This lunch at the Saffron Gym was destined to be the most unsettling and unforgettable feast of Ash's recent times.
It couldn't be said that there would be no one to surpass it in the future, but it was certainly unprecedented in the past.
Amidst Misdreavus's murderous gaze that was almost materializing into substance, the continuously petrified expressions of Misty and Brock, and Pikachu's transition from confusion to gradual accustomedness... Ash was like a high-end custom doll, held in Sabrina's arms, and patiently fed the entire meal by Little Sabrina.
In short, although he had obtained the Marsh Badge, no matter how one looked at it, it seemed like a badge obtained by being a kept man.
Ash had attempted to protest feebly.
For example: "Miss Sabrina, I can do it myself..."
Or: "This... isn't very appropriate, is it?"
But all his words were defeated by Sabrina's calm, ripple-less gaze and Little Sabrina's sugary threat of "You won't grow tall if you don't eat~".
Deeper down, there was an invisible sense of restraint that made it difficult for him to put up any truly effective resistance. He could feel that Sabrina bore no malice; it was more like a kind of... "care" based on her own logic.
Sabrina's childhood was undoubtedly lacking in love. Treating Ash this way... seemed to be a form of vicarious compensation? Emm... one can only say that since Sabrina has already developed a split personality, her mental state is indeed somewhat worrying.
It wasn't until the last mouthful of food was delivered into his mouth that Sabrina, as if having completed some important ritual, gently placed Ash back on the ground.
The feeling of having his feet on solid ground had never been so wonderful. Ash almost stumbled back half a step, quickly tidying his crooked hat and wrinkled clothes, the burning sensation on his face lingering for a long time.
"Maa!"
Misdreavus immediately rushed over like a hen protecting its chicks, blocking in front of Ash. She bared her fangs at Sabrina, the ghost energy around her body fluctuating unstably.
Misdreavus had wanted to do this earlier, but regrettably, she simply couldn't.
Misdreavus: I need POWER!
Misdreavus: Today, my hand trembles!
Misdreavus: Today, my heart aches!
Misdreavus: ...Sob... Wuwuwu... Don't make me look!
Misdreavus: POWER! Where is my POWER!
Sabrina merely glanced faintly at Misdreavus. That look was calm and ripple-less, yet it caused the energy around Misdreavus to stagnate instantly, as if extinguished by invisible ice water, leaving only unwilling whimpers.
The disparity in strength was too great.
"See you later."
The cold, clear voice once again resounded directly in everyone's minds. The next moment, Sabrina's figure, along with the giggling Little Sabrina beside her, blurred and dissipated together, vanishing as if melting into the air.
"She... she left?" Misty seemed to find her voice only then, asking dryly. Before this, she had been silent, questioning her life, feeling that things were somewhat unrealistic.
"Looks like it." Brock let out a long sigh, feeling his back was already soaked with cold sweat. "This meal... took ten years off my life."
Ash smiled bitterly and rubbed his forehead. Before he had time to explain to his partners, the young man with hollow eyes from before appeared again like a ghost.
"Lady Sabrina has ordered: please follow me to the main hall."
His tone remained flat, his eyes remained lifeless, and his face remained expressionless... But Ash keenly felt that the omnipresent psychic waves in the surrounding air, which were like background noise, had undergone some subtle change. They were gathering toward a certain area deep within the gym.
A premonition of an approaching storm lingered in Ash's heart. Talk therapy feels good in the moment, but it's a crematorium once you're done. Ash spoke easily at the time, but what would Sabrina do next?
They followed the guide to an extremely vast hall.
This place was less a battle hall and more a venue that combined meditation, assembly, and some kind of ceremonial function. Theoretically speaking, the Saffron Gym should primarily receive challengers. But in reality, the entire Saffron Gym was undoubtedly closer to a training base for Psychics.
In the center of the hall was a huge circular platform, surrounded by rising tiered seating. At this moment, it was densely packed with humans and Pokémon.
Most wore uniform clothing bearing the Saffron Gym insignia. Their ages varied, but without exception, they all radiated psychic fluctuations of varying strengths. They were the Saffron Gym Trainers, psychic apprentices, Pokémon, and various Psychics residing here.
This was Saffron City's psychic army. Many of them had gathered here spontaneously because of Sabrina's power.
Saffron City could be said to be the place with the highest number of Psychics in the entire world. As for Caitlin? Although some believe Caitlin is as powerful as Sabrina, Caitlin's control over her psychic powers is obviously lacking; she cannot become the leader of Psychics like Sabrina.
