Foreword
I'm sorry for this chapter being late. I had caught something, and I was bedridden for a while, so I wasn't able to work on Crash Version as much as I would have liked. But with that outta the way…
Chapter Eighteen: Sabrina's Mind Games
Previously, Crash and friends passed through Flutterby Fields, where they reunited with an old friend; Haohmaru, the Bug catching Samurai.
They find out from Haohmaru that there was a Butterfree mating season happening and Crash decides to let Wormwood out to participate. Wormwood falls in love with a pink Butterfree, but the bug-types' advances are rudely rejected.
Wormwood eventually wins the pink Butterfree's heart after saving it from a swarm of Beedrill with Mark's help.
After a tearful goodbye to Wormwood, the trio finally reach Saffron City, the site of Crash's fourth badge.
/-/
"Finally," Misty gasped as they stepped within the city limits. "I thought we'd never make it here."
"Same…" Crash said as he hunched over with his arms down. "But man, that was a long walk."
"We had our fair share of adventures along the way though, haven't we?" Brock mentioned. The younger trainers nodded.
"We have, haven't we?" Misty acknowledged. "We've already been to so many places, but Saffron City definitely takes the cake for the biggest.
"Yeah…" Crash nodded as he stood up straight and looked skyward. "There's so many skyscrapers…"
"I wouldn't expect anything less from the capital of Kanto…" Said Brock in wonder.
It didn't take the trio long to find the Pokémon Center. As they got their Pokémon checked up on, Crash noticed a familiar face.
"Larry! What're you doing here?" He exclaimed as he pointed at the boy in the purple shirt in an accusatory way.
Larry looked up and grinned. "Ah, Crashy boy!" He approached with open arms. "What's it like eating my dust?"
"I won't be eating it for long Larry," Crash said with a growing smile. "I'm gonna challenge this city's Gym and win my fourth Badge!"
"Oh really now? In that case, here." Larry holds out a pamphlet.
Crash looked the pamphlet over before grabbing it. "What's this?"
"Everything you'll need to know is in that pamphlet." Larry said. "Besides, Saffron is so big it has its own map, so it's pretty hard to navigate."
"Whatever Larry. I can manage." Crash rolled his eyes.
"We'll see about that Crashy boy." Larry looked to his left and noticed Misty. "I see you finally have your own cheerleading squad. Mine's bigger though."
Larry stretched his arms out as his cheerleading squad flipped from behind him. They all wore accurate cheerleading uniforms complete with pom-poms and were all girls around Brock's age.
"LARRY LARRY, HE'S OUR MAN! IF HE CAN'T DO IT, NO ONE CAN!" The group of girls all posed in unison. "Goooo Larry!"
"Wow… they're all simply gorgeous." Brock drooled. Misty just rolled her eyes.
"Anyways, Crash, I got places to be. Smell ya later." He salutes him with two fingers as he leaves, his cheerleading squad following close behind, jovially skipping after him.
Crash rolled his eyes and began to read the pamphlet Larry gave him.
"The Gym Leader is Ryu Ken, A.K.A The Karate King. He is a world renowned martial artist who specializes in Fighting-type Pokémon."
"World renowned martial artist?" Misty gasped. Crash continued to read. "Able to compete with Elite Four member Bruno, Ryu is said to be one of the strongest Gym Leaders in Kanto." Crash closed the pamphlet.
"He's even said to be able to compete with an Elite Four member!?" He parrotted with a hint of terror in his voice. He slumped down into a nearby chair. "I don't stand a chance…"
"Don't worry Crash!" Misty attempted to reassure him. "He won't go all out against a rookie like you!" Crash only sighed and stared at the floor, more disheartened than before.
"What Misty means is that more experienced Gym Leaders hold back against challengers." Brock explained. "He'll use a team of Pokémon suited for your current skill level."
"So…" Crash started as he looked back at Brock.
Brock nodded. "You still have a chance against him."
