Kanto Region, Saffron City
Saffron City was the largest and most developed city in all of Kanto, and this was Johan's first visit.
The moment he stepped out of the airport, he could feel the stark contrast between Saffron and Blackthorn City.
It wasn't that Blackthorn was underdeveloped—it was just that, compared to Saffron, it felt like moving from a small town to a bustling metropolis.
Towering skyscrapers lined the skyline, and the streets were alive with cars, people, and Pokémon of all kinds.
The Pokémon were incredibly diverse—some native to Kanto, others from Johto, and even some from far-off regions like Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos.
Carrying Vulpix in his arms and flanked by Haunter, Johan made his way toward White Cove.
Known as a romantic spot for couples, the cove was also a popular tourist destination.
"Oowu~"
The Vulpix in Johan's arms stirred, rubbing its eyes and yawning softly.
"Awake now?" Johan teased, ruffling its fur affectionately.
"Oowu! (#｀皿)"
Annoyed at its now-messy fur, Vulpix growled, baring its little fangs.
Which only prompted Johan to double down on ruffling its fur.
Vulpix's soft, silky coat was becoming more and more addictive to touch, Johan mused.
Oddly enough, while he could sense Haunter reaching a point where evolution might soon happen, Vulpix seemed to be making no such progress.
Perhaps it was because Vulpix required a Fire Stone to evolve. Or maybe it was because Haunter had been dormant for a millennium, accumulating much more energy than Vulpix.
As Johan pondered these things, absentmindedly petting Vulpix, a sharp, cold presence brushed against his senses.
"Ka-kah?"
Both Haunter and Vulpix reacted before Johan, turning their gazes toward a young woman standing not far away.
She had long black hair, a form-fitting red outfit, and glossy black tights. A Kadabra floated by her side, its spoon gleaming faintly with psychic energy.
Her confident smirk gave her identity away immediately:
Sabrina.
Saffron City's Gym Leader.
One of Team Rocket's three executive officers.
Johan sighed inwardly.
First Koga. Then the Rocket trio. Then Matori.
Now Sabrina?
Johan couldn't help but wonder, What's Giovanni trying to pull here?
Before Johan could say a word, Sabrina spoke.
"Grain... in the Field?" she asked, her tone equal parts amused and curious.
Johan blinked, startled.
Sabrina seemed to take his silence as confirmation.
"I thought I recognized the signature of my Calm Mind techniques lingering around Saffron. Turns out it's you."
Johan's mind clicked into place.
She wasn't here under Giovanni's orders—she knew him from somewhere else.
Testing his theory, Johan ventured cautiously: "Supernatural Girl?"
At the nickname, Sabrina's elegant expression cracked slightly, and her pale cheeks turned a soft pink.
The embarrassment in her eyes confirmed Johan's suspicion.
Oh no.
Giovanni. Matori. Sabrina.
Unknowingly, Johan had ended up connected with so many Rocket executives through his online consultations for Pokémon with psychological issues.
If he added Mewtwo to that mix...
If Officer Jenny came knocking, I'd never explain my way out of this.
Johan resolved to meticulously audit his online friends' list when he got home. Surely it couldn't have more Rocket members, right?
Sabrina's gaze flicked to the Pokémon at Johan's side—Haunter and Vulpix.
Her eyebrows arched in faint surprise.
These two weren't Psychic-types, but they had latent potential in psychic energy that outshone most true Psychic Pokémon.
As an expert in the field, Sabrina's keen eyes quickly picked up on their hidden talents.
Then she turned back to Johan, tilting her head slightly.
"Here to challenge my gym?"
Johan froze, unsure how to respond.
Before he could open his mouth, Haunter stepped in, donning a pair of sunglasses and waving dismissively.
"Ka-kah~~"
No time today.
Sabrina narrowed her eyes, her psychic aura flaring faintly as her long hair began to float.
Vulpix tensed, jumping onto Johan's head, its six tails fanning out as it prepared to counter the energy with its own latent psychic resonance.
Beside Sabrina, Kadabra gripped its spoon tightly, a nervous glint in its eyes.
Kadabra muttered to itself, If this escalates, there's no way I'm walking away unscathed.
