If Elias remembered correctly, in the original timeline, Sabrina had indeed joined Team Rocket and even risen to become one of the three Executives in Kanto.
But with his presence altering the course of events this time around, Giovanni shouldn't be lacking in psychic operatives.
Besides, Sabrina's personality here differed somewhat from the one in the original—yet even so, she'd still ended up joining Team Rocket?
Looking at Elias's stunned expression, Sabrina seemed quite pleased with herself.
She curled her lips in a faint smile and pulled open the edge of the coat wrapped around her, revealing the black uniform of Team Rocket underneath.
"That's right—just as you're thinking," she said.
"I'm now part of Team Rocket. One of their Executives."
As a League Gym Leader, Sabrina didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with joining a criminal organization.
On the contrary, she laid it all out with complete honesty—likely out of her unwavering trust in Elias.
From the chance encounter with Team Rocket, to finding out Elias had once been part of the group, and finally her own voluntary decision to join—it was all laid bare.
After hearing her out, Elias couldn't help the urge to bury his face in his hands.
In the end, this was still his fault.
If he hadn't spent time with Team Rocket, Sabrina might never have joined them in this world.
"Does your dad know about this?"
Elias sighed helplessly.
If the old Gym Leader knew that Sabrina joined Team Rocket because of him, Elias figured he'd have to avoid the man like the plague from now on.
"He doesn't."
Sabrina shook her head gently.
"He's been traveling for the past few years, left the whole Gym in my hands. There's no way he'd know."
That answer brought a hint of relief to Elias.
Then he started to seriously think over what she'd just said.
"Giovanni wants to meet me?"
He murmured, almost to himself.
He wasn't surprised that Giovanni had discovered he was alive.
The man had connections everywhere—it was only natural that he'd dig something like that up.
What did surprise him was that Giovanni actually wanted to meet him.
"Is it because of Mew?" Elias guessed.
After a while, finding no solid conclusion, he decided he'd just go and see for himself tomorrow.
After all, there wasn't any real bad blood between him and Giovanni. The man likely wouldn't try to make things difficult.
And even if he did…
Giovanni would have to actually be strong enough to pose a threat.
At this point in the timeline, Elias was pretty sure Giovanni hadn't even finished creating Mewtwo yet. And even if he had—so what?
A freshly-born Mewtwo would still struggle against Gardevoir.
With that thought, Elias gave Sabrina his answer:
"All right. Got it. I'll meet him tomorrow."
A smile flickered across Sabrina's face at his response.
That meant Elias would have to stay in Saffron City for at least one more day!
And since she'd be the one guiding him there, she'd get to spend the entire day with him.
That thought left Sabrina quietly hoping tomorrow would come just a little faster.
After chatting with Sabrina a while longer, Gardevoir and Latias finally appeared on the rooftop as well—their battle clearly over.
Judging by the faintly smug look on Gardevoir's face, it wasn't hard to guess who had won.
"Don't forget tomorrow's promise."
Seeing the two troublemakers show up, Sabrina immediately lost interest in sticking around.
She stood, gave a soft reminder, and vanished from the rooftop—leaving Gardevoir and Tias staring blankly after her.
The two exchanged glances and came to the same unspoken realization:
While they had been settling their match, Sabrina had stolen a march on them.
"Garde? (What promise?)"
Gardevoir asked seriously, clearly on edge.
Latias tilted her head, curious as well.
Seeing their reactions, Elias chuckled despite himself and explained:
"You remember Giovanni, right? The leader of Team Rocket."
"He asked to meet me tomorrow. And since Sabrina's now part of Team Rocket, she'll be taking me there."
At that, Gardevoir let out a breath and nodded in understanding.
She remembered Giovanni—he'd helped Elias once, so she didn't really harbor any animosity toward him.
Unlike Gardevoir, Latias wasn't nearly as relaxed.
She had a natural aversion to criminal organizations, and the mere mention of Team Rocket had already made her wary.
Clutching Elias's arm, she declared:
"Elias, you have to bring me with you tomorrow."
Otherwise, she wouldn't feel at ease.
"Okay."
Elias nodded without hesitation. He understood exactly what she was worried about.
At the same time, he stood and headed toward the door.
"Let's go. Time to sleep."
"Garde! (Yes~)"
Gardevoir's eyes lit up at that and she answered expectantly.
But the moment she stepped forward to follow him, a sudden chill crept up her spine.
"Garde?! (Who's there?)"
She whipped her head around—but was met only by the tranquil nightscape. Nothing out of place.
Still, years of experience had taught her to stay alert. Her gaze swept slowly across the surroundings, assisted by faint pulses of psychic energy.
"Gardevoir, what's wrong?"
Elias and Latias had turned back upon hearing her voice.
"Garde… voir… (Just now… it felt like something was there.)"
Gardevoir said uncertainly.
She had already done a full sweep of the area but found no signs of life.
If someone—or some Pokémon—had really been there, they shouldn't have escaped her detection.
"Probably your imagination?" Latias glanced around and shrugged.
She hadn't sensed anything strange.
But Elias's expression darkened slightly at Gardevoir's words.
The truth was, because of how closely linked their minds were, he'd also sensed that same ripple of unease when she did.
Which meant…
There very well could have been something—or someone—lurking nearby just moments ago.
But that only raised another troubling question: what kind of Pokémon could vanish so completely that even Gardevoir couldn't trace it?
Not even Mew or Latias were capable of that.
"Let's go. Back inside."
Unable to draw any conclusions, Elias suggested they return, noticing Gardevoir's lingering unease.
There was no point in standing out here if they couldn't find the source.
"Garde…"
Gardevoir nodded quietly.
Before leaving, she cast one last glance at the night sky.
Whatever had been there just now… it had felt like it didn't belong to this world at all.
Did Elias somehow attract something… unnatural?
At the same time, Elias sent a message to his system.
"System. That wasn't another one of your traps, was it?"
He couldn't help asking.
And who could blame him?
There were so few Pokémon capable of slipping past Gardevoir's mental scans that his first instinct was to suspect the system had pulled something again.
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T/N: errrr yes hi im back >.>
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