Crash's demeanor changed instantly. "Then I still have a chance! Let's grab our Pokémon and head to Saffron Gym!"
/-/
After collecting their Pokémon, the three trainers head to the site of the Saffron City Gym titled on the pamphlet's map.
"Ok! The map says that this is where the Gym is." Crash said as he looked at the building. Unlike the other Gyms, the architecture was much different, looking similar to the shrine back in Thistle Town. It also had the word "Gym" with large wooden letters atop the roof.
"It looks more like a dojo for martial arts than a Pokémon Gym." Misty commented.
"Well, the Gym Leader is a Martial artist…" Brock said. "Maybe this is how he adds his own touch to it."
"C'mon, let's head inside!" Crash said as he ran into the building, eager for his next badge. As he entered, he skid to a stop at the entrance and saw multiple men in Karate gi training with various fighting type Pokémon.
Brock and Misty followed closely behind and stared in awe at the variety of fighting type Pokémon.
"There's a Poliwrath!" Misty said, pointing to a blue, bipedal amphibian Pokémon with a round body and muscular arms.
"Cool!" Crash pulled out his Pokédex.
"Poliwrath, the Tadpole Pokémon. A Water and Fighting-type. Poliwrath's highly developed, brawny muscles never grow fatigued, however much it exercises. It can use its well-developed arms and legs to run on the surface of the water for a split second." Said Dexter.
"Cool." Crash remarked as the Tadpole Pokémon practiced its punches with its trainer.
"And there's a Machamp!" Brock said, pointing across where they saw the Poliwrath. The four-armed Superpower Pokémon was sparring with its trainer, blocking any punches thrown.
"Machamp, the Superpower Pokémon." Said Dexter as he scanned the well built Pokémon. "A Fighting-type and the evolved form of Machoke. Its four ruggedly developed arms can launch a flurry of 1,000 punches in just two seconds."
"That's a lot of punches." Crash said, gulping as he pockets his Pokédex.
The man with the Poliwrath approached Crash. "Greetings you three. I heard you want to challenge Ken Sensei to a battle?" The man asked.
"Who're you?" Crash asked as he turned to the man.
"I am Yamato, a pupil of Master Ryu Ken." He respectfully bowed. "And you are?"
"Yeah!" Crash nodded. "I'm Crash Betchum! And I'm here to challenge your Master!" He shouted, getting the attention of the other trainers present.
"Very well… I will show you the way to our master's room but…" His eyes fell to Crash's shoes. "You must take your shoes off." He glances at Brock and Misty. "All three of you."
The three trainers leave their shoes at the entrance and follow Yamato to the back of the Gym.
They approached a man who appeared to be in his late thirties. He was cross-legged on the ground ameditating alongside a Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee.
"Master Ryu Ken!" Yamato said, bowing his head to the ground with an audible thud as his head hit the floor. "You have a challenger."
The man stood up and turned to face them. He entered a stance and threw a punch, causing the trio to flinch.
"Hiyah! I am Ryu Ken! Owner of this Dojo, and Fighting-type specialist! I heard you wish to challenge me?"
Crash nodded. "Yeah! I heard that you were the Gym Leader, so I came here for a badge."
The Karate King's face contorted into a frown. "Then I am afraid I cannot help you." He turned and sat back down to continue his meditation.
"What do you mean, "I cannot help you?" Exclaimed Crash.
"I mean I cannot give you a badge." Ryu Ken replied, not facing the boy.
"Well, why not?" Misty asked.
"Because I am no longer the Saffron City Gym Leader." He said, clearly ashamed.
The trio were astonished.
"What do you mean you're not the Gym Leader anymore?" Brock questioned.
Ryu Ken sighed. "I mean what I say. This Dojo is no longer a sanctioned Pokémon Gym."
"But this pamphlet says that you are." Crash said as he held it out.
"That pamphlet is outdated." Ryu Ken sighed.
