Disclaimer:
This work is fiction. The work is presented under fair protection where applicable.
Feedback will be read, processed, and if it’s a flame it will be given the finger, then I will burst into hysterical laughter. Constructive feedback, be it criticism or praise, will be read, processed, given a smile, and filed away. To contact me, please send an email to socom.seal@(SPAM)yahoo.com. Remove (SPAM) for a valid email.
You should not read this work if you are not of legal age where you reside. This work may contain concepts or written actions that some readers may find excessive or disturbing. This may include (but not be limited to) rape, BDSM, or death.
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Chapter 4
Whatever It Takes
Nessa was peacefully slumbering when her nose twitched. A few minutes passed before the Totodile moved again, this time her head tilting in her sleep. Then, her eyes snapped open.
It was still dark and she groggily cast about. Why had she woken up? She usually slept through the night…
A lack of warmth against her back caught her attention and her arm flopped over, feeling about. When it didn’t encounter Nicholas’ body Nessa shook the sleep off and sat up.
He was gone. Sera too.
Nessa threw the blankets away, stumbling in the dark towards where the light switch was. She was halfway there when a noise caught her attention.
A pair of red eyes blinked at her from the darkness. “We’re out here.”
Nessa blinked, hard, her eyes now adjusting to the low light streaming in from the balcony door. She could see two forms outside and relaxed when she made out Nicholas lounging back in a chair.
“It’s the middle of the night.” Nessa padded out and attempted to cuddle under his arm. “Come back to bed.”
“In a minute.”
Nessa stilled when she heard his distant tone. “Is everything all right?”
Nicholas gazed out over the city. Now there was a loaded question. But unfortunately, “No,” he replied. “Nothing’s all right.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Nicholas let out a sigh. “We’ve had our talks.”
“Obviously not all of them.”
“This isn’t something you can help me with, Nessa. You’re not Cassidy, you can’t be my therapist and fix my head.”
“Which one was she, again?”
Nicholas grunted. “Alakazam.”
“Huh. Yeah. I can’t read your mind.” Nessa shifted around and perched on his lap. “But you know what I can do? I can listen.”
Nicholas gazed at her. “That’s what Sera’s been doing.”
Nessa glanced at the silent Zubat. “You should get some rest. I’ll take over.”
Sera’s shoulders barely moved when she shrugged but otherwise the Zubat remained motionless.
“There’s really no need for either of you to do this. I’ll get over it eventually.”
Nessa settled up against him, her naked breasts pleasantly squishing against Nicholas’ arm. “Get over what?”
A few minutes passed before Nicholas spoke. “I’m a failure.”
Nessa’s first instinct was to retort but she fought it back. “Why?”
“I’m supposed to be this superman, able to turn pokegirls into seasoned fighters with a flick of my dick. But I can’t. And not only can I not, I feel like… I’m so bad at being a tamer, I can’t even control you. As pokegirls.”
Nessa slowly took a deep breath. “Wow.”
“Yeah, I’m just like the rest of them. I’m a failure.”
“What do you mean, ‘control us’? In battle?”
“No, like…” Nicholas winced. “Actually, I don’t know. And that’s the problem. I don’t know. I don’t know, Nessa. Would I be this super tamer if I ordered you around all day? If I treated you like – like animals?” His chest jerked and Nessa heard a strangled note enter his voice. “Is that what I’m supposed to do? I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to do that to you.”
Nessa craned her neck to look at Sera. “We trust you to do what’s best. And we’ll follow you no matter what that is.” She looked back at Nicholas when Sera’s chin dipped slightly. “You are our Master. Our tamer, our teacher, our partner and a million things besides. We’ve made our choice. We’ve chosen you. No matter what path that brings.”
Nicholas’ tears slowly ran down his face. “I’m afraid.” He sniffed. “Afraid that I… I won’t be strong enough. And I’ll give in, to the weakness, the fear, everything that makes the kind of tamer I hate. And I’ll become one.”
Nessa shook her head. “You won’t. I know you won’t.” She lightly nuzzled his shoulder. “Remember what that woman said at the tower? Celine? You’re a tamer that can reinforce us. Make us better.”
“Yeah. I remember.” Nicholas rubbed his wet eyes on his shirt. “Her words have been following me ever since. I guess it’s why I’m out here in the middle of the night crying on my pokegirl’s head.”
Nessa giggled softly. “I don’t mind.”
“I know.” Nicholas cleared his throat. “But you don’t know what’s coming.”
Nessa firmly took his shoulder. “And you do?”
