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 15
The Jig Is Up
Nicholas shielded his eyes from the blowing sea air. Ahead of the boat he could see numerous rocky islands jutting from the waves and lines upon lines of sharp boulders littering their path.
“Tell your girlfriend to get up here unless she likes being sick!” The captain throttled back, keeping the boat steady about a hundred yards from the nearest pile of rocks. “Once we start our way through, we don’t stop.”
Nicholas nodded and ducked below deck. His harem was in their pokeballs, but Sabrina and Ashlyn had been trying to get some rest during the trip to Cianwood. Ashlyn, he had discovered, had no pokeball. Where she stored the clothes she usually covered herself with he wasn’t sure, but he had seen the Gengar naked the night before. She had looked like a living shadow, only her face and torso tangible as she had...
He shook his head. She was Sabrina’s pokegirl. It was ridiculous to be getting jealous of her.
“Hey. Captain says you want to come up top,” Nicholas called. “I guess you’ll be less likely to get seasick.”
After a minute Sabrina emerged from a room and followed him up the stairs.
“Where’s Ashlyn?”
“Who knows.” Sabrina glanced at him and snorted when Nicholas raised an eyebrow. “She’s my pokegirl because I tame her and she likes being around me. I couldn’t tie that ghost down if I tried.”
“Ghosts are strong against Psychic-type energy, right?” Nicholas asked. “I remember Cassidy had a problem fighting one in Lavender Town.”
“That’s right. Spectral energy is one of the best ways to combat psychic powers. In fact, that’s how Ashlyn and I met.” Sabrina gazed off into the distance. “When I was younger, I hadn’t learned how to control my power yet. Ashlyn was drawn to me because of my outbursts, and eventually she started siphoning my excess power to keep me in control. Of course, she hadn’t evolved then. She was just a Haunter. But as I got better at controlling myself she stopped taking so much, and eventually she evolved.”
“So she went from just being nearby when you let loose, to helping you not let loose, to now?”
“That’s right.”
“Sounds like you two were made for each other,” Nicholas chuckled.
“Mmm. Not like you were made for me, honey.” Sabrina giggled and pecked him on the cheek. “By the way, you sound different. Is there anything you need to tell me?”
They emerged onto the deck and Nicholas turned his back to the spray to look into Sabrina’s eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Your voice. You sound more... relaxed.”
Nicholas smiled slightly. “Hm. I guess there’s something.”
“Yes?”
“You were right,” Nicholas whispered, kissing her cheek and pulling away. “I can see that now. And I’m done running from who I am.”
Sabrina’s eyes brightened and she laughed, swinging around his neck before landing and returning the kiss. “I’m so happy for you. When did it happen?”
“Heh.” Nicholas released her, the two heading towards the wheelhouse. “In a damp well with Team Rocket in front of me.”
“That is just like you,” Sabrina teased. “Waiting until the last possible moment.”
“Oh, for sure. Nothing like you.” Nicholas held the door open and ducked in after her. “Leaving your harem behind to make it seem like you’re still in Kanto? That’s genius.”
Sabrina beamed at him as the two entered the secondary structure and clustered behind the captain. The man only grunted to acknowledge their presence, his attention completely focused on the heaving seas ahead of them.
After about ten minutes of waiting Nicholas leaned forwards. “What are we waiting for?”
“We’re lookin’ for a veeerry specific mid tide. When the seas have come down a tad but are wantin’ to come back up.” He pointed out the window. “The second pillar, you see it?”
Nicholas followed the man’s arm and nodded. “I do.”
“Notice how the water is pushing sideways?” Nicholas peered into the spray and after a moment he could see the waves crashing in the way the captain described. “That right there is one of the major whirlpools that form around these islands. The only time it rests is when the tide is slack.”
Nicholas watched the churning waters. “We’re going through that?”
“Aye.” The captain shifted his grip on the wheel. “If you get thrown in the water, don’t try and swim. Make yourself as big as possible and protect your head. My girl will come for you.”
Nicholas glanced back to make sure the door was closed. “Aren’t we safe in here?”
“Heh. Nothing is certain around these islands, lad. Legends say they’re home to the power of a god.”
Nicholas shivered unconsciously. It would be fine. Just because he had a poor track record with ‘gods’ and remote island chains didn’t mean this was about to go poorly. It was probably just a legend, without basis. Yeah. There weren’t any legendaries in Johto that lived in the ocean-
Eusine’s story rushed back and Nicholas gripped the chair next to him so hard his knuckles turned white. “Lugia commanded the seas and sky together, forming great typhoons…”
After her roost had burned down, where had she gone? His eyes flicked to the cold rocky shores ahead. Had she come here?
The captain leaned forwards. Ahead of them, the churning waters slapped against the rock pillar for the first time since they had arrived. A few seconds later another wave broke. “There it is. Hold on, you two.”
Sabrina reached out to steady herself as the engines roared, the boat jumping over the waves towards the opening. Nicholas found himself transfixed, staring at the approaching stones. If she was here, would she appear? Was this suicide?
