes and calmly put her hands and leg down.
"I'm Leaf."
"Tasha. Let's get right to it, shall we?"
Tasha's Pokemon was a Kadabra, instantly reminding Leaf of Blue. She sent out Haunter.
"Kadabra, use Future Sight!"
The Kadabra raised its spoon and its eyes flashed white. Leaf tensed as she waited for white beams to shoot out or for some mystical force to take control of Haunter.
"Kadabra, use Psybeam!"
Leaf was dumbfounded as the Kadabra launched a Psybeam, which Haunter dodged. Brushing it aside, she told Haunter to use Shadow Punch.
Haunter had the advantage. Not only did ghost-type moves seem to greatly affect psychic Pokemon, but the room's darkness made it easier for Haunter to avoid the bright Psybeam and harder for the Kadabra to avoid the shadowy fist. The Kadabra was out after a couple punches. Well, that was eas––
Suddenly, there was a flash of white and Haunter was screeching and clutching its head. The sound was so sharp that Leaf's hands automatically flew over her ears. The ghost flailed around the room, desperately trying to shake the pain away. After a long moment, Haunter calmed down, though it was uncharacteristically frowning.
Leaf immediately looked at the smirking Tasha. "Future Sight is a delayed attack. It always lands on the opponent, even if the opponent wasn't there when it was set up."
Leaf returned Haunter. Something about Tasha's tone made her skin prick. "You still lost and it didn't knock Haunter out. But cool trick, I guess."
Leaf didn't bother to see Tasha's reaction. She headed for the door diagonal from her. She knew she was being petty, but she wasn't happy about Haunter taking any damage. Hopefully the next room was empty so she could spray a potion on the ghost. Leaf opened the door and halted.
There was no room. Instead, there was a flight of stairs going down. It was too dark to see where they led. The only reason Leaf even saw there were stairs at all was because of the barely functioning lamp on the back of the door. Leaf felt goosebumps on her arms. She took a deep breath and began to descend.
The only sounds she heard were her footsteps. When she was out of the lamp light's reach, Leaf stopped. The passageway from here on out was pitch black and there was no railing. This would've been considered a hazard anywhere else, but the rules were apparently different for Pokemon trainers. Leaf couldn't help but chuckle. Maybe I'm supposed to be psychic and just know what's ahead.
Leaf slowly stuck a foot down. When it touched a surface, she swept it across a few times before flattening it and moving her other foot. She did the same for the next step, and the one after, until there wasn't another one. Leaf only felt the faintest relief. For all she knew, there could be a Fuchsia Gym-level obstacle course up ahead. As she advanced, she dragged her feet along the floor to feel for any drop. Eventually, her right foot kicked something hard. Leaf ran her foot along it before planting it firmly on top. She'd found another staircase.
Walking up the stairs in total darkness was less scary than walking down. Soon, there was a trickle of light and she saw a door with a lamp hanging on it. Leaf rushed over to the door and flung it open.
This room was the largest Leaf had been in. On the other side was a wooden platform. A woman was sitting on it, back facing Leaf. She got up and turned. She looked to be in her early twenties. She had straight black hair that went down to her thighs and bangs that covered her entire forehead. She wore a short maroon robe, black leggings, and black boots. Her gray eyes pierced through Leaf. Although she was a private woman who rarely made media appearances, Leaf knew she was the Saffron Gym Leader, Sabrina Mansfield.
"I had a vision of your arrival," Sabrina said. Her voice was chilling.
Leaf was taken aback. "A vision?"
"I have a gift. At least, that's what everyone says." Sabrina sat back down, criss-crossing her legs. "Come on, let's get it over with. The sooner I can return to my meditation, the better."
"Oh. Yeah, sure." Leaf grabbed Haunter's PokeBall, nearly dropping it, and released the ghost.
Sabrina's first Pokemon was a Slowpoke. Well, not quite a Slowpoke. It stood on its hind legs, showing off its tan, striped belly. A gray spiked, spiral shell that was nearly the size of the Pokemon was attached to its tail. The Pokedex told Leaf this was Slowpoke's evolution, Slowbro.
"Haunter, use Shadow Punch!"
