As a top trainer school in Kalos, Shalour Academy naturally thrived on its rich literary and artistic atmosphere. Drama, photography, music, and dance clubs were essential threads in campus life.
For the drama club I belonged to, the highlight of the year was the special graduation performance. The seniors took the lead roles, while the juniors played supporting parts. More than half a year was devoted to refining every detail.
With my background and past life knowledge, I naturally took on the task of writing the script. Today, I came to hand in the manuscript to Tina—the club president and female lead.
"Tina, here's the script," I said, pulling a bound booklet from my backpack.
Her eyes narrowed as she read the title: Beyond the Horizon.
"Not another mindless love story like last year's seniors' disaster?" she said, frowning. "After that, I couldn't hold my head up for months. Thank goodness we bounced back. Let me see…"
She flipped through the pages under my gaze.
"Tragic?" she asked, scanning the synopsis and character profiles of the three main roles.
I nodded. "Yes, a tragedy of love and society. Robert's a disillusioned dreamer, Ruth's a faded beauty, Andrew's an alienated soul. The horizon's beauty is something you long for but can never reach."
In my former life, Beyond the Horizon was a classic. But honestly, this wasn't my ideal script. Still, there weren't enough scenes for Tina in my preferred script—unthinkable to let such a versatile girl play second fiddle. So, I reluctantly chose this as the next best option.
"I'll study it carefully and we can discuss it again after school starts," Tina said, already intrigued. "This will definitely be a hit. It'll show everyone our drama club's true level—we're not just about cheap entertainment!"
She was especially captivated after reading the first scene.
"I'm beat. Little Nyx needs her sleep too," I said, stretching as I prepared to leave. "Writing this has worn me out. Holidays were mostly spent on this, and you're still pushing me."
Before I could slip away, Tina grabbed my arm.
"Running off so soon? No way! You're playing with us all afternoon. Mark, right?"
She called out to her boyfriend.
We'd only met twice all holiday—today being the second. Tina wasn't having it.
Mark chuckled. "True, Fred. It's hard to pin you down. I almost want to punish you."
"I've got chores, library visits, training little Nyx. Busy, busy!" I sighed, scratching Nyx's head. "I picked fruits with Austin recently—if his fruits weren't so good, I'd have beat him up by now."
"The fruit's for sale. Don't miss it if you pass by!" Tina laughed.
"If I don't make a name for myself soon, I'll be stuck inheriting the breeding house!"
Hearing Austin's name, Tina and Mark exchanged amused glances and chorused his catchphrase, making me laugh.
Suddenly, vehicle horns blared.
Tina spun around, eyes wide. "Oh! It's Miss Sabrina! How could I forget? Today's her fan meeting! Mark, Fred, come with me! I want her autograph!"
She grabbed our wrists, dragging us toward the crowd with surprising strength.
"Sabrina? You still a fan?" I asked, uneasy at the thought of Sabrina—a human-shaped psychic-powered Pokémon.
"I'm a huge fan! She's beautiful, a musician, actress, and model. My idol! Please come!"
Tina fluttered her eyelashes, winking at Mark.
Before I could protest, Mark sneaked behind me, wrapping me in a "strong man lock" with iron arms.
"Mark, you don't seem like a Grass-type gym student at all. You should join Fighting-type gym as an apprentice trainer" I joked. "Stop tickling! Okay, okay, I surrender. I'll go."
Tina joined in, tickling me mercilessly.
They knew my weaknesses well.
Helpless, I nodded and let myself be pulled toward the slowly moving convoy and the growing crowd.
The fan meeting was at the city center park square, usually a gathering place for events.
Many fans were clearly from outside Shalour, eager to see Sabrina—the shining new star on the tour of Kalos.
"Mark, Fred, clear the way!" Tina waved her hands. Mark and I exchanged a grim smile and charged through the crowd, making way for her.
"Can you two grown men please step aside? Watch me!" Tina declared, weaving skillfully through the throng, drawing sharp glares.
But with Mark close behind as her protector, the crowd grudgingly gave way.
Soon, we stood just ten or twenty meters from the stage.
Onstage, Sabrina and her ace partner Alakazam waved to the fans.
This golden duo had rapidly risen in the film world—strength, talent, and a sharp agency behind them. They were on track to rival Diantha, though far from that level yet.