Nicholas shrugged her off. “I know what these people are. They’ve tried to kill – KILL, Nessa. Not hurt, not even something worse, but kill. They’ve tried to kill me and my harem before. If we run into Team Rocket I won’t run away and people will get hurt. Because you’re so intent on protecting me, that’s going to be you.”
“Pokegirls get hurt. It’s what we do.”
A long forgotten conversation flashed through Nicholas’ memories. “Who taught you that?”
Nessa frowned. “What?”
“Who taught you that your purpose is to be hurt? That professor, Elm, right?”
“What? No, he never said anything like that.” Nessa sat up. “I say that because I want to fight. I’m not stupid. If I fight other pokegirls, I’ll be hurt. I already have been. But I’m not running away.”
Her words from the park came back, fresh over the memory of Dahlia that he had been dwelling on. After a moment Nicholas sighed. “You’re not giving up.”
Nessa shook her head. “No. I won’t.”
“You’ll both get hurt tomorrow.”
Nessa smiled and behind her Sera’s teeth flashed when she grinned. “As long as you do your best to keep that from happening, Nicholas, I’ll be satisfied.”
Nicholas clasped her hands in his and gave them a quick squeeze. “All right. I promise I’ll do my best.” He took another moment to look at her. “Thank you, Nessa. For being you.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicholas took a deep breath to steady himself. They’d trained for days, almost weeks in preparation for this. Nessa had discovered her first pokegirl technique, Water Gun, and Sera had grown strong enough to fly for short periods of time. They were ready.
He wasn’t sure if he was, but they were. And moping about wasn’t going to help him. He needed to reach, to find the confidence that had briefly come to him during their training. If he could just find it…
Sera stepped up next to him. “Aren’t we going in, Master?”
Nicholas glanced at her. Both pokegirls had changed into matching battle uniforms and he allowed himself a moment to appreciate Sera’s looks before closing his eyes and nodding. “We are.” He turned to the door, reaching out and shoving them open.
He expected a hype man, like he had encountered in Kanto, but the man at the door didn’t start shouting. Instead, he gestured the three further inside. “Welcome to the Violet Gym. We’ve been expecting you.”
Nicholas uneasily stepped forwards, letting the doors swing shut. “You have?”
“No tamer challenges the gym without Elder Li’s approval. Please, step forwards.” He pointed at a platform nearby. “Step on, and prepare for your battle.”
Nicholas inspected the platform. There was a large indentation in the center and he stepped on, followed by Sera and Nessa. Once all three were steady, railings sprung out of the ground and the platform began to rise.
Nicholas caught himself from the sudden movement, looking up as the platform continued to rise. The roof above them split open, the elevator coming to a rest in the open air on top of the gym. On the other side of the roof stood Falkner.
The gym leader was casually tossing a pokeball in the air and looked down when he saw Nicholas step off the elevator. “I see you’ve finally shown up.”
Nicholas brushed off the insult. “I came when I was ready.”
Falkner grinned and caught the pokeball. “Ready to act like a tamer?”
Nicholas returned the smile. “Ready to win.”
Falkner whistled and Nicholas shielded his eyes when a burst of wind blasted across the rooftop. When he lowered his arm he could see two bird pokegirls landing behind the gym leader. One was the Hoothoot, and the other… he recognized her on sight. A Pidgeotto. Falkner obviously wasn’t going to go easy on them, just as he’d promised.
“If he leads with the Hoothoot…” Nicholas looked at Sera. “Well, you’ve got a score to settle, don’t you?”
Sera’s lips had started curling back and she hissed when he spoke. “I do.”
“What do you need from me?”
Sera took her eyes off the Hoothoot for a moment to look at him. “I need my tamer, that’s what.”
“I’ve got your back.”
Sera returned her attention to the arena. “…I know. I trust you.”
“Remember that you can’t fly for very long.” Nicholas watched the Hoothoot step forwards. “Here she comes. Make sure she doesn’t outlast you.”
Sera nodded and stepped into the arena. The two pokegirls stared at each other for a few seconds before Falkner raised his arm.
“On my count!” Nicholas blinked when the marked border of the arena erupted with light, a shimmering barrier enclosing the two pokegirls. No gym in Kanto had done this, only the Elite Four, so why…?
“BEGIN!”
A pit formed in Nicholas’ stomach when he realized. This wasn’t Kanto. Falkner had made that clear. The barrier had gone up to protect the tamers, just like in the Elite Four, because…
“SERA! DO NOT HOLD BACK!”
Sera snarled when she heard the shout. She hadn’t intended to.
