Disclaimer:
This work is fiction. The work is presented under fair protection where applicable.
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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 6
Acceptance
“Come on, let’s get out of here!” The latest pair of grunts scrambled, a Rattata scrabbling along behind her tamer. “Hurry, get to the back entrance-“
A scream caused one grunt to whirl and he yelled when he saw a pokegirl standing over his unconscious Rattata. “SHIT!”
Nessa watched him recall the pokegirl and continue his flight before turning towards the deeper areas of the cave.
Thanks to Sera’s shouting the majority of the grunts had fled. She could only see a handful more.
“Hah! You’re not taking us without a fight. ALY! Take this one down with a Wing Attack!”
Nessa stepped back when a Zubat appeared, ready to attack. She needed to focus, and-
Sera swiveled when her sensitive ears picked up the supersonic scream. There, halfway through the cave, Nessa recoiled as an enemy closed in.
“Nessa!”
Nicholas turned to look when Sera dove to assist. She’d run into the first real resistance? He needed to be there too.
Sera was halfway to Nessa’s side when the Totodile braced and slapped her own face. The crack from her palm hitting her cheek was surprisingly loud and Sera’s mouth popped open when Nessa took the Zubat’s attack head on without flinching. Blood splattered behind her, drops from her broken skin carried by the Zubat’s wind, but she gave just as much as she had received with a devastating Water Gun that pinned the flying Zubat in midair before shooting her a dozen yards away to crash through a cluster of stalagmites.
“Are you all right?” Sera gasped as she arrived, clutching Nessa and inspecting her eyes. When Nessa matched her without any sign of confusion she sighed. “You didn’t have to hit yourself that hard.”
Nessa gave her a toothy grin. “Sure I did.”
“Hurting yourself won’t take away your fear.”
Nessa’s smile vanished. After a few seconds she pulled away from Sera and wordlessly moved farther into the cave.
“What happened?” Nicholas came to a stop next to Sera and looked over at Nessa. “Is she all right?”
Sera spread her wings in preparation to take off. “She will be.”
Nicholas started following Nessa when Sera took to the air, slowing when he saw the Totodile come to an abrupt stop. “Nessa?”
Nessa stared in shock at the scene in front of her.
The bottom of the cave was choked with pokegirls. At the far end, near where the grunts had been fleeing, she could see a human in a different uniform shouting orders to two grunts running around the pokegirls. Each one of the pink-skinned girls was covered in blood, identical wounds running from their ass up their back.
Nicholas caught up to her and looked out, hissing when he saw the scene. “I knew it.”
“H-how could they-?”
“Because they’re evil,” Nicholas replied grimly. “They don’t see pokegirls as anything but a resource to be exploited. What are these?”
Nessa continued to stare while Nicholas got a good scan from his pokedex. “Some of them are dead.”
“They’re Slowpoke. And usually, they have tails.” Nicholas closed his pokedex with a snap. “Team Rocket has been cutting them off.”
Nessa unconsciously curled her own tail around her legs. “How could they do this?”
“I told you. Because they’re evil.” Nicholas glanced at her for a moment before doing a double take and focusing his full attention on Nessa. “Nessa? Are you all right?”
Nessa was shaking. Her teeth chattered, the blood and gore surrounding her nearly sending her over the edge. She was so scared. She needed to run. If these evil people caught her they’d butcher her too!
Nicholas grabbed her arm. “Nessa!” He hissed when she flicked her eyes to him and he could see the raw fear dominating them. “All right. That’s enough. It’s time to leave.”
Sera landed next to them. “Is she all right?”
“No. We’re leaving.” Nicholas tried to pull Nessa but she was frozen in place. “Come on. I don’t want to put you in your pokeball, I can’t comfort you in there. Move.” He grabbed her with both hands and heaved, only succeeding in pulling her a bit to the side before her tail slapped out and stopped her. “NESSA!”
Nessa’s shivers had changed. Deep within her psyche the fear that had been overwhelming her finally dominated her thoughts. There was room for nothing else. So the rage that she held from seeing this senseless violence had nowhere else to go.
It popped.
Like a powder into liquid it dissipated, but it didn’t disappear. Instead every fearful thought became suffused with rage. And the rage wasn’t going away as it spread through her fear. If anything, it was getting stronger, the light tinge of red slowly, then quickly growing until her fear had been replaced entirely by anger.
Nicholas staggered back, throwing his hands over his ears when Nessa screamed. This was nothing like Sera’s supersonic attacks. This was a raw and powerful sound that battered his eardrums until he wanted nothing more than for it to stop. It was a roar.
The Rocket members whirled when they heard Nessa, one instantly breaking and scrambling for the exit. Their leader stared at the roaring pokegirl, a curious look on his face before he gestured. The other grunt grabbed a nearby bag, following the fleeing grunt as the leader approached where Nessa stood.