He was shaken out of his thoughts by Sabrina’s hand on his shoulder. “Nicholas?” Nicholas blinked and turned to look at her worried expression. “Are you okay? You didn’t move the whole time.”
Nicholas stared at her before turning back to the window. The islands were gone, the boat skipping over the rough seas without worry. “What? It’s over?”
“Yeah. We went straight through, just like the captain said.” Sabrina smiled at the relaxing man. “Thank you, sir. You’re an excellent seaman.”
The captain chuckled. “That’s why I get paid to do this, lass. Though we almost missed our exit. I saw the last whirlpool start back up after we had cleared it.” He sighed. “I’ll need to make damn sure I get the right time next week heading back. It’s been getting closer and closer recently.”
Nicholas couldn’t even bring himself to turn around. The thought of the foreboding islands dominated his mind as he stared straight ahead, willing the long journey to end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Welcome to Cianwood!”
Nicholas stepped off the boat, waiting for Sabrina before stepping to the side to allow the workers to unload cargo. “When are you heading back, captain?”
“Won’t be until at least Tuesday,” the man replied. “So you’ve got six days without worry.” He waved. “Enjoy your vacation!”
Nicholas and Sabrina waved back before turning towards the city itself. Well, “city” was a stretch. Cianwood had a population of only a few dozen people, making a living almost entirely on the fishing industry. Their captain would be doing the same; taking his boat right back out to haul for the fisheries while he waited for the next opportunity to ferry goods and passengers across the bay.
“Let’s find a place you can release your harem,” Sabrina murmured. “It’ll give Ashlyn an excuse to appear as well.”
Nicholas nodded. “Well, I’m a tamer; why not at the gym?”
Sabrina turned to look at the largest building in town. “I’d rather not.”
Nicholas blinked. “Why?”
“Chuck and I have a history.” Sabrina turned back to him. “If we can make it through this entire trip without seeing him I’ll be happy.”
“Well, er... I was hoping to at least try for the badge while we were here. Save myself making that boat trip again.”
Sabrina frowned. “We’re here on ‘vacation’ and you’re thinking of a gym challenge? Are you serious?” Nicholas looked away as she got increasingly angry. “Are you DAFT? We already have limited time as it is, we can’t be wasting any of it!”
“I’m sorry!” Nicholas turned back with pleading eyes. “It’s just how I am, you know? As efficient as possible, squeezing things in even if I don’t have time...”
Sabrina huffed. “We need to get to our ‘vacation spot’ as soon as possible. But I’ll tell you what. If we do everything we came here to do, I’ll come and watch your gym challenge.” A sly smile spread across Sabrina’s lips. “Seeing you beat that cocky asshole might just be worth seeing him again.”
Nicholas relaxed. “Deal.”
“Then let’s find somewhere quiet.”
The harem materialized outside a small cluster of houses. Nicholas waited for them to stretch and take in their surroundings before speaking. “We’re in Cianwood. Ryuko, the pharmacy is a few buildings down that way,” he said with a gesture. “We’ll stop in, see if they have any medicine, and maybe pick up some sunblock.” He grinned. “It’s a beach day, girls! Let’s have some FUN!”
Scattered cheers answered his declaration and the harem began digging through their bags.
“Nicholas!” Nicholas turned and waved at Sabrina when she reappeared. “I know the best place. There are some beautiful beaches north of the city!”
“Perfect!” Nicholas glanced up at the sun. “What do you think. Five hours before sunset?”
Sabrina’s smile firmed. “Just right.”
“Agreed.”
The group found their way to the pharmacy once everyone had changed. Leaving the others waiting outside, Nicholas walked into the building and looked around. Dried herbs hung from the ceiling, glass bottles and bags of powder lining the shelves.
“Welcome, traveler.” Nicholas turned to see an elderly woman behind the counter. “What ails you today?”
“I’m here for something special,” Nicholas replied, stepping closer. “A pokegirl in Olivine City is sick. Nothing works, not even a healing cycle.”
The woman nodded. “What ails her?”
“She has lost control of her power. Discharging attacks randomly.”
The woman frowned. “No other symptoms?”
Nicholas thought back to Amy lying comatose on her bed. “She’s an Ampharos. I don’t believe that she had any other symptoms, but... her skin was very bright yellow, I think, maybe more than usual?”
The woman nodded. “Yes, I know this sickness. Does she reside where many pass through? Perhaps within the port itself?”
“Yeah.”
“It sounds as if she has contracted pokerus,” the woman said. “It is a rare and usually benign disease, supercharging a pokegirl’s growth, but if the girl in question is unable to make use of her new power then it will begin to destroy her body instead.” She bent under her counter and rummaged around. “I have all the necessary ingredients. Tomorrow, I can give you the medicine she needs.”
“Why isn’t this pokerus healed by a machine?” Nicholas asked. “If it’s a disease shouldn’t it be picked up?”
“No. As I said, it is usually benign. A good thing for a pokegirl to have. It is only on occasion that it becomes harmful.”
Nicholas nodded. “Thank you.” He turned back to the door. “Ah, I won’t be able to leave until the next ferry, which won’t be until at least next Tuesday.”
The woman bowed. “I will mix the medicine this weekend, then, so it is as fresh as possible for you.”