The attack landed, pushing the Slowbro a couple steps back. Leaf was surprised the hulking Pokemon was able to maintain its balance, instead of falling over. What was more surprising was that it didn't react at all to being hit. It continued to blink thoughtlessly at Haunter. Even the Slowpoke expressed pain, albeit a little late. Either the Slowbro was dumber, or it was so powerful that Haunter's attack had no effect. She seriously hoped it was the former.
"Keep using Shadow Punch!"
Haunter's fist clenched and darkened. It shot forward and when it was about to make contact with the Slowbro, Haunter shrieked and its fist returned to it. As the ghost backed away in shock, Leaf saw a light in the Slowbro's eyes fade.
Ugh. "Haunter, use Night Shade!"
Darkness swirled around the Slowbro and then abruptly vanished. Haunter screeched as it was thrown onto the floor. The Slowbro's eyes were a bright blue.
Leaf was speechless. She didn't think she heard Sabrina say anything, but the Slowbro had already attacked twice, first with Disable and now Confusion. She looked over at the Gym Leader, whose gray eyes were regarding the battle with indifference.
"Haunter, fly around it fast!"
Before the Slowbro could attack again, the ghost flew in rapid circles around it. The Slowbro's head spun, trying to get a good aim. It fired a Water Gun, but missed. Its eyes rolled so far back, Leaf could only see the whites. When its pupils returned, the Slowbro fired another Water Gun. The force of it nearly made Leaf jump; it was significantly more powerful than the previous one. Haunter was just barely able to avoid it.
Eventually, the Slowbro grew too dizzy from trying to keep up. It took a clumsy step back and toppled over.
"Haunter, use Hypnosis!"
Haunter halted and looked down on the Slowbro's face. Pale blue rings flew out of Haunter's eyes and landed in Slowbro's, fading upon making contact. The Slowbro's eyes closed.
"Dream Eater!"
This was another new move Leaf had discovered. Haunter opened its mouth wide and a pink bubble burst from the Slowbro's head. It was sucked into Haunter's mouth. The ghost closed its mouth, snickering about stealing the Slowbro's energy.
"Use Dream Eater as much as you can!"
Venusaur had volunteered to be the test subject. Leaf and her starter stood in confusion as Haunter continuously used Dream Eater with no results. Seeing how it was called Dream Eater, Leaf had Haunter put Venusaur to sleep with Hypnosis and found the healing move only worked when the opponent was asleep. Haunter had taken some damage from the Future Sight and Confusion. This was a good opportunity to heal while simultaneously chipping away at the Slowbro's health.
After a few Dream Eaters, the Slowbro's eyes snapped open. The bubble Haunter was sucking out popped. Haunter screeched as the Slowbro threw it hard on the floor.
"Fly around again!"
But the Slowbro, or more likely, Sabrina, saw it coming. As fast as it could, which was faster than what Leaf expected, it spun around while launching a Water Gun, shielding itself with a water twister. It was enough to keep Haunter away, but Leaf saw it wasn't a perfect shield. Since the Slowbro was still on the slower side, there were gaps in the twister. Leaf saw the shell on its tail had a pair of angry eyes.
Leaf hoped the Disable had worn off already. "Haunter, use Shadow Punch!"
The Disable had indeed worn off. Quick as lightning, Haunter shot a dark fist through each gap. The twister fell apart, water splashing harmlessly onto the floor. The Slowbro was facing Haunter now with its blank stare. Sabrina returned it before it collapsed.
Leaf swallowed as Sabrina reached for her second Pokemon, gaze still indifferent. Haunter had won without taking too much damage, but that was largely because it was faster than the Slowbro. And what was with Sabrina's silence? Although Leaf was winning, there was a knot in her stomach.
Sabrina's next Pokemon was…a clown? It stood on two legs. Its feet looked like pointy, navy shoes that curled at the top and there were white coverings on its knees. It had a white, round body with a magenta circle at the center. Also in magenta were the spheres its pale pink arms and legs were connected to, and the circles on its cheeks. Jagged blue horns grew from the side of its lumpy, pale pink head. It gave Haunter a toothless grin and waved with its hands that looked like white gloves. There were magenta pads on the tips of its fingers.