With Sabrina, as long as you don't touch her bad side, generally nothing will happen, and you might even receive guidance. But with Caitlin, you might just die because of the collateral damage from her psychic rampages.
Everyone's gaze was focused on the central platform. There, Sabrina's figure had appeared at some unknown point.
She was no longer hovering but standing quietly. Her dark green hair moved without wind, and her deep eyes swept across the entire venue. The hall, which originally had some faint sounds of conversation, instantly became silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Sabrina didn't bring Ash directly up there because she didn't want to attract too much attention. After all, not all the Psychics here were loyal to her. Ash and his two companions arrived at a corner on the edge of the venue, very far away.
Sabrina did not use any amplification equipment. Her voice sounded as if it were ringing directly in the depths of everyone's soul:
"I have summoned you all to announce a matter."
"From this moment forth, I will cease daily meditation and seal the ability to foresee the future."
Once these words were spoken, it was as if a mental bomb had been thrown into the entire hall! This was roughly akin to a certain country announcing it would shut down all its satellites for a period of time.
One must know that the status of Psychics was elevated solely because of Sabrina. Before Sabrina, there were no Psychics who were ridiculously strong. The level of most Psychics was just performing magic tricks or bending spoons, only good for amusing people.
"What?!"
"Stop meditation? Seal foresight?!"
"Lady Sabrina, how can this be!"
"Without your foresight, the city's safety..."
"What about those potential threats?!"
After a brief deathly silence, there was a commotion of exclamations, doubts, and incomprehension surging like a tide. The mental fluctuations of the Psychics rose and fell violently due to shock, causing the air in the hall to seem to distort.
Foreseeing the future was not only a symbol of Sabrina's power but also an important guarantee that Saffron City had remained safe and sound amidst countless potential crises over the years! It was like a "Sky Eye" hanging high above the city, avoiding countless risks in advance.
Misty and Brock also looked at Ash in shock, their eyes full of inquiry—You lucky bastard, what exactly did you do?
Even if everyone feared Sabrina, they had to admit Sabrina's importance. Saffron City is the economic center of the entire Kanto region, a place that counts as top-tier prosperous in the entire world. And to maintain order here, what is needed is a humanoid phased-array radar like Sabrina.
Apart from this, others simply couldn't manage it. This isn't a question of strength, but a question of perception. Aside from Sabrina, no one can manage things so comprehensively.
Do you really think just any Pokémon can keep Future Sight active 24 hours a day? Anyway, the Kalos Champion, Diantha, publicly stated that her Gardevoir couldn't do it. The Hoenn Champion, Steven, also stated that his Metagross couldn't do this point either.
Sabrina, in everyone's eyes, is just this absurd.
Even if Sabrina's future foresight isn't something that will absolutely happen... even if only ten percent happens, it's better than nothing. Preparing in advance is enough to prevent all kinds of dangers. Treat the illness if you have it; strengthen the body if you don't. Perhaps simply because preparations were made, the butterfly effect would cause things that were supposed to happen not to happen.
This importance is simply hard to describe, hard to measure.
Ash himself was also greatly shaken at heart. He felt he had poked a massive hornet's nest.
Ash: Guh, I didn't expect Sabrina's action to be so decisive, so rapid!
Ash: I hope the League won't come looking for trouble.
Ash: □^□
Ash: □0□
On the platform, Sabrina turned a deaf ear to the commotion below. She continued to declare in that unquestionable tone:
"My mind is made up; no more need be said."
"The future should be created by one's hands, not sunk into a predetermined trajectory."
"Over-reliance on foresight will only let the soul gather dust and let possibilities die out."
Her gaze seemed to sweep over Ash's direction, seemingly there yet not, carrying an indescribable meaning.
"For the coming period, Gym affairs will be managed by my father and mother."
With her words, a middle-aged man and woman, who looked gentle in temperament but whose eyes contained wisdom from experiencing the vicissitudes of life, walked out from behind the platform and nodded slightly to the crowd.
They were Sabrina's parents, and also the few people who could maintain a relatively independent will in this Gym. But that was about it.
The Saffron Gym ascended to become one of the Kanto League's Eight Great Gyms in Sabrina's hands. Sabrina's parents were not that strong during their time. The Saffron Gym in the hands of Sabrina's parents was just about the same as the Fighting Dojo next door.