Nicholas thanked her and walked back outside.
“All good?” Sabrina asked cheerily. “Ready for the beach?”
Nicholas nodded. “Ready.”
They walked north from Cianwood, cutting between the forest’s edge and the sand flats as they went, until Nicholas saw a barrier of rocks looping out into the water. Within them the water was nearly flat, sparkling invitingly under the afternoon sun.
“LAST ONE-!” Nessa started to yell, stepping towards the ocean, when Ryuko sprinted past her. The Scyther was midair before Nessa could finish her sentence and the harem erupted into cheers when she sliced into the waves, Nessa charging in after her.
“We’ve got a few hours to burn,” Sabrina laughed, taking Nicholas’ hands and pulling him along with the others. “Come on. Let’s relax.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicholas and Sabrina sat next to each other and watched as the pokegirls washed up. Nessa was lying back, sending a constant shower of fresh water around her that the rest of Nicholas’ harem was using to get the salt water off their bodies.
Ashlyn hadn’t joined in on the fun and was resting next to the humans, completely covered as usual. After a while Sabrina got to her feet. “I think we need to get moving.”
Nicholas waved. “Nessa! Shower’s closed!”
“Wait!” Miyuki whined when Nessa closed her mouth. “My poor tail.”
Nicholas chuckled as he got to his feet. Miyuki’s fur was sticking out at random angles due to the salt clogging it. “If you ask nicely Nessa might still help you out. We just need to get moving.”
Miyuki turned to Nessa as she got up. “Please?” she asked, pouting and batting her eyelashes at the Croconaw.
Nessa rolled her eyes and Miyuki squealed when a deluge of water swept her off her feet, rolling her over the ground multiple times before she managed to plant her knees and hands and emerged, spluttering, from the rushing waters. “NESSA!”
“How’s the tail, Alpha?” Nessa asked with a giggle.
Miyuki flicked her now wet tail and stared at the sodden fur. “I look HIDEOUS!”
“But it’s clean, right?” Nessa chortled. She laughed when Miyuki screamed and dove at her, avoiding the Eevee as the two ran circles through the others.
“Might want to save that energy,” Nicholas warned, prompting the two to slow down. “We might have a battle ahead of us.”
“The new Safari Zone is a few hours walk from here,” Sabrina explained. “We’ll need to find a path through the mountain.”
Thirty minutes later the group stood in front of a yawning cave entrance. Sabrina traced one of the edges and nodded. “This isn’t natural. Someone dug this out.”
“I don’t see any lights.”
“Not a problem.” Sabrina turned to Ashlyn. “Ashlyn, am I your Mistress?”
Ashlyn barely turned her head to look at Sabrina. “For now.”
“Then enter the shadows and await my command.”
Nicholas watched as the clothing covering Ashlyn’s body deflated. Black smoke began to seep between the seams until it all abruptly scrunched into a ball and vanished.
Nicholas blinked. He had seen, just for an instant, Ashlyn’s tongue and teeth as the ball had disappeared. “What just happened?”
“Gengar are living shadows,” Sabrina replied, stepping into the cave and holding up a hand. After a moment pale green light shone between her fingers. “Her clothing is there to help her maintain a humanoid form and protect her from light. Without it, she can be as intangible as the air around us.”
“But where did it go?”
“Swallowed, technically.” Sabrina led the way through the cave, checking each detour for signs of activity. “Rumor has it that whatever a Gengar swallows is transported to a pocket dimension. I don’t know how accurate that is, but I do know Ashlyn can make things disappear and reappear at will.”
“That’s terrifying.” Nicholas jumped when hissing laughter sounded from all around them.
“Careful. Keep complimenting her and she might decide to stick around,” Sabrina teased with a quiet chuckle. “There, up ahead.”
The group climbed up a stone ramp and emerged from the cave into the night. The sun had set while they were underground and now barely any light shone down from the moon and stars, casting the entire road ahead of them in deep shadow.
“Definitely on the right track,” Sabrina murmured. “Lots of activity here. Let’s keep going.”
The pace was slow, every pair of eyes scanning their surroundings for anything out of place. After about an hour Miyuki reached out and tapped Nicholas’ arm. “I smell something burning.”
The group ground to a halt. After a minute Nicholas noticed a flickering light far ahead of them and pointed. “Sabrina.”
Sabrina peered into the darkness. “I see it. Might be a campfire.” She looked around. “Before anything happens, I need to say something. I understand that Nicholas is training you, and I have full confidence in his abilities.” She glanced at him. “But the pokegirls we might find here are too strong for you. Fight what you can, and run from what you can’t. Trust Ashlyn to take care of them.”
Nessa and Sera glanced at each other before turning and nodding at the other two. “She’s right,” Nessa whispered. “We barely escaped from our last encounter alive.”
Miyuki and Ryuko nodded solemnly, prompting Sabrina to turn towards the light. “Good. Let’s move.”
As they approached it became clear that it was indeed a campfire, and Nicholas could see two figures sitting with their backs to a tent. Sabrina waited until they were almost in the firelight before raising her voice. “Hello!”
