It was the 90s.

  Austin never thought he'd have to actually say that to himself, but today proved otherwise.

  As someone from the 2010s, he had been so used to security cameras being everywhere—street corners, convenience stores, even random intersections.

  But it was 1998.

  Unless you were in a bank, a high-end retail store, a casino, or a government building, the concept of security cameras wasn't commonplace—which was why the Cerulean Gym didn't have a security system. So when the wallet theft incident happened, Officer Jenny was called, and a formal police report was filed. Unfortunately, there was little to go on, and with no other reports of pickpocketing, Officer Jenny had logged the case and would continue investigating, but nothing immediate could be done.

  Austin had assured the guy that they'd look into installing security measures and that if they found the thief, they'd do their best to recover his stolen belongings.

  With that, the matter was"resolved."

  For the rest of the day, the incident sat in the back of his mind.

  Whoever pulled it off wasn't some clumsy amateur.

  No other pickpocketing incidents.

  No clear eyewitness accounts.

  No scent trails for Growlithe to track.

  No signs of it happening.

  At some point, this stopped being a coincidence and started looking like the work of a professional. And Austin had a pretty good idea of who that professional was.

  Leaf Green.

  A master pickpocket, con artist, and survivalist. With her Ditto's ability to disguise her, tracking her down would be near impossible—unless she wanted to be found.

  And Austin wanted to find her. Because if he was right—if this was Leaf—then that meant opportunity.

  I need to find her…Austin thought, mind already running through possible strategies.And once I do… how do I convince her to help me?

  A series of sharp finger snaps suddenly broke the boy from his thoughts.

  "Oh, he's finally back with us," Misty said, raising an eyebrow.

  Austin blinked, realizing he had been zoning out. The entire table was looking at him. They were all seated for dinner, and his plate was still mostly untouched.

  "Sweetie, what's wrong?" Delia's voice was concerned as she leaned slightly toward him. "You haven't eaten anything, and you have this deep, serious look on your face." She hesitated. "When did this start? Is it contagious? Should I be worried?"

  Austin sweatdropped. OnlyAsh Ketchumcould make deep thinking sound like a medical condition.

  "I was just thinking about the pickpocket incident from this morning," Austin admitted, finally taking a bite of the food in front of him.

  The gnocchi Misty had made was soft yet firm, perfectly coated in a brown butter sauce with hints of rosemary. The nutty richness melted onto his tongue, a stark contrast to the heavy thoughts in his mind.

  "You think it could affect the tournament?" Misty asked, her tone serious now.

  Austin nodded. "If more thefts happen, it'll cause a disruption. Trainers will start getting paranoid, the media attention will shift from the battles to security issues, and the whole thing could turn into a mess."

  Misty's expression hardened. "Then we should install a security system."

  "I know a guy who can get us a good deal on tech," Lily chimed in, stirring her drink lazily.

  Austin smirked. "Don't worry about spending money on that."

  Violet frowned. "Why not?"

  "Because I know three guys who'll do it for free."

  That got everyone's attention.

  Daisy tilted her head. "Who?"

  Austin set his fork down.

  "The vendor trio."

  Blank looks.

  "You mean the three guys who look like they're barely surviving paycheck to paycheck?"

  Austin nodded.

  "I don't know about this," Misty admitted. "They don't seem like the type to—"

  "Trust me," Austin said, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Those three? They're comically good with tech." And beingcomically badat being criminals was left unsaid.

  Misty hesitated, but after a moment, sighed.

  "Alright, fine. If you think they can handle it, we'll give them a shot."

  Austin nodded.

  Meanwhile, Delia watched quietly, taking everything in. Her son—the youngest at the table—was the one leading the charge. Not just with his own battles, but with planning, strategizing, organizing. He spoke with confidence, made calculated decisions, and had an ability to predict problems before they arose.

  And more than that… everyone was listening to him.

  They didn't dismiss him as just a kid. They didn't brush off his words as irrelevant. They trusted his judgment. Delia didn't know whether to be impressed, proud, or just outright shocked.

  Maybe all three.

  The moon hung high over Cerulean Gym, casting its silvery glow over the city. Inside the gym, however, the air buzzed with energy. While everyone else had settled in for the night, Austin was wide awake, standing in the center of the gym with his Pokémon gathered before him.

  Thanks to the sound barriers he had installed, they could go all out without disturbing a soul.

  Austin surveyed his team.

  Pikachu stood tall, tail flicking in anticipation. Rattata was fidgeting, her energy barely contained. Vee sat still, watching with quiet amusement. Spearow looked half-bored, half-annoyed at being awake at this hour. And finally, Horsea—blinking her big, round eyes—looked slightly confused but determined. She was the newest member. This was her first team training session.

  And it was eleven at night. Yet, despite that, she was pushing through. Austin couldn't help but respect that.

  "Alright, team," Austin said, crossing his arms as he addressed them. "Listen up."

  Everyone's attention snapped to him.

  "As you know, Misty is hosting a tournament. And the grand prize? Provided by yours truly."

  A few of his Pokémon tilted their heads, already sensing thebutthat was coming.

  "But I'm not just gonna let that money go without a fight."

  Pikachu's cheeks sparked. Rattata's tail flicked in excitement. Even Spearow, who had been pretending not to care, let out a quiet,"Spear."

  "So, here's the deal. We're gonna train harder than ever. We're gonna beat Misty. And then?We're winning the entire damn tournament."

  A wave of cheers erupted from his team. Austin turned toward Pikachu and Rattata. "You two will be the first to start."

  Pikachu's ears perked up, and Rattata stood a little taller, tail swishing.

  "We'll start slow, gradually ramping up."

  Before either could argue that they could handle it right away, Austin reached into his bag. A small metal cube gleamed under the gym lights.

  A TM for Thunderbolt.

  "With this…we're officially broke."

  The entire team stiffened, the weight of the situation sinking in. Losing wasn't an option. Theyhadto win it all.

  "Good. I'm glad everyone understands what's at stake."

  He tossed Pikachu's Poké Ball into the TM box. A soft hum filled the air as the machine whirred to life, transferring the move's data directly into Pikachu.

  A second later, he did the same for Rattata. Austin pressed the button, and the two reappeared.

  Pikachu blinked rapidly, electricity crackling faintly around his cheeks. Rattata shook her head, then twitched as tiny sparks danced along her whiskers.

  They had the move. Now they had to master it.

  Austin crouched slightly. "Pikachu, you've had more experience dealing with Electric-type energy. Help Rattata get used to it."

  Pikachu gave a determined nod, turning to Rattata.

  The little lady squared her tiny shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. The two of them trotted off to the other side of the training grounds, already sparking small bursts of electricity between them.

  Austin let out a satisfied breath.

  Step one? Done.

  The boy turned to the remaining three. Vee sat watching with quiet amusement. Spearow looked about three seconds away from dozing off. And Horsea… was staring at the TM box.

  "Don't worry, you're getting something too."

  He reached into his bag once again, pulling out another TM.

  Hidden Power.

  The same one Flint had given him. With how many uses it had, Austin was sure it was some kind of emergency fund for Brock and the others. But still, he was more than glad to have it for his team. He popped Horsea's Poké Ball into the TM machine. The device hummed to life again, and when Austin released her, Horsea blinked, looking slightly dazed but otherwise fine.

  Austin turned to Vee. "Help Horsea figure out what her Hidden Power type is."

  Vee smirked.

  Then, his body shimmered.

  In a smooth, effortless motion, he shifted from Umbreon into Vaporeon, his sleek, aquatic form practically glistening under the gym lights.

  Horsea gawked. Her little eyes went wide as she let out a startled,"Seaa!?"

  Vee merely grinned, his expression playfully smug as they ran.

  Austin smirked as he watched them go. Now, he turned to the last remaining Pokémon.

  The bird stared at him, feathers ruffled, looking supremely uninterested.

  "Guess that just leaves you, buddy."

  Spearow's glare deepened.

  Austin's smirk returned. Time to put his best soldier through hell.

  The air inside the gym was thick with the scent of damp stone and the faint hum of electricity. Midnight had long passed, and yet, the training ground was alive with energy. Austin stood at the edge of the makeshift obstacle course, his whistle resting between his fingers, eyes locked onto his Pokémon.

  The setup was simple in theory—brutal in execution.

  Austin had used his old climbing ropes, tying them across the width of the Cerulean Gym's central pool, creating a network of suspended paths just high enough above the water to be unforgiving.

  If Spearow fell? He'd go straight into the deep end.

  The goal was precision footwork—something no Spearow had ever needed before. The additional challenge? He'd have to dodge incoming attacks while crossing.