The Hoothoot started the battle by winging into the sky and Sera’s eyes tracked her. As far as this bird knew, she couldn’t follow. She’d wait for her opening.
The Hoothoot twirled, energy building along her wings before she snapped them back, coming to a halt and sending sheets of air slicing towards the grounded Zubat. Sera dove out of the way, hissing when a cut opened along her cheek and blood began to drip down her chin. The Hoothoot laughed before wheeling around and beginning to charge another attack.
Nicholas felt his words jump into his throat when Sera didn’t appear to retaliate. He needed to trust her, but she needed her tamer. Did she need him now? Should he say something? Why wasn’t she flying?
Finally he coughed something out. “Se- Sera-“
Before he could finish he found himself caught in Sera’s gaze. The Zubat had craned her neck back to look at him and before he could speak, she smiled.
Nicholas swallowed, the rest of his sentence forgotten. She didn’t need him yet.
Yuji hadn’t stopped to let them interact and as Sera turned back she saw the Hoothoot mid-swoop. Shit. Well, she’d get hit, but she couldn’t hate him for being worried.
Yuji whirled, anticipating Sera to attack or dodge the same way she’d seen before. So when Sera’s wings snapped out and the Zubat launched herself into the air, the Hoothoot was caught completely off guard.
Falkner immediately shouted an order and Yuji turned, energy slicing through Sera’s path. Sera screamed as the attack battered her and she faltered, her already weak flight made worse by the numerous cuts that covered her wings. But she turned after the floundering Hoothoot, her own technique building as she opened her mouth and screamed fury.
Yuji smashed into the ground with Sera on top of her, the Zubat’s fangs seeking the bird pokegirl’s throat. Yuji desperately deflected, howling when Sera managed to sink her teeth into her shoulder instead. Sera’s jaw clenched down when Yuji’s talons tore through one of her wings, completely shredding the membrane. She wasn’t flying again, so if she let go, she’d lose.
Yuji’s eyes rolled back and her chest bucked as Sera began to drain her life. Tendrils of energy snaked down Sera’s body, slowing the bleeding from her numerous wounds as Yuji finally found an opening and hammered her wing into Sera’s face.
Sera involuntarily spasmed, her mouth slipping open as her suddenly shattered nose sent blood down her throat and her breathing was cut off. Yuji immediately shoved her away, scrambling to her feet and crouching to leap back in the air.
“SERA, FORWARD!”
Sera was clawing at her broken nose when Nicholas’ words pierced her mind. Without stopping to think, she lunged.
Yuji’s wings were extended. Vulnerable. So when Sera felt something soft brush against her outstretched hand, she struck without waiting to find out what it was. Blinded by the blood covering her face, barely able to breathe, she struck forwards.
Yuji’s scream pierced the air and she flopped away, uselessly trying to flap the wing Sera had hit. It wasn’t broken, but Sera had hit her right where the nerves connected to her shoulder. The wing was dead. The Hoothoot couldn’t fly.
Sera finally got a gulp of air and slammed her mouth shut. Blood sprayed across the roof when she forced it back out her nose. She ignored the pain and cleared her eyes, finding Yuji and grinning savagely when she saw the Hoothoot’s wing hanging at her side.
“Ever fought for your life? I have,” Sera taunted. “MASTER!” She steadied herself and prepared to continue the battle. “COMMAND ME!”
Nicholas clenched his fists. Seeing Sera fight, hearing her call for him, he could feel… he could feel himself responding. Deep in his psyche, a long-forgotten feeling stirred.
Nicholas threw his arm back, his head coming up as the adrenaline surged through his body. “CLAW, BITE, BLEED HER!”
Falkner spat. “Yuji. Gut her.”
The two pokegirls clashed again. Sera’s breath shot out when Yuji’s foot kicked into her sternum, the Hoothoot’s talons ripping through her uniform and cutting streaks in her stomach. In retaliation Sera brought her shredded wing around, her hand clenching back to bare her clawed fingers. Yuji choked when the swipe went across her throat and she staggered back, her mobile wing shooting up to stop the bleeding, but Sera snarled. She knew what she had felt, and it hadn’t been deep enough.
Nicholas didn’t need to speak before she was attacking again, using Yuji’s panic to get a free hit. Yuji gagged as Sera drove her knee into her stomach, tearing Yuji’s wing away from her scratched skin and finally sinking her fangs into the Hoothoot’s throat.
She didn’t stay long. She could feel the muscles between her teeth tensing as Yuji prepared to rip free, so she focused every last ounce of strength she could into twisting her head.