One of the figures jerked up. “Who-“ they stopped when they saw the two humans and four pokegirls. “Oh. Hikers?”
“Yep. Just watching the stars.” Sabrina smiled up at the sky. “How are you?”
“Just resting. We’ll be headed out of here in the morning.” The speaker gestured, revealing themselves to be a man in casual clothing. “You probably should make camp as well.”
Sabrina raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”
“There’s nothing much past here. And that means wild pokegirls.” He shuddered. “I’ve heard stories of packs of ferals descending on anyone foolish enough to leave the coast.”
Nicholas shot a glance at Sabrina and saw how her happy expression had been wiped away. “Is that so.”
“Yeah. Take it from me, don’t-“
The other figure suddenly screamed as her shadow reached up around her. The man cried out and scrambled away when Ashlyn rose from the ground, shadowy tendrils wrapping around the terrified pokegirl before she was dragged, still struggling and screaming, into the inky darkness.
“WHAT THE FUCK!” The man was fumbling with his belt when something impacted his back; with a yell he smacked to the ground. Sabrina looked up from where she was holding the man down and nodded at Nessa. “Put that fire out, would you?”
“Wait I can dry my-“ Miyuki sighed when Nessa extinguished the flames. “You all suck.”
“Who are you! What do you want from me??” the man cried. “Money, my pokegirls, anything just take it!”
“What I want,” Sabrina growled, “is information.”
“In-information?”
“Let me start this conversation over again. Good evening. I am Sabrina, gym leader of the Kanto region.” Her foot shoved harder into the man’s back when he tried to wiggle free. “And you are under arrest.”
“He’s Rocket, then?” Nicholas asked.
“Ashlyn is busy interrogating his pokegirl, but there’s no doubt. I felt his hostile intentions from the moment we arrived.” She growled when the man tried to escape again and he whimpered when glowing bands of energy sprang to life, pinning his arms and legs together. “I was being nice. Now I’m not.”
“I don’t care what you do to me, traitor,” the man spat. “You’ll burn along with the rest of them.”
“I’ll burn, will I?” Sabrina bent down. “Now isn’t that an interesting threat.” The man cried out when the bands around his legs tightened. “And how will I burn?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” the Rocket chuckled.
“Sabrina, we don’t have time for this.” Nicholas was looking down the path. “If this is an outer guard he won’t be alone. Someone is waiting for him to check in or will come to relieve him.”
Sabrina tsked. “True.” She looked back down. “Give me an answer then, or I’ll let Ashlyn have her way with you.” The Rocket’s face went white when the shadows streamed back into his campsite and deposited his pokegirl roughly onto the ground. The girl was petrified, her eyes and mouth stretched wide in a soundless scream.
“W-what?”
“Who is running the operation here?”
“Thinking of dropping in, are you?” The Rocket’s cocky smile had returned. “Well don’t bother. The boss is here.”
Sabrina’s eyes narrowed and the man slumped when she kicked him in the temple. The psychic bonds vanished as she stepped away and turned to Nicholas, her eyes smoldering with rage. “Let’s go.”
“Sabrina-“ Nicholas reached out to her but she easily avoided him and started jogging up the path. “Hey!” He caught up to her and tried to catch her eye. “Slow. Down. If Giovanni-“
“If Giovanni is here I will crush him myself,” Sabrina snarled. “He will pay for what he did to me.”
“If Giovanni is here we have one powerful pokegirl and four rookies,” Nicholas replied evenly. “We will be destroyed.”
“Nicholas I am not going to run away again.” Sabrina finally stopped and turned to him with a fervent expression. “I don’t care if Ashlyn is the only one here who can stand up to him, I wouldn’t run if I was alone. I am NOT letting that man control me. Ever again.”
Nicholas watched her brush past him. After a moment he turned to the harem. “Sera, in the air. Watch for potential threats. Ryuko, protect Sabrina.” He gazed at the Scyther. “I am your Master, but she is your Mistress. Am I understood?”
Ryuko bowed her head. “Understood, Master.” She jumped forwards, joining Sabrina to race ahead.
“Miyuki, Nessa, stay with me.” Nicholas began jogging to at least keep up.
The two fell in beside him. “This is the second time you’ve talked about this Giovanni person,” Miyuki said. “Who is he?”
“The boss of Team Rocket, like I said back in Ecruteak,” Nicholas replied. “He also was known as the most powerful gym leader in Kanto, at least before I discovered who he really was and ran him off.”
Miyuki shivered. “And he’s here?”
“Maybe.” Nicholas stared straight ahead. “But I don’t think so. After I defeated him, he said he was going to quit. Train up, and come find me again some day. It doesn’t make sense that he’d still be around Team Rocket.”
“If it isn’t him then who is it?” Nessa piped up.
“I don’t know.” Nicholas shook his head. “But we’re about to find out.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bright lights illuminated the construction site. Multiple buildings had already been erected, a pokecenter, a few shops, a restauraunt. At the far end of the clearing that had been cut in the forest was a gate, bare but with pieces of a sign scattered around and halfway constructed.
Sabrina hadn’t stopped. As she broke free from the trees and saw the figures moving around the site her eyes began to glow.