  Pikachu and Rattata were stationed at the far side, sendingThunderboltattacks his way. Horsea was in the water, ready to snipe him with aHidden Power—Poison-type. Vee, perched on a ledge, would rain downSwiftattacks, forcing Spearow to weave, duck, and redirect his momentum mid-step.

  The entire concept relied on science and technique.

  Bird Pokémon weren't designed for sustained footwork—their center of gravity was higher due to their hollow bones, making balance a challenge. Jumping across unstable ropes required explosive strength from his legs. His talons weren't meant for gripping swinging surfaces; they were built for perching or clutching prey. But if they could break through that limit—if Spearow could adapt—he would gain a completely unpredictable edge in battle.

  Austin raised his whistle.

  "All right, Spearow!" His voice was sharp. "Let's go!"

  Spearow crouched low, wings tucked, talons gripping the gym floor as he sized up the first rope.

  The first gap wasn't that far—a two-foot jump to the first rope. He kicked off the ground and immediately overshot it. His claws skidded on the rope's surface, his wings instinctively flaring for balance.

  ZAP!

  A bolt of electricity from Pikachu arced through the air. Spearow jerked his body mid-air, but the sudden movement only made things worse.

  His footing slipped.

  SPLASH!

  Straight into the water. Austin let out a slow breath as Horsea snorted. Spearow surfaced, furious, shaking off the water. Pikachu and Rattata winced. Vee, from his ledge, just gave a slow, unimpressed flick of his tail.

  Austin crouched by the pool's edge. "All right, reset."

  Spearow glared up at him, his pride stinging worse than the water.

  "Listen," Austin said, calm but firm. "You can't jump like you're flying. You have to push off with control. Use just enough power to reach the next rope—not more, not less."

  Spearow huffed but nodded. Austin pulled him out of the water. "Again."

  Spearow narrowed his eyes, crouching again. This time, he took a shorter jump—but too short. His talons barely caught the rope, and as soon as he tried to swing onto it—

  "SEA!"

  Horsea fired aHidden Power—Poison.

  Spearow instinctively dodged the wave of purple energy and fell again.

  "Spearow," Austin advised, "you can't dodge mid-jump if you don't have footing. Get on the rope first. Then react."

  Spearow glared daggers at him.

  Austin just pointed at the start of the course. "Again."

  It took three more failures before Spearow landed properly. The moment his talons clenched onto the first rope without slipping, Austin blew the whistle.

  "Good! Now—move!"

  Spearow hopped to the second rope, this time adjusting his balance, learning how to use his tail and wings to counteract the swinging.

  "Ratta-Tata-TAA!"

  AThunderboltshot toward him. Spearow threw his weight sideways, shifting just enough for the lightning to graze past him.

  YES.

  Austin clenched his fist.

  By the time attempt #12 ended in another crash landing, Austin knew they had to stop. Spearow was soaked. Exhausted. His jumps were getting slower, his movements sloppier. Pushing further wouldn't help.

  Austin lifted his whistle. One short blow. "That's it. We're done for the night."

  Spearow snapped his head toward him, visibly frustrated. Austin crossed his arms. "You're too tired to improve now. If we keep pushing, you're gonna build bad habits." Spearow hesitated. Then, reluctantly, he fluttered to the ground, shaking out his drenched feathers.

  Austin crouched beside him.

  "You're getting better," he said seriously. "You just need time."

  Spearow let out a low, grumbling chirp. Austin smirked, scratching lightly behind his head feathers.

  "This is just the start."

  Spearow grumbled again but leaned slightly into the touch.

  "All right, team," he said, voice hushed. "Bath, then bed."

  The Pokémon let out quiet cheers, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten at the mention of a warm bath. Austin immediately shushed them, motioning for everyone to move silently toward their rooms. The last thing they needed was to wake the others.

  The bathroom was warm with soft candlelight, steam curling from the giant tub Austin had filled with bubbles and warm water.

  "All right," Austin said, rolling up his sleeves. "Who's first?"

  SPLASH!Rattata had already dived in, paddling in circles with a happy squeak. Pikachu hopped in after her, flicking suds at her playfully.

  "Yeah, should've seen that coming."

  Vee, on the other hand, elegantly stepped into the water, only getting in as much as necessary. He perched on the edge of the tub, watching the chaos unfold with mild amusement. Horsea was next.

  Austin gently lowered her into the water, and she let out a content little sigh, blowing soft bubbles in the water.

  Spearow? He had to pry him off his arm.

  The second the bird touched the water, he flapped wildly, sending a storm of bubbles flying in all directions. Vee hissed, flicking his tail in annoyance as suds clung to his fur. Pikachu laughed. Rattata splashed right back. Spearow gawked, offended, before immediately diving into a full-on retaliation.

  It turned into an all-out war.

  "I just wanted a calm bath."

  At this point, he should've known better. Still, as he scrubbed down his team, making sure their fur and feathers were clean, he couldn't help but smile.

  This was… nice.

  Once they were washed, dried, and smelling like lavender soap, Austin led them back to their sleeping areas. One by one, he tucked them in.

  Rattata curled up in her nest of blankets, her tiny paws twitching as she dreamed. Pikachu nuzzled into his pillow, tail flicking slightly before going still. Horsea rested in her small, filtered tank, bubbles rising softly around her. Vee sprawled out on Austin's bed, claiming the entire middle. Spearow, finally warm and dry, sat on his perch, eyes already closing.

  Austin smiled, lingering for a moment before stepping out, making his way toward the kitchen, stomach growling. Maybe there were still some leftovers from earlier.

  "Hey…"

  At the table, a mug of coffee in hand, sat Delia Ketchum.Why is she awake? Did she hear something? Did I wake her up?

  "You're up early," Austin said carefully.

  Delia took a slow sip of her coffee, her eyes twinkling with quiet amusement. "I woke up to get some water," she said, "and I saw you training your Pokémon from the window, so…" She smiled. "I just watched."

  "Well, I was just grabbing something to eat," Austin muttered, making his way toward the fridge. "Then heading to bed."

  Delia tilted her head, watching him closely.

  "You've changed," she murmured.

  Austin stiffened. He stopped moving, one hand still reaching for a container of food."Changed?"Does she know? Does she suspect something?

  She smiled.

  "Ash," she said softly. "Or… would you rather me call you Austin?"

  Austin's chest tightened. His heart pounded so hard it felt like it was lodged in his throat. Despite his paranoia, Delia wasn't accusing him. Her gaze was warm. Fond. She wasn't questioning him. She was trying to understand him.

  "What do you mean?"

  Delia chuckled softly.

  "I remember the day you went looking for Pokémon for your kindergarten assessment—without telling me."

  Austin blinked.

  Delia smiled, eyes distant with fond memory. "It started raining, and I was worried sick looking for you," she continued. "And when I finally found you, do you know what you were doing?"

  Austin shook his head.

  "You had brought a bunch of wild Pokémon out of the rain," she said softly. "You found shelter for them under a hollow tree. You barely even noticed how soaked you were because you were too busy taking care of them."

  Austin stared at her.

  "And now, seeing you train your Pokémon so passionately… I can't help but remember how much you've always loved Pokémon. Ever since you were my baby."

  Her smile turned teasing.

  "What am I saying? You stillaremy baby."

  Austin hummed, something tight settling in his chest as he realized just how much more there was to Ash Ketchum's life. More than just what he saw in the anime. There were memories, moments, experiences he had never seen. There was a mother who loved him. Even though he didn't choose any of this, he felt guilty because, in a way… he had taken this life.

  His hand clenched slightly.

  "Can I ask you something?"

  "Of course."

  Austin hesitated, then said, "What if I wasn't your son?"

  Delia frowned slightly, setting her mug down.

  "What would you think of me then?" He had no idea why he asked. Maybe he just wanted to hear it…

  "I would see a responsible, hardworking young man who loves his Pokémon," she said warmly. "Someone respected by his friends."

  "Someone who walks forward with confidence, and can back it up."

  Austin's breath hitched. She wasn't just saying that. Shemeantit. Something in his chest unclenched.

  "Thank you... Mom."

  Delia smiled warmly, watching her son with quiet amusement.

  "I still haven't gotten an answer... Ash or Austin?"

  "Let's just go with Austin." His lips twitched. "Since I've changed."

  Delia rolled her eyes but didn't argue. "Oh, Iknowhow much you've changed, boy."

  "Oh yeah? Like how?"

  Delia didn't even hesitate. "Well, let's start with day one… You caught a Spearow. That alone means you had a run-in with the entire Spearow flock."

  Austin froze.

  She continued, her tone casual but knowing. "Then, Team Rocket attacked the Pokémon Center."