Kadabra had a vested interest in keeping things civil. At home, Sabrina's cooking experiments were enough to terrify it. The last thing it wanted was more trouble.
Johan quickly stepped in.
"What are you all doing? Looking for a fight?" he barked.
Vulpix wilted under his scolding, its tails drooping as it licked his cheek apologetically.
Sabrina blinked, startled by his sudden assertiveness, and let her psychic aura dissipate.
Kadabra froze, nearly dropping its spoon in shock.
Uh-oh.
"Ka-kah~~"
Haunter snickered, seemingly amused by the tension.
Johan sighed and waved a hand dismissively.
"Sorry, we're busy today. Maybe tomorrow or the day after, I'll swing by your gym."
Sabrina raised an eyebrow, about to retort.
"I'll even teach you a recipe," Johan added casually.
Kadabra, Haunter, and Vulpix all froze.
Recipe?
To their astonishment, Sabrina's frosty demeanor thawed almost instantly. Her nose wrinkled slightly, and she folded her arms.
"W-who needs your recipes? I'm already a great cook, okay?"
Though her words protested, the spark of interest in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Ka-kah?" Haunter scratched its head.
What just happened?
Kadabra, however, felt its heart sink.
Great. I guess we're eating another 'culinary masterpiece' soon.
After a moment of sulking, Sabrina muttered, "Fine. Teach me the hardest one you know."
"Deal," Johan said with a smile.
Her mood brightened considerably.
Sabrina hesitated, then added, "I don't want to owe you, so... how about I teach your Haunter how to use psychic energy in return?"
Both Johan and Haunter blinked in surprise.
Psychic energy?
Satisfied with herself, Sabrina turned to Kadabra.
Kadabra groaned inwardly, but with a resigned sigh, activated Teleport, whisking Sabrina away.
Before disappearing, Kadabra shot Johan a look that he didn't quite understand.
You're our only hope.
As the pair vanished, Johan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Turning to his Pokémon, he said sternly:
"The next time this happens, keep calm. No rushing into fights. Be like me—stay composed and prioritize peace."
Haunter blinked, then floated over and poked Johan's back.
"Ka-kah!"
You're drenched in sweat!
Oowu!"
Vulpix burst out laughing, its tails wagging with delight.
Haunter joined in, cackling uncontrollably.
Johan: "..."
After a moment, Vulpix spoke softly.
"Oowu..."
I don't think she really wanted to fight. I didn't feel any malice from her or Kadabra.
Haunter nodded in agreement.
"Ka-kah..."
True. It did seem that way.
"Really?" Johan asked, skeptical.
After a brief pause, Haunter voiced another question.
"Ka-kah?"
But how did you know one dish would win her over?
Johan chuckled knowingly.
"Every time I post a picture of my cooking, the same few people always give it the most likes."
He ticked off names on his fingers.
Cynthia, Matori, Sabrina, Diantha, Lorelei, Steven...
Cynthia and Diantha were foodies, but Matori and Sabrina? They just wanted to learn.
After all, Johan had once taught Sabrina to use cooking as a way to bond with Kadabra.
Little Sabrina... totally handled.
Then again... now that Johan thought about it, hadn't nearly every Rocket member—Giovanni included—attempted cooking under his advice at some point?
The warm sun, salty breeze, and rhythmic crash of waves made White Cove a scenic paradise.
Named for its pristine, white sand, the cove was a haven for both humans and Pokémon.
Johan kicked off his shoes, enjoying the soft sand beneath his feet.
"Dratini would probably love this," he mused.
He released Dratini and Tinkatuff from their Pokéballs.
As soon as it emerged, Dratini happily rolled around in the sand, eyes closed in bliss.
"Tink!"
Tinkatuff, meanwhile, hefted its hammer and set off on an enthusiastic treasure hunt.
Not far off, Haunter spotted a wild Krabby and floated over mischievously.
"Ka-kah~~"
Wanna play rock-paper-scissors? If I lose, I'll give you a berry. If you lose, I get a claw.
"Krab? Krab krab?"
The Krabby tilted its head, utterly baffled.
Johan smacked his forehead.
"You do realize Krabby can only throw scissors, right?"
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Powerstones?
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