But fear is subconscious, while accepting Sabrina is a conscious decision of theirs. However, upon sensing their subconscious thoughts, Sabrina's heart crumbled instantly...
This led to Sabrina attacking them, and although Sabrina's mother had the chance to leave with them, she chose to stay behind voluntarily.
Because of her guilt towards Sabrina and her worry for her, even if it meant becoming a doll, she wanted to stay by Sabrina's side.
However, Sabrina's psyche was already thoroughly disturbed, so she didn't even notice that her mother still loved her despite the fear.
After learning of Sabrina's mother's decision, Sabrina's father silently agreed and then used superpower to leave.
That was the determination of a mother, something no external force could interfere with. Sabrina's father knew that if he forcibly took her away, it might cause Sabrina's mother a lifetime of regret and resentment.
As a father, he couldn't do the same as the mother; he had to find a way outside to restore Sabrina.
Sabrina wasn't always this cold. Before awakening her superpower, she was actually a girl who loved to laugh. The reason probably lies in her superpower.
Due to her superpower, she perceived too much darkness in people's hearts, which tainted her pure heart, eventually leading to inner closure and distortion, even giving rise to a second persona.
Unfortunately, despite being outside for so long, he couldn't find a way to stop Sabrina. All he could do was exaggerate and publicize the consequences of failing to challenge the Saffron Gym, deterring those incapable challengers from coming.
He also hoped to attract some experts to defeat Sabrina. If someone could defeat her, perhaps it would change her situation.
However, a recent event dashed Sabrina's father's hopes.
The situation at Saffron Gym, where people were turned into dolls, became increasingly severe, eventually reaching the Alliance, which dispatched personnel to coordinate, including one of the Elite Four of the league—the Ice Elite, Lorelei!
The Elite Four of Kanto are not like those from other regions; they possess Champion Level strength.
Seeing Lorelei come, Sabrina's father felt an immense joy in his heart.
Before Lorelei's arrival, Sabrina had never lost a battle. He thought that if she experienced the bitterness of defeat, she could return to normal.
As for whether Lorelei could defeat Sabrina... Though Sabrina's superpower was indeed strong, and her Alakazam formidable, compared to Champion Level, there was still a gap.
However, the result plunged Sabrina's father's heart into despair.
That day, the entire interior of the Saffron Gym was frozen. Lorelei found Sabrina's father and expressed that she was also helpless.
If she exerted full force to defeat Sabrina, without protective measures, the entire Saffron Gym might be destroyed, and even surrounding facilities could be affected.
Moreover, since Sabrina was connected with Alakazam spiritually throughout, defeating Alakazam would affect Sabrina's spiritual power.
"...Her strength exceeded my expectations. If it were an ordinary Elite, I might subdue her without harming the surroundings, but the combined power of her and Alakazam is not weaker than a typical Champion. Even if I defeat her, it would impact her and the surroundings."
"And even if I defeat her, I can't return her to normal. Perhaps one day, someone who can make her smile will appear, and she will return to her normal state. Until then, we can only wait silently."
Lorelei's words completely shattered any hope in Sabrina's father's heart.
Lorelei even said it was difficult to defeat her, and even defeating her wouldn't restore her, possibly disabling most of Saffron City. What hope could he hold?
As for Lorelei's suggestion of waiting for someone who could make Sabrina smile to appear... Ha, would such a person really exist in this world?
And now—there really is such a person!
And this person is just a young boy.
The reason Ash could make Sabrina smile might be because he bore no fear of her and held goodwill in his heart towards her, a feeling perceived by Sabrina.
Moreover, Ash also possessed strong powers like hers, treating him as a kindred spirit.
With all these factors, Sabrina smiled in front of Ash.
Sabrina's father also noticed that the doll representing her second persona was gone, which at least indicated that Sabrina's inner world was no longer twisted.
"What a miracle... A boy who doesn't even look old enough to be eighteen, not only possessing such power but also honing superpower to the same level as Sabrina's. Even Heaven seems to be helping Sabrina!"
The man in a workman's suit, Sabrina's father, showed a look of emotion and gratitude towards Ash.
"Ash is only fifteen this year, and he's only been traveling for a month and a half. Don't make Ash sound older than he is."
"That's right, and Ash's power is called Aura Power, not superpower."
Misty and Brock stepped forward, with Misty looking at Sabrina's faintly smiling face, her brows lightly furrowing.
Why did it feel like there was a foreboding...
"Fifteen? Are you kidding?! How could a fifteen-year-old have an Elite Level Pokémon, how did he train it? Did he, like Sabrina, have Pokémon before fifteen?" Sabrina's father showed disbelief on his face and questioned.
Training an Elite Level Pokémon by fifteen? That doesn't make sense unless he started training Pokémon before traveling, like Sabrina, who had an Abra with her since she awakened her superpower.
As Sabrina's superpower grew, Abra's power also continuously increased, so now Sabrina had an Elite Level Alakazam, and only this one.
So what qualifies Ash at fifteen?
"Ash caught it himself, his way of capturing it was... by physically grappling Gastly." Misty recalled the scene, her mouth twitching. To own an Elite Level Pokémon this way was indeed peculiar.
This could probably be unprecedented, right?
Sabrina's father: ???
Physically capture an Elite Level Pokémon? Is this even real speech?! Winning a fight aside, are wild Elite Level Pokémon that easy to find?
While Sabrina's father conversed with Misty and others, Sabrina suppressed her slightly curved lips and responded to Ash.
"You're right. Battling with you indeed gave me a burning feeling inside, a sensation others couldn't bring. But you got one thing wrong; you're not the only evenly matched opponent I've had. Recently, I battled someone named Lorelei. Though she wasn't a Special Ability User, her Pokémon were strong, challenging even for me and Alakazam together."
Ash: !!!
Upon hearing this, Ash excitedly grabbed Sabrina's fragrant shoulders and said, "The Lorelei you mentioned, is she from the Elite Four of Kanto?"
Sabrina looked at the broad hand on her shoulder, a hint of unusual color flickering in her beautiful eyes, yet she made no movement, calmly responding, "Yes, I believe she said she was part of the Elite Four. Although I didn't win against her, I also didn't lose. It seemed she had reservations, so she couldn't fight at full strength."
"Perhaps it was because of this that I couldn't feel the thrill of the battle. As you said, the enjoyment of the battle is when both sides are striving with all their might to win. If one holds back, there's no way to feel the other's heart... Is that right, Ash?"