Mismagius's Curse completed. A gray breath of death drifted toward Metagross, flashing into its body so fast it couldn't dodge.
"Metagross!!"
Metagross let out a pained growl as an ominous gray-black miasma flared around it. Curse had taken hold.
"Metagross! Psychic!"
Caitlin's state was odd—her immense psychic power kept surging, but she forced it down.
She kept trying to calm herself, to stay composed.
Metagross endured the first wave of Curse, deep blue light igniting in its eyes. A prismatic pulse of thought power swept toward Mismagius.
A Psychic-type Psychic!
"Useless." Damian lowered his head with a faint smile.
"Protect."
A green barrier blossomed in front of Mismagius.
Psychic slammed into Protect, but it was no use. Protect held firm against Metagross's assault.
Caitlin's chest rose and fell quicker, the blue glow in her eyes flickering more frequently.
"Bullet Punch!"
If pure ranged pressure didn't work, then close in with Bullet Punch and attack.
Her logic was sound—under normal circumstances. But Metagross was not in a normal state.
Its claws gleamed with silver light—Bullet Punch, a priority Steel move!
But it had barely burst forward when its body jolted and halted. The gray Curse power surged again.
Metagross growled in pain; Curse hurts like hell.
Mismagius, meanwhile, let out a sharp, grating laugh when it saw Curse bite for the second time.
Wasn't that just blatant mockery?!!
Watching this, Caitlin finally snapped. Her rampant Psychic burst out of control.
She'd teach this shameless Mismagius a lesson!
She raised her pale right hand and clenched the air. Solidified blue psychic force clamped down on Mismagius, pinning it.
Mismagius didn't struggle; instead, it tilted its head, puzzled, eyes hazy as it stared at Caitlin.
Wait—human Psychic this strong?
"Metagros?"
Metagross turned, a worried hum in its throat as it flew to Caitlin, trying to stop her from losing it again.
"Metagross!"
"Get out of the way!"
Caitlin snapped, flicking her left arm. Psychic force blasted out and shoved the unprepared Metagross aside.
"Disowning your own? No wonder the League benched you."
Damian watched her with keen interest. As her power poured out, Caitlin's luxurious golden hair lifted, the pressure intense.
He got why the League banned her from Pokémon battles. This was practically a humanoid Pokémon's Psychic. If she lashed out at an opposing Trainer, most people wouldn't walk it off.
"Gengar. Do it."
"Gengar~"
A low, eerie cackle rose. From the shadow at Caitlin's feet, two crimson points gleamed to life.
"?"
Sensing danger, Caitlin gathered power and looked down at the shadow—right into those evil blood-red eyes.
Her head suddenly felt so heavy. The psychic-blue glow faded from her eyes; her pupils grew misty.
Hypnosis. Gengar had used Hypnosis.
Caitlin's body tilted. Gengar immediately seized her with telekinesis, guiding her gently to a bench by the edge of the training ground.
"Metagross?"
"Relax. Just putting her to sleep for a bit. She'll be fine."
Damian walked to Caitlin's side, looking at the "sleeping beauty," and reassured the worried Metagross as it floated over.
Metagross exhaled in relief—then pain ripped through it again. Curse was still ticking!
A pained metallic groan escaped—it was the third Curse tick. Its condition was bad.
"Almost forgot about you. Let me grab your Poké Ball."
Damian said it as his hand—without ceremony—reached for Caitlin's waist.
"?" Metagross's eyes widened.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm getting your Poké Ball."
Damian felt along Caitlin's belt, found several balls, and gestured at Metagross.
Yeah—confirmed. Her waist was soft.
"…" Something felt off to Metagross.
"Which one's yours?"
"Metagross." It raised its right claw and pointed at the far-right ball.
"Got it. Return for now." Damian popped Metagross back into its Poké Ball.
Curse clears as soon as a Pokémon returns. One of the many wonders of Poké Balls.
No sooner had he recalled it than the ball popped open again—Metagross reappeared.
"Don't glare at me like that. If I wanted to take advantage of your Trainer, it's not like you could stop me."
"I like beautiful women, sure—but I'm not a creep."
Damian shrugged. This Metagross was a bit too wary.
"Metagross!"
"You're not wrong—your Trainer's gorgeous. I do like her. Having thoughts about her is normal, right?" Damian agreed without shame.
Caitlin's looks were exquisite and regal. Not… exaggerated in figure, but elegant and shapely—with a noble, graceful aura. Fantastic.
"Metagross??"
Metagross froze.
"Is it weird that I understand you? Don't make a fuss." Damian shot it a glance.
Metagross's brain buzzed. Isn't that weird?
About ten minutes later.
"Mm…"
Caitlin's dark brows drew tight as she slowly opened her eyes. Strange. What happened to me?
Before her thoughts settled, she turned—and Metagross's face filled her vision.
"Metagross? I just…?" She held her head and pushed herself up.
"You're finally awake. Anything feel off?" The boy's voice from beside her made Caitlin start.
She turned quickly and found the same boy from the battle, watching her calmly.
Her memory snapped into focus. Right—she'd lost control again.
Caitlin pressed her lips together, face dimming. She still couldn't control that power…
"That gave me quite a scare, honestly. You suddenly unleashed some serious Psychic. Didn't expect such a pretty Miss to be a psychic."
His teasing drifted into her ears.
"You're not afraid of me?" Caitlin suddenly looked up at Damian.
"Why would I be?" Damian tilted his head, genuinely puzzled.
"My psychic power…"
Her voice dipped. She wasn't ashamed of it, exactly, but sometimes she couldn't help sighing from the heart.
"Having no psychic power is better than having power you can't control."