  Austin's jaw was on the floor. Delia chuckled at his reaction. "What?" She grinned. "I'm your mother. Of course, I ask for updates on your situation from Professor Oak."

  Austin blinked, still processing.

  "You… do that?"

  Delia smiled knowingly. "Of course." She tilted her head. "I just made sure you wouldn't find out."

  Austin stared.

  "I wanted you to have your adventure," she said gently. "To live your own life. But I'm also your mom. And I can't help but worry, you know?"

  She reached out, cupping his cheek gently. Austin hesitated for a fraction of a second—then, he leaned into her touch. "But I know one thing for certain, sweetheart."

  Austin blinked up at her. "What?"

  "You're lying to me."

  Austin's stomach dropped. He swallowed, shifting slightly. "I—"

  "The way you move." Her eyes narrowed slightly, scanning him like she had already figured him out. "Careful. Cautious. Confident, but only when everything is going according to a plan."

  Her thumb brushed against his cheek absentmindedly. "You only learn to move like that when you've been in serious situations."

  Austin felt his breath catch. For a moment, his brain scrambled for an excuse. For a lie—something, anything to explain away her observation.

  "You don't have to say anything," Delia murmured, cutting off his thoughts. Her expression remained gentle, filled with understanding. "Just promise me," she whispered.

  Austin swallowed hard.

  "Promise me you'll keep yourself safe. Stay healthy." She smiled, a playful glint in her eyes. "And for the love of Mew, wear clean underwear."

  "That's the plan,"he joked.

  Delia smirked, ruffling his already messy hair. "Good."

  The moment eased into something lighter.

  Delia's gaze flickered to the container of leftovers in Austin's hand.

  "Stop eating that."

  Austin instinctively pulled it closer. "Why?"

  "Because I'll cook you something fresh."

  "You don't have to."

  "Hush." Delia flicked his forehead playfully. "Mother knows best."

  Austin sighed dramatically, setting the container on the counter.

  "Fine, fine," he muttered, pretending to be defeated.

  Delia hummed in satisfaction, picking up the container and moving toward the fridge.

  "So," she mused, opening the door, "what do you feel like eating? Kalos toast? I know you love—"

  She turned back and stopped. Austin was asleep. He had slumped forward, arms folded beneath his head, his breathing slow and steady.

  Delia's heart softened instantly. She took a slow step forward, crouching slightly to be level with his sleeping face. A lock of black hair fell over his forehead, and she gently brushed it aside with her fingers. Then, with the utmost care, she pressed a soft kiss to his temple.

  Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  "Don't grow up too fast, sweetheart."

  She lingered for a moment, watching the steady rise and fall of his breathing.

  "Just be happy."

  She smiled.

  "That's all Mom wants."

  The morning sun spilled into the Cerulean Gym, casting golden hues over the now-bustling main hall. After a hearty breakfast, Delia packed up her things, giving Austin one last hug before leaving for Pallet Town.

  "Take care of yourself, sweetheart," she said, squeezing him tight.

  "I will," Austin promised.

  "And wear clean underwear," Delia added with a teasing smile.

  Austin sighed playfully. "That one might be a challenge."

  Delia laughed, ruffling his hair one last time before waving goodbye.

  Not even fifteen minutes later, a familiar trio strolled into the gym, right on schedule.

  Jessie. James. Meowth.

  Unlike their usual over-the-top entrances, they arrived casually, adjusting their uniforms and yawning like they had actually become responsible workers.

  Austin grinned, already prepared for them.

  "All right, guys," he started. "Before we get to work, I need your help with something."

  "Smells like bonus pay, boss."

  "That it does," James said.

  "You treat us too well," Jessie added, her stomach audibly growling.

  "I just know how to keep my best workers happy."

  The trio beamed at the praise.

  "All right, here's the deal," Austin continued. "We had a pickpocket incident the other day, and Misty and I agreed it's time to install a security system. Think you three can handle that?"

  The moment he said it, the trio snapped into business mode. Jessie adjusted her gloves. James straightened his jacket. Meowth cracked his knuckles.

  "Boss, ya talkin' to da best. Dis is gonna be a cakewalk."

  And with that, they were off.

  The next hour was a blur of activity.

  Jessie took charge, directing the placement of hidden cameras and motion detectors in key areas of the gym. James set up the main control panel, making sure all the systems were linked and running smoothly.

  Meowth, despite being the smallest, did all the wiring and installations, his claws surprisingly precise as he ran cables through the walls and ceiling.

  "Meowth, hand me the screwdriver," James called.

  Without looking, Meowth tossed it over his shoulder, and James caught it perfectly.

  "You guys… are really good at this."

  "You expected anything less?"

  Meowth wiped his paws. "Kid, we ain't just good. We're da best."

  Soon enough, the job was done.

  James leaned back with a satisfied sigh, wiping sweat from his forehead. "And that should do it."

  Austin nodded approvingly, inspecting the sleek, hidden security panel now mounted near the entrance.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "Great job, guys," he said, pushing the food cart forward.

  The trio's eyes sparkled.

  "We love you, boss," they chorused.

  Austin grinned. "Love you too."

  As they dug into their well-earned meal, he casually added, "After you eat, one of you is gonna have to show me how to actually use the system."

  James raised a hand. "I'll do it. I love teaching."

  Jessie rolled her eyes. "You love hearing yourself talk."

  Meowth, mouth full, muttered, "Same thing."

  Austin just chuckled, watching as the trio wasted no time devouring their food.

  Jessie daintily picked at her salad, eating with an air of self-importance, while James—a certified rich boy—ate like he was fine dining. Meowth was going to war with his food. The cat Pokémon had one plate in each paw, alternating bites so quickly that Austin half-expected his jaw to unhinge like an Ekans.

  "Sweet merciful Arceus, Meowth," Austin gawked. "Did ya even chew that?"

  Meowth paused mid-bite, blinking. "Chewin's optional."

  Jessie scoffed. "You're going to choke one day."

  Meowth shrugged, stuffing another bite into his mouth.

  Austin shook his head, then said, "I was thinking of making some custom shirts for you three. You can each pick a Pokémon design."

  Meowth's ears perked. "Oh, oh, I want a Meowth, obviously!"

  Austin chuckled. "No surprises there."

  James tapped his chin, eyes wistful. "A Growlithe," he said quietly.

  Austin caught the tone immediately.

  Jessie waved a hand dismissively. "Just give me a plain shirt. I don't really like joke shirts."

  Austin smirked. "I'll throw in a plain one and a joke one."

  "You'd do that?"

  Austin shrugged. "Why wouldn't I? You guys are awesome. If I had a legit business, I'd hire you three in a heartbeat. Best workers ever."

  For a moment—just a split second—the trio froze. They looked at each other, unspoken words passing between them. They had never been praised like this before.

  Not in Team Rocket.

  Austin could see it—the way James fidgeted, the way Jessie's usual bravado faltered, the way Meowth's ears twitched like he didn't know how to process what he just heard. Finally, Austin leaned forward.

  "Actually," he said casually, "I'm kinda curious. What did you guys do before working here?"

  Jessie and James immediately stiffened.

  Meowth licked his lips. "Well, ya see, we was just… grunts."

  James sighed, looking down at his plate. "We're still just grunts. Honestly, nothing's changed."

  "Hey, none of that. We are slowly moving up, right?! We recently got a promotion! Just wait it out, and we'll be executives!"

  Austin's eyes narrowed slightly.

  "That sounds nice."

  Promotion? Executives? That was different from the anime. What had changed?

  The trio exchanged nervous glances.

  Jessie let out a forced laugh. "Haha, yes, nice, that's nice!"

  James nodded rapidly. "Yes, executives! In the company we work for! Ho ho ho!"

  Austin hummed. "Well, whatever this company is, I hope you guys succeed." He paused. "And if it fails, you can always contact me. I'd love to help you out."

  The trio blinked.

  "For real?" Meowth asked, ears twitching.

  "Of course," Austin said sincerely. "From what I've seen, you guys could easily make it big on your own."

  For a long moment, nobody spoke.

  The trio looked at each other, their expressions quiet, thoughtful.

  Austin just watched, hoping—just maybe—his words might change something. Because he genuinely liked them. And he wanted them to make it out of Team Rocket. But for now, he had his own things to deal with.

  Austin sat in front of the security monitor, fingers steepled as he watched the screens with sharp focus. Lily had taken over T-shirt sales, freeing him up to keep an eye out for the thief. But after hours of nothing happening, boredom crept in.

  His gaze flicked between the monitors, then down to his notebook, where he began mapping out his future plans.

