Ch.11 Untapped Power and Unsettled Feelings

It had been a week since Henrietta's passing and it was back to business as usual for most of Avalanche. Marco was training in hand to hand combat with Carrie while Chesra and looked on. He'd had a one track mind since he got back and it was all focused on improving his combat ability. Not that he was a bad fighter, but Richard had bested him and it was eating at his nerves.

Carrie was instructed not to take it easy on him and with the exception of not using her claws she wasn't. Her lack of true combat experience was made up for with her extra powers as a pokégirl. The two of them were inside her darkness dome so Marco could work on blind fighting. Chesra was impressed at the progress he was making. His reaction times were improving along with his hearing and touch. He had to work extra hard to fight Carrie in such an environment, she didn't make much noise as it was and could see him perfectly well.

The two of them had clashed in the dome again. Marco was trying to get some shots in while he had an idea of where she was. Carrie on the other hand was hitting him then creating distance between them. She had learned the hard way that if she stayed in one spot and went toe to toe her master would sacrifice a hit just to start grappling. With a side step she punched him in the chest but found her arm caught. Before he could lock-in his hold Carrie turned hard to the side and threw him out the sphere.

Chesra nodded in approval as he came tumbling out. "That's enough for today. That was good work Carrie, your basics have gotten a lot better. Marco, you hung in there a lot longer than last time." She knelt down and lifted him up onto his feet. "You should be more than a match for a regular human. Why do you insist on doing battles in the dark though?"

Marco dusted himself off and stretched the arm he was thrown by. "Richard has some sort of blindsense, I'm almost certain of it. When I fight him again I will be ready."

"That is sound reasoning, are you sure you want to continue the tamers journey. We could just hunt down those responsible for Henrietta's death."

He had actually been planning on doing just that. There was more than enough information to try and find Richard and his harem, but that brought problems. There were enough issues with interagency cooperation, murdering a member of IGS in cold blood would put people in danger. "We can't just go hunting for them. Searching for people leaves a trail of its own. It's better to just let them find us and take it from there. After that last stunt they should keep off my back for a while."

"And if they do attack?"

He popped his neck off to the side and cracked his knuckles. "People go missing in the wilderness all the time. We kill them and let that be the end of it, if more come we do the same. Eventually they will either get the picture or we'll find the end of the line."

Ashley was off in another spot training with her picks. Her goal was to reproduce the attack that Chesra used on the Galem in the gym battle. Needless to say it wasn't going well. The swing looked about right but would pull off to the side near the end. Jean was practicing with a pair of short swords near by and stopped to critique what she saw.

"I think the problem lies with the weight of the weapons. When I saw the recording it looked like she let the weight of the hammer do most of the work till it was just past parallel with the ground. After that point she throws her strength into the swing, the timing is very important."

Ashley tried the attack again and was just slightly off target. "Damn it, I just can't get it right. I know if I can just get it right it would be a good attack."

Chesra and the others were watching as they made their way over. She saw the Peekabu's strike and was able to see the problems immediately. "You not taking into account your second pick. My attack comes from one side and flows in one motion, I'll let you figure out the secret of getting it right for you."

Ashley sighed and looked at the ground. "Is there any kind of defense against the attack?"

"Of course, you'd be wise to only use it against charging opponents and it they have good reaction times you'll have problems."

Jean thought about it for a second. "Have you ever missed?"

"Henrietta was the first to dodge the attack... then she shot me in the leg. I still won the fight and as Marco says 'If it didn't hurt, you didn't learn anything.'"

Marco grimaced at the thought of his fallen girl but shook his head clear. "Ok ladies, everyone needs to get some food and pack your things for tomorrow morning. We teleport to Prussian City to get the Ra's Eye badge. He is rumored to have a very tough harem so well need to be at the top of our game."

"How are we going to handle the battle order?"

"I've yet to see Jean fight in an official battle so she's our starter." Marco looked over to the Nogitsune who was absolutely beaming at the idea of being used in battle. "Next will be Ashley and Chesra you got the last fight if it comes to it."

The Warrior Nun nodded. "I will try my best to not be too hard on the more ghostly elements on his harem."

"Whatever, it's one of the more anti-pokégirl rights areas so I'm not going to feel too bad."

Jean was jumping up and down with excitement. "I finally get to show you all what I can do."

Marco ran his fingers through her hair and scratched her ear. "Just remember our discussion about being overconfident. We need you to be focused when the fight starts."

She pushed her head deeper into the scratch, relishing the attention she was getting. "Cool, calm, and precise violence is what you'll get from me Master Idiot."