The Pokedex said it was a Mr. Mime. Leaf wasn't wrong to be reminded of a clown. It began holding its hands up and flattening them, moving them around as if trapped behind an invisible wall. Haunter snickered.
Leaf wasn't as amused. "Haunter, use Shadow Punch!"
The shadow fist flew at the Mr. Mime, who was still pretending there was a wall in front of it. When it was inches away from the mime's face, there was a flash of blue. The Shadow Punch passed through, landing where there should've been a nose, but for some reason, the mime lacked one. The Mr. Mime barely let out a groan.
Leaf couldn't tell if she imagined it. There was only one way to find out. "Keep using Shadow Punch!"
The same thing continued to happen. No matter what angle Haunter attacked from, a blue light would flash and the Mr. Mime would seem hardly hurt. The light wasn't shapeless. It was rectangular. It was like a wall.
Great. Leaf never liked clowns and the Mr. Mime was basically a magical version of them. Its walls were reducing Shadow Punch's power drastically, but not completely. If the Mr. Mime stayed on the defense, sooner or later, the Shadow Punch would knock it out. Unless the Mr. Mime's purpose was to exhaust Haunter, which it was starting to succeed with judging by Haunter's gradually slower movements, it would eventually need to attack.
Leaf blurted out, "Dodge!"
It was fortunate that Haunter didn't question Leaf and veered to the side, because instead of creating another barrier, the Mr. Mime leaped away from the Shadow Punch and fired a pink ray from its palm.
Leaf looked at Sabrina, who was doing an incredible job at maintaining her blank face. Maybe the Gym Leader used pre-planned tactics, or maybe she was psychic after all. Either way, she didn't need to verbally communicate with her Pokemon. Somehow, the Mr. Mime knew to use Psybeam at that moment, just like how the Slowbro knew when to use Disable or Confusion or Water Gun. Leaf bit her lip. She could never really predict an opponent's move, but at least if she heard it out loud, she could react fast. She got lucky just now. Could she do it again?
Leaf wasn't sure. She needed to finish this battle soon. "Hypnosis!"
It seemed the walls didn't work against physical attacks because the mime jumped out of the Hypnosis' way, using Psybeam again once its feet hit the floor. Haunter dodged it.
"Fly around it!"
Leaf was so grateful Haunter did flying exercises with Fearow. The Mr. Mime shot Psybeams faster than the Slowbro shot Water Guns, but the ghost was still able to avoid them.
"Night Shade!"
Darkness swirled around the Mr. Mime. It clutched its head and screamed at whatever it saw.
"Shadow Punch!"
The Mr. Mime was much more agile than it looked. As Haunter launched a Shadow Punch from behind, the Mr. Mime whirled around with a raised hand, firing a Psybeam from its palm. The two Pokemon shrieked as they were knocked back by their opponent's attack. The Mr. Mime crashed into Sabrina's platform. Haunter fell to the floor and skidded across, stopping at Leaf's feet.
Leaf returned her Pokemon. Before attaching Haunter's PokeBall to her belt, Leaf lifted it to her lips and murmured, "You were amazing today."
Leaf looked over at Sabrina. The Gym Leader detached the third and final PokeBall from her waist. When she released her Pokemon, Leaf was once again reminded of Blue.
It wasn't a Kadabra exactly, but it looked like one. It was taller, thinner, and had a longer mustache. There were no markings or a tail. What it did have were longer spikes on its head, and brown armor around its wrists and knees, in addition to the one around its torso. While Kadabra wielded one spoon, this Pokemon, which the Pokedex called Alakazam, had two.
Abra, Kadabra, Alakazam. Strange names for strange Pokemon. But as strange as this line was, Leaf knew it was a strong one. Kadabra was tough. She imagined its evolution to be even tougher. There was something about the way its narrow eyes leered at Leaf, something about its firm stance, that radiated a strength and intelligence she'd not witnessed in a Pokemon before, including Venusaur and Golduck.
Leaf took a deep breath and sent out Golduck. Venusaur, being part poison-type, would've been disadvantaged. The Alakazam was taller than Golduck. Golduck straightened himself, raising his head.
