Two Dorky Psychic Besties

Once they entered Saffron Gym, the first thing they saw was a circular corridor, with libraries and classrooms on either side.

Nearly everyone wore a researcher's white coat, hurrying about their work in their respective classrooms.

"Even with so many people here, that girl named Sabrina lives all alone," Caitlin said with a dejected sigh.

"That's why friends and family matter," Gary said, nodding.

"You're right." Caitlin nodded in agreement. Her Psychic-type powers had run wild since childhood. If her old butler Darach hadn't stayed by her side all that time, her personality probably would have become twisted too.

"If only Sabrina were a little more even-tempered." Gary shrank back nervously.

Seriously, that woman was ridiculously powerful. If she and Caitlin started fighting, Gary could get caught between them and die without even knowing what hit him. His cause of death might end up listed as: killed by unidentified AOE...

"Hello there, little Caitlin." Just as Gary was agonizing over this, an elderly voice came from a corner.

An old woman stepped out, leaning on a cane.

"Agatha!" Gary exclaimed. Agatha, Kanto's Ghost-type specialist and one of the Elite Four, had actually appeared just like that!

"Keep it down. I can hear you." Agatha looked Gary over with a chuckle. "Hmm, taller and more handsome. Shame you're looking more and more like your grandfather did when he was young. That part's annoying."

"Agatha, what brings you here?" Gary shook his head with a wry smile.

She was practically a grandmother to Gary. Although she chased Professor Oak all over his laboratory whenever she visited, she truly treated Gary well.

When Young Master Mao was little, she had bought almost all his toys, clothes, and such. An old, clueless man like Professor Oak wasn't nearly that thoughtful.

"Isn't this all because of the trouble you caused, you little rascal?" Agatha first nodded to Caitlin in greeting, then poked Gary's forehead.

"You were supposed to take the girl out for food and fun, and you took her shopping at Team Rocket's Black Market Shop? What were you thinking?

"Do you know that because of this, that little runt Damaranch called us into a meeting in the middle of the night?

"Sometimes I really want to have Gengar drag him straight to hell."

Gary gulped. Good luck, old man Damaranch. You're on your own.

"That was an accident! I've had a wonderful time these past few days!" Caitlin clutched Gary's sleeve and hurried to explain.

"Oh? Really?" Agatha studied Caitlin's expression, then turned around and whacked Gary on the head with her cane.

"Ow!" Gary clutched his head innocently. "What was that for?"

Agatha pointed at his nose, exasperated. "Of all the things you could learn from your grandfather, why did you have to learn to flirt with every girl you meet?"

"I didn't..." Gary almost burst into tears. He honestly hadn't thought of Caitlin that way. Her personality simply reminded him of a little sister, so he had looked after her a bit more.

"You didn't? Then explain that to Lorelei yourself." Agatha turned and beckoned.

"Long time no see, little Gary." A familiar, gentle voice rang out.

Gary turned to see Lorelei adjust her glasses. With her hands behind her back, she rose onto her toes and stepped lightly toward him.

"Lorelei? Aren't you vacationing in the Sevii Islands?" Gary's jaw dropped.

Agatha glanced at Gary and rolled her eyes. The men of the Oak family were such players... she knew that firsthand.

"I happened to meet up with Agatha here in Saffron City. When I heard you were coming to challenge Saffron Gym with this Elite Four member, Caitlin, I got curious and came along to take a look." Lorelei blinked, approaching with an unreadable smile as she took one of Gary's arms.

Caitlin immediately grabbed his other hand. "There's no need to trouble either of you. Young Master Mao and I can go find Sabrina ourselves."

Lorelei elegantly tightened her hold, and Gary immediately felt something as soft as marshmallow against his right hand...

Gary sucked in a breath, breaking into a cold sweat. Come on, isn't this a little unfair as a test of my resolve?

Caitlin and Lorelei exchanged looks, and sparks seemed to fly between them...