"Good to see we understand each other."

Chesra set down her poképack then looked to Carrie. "Even though you won't be fighting in the next gym battle I have something special I'd like to give you. Everyone wait right here." Chesra teleported away then returned a few minutes later with Mina in toe.

"Ok, ok what's this all abo... oh. Is it time?" Chesra nodded and pulled a long ebony case out of her poképack. "There is something special about you Carrie and we have something special for you."

The case was made of hard ebony black wood with what appeared to be a display of siege weapons carved into it. "Back when Marco was just getting started we took on a criminal team... I can't remember the name." Stated Chesra while looking at the locks and latches holding the box closed.

"It was Team Invaders, don't ask, I didn't pick the name. We were headed by an unimportant human but the real power came from the Mazouku and Enchantress. I was more of a pet to them than anything else but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the things I did... or so I thought. Marco and Chesra along with what is mostly the Delta Team and another military member, stormed our base and laid waste to most of the team."

"I believe her name was Jodesi." Added Marco.

"Right, well Jodesi had a Seraph in her harem that was hell bent on killing the Mozouku and she did it too. But the Enchantress had made a pendant that transferred the Mozouku's mind to whoever killed her. After the Seraph killed the enchantress her mind was taken over by the Mozouku and she murdered Jodesi and her harem before they could react." Mina thought back to the gory scene and shuddered. She had been beaten and left in a pool of her own blood but was just conscious enough to watch the battle. "She turned on Chesra next but the two were at a stalemate. I can only guess that the mind of the Seraph reemerged and was fighting the Mozouku for control because she fell to the ground clutching her head in agony."

Marco finally remembered all of the details of that horrible day. "That's right, when she finally came around she said that her life was over, grabbed the sword that was still in the hands of the Enchantress, and thrust it into her heart."

Mina nodded and knelt down to start undoing the locks on the box. "It was an enchanted blade that trapped the powers of the last person it killed inside it, along with their consciousness." She undid the ward that sealed the box and opened it. The wind began to pick up and they could all feel the pulse of energy flow out. There it sat, a black katana forged of unknown material and housing the souls and powers of pure malevolence and holy righteousness. Though the blade was black enough to drink in the light, its handle was pure white with holy crosses marking the braid. "This is that blade."

Chesra's hand wavered as it got closer to the blade before she jerked it away. "I'd attempted to wield this blade several times in the past and could feel an overwhelming psychic pull, I will never be able to use it to its full potential."

"All the same it reminds me of a bad place and I can’t use it either. We did some testing and came to the conclusion that the psychic energy being released was too much to handle. Even though there is a celestial spirit inside, the blade was forged of ill intent and also houses an infernal spirit. Its owner would have to be immune to the constant psychic assault to access its power, but also have known both complete evil and despair as well as true kindness and hope. Then learn to work with both." Explained Mina as Carrie edged closer to the katana.

Marco grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. "So what happens when she becomes a Mistress? The sword would just go back into storage?"

"No sir, everyone in the unit has seen the exponential increase in her powers since she got here. Kelly, Chesra, Selena, and I talked it over and we all agree that she will be powerful enough to quell the two spirits that inhabit the blade but maintain the powers that are there."

Marco's hand was still gripping her shoulder and he spun her around to face him before throwing all the caring, feeling, and passion he had into one deep lingering kiss. "It's not up to them and it's not up to me, this is your decision and yours alone. So I order you to do what you feel is best for you concerning that weapon."

The Penance couldn't help but shed a tear as threw her arms around him in a crushing hug. She then turned and started signing to Chesra who in turn translated. "She said, if my Alphas and the Betas have deemed this best, I have the support of my sisters, and my loving Master has given me free reign to decide for myself. I will master this weapon and prove that their faith in me was justified."

Carrie reached forward and took the katana by the handle. The power of the blade rippled through her but there was no other presence to be felt. She had been practicing with various swords under Chesra's watchful eye and swung outward in an upward arch. Marco had been close to her and she was thinking about all the love and trust he had in her. Half way through the swing it appeared as if space had been opened up in front of her and an arrow of light few out of said space.

Chesra was stunned to say the least; the arrow had taken off at sound breaking speed and pierced a tree in the middle of the field. The tree split in two and fell to the ground with a loud thud. “That was a Heavenly Arrow. Try a downward swing.”

Carrie nodded and began to concentrate. This time anger and hatred were her feelings and David was her focal point. The blade buzzed with malevolent energy and ignited with a black flame. She swung down striking the ground and scorching the earth. “That looks like Hell Fire to me.” Said Mina as she eyed the blades wielder, surely she wasn’t the only one who felt the thud when she hit the ground. Even though it touched the ground there was neither a scratch nor bit of dirt to be found.