Nicholas cursed when the shadows next to him flickered. Ashlyn threw something at him before vanishing again, the aura that had begun building around Sabrina now covering her entire body in crackling green energy.
“What the hell?” Nicholas stared at the communicator he had caught. “What’s this?” His head jerked back up when he heard Sabrina scream. In the clearing all activity froze. But when Sabrina lifted a loose beam with her telekinesis and sent it crashing through a wall, chaos erupted.
Nicholas heard a shout from above him and recoiled as Sera fell from the sky. She landed hard, stumbling but managing to stay on her feet using her wings. “Master Nicholas, pokegirls!”
Nicholas glanced to where Sera was pointing and grimaced. Across from Sabrina’s green bursts was a flurry of red. Behind the unfinished gate an unknown amount of pokegirls were being released.
“This isn’t the well. Nessa, Sera?” Nicholas looked at the two pokegirls. “You must trust me. CHARGE THEM!”
Sera twisted and sprang into the air, gritting her teeth as she flew towards the clump of approaching pokegirls. Every time she had questioned him, she had been hurt. Even though this seemed like suicide she would trust him now.
Nessa was charging in right behind her. Focus, she thought to herself. That’s what I need to do. Lots of enemies. Defend!
Sera tore through the leading edge, not trying to do damage, but simply getting stock of what she had just gotten herself into. She saw all manner of pokegirl, some flying, some on the ground, some inhuman- and she began to climb back into the air when there was a flash.
Sera felt her wing bend and spiraled, falling towards the ground in shock. What had hit her? In the dark, nothing should have been able to find her that fast…
Nessa crossed her arms in front of her head, charging through the front line and bowling a few pokegirls over. She found the closest one, some sort of lamia, and grabbed hold, twisting the panicking girl’s arm before sinking her fangs into her body.
Miyuki tensed. She wanted to join them. The instincts Nicholas had awoken within her were howling. They wanted to fight. To be alongside her harem. She was their Alpha, she had to help!
“Wait.”
Instantly the turmoil vanished and Miyuki turned to look at Nicholas. The man stared into the confused mass of bodies, his eyes flicking from place to place and seeing things only he could. He saw Sera falling, the mob beginning to turn on Nessa, and his hands snapped up.
Two recall beams picked into the chaos, the balls quickly discovering their programmed targets and dissolving them into light. The pokegirl that Nessa had just been biting found herself free for a nanosecond before her roaring allies impacted. Instinctively she struck back at the body that hit her and within seconds the enemy crowd was fighting themselves.
Miyuki stared in shock at the brawl that had erupted. Behind her Nicholas released Sera and Nessa, calming them before pulling out medicine and beginning to heal their wounds.
“MIYUKI!”
Miyuki jumped and turned to Nicholas, bobbling the object he tossed her and staring at the communicator. “What?”
“Turn that thing on. You know electronics, right?” He gave the other two a final check. “Ashlyn wouldn’t have given it to us without a reason. Figure it out!”
Miyuki swallowed and began fiddling with the device. There was an antenna on the top that she extended, tapping at the screen and growling when nothing happened. “Come on… come on…”
Two of the construction workers had ducked behind cover and now more beams of red joined the scene, hulking pokegirls taking form and waiting for orders. Sabrina saw two appear next to her and pointed. The lights around her exploded, hot glass raining over the scene, and Sabrina turned to the next target as the shadows around her went pitch black.
The worker glanced up, blinking to clear his eyes, to find both of his pokegirls had vanished.
“Got it!” Miyuki cried triumphantly when the screen came to life. “There was a button-“
“GOOD!” Miyuki squeaked when Nicholas bundled her up, the two crashing through some bushes as beams of energy fired randomly through the area they had just been standing. “NOW MAKE IT WORK!”
Ryuko was in her natural element. Some part of her was unhappy, but the rest of her mind rejoiced to hear the whispers of her Mistress. Target to target, she flit from shadow to shadow, never even touching the light as pokegirls all across the clearing collapsed from their wounds.
Nicholas got back up when a low boom shook the clearing. Trees flexed, a few leaves falling near where a group of pokegirls lay unconscious with black smoke drifting through the air.
“Where’s Ryuko?” Nicholas desperately scanned the battlefield. “Is she okay?”
“She is, Master Nicholas.” Sera crouched next to him. “I can assist her.”
“No. No, you’re a Golbat. Team Rocket uses Golbat. I don’t want you to get hurt by mistake.”
The communicator began beeping in Miyuki’s hand and she looked down. After a moment a female face appeared. “Leader Sabrina?”
“Huh? Uh, hi?” Miyuki blinked. “No, but Sabrina is-“
“Who are you? How did you get this?” Miyuki squeaked when the face seemed to expand. “Where are you?”
“Got someone? Here,” Nicholas reached over and snagged the communicator from Miyuki’s hands. “This is the Champion. Who are you?”
As soon as Nicholas had entered the camera the woman was all business. “Good evening, Champion Topolski. Please detail your location.”
“What? Who are you?”
“You have contacted the RTF. Please provide your location, or activate your priority flare.”