"Outdated?" Crash growled as he clenched his fist, still holding the pamphlet. "That means that Larry tricked me!"
"Looks like it." Brock sighed.
"But when did you lose your title?" Misty asked. "We've never been on the road that long."
"It appears you haven't heard the news, have you?" Ryu Ken asked.
"What news?" The trio asked with bewilderment.
Yamato raised his head. "Well… someone took his title…" He said with clear sadness in his voice.
"Someone took his title?" Crash gasped, turning to Brock. "That's a thing that can happen?"
"Yeah. Just like there are big league tournaments for Pokémon battles, there's also little leagues." He explained.
"Like in baseball?" Crash asked.
Brock nodded. "The same applies to Gyms. There's the Major leagues, and the Minor leagues. If there's a Minor league Gym that shows promise, they'll be promoted to a Major league." Brock explained further.
Crash turned to Ryu Ken. "So that's how you lost your position as Gym Leader? You got replaced by someone in the Minor leagues?"
Ryu Ken looked away. "I lost it in a bet."
"YOU LOST IT IN A BET?!" The trio gasped in unison.
"I had not expected to lose in such a way." Ryu Ken embarrassedly admitted.
"But sensei," Yamato said. "She used a Psychic type Pokémon."
"So badly." Ryu Ken interrupted, obviously still frustrated with his defeat. "I had not expected to lose to a rookie, so badly."
"We did not stand a chance." Ryu Ken looked to the ground, looking ashamed. His Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee did the same. "It was more of a display of power from her, rather than a true fight."
"I was there…" Yamato shuddered with fear. "Sensei was, in her words, "Less than competent to be a Gym Leader,"
The three trainers gasped.
"That's so mean!" Misty said. "W-why? Why would she do such a thing?"
"I do not know myself, but one thing is for certain," Ryu Ken looked at his shivering hand. "I have lost my title fair and square, and there is nothing I can do about it."
"Why don't you rematch her?" Crash offered.
"She… refuses to acknowledge me as a person, let alone a Gym Leader," Ryu Ken replied. "So I have been unable to challenge her again." Ryu Ken seems oddly relieved.
Crash clenches his fist in anger. "Where is she?"
"What did you say?" Yamato asked.
"Where is she!?" Crash practically shouted, startling his friends and drawing the attention of the other pupils.
"Do not tell me you plan to battle her?" Yamato asked, looking frightened.
Crash gave a determined nod.
Ryu Ken shook his head frantically, like he'd seen a ghost. "N-no! You cannot challenge her! If I could not defeat her, what makes you think you stand a chance against her Psychokinetic might?"
"I won't know unless I try! Besides, if I hear or see someone being bullied…" Crash shot Ryu Ken with a look of determination. "I have to help. No matter what."
Ryu Ken relented and sighed, having been moved by the fire in his eyes. "Very well. Her Gym is only a short walk from here. Just walk west as you exit the dojo."
"Got it! Thanks!" Crash immediately rushes out the dojo, ready to challenge the newly appointed Gym Leader, with Brock and Misty not far behind.
/-/
It didn't take the trio long to reach the new Gym.
"Here it is!" Crash said as he stood before the building. "The new Saffron City Gym!"
"Be careful Crash." Misty warned. "If she was able to beat Ryu Ken, she's clearly no slouch."
"Don't worry Misty." Crash said, attempting to reassure his friend, despite not being very confident himself. "I know just the Pokémon to use. This badge'll be a piece of cake."
Brock shook his head as they approached the building. "Don't get cocky just because she'll hold back."
"How may I help you, Trainers?" a voice spoke up from behind.
Crash jumped slightly in surprise and turned around to see a man who seemed to be in his early forties. The man wore a green tracksuit with a yellow hat and was jogging in place.
"Who are you?" Misty asked.
"Oh me? I'm just an old man out on a leisurely jog", the man replied. "You're challenging the new Gym Leader Sabrina, aren't you?"