Agatha waved a hand helplessly. "You young people, don't make trouble for an old woman. Lorelei, she's our guest. Be a little gracious."

"All right." Lorelei smiled sweetly and let go of Gary's arm. After all, Caitlin was a "guest." Lorelei was one of his own...

Honestly, Gary felt a tiny bit disappointed the instant she let go.

"Young Master Mao, is she going to stop you from hanging out with me...?" Caitlin shook his arm anxiously.

Gary patted Caitlin's head with a helpless smile. "Don't worry. Lorelei's really nice."

"That's right. I was just teasing you. Don't take it to heart." Lorelei bent slightly and shook Caitlin's hand in a friendly manner. Between her snowy-white peaks, an Ice Gem necklace glittered.

Good grief. That was a finishing blow straight to the heart.

Caitlin looked at Lorelei, then lowered her head to look at her own toes. What do I do? I'm going to cry...

"All right, let's get down to business." Agatha rubbed her brow. Such a good boy, and Oak had gone and corrupted him. She would definitely have to pay another visit to Professor Oak's Laboratory!

At Agatha's reminder, Lorelei blushed slightly. What's gotten into me? I'm acting like a little girl whose candy's been stolen...

"Ahem, here's the situation." Lorelei adjusted her glasses, regaining her serious demeanor. "Miss Caitlin and Sabrina are both SSR Class Psychic-types. Any conflict between them could have serious consequences.

"For that reason, Agatha and I will supervise this match from start to finish. Miss Caitlin may not intervene to help you. If any problems arise, we'll stop the match immediately."

Gary nodded in understanding. "Rest assured, I'll conduct this Gym battle fairly."

Gary hadn't intended to have Caitlin help him cheat anyway. He had mainly brought her along as a precaution against Sabrina getting upset about losing and using her Psychic-type powers to cause trouble.

"Good. Just focus on the battle and don't be afraid. I... Agatha and I will protect you!" Lorelei said earnestly.

"Are you... still going to challenge me?" The sudden voice startled everyone present!

"Wow! Amazing! You actually managed to get close to me without making a sound," Caitlin marveled.

"Ahem, if it isn't little Sabrina. Hello there." Agatha also coughed awkwardly.

"Um, sorry, but when did you come out?" Gary asked curiously. This severe social recluse had actually ventured outside? What a miracle!

Sabrina raised her head with a somewhat reproachful look. "I came out to greet you as soon as you entered. You just didn't notice me..."

Everyone broke into an awkward sweat. Did this girl really have that little presence?

"Sorry. I'm here to challenge Saffron Gym. Can we start?" Gary asked, scratching his head.

Sabrina looked at Caitlin and opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, then turned away. "Follow me."

They followed Sabrina to the innermost part of Saffron Gym, where a dim indoor battlefield appeared before them.

Candles and torches burned along both sides. A perfectly good battlefield had been turned into something out of an escape room...

Sabrina went to one end of the battlefield and sat in her seat. Her doll approached the group, carrying a Poké Ball.

Sabrina's gaze moved over Gary curiously.

Caitlin looked at Gary, then at Sabrina. Suddenly, she used Teleport and appeared in front of Sabrina.

Boom! Two Psychic-type fields, one red and one blue, erupted and collided fiercely.

White light flashed behind Lorelei and Agatha. Slowbro and Gengar appeared in front of them and immediately raised a green shield.

On Gary's side, Golduck came to the rescue just in time. His sturdy Psychic-type barrier kept Gary completely safe.

"Golduck! (Was I cool or what?)" Golduck gave him a thumbs-up and raised an eyebrow.

"That was seriously smooth." Gary returned the thumbs-up.

Meanwhile, the clash between Sabrina's and Caitlin's Psychic-type powers finally ended. Though both had held back, it was clear that they were essentially on the same level.

Caitlin nodded. "You really are impressive."

The corners of Sabrina's mouth twitched slightly. "You're not bad either."

