Sabrina stood at the edge of her room in front of a mirror. She wore her sleek black dress. She adjusted her posture to see if everything was in order but her thoughts were elsewhere—on a certain trainer who seemed to occupy her mind more than she cared to admit.
Marcus, her father, approached, his weathered face softened by a proud smile. "You're looking good, princess. Who are you dressing so fine for?" he teased, his tone warm.
Sabrina's lips curved into a nonchalant smirk,"Mmm, I know. And no one. I just want to look good."
Marcus chuckled, "You might have become a little less detached in the past few years, but you're still my clueless little daughter. I'm proud of you. The growth you have shown both as a person and as a trainer is commendable. You're ready to become a Gym Leader."
Sabrina's eyes narrowed, a playful pout forming. "I am not clueless. I have knowledge about thirteen specialized fields, and I could have a PhD in each of them if I bothered to take any of the exams."
Marcus's chuckle deepened, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, I know you could. I'm saying you've changed in that you've started feeling for Gladion. And you're clueless about it."
Sabrina blinked, her composure faltering for a fraction of a second. "Feeling, as in… you mean love?" She tilted her head, her voice analytical, as if dissecting a puzzle. "Hmm, Alakazam also said I might be having feelings for him, but I'm not sure."
Marcus leaned in with a smile. "Tell me, what do you feel when you talk with Gladion?"
Sabrina paused, "I feel… nice when he plays around with his Pokémon, siblings or me. When he or his Umbreon makes fun of me, I feel he's very stupid and annoying. When I spy on him when he's sleeping, I find him cute…"
Marcus sputtered, nearly choking on his wine. "Spying on him… while he's sleeping?"
Sabrina opened her mouth to explain, but Marcus shook his head vigorously, raising a hand. "Nope, don't tell me. I'm not going down that rabbit hole. It seems to me you have a crush on Gladion. Little feelings for him."
Sabrina's brow furrowed before coming to a decision. "Hmm, you're right, Father. I think I would have to act on those feelings."
Marcus's smile faltered, a twinge of unease settling in his gut. 'What does she mean by acting on her feelings? Please, don't be what I think she is going to do. She's a Gym Leader now, or will be soon. She can handle this… right?
He trusted her strength, her intellect, but matters of the heart were a battlefield even he couldn't prepare her for. He was her father and was worried but he knew that he needed to let her face these challenges herself to grow as a person.
"Now, let's get going. Everyone's waiting for us at the party," Marcus said.
Sabrina nodded, her focus shifting as they joined the party.
Sabrina's eyes swept the room, searching for one person in particular. Her psychic senses tingled, guiding her toward him almost instinctively.
She wasn't surprised to find him at the center of trouble, as usual. 'Or well, more like trouble always finds him,' she thought with a sigh, her lips twitching into a faint smile.
There he was, standing with his trademark smirk, confronted by a fuming young girl with vibrant orange hair—Misty.
Sabrina's psychic senses picked up the heat of Misty's anger before her words even reached her ears.
"You bastard!" Misty snapped, her fists clenched, her voice trembling with rage as she glared at Gladion.
"You stole the Cerulean Gym like it's some damn trophy and spit on the legacy of my father! That status as a major Gym was ours! When I become strong enough, I'll take it back, you hear me? I don't give a damn who you are—I'll beat the crap out of you and reclaim what belongs to my family!"
Sabrina's brow arched, her interest piqued. She stayed back, observing.
Gladion looked at the angery orangehead and thought, 'Well, someone's feisty today. She has a lot of rage, which is justified considering I replaced the Gym her father built and was awarded for his military service. And that legacy was taken away from his family because he died.'
Gladion had immense respect for Misty's father who tried to hook him up with one of his daughters when he visited the gym for the first time as a challenger. He also liked Misty as a character in the anime but that was an anime and now it was his real life.
'She can still become a gym leader by replacing someone else. But does she have what it takes to be a Gym Leader? Time to test it out.'
Gladion raised an eyebrow, "…I liked your father, Misty. He was a true Gym Leader and a war hero. But if you need someone to blame, don't look at me. Blame your sisters—they chose spotlights and shallow performances over battles. That's why the Gym fell, not because of me."
His tone deepened, a quiet intensity that silenced the nearby chatter. "Do you really think strength is something you declare with angry words and childish pride? If you believe you can take back what's 'yours,' then grow strong enough to stand before me. Until then, you're nothing more than a child shouting at the mountain that blocks her view."
Misty's teeth gritted, her fists shaking with barely contained fury. "Tch—don't you dare talk down to me like I'm some brat throwing a tantrum! I don't give a damn how strong you think you are! You can act like some untouchable mountain all you want, but even mountains crumble when the storm is strong enough! I don't care how long it takes—I'll train, I'll fight, and one day I'll smash that smug look off your face and take back my father's legacy! Count on it, Gladion Vortex!"
Gladion could not help but give her a mental nod of approval. One thing gym leaders needed to be agym leader was never back down in front of a challenge.
Sabrina's lips twitched, amused by the fire in Misty's words. 'She's got spirit, I'll give her that.'
Gladion smiled as he replied,"Good. Keep that spirit in you. You have the spark to become a Gym Leader. But I'm not giving up my status, so you'd better find someone else to replace. Now, if you'll excuse me, the party hosts are here, and I'd like to meet her before she uses telekinesis to throw me outside for not greeting her sooner."
He waved dismissively, turning away as Misty glared, huffed, and stormed off.
Gladion stopped in front of her and with a smile he addressed her, "Looking good, Sabrina."
-----Author Notes------
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