"I sure am." Crash nodded. "I'm gonna enter the Indigo League Conference."
"Well, while that is an admirable goal young man, you'll be better off challenging a different Gym." The man warned.
"Huh? Why?" Crash asked. But as he turned, he realized that the man was gone and out of sight.
"Huh? Where'd he go?" Misty asked, looking around.
"I don't know, but I have a Gym battle to get to." Crash shrugged before standing before the Gym doors.
"Are you sure about this Crash?" Misty asked.
"Without a Marsh Badge, I can't enter the Indigo League." Crash replied. "Besides, I got my Secret Weapon with me."
Misty could only manage a defeated glance at him. "Mark?"
"Mark!" Crash confirmed as he fistbumped his partner Pokémon.
"Of course." She sighed helplessly.
As the automatic doors opened, Crash rushed in headfirst, eager for his 4th Badge. But to his shock, there was no one to greet him or his friends.
"Hello?" Crash called out. "Is anyone here?"
They entered the building further and found themselves in a long vacant corridor.
"Where is everyone?" Misty asked, genuinely confused. "It's so empty and quiet."
"How may I help you, Trainers?" a voice spoke up from behind.
The trio jumped slightly in surprise and turned around to see a young adult man. He wore a cape and magician's top hat.
"Wait! You!" The magician pointed an accusatory finger at Misty. "You're the girl who beat me!"
"You're… Who are you?" Misty asked as she realized she didn't recognize him.
"I'm the Astounding Mandy!" The magician cried, clearly offended that his opponent didn't remember him. "I fought you back in the S.S Anne Cup!"
"That's right, you had that Exeggutor." Brock said.
"Thank you!" He said in a far too exasperated tone. "Glad someone recognizes yours truly."
"That doesn't explain why you're here though," said an impatient Crash.
"I'm currently training under Miss Sabrina herself ", the man replied. "Now, how may I help you?"
"I'm here to challenge Sabrina to a battle." Crash answered.
"You must be the challenger she had said she was expecting then." Mandy said, gesturing down the hallway. "Follow me, and I'll lead you to her."
As they followed Mandy, they looked around and saw multiple doors that lead into different rooms. They peered through a window and saw a number of people at a table, all wearing coats and holding spoons, intensely staring at them.
"What're they doing in there?" Asked Crash.
"They're training their telekinesis." Mandy explained.
"Teleki-what-sis?"
"Telekinesis. The ability to move things with one's thoughts alone." Mandy explained. "Like so." He gestured back to the window as a girl managed to bend a spoon.
"Woah! That's amazing!" Misty exclaimed.
"And that isn't the full extent of what we teach here! Clairvoyance, precognition, telepathy, and many many more!" Mandy continued, his mannerisms becoming more and more hammy as he continued speaking.
"That's cool and all… but where's Sabrina?" Crash asked.
"Ah, that's right. She's just down this hall." He led them into a room where a raven-haired woman sat bored on a throne, seemingly awaiting their arrival.
"Miss Sabrina! I've brought you the challenger." Mandy said as he stepped aside.
Crash stood before her. "Sabrina! I'm here to challenge you for a Marsh Badge. And to make you apologize!"
Sabrina lazily raised an eyebrow. "Apologize for disrespecting that Martial artist, correct?"
Crash blinked in surprise. "How do you-"
"I foresaw your arrival." She levitated off her throne and stood up. "And while I do plan to accept your challenge, I must refuse your other demand."
"What? Why?"
"Because he isn't worthy of my time or forgiveness." Sabrina explained.
"Well, that's not very nice!" Misty growled.
"And I couldn't care any less." She answered coldly as she stepped foot on the battlefield. "So are you going to battle me or not?"
"Fine, why don't we make a deal?" Crash asked. "If I win, you owe Ryu Ken an apology."
"But what if I win?" Sabrina's eyes flickered with curiosity.
"I'll do whatever you want!"
