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Chapter 77: Ninja and Old Hag
🕑 Added 2025-01-24 18:17:28 +0000 UTC
Gladion and Sabrina walked into Fuchsia City just as the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The city had a tranquil vibe to it, with its blend of nature and tradition evident in the architecture. Gladion felt a rush of anticipation. This was his seventh badge, one step closer to completing the gym circuit.
"I don't get it," Sabrina began, her voice cutting through the serene atmosphere.
"Don't get what now?" Gladion asked, already preparing for another annoying question.
"I could have teleported us here in a fraction of the time, yet you chose to walk for days," Sabrina stated, looking at him like he was some kind of enigma.
Gladion rolled his eyes. "We've been over this, Sabrina. Walking lets me enjoy the scenery."
"You mean waste time," she corrected, her tone as flat as ever.
"Call it what you want. Not everyone is in a rush to bulldoze through life like you," he replied, smirking.
Sabrina opened her mouth to respond but stopped as they approached the Fuchsia Gym. Its exterior was modest but exuded a sense of tradition, with wooden panels and paper lanterns decorating the entrance.
As they reached the reception desk for registration, Gladion began filling out the form for a Eight badge-level challenge. But before he could even finish writing his name, a shadow dropped from above, landing silently in front of him.
A man in a black ninja outfit with a purple scarf stood before them, his piercing gaze fixed on Gladion. His presence radiated intensity, and the moment he spoke, his deep, commanding voice sent a shiver down Gladion's spine.
"I was expecting you, Gladion Vortex," Koga said, his tone carrying a dramatic weight.
Gladion's inner thoughts screamed one word repeatedly: 'Cool.'
Koga's sudden appearance and tone were straight out of an action movie. Gladion maintained his calm exterior, but inside, he was fangirling hard.
"How did you know I was coming?" Gladion asked, forcing himself to sound casual.
Koga's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping ominously. "My ninjas, my spies… we keep eyes on everything."
Gladion stiffened at the revelation, his admiration turning into discomfort. 'That sounds cool… but also very creepy.'
"Everything?" Sabrina interjected, her expression neutral but her tone skeptical.
Koga gave her a knowing smirk but didn't elaborate. Gladion felt a shiver go down his spine. He made a mental note to never, ever underestimate Koga.
Before Gladion could respond, the sound of a cane tapping against the floor echoed behind them. A frail yet intimidating figure entered the room, her presence chilling despite the warm lighting.
"Ah, Maren's grandson," the old woman drawled, her voice carrying an unsettling mix of amusement and menace. "You finally grace us with your presence."
The hairs on Gladion's neck stood on end as he turned to face none other than Agatha, the ghost-type mistress of the Elite Four. Her wrinkled face bore a sly grin, and her sharp eyes seemed to see right through him.
"And who might this be?" Sabrina asked, her gaze narrowing slightly.
"Agatha of the Elite Four," Gladion muttered, his tone wary.
"Correct, boy," Agatha said, tapping her cane against the floor for emphasis. "Your sister's already collected all eight badges, yet here you are, lagging behind. She's faster, smarter, and has better taste in Pokémon. Ghost-types are superior, after all."
Gladion groaned internally. Of course, Gwen was ahead of him. She was probably using this as an excuse to rub her victory in his face later.
"Well," Agatha continued, her grin widening, "I'm here because Maren and I go way back. Surely, he must've told you about me before he kicked the bucket and became a Gastly?"
Gladion smirked, deciding to match her wit. "Yeah, he mentioned some creepy old hag. Must've been you."
The room went silent for a beat. Sabrina raised an eyebrow, clearly interested in how this exchange would play out. Agatha's grin turned into a scowl, and she raised her cane menacingly.
"You little brat!" she snapped, swinging her cane toward him.
But before the cane could connect, Gladion disappeared in a flash, reappearing on the other side of the room. "Missed me!" he said with a grin, earning a snicker from Sabrina.
Agatha glared at him but couldn't hide the flicker of amusement in her eyes. "Cheeky, just like your grandfather. I'll let it slide… for now."
As if to emphasize her eerie aura, a Banette materialized beside her, its zipper-like mouth curling into a mischievous grin. The ghost Pokémon floated toward Gladion, clearly intending to spook him.
But Gladion, having dealt with his sister's antics and her overly playful Gengar, remained perfectly expressionless. He stared at the Banette as if it were a particularly boring piece of furniture.
"Nice try," he said dryly.
The Banette blinked, its grin faltering. It floated back to Agatha, who let out a raspy chuckle. "You're harder to scare than I thought. Perhaps Gwen has toughened you up."
Gladion didn't respond, his gaze instead fixed on the Banette. It wasn't the Pokémon's appearance that surprised him—it was its region of origin. "A Banette?" he muttered.
"Something wrong, boy?" Agatha asked, her tone almost mocking.
"Hoenn's borders just opened to Kanto recently," Gladion said, narrowing his eyes. "How did you get a Banette?"
Agatha grinned, clearly pleased by his curiosity. "Oh, I've had Banette long before the borders opened. Let's just say… I have my ways."
Gladion didn't press further, but the revelation added another layer of intrigue to the already enigmatic woman.
As the conversation continued, Sabrina watched silently, her sharp gaze darting between Gladion and Agatha.
"You've got an interesting family history," she finally said, breaking her silence.
"Yeah, that's one way to put it," Gladion replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Your sister's already ahead of you," Sabrina pointed out. "Maybe you're not as strong as you think."
Gladion groaned. "Not you too. Look, I'm not in a race with Gwen. I'm focusing on my own pace."
Sabrina shrugged. "I was just saying. She seems more efficient."
"Efficient isn't always better," he shot back.
Agatha cackled, clearly enjoying their banter. "You two remind me of Maren and me in our younger days. Always bickering, always competing. Ah, the good old days."
"I don't want to know," Gladion said quickly, cutting her off before she could launch into any embarrassing stories.
'I hope grandpa was not dating this creepy old hag. I would be deeply disappointed in him. Wait....What if she is my super secret grandma? That would also explain Gwen's ghost aura.' A horrified look appeared on Gladion's face.
Agatha noticed that look "What's wrong brat?"
"Are you......my grand...ma?"
Agatha's cane dropped as she fell down on the floor.
'Did I just give her a heart attac....' Before Gladion could complete his thought, he heard loud laughter.
"Bahahahaha....Me and Maren? Bababababa...I am pretty sure that Maren would be crying in the grave at that." Agatha said as she rolled in laughter on the floor.
Koga, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "Enough Agatha. Gladion, I'll be waiting for you in the gym. Prepare yourself."
His words carried a weight that made Gladion straighten up instinctively.
"I'll be ready," Gladion replied confidently, though his heart was pounding in excitement.
With that, Koga vanished as swiftly as he had appeared, leaving Gladion alone with Sabrina and Agatha.
"Jeez, Koga can't enjoy a joke. Always so serious. Brat, Try not to embarrass yourself," Agatha said with a sly grin before turning and leaving with her Banette in tow.
As the door closed behind her, Gladion let out a long sigh. "What is it with old people being so cryptic and creepy?"