With a spray of blood Yuji jerked away. This time, her wing wasn’t so quick to find her wound and when it did, it was weak. The Hoothoot’s mouth worked, red seeping through her feathers before she crashed to the ground, her entire body shaking as her starved lungs tried desperately to draw breath through the bubbling hole in her throat. By twisting her head, Sera’s fangs had created new, much larger wounds when Yuji tore herself free and now the Hoothoot was choking on her own blood.
Sera struggled to one knee, gazing at the spreading pool of liquid around Yuji. When her recall beam took her she coughed, falling to her hands and knees and retching her own blood onto the ground.
Nicholas let out his breath and raised Sera’s pokeball, ready to recall her, but Nessa stalled his hand.
“Look.”
Sera slowly got to her feet, her eyes fluttering but managing to focus on the Pidgeotto at Falkner’s side. She tried to say something before retching again, clutching her chest as blood dribbled between her breasts.
Sera felt her strength slipping away but she didn’t let herself fall. Her Master must be ready to save her, but she had… one last thing she needed to do.
Falkner glanced at his Pidgeotto and gestured at Sera. “Finish her.”
The barrier in front of Falkner dropped for a moment to let the Pidgeotto through before springing back to life. The pokegirl didn’t hesitate, darting towards the barely standing Zubat.
Nicholas shook off Nessa’s hand and raised the pokeball. “There’s no need to let her get hit.”
Nessa gazed at Sera. She had to be standing for a reason. She wasn’t that stubborn, right?
Sera spat one last time. There. Her lungs were clear. She raised her eyes from the ground to see the Pidgeotto closing in on her and took a deep breath.
Falkner’s eyes widened and he shouted a warning, but it was too late. Sera screamed.
The piercing noise blasted into the Pidgeotto and she lost control of her flight, crashing to the ground and rolling towards Sera at breakneck speed. Sera felt the girl’s body crash into her legs and she slammed backwards, her scream cutting off when her skull smashed into the ground and knocked her unconscious.
Nicholas finally recalled her, his eyes wide. Strong-willed was an understatement for what he had just witnessed.
Nessa immediately moved forwards and the barrier dropped automatically, letting the Totodile in as she broke into a sprint for the grounded Pidgeotto.
Sera. Why did she have to always set the bar so damn high? Nessa’s teeth glinted as she snarled, her own sharp fangs on display as her jaw slackened in preparation to bite the struggling Pidgeotto. She wasn’t going to let her outclass her. That was for sure.
The Pidgeotto screamed when Nessa’s teeth sank into her arm. Nessa bit down as hard as she dared, feeling the skin tear and blood spurt into her mouth.
“This is a fight.” Nessa blinked when Nicholas’s face swam before her eyes. “Not practice. Do not hold back.”
She still hesitated. She’d done the same when he first spoke those words, back in Cherrygrove. She hadn’t wanted to hurt…
A jerk from the limb in her mouth brought Nessa back to reality. And the memory of Sera, of the Zubat, barely even able to stay conscious, giving her this opportunity, set her resolve.
“I can’t promise anything,” Nicholas said. “I’m still… well.”
“Just do your best.” Nessa held off on getting dressed for a moment to kiss him. “And I’ll do whatever it takes.”
That had been her vow that morning. Nessa’s jaw clenched as she remembered. Sera’s relentless determination, her own words, the Zubat’s vow, Nicholas’ pain, it all flashed through her thoughts in an instant. She knew what she needed to do.
The Pidgeotto’s face went white when the pressure in Nessa’s bite multiplied. Before she could even scream, the bone shattered.
Nessa was thrown away when the Pidgeotto buffeted her and she rolled to a stop, wincing and feeling the bruises covering her body. It hadn’t even been a real attack, and she’d taken this much damage? This enemy was dangerous.
Falkner shouted encouragement and the Pidgeotto got to her feet. Her broken wing was quickly turning red, Nessa’s bite doing more than just shattering the bone. It had also severed clean through the major arteries feeding the wing and now the Pidgeotto was running on a timer. She was bleeding out, and she recognized that. The struggling Totodile across from her needed to go down. Now.
Nessa gasped when something dug into her side and she was thrown across the roof, smashing into the ground with a cry that was cut off when the Pidgeotto lunged forwards and slammed her taloned foot into Nessa’s stomach. Nessa gagged, grabbing at the leg that was grinding her into the floor but unable to even shift the Pidgeotto’s grip. She wheezed as she felt her breath slowly driven from her lungs and her struggles grew even more desperate.