"Crash! No!" Misty and Brock shook their heads frantically.
"Deal." Sabrina smiled. It was the first time she smiled and it sent shivers down everyone's spines. She exchanged a glance with Mandy, frightening him and he immediately nodded.
He stood between the two trainers to referee their match. "Ok! This battle is between Sabrina, the Gym Leader of Saffron City and Crash Betchum from Pallet Town. Each trainer is to use one Pokémon each, and the battle is over when the Pokémon of either side are unable to continue."
Crash nodded and turned to his starter. "Alright Mark, I choose you!" The Pikachu stepped up to battle.
A Pokéball telekinetically flew to Sabrina's side. "Abra, standby for battle." The ball flew a few feet from where she stood and a small bipedal yellow Pokémon is sent out of the Pokéball, levitating the moment it enters the battlefield.
Crash immediately pulled out his Pokédex. "Abra?"
"Abra, the Psi Pokémon." Said Dexter. "A Psychic-type. Abra sleeps 18 hours a day. If it senses danger, it will teleport itself to safety even as it sleeps."
"Are both trainers ready?" Mandy asked.
"Ready!" The Gym Leader and challenger said in unison.
/-/
The battle started, and Crash was already on the offensive.
"Alright, Mark! Use Quick Attack!"
Mark zips around the battlefield, attempting to land a speed powered tackle to the Psi Pokémon, but its eyes glow a bright blue, moving itself out of the way of the speedy attacks with teleportation.
"H-huh?" Crash gasped as Mark had skidded to a stop and began looking for his opponent. "Where'd it go?"
Abra reappeared a few feet away in front of Mark.
"There it is! Mark! Thunderbolt 'em before it can teleport away!"
Mark crackled with electricity, firing a strong electric blast at the Psychic type, but it once again misses with Abra teleporting out of the way.
"Grr. It just keeps dodging!" Crash snapped. "I can't land a hit!"
"Is this all that you and your Pokémon are capable of?" Sabrina asked mockingly. "If so, then this is a pathetic display, don't you think?"
This angered Crash as he continued to call for more Thunderbolts, but Abra continued to teleport out of the way.
"Foolish child." Sabrina said. "Do you really believe you can beat my Psychic type Pokémon with such reckless tactics?"
"How's this for reckless?" Crash retorted. "Mark, switch to Quick Attack!"
"Crash! What're you doing?" Misty gasped.
"Doing the same thing and expecting a different result?" Sabrina asked boredly. "That is insanity."
Abra dodges the attack with another teleport as Mark charges at it.
"Now switch to Thunderbolt and aim behind you!" Crash commanded. Mark skidded to a stop and fired a strong electric blast at the Psychic type, the attack finally landing and causing Abra to scream in pain.
Sabrina winced and clutched her head in pain. "GAH!"
"Alright! A direct hit!" Crash cheered. "Now, use Quick Attack while it's stunned!"
Mark zipped around the battlefield, charging at Abra. The Psi Pokémon attempted to teleport out of the way like it had before, but the residual electricity left it twitching and unable to act in time.
"Nice going Mark! Looks like your Psychic powers aren't as strong as you thought they were, huh Sabrina?" Crash taunted.
Sabrina's gaze is on the floor, her eyes not in view. "Is that what you think? That my Psychic powers are weak? Fake, even?"
"Duh. You're not taking me seriously and your Abra hasn't used an attack yet." Crash laughed.
"Would you like me to fix that?" She looked back up at Crash, her eyes now glowing a bright red.
"Crash, I've got a bad feeling about this…" Brock said, sweating a little.
"Me too." Misty agreed.
"Oh please, what's she going to do?" Crash scoffed.
Abra's eyes began to glow the same bright red as Sabrina's.
"What's she doing?" Misty asked, clearly scared.
"I dunno, but I'm stopping it." Said an undeterred Crash. "Mark, use a Quick Attack!"