  As much as he loved Pokémon Adventures, he had to admit—the first two arcs were… messy. A lot of bold ideas, but the storytelling had been experimental, leaving gaps in motivations and character development.

  Take Green, for example.

  She was a thief, but why? The manga never really explored it deeply, at least not in a way he could remember. It left too many loose threads, which made dealing with her now all the more complicated.

  Still—he had a plan.

  "Pika, pika, pika!"

  Austin snapped to attention as Pikachu pointed at the monitor showing the hallway leading to the bathrooms.

  There, on the grainy security feed, was a couple. A nervous-looking boy—flushed and wide-eyed, clearly out of his depth—and a smirking girl leaning into him, her fingers tracing slow, playful circles over his chest.

  She was pulling him in. Austin narrowed his eyes. At first glance, it looked like nothing more than a teenage romance moment. But Austin wasn't fooled. There—a tendril of something snaked from the girl's purse toward the guy's wallet.

  Gotcha.

  Austin shot up from his seat. "Let's go, Pikachu!"

  The electric mouse hopped onto his shoulder as they sprinted down the hall.

  By the time he arrived, the scene was playing out exactly as expected. The boy—dazed, completely in a love-high haze—barely noticed Austin's approach. The girl, coquettish and smooth, turned to him with an exaggerated pout.

  "Oh, wow," she said dramatically. "Someone's in a hurry. Are you here to tell me how breathtaking I am, or should I compliment you this time, handsome?"

  Her fingers traced the boy's arm, pulling him closer.

  Austin didn't have time for this. He blew his whistle sharply. The girl winced, putting a hand to her ear. "Ugh! Rude, much?" She huffed. "Can't a girl enjoy a private moment with her new… friend?"

  The boy blinked, looking at Austin half-annoyed, half-confused. "Hey, man, what's your problem?" he muttered, clearly still under her spell.

  "My problem?" Austin folded his arms. "Buddy, check your wallet."

  The boy frowned. "My wallet? Why would—" He froze. His hands patted his pockets. "W-Wait—!"

  The girl clicked her tongue. "Aw, don't be like that," she purred, leaning in. "Maybe you just—dropped it somewhere. Or maybe…" She trailed a single finger down his chest, eyes gleaming. "Maybe this guy just ruined our perfect little moment because he's got some issues. You're not gonna let him come between us, are you?"

  Austin rolled his eyes. This girl could sell ice to a Regice.

  "Yeah, look here—" The boy turned back to Austin, brow furrowing.

  "Pikachu—Thunderbolt!"

  The hallway erupted in golden light as Pikachu's Thunderbolt struck its mark.

  "Murder?!" the boy shrieked, stumbling back in horror, eyes wide with panic.

  The girl's body shuddered, her skin rippling like liquid before collapsing in on itself—melting into a puddle of sickly purple goo. A wet, unnatural slithering filled the air. Austin didn't flinch. He knew exactly what this was. As the shifting, morphing mass of goo reformed, the disguise faded—revealing Green standing in the aftermath, Ditto at her feet. Her face was a mixture of shock and irritation, lips pursed in mild annoyance as she dusted off her now slightly singed sleeves.

  "Ugh. Well, that's not very gentlemanly of you." She pouted dramatically. "Do you always treat girls this rough?"

  "Only the pretty ones."

  Green tilted her head, a slow grin creeping onto her face. "Ooh…"

  Austin ignored her and turned to the still-dumbfounded boy.

  "Go get the staff," he said. "Tell them Austin found the thief."

  The boy didn't need to be told twice.

  He bolted.

  Green let out a mock sigh, placing a hand over her heart.

  "Aww, leaving me all alone with you? Careful, Austin, people might talk~"

  "Don't worry," he said, reaching for his belt. "I got you a gift."

  With a flash of light, Spearow materialized.

  Green's entire face lost color. The flirty smirk vanished instantly.

  Austin saw the way her body stiffened—a clear, instinctive reaction to the trauma she still carried. Good. This would make their conversation easier. Green took a slow step back.

  "W-What do you… want?" Her voice cracked slightly.

  "I want to hire you for a job."

  Green blinked. Even Pikachu and Spearow exchanged glances, as if they hadn't expected that. Green let out a mock gasp, placing a hand on her chest. "Oh, but I don't normally work with men who attack pretty girls like me. How ever will you make it up to me?"

  Austin's smirk widened.

  "I know who the Masked Man is."

  Green jerked.

  For the first time, her flirty mask slipped entirely. Her eyes widened. Her breath hitched. Austin let that sink in for one long second. Then—the sound of rushing footsteps.

  "Time's up," he murmured.

  Green's eyes darted between him and the incoming footsteps. Austin took a step closer.

  "Meet me here at midnight." His voice was low, firm. "And I'll tell you everything."

  Green clenched her fists.

  For a moment, she looked like she wanted to demand answers from him. But then—her survival instincts won out. She grabbed a Poké Ball.

  "Abracadabra, darling~" she sang.

  With a flash of light, her Abra appeared. And in the blink of an eye, she was gone.

  Daisy and the others pored over the security cameras, only to find one glaring problem—the footage was gone.

  Deleted.

  The only explanation? Teleportation.

  With the culprit vanished without a trace, Officer Jenny had to be called, leaving Daisy and the others to handle damage control while Austin sat at the front desk, resuming his job selling shirts like nothing had happened.

  At least, on the outside. Inside? His heart pounded. Everything had gone according to plan so far.

  Green was hooked, and now all that was left was tonight's meeting. If he could convince her to check out Team Rocket's movements in Cerulean City, then…

  "Oi, oi, where can I sign up for this stupid tournament?" An arrogant, grating voice cut through his thoughts like nails on a chalkboard. Austin's brows furrowed as he looked up, mildly annoyed.

  Then he froze.

  Standing before him was one of the biggest losers in Pokémon history.

  Damien Calloway.

  Behind him? Three random nobodies trailing behind like they were part of some low-rent entourage. Austin's fingers tightened around his pen. Damien. The asshole who abandoned Charmander.

  Damien smirked, snapping his fingers. "Hey, hurry up and sign me up already."

  Austin forced his expression neutral and pushed the sign-up sheet forward.

  "Of course," he said smoothly. "Just sign here. You'll get a battle number, and when it's called, you'll fight Misty."

  Damien rolled his eyes. "Great. Now I gotta waste my damn time with this."

  Austin's hand twitched—he wanted to hit something. Preferably Damien's face. But not yet. Stick to the plan. Taking a deep breath, he grabbed the phone. Dialed a number. After two rings, a familiar lazy voice answered. "Lowry & Lyle Investigations. This is Lyle. Who's callin'?"

  "Hey, it's me," Austin said, his voice low. "The kid who hired you for the private investigation report."

  "Ah. That kid. What can I do for ya this time?"

  Austin's grip tightened on the receiver.

  "I have another job for you. This time, it involves someone who abuses Pokémon."

  There was a brief silence. Then—Lyle let out a slow, knowing hum.

  "Justice, huh?"

  "Justice can only be delivered with evidence. You up for it?"

  "So, you ready to battle the great Gary Oak?" Gary's voice rang confidently across the battlefield as he stretched his arms, a cocky smirk plastered on his face.

  "Cocky much? But I guess I shouldn't be surprised—you are Austin's self-proclaimed rival."

  Gary stiffened. "Hey! I'm not a self-proclaimed anything!" He crossed his arms, huffing. "But I would expect that from Austin's self-proclaimed girlfriend."

  Misty's face exploded into red. "W-What?!"

  Before she could throw a retort, the referee coughed loudly. "Can we please start the match?" Both trainers nodded, their banter melting into focused determination as they grabbed their Poké Balls.

  Misty was first. "Let's go, Wooper!"

  In a flash of light, Wooper landed on the battlefield—right into a patch of thick, sticky mud.

  "Woop! Woop!"

  The little blue amphibian flailed excitedly, wiggling its tiny feet in the soft, damp terrain. The moment it realized it could splash around, it began bouncing up and down, spraying mud everywhere like a child in a puddle.

  "Come on, focus!"

  Wooper gave a tiny salute with its tail.

  Gary, meanwhile, smirked and released his own Pokémon. "Time to shine, Nidorina!"

  The moment Nidorina landed on the field, she let out a sharp growl, her ears twitching in alertness. The poison-type carried herself with calculated precision, eyes narrowing at Wooper's mud-covered antics.

  The referee raised a hand. "Battle, begin!"

  "Rain Dance!" Misty commanded.

  Wooper clapped its tiny feet together, spun on one leg, then broke out into a ridiculous, energetic breakdance. Flipping onto its back, it kicked up mud, sending droplets everywhere as a dark cloud formed overhead. Within seconds, heavy rain began to pour, soaking the battlefield as Wooper twirled, utterly delighted.