Nicholas gazed at the scene in front of him. To him, the two were barely moving at all. He had seen Nessa thrown, seen the Pidgeotto run after her. Run. Her wing was broken, and she was barely moving the other. She was as vulnerable as any grounded pokegirl. He knew what Nessa needed to do to win.
Nessa was fighting back the darkness creeping into her vision when she heard Nicholas’ command. “From the CHEST, Nessa! Drive her back!”
The chest. She remembered now. He wanted her to…
The Pidgeotto was pressing more of her body weight onto Nessa when the Totodile’s cheeks suddenly bulged. With a scream the Pidgeotto’s head snapped back, the Water Gun clipping her. Combined with her still-ringing ears from Sera’s scream she was disoriented enough for Nessa to swing her legs around, smashing against the Pidgeotto’s leg and sending the avian pokegirl crashing to the ground. Instantly both combatants were back on their feet, but Nessa had the advantage this time. The Pidgeotto was unsteady, and Nessa could feel her strength returning with every breath.
That’s right. He’d taught her how to do this, and she’d already forgotten. She needed to be better. She needed to use what he taught her and be stronger.
A blue glow shone from under her uniform when Nessa braced, her tail slapping against the ground and turning her legs into a tripod that gave her a solid shooting platform. She felt the water rising, pressure building as she took aim at the Pidgeotto. Falkner shouted a warning, but all the Pidgeotto could manage was a half-formed block.
Water erupted from Nessa’s mouth, more powerful than she’d been able to do before, and the Pidgeotto’s unbroken wing was blasted away. She immediately lost her footing, slamming to the ground and rolling along with the water pressure only adding to her speed. Falkner flinched when the Pidgeotto slammed into the barrier, the energy vanishing after a moment to allow the Pidgeotto to slam against the guard rails lining the roof. Eventually Nessa’s attack dissipated, revealing the twisted body of the Pidgeotto wrapped around the bars.
Falkner recalled her, turning to look at Nessa. When Nicholas recalled the exhausted Totodile he stepped forwards. “You’re not the scared tamer I first saw. Congratulations.”
Nicholas absentmindedly rubbed Nessa’s pokeball before placing it on his belt. “Those monks of yours are good at their job.”
Falkner smiled and came to a halt in front of him. “They are, but they can’t do everything. For a Kanto failure you’ve sure turned out to be something else.”
Nicholas glanced at him before sighing. “Sure.”
“You’ve earned this.” Falkner held out a badge. “The Zephyr badge. Congratulations.”
Nicholas took it and popped open his pokedex. “Thank- Oh. Whoops.”
Falkner peeked over the case. “What’s…” he trailed off when he saw the eight badges already slotted into the foam. “…wait. What?”
Nicholas looked up and gave Falkner a nervous smile. “I forgot to empty it before coming to Johto.”
Falkner’s eyes had grown wide. “You. I knew I’d seen you somewhere. You’re Topolski.”
“That’s me.” Nicholas glanced back down at the badge case before gently pulling the foam out. “I’ll need to get a new insert for this thing.”
“Why is the Champion here, challenging my gym? As if you were a new tamer?” Falkner’s attitude had changed completely and he gestured wildly. “I- Oh, shit. I apologize for my behavior…”
“No, don’t.” Nicholas placed the Zephyr badge loosely into the badge compartment before snapping his pokedex shut and storing the Kanto badges in his bag. “You were right to call me out. It took our battle for me to remember what being the Champion means.” He extended his hand. “Thank you.”
Falkner slowly took it, shaking before letting go. “Um… You’re welcome.”
“I’m taking the Johto challenge from scratch. Who I am, or was, the harem I had, it doesn’t matter. What matters is who I have now.” Nicholas grinned at Falkner. “Apologize to your Pidgeotto for me, would you? Ashley would have loved to meet your harem.”
Falkner shook himself. “Who?”
“My own Pidgeot.”
“Oh. I would have loved to meet her too.” Falkner finally seemed to calm down. “Maybe another time, we can both fight with our full harems.”
Nicholas smiled. “Maybe.”
Falkner nodded. “Until then.”
Nicholas nodded back, turning and stepping onto the elevator to begin his descent back to the ground.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POKEDEX UPDATED
Tamer:Nicholas Topolski
Badges:
Zephyr Badge
Harem:
Nessa, Totodile – Level 14
Sera, Zubat – Level 15
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicholas paused with his hand on the door to their hotel room.
He could feel the metal under his palm vibrating off his skin. Letting go, he raised his trembling hand to his eyes.