Mark zips around the battlefield, attempting to land another speed powered tackle to his foe, but the Pokémon is bathed in a bright light, causing Mark to skid to a stop to shield his eyes.
"What the-" Crash gasped. "What's it doing?"
"You fool." Sabrina said as she began to levitate. "Behold, the true power of Psychokinesis!"
The light surrounding her Pokémon faded as a noticeably taller yellow Pokémon took Abra's place.
"What's that?" Crash asked as he pulled out his Pokédex.
"Kadabra, the Psi Pokémon, and the evolution of Abra. Kadabra holds a silver spoon in its hand. The spoon is used to amplify the alpha waves in its brain."
"It evolved?" Crash gasped. "B-but how?"
Sabrina gave a creepy smile. "This is the power of the Psychic-type. Kadabra, Flash!"
Kadabra flashes a bright light that catches Mark off guard, causing him to flail about while partially blind.
"Mark!" Crash shouted worriedly. "Snap outta it and use Thunderbolt!" Mark began to try and feel his way for his opponent before firing a strong electric blast at Kadabra, which missed.
"Mark missed!?" Crash gasped in disbelief.
"Flash is a move that blinds the user with bright light." Brock said.
"My Starmie used that move." Misty explained. "You forgot that fast?"
"That was almost a month ago!" Crash defended. "Besides, you barely used that move."
"Kadabra, use Psybeam." Said Sabrina as Crash continued to bicker with his friends. Kadabra fired a multicolored ray of energy from its spoon at Mark, landing a direct hit to his face.
Crash cried out to his starter. "Mark! Are you ok?"
The mouse Pokémon staggered to his feet and stumbled about.
"Just hang in there Mark! Use Quick Attack!"
Mark began to charge at Kadabra, only to trip and fall at the Psi Pokémon's feet.
"Mark!" Crash called out.
"This battle is over." Sabrina said with finality. "Kadabra, your Psychic attack."
Kadabra's eyes glowed as it lifted an injured Mark off the ground and began to slam him into the ceiling and the ground repeatedly.
Crash cried out helplessly as his partner Pokémon was beaten to a pulp.
"Stop! Stop!" Crash cried out.
"Hm?" Sabrina raised a brow as her eyes stopped glowing.
"I… I give up." Crash said, clearly defeated. "You win… just… stop hurting Mark."
No sooner than he gave up, Kadabra had ceased its Psychic powered assault on the Electric-type, setting him on the ground at Crash's feet.
"Crash Betchum has forfeited." Mandy stammered. "Which means that the winner is Sabrina of the Saffron City Gym…"
Sabrina approached him with a cold, yet smug air about her. "I've won."
Crash glared at her. "You did." He picked up his starter and held him close, as if shielding him from Sabrina. "So what do you want?"
"I would have turned you into a doll, but I believe I've had more fun like this." She snarked.
"Turned me into a doll?" Crash raised a brow. "What do you-"
"I would like you to formally apologize." Sabrina said in her signature cold and robotic tone.
Crash blinked. "That's it? Just apologize?"
"Yes. That is all I want." Sabrina confirmed.
"Oh. In that case, I'm sorry." Crash stood up and got ready to leave, but found himself levitating off the ground and walking on air. "Huh?!"
"You call that an apology?" Sabrina asked.
"You said you wanted me to apologize," Crash complained, flailing about mid-air. "So I did! Now let me down!"
"That was a terrible apology." Sabrina whirled him around to face her. "Now try again."
"I already apologized to you," Crash said, continuing to struggle. "So lemme go so I can take my hurt Pokémon to the Pokémon Center!"
Sabrina held Crash in place, preventing him from moving. "Not until I get a proper apology. "You will apologize to me properly, boy." Sabrina said in a threatening tone.
"Crash, just give her a proper apology." Brock warned.
"I suggest you listen to your friend." Sabrina said, tightening her telekinetic hold on the boy. "Or else I'll force one out of you."