"Golduck, use––" Leaf faltered when the Alakazam crossed its spoons, eyes flashing white. Future Sight. "Use Screech!"
The sound that came out of Golduck's mouth was like metal being sliced. Leaf covered her ears. The Alakazam did as well, shooting daggers at Golduck.
"Water Gun!"
Golduck immediately switched out his screeches with a blast of water. The other day, Leaf tested this move on some trainer's Doduo. Still affected by the Screech, the Doduo was unable to get out of the Water Gun's way in time.
Apparently, the Alakazam was faster than the Doduo, because it turned its body away, barely avoiding the stream. Its eyes flashed a rainbow of colors and the Water Gun abruptly ended when Golduck was lifted off the floor. Leaf tensed as she waited for Golduck to be slammed down.
But the Alakazam didn't do that. It did something worse.
Golduck cried as his arms and legs twisted unnaturally. The sight of it made Leaf's limbs ache. The Alakazam kept Golduck in the air, watching the duck struggle.
"Golduck, use Screech!"
The sound Golduck made was strained. Leaf's gaze darted over to Sabrina. The Gym Leader was still impossible to read. She was too calm, as if she didn't realize her Pokemon was torturing Golduck. But Sabrina obviously did realize it because she'd commanded the Alakazam to do so.
Leaf clenched her fists, gritted her teeth. What was the Gym Leader's plan? Was she just some sadist? Was she just going to keep Golduck suspended in this bone-breaking position? Leaf wasn't sure if the pain was enough to make Golduck faint. Maybe after a certain amount of time it would, but she suspected it wouldn't happen for a while. Was Sabrina patient enough to wait it out?
Mr. Mime and its walls popped into Leaf's mind and she understood. Sabrina wasn't looking to knock out Golduck, at least not yet. She was weakening Golduck, waiting for the right moment to land the final bl––the Future Sight! Leaf felt as if a train had rammed into her. Sabrina was waiting for the Future Sight to take effect. Maybe the Alakazam will throw Golduck around first, maybe not. Either way, the Gym Leader was stalling. She was ensuring that the Future Sight would take Golduck out while preventing her Alakazam from taking damage.
Golduck needed to break free of the Psychic. Now. But how? Leaf's stomach clenched. The Alakazam had an iron grip on Golduck. As long as he was under Psychic's influence, he couldn't do anything.
At least, not physically.
It was a long shot, but Leaf had no other option. "Golduck, use Psychic!"
From her position, Leaf couldn't see if Golduck's eyes glowed. And like its trainer, the Alakazam had mastered keeping a straight face. Her heart thundered in her chest as she waited for something, anything to happen.
Golduck's head moved. Leaf lunged at the opening. "Screech!"
Slicing of metal. The Alakazam instinctively covered its ears and Golduck dropped. His Screech faltered for a moment when he hit the floor, and Leaf could tell he was still hurt from the Psychic because he stayed on his stomach instead of standing. But the duck quickly lifted his head and continued to screech.
"Try to get closer!"
Golduck was resilient. He dragged himself across the floor to the Alakazam. Once he was in an acceptable range, Leaf exclaimed, "Water Gun!"
This time, Golduck was close enough that the Alakazam couldn't dodge. The Water Gun pinned it against Sabrina's platform. Leaf found herself leaning forward. Golduck could hold his Water Gun for a decent amount of time. He could win.
As if in response to her thought, there was a flash of white and Golduck yelped. His head dropped.
Leaf's body grew cold. She returned Golduck, her best chance at defeating Sabrina. The match had more or less confirmed that Venusaur would be severely disadvantaged. Vulpix was definitely not on the same level as the Alakazam.
Leaf swallowed and sent out Fearow. She didn't know what exactly the vulture could do, but she didn't have any solid options.
"Fearow, use Aerial Ace!"
The Alakazam dodged at the last second, causing Fearow to strike the platform. As it jumped to the side, Leaf saw it cross its spoons and close its eyes.
Fearow lunged at the Alakazam. Its eyes snapped open and glowed a myriad of colors, more vibrant than before. Fearow made a choking sound as she was lifted up and away from the Alakazam.