What happened next proved one thing: friendship between women often took only a single sentence.

Sabrina: (￣▽￣)σ "Hey, your bag is really pretty..."

Caitlin: (´▽｀)ノ♪ "Right? Young Master Mao helped me bargain it down to twenty percent off..."

Both girls' eyes lit up, and they clasped hands. "Besties!"

"Do me a favor and don't turn Young Master Mao into one of your toys. He's a good person," Caitlin added.

Sabrina gave a faint smile. "I know. I heard everything you said earlier."

"Then...?" Caitlin continued hesitantly.

"Can we stay friends forever?" Sabrina asked after a long hesitation.

Caitlin smiled like a little angel. "Of course!"

"Then I promise." Sabrina nodded. "But are you sure you don't want me to turn him into a keychain? That way, you could hang him on your bag, and no one could take him away."

"Ooh, that sounds nice. But... no, better not. Young Master Mao is really fun. He takes me out for yummy food, and he plays games too. The three of us can team up in the future." Caitlin counted the reasons off on her fingers.

"All right, I'll listen to you!" Sabrina nodded in satisfaction.

As the person under discussion, Gary was practically crying from how "touched" he was. "Could you two please discuss me like I'm an actual person...?"

"Ahem, all right. The match officially begins now. Caitlin and I would like some black tea, so you can take things from here." With that, Sabrina took Caitlin's hand. Light flashed around them, and both girls left the Gym.

Gary raised a hand. "Wait... my Gym battle..."

"Hee hee hee! Come play with me." Sabrina's doll remained where it was, speaking in a human voice.

Only then did Gary notice the Badge sitting on top of the little-girl doll's head.

"The match is one-on-one. If you win, you can take the Badge. If you lose, just sneak it away later," the little doll said.

The two Elite Four members behind him cleared their throats. "Ahem..."

Gary didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Next time, discuss something like that through Telepathy..."

"Go, Abra!"

Looking at the Abra fast asleep before him, nowhere near ready to battle and only level 20, Gary took out a Poké Ball with mixed feelings. "Then... Growlithe, use Bite!"

Chomp! Growlithe faithfully carried out Gary's command, sinking his teeth hard into Abra's head...

A second later, Abra flopped flat on the ground and kept right on sleeping...

"You won!" Before Gary could even respond, the Marsh Badge had already appeared in his hand.

Then the blue Psychic-type energy receded like a tide, and the little-girl doll and Abra disappeared together with Teleport.

Gary looked at Agatha. "Is Sabrina really this easy to beat when she doesn't use her Psychic-type powers?"

Agatha rolled her eyes. "Of course not. Sabrina's main team has been kept at Indigo Plateau all this time, because we were afraid something might happen if her emotions became unstable.

"The Abra she's using now is just one she caught at random by the roadside."

"Whew, so that's it. Looks like I should come back for another Gym battle if I get the chance. This Badge doesn't carry much weight." Gary sighed.

"It's all right. You earned it." Lorelei's lovely eyes shifted toward him as she spoke with a touch of relief. "Helping Sabrina resolve her emotional troubles and earning her approval is far more difficult than winning a battle."

Looking into Lorelei's tender gaze, Gary nodded, a little moved. "Since we're finished here anyway, are you hungry? I could cook you some... noodles?"

Agatha's mouth twitched. "We still have things to do. Save your noodles for Caitlin."

Lorelei shrugged regretfully. "I have something to do too. Next time."

"Sure. Definitely." Gary nodded.

After Lorelei turned to leave, Agatha glanced back at Gary meaningfully. "Child, I watched you grow up too. Whatever decisions you make in the future, I'll support you. But don't break Lorelei's heart. Understand?"

Gary stayed where he was, sighing a little helplessly. "I'll let things take their course."

When it came to romance, a good first impression certainly mattered, but taking things slowly was its own kind of sincerity.

After all, who could say what the future held?