Nicholas flipped the device over. Of course it was an emergency transmitter. Finding what he was looking for he twisted the locking mechanism, pressing the button that appeared and tossing the device a few feet away.
Sabrina heard the siren from behind her and was turning to retreat when a moving form caught her eye.
“Confirmed,” the female voice said from the ground. “Incoming.”
Nicholas shielded his eyes when a shower of blue and red exploded out of the device and eventually coalesced into what looked like a Porygon who he recognized as being the woman on the screen. The Porygon didn’t even look at him before raising her arm, her hand vanishing down the barrel of a cannon that she fired, straight up.
A few eyes turned to the sky as the flare peaked, sparking until it burst into a shower of red and blue light.
Nicholas turned to the Porygon when she looked at him. “Champion Topolski, where is Leader Sabrina? That was her transmitter.”
Nicholas pointed at the clearing. “She’s fighting-“ he stopped. “She- she WAS just there.”
The Porygon moved forwards, her arm snapping up to blast a few recovering forms before she sprinted towards the retreating Rockets.
Nicholas slowly caught his breath. He was just starting to take stock of his harem when a body crashed into him. Yelping, he tumbled a few feet before extricating himself from his attacker and jumping back. Miyuki and Nessa were running towards him when Nicholas’ eyes widened and he jumped forwards. “RYUKO!”
Ryuko wasn’t moving and Nicholas searched for his backpack. Finding it with the contents strewn about the forest floor he identified her pokeball and chose to recall the unconscious Scyther instead of trying to heal her. “What happened? Did anyone see?”
The flare was still burning overhead and the flickering light from it cast strange shadows around the group. “I didn’t, no,” Nessa replied. “Miyuki?”
Miyuki shook her head. Her tail was laying flat against the ground and the Eevee herself was in a defensive position. “I didn’t see.”
Seconds ticked by. Finally Nicholas straightened up and started walking towards the now quiet battlefield. “Come on.”
The Porygon burst through a tree and leveled her weapons. Two pokegirls were dodging through the forest, one swiping at the shadows around her while the other tried to angle towards two struggling figures nearby. To her shame it took the Porygon a full second to identify her targets but once she did she sent two beams lancing through the battle. One of the fighting pokegirls dropped, allowing Ashlyn to surge from the side and cover the other, and the struggling figures broke apart when one was knocked away.
Sabrina whirled towards the new threat before falling to one knee when she saw a Porygon. “Zoe. Glad you could make it.”
Zoe moved forwards slowly. “Explain yourself. This was a reconnaissance mission.”
“Yeah, well, kick me off the team if you’re that worried about it.” Sabrina’s chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. “Can you- please make sure she’s down?”
Zoe pointed her weapon at the figure that Sabrina had been grappling with to see a pokegirl with obsidian skin and horns. “Interesting.”
“Yeah. Interesting.” Sabrina glanced into the forest. “ASHLYN! Where is he?”
A few seconds passed before Ashlyn formed from the shadows. The Gengar was wavering, her own fatigue showing as she fought to keep her humanoid shape. “I can’t find him, Mistress. He escaped.”
“FUCK!” Neither pokegirl even flinched when Sabrina slammed her hand into the ground. “YOU BASTARD!”
“Come.” Zoe reached out to support Sabrina and began leading the human back towards the clearing. “Response team is incoming.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Well we hit them before they could do anything,” Nicholas observed as he watched another pair of Rockets being led down towards a waiting helicopter. “Next time? Talk to me before you try to commit suicide.”
Sabrina didn’t respond. Two medical pokegirls were actively working on her naked body and if he hadn’t been so worried Nicholas might have tried to catch a peek.
As soon as he thought it Sabrina smiled. “You don’t want to look at me right now.”
Nicholas winced. “Sorry.”
“No. Thank you.” Sabrina gazed into the night sky. Half of her chest was smothered in gauze, the bandages remaining flat where they should have arched over her breast. “If they can’t regenerate it, will you still love me?”
“You’re funny.”
“Haha.”
Nicholas felt a tear fall and angrily wiped it away. “Why did you do it? Why did you try to fight a pokegirl?”
“I had to.” Sabrina blinked a few times. “I saw him, Nicholas.”
“Giovanni? He was here?”
Sabrina hesitated. “…no. I don’t think it was Giovanni. But he looked like him, in the darkness. I…” She sniffed. “I had to.”
“They said the pokegirl that intercepted you was a Houndour.” Nicholas glanced at the dozens of restrained pokegirls nearby. “Dark-type. That’s how you didn’t sense her coming.”
“It was Archer.”
Nicholas automatically glanced at her when she spoke and immediately regretted it. The amount of dried blood covering what little of Sabrina he could see only reinforced his worry. “Why do you think that?”
“Nobody in Team Rocket uses a Houndour. It’s all Poison-types. Only someone who’s been waiting for me would have one.”
“He was in Saffron.”
“Yes.”
Nicholas sighed. “Do you know any other Admins? Anyone else who might be the boss here?”
“No.” Sabrina closed her eyes. “They felt familiar, before I was ambushed. It had to have been Archer.”