Gym, pokecenter, here. He hadn’t let himself stop for fear of breaking down. The feeling of battle, the adrenaline that had fueled him, it was all gone. He was left with nothing as the doubt crept back into his thoughts.
The swings were getting worse. Last night he’d been so depressed that he hadn’t been able to sleep. Today in the gym he’d felt in control, giddy even. He’d felt... good. But of course it couldn’t last. He was just playing a part. His true self was the weak, afraid man that had first walked into Sprout Tower. No amount of smiling or pretend would change that.
Nicholas shoved the door open and staggered inside, dropping into a chair and holding his head in his hands. Why did they all treat him like he was some sort of god? He’d never been the one winning his battles. It had always been his pokegirls. Today especially, it had been his pokegirls. He hadn’t been the one who had stayed standing until her last gasp. That had been Sera. He’d been ready to pull her out before she was done. Because he’d given up before she did.
He hated it. Hated himself. For being weak.
But... he had people who were counting on him. Not as something he wasn’t, like a Champion. But as him. As Nicholas. Sabrina was waiting for him. And she believed in him. The lady from the tower, Celine, she’d believed in him too. And if a random stranger could say nice things about him, then he should too. She hadn’t praised him, or put him on some pedestal, she’d just mentioned how he seemed like a good tamer.
If that’s all he could be, then maybe that would be enough.
Nicholas slowly lowered his hands. Yes. He’d just focus on being what he was. If he ran into Team Rocket, he’d fight them because he had a score to settle, not because it was his responsibility. He’d finish this gym challenge because Nessa deserved a good tamer, and he could give that to her. Not because he had to prove himself as the Champion. In fact, starting today... he wasn’t the Champion anymore. He didn’t want to be. He’d found happiness in Kanto as he traveled, as he watched his pokegirls grow. As he’d battled. It had never been because he wanted the title. Only the path and challenge that attaining it had brought.
He pulled out the two pokeballs and triggered their releases.
Nessa leaned against the bed when she materialized, checking Sera before turning back to Nicholas. The Zubat had materialized still laying on her back, but her eyes were open, and as Nicholas watched she sat up, rubbing the gashes in her uniform.
“How are you two feeling?”
Nessa spoke first. “We won, right?”
Nicholas smiled. “We did.”
“Then I feel great.” Nessa looked back at Sera. “Sera?”
The Zubat took a moment before growing her trademark grin. “Same.” When the others kept looking at her she sighed. “All right, I still feel like shit. But that bird was worse off.”
“Did the machine not heal you?”
Sera slowly shook her head. “That’s not it. I’m not bleeding, I can feel my wing again. But I also can feel her talons.” She raised the wing that Yuji had destroyed, slowly moving it against the air. “It still hurts, just not as much. Even though I know it shouldn’t.”
“It’ll fade.” Nessa snuggled up to Sera with a giggle. “First time in a pokeball, first time in a healing machine, right?”
Sera blinked back at her. “Um, not really the first time. Isn’t this my... second?”
“Did it feel the same way after the battles in Sprout Tower?” Nicholas asked. “You didn’t mention it then.”
Sera snorted. “I was too pissed off to think about it.”
She scowled when Nessa and Nicholas laughed but softened when he sat down next to her. “I apologize that I haven’t been doing much to help you with stuff like that,” Nicholas said. “There must be a lot you’re just going along with and hoping for the best. Since you’re feral-born.”
Sera stared at him. “Are you all right?”
Nicholas cracked a smile. “I’m trying to be better.”
“Oh.”
“If we won, where are we going next?” Nessa asked. “Um, unless you want to do something else.”
Nicholas looked at her with the same slight smile. “I’ve decided that I need to focus on being a better tamer. For both of you. So we’re going to the farthest town nearby, which if I remember correctly is south of here. It’ll be a long walk. Maybe a few weeks if we take it slow.”
Nessa peered into his eyes. “Is that okay? Didn’t you want to get this over with?”
Nicholas nodded. “Champion Topolski did. But I’m Nicholas Topolski, and I’m just a tamer. More time on the road will mean more time to train.” His smile grew into a grin. “More time to get to know my pokegirls, and more time to just have fun.”
Nessa beamed back and even Sera let out a happy giggle at his words. “You want to relax?”
“I do.”
Nessa sighed in relief. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Nicholas nodded at her before returning his attention to Sera. “Now that that’s said, I wanted to thank you.”
Sera cocked an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
“I know that you fought so hard because you wanted revenge, but I still wanted to thank you for doing it. Even if it wasn’t meant for me, I think it helped me.”