  "Did it really have to breakdance?"

  "No. It just likes doing that."

  Gary snorted. "Fine. Let's ruin its fun—Blizzard!"

  Nidorina inhaled sharply, frosty air swirling into her mouth. With a roar, she unleashed a howling, icy wind, the temperature on the battlefield plummeting instantly. The rain transformed mid-air, each droplet crystallizing into sharp, pelting hailstones as the battlefield became coated in sheets of ice. Wooper yelped, slipping slightly as ice formed over the once-muddy ground.

  The terrain advantage was gone.

  Gary grinned. "That's right—mud ain't gonna help ya now!"

  Misty's eyes darted across the field. Think. "Wooper—Brick Break! On the floor!"

  Wooper hopped forward, its forehead glowing a bright white as it reared back. With all its strength, it slammed its skull straight into the ice. Cracks splintered outward, but—

  "Aerial Ace!" Gary shouted.

  Nidorina darted forward, white streaks of energy igniting along her frame. The slippery ice beneath her acted like a launch pad, sending her rocketing forward at an unnatural speed. Before Wooper could shatter the terrain, Nidorina slammed into it like a cannonball.

  The little blue Pokémon soared backward, flipping end over end before crashing into the frozen ground.

  Misty gasped. Wooper groaned, barely able to push itself up.

  Gary smirked. "What now, water girl?"

  Misty took a breath. "All right, then. Come at us."

  Gary's brow furrowed. "What?"

  Misty put on her best 'helpless' expression, feigning nervousness.

  Gary's smirk widened. "Fine by me. Fury Swipes!"

  Nidorina dashed forward, claws glinting. Just as she was about to strike, Wooper suddenly lunged forward, its tiny head smashing into Nidorina's stomach. A burst of green energy surged from the impact, siphoning orbs of vitality from Nidorina's body into Wooper's own.

  Gary's eyes widened. "Drain Punch?!"

  Misty smirked. "Gotcha."

  Gary gritted his teeth. But—he still had one last ace. Nidorina staggered backward, but her body suddenly shook violently, an unnatural purple glow creeping along Wooper's body.

  Poison.

  Gary grinned. "You got a lucky hit—but too bad for you, Wooper's poisoned!"

  Misty's smirk didn't fade.

  "That's exactly what I wanted."

  "Wait—"

  "Facade!"

  Wooper's body ignited with a fiery orange aura, its form pulsating with unstable energy. The moment poison entered its system, its attack power doubled. Wooper charged.

  "Blizzard, now!" Gary shouted, panic setting in.

  Nidorina unleashed another howling storm, ice and snow surging forward in a desperate attempt to stop Wooper, but it was too late. The orange glow cut through the storm, Wooper plowing straight through the ice-cold winds without slowing down.

  CRASH.

  Wooper collided head-on with Nidorina. The impact sent her flying, her body rolling to a stop at Gary's feet.

  Silence.

  "That… was amazing." Gary returned Nidorina to her Poké Ball, shaking his head with a small smirk. But then, his eyes drifted back to the battlefield.

  Wooper wasn't moving.

  The little Pokémon remained standing, its tiny feet planted firmly in the icy terrain. But the spirals in its eyes said it all.

  A double KO.

  The crowd held its breath, murmurs rippling through the audience as the referee hesitated, stepping forward to consult the camera crew.

  A minute passed, then a sharp whistle pierced the air.

  "After video review, it has been confirmed that Wooper was knocked out inside Nidorina's Blizzard but still managed to finish its attack by throwing its momentum forward. As such—" The blue flag shot into the air. "Victory goes to Gary Oak!"

  The crowd roared.

  Gary let out a breath, then turned back to Misty. "Your Wooper was incredible," he said, genuine admiration in his voice. "Throwing his weight forward even after he was knocked out… That's real guts."

  Misty smiled, clutching Wooper's Poké Ball in her hands. "He was amazing. I couldn't have asked for more."

  As she looked down at the Poké Ball, she could feel it—Wooper was ready. Ready to evolve. She could sense it just as clearly as she had with Starmie back when she first started battling.

  Gary held out a hand. "Rematch sometime?"

  "Count on it."

  They shook hands just as the buzzer rang, signaling Gary moving onto the next round. The crowd's cheers only grew louder. Misty returned to the locker area for a ten-minute rest, where Austin was already waiting. A water bottle in hand.

  "Amazing match, as always," he said, handing it over.

  She took it gratefully, taking a long drink before sitting down, placing Wooper's Poké Ball onto the tray that would be sent to the Pokémon Center. As she exhaled, she glanced at him. "I heard the thief almost got caught."

  Austin hummed, clearly lost in his own thoughts.

  Misty raised an eyebrow. "What are you plotting now?"

  A small pause.

  "Misty," Austin said, his voice calm, serious. "Can you do something for me?"

  "Of course. What is it?"

  He met her gaze. "I need you to throw the next match."

  Silence.

  Misty stared at him, and Austin didn't flinch.

  "…Okay." Misty took another sip of water, not breaking eye contact.

  Austin exhaled, but he could still see the unspoken questions in her expression.

  "I know that sounds crazy, but you remember how I said I had my own reasons for helping you become a Gym Leader?"

  Misty nodded.

  "Well," Austin continued, choosing his words carefully, "this… relates to that."

  "Are you finally gonna clue me in?"

  Austin took a deep breath. "I want to save a Pokémon from its trainer's abuse."

  Misty stilled.

  Austin leaned forward, voice lowering as he spun a web of half-truths—carefully weaving truth and lies into something that felt real. He told her about Damien. About how the rich brat mistreated his Charmander, how he abandoned it in the rain, and how this tournament was his one shot at exposing him. The key, Austin explained, was that Damien's father was powerful. If they simply reported the abuse, the rich bastard could bribe his way out.

  But if they exposed him in a public tournament, where cameras were rolling, where he couldn't lie his way out…

  Misty listened intently, her fists clenching on her knees.

  Austin knew she was furious. Furious that a trainer could be so cruel. Furious that the rich could get away so easily.

  "So, throwing the match is how we get to him?"

  Austin nodded. "It's the only way to guarantee Damien makes it into the next round, and I have a plan that will make sure that Damien gets what he deserves."

  "You should've just led with that."

  Austin let out a relieved laugh.

  She took another sip of water. "Alright. Let's teach this loser a lesson."

  The moment Damien stepped onto the battlefield, Misty felt her stomach churn.

  He looked exactly as Austin described. Arrogant. Entitled. A cocky sneer stretched across his face as he scanned Misty up and down, his eyes filled with the kind of disgusting confidence that made her want to punch him. He opened his mouth, and she immediately hated him more.

  "What's with that look, bitch?" Damien scoffed, his lips curling into a mocking grin. "If you think playing hard to get is gonna make me interested, then think again."

  Misty's grip tightened around her Poké Ball.

  The disgust in her eyes must have been clear because Damien laughed. "You girls always think you're so high and mighty, huh?" he taunted. "Let's see if you're still talkin' after I crush you."

  Misty's scowl deepened. She wanted to beat him. She wanted to destroy him. But she thought of Charmander. She thought of Austin's plan. She took a breath, forcing herself to relax.

  The referee stepped in.

  "Start the match, or forfeit."

  Damien rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Let's get this over with."

  Misty took a deep breath and threw her Poké Ball into the air.

  "Magikarp, let's show them our power!"

  With a flash of light, the orange fish Pokémon materialized in the muddy battlefield, flopping onto the damp surface. It blinked its vacant eyes and gave a small, seemingly harmless splash.

  The crowd was excited to see their favorite in action.

  Meanwhile, laughter—loud and mocking—came from Damien.

  "PFFT—Are you serious?!" he barked, doubling over. "This has to be the biggest joke of a tournament I've ever seen! You expect me to take this seriously? A freaking Magikarp?"

  The sneering behind him grew as his lackeys snickered, nudging each other.

  Misty's blood boiled.

  She gritted her teeth, holding back every urge to snap at him. She didn't need to. Because Damien's smugness evaporated the second he released his own Pokémon.

  A Charmander.

  A small, timid-looking lizard appeared on the battlefield, its bright orange scales gleaming under the stadium lights.

  The moment its feet sank into the muddy terrain, its body tensed. Its claws sank deep into the ground, and it let out a soft, uneasy whimper. It wasn't used to this terrain. Misty saw it immediately. Damien didn't care.

  "What are you freezing up for?!" Damien barked. "Use Ember! End this!"

  Charmander flinched at the tone but took a deep breath, summoning small flickers of fire in its throat, and launched a series of small glowing embers toward Magikarp.