Marco paused for a moment, he could feel something stir inside of him but dismissed it. “That is very dangerous, if you intend to use it you will have to master it. Once a day you and Chesra are to work on your swordsmanship and I want you to document everything you learn about that weapon and have a report for me. Am I understood?” Carried nodded quickly.

Chesra pulled a large broad sword from her poképack and moved into a ready stance. “Carrie, give me one attack.”

Carrie gripped the sword with both hands and shot forward swinging overhead and coming down. The two contacted and Chesra had to use more strength than she normally would have to parry the attack. “It appears that the blade has retained some of the Seraph’s immense strength. You have a lot of training to do.”

____

Marco and Jean laid silently together, basking in the afterglow of a good night’s taming. Idly she ran her fingers over the scars that ran down his arm. Finally she could hear his rhythmic breathing and slipped out of bed. She carefully took a few steps away from the bed and teleported to the office.

Since she wasn't in the actual unit she didn't have the codes to get into the Ops Con room. Instead she made her way to the TV room. The videos of his match with Brock were still in the system and she sat back watching the matches. By sheer fortune Marco had left his pokédex recording when he was talking to her former tamer after the match.

~"No need to check, I want his Nogitsune." "These lessons cost you a pokégirl, and a valuable one at that."~

She sat back in the couch and paused the video. "He didn't hesitate for a second. He could have chosen any girl in Reggie's harem, but he chose me. It can't be that simple."

The lights flipped on behind her, in the doorway stood Kelly. The Duelist was holding a cup of coffee and took a seat in the recliner. "You look surprised, is it really that difficult to believe that he would?"

"Given my past experiences and the number of harems I've been in... yeah, it is."

"How many is that, wait better question, how long have you been a Nogitsune?"

"Too many and too long, about three years. All this time and I've never know a nice tamer. Then here comes Marco, the only thing he knew about me was that I lost a battle. He beats my tamer, never looks at the list, and says he wants me without a second thought. Then tells Reggie that I was valuable."

"And here you sit, dwelling on the deeds of your Master. I know acceptance is hard to come by, maybe not as well as you do, but I know. Here’s the next question then, are you happy here? You've seen Marco in every way there is to see a man. He's not perfect. You've seen him at his most brutal, and at his most vulnerable. Are you happy to be where you are?"

"... He doesn't just put up with me, he indulges me. I've had tamers sell me in days, and I was glad to be gone. But he would do anything for me. The first thing I did was insult him and his harem, and his reply was to make sure I would be able to read when I said I couldn't. Who does that?"

"Yeah, for a person with read in his name he's a hard book to follow. We don't try and make sense of how his mind works, we just appreciate the way it does. Keeping a Criminal Team member who tried to kill him twice and never level fived her, saving a broken Duelist who lost her master to a feral, rehabilitating a Penance. You would think that there’d be Megami beating the door in to get at him." She chuckled with that last comment, knowing his unreasonable dislike for celestial pokégirls.

"True, but how many would stand idly by while he instrumented the death of that detective? That I guess is what you mean by most brutal."

"We can both agree that he needed to die right?" Kelly waited for Jean to nod before continuing. "Good, not a single person here thought he needed to live either. Even Alex, she was just against her patients being in on it."

"Some things are just unforgivable."

"You never answered my question though. Are you happy where you are now?"

"I couldn't think of a better harem to be in. The stability of knowing that everything is okay, that he likes me the way I am. My only hope is that he never decides that he wants to trade me for another girl."

"Marco has been in the military for ten years, he had one girl moved out of the unit once and fought tooth and nail to get her back. And he got her back. Once he chooses you, you're stuck with him. He wouldn't let anyone go unless they wanted to and even the girls that are bonded to other military members don't want to leave him."

"I guess Chesra was right when she said that unless I die I don't get to leave the harem." Jean smiled and got off the couch, walking to the exit. "Thanks Kelly, I needed to understand that. You were right when you said you were easy to talk to."

"No problem, I’m not sure what makes me so approachable. It may have something to do with my appearance. But that’s neither here nor there; it was your night with him so you’d better get back soon."

"No need to keep a good man waiting."

"One more thing, I've done some reading on the Nogitsune breed. If you don't mind me asking, what caused you to evolve into one?"

"I'd rather not talk about it, I will say that if you’re right about him, it will never happen again."

Harem

Chesra- Alpha

Carrie- Penance

Ashley- Peekabu

Jean- Nogitsune