He was surprised when a faint blush began to spread across Sera’s face. “Um, well...” she trailed off. “The thing is, I uh, I wanted revenge because... because she made me look bad in front of you.”
Nicholas stared at her. “Huh?”
“It’s- never mind. Forget I said anything.” Sera ducked her head, the blush now spreading up her cheeks and almost to her pointed ears. “Yeah. Revenge.”
Nessa looked at the Zubat for a few seconds before a smile began to grow across her face. “Oh, I get it.” Sera’s eyes flicked up to her in a panic and Nessa’s smile morphed into a full, toothy grin. “You have no idea how to handle his compliments, do you?”
“Shut up!”
Nicholas’ jaw dropped when he heard Sera’s squeak. All it had taken was the smugly grinning Totodile and she’d completely lost her composure. “Um-“
“No!” Sera whirled to him and Nicholas found himself slammed to the floor, a flustered and now fully flushed Sera holding him down by the shoulders. “Don’t, don’t say anything. Just be quiet.”
Nicholas stared up at her. It was like there was a whole new pokegirl staring down at him. The stoic, quiet Zubat had been replaced in an instant with a blushing pokegirl that looked more confused than she looked dangerous. Even when she had been naked and riding him she had maintained her fierce disposition, so why had it suddenly been lost now?
“Don’t say that again,” Sera said forcefully, turning to look at Nessa. Unfortunately for her, what had been a command turned into a desperate plea with her new voice. She recognized it, too, closing her eyes and taking a hard breath in an attempt to compose herself. “Please...?”
Nessa slid over and placed a gentle hand on Sera’s cheek. “It’s okay. You don’t have to hide this from him.” She chuckled. “Besides, he has this annoying habit of seeing through us anyways.”
Sera choked out a laugh in return. “I guess.”
“Maybe, but I’m completely lost here,” Nicholas quipped.
Sera looked back down at him and he felt her fingers clench into his shirt. “I... When I hear you praise me, I can’t help it. I feel so content, so... happy. I would do anything to feel that way.” Nicholas watched her eyes firm as she reaffirmed her vows. “Anything for my master. Until I die, I will be yours.”
Sera moaned when Nicholas held her. She was still pinning his shoulders, so for better or for worse the best he could do was cupping her ass. Still, it seemed to get the point across. “So this is what you’ve been hiding from me.” Nicholas searched her eyes. “So, when I called you dangerous...” he trailed off when Sera’s eyes dilated and the Zubat let out a contented hiss. “...I see. Is this what Nessa meant? You’ve never had a tamer before, never felt like this towards anyone?”
Sera had started panting slightly, her lips parted with her fangs glittering in the light every few moments. When Nicholas asked his question she nodded. “I had to let it out somehow,” she whispered. “So when that bitch brushed me off, I knew I had only one option.” Nicholas grunted when her grip tightened, the Zubat bending down so he had no choice but look deep into her eyes. “I would die before I let them insult you like that again.”
“I was going to talk to you about that.” Sera yelped when Nicholas twisted, throwing her off balance enough to dump the Zubat onto the floor and sit up. “You almost did.”
Sera scrambled upright. “Did you really just ruin that moment? My pussy is fucking ACHING right now!”
“Well isn’t that too bad,” Nicholas snapped. “You get turned on when I compliment you, you get turned on when you can pretend to dominate me, you get turned on by my very scent whenever you’re hungry.” He shook his head. “Deal with it. I’m talking to you.” He turned with an accusatory glare. “You almost died fighting Falkner. Why didn’t you just stay down?”
“I told you-“
“I hate when one of my pokegirls tells me that,” Nicholas growled, “because it’s complete and utter bullshit. Don’t die for me. If you die I will live the rest of my life in pain knowing that I was the reason you’re dead. If you’re so intent on being that fanatical, then live for me. Live and make sure the other guy dies first.”
Sera gaped at him. After a few seconds her mouth snapped shut and she swallowed. “Um.”
Nicholas stared, uncomprehending, for a while before he glanced down and groaned. “For the love of- go clean up. Both of you, get changed. We’ll need to replace your battle outfits and then we’re leaving.”
Sera scampered towards the bathroom, leaving Nessa and Nicholas alone. Once the door had closed Nessa slid closer to him. “Nicholas?”
Nicholas turned. “Yeah?”
Nessa glanced at the bathroom door. “Is she really safe to keep around?”
Nicholas sighed. “She’s no danger to me.”
Nessa nodded. “But?”