  "Dragon Rage!"

  Magikarp's body tensed as it released a ball of draconic energy that collided mid-air with the Ember attack. The sheer force of it dispersed the flames, pushing Charmander back slightly.

  The battlefield fell silent.

  Damien's face twisted in shock. "W-What the hell was that?!"

  His arrogance cracked, and for the first time—there was fear.

  "Stop being afraid, you useless lizard!" he snapped, voice laced with fury.

  Charmander froze mid-step, its wide eyes snapping toward its trainer.

  The small flicker of confidence it had—shattered. The fear in its expression wasn't because of Misty's Magikarp. It was because of Damien. And Magikarp saw it. Something snapped inside the fish Pokémon.

  For days, Magikarp had been training, fighting, pushing itself under Misty's care. It had battled opponents, gained strength, and evolved in skill. But what it saw in Charmander struck a nerve. It saw itself. The disdain. The ridicule. The sheer lack of belief. The emotion that surged inside Magikarp was pure, burning fury. The light of evolution erupted.

  The entire arena flooded in a pillar of brilliant, blinding white light.

  The stadium fell dead silent as Magikarp's form expanded—its once small, fragile body stretching longer and longer, its scales darkening into a deep, rich blue. The ground trembled beneath it as the glow faded, revealing a Gyarados. A massive, draconic sea serpent loomed over the battlefield, its body coiled tightly, towering over the frozen Charmander.

  The air itself seemed heavier.

  Gyarados roared.

  A thunderous, bone-rattling sound shook the entire gym.

  The sheer force of its voice sent a gust of wind rippling across the stadium, blowing back loose dirt and even making some spectators flinch in their seats. Damien? He fell backward onto his ass. His face turned pale. His entire body trembled. A dark stain began spreading across his pants.

  Austin, watching from the stands, grinned. "Oh wow." He muttered, nudging Pikachu. "Didn't even need Thunderbolt."

  Pikachu snickered.

  But while Damien quaked in terror—Charmander didn't.

  Despite its fear, despite its trainer's verbal abuse, it stood its ground. It squared its tiny shoulders, claws digging into the damp ground as its eyes hardened. With a deep breath, it opened its mouth and released a thick, green beam of energy.

  Dragon Breath.

  The attack soared toward Gyarados, striking the massive serpent directly in the face.

  Gasps rang out.

  For a brief moment, Misty felt her heart lurch.

  Gyarados—a newly evolved Pokémon—hadn't been tested yet. Most trainers struggled to control their Gyarados after evolution. Gyarados simply… stared. The attack did nothing. No rage. No wild thrashing.

  Instead, Gyarados slowly turned its gaze to Misty and nodded. That was all the confirmation she needed. Gyarados wasn't a mindless beast. It was her Pokémon.

  With exaggerated slowness, Gyarados let out a low, playful grumble and fell over. Flat onto the muddy pool. Pretending to be knocked out.

  Silence. Utter, unfiltered disbelief.

  Someone in the crowd finally murmured. "Did… Did Charmander just beat a Gyarados?"

  Professor Oak, watching from the side, felt a single tear slide down his cheek. A Gyarados had evolved without losing control and it had been caught on live television. This—this was history. And yet, despite the scientific breakthrough, a single question nagged at his mind. Why had Misty thrown this match?

  With Magikarp's evolution into Gyarados, Professor Oak and his research team should have had enough data to pack up and leave.

  But they didn't.

  The old man had insisted they stay longer, claiming they needed to observe Gyarados further.

  Austin, however, knew better.

  Professor Oak wasn't just here for the research anymore.

  He wanted answers. No one said it aloud, but the question loomed over them like a storm cloud. Why had Misty and Gyarados thrown the match against Charmander?

  It made no sense—Gyarados had evolved, it had the sheer power and presence to wipe the floor with Damien and his Charmander. And yet, it fell over, playing defeated when it wasn't even fazed.

  Austin could already see the gears turning in the professor's mind.

  And Oak wasn't an idiot.

  Eventually, he would realize the truth. That Charmander was in the hands of an abuser.

  Would he let it go? Would he do something?

  Austin wasn't sure.

  "Umbreon."

  Vee's soft, smooth call pulled the boy's attention as he glanced down, finding the Moonlight Pokémon curled in his lap.

  He scratched between Umbreon's ears, the sleek black fur warm and soft beneath his fingertips. The Pokémon let out a pleased hum, flicking its tail as Austin reached for his wine glass filled with grape juice.

  Vee, sensing the movement, perked up.

  With slow, deliberate movements, it leaned forward, dipping its muzzle into the rim of the glass. Its tongue flicked just beneath the surface, skimming the liquid before pulling back, savoring the taste.

  "Told you you'd like it."

  Vee simply huffed, licking its lips before tilting its head expectantly—waiting for another sip.

  The moment, however, was cut short. A gust of wind swept through the room, carrying the faint sound of something floating.

  Austin didn't flinch.

  His eyes remained forward, watching as Green made her dramatic entrance through the open window, her Jigglypuff inflated like a balloon, keeping her suspended in the air. She landed lightly, giving an exaggerated stretch before placing a hand on her hip. "If you were going for the mafia boss look, you failed."

  Austin exhaled through his nose, barely glancing at her. "I wasn't."

  Green smirked. "Oh? Don't back down now, boss man—caught you red-handed."

  She motioned lazily toward him.

  A boy sitting in the dark, dressed in pajamas, a wine glass in one hand, and a dark-furred Pokémon curled in his lap. Classic boss aesthetic. Except… it was grape juice. And his sleepwear had little Poké Ball patterns on it.

  "Okay, maybe you weren't going for the look."

  Austin took a slow sip, then set the glass down. "Oh, I was."

  Green let out a light giggle, but her expression shifted subtly. Her shoulders stiffened slightly because something felt… off. Her eyes flicked around the dimly lit room, scanning the shadows. She was good—her instincts told her this wasn't just a casual chat.

  This was a set-up. And she wasn't wrong.

  Austin clapped his hands.

  Instantly, the lights flicked on. Green found herself surrounded. Pikachu sat perched nearby, eyes sharp, ready to strike. A Quick Claw dangled around Rattata's neck, the small rodent poised in a crouch, ready to intercept her at a moment's notice. On the far side, Horsea rested in a bowl of water, her tiny eyes focused like a sniper.

  Green's heart skipped a beat. She was a trapped animal.

  "Return."

  The command was soft but immediate, and every Pokémon vanished into their Poké Balls.

  Austin leaned forward, resting an elbow on the chair's armrest. "Let's start over," he said smoothly, gesturing toward the untouched glass. "Juice?"

  Green crossed her arms, eyes still sharp. "I don't drink anything I haven't poured myself."

  "Fair." Austin nodded. "I wouldn't either."

  Green's lips tugged up slightly. "So, let's skip the pleasantries." She tilted her head. "What do you want?"

  Austin reached into his jacket pocket and slid three photos across the table. Jessie. James. Meowth.

  "I need you to investigate Team Rocket."

  "Oh?"

  "Find out why they're here. What they're planning. Who's the executive leading the operation."

  Green picked up a photo, examining it.

  Austin continued. "These three work here in the morning—use your disguises, sneak into the base as one of them, and get me the information I need."

  Green remained silent, turning the photos slowly in her hands, yet her mind was on the guy in front of her.

  A boy who was too young to act this old. Someone who looked like an idiot but knew too much. A kid who spoke like he had seen things most people never would. He knew about the Masked Man. And now, he was going after Team Rocket.

  "Who are you?"

  Austin paused, watching the shift in Green's posture.

  The femme fatale of Pokémon was walking on eggshells around him. That alone was proof—she wasn't sure how to play this. And that was dangerous, because Green was the kind of person who needed to feel in control.

  She didn't trust people. She didn't play by their rules.

  And right now?

  Austin had all the cards.

  That needed to change. If he wanted Green as an ally—not just for this job, but for the future—he had to give her something. A way to feel like she was pulling the strings. So, he gave her a piece of the game.

  "I'm… Bag Boy."

  Green nodded once.

  "You don't know who that is," Austin stated flatly, watching her.

  Green kept nodding. Faster now.

  "Vee."

  At the name, his Umbreon—who had been lounging lazily in his lap—gave him a look. A very pointed, annoyed look—one that all but screamed, Do we really have to do this?

  Austin's stare didn't waver. With a dramatic huff, Vee leapt down from Austin's lap, landing on the floor with graceful ease. His body shimmered. Dark fur glowed, shifting colors in an instant. The sleek, black-coated Umbreon melted away, morphing into a familiar cream-colored Eevee.

  Green's eyes widened slightly.

