P>Pokemon is a copyright of Nintendo. Pokègirls and Pokèwomen come from the Pokewomon Forum.
"Wild Horses and Pokègirls" is the creation of Metroanime.
The teacher was a guest lecturer from Vale. That he'd been allowed to deliver his lecture at Nuevo Tenochtitlàn University was a clear indication that something had forced the premier magic academies to rise above their rivalry. At least for a few days. The lecture itself was by invitation only. The most powerful wards were established to prevent eavesdropping. All attendees had to fill out extensive and soul-binding non-disclosure agreements.
The old man tottered towards the podium. A broken man, but clearly wishing to retain some dignity. He ignored the gasps, as those who knew him, or knew of him, reconciled his 47 years of life with the seeming ancient who shambled across the stage.
"The rivalry between Succubi and Demonesses is long, visceral and seemingly inexplicable," the old man said, only the strongest amplification made his near whisper audible, "Like all battles to the death, it can usually be incorrectly summed up simply. The simple truth behind the battle which will be remembered and kept alive in the hearts of Succubi and Demonesses long after the stars have grown cold, the Neo-Iczels and Demon-Goddesses have become a shining example of peace, our universities have become one - " He paused to let the laughter die down. "- and the Megami have realized bows really do make them look silly and childish."
He gestured and a blurred photo appeared on the screen behind him. An attractive and clearly Infernal Pokègirl. "The secret all Succubi and Demonesses know in their cruel hearts, yet equally fear to speak aloud, for fear of returning her to the land of the living is:" His voice took on a powerful tone, as his energized by his hatred, "Lenore was a Demoness."
His powerful oration incited a coughing spasm. It was clear the terrible cost his scholarship had exacted on his body, and probably his mind.
The ArchChancellor himself carried the man a glass of some healing draught, and stayed with him until he felt strong enough to continue.
"Assuming that's all there is to the story is like claiming 'An Atomic Bomb is just a couple of rocks slammed together'," the man continued in his near whisper, "There's far more terror and suffering involved in that tale than even the most hard-bitten Infernal wants to acknowledge. The Masui and Mazouku would revere Lenore as a goddess incarnate, if even their cruel souls did not freeze at the memory of that particular Pokègirl."
Another photo appeared, a Youma, grinning ear-to-ear. Something about the smile made even the hardened experts in Infernals and real demons squirm in their seats. There was a madness there that defied easy description. "As a Youma, Lenore seemed a bit off, she seemed to play with her food in ways that other Youma and Daimons found disturbing. It was not uncommon that some Youma's lunches would beg for mercy from some other passing Pokègirl," he paused to look at the audience he had riveted, despite his dry delivery, "Even if it was well know that those breeds of Pokègirls killed humans on sight." There was another photo, this one of a human, smiling madly and begging, but something in the eyes made the creature an object of pity, rather than revulsion. The few Infernal Pokègirls in the room fidgeted in their discomfort, some of the Celestials were already silently weeping. "But the expression on the ones Lenore had been snacking on, would cause an exquisite thrill of terror even in the first Hild. Such pleas were always granted on the spot, and the euthanizer would immediately flee to avoid Lenore's attention." Comments of agreement were murmured around the room, the Celestials and Infernals agreeing that would be the merciful choice.
"It wasn't just this, but she'd make her victims beg and plead that they enjoyed her little games, that first brought her to the attention of the hierarchy of the Legion of Terror. When they learned that occasionally, when no humans were available, she turned her talents on her squad-mates and any Pokègirl who fell into her orbit. While this was officially frowned upon, it was the Legion of Terror after all, and certain eccentricities were to be expected, even encouraged. Then the effect on the other Pokègirls was noted. Volunteering for vital mission with little hope of survival, was initially taken to mean that they had truly embraced Sukebe's vision. On closer examination, it was found that they were willingly accepting death, to get away from Lenore and her games."
The murmurs continued for longer, allowing the broken man a longer pause to drink and compose himself. The effort and the revelation of this terror were clearly taxing his strength of body and mind.
"Eventually, the High Command examined those who'd been in her presence the longest: a pair of Succubi."
A slide of two Succubi, grinning even in death brought growls from the Sex-Ed and Tantric Studies departments and clearly showed that some of this was known. He hastily ordered the slide changed before a general riot ensued.
