Chapter 97: Clash Of Minds (3)

The Indigo League stadium thrummed with anticipation. Gladion stood firm, Arsenal's flames crackling at his side, while Sabrina faced him, her composure unshaken despite the loss of Starmie. The crowd leaned forward, a collective breath held as the announcer's voice boomed over the speakers, cutting through the electric silence.

"Folks, let's take stock of this psychic showdown!" the announcer roared, his mustache practically bristling with excitement. "Sabrina's already cycled through four of her Pokémon—Girafarig, Exeggutor, Slowbro, and Starmie! Starmie's down for the count, knocked out by that electrifying Thunder Punch, and Slowbro's sidelined with a nasty Toxic ticking away at its health. Meanwhile, Gladion's been playing it lean with just two Pokémon—Umbreon and Magmar! Umbreon's out, folks—marking the first time one of Gladion's team has hit the dirt this tournament! Sabrina's pushing hard, but Gladion's still got four aces up his sleeve. Who's got the edge? Let's find out!"

The crowd erupted, a wave of noise crashing over the stands. "Sabrina's got this—she's got tricks for days!" a teenage girl shouted, waving a psychic-themed scarf. "Nah, Gladion's got the stamina—four left, baby!" a burly guy countered, pumping his fist. A kid near the railing bounced in his seat, clutching a Magmar toy. "That flame guy's so cool—bet he burns Girafarig to a crisp!" An older woman with a Slowbro pin chuckled, "Sabrina's just warming up—wait 'til she pulls out the big guns!" The anticipation hung heavy, all eyes on Sabrina as she reached for her next Poké Ball.

Sabrina's hand moved with deliberate grace, and she released her choice. "Girafarig, go."

The Long Neck Pokémon reappeared, its dual heads swiveling with renewed purpose. Its front half pranced lightly, while the tail-head snapped its jaws, glaring at Arsenal with a mix of curiosity and malice. The crowd murmured, some surprised she'd brought it back so soon. Gladion raised an eyebrow, intrigued. 'Back for round two, huh? Let's see what she's cooking.'

"Girafarig, Take Down!" Sabrina ordered, her voice sharp and clear.

Girafarig charged, lowering its head as Normal-type energy surged around it. The ground shook with its galloping strides, aiming to slam Arsenal with reckless force. Gladion didn't flinch. "Arsenal, Flame Wheel!"

The Magmar crouched, flames spiraling around its body as it rolled forward like a blazing wheel. The two collided in a spectacular burst—fire clashing with raw momentum. Sparks flew, and the impact echoed like a thunderclap. Arsenal's sheer power shone through, its fiery mass overpowering Girafarig's charge. The Long Neck Pokémon staggered back, its hooves skidding across the dirt, visibly winded.

Sabrina's eyes narrowed, but her tone remained steady. "Girafarig, Wish."

Girafarig's front head tilted skyward, a soft glow enveloping it as it made a silent plea to the heavens. Healing energy was set to arrive next turn—a lifeline. Gladion wasn't about to let that happen unchallenged. "Arsenal, Flamethrower!"

Arsenal reared back, flames roaring from its maw in a searing torrent. The fire streaked toward Girafarig, hungry to end it. But Sabrina was ready. "Girafarig, Psychic—use the rocks!"

Girafarig's eyes glowed, and a cluster of battlefield debris—shattered stones from earlier attacks—levitated into the air. With a flick of its mind, the rocks formed a makeshift shield, intercepting the Flamethrower. Flames licked at the barrier, blackening the stones, but the attack fizzled out. Behind the shield, Girafarig's Wish activated, a pulse of golden light washing over it, mending its bruises and restoring its vigor.

Gladion's grin faltered, replaced by a spark of admiration.

'Psychic on the environment—that's slick.'

"Girafarig, Power Swap," she commanded next.

A strange hum filled the air as Girafarig's eyes locked onto Arsenal. Psychic tendrils reached out, weaving an invisible exchange. In an instant, Arsenal's raw Attack and Special Attack stats swapped with Girafarig's—Magmar's fiery might flowed into the Long Neck Pokémon, while Girafarig's modest power settled into Arsenal. Gladion's stomach twisted.

'She just jacked my stats. This is bad.'

"Girafarig, Psybeam!" Sabrina pressed her advantage.

Girafarig's tail-head fired a shimmering beam of psychic energy, amplified by Arsenal's stolen Special Attack. Gladion reacted fast. "Arsenal, Flamethrower—counter it!"

Arsenal unleashed another fiery blast, but with its Special Attack diminished, the flames lacked their usual ferocity. The Psybeam sliced through, scattering the Flamethrower like paper in a storm. The psychic wave struck Arsenal square in the chest, sending it reeling. The Magmar roared, clutching its head as the attack overwhelmed its senses. Its tail flame flickered, and with a final groan, it collapsed, smoke curling from its body.