  Another glow. A rush of heat. And then—standing before her wasn't an Eevee anymore. It was a Flareon. Flames flickered around Vee's crimson fur, his thick tail swishing with practiced indifference. The smug little bastard even let out a small puff of fire, just to make a point.

  "Holy—"

  Austin leaned back, casually swirling his grape juice. "You asked who I was, Green," he said smoothly. "Let's just say… I'm someone you need to keep close."

  The next morning, deep within the Articuno Base, Sabrina was seething. Not just annoyed. Not just irritated. She was royally pissed. Her fingers tapped against the armrest of her chair—sharp, rhythmic, each movement precise and calculated. Just like her. Her subordinates—her direct subordinates—were a trio of utter idiots.

  Not only had they been acting outside the base's jurisdiction, but they had wasted organization resources on personal nonsense.

  A security camera system.

  Not for the base. Not for surveillance of League threats. Not for anything remotely useful but for whatever ridiculous, harebrained scheme they had gotten themselves involved in this time.

  Sabrina's jaw clenched.

  Did these three even know how much that cost? This was an active mission. A serious one. And instead of preparing, instead of following orders, they were wasting funds, playing pretend, and embarrassing the organization.

  Worse…

  If word of this reached the boss… Sabrina exhaled slowly, forcing down the irritation.

  No.

  She would handle this personally. She had no interest in getting reprimanded for their incompetence.

  The moment Sabrina stepped onto Cerulean Gym's grounds, she felt it. The weight of a thousand thoughts slamming into her mind all at once.

  It was always like this.

  Voices. Whispers. Some loud, some faint, all pressing against the edges of her consciousness. A never-ending stream of human noise. She had long since trained herself to filter them out, to let them wash over her like waves against a shore. But sometimes—sometimes—they slipped through.

  And today was one of those days.

  Her head tilted slightly as she instinctively honed in on the loudest thoughts. They're so elegant. So stunning. Like real-life mermaids.

  Sabrina's lip curled. Pathetic.

  Her purple eyes flickered toward the source of the adoration. The Cerulean Sisters. They moved in perfect synchronization. Their routine? Flawless. Their expressions? Effortless.

  She tried—tried—to block it out.

  But the emotion behind their thoughts clung to her like static.

  She's gorgeous. They're perfect. I wish I could be like them.

  Sabrina's jaw tightened. She had heard adoration before. But never for her. People didn't admire her. They didn't look at her like that. They only ever saw a monster. A freak. A psychic.

  "Your strength makes you more beautiful than anyone." Giovanni's words whispered in the back of her mind.

  But they rang hollow. Because beauty wasn't measured in power. Not to them. She could crush every single person here with a thought, yet none of them would look at her the way they looked at those sisters. Her fingers curled into her palm. She exhaled slowly, pushing it away.

  This is irrelevant.

  She turned from the performance, disinterested. Let the weak be enamored by trivial things. She had a job to do. Her mind reached outward, her psychic abilities locking onto their signatures. She pinpointed their location instantly and froze.

  "…How is that possible?"

  Her head snapped toward the back area of the gym, where the trio's auras sat—next to another one that felt wrong.

  Sabrina moved without hesitation, stepping into the back area of the gym. She barely had to open the door.

  The moment she entered, the entire atmosphere shifted. Conversations halted. Tension thickened. Every muscle in the room went rigid. Jessie, James, and Meowth shot up from their seats.

  "E-Executive Sabrina!"

  Meanwhile, Austin simply stared.

  His expression was unreadable, but there was a sharpness behind his eyes. Like he was already calculating. Already adjusting. Already preparing for something.

  Sabrina's gaze locked onto him and she felt it. That wrongness. It was him. His aura was… damaged. Not weak. Not fragile. But torn. Like someone had ripped through it, stitched it back haphazardly, and then tore through it again.

  She had seen many things in her time as a psychic. But she had never seen this. Her fingers twitched. Her eyes glowed faintly, psychic energy swelling as she reached outward. Probing. Trying to see. To understand. To find out what the hell had happened to this kid.

  Austin knew immediately when Sabrina tried to invade his mind.

  Her eyes glowed, the color intensifying as an unnatural pressure pressed against his thoughts. It was subtle—like a thread being carefully woven through the fabric of his brain. She's trying to read me.

  Austin's expression remained neutral, but internally, he sighed. He had expected this. He had prepared for this. Because for all the mystique surrounding psychics and mind-reading, he knew the truth.

  It was all surface level.

  Even Psychic-type Pokémon couldn't sift through the thousands of neural connections firing per second inside a healthy human brain. There was simply too much noise. Too much information flooding in from the conscious and subconscious mind.

  So what did that mean?

  It meant Sabrina wasn't reading his deepest secrets. She was only getting what was at the forefront of his thoughts. And Austin had full control of what sat there. So, like any rational person he weaponized it.

  Austin didn't start off strong. Oh no, this was psychological warfare. And he was going to ease Sabrina into the horrors of a teenage boy's mind like a frog slowly boiling in water. So, he began with something harmless.

  In his mind's eye, he dropped to one knee, holding out a ring. "Sabrina," his mental projection whispered, voice trembling with emotion. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

  The real Sabrina froze.

  Austin barely held back a smirk. Oh, this was gonna be good.

  Sabrina forced herself past the distraction. Cute, she thought. Pathetic, but cute.

  Austin, taking this as a direct challenge, cranked things up a notch. Suddenly, in his mind, Sabrina was standing on a beach. Wearing a bikini. The real Sabrina's eyebrows twitched. A faint dusting of red touched her pale cheeks. But she pushed deeper into his thoughts, determined to break his concentration.

  Austin's grin widened. Oh, she wants to fight dirty? Well, alright then. He pictured her slowly untying her top.

  has stopped working.

  The psychic gasped sharply, her entire body stiffening as if someone had just poured cold water down her spine. But Austin wasn't done. Oh no, he was only getting started. Now, in the safety of his own mind, he imagined grabbing her by the waist, yanking her in close, his lips trailing down her neck as he...

  Sabrina's entire brain crashed.

  A full-body spasm. A nosebleed worthy of an anime protagonist. Her legs wobbled, her breath caught in her throat, and her once stoic and unreadable expression had dissolved into pure, unfiltered embarrassment.

  Austin barely held back his laugh.

  Across the room, Team Rocket was watching this trainwreck unfold in absolute awe.

  James blinked slowly, eyes flicking between Austin and the retreating form of Sabrina. He then turned to Jessie, voice low and serious. "…What is happening?"

  "Well, the executive came in, looked at the boss, and blushed."

  A long silence stretched between them.

  Meowth's ears twitched as he finally broke it. "…Oh, she's totally in love."

  Pikachu, meanwhile, continued munching on his cracker, slowly dipping it into a puddle of ketchup, as if he were watching the most entertaining soap opera of his life.

  Sabrina, breathing heavily, forced herself to regain her composure. She snapped her head toward the Team Rocket trio. "You. My office. One hour."

  Jessie, James, and Meowth visibly gulped.

  Austin, still feeling reckless as hell, took a casual step forward. Sabrina immediately took a step back. Her eyes darted to the side, suddenly very interested in the wallpaper. "I hired them for work," he said smoothly. "And I pay them good money. Maybe you should consider that before dragging them away."

  Sabrina whipped back around, her glare sharp—but still flustered as hell.

  "…Fine," she muttered. "I'll see them after they're done."

  She turned, storming toward the exit, clearly desperate to escape. But right before she reached the doorway—she hesitated. Then, slowly, she glanced over her shoulder.

  "…How old are you?"

  "Ten."

  Sabrina, against her better judgment, took one last peek into his what she saw… The girl clenched her jaw, snapped her eyes shut, and gritted out one final command.

  "Find. God."

  Then, with a dramatic flick of her cape, she stormed out. The moment the door slammed shut, Austin finally let out the wicked laugh he had been , sighing contentedly, finished his cracker.

  "Pika."

  James turned to Jessie. "…Does this mean the boss is dating Executive Sabrina now?"

  Jessie shrugged. "I mean, she's already at the 'pretending she doesn't like him' phase. They'll be making out by next Tuesday."

  Meowth, shaking his head, let out a long sigh. "Da boss got game, I tell ya."

  Austin just sweatdropped at the trio's words, his gaze drifting toward the door Sabrina had just slammed shut.

  He sighed. This was getting out of hand. I just hope I don't have to deal with the Gym Leader Triad… That alone would be a pain, but the thought of the Elite Four terrorists?

  Austin immediately shoved that thought deep into the abyss of his mind. Nope. Not even gonna think about that. That was just jinxing it. Still, at the very least, he hoped Green would figure out what Team Rocket was planning in Cerulean before everything went to hell. Because if there was one thing Austin knew it was that things were never this easy.