“A nude pokegirl and shouts of police. These things don’t add up.” When Nessa charged towards him he flicked a hand to his belt, two red flashes materializing into pokegirls.
Nessa choked when one grappled with her, a purple cloud streaming into her nose and mouth. As her air was replaced by the poison gas her roar petered out, replaced by gagging noises as she struggled just to breathe.
With a shout the levitating girl was blown backwards, fresh air breaking apart her smog and giving Nessa a chance to draw a ragged breath. Nicholas quickly lowered his hands, seeing the sudden battle in front of him. Sera winged past, flapping hard to dispel the cloud of gas. “Nessa!”
The levitating pokegirl... he recognized her. Of course he did, because the Poison-type was Team Rocket’s trademark. But what struck fear into him was her appearance. This wasn’t a small, untrained Koffing. The massive breasts and mismatched eyes identified her as a Weezing. A fully evolved pokegirl.
Sera screamed when the second pokegirl appeared behind her, grabbing the Zubat out of the air and sending her crashing to the ground. Nicholas glanced up to see a Golbat sneering down at the struggling Zubat and realized just how much trouble they were in.
“Now then,” the leader growled, stepping closer to Nessa. “Where is your Master, little pokegirl?” He held up a hand when his Weezing moved back towards Nessa. “Don’t choke her. She can’t speak without air.” He leaned a bit closer. “And neither can she beg.”
A wordless snarl was all that Nessa replied with and the leader jumped back when she took a swipe at him.
“I’m here!” All eyes turned when Nicholas stepped out of his hiding spot. “I’m here. Don’t hurt her.”
“Impersonating a police officer is a crime, you know.” The Rocket said amicably. “You really shouldn’t do that. You might be labeled a criminal!”
Nicholas glanced over when the Weezing drifted in his direction. “So is murder.”
“Oh, but we haven’t done anything like that.” The leader stepped past Nessa, not noticing when her eyes shot towards him. “Wild pokegirls are animals. Not protected by any law like that. We can do what we like with them and the league would thank us for culling their numbers.”
“It’s cruel!”
“Death always is.” Nicholas held his breath when the Weezing got closer and her poison drifted over his face. “Would you like to experience true cruelty?”
Nicholas struggled to hold his mouth shut when the Weezing stroked his face, worming her fingers between his lips. “Just a whiff,” she snickered. “I’ve always been told I taste so sweet.”
On the ground, Nessa roared.
It was nothing like she had let loose before, but it got everyone’s attention. From Sera, who was biting back her own cries of pain as the Golbat bent her wings in ways they shouldn’t, to the Weezing and Nicholas, who took the opportunity to headbutt the pokegirl and scramble away to fresh air, to the Rocket executive, who was stolen away from his gloating to see a glowing pokegirl behind him.
“Well, shit.”
He barely managed to get out of the way when Nessa lunged, tearing a hole in his jacket before continuing towards the suddenly panicked Weezing. Nicholas winced when Nessa’s claws sunk into the levitating girl’s stomach, ripping sideways with a spray of blood that sent her tumbling out of the air. The next few seconds were a blur as Nessa’s evolution finished, but at the end of it she stood in front of Nicholas, with the Rocket and his Golbat in a defensive position back where they had started.
The Rocket carefully stowed his Weezing’s pokeball, watching Nicholas recall Sera. “Hmph.”
Nicholas barely dared to breathe. Nessa was still outmatched, she had to be. And she wasn’t speaking. Wasn’t acting normally. Something was very wrong.
“I’m not foolish enough to fight a freshly evolved pokegirl, no matter how weak she may be.” Nicholas blinked when the executive stepped back, retreating towards the exit. “You may have managed to disrupt our plans this time, tamer, but do not believe it will happen again.”
Nessa’s low growl stole any more words he may have wanted to say. She stepped in front of Nicholas, plainly displaying her intent to the hovering Golbat, and with a command the two vanished into a smokescreen. By the time it cleared, Nicholas and Nessa were alone.
When Nessa looked back at him Nicholas realized what was different. Not the evolution; though it had been kind, and he desperately wanted to analyze her new body. No, what was wrong was in her eyes. They were pure red, without a hint of her pupils or of any emotion but a pure berserker rage.
He flinched when Nessa grabbed his head, fully expecting her to crush him or otherwise attack - so when her grip softened and he was pulled into her embrace he didn’t know how to react.
“Help me.”
Nicholas blinked. Had he imagined her whisper? No, he had felt her mouth move against his hair. Hesitantly he reached up, stroking her cheek until Nessa’s body relaxed.
“I’m here. I’m okay.”
The air whistled out of Nessa’s lungs as she deflated, her embrace tightening. “I’m so glad.”
“We need to get out of here.”