The referee's flag shot up. "Magmar is unable to battle! Sabrina takes the lead—two knockouts to one!"

Gladion stared at Arsenal's fallen form, his mind whirling. He recalled the Magmar with a nod. "You gave 'em hell, Arsenal. Rest up." But his thoughts were already racing, dissecting Sabrina's strategy with a mix of awe and determination.

'Power Swap? Psychic on rocks? This isn't just skill—it's mastery.' Sabrina was wielding some of the trickiest Psychic-type moves out there—moves that took years for Pokémon to learn, if they ever did. Wish required precise timing, Psychic demanded environmental awareness, and Power Swap was a rare gamble that flipped battles on their heads. Gladion knew from his dad's Alakazam that these techniques were a nightmare to teach—Pokémon needed not just power but comprehension, a mental bond with their trainer.

Sabrina, being a psychic herself, must've drilled her team with her own mind, syncing their thoughts to hers.

'She's not just commanding them—she's amplifying their psychic powers with her own. It's in the rules of you used psychic powers on your own Pokémon.'

A realization hit him like a Thunderbolt.

'I've been slacking on my own psychic edge.' Sure, he'd trained with Alakazam, mastering short-range teleportation and boosting his bond with his team.

But he hadn't pushed his Pokémon to tap into his psychic potential. He could have made his Pokémon learn psychic type moves that they were capable to learn with the help of his Psychic powers.

Sabrina was showing him a whole new level—a trainer-Pokémon synergy he'd only scratched the surface of.

'When I get a Psychic-type, I'm diving in deep. She's raising the bar, and I'm not about to lag behind.'

Another thought crept in, softer but no less striking.

'She's not using telepathy this time.' In their last battle at Saffron Gym, Sabrina had guided her Pokémon silently, her commands a whisper in their minds. Now, she was vocal, deliberate—almost animated. Her voice carried an edge, not of strain, but of excitement. Gladion's lips quirked into a half-smile.

'She's enjoying this. Finally letting loose. Took long enough.'

Across the field, Sabrina watched Girafarig steady itself, her mind a quiet storm of focus and—yes—satisfaction. She'd calculated every move: Wish to heal, Psychic to defend, Power Swap to turn Arsenal's strength against him.

It had worked flawlessly, and the thrill of it buzzed beneath her disciplined exterior. 'He's resilient,' she admitted silently, her gaze flicking to Gladion.

'Most would falter after losing their momentum, but he adapts. Annoying… yet intriguing.'

She'd spent years honing her psychic bond with her Pokémon, teaching them moves others deemed impossible. Girafarig's Power Swap had taken months of mental drills, syncing her own energy with its dual minds until it could wield the swap like a blade. Slowbro's Disable, Exeggutor's Leaf Storm precision—all forged through her psychic guidance. It was her edge, her pride. But Gladion… he challenged that pride. 'He's not just a psychic—he's a wildcard. Unorthodox, reckless, yet effective.'

A flicker of something stirred in her chest—irritation, yes, but also a strange warmth. This battle wasn't a chore or a duty. It was alive. For the first time in years, she felt the pulse of a true fight—not a test of dominance, but a dance of equals. She wouldn't admit it aloud, not yet, but Gladion's defiance, his laughter, his sheer audacity—it was waking something in her she'd long suppressed.

'He's enjoying this too,' she thought, catching the glint in his eye. 'Good. Let's see how far he can push me as well as himself.'

As the crowd awaited Gladion's next Pokémon, the announcer's voice boomed again. "Sabrina strikes again, folks! Girafarig's Power Swap flipped the script—Magmar's out, and Gladion's down two! Sabrina's got four Pokémon left, three still fresh—can she keep the lead?"

The crowd buzzed, voices sharp with excitement. "That swap was genius!" a guy cheered. "Girafarig's a beast—Sabrina's unstoppable!" a girl squealed. "C'mon, Gladion, hit back harder!" a kid shouted, waving a flag. The old vet nodded. "Smart play—kid's got grit, but she's got guile."

------Author Notes------

A/N: I know this fight is taking too long. And I am pretty sure the fight with Gwen would be more fun and would also take long. But there are only few Pokémon fights that would be taking so long. And since both Gwen and Sabrina would be important characters in the future, I decided to explore them and their Pokemon a little more.]

Thankyou Deadpool2695, Grim and Shadow13 for supporting me!

Y'all can read 15 extra chapters on my pat*reon. 3 more than what was offered earlier!!

https://pat reon.com/mrmime24

[No Space