Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

Sabrina and her Eevee simultaneously looked up, their actions so perfectly synchronized it was almost uncanny.

But Luo Yuan noticed more than just their synchronized movements.

"For them to sync up this well, their bond must be pretty strong. Eevee is probably ready to evolve," he thought to himself.

If it did evolve, Sabrina would have three psychic-type Pokémon: Alakazam, Espeon, and Kirlia.

"That lineup is still too meager," Luo Yuan mused.

Trainers like Lt. Surge or Koga had fully developed teams with several backup Pokémon. By comparison, Sabrina's roster was quite limited.

Luo Yuan handed her the Pokémon egg in his hands, its purple-green pattern catching the light.

"I asked Matori to bring this back for you from Galar while she was collecting resources for the team."

"What kind of Pokémon is it?"

Anything Luo Yuan gave her as a gift was bound to be special, and Sabrina's curiosity was piqued.

"A Ponyta," Luo Yuan said, "the Galarian form."

At this, Sabrina's eyes lit up with excitement.

As a Psychic-type Gym Leader, she was well aware of Galarian Ponyta. Its ethereal appearance and dreamlike colors were known to soothe the soul at first sight.

Who wouldn't love a rainbow-colored pony?

Carefully taking the egg from Luo Yuan's hands, Sabrina cradled it with care. She began channeling her psychic energy into the egg.

Hum...

Her psychic power seemed to trigger something. The egg trembled in her hands, and soon, cracks appeared at the top.

A small horn broke through the shell, and a baby Galarian Ponyta peeked out.

"Neigh~"

The little Ponyta let out a soft, adorable sound as it blinked up at Sabrina.

"How cute..."

Sabrina's fingers gently traced the Ponyta's tiny horn before moving to its fluffy, cotton-candy-like mane, causing it to squirm slightly.

The Ponyta didn't shy away from her touch.

Even before it hatched, Luo Yuan had been simulating Sabrina's psychic energy to help it acclimate. And now, with Sabrina as the first human it saw, the Ponyta naturally felt a deep affinity for her.

Not only did it accept her touch, but it also nuzzled closer to her affectionately.

Nearby, Eevee, drawn by the Ponyta's vibrant life energy, hopped onto Sabrina's lap to get a closer look.

The life energy radiating from Ponyta was abundant—something Eevee hadn't sensed since encountering Luo Yuan's Verdant Force.

Eevee cautiously reached out a paw toward Ponyta, only for the little Ponyta to dodge, showing no intention of letting Eevee touch it.

"Do you like it?" Luo Yuan asked.

Sabrina nodded, her smile confirming his efforts were worth it.

Satisfied, Luo Yuan pulled a peculiar-looking stone from his bag.

"This is an Everstone. If possible, try not to let Ponyta evolve."

While Galarian Rapidash was undeniably stronger than Ponyta, its appearance couldn't compare. It was better to leave it as it was.

Sabrina seemed to understand, immediately securing the Everstone to Ponyta. How the little Ponyta would carry it wasn't something she or Luo Yuan needed to worry about.

She then released her Kirlia, who had been quietly developing for some time.

Now, Ponyta, Eevee, and Kirlia gathered in a circle, exchanging introductions through psychic energy.

Eevee was the most energetic of the group. Kirlia, on the other hand, appeared shy, while Ponyta curiously observed everything around it.

Watching the three interact, Sabrina smiled softly and let them play on their own.

Then, she stepped close to Luo Yuan, leaning in to whisper in his ear. Her breath brushed against his skin before she pressed a soft kiss on his neck.

"That's my thanks~," she said in a teasing, playful tone.

How could Luo Yuan resist that?

He wrapped his arms around her in one swift motion...

The three Pokémon turned their heads toward the commotion, their eyes following Luo Yuan and Sabrina as they disappeared into the bedroom.

Bang!

The door closed, leaving the Pokémon behind, utterly baffled by human behavior.

---

Sabrina didn't stay with Luo Yuan for long.

As part of the security team for the Indigo League, she had numerous responsibilities to handle.

After spending just one night with Luo Yuan, she was roused early the next morning by a phone call summoning her to a meeting.

Apparently, they were conducting a pre-event venue inspection.

"Well, I'm off. See you at the tournament," Sabrina said with a resigned sigh, cradling her new Ponyta as she left the hotel.

"See you at the tournament," Luo Yuan replied, still lounging in bed.

As the door closed behind her, Luo Yuan let out a relieved sigh.

"That was close."

If Sabrina hadn't left, he would've been in serious trouble when Misty arrived later.

Thankfully, with Sabrina preoccupied, he still had time to work things out.

With a quick stretch, he glanced at the communicator on his wrist.

According to the message, Misty's flight would land in 30 minutes.

If he left now, he could still make it.

---

By the time Luo Yuan arrived at the Indigo Plateau Airport, Misty's flight had just landed.

The energetic and vibrant Misty stepped out of the terminal, immediately drawing attention.

As the new Gym Leader of Cerulean City, Misty's fame had skyrocketed.

After all, no one in Kanto was unaware that the "Badge Giveaway Machine" of Cerulean Gym had been replaced with a much stronger leader.

Spotting Luo Yuan in the crowd, Misty's eyes lit up, and she waved enthusiastically.

"Luo Yuan!"

Her cheerful call made several heads turn, many trainers instinctively looking toward the "lucky guy" Misty was greeting.

Among them were a few trainers who had witnessed Luo Yuan with Sabrina the previous day.

They were utterly baffled.

Wasn't this guy Sabrina's boyfriend? Since when was he so close with Misty?

Luo Yuan, however, ignored the onlookers entirely.

"So, where to next?" Misty asked.

She had asked the same question Sabrina had.

"Let's head to the hotel first," Luo Yuan replied, giving the same answer.

As the two made their way toward the hotel, Luo Yuan's communicator began to buzz at his waist.

A sinking feeling rose in his chest.

Taking it out, he glanced at the screen, and sure enough, his fears were confirmed.

The caller ID displayed one word: Sabrina.

Misty, walking beside him, curiously peeked over.

Now came the real dilemma: should he answer it or not?

---

Oh, you're still here? Nice. While I'm out here juggling revival matches and reminding villains why they should reconsider their life choices, someone's behind the scenes making sure my story reaches you. Gotta admit, they're doing a pretty solid job.

If you want to help keep this whole thing running smoothly, here's the link: [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Think of it as… supporting your favorite underdog. Everyone loves an underdog, right?

Anyway, time to get back to saving the day. See you in the next chapter—don't forget to stay out of trouble (that's my job).

— Xia Luo 🕸️