"The rictuses they wore as a terrifying parody of a smile unnerved even the Dark Ladies who saw it," he continued, remembering some professors were clueless, "While the exact nature of the tortures inflicted on this pair has never been recorded, they were both put down after the interviews were complete and plans drawn up to terminate Lenore. It was widely accepted that Sukebe had gone truly mad with his hatred of humanity, when he personally intervened and had Lenore raised from Youma to Daimon. Stating, 'She's wasted as a front-line soldier.'"
"Her transfer to interrogations proved that even mad, Sukebe was a genius -"
"- and a fool!" someone in the audience shouted, and was shushed immediately by the others. The story had tempers twanging, although no one could put their finger on what truly disturbed them. It was as if each person knew, and they were waiting for it to unravel for the others.
The old man nodded and continued, "While even the most hardened human soldier and most jaded politician soon fell to her ministrations. Special human and human-allied Pokègirl hit squads were assembled to hunt her down and kill her. As more and more Pokègirls were converted to the human side, counter-intelligence and interrogating turned Pokègirls took up more of her time. The phrase 'Be careful, or Lenore will get you', became a watchword among humans and their Pokègirl allies, to fight to the death when facing the Legion."
He sighed, another slide, this of a General officer of the Legion. The grin punctuated her identity as nothing else could. A badge and marking nothing could erase or obscure. Several of the more delicate faculty swooned.
"When she evolved on her own to Demoness, it was too late. She knew too many secrets, she knew too many of the weaknesses of her fellow Demonesses. She could force more to play her games, to participate in her revels, the sound of which would drive even the most brave and hard-hearted into paroxysms of terror. The Legion's reputation and effectiveness soared, as defenders would kill themselves, rather than run the risk of being captured alive."
"The bitches sold us out!" a Succubi rose and shouted.
"We didn't have any choice! You weren't there, I - "
"Order!" the ArchChancellor thundered, "We will have order, or I will have those too immature, removed."
The Succubi and Demonesses muttered their apologies, and took their seats. It was clear campus security would have to keep them away from each other for the next week or so.
"As you have seen," the lecturer began again, "The Succubi however, found the price of Lenore's programs too high. Even as Sukebe's servants, they liked humans, their taste, their scent, the way they could be made to serve. The flavor of a human's energy was intoxicating, compared to animals and even other Pokègirls. Lenore destroyed that, and she was infecting the other Demonesses with her mad ideas to 'bring the humans over to our side'. The Demonesses would exterminate the humans, or leave them in a state that the Succubi could only be repulsed and nauseated by them and their life energy. Slowly, they drew their plans, enlisted allies and prepared the strike that would end Lenore's evil once and for all. But they were betrayed, by one of Lenore's most loyal lieutenants, a Demoness who had gone over to Lenore's way of thinking completely. The plot's leaders were presented to Lenore, and she took especial care in reeducating them."
He hurried on as growls from both sides grew audible, "When they were finally released, it was a clear message and a declaration of war, to all Succubi, that Lenore and the Demonesses would proceed on her mad path. The Succubi could either submit, or starve, as the humans who would be allowed to live would never be edible to them, ever again. Then in 8 AS, fate intervened as Lenore was within the blast radius, when the Legendary Kary immolated herself. Rumors abound that, dying of her many wounds, the Legendary saw fit, at the last, to repent her hate-filled ways, and destroy the greatest evil that the world knew."
The man gestured towards the wings, and a number of graduate students brought forth all the material for a summoning.
"Too often my words have been doubted, too often my warnings unheeded," the man said as the students laid out the implements and not one, not two, but SIX protection circles. The murmurs of interest and concern among the audience grew. The miasma of protection spells and the tinny electric or burning scent of attack magics filled the air with the perfume of impending battle.
"Proof is so often desired, and in this case, can be safely given." A dozen powerful Seraphs and Megami-samas took up positions around the circle so they could fire on it and not be in each others line of fire. The ArchChancellor stood, to personally banish the apparition.
As the spectral figure within the formed within circle, the broken man intoned, "Before, the greatest evil of this or any age."
"Ooh! Such Happy shiny people, let's all hold hands and go out there and get some exercise, and stay not cooped up in dark-dingy hall all day like a worrywart, or do those nasty S-E-X things. Why do any of that icky stuff when you can have a nice, rousing sing-along, instead? It's the bestest way of turning that frown, upside down! Lenore wants everybody to be Happy. Then we can take our nappy, have our cocoa and talk about kittens and puppies and all be happy-happy people singing On Top of Old Smoky all day long!"