“Sir, please let her rest,” one of the pokegirls protested. “We will take care of Leader Sabrina.”
“Yeah.” Nicholas got to his feet. “Call me if anything changes.”
“Of course, Sir.”
“Champion Topolski!” Nicholas turned to see a man walking towards him. “If I could have a minute, please.”
Nicholas let the man lead him away. “How can I help you?”
“My name is Jonathan. I’m one of the undercover investigators working with the Rocket Task Force.” Nicholas nodded when Jonathan flashed a badge. “I’m actually a member of the International Police.”
“I wasn’t aware Team Rocket had garnered attention from the International Police.” Nicholas shrugged. “What do you need from me?”
“Frankly, we need a strong tamer to lead our response,” Jonathan replied. “With Leader Sabrina injured our capabilities are severely limited.”
“Mmhm. With her injured, basically alone, going after an operation this size?” Nicholas gestured at the small town that had been built. “I’m going to be frank myself, Mr. Jonathan. I’m not stupid enough to be your puppet.”
Jonathan leaned back. “Sabrina was the one who suggested leaving her harem behind.”
“Yeah, that was supposed to keep her presence here secret. Well guess what. It didn’t work.”
“Only because she-“
“If you’re about to try and shift blame on my girlfriend, you might want to reconsider,” Nicholas said calmly. Jonathan quieted at Nicholas’ sharp tone. “You could get an entire cleanup crew here within fifteen minutes but couldn’t just hit the place?”
“Leader Sabrina was meant to scout the location for our strike team. We didn’t know where it was,” Jonathan replied just as calmly. “It was her decision to engage. Not ours.”
Nicholas cursed and turned away. “The answer is still no.”
“You are one of only a handful of tamers we can trust to lead this,” Jonathan replied. “Leader Sabrina was an indispensable asset. With her gone we need all the help we can get.”
“Who said she’s gone?” Nicholas snorted. “Once she’s fixed up she’ll be right back at it. I know she will be.”
“Once she’s ‘fixed up’ it will be too late,” Jonathan warned. “We didn’t get everyone today. Records on site talk about other operations in the region. And if what Leader Sabrina says is true, there was a very big fish who now knows we’re on to them.”
“I won’t take orders from the RTF,” Nicholas replied, “but pretending I did, what would they have been?”
“Gather your harem. Your real harem, and spearhead strikes on likely Team Rocket operations, eventually leading to the eradication of the organization, once and for all.” Jonathan frowned when Nicholas began laughing. “Did I say something funny?”
“Oh, you did. Great joke.” Nicholas calmed himself for long enough to fix Jonathan with an icy cold glare. “My real harem is right here, and until I decide otherwise, the rest of my real harem will remain at my Champion’s house, continuing to act as if I am blissfully unaware of what is occurring in Johto.” He shook his head. “You think I don’t know that I’ve been cut out of official communications since I left? Why should I jump whenever you call?”
Jonathan’s expression set and he stepped back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t. You’re a flunky but you still would know that half the Elite Four is retiring.” Jonathan didn’t react and Nicholas rolled his eyes. “We’re done. Go find someone else who’s willing to dance to your strings.”
“Thank you for your time, Champion Topolski.”
Nicholas snorted as Jonathan walked away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sabrina grumbled and slowly opened her eyes to the morning sun. Eventually she pushed the blankets away and tried to sit up, wincing when the motion aggravated her injuries.
“Hey, I hear that,” Nicholas’ voice called from another room. “Don’t you get out of bed.”
“Can’t,” Sabrina grunted. Nicholas appeared as she pushed herself to her feet. “You’re leaving today.”
“Yes. Later this afternoon.” Nicholas tried to stop Sabrina and sighed when she shook him off. “Woman you are lucky I love you.”
Sabrina chuckled and stepped into the hall. Her body was still wrapped with bandages, but thanks to the healing techniques applied her missing flesh had been regenerated. “I’ve spent four days in that stupid bed. I’m walking today.”
“Fine.” Nicholas pulled out a chair and helped her sit before turning back to the breakfast he had been cooking. “You’re not coming with me.”
“Yeah? Try to stop me,” Sabrina teased. When Nicholas turned to her with a raised eyebrow she huffed. “Oh calm down. I’m not serious.”
“Uh-huh.”
Sabrina ignored him and dug into the plate he placed in front of her. “Where are your pokegirls?”
“Enjoying the vacation. Probably training, too.”
“Ashlyn?”
“How would I know? She’s your pokegirl, not mine.”
Sabrina absently played with her plate. “She vanished again. She does that a lot.” She looked up. “Nicholas, did anyone say anything to you? When the task force was here?”
“I thought we agreed not to talk about that,” Nicholas replied, setting his own plate down and beginning to eat. “You’re benched while you recover anyways.”
“So they did.” Sabrina gazed at him curiously. “I can feel you blocking me. What did they say?”
“One of these days I’ll learn to do it without letting you know, and on that day I will be able to keep a secret.” Nicholas sighed. “Some guy named Jonathan tried to get me to take your place. I told him to fuck off.”
“Jonathan.” Sabrina nodded. “He’s one of the head investigators. Good at his job.”
