Gladion approached Sabrina, his smirk softening as he met her gaze. "Looking good as always, Sabrina," he said with a smile.
"And you're causing trouble as always," Sabrina replied, her voice nonchalant but there was a hint of playfulness in him.
Gladion took a Sagely pose and a Sagely tone, "Hey, it wasn't my fault. She was indirectly—or directly—affected by my dream of becoming a major Gym Leader. It's not my fault her sisters focused more on their contests than the duties of a Gym Leader. It was all for the benefit of Kanto. And if she wants to become a major Gym Leader, she'll have to get stronger, which will be good for Kanto with a stronger elite trainer. I'm doing Kanto a favor."
"Besides, she is younger rthan me, it's not like she could become a gym leader now. If I am not wrong, she completed her journey two years back. And I am pretty sure that she is not strong enough to become a major gym leader yet. Not that I am willing to sacrifice my position as a major gym leader to give it to her."
Sabrina raised an eyebrow, unimpressed but amused. 'Always spinning his actions into some grand service. He is quite the talker.' she thought.
"Forget it. I have something to ask you. Come with me."
Gladion blinked, confusion flickering across his face as Sabrina led him away from the bustling crowd to a quieter corner of the Gym. He got no time to ask his questions of why and what's wrong.
Marcus watched them go, a knot of unease forming in his chest. 'I hope she's not going to do what I think she's going to do. If she does, I hope she gets the answer she wants. Now where the hell is my wife? She needs to be here to console her.'
In the secluded corner of the gym, away from prying eyes and eager ears, Sabrina turned to Gladion, her expression as unreadable as ever.
With a straight face and zero buildup, she said, "Gladion. You're strong, calm, and you don't bore me like everyone else. Also, you've survived my psychic stares without nosebleeds. Impressive. I have also had the symptoms confirmed by my father and Alakazam. I love you. Let's get married. Then have kids. Probably psychic kids who could control anyone with their minds. Don't worry, I've already picked their names. Congratulations—you're now my fiancé. Try not to faint."
Gladion's eyes widened, a rare crack in his composure. He coughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh… wow, Sabrina… that's… sudden."
'Alright, Just what the fuck?!! Where did this come from? And what should I say? Oh my god... Calm down Gladion, You need to answer her politely and calmly. Don't insult or joke with her since it's not the time. Control your primal urges. But....What the fuck!!'
Gladion was panicking internally as while Sabrina was an extremely beautiful girl and his best friend, he did not feel that way towards her. He calmed down and tried to form a reply as he saw Sabrina patiently waiting for a reply.
He hesitated, searching for words that wouldn't wound her. "I—I respect you a lot. You've been one of my closest friends, honestly like family. But… I can't return those feelings. To me, you're… more like a friend and a little sister."
Sabrina went silent, her violet eyes unblinking as she processed his words. Then she nodded calmly, her voice steady. "I understand. I just… wanted to give it a go. Better to ask than regret never asking. That's all."
Gladion's shoulders relaxed, a twinge of guilt mingling with relief. "Yeah. I appreciate your honesty, Sabrina. Really."
She shrugged, "Good. Now that we've settled that, stop looking like I just used Psychic on your soul. And little sister? I'm way older than you. Let's go back to the party."
She took two steps toward the crowd, then paused as a single tear slipped down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly, hoping Gladion hadn't noticed, and turned back when he called out, "Wait, Sabrina…"
"What is it?" she asked.
Gladion's expression softened, "Well, since we're alone, I wanted to give you something. Something I can't give you in front of a crowd." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small ring box, opening it to reveal a ring with a multicolored gem that shimmered with an otherworldly glow.
Sabrina's eyes widened, a laugh bubbling up as she caught the irony. "You know you just rejected me. Don't you think a ring is a very bad choice of gift right now? Even I know that. Did your mom drop you when you were a baby? Now don't drop to one knee!"
Gladion snorted, shaking his head. "Okay, okay, I didn't think this through. To be fair, I wasn't expecting a confession! But this ring isn't what you think. It's not for you and me—it's for you and Alakazam." He held up the box, the gem catching the dim light.
"This is an Alakazite. It's a Mega Evolution stone, and it'll let you temporarily evolve your Alakazam into Mega Alakazam."
Sabrina's usual neutral expression shattered, replaced by shock. "You can't be serious? Is not it like the stones that I helped you dig through the Hoeen region using my psychic prowess and my Pokemon." she said, her voice rising with disbelief.
"I am," Gladion chuckled, launching into an explanation of Mega Evolution—a phenomenon that pushed Pokémon beyond their natural limits, unlocking temporary, awe-inspiring power.
He described the process, the bond required, the rare stones scattered across regions like Hoenn's deserts which Sbairna helped find and recover.
Sabrina listened, her psychic mind absorbing every detail, her earlier rejection forgotten in the face of this revelation.
She stepped forward and hugged him tightly, her composure breaking entirely. "Wow… thank you, thank you! I can't believe something like this is possible. It's too valuable. Don't worry, I'll keep this a secret for a while. Now I know why you needed my help and my Pokémon's help to find those gems in the deserts of Hoenn. To think those gems were so useful."
Gladion laughed, returning the hug briefly. "Congratulations on becoming a Gym Leader. This gem is for helping me find those ancient Pokémon fossils and the gems. You deserve one. Now let's get back to the party."
They rejoined the crowd, the buzz of conversation enveloping them once more.
Marcus stood at the center of the hall, his wine glass raised, his presence commanding attention as the chatter died down.
He cleared his throat, his voice warm with pride. "Tonight, we celebrate a new chapter for Saffron City Gym. My daughter, Sabrina, has trained her mind, her heart, and her Pokémon to a level few can match. She's not just my successor—she's a force, a psychic prodigy who'll carve her own legacy. I've watched her grow from a girl who could bend spoons with a glance to a woman who'll bend the future itself. I'm proud beyond words, and I know she'll lead this Gym to greatness. To Sabrina!"
The crowd erupted in applause, glasses clinking as they toasted.
Marcus continued, "And to mark this transition, we've planned something special. At the start of the next league season, there will be an exhibition match between Sabrina and Gladion Vortex, a clash of Kanto's brightest stars!"
The room buzzed with excitement, heads turning to where Sabrina and Gladion stood.
Their eyes were locked as Sabrina teased, "You're not regretting giving me that stone now, are you?"
"Well, at least now you'll give me a challenge," Gladion said with a smirk.
-----Author Notes------
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