It's not that all parents are strong. For example, Sabrina belongs to the type that far exceeds her elders.
Prior to this, Saffron City was guarded by both the Saffron Gym and the Fighting Dojo together. And even with the two gyms combined, the security level wasn't as high as Sabrina alone.
"Lady Sabrina!" A senior Psychic Instructor couldn't help but step forward, his face full of anxiety and disagreement. "Please reconsider! Your power is the cornerstone of the city! Without the early warning of foresight, how should we deal with those crises hidden in the dark? And the League..."
This Psychic Instructor was evidently extremely terrified. If forced to make a metaphor, it was like the people of Liyue in Genshin Impact seeing Zhongli die.
Holy crap! Such a big Rex Lapis just fell down.
And Sabrina isn't like Zhongli who [loves the common people]; she has always been the representative of ruthlessness. The reason these Psychics are so obedient is also because Sabrina really takes action.
If you offend Sabrina, you will be turned into a doll and locked in confinement. Under the condition of being unable to move, maintaining sanity while enduring the dark room... the current record for holding out the longest is one month. One month of 24-hour confinement without sleep and unable to move. That is to say, this group of Psychics generally has abnormal mental conditions... a normal person would have gone crazy long ago.
"Crises should be faced naturally," Sabrina interrupted him. "Fearing the unknown is the greatest crisis. Saffron Gym, and even the entire Saffron City, need to learn to move forward relying on their own strength and wisdom, rather than living forever under the shelter of my foresight."
simply put, Sabrina wanted to rest for a while; she had been working continuously for a long time. The nice way of putting it: You need to become independent and strong. The harsh way of putting it: This old lady wants a vacation, do whatever you want.
As for what problems might arise during her break... none of her business. Sabrina protects Saffron City because she is willing to, not because she is forced to.
Of course, Sabrina didn't mean she would completely ignore everything. At the very least, she would leave her Mega Alakazam behind as a safety net.
Sabrina raised her hand slightly, and an invisible yet majestic force instantly smoothed out all the restless mental fluctuations in the hall, also causing all voices of doubt to come to an abrupt halt.
"This matter is decided."
Four words, like a final judgment, suppressed all opposing voices. Everyone looked at each other, and in the end, it could only turn into silent sighs and deep worries.
They couldn't understand why Sabrina suddenly made such a subversive decision. But they knew deeply that once Sabrina made a decision, no one could change it.
As for where she planned to go for her vacation, Sabrina didn't intend to say. Power is only responsible to the source of power. Sabrina's power comes from her own strength, not these supporters. So she is just this willful.
Having finished the announcement, Sabrina stayed no longer. Her figure vanished into the hall again, like melting into the light. Leaving only a hall full of Psychics with complex moods, and the two middle-aged Gym Leaders with solemn faces who were about to take over the heavy burden.
This news, as if possessing wings, spread to the upper echelons of Saffron City at an alarming speed, and then radiated toward the entire Kanto region.
When Ash's group returned to the Pokémon Center with complicated moods, the invisible force field shrouding the entire city seemed to have truly weakened somewhat. Although it still existed, it was no longer so suffocating.
The city seemed to "come alive," gaining some uncertain, restless aura. Obviously, there were always people wanting to cause trouble. But they didn't dare cause trouble when Sabrina was there.
To casually provoke an enemy who could blow up a building at four years old, possessed a Sky Eye-like Future Sight at twenty, knew Teleport, and could absolutely find you—it really wasn't something many dared to do.
Provoking other Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, or Champions... it was possible to escape. After all, they are hard to find.
Even if Giovanni's Mega Beedrill has matchless God-speed and supreme destructive power, its perception range is small, and it's easy to lose the target if the distance is too great. Even if Samuel Oak's Mega Kangaskhan with the Parental Bond Ability can punch heaven and earth and the world with a very "1+1" combo, it can't punch someone across a vast distance of space.
But provoking Sabrina? You better pray your destiny is relatively special so she can't see you. This isn't a question of strength. This is a hard gap in mechanics.
After Baili Shouyue places a vision ward, he can see Lanling Wang regardless of whether Lanling Wang is Level 1 or Level 15. [Laughs]. The same principle applies.
Once locked onto by Sabrina... If you are weak, it's like Final Destination. If you are strong, then you'd best be able to go 24 hours a day without sleeping, eating, or using the toilet. Unless you are unreasonably strong, and your living environment is overly extreme, like those Gods who leave Sabrina with no options.
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