Shit. This wasn't good. Unlike Golduck, Fearow didn't know any mental attacks that could combat the Psychic. And if Leaf had to guess, the Alakazam had powered up its Psychic, too.
The Alakazam began tossing Fearow around. No long-con this time; Sabrina wanted to finish the battle now.
Leaf racked her brain for a move Fearow could use. Aerial Ace, Fury Attack, Peck. They were all physical and required Fearow to be in close range. Would Leer work? Fearow had used it as a wild Spearow when Leaf was trying to catch her. It was essentially a weaker version of Screech.
"Use Leer!"
Fearow continued to be slammed onto the floor, shrieking. Leaf winced. She forgot that Spearow had looked Bulbasaur in the eye when using Leer. Fearow couldn't do that now.
The Alakazam threw Fearow against the wall, near a lamp. Immediately after, it sent Fearow across the room, but not before Leaf spotted, on the wall that resembled the night sky, the vulture's faint reflection.
Leaf had seen a new move in Fearow's Pokedex entry. It was less likely to work than Golduck's Psychic, but she had to try.
"Fearow, use Mirror Move!"
Fearow's eyes were closed. The Alakazam raised Fearow higher and brought her down like a hammer. For a split second, Leaf was certain she'd already lost.
Before hitting the floor, Fearow's eyes snapped open, bright colors swirling in them. The Alakazam took a step back as Fearow spread her wings and cawed.
Leaf grinned and pointed at the Alakazam. "Fearow, use Aerial Ace!"
Fearow dived at the Alakazam. The psychic Pokemon, or maybe Sabrina, didn't recover from shock fast enough. It cried out as Fearow's beak slashed its torso. Fearow raised her beak again. But instead of seeing the slash Leaf had grown so accustomed to, she saw Fearow tuck her wings in and spin rapidly, beak drilling into the Alakazam and pinning it against Sabrina's platform. Several times, like a flickering lamp, the Alakazam's eyes flashed colorfully, but nothing happened. Whatever move Fearow was using, it was inflicting too much pain for the Alakazam to handle. It dropped its spoons and hovered its hands over Fearow. Just as it was about to grab the vulture, the Alakazam's head fell back and it slumped down. Fearow stopped spinning and shakily flew to Leaf's side. It was when Sabrina returned her Pokemon and jumped off her platform that it clicked for Leaf. Her jaw dropped.
Sabrina was still expressionless when she reached Leaf. For a moment, she was silent. Then, she said, "I must say, this loss shocks me. But a loss is a loss. You've earned the Marsh Badge."
Sabrina raised a hand and opened it. The Marsh Badge was two concentric gold circles. Leaf's hand was shaking as she took it. She was just as, if not more, shocked as the Gym Leader was.
"If you have nothing to say, you may go now," Sabrina continued. "The door is that way." She pointed to the right and then began to return to her platform.
"W-Wait!" Leaf sputtered. "Is it true? Are you psychic?"
Sabrina stopped. She glanced back and Leaf was startled by the faint smile on her lips. "Everyone has psychic power. People just don't realize it."
Before Leaf could think of a response, Sabrina jumped onto her platform and sat. Fearow nuzzled Leaf, bringing her back down to earth.
Leaf smiled and faced Fearow, scratching the bird's head. "Forgive my language, Fearow, but…you're a boss-ass bitch. Wait, you probably don't know what that means. It's a good thing."
Fearow cooed. Leaf chuckled, returned her, and headed for the exit. The door led to the front of the building. Diagonal from her was the back of the registrant. Leaf hadn't noticed the door before because of how dark the room was.
Although it wasn't particularly bright out, Leaf had to raise an arm over head until her eyes readjusted to the light. As she passed the Fighting Dojo, she noticed the same man from earlier still standing there.
The man called out, "Did you beat those psycho asses?"
Leaf laughed. "Yes, I did."
The man gave her a thumbs-up.
Damn, this chap was much longer than I expected it to be, no scene break either, but I wanted to show how tough Sabrina was. IMO, she's the strongest Kanto Gym Leader, even though she's not #8.
Fearow's been having a string of bad luck. Here's a bit of redemption for her :) Also, Alakazam may or may not have been a bit inspired by Stranger Things...iykyk.
Thanks for reading!