Before Crash could fire another retort at her, Sabrina gazed into his eyes and further tightened her hold on the boy, causing him to choke.
Crash felt an overwhelming fear overcome him as he realized he was having trouble breathing.
"Hey! Stop that!" Misty shouted. "You're hurting him!"
"If you keep that up, Crash'll die!" Brock exclaimed.
"And?" Sabrina raised a brow, as if she was told the most obvious thing in the world.
"Hold on milady," Mandy said, speaking up. "You don't honestly plan to choke the boy to death, right?!"
"Would I not keep him like this if I didn't plan to?" She answered.
Everyone paled as they realized that she actually intended to kill the boy.
"M-ma'am!" Mandy stammered. "With all due respect he's only about ten years old!"
"And your point being?"
Mandy paled even more. "Can't you let him off with just a warning?"
"You're going too far!" Brock exclaimed. "This is against the Pokémon League rules!"
"Screw the Pokémon League rules!" Misty said, clearly fed up with the master psychic. "This is just attempted murder."
Sabrina narrowed her eyes. "Would you like to make that "murders", instead?"
Brock and Misty could only pale in fright at the implication that a Gym Leader, sanctioned by the Pokémon League itself, could casually commit homicide.
"We're bringing this to the police." Brock said as he began to leave the room. But he found himself levitating off the ground, and now at Sabrina's mercy.
"Brock!" Misty exclaimed. "Hey! Put him dow-" She found herself in the air now as well.
Crash continued to flail about, losing more air as he struggled.
Disappointing… and to think I was expecting more out of you because they said you were a decent trainer. Sabrina thought as she tightened her hold on the trio, preventing them from escaping. I suppose i was a fool to trust them.
"You… why are you doing this?" Brock questioned.
"Because I expected more from your friend when I heard that he and his Pikachu were quite powerful." She explained, shaking her head disappointedly. "And it appears I was let down. As expected of those three. As useful as Magikarp, but without the prospect of a Gyarados."
"Those three?" Misty raised a brow. "Who're you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter." She sighed. As their conversation continued, she tightened her hold against Crash's neck, causing him to clutch at his throat and gasp for air. Tears of pure fear began rolling down his face.
I CAN'T BREATHE! I CAN'T BREATHE! I CAN'T BREATHE! MOM! DAD! DAISY! SOMEONE! ANYONE! HELP ME!
"Crash!" Misty saw the terror on her friend's face and began struggling. "Let us go! Now!"
Before Sabrina could retort, a familiar looking man suddenly teleported into the room.
"Hm? Who're you?" Sabrina raised a brow.
"Who I am doesn't matter," The man answered. "What I'm about to do, does."
Sabrina rolled her eyes. "Kadabra, use Psybeam!"
"Slowbro, counter with a Hyper Beam!" The old man commanded, sending out the Hermit Crab Pokémon. The Slowbro fired the powerful beam of energy from its mouth, tearing through the beam of psychic energy and planting Kadabra into a wall.
Sabrina clapped and returned her Kadabra. "Impressive… but your true goal is these children, is it not?" Sabrina taunted, tightening her telekinetic grip on Crash.
The old man immediately cancels out Sabrina's telekinesis with his own, causing her to drop Crash and friends.
"What?" She gasped, actually surprised.
The man telekinetically pulled the trio closer to himself, teleporting himself and his Pokémon away.
Sabrina's eye twitched in annoyance.
"Well… I certainly wasn't expecting this…" she spat out, trying her best to keep a neutral expression. She took a deep breath to try and calm herself. "Well, no worries. That boy won't possibly have the courage to face me again after today."
"But what if he does?" Mandy spoke up nervously, doing his best to not anger Sabrina.
Sabrina looked back at him and gave a malicious smile. "Then I'll finish what I started."
Mandy gulped in terror, only managing a nod.
/-/
Crash and friends found themselves outside of the Gym.