“She’s a danger to herself.” Nicholas turned with her. “If we were only going for gym badges, that kind of attitude would be great. She fights to the end and doesn’t give up until forced. But we’re not just going for gym badges.” He stood and began tidying their things. “I’m worried that she’s going to get herself killed.”
“I’ll look out for her.” Nessa gave him a small smile. “She’s my harem sister, after all.”
“I know. But I also don’t want you getting dragged down if she does something stupid.”
The door swung open to reveal a nude Sera toweling her wet hair. “You don’t have to talk behind my back.” She stepped out and grabbed her bag, pulling her clothes out and getting dressed. “Bathroom’s all yours, Nessa.”
Nessa nodded and headed that direction with Sera watching her. When the door swung shut she sighed and turned to Nicholas. “Live for you, right? That’s what you said.”
Nicholas nodded.
“Then I’ll do it.” Sera dropped the towel, displaying her breasts proudly for a few moments before pulling her shirt on. “I still intend to be a dangerous, terrifying pokegirl.” She grinned. “But I’ll make sure I live to tell you about it.”
Nicholas nodded again. He was going to ask Sera to help Nessa too, but something stopped him. The memory of the Totodile facing down Falkner’s Pidgeotto came to mind and he turned to look at the bathroom door.
Come to think of it, Nessa had fought nearly as ferociously as Sera had. He’d never seen the Totodile like that before.
Maybe this new harem wasn’t going to be as weak as he’d feared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ten days later, Route 32
Nicholas lay back on his bag, half focused on the stars above and half on Nessa. The Totodile idly played with her pendant, trailing the chain through her finger and rubbing the teardrop absently.
“I’ve been wanting to ask you,” Nessa mused out loud. “Do you remember how I’ve told you that I can feel… some sort of energy from this?”
Nicholas nodded. “Sure.”
“I think I’ve been using it.”
Nicholas sat up, the stars forgotten. “Using it how?”
“Well, it started in the gym battle.” Nessa stopped her motions, simply holding and gazing at the blue stone. “When I fired that Water Gun, it was… stronger. I thought I felt the pendant heat up as well.”
Nicholas scooted over and looked closer at the teardrop. After a moment he shook his head. “It just looks like a rock to me.”
“Maybe I’m crazy.”
Nicholas pulled out his pokedex and opened the search function. “Maybe, maybe not. Let me see if there’s any literature on the subject.”
Nessa waited while he read. When Nicholas made a noise she looked over. “Find something?”
Nicholas trailed his finger down the screen. “There are dozens of items, some mass-produced, some naturally occurring, that can help focus a pokegirl’s energy.” He kept reading and paused at one of the descriptions. “Hey, wait a second… I know about this one.” He enlarged the illustration of a leather band and nodded. “I’ve seen it.”
Nessa peered over the screen. “What is it?”
“The entry lists it as a ‘Focus Band’. It can act as an anchor to keep a pokegirl from fainting to damage that would usually incapacitate them.”
Nessa’s jaw dropped. “How?”
“It doesn’t go into detail. But I’ve seen it in action.” Nicholas growled. “That’s what Gary had Circe use in our battle. That sneaky-“
“What about this pendant?”
Nicholas blinked and continued scrolling, settling into another section. “You said it empowered your Water Gun?”
“Yeah.”
“Water-type attack empowering items…” Nicholas jabbed the screen again. After a few moments he turned the pokedex so Nessa could see. There, among a jumble of other items, was a pendant almost identical to the one she wore. “It’s called a Mystic Water.”
“A rare and valuable item rumored to be… the crystalized heart of a powerful water pokegirl.”
Nicholas closed the dex. “I doubt it’s literal, more like what that tamer said.” He smiled. “And what you said. By holding that, you’re holding a part of the pokegirl who last used it, right?”
Nessa carefully slipped the pendant back over her head. “Yeah.”
“I’d never considered that there might be items a pokegirl can use in battle,” Nicholas mumbled while tapping the lid of his pokedex. “I need to read more about that.”
Nessa glanced at the night sky before turning to him and pulling him towards the outpost they had stopped near, a rustic pokecenter that served as a rest stop for people crossing the mountains. “Tomorrow.” Behind them a shadow detached from the trees and swooped down.
Nicholas let her pull him inside, waiting with the door an extra moment to allow Sera to slip in after them. “Tomorrow.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POKEDEX UPDATED
Tamer:Nicholas Topolski
Badges:
Zephyr Badge
Harem:
Nessa, Totodile – Level 16
Sera, Zubat – Level 16