Nessa pulled back. The red in her eyes was fading, but it had left her pupils forever changed. Now they were a dull orange. A reminder. “I know.” She looked over the group of dying pokegirls and screwed her eyes shut. “They need help.”
Nicholas grasped her arm the best he could. So much had grown through her evolution. “They do. Let’s get to the pokecenter. Heal you and Sera.” He smiled slightly. “And celebrate. You’ve evolved. We’re alive.”
Nessa looked back at him with watering eyes. “I’m so-“
The tears fell when he placed his fingers to her lips. “Shh-sh-sh. We’ll talk at the pokecenter.”
Nessa nodded, her eyes closing when Nicholas recalled her and started back to where Kurt waited.
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POKEDEX UPDATED
Tamer:Nicholas Topolski
Badges:
Zephyr Badge
Harem:
Nessa, Croconaw – Level 18
Sera, Zubat – Level 17
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Nicholas sat on the edge of their bed, Sera lounging nearby, but he had eyes only for Nessa. The newly evolved Croconaw gazed back, her tail swinging every few seconds.
Finally Sera spoke up. “I know you two want to tame so get it over with already.”
Nicholas sighed. He had actually been enjoying looking at Nessa’s new body, and he suspected she was happy to let him. She’d grown nearly four inches, he guessed, going from a sporty tone to a thick muscled one, and paradoxically her breasts seemed to have also swollen beyond what her new height would suggest. It was like everywhere he looked, she had become bigger.
But it was the same voice that came out of her mouth when she spoke. “I’m just happy that you’re both safe.”
Sera snorted. “Yeah. Nearly went real wrong there at the end, didn’t it.”
“We lost.” Nicholas finally turned away from Nessa to look at Sera. “There’s no ‘nearly’ about it. We lost, and only that guy’s caution let us survive.”
Nessa bowed her head. “All because I wouldn’t walk away.”
“What’s done is done. I chose to follow your plan. Sera did too. If you really feel the need to apologize, then get it out of your system and let’s learn from what happened.”
Nessa nodded. “Okay.”
“Did you know who that was?” Sera asked. “He seemed... powerful.”
“I don’t know. But I’d guess he was one of their Admins. I’ve fought one before, named Archer.” Nicholas stared off into space. “If we decide to keep fighting them, we’ll meet again.”
Sera nodded at the ceiling. “That other bat humiliated me.”
“What have I told you.”
Sera rolled over. “This isn’t like the bird. I know that I’m outmatched. I’m not going to do something stupid.” Her face set. “But I swear that one day I will break her wings exactly how she broke mine today.”
Nicholas nodded slightly at her. “I’ll help you.”
Sera smiled before rolling back. “I know. I look forward to seeing you get better so that you can.”
“Well... that’s the thing.” Nicholas rubbed his face. “I figured it out.”
Both pokegirls turned their attention to him. “In the well?”
Nicholas nodded at Nessa. “Yeah. I remembered what I needed to. Starting today, I will be better. I swear it.”
“I believe you.” Sera glanced at Nessa when she spoke. “I saw it. In your eyes, before everything happened.” She took a shuddering breath. “For a moment, you were more than just my Master. It’s what gave me the strength to fight.”
Nicholas looked away from them. “I’m still uncomfortable taking the credit for that. I’m not the one who helped you get up. You did that yourself.”
“Maybe. But I did it because you were in danger.”
Nicholas stared away for a few seconds before nodding. “Yeah. You know, I can accept that.” He turned back to Nessa with a smile. “Now c’mere. I want to hold my beautiful Croconaw.”
Nessa cuddled up against him, resting her cheek against his chest. “Can I talk?”
Nicholas frowned slightly. “You don’t want to just be together for right now?”
“I feel... I feel like there are things we need to say.”
Sera smiled dryly. “It’s a start.”
“Too much?”
“Only because I know that you’d rather be saying them for us.” Sera sat up and stretched her wings. “But you’re trying. I appreciate that.”
Nicholas stroked Nessa’s hair. “And what do you think we need to say?”
“Well... we were just fighting. Between ourselves. And then we were thrown into that situation.” Nessa shuddered. “All of that emotion doesn’t just... go away.”
“No, but it’s not going to go away in a day, either. No matter what we say.” Sera bent down beside her with a soft smile. “We’re going to work on it. Isn’t that what you told me?”
Nessa sniffled. “I did.”
“So we work on it. It’ll take some time. I know all about how that goes.” Sera winked at Nicholas before straightening back up. “Seriously though. Right now, I want to fuck. If she doesn’t want you...”
Nicholas fell back in surprise when Nessa suddenly crushed her lips to his, accompanied by an approving chuckle from Sera while she stripped. Eventually Nessa broke contact, resting her forehead against his. “Tomorrow is another day.”
“Tomorrow is another day,” Nicholas agreed.
“Will we fight the gym tomorrow?”
“Do you feel ready for that?”