"We're back outside." Misty said, looking around. Her attention turned to Crash, who took loud deep breaths, gasping for air.
"Breathe, Crash." Brock said as he rubbed his back to soothe him. Once Crash could breathe properly again, he stood up and looked around.
"Where are we?" He asked, rubbing his throat. "What happened?"
"That old man saved us." Misty explained, before turning to said old man. "We're happy you saved us, but why did you help us?"
"I just so happened to catch Sabrina off guard this once." The man explained. "You won't be so lucky again. To prevent this from happening, I suggest you try a different Gym."
"A different Gym?" Crash parrotted. "But…I-"
"Sabrina is far too powerful for you to handle." The man interrupted. "You're better off challenging a different Gym or giving up altogether."
"But I can't do that!" Crash replied. "Without a Marsh Badge, I can't enter the Indigo League. And I told Master Ryu Ken that I'd beat her."
"And I told you that with your current team of Pokémon, you will never beat Sabrina's Psychic type Pokémon." The man replied.
"Yes I can!" Crash shouted defiantly. "I just need to train my Pokémon, and then we'll be ready!"
"No amount of training with your team will ever get you close to beating her."
"Then why not teach me telekinesis?" Crash offered. "I bet if I had that, I'd be able to beat her!"
"Telekinetic powers aren't something that people can normally be taught from scratch." The man rubbed his temples. "They're something you'd have to be born with."
"Then show me a different way to beat Sabrina!" Crash begged. "Please!"
The man pushed Crash away with telekinetic force. "I already told you; you don't stand a chance."
"Well I don't care what you say!" Crash got back up, only to be forced on the ground, as if someone turned up the gravity.
"Give it up kid." The man sighed. "This is for your own good."
"Crash, stop!" Misty said. "You don't stand a chance."
"Better call it quits Crash." Brock warned.
"I can barely beat her. And that's because of our difference in experience." The man stood over Crash, as the boy crawled over to him. "What chance do you think you have?"
"A Charmander's chance in a thunderstorm." Crash replied, trying to gather the strength to stand. "But even if it's a small chance…I gotta take it!
He began to make it to his knees. "I'm not just fighting for a badge, or for my pride as a trainer. But because Sabrina's a bully."
He staggers to his feet. "And I can't stand bullies! So if I stop now, I'd be letting her off the hook!"
The man was startled by Crash managing to stand up despite being held down by telekinesis, and the strength of the boy's resolve.
"So please! I need your help!" He begged.
The man sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose and loosening his telekinetic hold. "There is one way you can beat her…"
"Really? There is?" Crash asked, clearly hopeful.
"Psychic type Pokémon are weak to only two types." The man started. "Bug and Ghost. Bug-type Pokémon are far too weak to challenge her, but Ghost Pokémon should prove sufficient enough to challenge her."
"A ghost Pokémon, huh?" Crash mused. "Where can I catch one?"
"They are known to be found in Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower, the final resting place of all Pokémon." The man explained. "Lavender Town isn't far from here either, and it's only due east of here."
"Really? Th-thank you." Crash nodded gratefully as the man smirked and teleported away. Crash, physically and mentally exhausted, collapsed into a sitting position.
"Crash! Are you ok?" Misty asked, attempting to help him up.
"I'm better than ok…" Crash gave a tired smile. "I know how to beat Sabrina!"
/-/
Despite a terrible loss to the Psychic-type Gym Leader, Sabrina, Crash has learned of a way to turn the tide in his favor. And it's by heading east and catching a Ghost Pokémon from Lavender Town.
What will happen once they reach Lavender Town? Well you'll find out, as the journey continues…
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and the changes in the story so far. If you did, make sure to check out the forum for this fanfic, where you can ask questions or make suggestions for the story going forward…
And be sure to read my friend yonas813's new fanfic; The Light That Shines Before The Dawn! It's a good read! Catch ya later, Pokéfans!