She was a noble lady from a prestigious family, a born elite—pedigree, looks, talent, all outstanding.
But precisely because of her immense power, people feared her. Whispered "monster." The Pokémon League outright banned her.
For a Trainer who loved Pokémon battles, how crushing and invalidating was that?
"You're odd. If you have a special gift, why worry about being feared?"
Damian chuckled and raised his right hand. Green motes of light bloomed and drifted to Caitlin.
Her mind cleared at once; her body, sore from napping on a bench, eased. The sensation was hard to describe.
"You're a psychic too?" Surprise lit Caitlin's eyes—finding a kindred spirit.
"Of course. You know, you shouldn't doubt yourself because of a gift from the heavens. It's the world's favor."
Damian met her gaze, smiling as he spoke.
"We are special. We're the lucky ones the world loves. We can square our shoulders. We can tell ourselves—and everyone else—out loud: we're the exceptional ones."
"Only the powerless and mediocre complain about unfairness and fear the strong. They fear us because we are strong."
His clear voice rang like a bell, and the psychic girl's pupils trembled.
Yes—she trembled. Not from fear, but from being moved.
"But I… I can't control it…"
The past still dragged at her, and worry crept back in.
"I've tried so hard. I really have! I don't want this. I want control more than anyone. But they don't understand. They won't even let me join Pokémon battles."
In that moment, the polished, radiant noble lady let her grievances spill out. Her eyes even grew misty.
Who would get it? She truly, truly loved Pokémon battles.
Her best friend Cynthia became Sinnoh's Champion—the strongest in the region, looking down on all of Sinnoh.
But she couldn't even join normal battles. For someone proud, what a humiliating thing.
"Then work even harder."
Damian smiled.
"Believe in yourself. Believe you're no worse than anyone. Don't resist your power—accept it with your whole heart."
"If they don't understand, then you don't need their understanding. Remember this, beautiful lady."
His tone was gentle.
"The strong don't complain about what the world is—they declare what the world should be."
"You are beautiful, and you are powerful. That's you. You don't need to care what others think."
"What you should do is transform—and slap them in the face."
Hearing him, Caitlin's heart quaked. The boy filled her pupils.
I'm beautiful—and powerful?
"There's one more thing…"
Damian stepped over, picked up the pink lady's hat on the bench, came to stand before Caitlin, and dipped his head to look at the stunning girl.
He could clearly feel it—the ripple in her gaze as he approached.
He set the hat on her head and straightened it. Her breath seemed to pause.
A first—this boy was way too close!
Caitlin felt her heart race. Luckily, it was only a few seconds.
He stepped back two paces and nodded, satisfied. Caitlin did look lovely in a lady's hat.
"Be elegant. No matter when, always stay elegant—refined and exquisite. That's the real you."
Damian smiled.
"Naturally. I've always aced our family etiquette classes."
Caitlin drew an unseen breath, clasped her hands before her waist, and spoke unhurriedly—composed and regal.
Just as Damian said, she was a noble lady. She should be elegant.
Her earlier state… was truly a mess.
"I've been terribly rude. I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Caitlin, from the Sinnoh Region."
Caitlin offered her hand, poised and polite.
"Damian. My name is Damian."
He took her hand.
"To think I only planned to help Miss Caitlin with some special training—and it turned into this."
"Yes. I'm truly grateful, Sir Damian. You taught me a lot today."
Caitlin's soft smile was beautiful.
"Miss Caitlin, you're from Sinnoh—what brings you to Alola? A journey?"
Damian asked, curious.
"No. I came on vacation—to clear my head after… some unpleasant things."
She shook her head, hesitated, then said:
"Sir Damian, may I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"To be honest… I have a very close friend. No matter how hard I try, I can't beat her. Should I keep chasing her?"
Caitlin bit her lip and asked softly.
Damian raised a brow. He instantly knew who she meant—Sinnoh Champion Cynthia.
After all, Caitlin basically had only one friend: Cynthia. Even Darach was just an employee.
"To chase everything is the start of misfortune. There are things you can't do and things you can. Knowing that matters."
That was what Caitlin told the player in her villa in the games.
In truth, she had always chased Cynthia. No matter how hard she tried, she could never defeat her.
Reality taught her, little by little. From rage at failure to a calm acceptance.
"Why ask me that, Miss Caitlin? I can't decide for you."
Damian looked straight into her eyes.
"You should ask here. After failing again and again—are you willing to accept it?"
He tapped over her heart. His clear voice made Caitlin press her lips tight.
"I…"
Thinking of all those battles with Cynthia—and all those losses—Caitlin's breath unconsciously grew rough, her chest heaving, the blue glow flickering back into her eyes.
"Be elegant."
Damian's voice came again. Green motes drifted over, and her surging emotions cleared; the blue faded from her eyes.
Be elegant!
When she came back to herself, she tilted her head adorably, staring at Damian.
Huh? What just happened?
Her gaze went a little distant. How had she suddenly stepped out of that emotional spike?
Was it Sir Damian's power?
"If the outcome isn't what you want, trying again is fine, Miss Caitlin. You can hear your own heart too."
"…Yes. In truth… I'm not willing to accept it."
After a brief silence, Caitlin faced herself.
"Then work for it. Level up. When you're stronger, challenge your friend again."
"Sir Damian, how did you become strong?"
Now she understood—this boy was strong. He even looked younger than her.
"Me?" Damian chuckled.
"By facing the world's darkness and truth—and you grow stronger naturally."
"The world's darkness and truth?" Confusion clouded Caitlin's face.
"Yes, Miss Caitlin. If I may ask…"
Damian's lips curled into a grin, thick malice surfacing.
"Do you crave power?"