Nessa nodded slightly. “I want to use this feeling I have, this... power that is bottled up inside me. I want to get it out.”
“From your evolution.” Nicholas traced a finger around her breasts as he thought. “That’s what that Rocket was saying. He didn’t want to fight you because the evolution was still fresh.” He grinned and Nessa gasped when his other hand found her groin. “Taming today. Tomorrow, we’ll put that energy to good use.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Honestly, I don’t know what we’ll face in there.” Nicholas was discussing last-minute strategy outside of the gym. “I’m thinking we reverse Falkner’s battle. Nessa, you’ll lead and Sera will finish.”
The two nodded in unison. Nicholas took a deep breath. This was going to be a different experience from their life-or-death struggle yesterday. But it was still going to be hard.
He was reaching for the gym door when something caught his eye.
“Hey. Weakling. Get out of the way.”
Nicholas slowly turned. John wasn’t even looking at him, instead reading something on his pokedex. As usual, he was alone. Not even Thorn was out of her pokeball.
When Nicholas didn’t respond John slammed his pokedex shut and looked up. “I said, get out-“
Nicholas stared neutrally back while John processed who was in front of him. “I’m here for my gym challenge.”
John’s eyes narrowed. “You again. Why is it always you weakling that’s standing in my way?”
“I do that to a lot of people,” Nicholas replied calmly. “Sorry, but you’ll have to wait your turn.”
“Please.” John sniffed. “I heard what happened to you in Violet. You shouldn’t even be here after that beating you got from Falkner. Why don’t you just give up and go home?”
“Apparently you didn’t hear what happened, because I beat Falkner.”
“Is that what you call getting run out of Sprout Tower? Winning?” John laughed. “You’re a loser. Stop pretending otherwise.”
Nicholas’ eyes narrowed. “You know, yesterday I might have believed you. But I’m not letting people like you tell me who I am anymore. Even if that person is me.”
John shook his head. “A weakling and a babbling idiot. Every time I’m reminded that you stole that Totodile away from me I just get angrier.” He put one hand on his belt. “Now get out of the way. I’m here for this badge, and then I have business to take care of.”
“Maybe you should take care of that business first. Because I’m not moving.”
“Maybe I should. I don’t have time to entertain you.” John turned away. “There are rumors that Team Rocket has returned. But I bet even hearing that has got you shaking in your boots.”
Nicholas gave the back of John’s head a bland look. “Not really. We ran them out of the Slowpoke Well yesterday.”
That got John’s attention and he whirled back. “What? You beat them?”
“Sure did.”
“HAH! Quit lying. Someone like you could never find the courage to face a criminal organization like Team Rocket.” John’s satisfied smirk faded when Nicholas didn’t budge. “You’re not joking?”
“Nope.”
“Humph.” John pulled a pokeball off his belt and got into a ready stance. “Then let’s see how good you are.”
“Right now?”
“Scared?”
“We’re kind of focused on the gym,” Nicholas replied. “Besides. Isn’t it illegal to just start a battle in the street?”
“All I’m hearing are excuses, weakling.” John pointed a finger at Nicholas. “Fight me or admit defeat.”
“Let me fight him.”
Nicholas didn’t need to turn to know that Nessa was standing ready. “Nessa, we’re here for the gym.”
“I know. But I made a promise.” Her eyes sought to pick John apart. “I made a promise to Fleur.”
“Still rambling about that, are we?” John snorted. “Thorn would rip you apart, Water-type. Though that might be what you deserve.”
“So I’m just a Water-type now, am I? You call me by my breed when you want me, and disparage me with nothing more than an attribute when you don’t?” Nessa’s eyes narrowed as a low rumble began to grow in her chest. “You should be glad you didn’t get to take me. I would have torn out your throat.”
Nicholas blinked at her. No, she most definitely would not have, not the Nessa he had first met in Birch’s lab.
It seemed that he was a terrible influence.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, trying to lecture me? ME?” John triggered his pokeball’s release, rage twisting his face as he did. “YOU’RE NOTHING!”
“Of course he wouldn’t give me the satisfaction of seeing her again.” Nessa gazed dispassionately at the Zubat that materialized. “Hey look, Sera. It’s another of your sisters.”
“Don’t lump me together with her,” Sera spat. “Look at her. She’s walking.”
A smile tugged at the edges of Nicholas’ mouth as he listened to their banter. Two days ago, Nessa and Sera had shared no common ground. The harem had still been fractured. But today, they were acting as if they’d been together for years.
Still. They shouldn’t underestimate John just because he was despicable. He could still have trained his pokegirls.
“Nessa, I think you know the drill on this one. What with how many Zubat you fought yesterday.” John’s eyes narrowed as Nicholas further confirmed that they had faced Team Rocket grunts.
“Yeah. I got it.” Nessa shook out her arms and stepped in front of John’s Zubat. “Well? Are we starting?”