  Sabrina stormed down the sidewalk, her steps clipped, her expression a carefully maintained mask of neutrality.

  But inside her mind was an absolute battlefield.

  What she had seen in that brat's thoughts…

  It was extremely perverted. And the worst part? It was about her. Her. Of all people.

  Not the elegant Cerulean Sisters. Not some pretty idol. Not even some other trainer he admired.

  Her.

  Her, with her cold gaze and unnerving presence. Her—a freak. A psychic to be feared and avoided. Not once in her life had anyone looked at her with attraction. Not once had she been desired.

  And yet, that boy…

  Sabrina's hands clenched into fists. Her psychic energy flared without her meaning to, causing a nearby streetlight to flicker violently. Her breath was shaky. Not out of anger. Not out of disgust.

  But because she didn't know how to process it. And she hated that. Why… Why did that little bastard, of all people, have to be the first to think of her that way?!

  And why… why did it not bother her?

  "Executive Sabrina, you're back." One of the guards outside the Articuno Base saluted her, barely looking up from his security post.

  She exhaled, forcing her mind back into professionalism. "Report."

  "Your subordinate returned," the guard said.

  Sabrina frowned. "What do you mean?"

  "Jessie, I think her name was. She came back right after you left."

  Sabrina's expression blanked.

  Impossible. She had just seen Jessie, James, and Meowth at the tournament with that boy. Her gut twisted. Something was wrong. "Where is she now?"

  "Inside the base, working," the guard answered.

  Sabrina said nothing. Her instincts were never wrong. And right now? They were screaming at her. She turned on her heel and marched into the base.

  Deep within the Articuno Base...Green moved effortlessly through the shadows. She had played her part well—disguised as Jessie, blending in with Team Rocket's grunts, charming her way into casual conversations to extract valuable intel.

  And now?

  She had everything she needed. A sleek USB drive sat in her palm, filled with sensitive Rocket data. Plans, research logs, classified orders—even enough dirt to make a killing on the black smirk widened behind her stolen Team Rocket mask. Too easy. The communication room was littered with unconscious guards, tied up neatly in the corner. She had knocked them out one by one, making sure to erase the security footage.

  Now all that's left is to—

  BOOM.

  The metal doors exploded off their hinges. Dust and smoke billowed outward, the sheer force rattling the walls. Green's heart leapt into her throat. Through the clearing haze, a figure emerged. Tall. Composed. Eyes glowing with unrestrained fury.

  Sabrina.

  And beside her, standing like an executioner awaiting the order, was her Kadabra. Green didn't need psychic powers to know that she was in deep shit.

  "Well, well, well." Sabrina's voice was like a predator enjoying the hunt. "Looks like we had a Rattata sneaking around."

  Green straightened, masking her nerves with a perfectly practiced expression of innocence. "B-Boss?" She gasped, putting on her best 'damsel in distress' act. "Is… is something wrong? You look… stressed. Maybe a spa day would help?"

  Sabrina's eye twitched. Green kept going. "Or a face mask? You know, they say hydration works wonders for—"

  "Don't bother." Sabrina's voice dropped an octave, her aura pressing down on the room like a stormfront. Her next words were absolute. "Your mind has already given you away."

  Kadabra's spoon slashed through the air, sending a razor-sharp Psycho Cut straight for her.

  "Ditty!"

  Her Ditto reacted instantly, morphing into Kadabra and raising a Reflect barrier. A green wall of light materialized, absorbing the brunt of the attack. But the shockwave still sent Green skidding backward.

  She cursed under her breath. This was bad. She needed an escape. Fast. Her hand flew to her Pokéball belt, releasing her Abra.

  "Teleport!"

  Nothing happened.

  "H-Huh?"

  Sabrina let out a mocking sigh, shaking her head. "Pfft. Don't tell me that was your grand escape plan? A simple Teleport?" Her eyes glowed brighter, her power thrumming through the air. "You're seriously underestimating me."

  Green clenched her fists. She wasn't just underestimating Sabrina—she had completely miscalculated.

  Shit.

  "You really think I wouldn't have countermeasures for Psychic-types?" Sabrina tilted her head, as if talking to a child. "Psychic abilities don't come from within, you know." Her gloved fingers traced a slow circle in the air, her voice laced with condescension. "They're drawn from the Dream Realm. A frequency."

  She flicked her fingers outward and Green felt it. A pulse of energy—a disruptor wave—like a static shock that sent a ripple through the room. Abra whined, body stiffening as its abilities cut out completely.

  Green gritted her teeth.

  "You jammed psychic frequencies?"

  "Ding, ding."

  "…That's kinda hot. Can you teach me?"

  Sabrina stumbled slightly, caught off guard. She coughed, regaining her composure. "Why don't you try using your pretty little head for once?" "Why would I?" Green scoffed. "When I can use my smoking hot body instead?"

  And with that she struck a pose. One hand on her hip, the other playfully brushing through her hair. A sultry smirk. Her chest pushed forward—very intentionally. She even added a slow, dramatic bounce, just for effect.

  Sabrina's eye twitched again.

  "Oh?" Green mused, voice turning mockingly sweet.

  She deliberately glanced down at herself, then back up at Sabrina. Then down. Then up. A slow, wicked smirk stretched across Green's face.

  "Cheap shot... Hmph."

  But Green could see it. That tiny spark of frustration in Sabrina's otherwise stoic face. That little twitch in her expression. That tiny, almost imperceptible flicker of jealousy. Green couldn't resist twisting the knife.

  "Aww… Are you jealous, sweetheart?"

  And that was the last straw. Sabrina SNAPPED. With a flick of her wrist, she launched Green backward, slamming her into the wall.

  "You. Bitch."

  Green coughed, but still grinned. "Aw, don't be mad just 'cause no boys wanna give you attention, freak!"

  Sabrina saw red and in her anger, her powers weakened—just as Green's chest suddenly deflated. A bunch of Poké Balls tumbled to the floor.

  "…Did you seriously tape Poké Balls to your chest?"

  "Gotcha."

  The two Poké Balls burst open. A Jigglypuff and a Clefairy emerged, both immediately using Sing and Disarming Voice. The high-pitched soundwaves hit full force, breaking Sabrina's fragile focus just long enough.

  Green hit the ground running.

  "Tear gas, Ditty!"

  Ditto-Kadabra released a smoke bomb, flooding the room with thick white gas.

  Kadabra tried to counter but it was too late. Green's Abra clung to her arm as they vanished in a flash of light.

  Sabrina let out a frustrated yell and launched a chair across the room.

  CRASH.

  It splintered against the wall, leaving a very impressive dent.

  But it didn't help. Not even a little. Her entire body was practically vibrating with frustration. Her mind kept looping back to the fight.

  Not the actual battle, of course.

  No.

  It was Green's words that dug into her skull like a damn parasite. "Aw, don't be mad just 'cause no boys wanna give you attention, freak!"

  Sabrina gritted her hated how true those words were. Because—ugh—she was a freak. People didn't look at her the way they looked at other girls.

  They looked at her with fear.

  Caution. Respect, sure—but never affection. Which was fine. She didn't need affection. She had power.

  …Right?

  But then, a terrible realization hit her. Wait a was a boy who had given her attention. A boy who hadn't looked at her with fear. A boy who had boldly stood in her presence—held eye contact, challenged her and then proceeded to mentally project an entire lewd fanfiction in real-time.

  Sabrina froze. Her face slowly turned red.

  Oh no.

  No.

  NO.

  She refused to let this be her reality. Her first real, genuine male attention and it was from a ten-year-old pervert. Sabrina's eye twitched violently. Her entire face burned.

  "…I hate my life."

  She buried her head in her hands, groaning. Kadabra, standing nearby, just patted her on the shoulder.

  There, there.

  [Author's Note:]

  that was a wild chapter, wasn't it? Hope you all enjoyed the chaos!

  fake assets is actually straight from Pokémon Adventures (Chapter 32, for those curious). Since she pulled that trick on Team Rocket's Sabrina, I figured it'd be a fun little reference to work into this version of their encounter.

  What do you guys think of Sabrina's characterization so far?

  how do you feel about expanding on this weird, accidental dynamic between her and Austin?

  thinks Austin is into her, which—let's be real—would be hilarious, especially since she has such low self-esteem and sees herself as a "freak" no one could possibly love.

  but only if I take the time to build it properly. No "Sabrina and Austin end up together just because I say so." If I go this route, I want it to have real growth, conflict, and chemistry.

  enough problems already? (Because, let's be honest… he does.)