“Hm.” Nicholas returned to his food. “Hopefully he’ll also be rather pissed off. When I do his work for him.”
Sabrina looked at him in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“They eviscerated my girlfriend,” Nicholas replied grimly. “Team Rocket’s days were already numbered, but now I’m starting the countdown.”
Sabrina giggled. “Aw, for me? You’re too sweet.” Her smile faded. “What will you do? If you don’t coordinate with the RTF, you probably won’t figure out their plans.”
“I have my own information network,” Nicholas replied. “I don’t want to use it, but I have it. I’ll find them.”
Sabrina looked at him curiously. After a minute she smiled. “I almost didn’t realize that time.”
“Not revealing this one.” Nicholas returned to his food, not speaking again until he had finished. “Finish your breakfast and get back to bed.”
“Not yet.” Sabrina glanced at the clock. “What time exactly is the ferry leaving?”
“Eh, the captain wants me there at three.”
“More than enough time, then.” Sabrina reached over to take his hand. “I want to be selfish and ask for a gift before you leave.”
Nicholas cocked an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“I want to see you wipe the floor with Chuck’s face.”
Nicholas blinked. “Chuck? The gym leader here?”
“That’s right.” Sabrina leaned back with a smile. “It will give me something to smile about when the pain keeps me in bed.”
Nicholas slowly smiled back. “I think we can do that for you.”
“Thank you.” Sabrina leaned back with a sigh. “Give me an hour to rest and then I want to go.”
Nicholas nodded and got up. “Need help getting back to bed?” When Sabrina shook her head he turned to the door. “I’ll get the harem and get ready.”
As he stepped outside he felt the cool sea breeze hit his face. The cottage that he and Sabrina had been staying in was at the northern edge of town, the perfect place to have snuck Sabrina into without risking anyone in Cianwood City seeing. His harem was probably somewhere along the beach.
But Nicholas didn’t turn to find them. Instead, he walked north.
A while later he saw the familiar rocky coast, and turned to see the cave entrance that led towards the Rocket’s Safari Zone. This was where he wanted to be.
Stepping towards the water he felt the breeze pick up, drops of water peppering his face as he stared out over the ocean. After a few minutes he spoke.
“I know you’ve been watching me.”
Silence. Nicholas kept his eyes on the ocean. After a few seconds he spoke again. “I want to talk. Suicune, beloved servant of Ho-oh.”
The gusts surged, swirling around him, but Nicholas remained still. Finally he saw flecks of sea foam break free of the water, the clump racing towards him growing larger and larger until Suicune’s body rose from the waves.
“Who are you to call upon me, human?” Suicune asked, and Nicholas could hear genuine curiosity in the legendary’s voice. “You do not love my Mistress. You do not serve her will.”
“No. And yet you chose to listen,” Nicholas replied. “Funny that.”
Suicune blinked and Nicholas stepped aside when she strode from the waves. “Speak.”
“Why are you following me?”
Suicune turned to him. “I follow many humans in my eternal quest to find one worthy of my Mistress’ attention.”
“Eternal is a rather strong word, don’t you think?” Nicholas asked. “From what I’ve been told you’re younger than some humans.”
Suicune snorted, sending a gust of cold wind blowing between them. “I am eternal, and you are not.”
“True,” Nicholas replied, “but you’re also young. You can’t have been interested in that many humans before.”
Suicune’s eyes narrowed. “I am losing interest in this one as well.”
“You keep telling yourself that.” Nicholas smirked when Suicune pouted. A legendary, pouting. Oh he was enjoying this. “I assume you’re judging me, seeing if I’m ‘worthy’. I want to prove myself.”
That got Suicune’s attention. “And how, pray tell, do you intend to do so?” Suicune asked curiously. “I know of your human feats. Titles and adoration do not impress my Mistress.”
“No. What impresses her are actions,” Nicholas replied. “In this land there is a group of evil people who work to do evil deeds. Team Rocket.”
Suicune nodded. “I know of them, of course.”
“I intend to demolish them,” Nicholas snarled, “and free this land from their tyranny. To restore peace so that all humans and pokegirls can coexist.”
Nicholas felt a new weight when Suicune’s eyes focused on him. “To make such a vow in front of me is to make it in front of my Mistress.”
“It doesn’t matter who I make it to, because I’ve already made it in my heart,” Nicholas replied.
Suicune gazed at him for a few, long seconds, before turning away. “We await your deeds, human.”
“Yeah.” Nicholas watched her begin to step onto the ocean. “Once I figure out where they are.”
He knew Suicune heard him because he saw the furred ears on top of her head twitch back in his direction. But she didn’t slow, picking up speed until she was sprinting gracefully over the waves and out of sight.
Nicholas waited for another few minutes before turning back towards the cottage. He needed to find the harem. They had a badge to win.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POKEDEX UPDATED
Tamer: Nicholas Topolski
Badges:
Zephyr Badge
Hive Badge
Plain Badge
Harem:
Miyuki, Eevee (Alpha) – Level 28
Nessa, Croconaw – Level 28
Sera, Golbat – Level 28
Ryuko, Scyther – Level 28