John spat. “Ellen, I expect you to drain that Totodile before she has a chance to do anything funny. Understood?”
“Yes, Master.”
Nessa shook her head slightly as the two pokegirls got into ready positions. “I’m not a Totodile anymore.”
John didn’t have time to process her comment. As soon as she spoke Nessa lunged forwards, feinting a kick before whirling and slashing her tail down Ellen’s front.
Her serrated spikes tore cleanly through the Zubat’s clothing and Ellen staggered back, slapping at the stinging cuts. Blood welled from a few but they were shallow. No real damage - except to her ruined clothes.
John shouted profanity but Nessa ignored him. Ellen regained her composure and bent over, a tit comically popping out of her shirt as she prepared to attack.
Ellen shouted triumphantly when her fangs sank into Nessa’s flesh, but her excitement quickly turned to horror when Nessa pushed her fist away from her shoulder, taking the blocked bite with it. Her fingers clenched, trapping the Zubat’s fangs as her other hand came into view.
Ellen crashed backwards, crumpling to the ground with a cry before doubling up and beginning to moan. At John’s insistence she staggered back to her feet, unsteadily moving towards Nessa. Nessa didn’t wait; as soon as Ellen took a step she dropped the Zubat with a Water Gun that blasted the unconscious pokegirl all the way across the street.
John whirled, staring at Ellen for a second before ripping another pokeball from his belt. “Yuki, prove yourself.”
The flickering specter that appeared turned back to look at John. “Master, please. I can barely-“
“I captured you because you fought back,” John snarled. “Don’t make me regret it.” He pointed at where Nessa stood. “Defeat her. By ANY means necessary.”
“But-“
“NOW!”
With a wail Yuki turned towards Nessa. As the Croconaw readied an attack she raised one hand before driving it through her own body with a scream.
Nessa stared as Yuki struck herself again, shouting as she did. “CURSE YOU! CURSE YOU!”
“Stop her! Whatever she’s doing, stop her!” Nicholas yelled. He recognized this pokegirl as a Gastly, but he’d never seen one do something like this.
Yuki gagged, blood dribbling down her chin and highlighting the massive damage she had caused herself. Even though the Ghost-type pokegirl was mostly incorporeal, that would only protect her from a direct physical strike. Her own fists tore through her frail body like it was paper.
Nessa prepared to fire, bracing herself and building the water she needed. But she felt a twinge of pain in her abdomen. As her technique built she suddenly spasmed, crying out and doubling over when Yuki’s phantom strikes ripped through her.
She managed to fire her Water Gun, but the water was stained with blood. And even when Yuki fell she could feel her body throbbing with pain.
“Nessa!” Nicholas readied her pokeball when she didn’t move. “Are you all right?”
With a choking scream Nessa’s eyes rolled back, blood welling from her mouth in a gruesome mirror of Yuki’s injuries. Nicholas instantly recalled her.
John finally looked satisfied. “Terrifying, isn’t it? The raw power she wields. It doesn’t matter who she fights. Her technique destroys them all the same.”
“She didn’t want to do it! You made her hurt herself!” Nicholas felt himself growing heated as he looked at John’s smug face. “YOU FUCKING MONSTER!”
“She understands true strength, unlike you. She’s a real pokegirl.” John pulled out his last pokeball. “And no thanks to bleeding hearts like you, so does Thorn.”
Nicholas composed himself when Thorn materialized. She was different from the last time he had seen her and he assumed she had evolved. Just like Nessa.
Unfortunately, her eyes didn’t hold any of the indecision he had once seen in the Chikorita. Thorn had a quiet resolve about her, and he knew that his words to Nessa had come true.
“Sera. Assume that this one will be just as vicious as the last.” Nicholas took a deep breath as Sera stepped forwards. “How are your wings feeling?”
Sera flapped, sending a swirl of dust around the battlefield. “I know what I need to do.”
Nicholas nodded. “Don’t rely on flying. She has vines that she can use to pull you down, and a crash is your biggest worry in this battle.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“I’ve got your back.”
Sera grinned. She was never going to get tired of hearing him say that.
Thorn sprang into action when Sera leapt from the ground. Her vines uncurled, shooting towards the Zubat faster than Nicholas had anticipated.
He gasped when he saw how Thorn moved. He’d never seen another Venusaur in combat, only Dahlia, and the few other vine-wielding Grass-types they’d fought had either been outmatched or outmaneuvered before they could try anything. But Thorn wasn’t Dahlia. And she had every opportunity to utilize her strengths.
Thorn’s arms snapped out along with her vines and she twisted, the vines staying perfectly in line wherever she pointed. Rather than using her vines as an additional weapon she turned them into an extension of her body, twisting back around to bring them whistling towards Sera.