Suddenly, Sabrina's smile faded as she looked toward a less conspicuous corner in the crowd.
There I stood, holding my breath, focused on containing my powers, especially the reach of my perception.
Sabrina's aloof personality made her indifferent to such events, but Psychic power comparable to a top-tier ability easily spotted me—a young man with a calm, expressionless face just behind the "Beauty and the Beast" pair.
The fusion of my two souls amplified my mental power exponentially—too strong to fully hide even from powerful psychics or psychic Pokémon. This aura subtly radiated from me, a beacon to keen senses.
I wasn't fully aware of this myself, but I noticed Sabrina's gaze locked on me.
Trying to avoid trouble, I averted my eyes.
Though Sabrina had left Team Rocket behind and turned a new leaf, trouble still followed her. Best to stay out of it.
Nyx, sensing the telepathic connection between Sabrina and Alakazam, looked back at them boldly—like a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger.
Two interesting little spirits, I thought.
Sabrina soon withdrew her gaze and returned to the fan meeting.
"Close Call," I breathed, hiding behind Mark.
I glanced at the young couple in front of me, longing to complain.
Nyx transformed into a face hugger and stuck to my cheek.
"Don't worry. Everything will be fine," I whispered, smiling as her red bead-like eyes met my fingertips with a cool touch.
The host grabbed the microphone.
"All fans and friends! Miss Sabrina is not only a versatile singer, actor, and model—she's also a powerful Psychic user and gym leader from Kanto. Today's a rare chance to see her here in Kalos. She'll hold an exhibition match soon. Any fans want to participate?"
The agency carefully crafted Sabrina's image—beauty, talent, and strength. The exhibition match was a big part of the plan.
Actors planted in the front rows awaited their turn to support Sabrina on stage.
Fans erupted, raising hands eagerly—not just to fight, but for the chance to be close to Sabrina.
Unexpectedly, Sabrina's cold voice cut through the crowd.
"Let this fan go first."
Without a mic, her voice echoed clearly, and a force cleared the space before me, placing me front and center.
"Fred! Autograph, please!" Tina's eyes shone with envy and excitement.
I scratched my cheek, exhaled, and prepared to step onstage.
Mark grinned. "I've caught you. You can't hide from us anymore—no slacking in battle class with Nyx!"
Onstage, I bowed politely. "Hello, Miss Sabrina. I'm Fred, pleased to meet you."
Sabrina smiled. Just then a voice rang out from the crowd.
"I know this child, he is Judith's boy, good-looking and top of his class. I wish my girl was as smart."
"Fred, my sister mentions you too," another voice called from the crowd.
Local fans recognized me too.
Sabrina's interest piqued.
A Haunter appeared behind her, made a face, and was recalled silently. I rolled my eyes, remembering old times—and felt a flicker of relief. This was Kalos, and Sabrina had quit Team Rocket. It shouldn't be dangerous.
I felt her aura gradually relax.
"Misdreavus, come on out!" I commanded.
Nyx flew off my shoulder, brimming with spirit.
"Let's do this," she said softly, pulling out a Pokéball and hurling it with style.
A flash of white light and Kadabra appeared, calm but alert.
Kadabra
Sex: Male
Type: Psychic
Ability: Inner Focus
Level: 41
The battle began. An exhibition match, five minutes on the clock.
Opposite me stood Kadabra—A Pokémon Symbolizing Saffron City Psychic Gym. Not very strong, but still a challenge.
I decided on a tactic.
"Nyx, get close. Swift!"
Nyx surged forward, firing countless star-shaped lights at Kadabra.
Sabrina shook her head, bored by my aggression.
"Kadabra, teleport and then use Confusion."
At the last second, Kadabra vanished with a blue flash, reappearing behind Nyx.
"Thunder Wave, now!"
But I'd predicted this.
A crackling electric net shot out from Nyx, ensnaring Kadabra. He let out a sharp cry as the current pulsed through him, limbs twitching in protest.
Boom!
The net exploded, leaving burns on Kadabra's hands.
"Better than I expected," Sabrina smiled briefly before a blue glow radiated from her.
The queen of Psychics was getting serious.
Offstage, the manager muttered, "Not gym level. Why is it fully effective?"