The battle ended much faster than expected.
That's typical for Psychic-type and Ghost-type Pokémon battles—both are fragile.
While Mr. Mime boasts impressive special defense stats, its low HP is a glaring weakness.
Caught off guard by a sneak attack and overwhelmed by an oversized Shadow Ball, Mr. Mime was knocked out of the fight.
"Ka-kaah!"
Gengar immediately bounced back to Johan's side, its stubby legs propelling it upward for a celebratory high five.
"Well done."
Johan didn't hold back on praising the chubby Pokémon.
Sabrina pouted and returned Mr. Mime to its Poké Ball, muttering, "That Shadow Ball was way too overpowered."
Johan twitched at her words.
And Mr. Mime's ability to block Toxic with its Barrier was fair?
"You won."
However, Sabrina accepted her loss without throwing a tantrum, much to Johan's surprise.
He had been wondering how to handle the situation if Sabrina had acted up. Should he copy Ash from the anime and try offering her a gift? A little prank, maybe?
"Hoo-di..."
Even Alakazam seemed surprised.
While Sabrina had changed a lot, this was the first time it had seen her take a loss so gracefully. Considering Sabrina's strength, she rarely lost battles.
It seemed its trainer had truly transformed.
All thanks to their benefactor.
Alakazam glanced at Johan with eyes brimming with gratitude.
"Here's your badge."
A shiny gold badge floated from Sabrina's hand and landed in front of Johan.
At first glance, it looked like a small golden coin.
"This is much nicer than the Rising Badge from Sootopolis Gym."
The reason was simple—it was made of solid gold.
Though it's probably just a replica, Johan mused.
The real badges from the eight Kanto Gyms were said to possess mysterious powers.
So far, Johan had collected a Stone Badge from Hoenn, a Rising Badge from Johto, and now this Golden Badge from Kanto.
Was he on track to collect one badge from every region?
As Johan admired the Golden Badge, contemplating how much it might be worth, Sabrina used her Psychic powers to toss something else his way.
It was a TM—a Technical Machine.
Wait!
Johan's heart skipped a beat as he realized what it was.
Before he could say anything, Sabrina spoke: "Your Pokémon already knows Calm Mind, so I'm giving you this instead. It's the TM for Skill Swap."
Skill Swap!
[Skill Swap: Temporarily switches the abilities of two Pokémon!]
Johan's face fell. He opened his mouth to protest, but Gengar acted faster.
Delighted, Gengar shot out its tongue, snatching the TM and swallowing it whole.
"Ka-kah!"
Oh no.
Johan's heart sank.
He had tried to be on guard against Sabrina's antics, but he had still been caught off guard by this unexpected "gift."
"Don't overreact. It's just a normal Gym reward," Sabrina said with a smirk, dismissing Johan's frozen reaction.
Johan opened his mouth but struggled to find the words. Finally, he managed to say:
"Thanks… I guess."
"You're welcome."
Welcome?
Johan took a deep breath, silently vowing to remember this moment.
From now on, Sabrina was officially added to his mental list of troublemakers—right above Lance.
With the surprisingly swift Gym challenge over, Sabrina led Johan and his Pokémon to a spacious room inside the Gym.
The room was large and appeared to have been a training or meditation area for Sabrina and her Pokémon.
In the center stood a chair that felt oddly familiar to Johan. If there had been a pile of dolls nearby and Sabrina had been sitting on it, he might have remembered where he had seen it before.
Now, however, the space had been repurposed and filled with various furniture and items.
One corner featured a kitchen setup complete with a stove, countertops, and utensils—a clear sign Sabrina had been cooking here.
In another corner, there was a sizable pool, where a Slowpoke lounged by the edge, its tail lazily submerged in the water.
Scattered around the room were gadgets and knickknacks that Johan didn't recognize, each appearing oddly intriguing.
"So, dinner or a bath first?" Sabrina asked suddenly.
Johan: "?"
"You guys always love this stuff, don't you? My dad had a stash under his bed."
Johan: "???"
Hold on.
Wait.
Let me process this.
Johan instinctively stepped back, raising his hand in protest.
Sabrina burst into laughter.
"Relax! I'm just messing with you. It's fun to see your reaction. I bet he'd react the same way, too."
He?
Sabrina wouldn't dare joke like this with Giovanni. But with Johan, she had no such qualms.
She was simply curious how Giovanni would react in a similar situation.
"Before you got here, I made something. Come take a look."
Sabrina gestured for Johan to join her by the kitchen counter, where she placed a dish on the table.
One look at the plate, and Johan's expression turned strange.
On the plate was a black, gooey mass. Thankfully, it didn't smell bad—otherwise, he might have mistaken it for a pile of Black Sludge.
"This is…"
"Stir-fried Tamato Berries and Lum Berries with Eggplants."
Johan: "..."
He glanced at Alakazam with pity in his eyes.
Kid, how did you survive growing up?
Mature and stoic as always, Alakazam now looked on the verge of tears.
You poor soul.
"What do you think?" Sabrina asked, her eyes brimming with anticipation.
Johan cleared his throat.
"Well… not bad. I didn't know you had a knack for cooking."
The Dark Cuisine Association could use someone like her.
"Really?"
Sabrina beamed.
"It's cold now, but do you want to try some?"
She used her Psychic powers to summon a spoon, offering it to Johan.
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Johan's forehead as he contemplated his options.
Then he made a decision.
Firmly rejecting the spoon, he grabbed the plate, opened Gengar's mouth, and dumped the entire dish inside.
Gengar: "???"
The Pokémon had been watching the scene unfold with amusement, only to be caught completely off guard.
Johan clamped Gengar's mouth shut and hurriedly said, "It says it's delicious!"
"Really?"
Sabrina's eyes sparkled with joy as she clenched her fists in excitement.
Tears of gratitude welled up in Alakazam's eyes.
"Hooh-di!"
You're a true hero, sir!
Johan quickly shot Gengar a look.
Use your Dimensional Pocket, now!
Understanding his trainer's intent, Gengar let out a muffled gulp and promptly activated its ability, sighing in relief once the dish disappeared.
Johan patted Gengar's back reassuringly.
Sorry, buddy. It was either you or me—and I wouldn't have survived.
"Ka-kah!"
Gengar glared at Johan, baring its teeth in mock anger.
Johan felt a twinge of guilt.
"Fine, fine. I owe you one," he muttered under his breath.
But before the tension could subside, Sabrina suddenly perked up.
"Alright, I've decided!"
She grabbed her spatula with renewed determination.
"The dish was cold, so the taste wasn't its best. I'll make it again!"
Johan & the Pokémon: "!!"
"Oowu~~"
"Chu~~"
"Eee-ee!"
Vulpix and Tinkatuff fled in beams of red light as they returned to their Poké Balls.
Dratini tripped in its panic, while Gengar found itself restrained by Johan.
Alakazam's face turned pale, sweat dripping from its brow.
Realizing the stakes, Johan stepped forward, snatching the spatula from Sabrina's hand.
"I'm the one teaching you to cook!"
His voice was firm, resolute, and impossible to argue against.
Sabrina blinked at Johan, momentarily stunned.
Then, to Johan's surprise, she simply shrugged and handed over the spatula.
"Fine."
Alakazam let out a long sigh of relief.
What a hero!
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Powerstones?
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