Sera screamed when the attack connected and she curled her wings against her body, barely avoiding a grapple but still falling from sky. She bounced, moaning as she felt her body protesting, but struggled back to her feet to face the sinuously weaving lattice of green that Thorn had created.
She’d managed to avoid any major injuries, but it still stung like hell. Except now she was grounded, her wings useless for flying. Nicholas had warned her that she wasn’t going to be able to use the skies. So her wings needed to be used for a different purpose.
Nicholas blinked in surprise when energy began building along the edges of Sera’s wings. When had she learned that?
With a roar Sera ran forwards, the energy along her wings taking shape before she sliced them through the air. The blades of winds cut cleanly past Thorn’s vines and sent the Bayleef tumbling along with a myriad of new cuts.
“WIND!”
Sera grinned when she heard Nicholas’ yell. She was already on it.
An errant vine smacked her and she faltered, rubbing where it had smacked her face and feeling a loose tooth. She needed to stop daydreaming or she’d be on the ground instead of Thorn.
The next attack slammed into Sera and she fell back, barely deflecting a grasping vine before she got an idea. Thorn gasped when Sera grabbed her back, bundling a few vines together before turning and heaving with all her might.
She didn’t go far but it threw Thorn off her balance just long enough for Sera to build up more energy. This time, her entire wingspan glowed white before she leapt a foot into the air and brought her wings down with a loud crack.
Wind erupted across the battlefield, a few gusts swirling and turning into errant tornados that surrounded Thorn. She quickly built up a defense but the biting winds slipped through regardless, buffeting her and opening new slashes across her body.
John commanded another vine attack but by now Sera had learned to anticipate Thorn’s attacking pattern. As the Bayleef surged forwards, she was horrified to see Sera tuck her wings and drop right through her twisting vines. The last thing she saw was Sera’s bared fangs before the Zubat slammed her wing into Thorn’s face, dropping the Bayleef like a stone.
Sera landed hard, her ankle twisting and sending her sprawling onto the ground where she lay panting. Nicholas took a look at her to make sure she wasn’t too badly hurt before stepping past and approaching John.
“Hmph. Useless pokegirls.”
Nicholas came to a halt. “They fought with everything they had. Don’t insult them like that.”
“Listen, you,” John snarled. “I only lost because they were weak. Only Ellen has the right to claim that she was strong.”
“Thorn gave everything she had when she was at a disadvantage from the start,” Nicholas replied. He felt disgusted using the violent name John had forced on her but if it meant a slightly easier life for the Bayleef, he would do it. For Nessa’s sake, if nothing else. “They want to please you, even though you break them down.”
John glared at him. “I hate the weak. People, pokegirls, it doesn’t matter. If they’re weak, I hate them. That’s why I demand strength from my pokegirls. I will be strong. And I will destroy the weak.” A shadow crossed his face for a moment. “That goes extra for cowards like Team Rocket. They act strong in a group, when they have their numbers. But you separate them, get them alone, and they crumble. It disgusts me. I hate them all.”
“We don’t have to fight like this,” Nicholas pleaded. “Neither of us likes Team Rocket. We’re on the same side.”
“No.” John turned away. “Stay out of my way. A weakling like you would just be a distraction.”
Nicholas sighed to himself as he watched John walk towards the pokecenter. He’d tried.
Sera grunted when he helped her to her feet. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. Just need a minute.” Sera tested her ankle and winced. “Maybe a healing machine.”
Nicholas chuckled and draped her arm over his shoulder. “I can put you in your pokeball, but for some reason I think you’re too stubborn to let that happen.”
“I survived most my life without one. I can survive a little hurt ankle.”
Nicholas smiled at her. “I figured.” He was turning towards the pokecenter when someone cleared their throat behind them.
Nicholas turned to see a teenager standing in the door to the gym. “Battles within city limits and outside of a designated arena are illegal, and are punishable with fines, pokegirl forfeiture, and in extreme cases, jail time.”
Nicholas gave the teen a wry smile. “I know. The other guy wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
The teenager chuckled. “I know. I watched.” He stepped aside with a wave. “Come on in. We can heal your pokegirls here.”
Nicholas glanced at Sera before nodding, following the young tamer into the gym and down a side hallway. “Who are you?”
“I’m Bugsy. The gym leader here in Azalea.” Bugsy glanced back with a smile of his own. “And you’re the tamer that ran Team Rocket out of here.”
“Barely.”
“Still. I owe you for that, so I’ll look the other way with that battle.” Bugsy gestured at a healing station. “Here we are.”
Nicholas let go of Sera, reaching for her pokeball before pausing. “Sera, before I forget, I wanted to say good job.” He grinned. “I was trying to figure out a way to tell you about Thorn’s openings, but you saw them yourself and ended that battle beautifully.”
Sera’s mouth twitched slightly. “If you had tried shouting you would have warned her. So thank you for staying quiet.”
