Chapter 46: The Maze of the Saffron Gym
Saffron City — inside the Psychic Gym's private lounge, a young woman with pale-blue long hair and a pink camisole top stepped out of the bathroom with a veil of steam around her.
"Whew~ Nice new look. Very sexy~"
A playful whistle sounded.
Swish!
The green psychic inhibitor on her wrist glowed sharply. A pen inside the cup on the table flew out like a bullet, aiming straight for the whistler's eyeball!
"Oh my God! Relax, it's me—" Surge raised both hands, though his lips still curled with a grin.
"Hmph. Next time you sneak up on me again, I won't stop."
Sabrina snorted coldly, running a hand through her long hair.
The pen, as if with a mind of its own, flew neatly back into the cup.
"Haha, I'll remember that." Surge shrugged, sprawling carelessly onto the sofa.
"By the way, what's with the hair? Why the blue?"
"Movie role."
Sabrina replied, voice indifferent.
"Tsk tsk. Must be nice being a pretty woman. Just act a little and watch the money roll in.
Unlike me—I have to go out to sea and work my butt off."
"What exactly did you come here for?"
Sabrina frowned.
Surge propped his chin in his hands and stared at her seriously.
"He's contacted you, hasn't he?"
"Who?"
Sabrina asked knowingly.
"Giovanni… the Boss." Surge enunciated each word.
"No way he caused that much trouble in your territory and you didn't know."
"It has nothing to do with you." Sabrina cut him off bluntly.
Bang!
Surge slapped the table and shot to his feet.
"Sabrina! We were young back then—everyone makes mistakes.
But now we're Gym Leaders, guardians of our cities under the League.
I'm not a saint, but I'll be damned if I watch you walk down that road again!"
Once, the Rocket Trio—Sabrina, Surge, and Koga—had ranked even above the Four Rocket Commanders.
But just like Lance, who repented and became the Champion who now served as a constant investigator of Pokémon crimes, these Gym Leaders all washed clean and turned their lives around.
Koga had even risen to become an Elite Four member.
Among the three, Sabrina and Surge were on good terms.
So the moment Surge heard rumors of Giovanni's movements, he rushed here to confront her.
After all, they had all followed what they believed was "justice" and simply lost their way for a while. None of them had ever been truly evil.
Because of these past experiences, Lance lived the life he did now—ten years unchanged, champion's cape flowing as he fought in the dark to protect the world.
"He did come."
Sabrina sighed softly. Her expression then hardened.
"He told me some secrets. So I've decided not to stop him.
But that does not mean I'll ever return to Team Rocket.
I am myself. And now, I simply want to live freely."
Surge examined her face for a moment, then broke into a relieved grin.
"That so…? Good.
You're a popular actress now—being a celebrity beats being a rat in the shadows any day."
Sabrina acknowledged this with a slight nod. She waved a hand, and the refrigerator beside them opened automatically.
"Juice or beer?"
Surge's grin widened.
"Ice-Colaaa!"
He grabbed a cold can and chugged it.
Then, standing, he said, "I'm off. Take care of yourself."
Sabrina hesitated and then asked, "Aren't you curious what Giovanni told me?"
"Whatever he said has nothing to do with me."
Surge spread his hands casually.
"I'm a law-abiding citizen now~"
Sabrina smiled and shook her head.
"What a coincidence. So am I~"
"See ya!"
Surge waved without turning back and left.
Sabrina lifted her right hand. A spoon beside her twisted into a perfect arc.
"So it's him…?
Let me see for myself—what kind of boy could make you describe him that way."
Her cheeks warmed as her mind replayed a scene from the Silver Mountain hot springs days earlier.
"Listen, I met someone. He's a lot like how I used to be.
I've got a feeling—he'll be the answer to this era."
The young man lounged back with his hands behind his head, voice filled with hope.
"Oh~ then I'll have to confirm personally.
What kind of prodigy could make you say that?"
Steam blurred the hot spring air, hiding the flush spreading across the girl's face.
---
Outside the massive stadium-like building with a shell-shaped roof—resembling the Sydney Opera House—stood a boy in a red, blue, and white cap. Ash tightened the shock-proof gloves on his hands.
"Ash, what are you doing?"
Verity stood beside him, baffled.
"You've been dawdling here for five minutes."
Ash wiped cold sweat.
"Ahem… Well, mainly, I'm… a little scared of the Saffron Gym…"
"Oho? That's rare! You? Ash Ketchum?
Didn't your motto used to be: 'Never back down, always charge'?"
Verity mimicked his stubborn posture with a laugh.
"Yeah—usually I don't back down."
Ash rolled his eyes helplessly.
Head can be broken, blood can flow—Ash could take a Thunderbolt to the chest without blinking.
But Sabrina… the old Sabrina…
She used to be kinda a psycho.
Turning challengers into dolls and sticking them into a toy city…
Who wouldn't have trauma after that!?
"Aiya, stop overthinking! Close your eyes, open them again, and it'll be over.
Hurry up, I wanna meet Miss Sabrina already!"
Ash exhaled heavily.
They were already here—he couldn't run away now.
Pikachu… I'm counting on you.
"Pika pika~"
Pikachu patted his head reassuringly.
Don't worry, I got you.
Deep breath.
Ash stepped forward and shouted:
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town! I'm here to challenge the Saffron Gym!"
Click.
The doors opened. A trainee in a white uniform covered his ears and yelled:
"Why are you shouting so loud!? Can't you see the doorbell!?"
"Uh… sorry, I got excited."
Ash scratched his head awkwardly.
"Did you make an appointment?"
The trainee rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yesterday afternoon." Ash nodded.
After checking the registry, the trainee said, "Ash, Pallet Town… alright. Follow me.
And no loud noises!"
"Right, right…"
Ash saluted and followed quietly.
Verity whispered excitedly, "Woohoo~ time to see Miss Sabrina!"
Through lecture halls and psychic research rooms, they finally arrived at a wide open battlefield.
The trainee spoke briefly with a referee at the door, then left through a hidden side entrance.
Verity looked around in awe.
"This really looks like a maze."
Ash, on the other hand, felt a weight lift from his heart.
No creepy dolls.
No red-eyed psycho goth girl.
I love this worldline.
The referee approached and addressed him formally:
"Challenger, welcome to the Saffron Gym.
Please show me the number of badges you currently possess."
Ash opened his jacket, revealing three shining badges.
"Three…"
The referee nodded.
"Very well. Based on your badge count, your opponents will match your level.
Here are the rules:
From the entrance, you may choose any direction and open any door.
Each room contains a challenger.
Defeat the challenger to advance.
Gym Leader Sabrina will be in one of the rooms.
Where she is depends entirely on your intuition.
Challenger battles are 1-on-1.
The Gym Leader battle is 2-on-2.
Is that clear?"
"Clear."
Ash nodded.
"I have a question!"
Verity raised her hand.
"Can companions walk along?"
"Yes, as long as you don't assist in the battle.
If you help, he will be disqualified."
Verity immediately slapped her chest proudly.
"Oh don't worry. I'm not even close with him.
I just wanna see Miss Sabrina—I'm her fan!"
Ash: (￢_￢) … Verity, seriously…
With the explanation complete, the referee opened the door to the maze.
"Then—the challenge begins!"
Ash flicked the hem of his jacket back and strode into the passageway.
Saffron Gym—here I come!
To be continued…