Sabrina stood near the raised platform, the small girl still in her arms.
But her figure looked slightly less solid now, almost translucent in the low torchlight.
Ryan barely noticed. His focus was on Kirlia.
I rose slowly.
"Thank you," I said, voice quiet but sincere. "For everything. For helping Kirlia. For letting me bring her back."
Sabrina nodded calmly, expression unchanged.
I hesitated. I had so many questions, but one burned hottest.
"Why… why did you want my semen?" My cheeks flushed hot as soon as the words left my mouth. I glanced away, embarrassed.
My Pokémon tensed beside me, ears perked, eyes fixed on Sabrina, curious, wanting to know too.
Kirlia stood near my leg, tilting her head slightly, confused...
Sabrina lifted one hand. A single shimmering droplet appeared above her finger, suspended in mid-air by faint psychic energy.
It hovered there, glistening like liquid moonlight.
"Your semen is different from normal," she said, voice flat.
My face burned deeper red. Shock hit me like ice water. I stared at the droplet, shimmering and strangely familiar, floating above her finger.
"Is that… mine?"
The teal-haired girl in her arms spoke in her high, childlike voice, flat and eerie. "It's yours."
She parted her lips slowly. Her mouth opened wider than necessary, tongue sliding out.
The droplet hovered above her tongue for a heartbeat, then descended deliberately, glistening as it touched the soft pink surface.
She closed her lips around it with a faint, wet sound, tongue curling slightly to draw it in deeper.
Her eyes fluttered half-closed, lashes trembling, as she swallowed, a slow, visible roll of her throat
A soft, involuntary hum escaped her, barely audible.
My throat went dry. Heat flooded my face, my neck, lower. The room suddenly felt too small, the air thick and heavy. I wanted to look away, to stop her, to say something, anything, but I couldn't.
My body locked in place. All I could do was watch, pulse pounding in my ears, a confusing mix of shock, embarrassment, and something hotter I didn't want to name.
"It's addictive," she said, voice still perfectly even.
"But I don't want it for pleasure. I only want it to improve my psychic abilities. To make my psychic power stronger. That's all."
My throat felt tight. I looked at Meowscarada and Lopunny.
They both nodded slowly, agreeing with what Sabrina said. It really was addictive, and they loved it very much. Their eyes softened with shy admission, tails flicking, ears twitching slightly.
Is this the reason they looked so different from my memories of Pokémon world? Did they grow so much because of this…
I looked down at my feet, face burning hotter. I shook my head quickly, trying to clear the thought. No. No, that couldn't be right.
I swallowed hard, nodded shakily.
"I… understand," I said.
The words felt like an escape, a quick way to end the conversation before it dug any deeper.
My Pokémon were looking at me with those soft, trusting eyes, and the thought that they might only want me for this, twisted in my gut.
I knew it wasn't true. I knew it was my mind playing tricks after everything Sabrina said. But the doubt was there, sharp and ugly, and I just wanted it over.
"Thank you again."
That's all. I had no mood to ask further questions."
And as I was about to turn…
Sabrina spoke…
"Wait."
She stepped closer, the small girl still in her arms. A faint psychic glow appeared between her fingers.
A shiny gold Marsh Badge materialized.
"You defeated me," she said simply, her voice calm but carrying quiet weight. "So this belongs to you now."
The badge floated gently into my palm. It felt warm to the touch.
I stared at it, surprised. A small, genuine smile touched my lips despite everything.
"Thank you, Sabrina. Really."
She gave the faintest nod.
"Be careful."
She raised her hand. A faint psychic screen shimmered into existence in the air, showing the sky view above Saffron City.
Two figures floated in a Team Rocket balloon, binoculars trained downward. Viper adjusting the lenses. Nova standing rigid beside her, arms folded, eyes locked on the gym doors.
"They've been following you for a while."
"Kirlia gripped my leg tighter. She pressed against me, trembling. A soft, scared "Kir… lia…" escaped her.
Meowscarada's fur stood on end. A low, angry "Nyaa…" rumbled from her throat.
Lopunny's ears shot up, then flattened. "Lopuu!" she snapped, sharp and unhappy.
I looked at the screen, then at them. My jaw clenched. They weren't happy. Neither was I.
I knelt quickly and pulled her into a hug. She buried her face against my chest, still shaking.
"Don't worry," I whispered, holding her close. "They won't be able to do anything to you. I promise."
She peeked up at me, eyes big and uncertain. I stroked her back gently, murmuring soft words until her trembling eased a little. After a while, her breathing steadied. She nuzzled my shirt once, small but trusting.
I stood up.
"Thank you for the warning."
She gave the slightest nod. The psychic screen faded.
…
As I stepped outside the doors, a man stood just outside.
It was William.
William looked down at Kirlia, who had walked beside me, her small hand clutching my hand. His gaze softened.
"So you did manage to wake her up," he said warmly, voice calm and pleased.
I nodded. "She suffered a lot. My plan is to go to the Pokémon Center first. Get her checked. Make sure she's okay. After that… I plan to continue my journey."
William's smile deepened. "Good."
I paused, then said goodbye with a respectful nod. As I walked away, something clicked in my mind.
The photo in William's house looked familiar. The small girl who used to sit in Sabrina's lap… She looked so similar to the child in those framed pictures in William's home. The resemblance was too strong to ignore.
This man… he had to be her father. Or perhaps Sabrina's father. The connection felt right, even if I didn't fully understand the little girl's place in all of it.
I glanced back once.
The man stood there still, watching us go, yellow hat catching the light. A quiet figure in the doorway, almost fading into the shadows.
I tightened my hold on Kirlia's hand.
Whatever the truth was, it didn't change what mattered now.
Kirlia was safe.
And I needed to be alert of Team Rocket.
I looked up at the sky. The balloon was still there, small, distant, but unmistakable. Floating high above.
My stomach tightened. Viper and Nova. They hadn't given up.
Kirlia felt my tension. She pressed closer, small fingers gripping tighter. A soft, worried "Kir… lia…" escaped her.
I looked down at her, then at Meowscarada and Lopunny walking beside me, alert, ears perked, ready.
We kept walking.
But this time, I wasn't just moving forward.
I was ready to face whatever came next.
For her.
For all of us.
--<>--
Check out this new novel I just started! The main character is completely different from the usual when it comes to catching Pokémon and forming bonds with them.
For more details, you can check the author's note or just search for the title: Pokémon World: Trainer… Stop Touching Us Like That!