Nicholas nodded slightly. “Yeah, that’s true. That’s why I didn’t say anything at first.” He sighed. “It’s a double-edged sword. I can tell you what I notice, but then they hear me and can adapt.” He shook his head. “Maybe I can learn telepathy.”
“Radio.”
Nicholas glanced up when Bugsy spoke. “What?”
“Radio. I guarantee every gym you’ll face will be using them.”
Nicholas frowned for a moment before he remembered. “Oh. That’s right, I’ve never heard more than a few commands from gym leaders, yet their pokegirls react to things they can’t see.”
“I’ll be using mine.” Bugsy chuckled. “Fair warning. You can pick some up in Goldenrod, the cheaper models work fine if you’re on a budget.”
“I appreciate the tip.” Nichols turned back to Sera, recalling her and placing both pokeballs into the healing machine. “So. You’re the gym leader? What’s the process here, a few test battles before I can challenge you for the badge?”
Bugsy shook his head. “Usually, yes, I’d send you through a spiderweb maze. Bug gym, and all that. But like I said, I owe you for that Team Rocket stuff. You can challenge me directly.” He cocked his head. “I’m surprised you haven’t said anything about my age. It’s usually the first thing challengers talk about.”
“Well, you’re not the first young gym leader I’ve run into.” Nicholas grinned. “You know Sabrina?”
“Psychic-type leader from Kanto, yeah I know her.”
“We’re... good friends. And she became a gym leader at something like 14.”
Bugsy nodded. “Fair enough.” He seemed to be analyzing Nicholas’ face for a few extra moments before turning away. “When you’re ready I’ll be waiting.”
“Trying to figure out why you recognize me?”
Bugsy stopped in the door. “Yeah, I was. How did you know?”
“Falkner did the same thing.” Nicholas shook his head. “No use hiding it. The name’s Nicholas. Nicholas Topolski.”
Bugsy slowly turned back. “Is it, now? I’d heard rumors that you were traveling Johto, but I didn’t anticipate getting a gym challenge from you.”
“I’ve decided that if I’m meant to be the champion of two regions then it’s only right for me to earn the badges of both as well.”
Bugsy grinned. “That’s an excellent attitude. You’re sure you’re from Kanto?”
Nicholas laughed. “I’m not. I’m from an island chain called Alola.”
“Never heard of it.”
“Yeah, we’re not part of the world league.” Nicholas turned back to the machine when it dinged. “Anyways, I’m taking the challenge from scratch. You’re my second gym.”
Bugsy chuckled. “I’m not going to go easy on you. Especially now that I know who you are.”
Nicholas chuckled with him. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Good.” Bugsy nodded and walked out. “Come find me when you’re ready, Champion.”
Nicholas nodded to himself and triggered the pokeballs. “Hey, Nessa. How are you feeling?”
Nessa gingerly touched her stomach. “The feeling is fading.” She looked up at him with some distress. “What happened to me?”
“I don’t know. But that Gastly caused it, and I know we’re going to treat them with a lot more respect from now on.”
Nessa nodded. “Yeah.” She cleared her throat, finally relaxing when her body responded normally. “I just, suddenly I couldn’t breathe and-“
“It’s okay.” Nicholas rested a hand on her arm. “If you need a break we can take one.”
Nessa shrugged him off. “No. We’re in the gym, aren’t we? We’re here to win.”
Nicholas smiled at her. “You nearly fooled me.”
Nessa blinked. “Huh?”
“Your brave face. I know what’s behind it.”
Sera stirred but Nessa spoke again before she could. “Actually, it’s not a face. Not anymore.”
Nicholas blinked. “It’s not?”
“No.” Nessa steadily held his gaze. “I decided that if you could figure out how to be better, then so can I. I don’t have to fight my fear - if I never let it in, then there’s no opportunity for it to control me.”
Nicholas slowly nodded. “That’s true.”
“It’s about time I started acting more like a pokegirl.”
Nicholas glanced between the two. “More like... did you two spend some time behind my back?”
Sera giggled. “Maybe.”
“Well, glad to hear it.” Nicholas stole a kiss and grinned when Nessa recoiled with a blush. “And I’m glad to see that it’s still Nessa in there.”
“Uh-huh.”
He winked at her and stood. “All right. If you’re both still ready to go, we’ve got a gym badge to win.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bugsy turned from his conversation when Nicholas entered the main gym floor. The nearly human pokegirl he had been talking to, a slim girl with greenish blonde hair, stepped away when Bugsy moved towards Nicholas and his harem.
“I take it you’re ready for your battle.”
Nicholas came to a halt and nodded. “We are.”
“Good. I took the time to read your tamer profile, and I believe I know the best way to give you a fair fight.”
Nicholas frowned slightly. “I assumed gym leaders take every advantage they can get, but telling me so bluntly makes it feel rude.”
“Rude would have been if I didn’t warn you. I try for fair.” Bugsy gestured, the pokegirl stepping forwards. “Which is why I am introducing you to Suki ahead of time.”
The girl bowed. “Greetings, master Nicholas. I am Suki, a Scyther in training here at the Azalea Gym. It is my pleasure to be your opponent today.”
Nicholas nodded back. “Likewise. But I’m not sure how knowing your name helps me.”
“It’s not supposed to. I wanted you to know where Suki stood compared to my harem.” Bugsy lowered his arm. “I’m sure you’ve seen many, many pokegirls in your time as a gym challenger, but I’d bet you never thought about which belonged to the leader themselves.”
Nicholas blinked. “I assumed they all did.”
“Many I’m sure did. But especially for beginning tamers, a gym leader needs some similarly trained pokegirls to have battles. Instead of beat downs.”
Nicholas slowly nodded. “That makes sense. And, thinking about it, I’ve seen a lot of unevolved pokegirls. Once upon a time I questioned why, but I think I started just accepting it without ever getting an answer.”
“If you had a few more pokegirls in your harem, I might be able to use one or two of my own pokegirls to give you a good match. Unfortunately, you only have two. And while I don’t doubt their skill, especially as the Champion’s harem, I am not here to be an impossible wall. I am here to test and grow challengers to my gym.”
“So Suki isn’t your pokegirl.”
“No, sir. My Master is one of the tamers here,” Suki replied. “But I do train with master Bugsy’s harem.”
“So she’s not a pushover,” Bugsy chuckled. “And we are able to battle together. Two aspects that allow her to be a substitute for some of my battles.”
“You’re explaining this so I have an idea of what’s coming.” Nicholas took a deep breath. “This won’t be like some of the gyms I faced in Kanto. No holding back, full power. Like Falkner.”
Bugsy smiled. “I’ll give you a few minutes to discuss things with your harem. Then, we begin.”
Sera spoke when Nicholas turned to them. “Do we need to do the whole, ‘I swear to fight’ thing we had to do before?”
“No.” Nicholas looked at them. “And I don’t need a pep talk, either. I told you. I’m moving past that. I have knowledge and experience that you need, and I’m about to share it. So listen up.”
The satisfied smiles he received displayed clearly how the two felt about him and Nessa’s words confirmed it. “We’re listening. We’ve been waiting for this moment ever since we met you.”
“All right.” Nicholas glanced back at Bugsy and Suki. “This pokegirl is here because Bugsy believes she can take both of you and win. She will not give you any opening. You will have to create them yourselves. And if you make one and can’t see it, you need to trust that I will.” He looked back at them. “Battle is not the time for hesitation or discussion. That can come after.” He looked at Sera. “I failed you in our last gym battle, and I am sorry. I will be better today.”
Sera’s smile had never wavered and now she nodded. “I know.”
“We’re fighting at a massive disadvantage. Just looking at Suki tells me that she’s a physical pokegirl. And, no offense to Nessa, but I wouldn’t count on either of you beating her head on.”
“So what’s the plan?”
“Someone will have to go first and weaken her.” Nicholas looked between them. “I think it should be Sera. You’ll be fighting her at her most dangerous, but you can fly. I don’t see wings on her so that should give you a range advantage you can exploit.”
Sera nodded.
“Nessa, I fully expect you to have to take some hits. Even if Sera gets her weak. Are you prepared for that?”
Nessa bowed her head slightly. “I can do it.”
“All right.” Nicholas let out his breath. “Then let’s do this.” He took one last moment to look at them. “Thank you, both of you. I know yesterday was hard. And the last few weeks have been very hard for me. But I don’t think I could have asked for a better pair of pokegirls to stand by my side.”
“We couldn’t have asked for a better Master.”
“Hm. Sure you could.” Nicholas winked at Nessa and stepped aside. “Good luck.”
“Our enemies, and challenges, will grow stronger and stronger. But we know you will grow us too. And we will overcome them.” Nessa’s toothy grin shone when she stopped in front of him. “Maybe there’s a more perfect master out there. But they wouldn’t be mine. They wouldn’t be you.”
Nicholas blinked to clear his eyes. “Thank you, Nessa.”
Sera snorted. “Yeah, I’m not great with speeches. I’ll just beat this Scyther and call it even.”
Bugsy nodded slightly when she stepped out. “You’re ready?”
“Ready,” Nicholas called back.
“Then shouldn’t your Croconaw be joining your Zubat?” Nicholas’ eyes widened when Suki stepped forwards to a laughing call from Bugsy. “After all, the only way this is a fair fight is if it’s two on one.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POKEDEX UPDATED
Tamer:Nicholas Topolski
Badges:
Zephyr Badge
Harem:
Nessa, Croconaw – Level 18
Sera, Zubat – Level 18