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 16
Badge Blitz!
“You’re sure that you’re okay to walk this much?” Nicholas stared at Sabrina worriedly. “I can just take a recording.”
“No. I need to be there,” Sabrina replied. She had put on a long coat to hide her bandages, only her unhurt arm sitting fully in view. “I want everything. Chuck’s taunts when he sees me and when they turn to horror when you obliterate him.”
Nicholas smiled. “We haven’t won yet.”
“You will.”
Nicholas chuckled and turned to the harem. “This gym is a Fighting-type gym. That means you’re not fighting if we can help it, Miyuki.”
Miyuki growled. “The Alpha isn’t meant to hide.”
Nicholas laughed, which only caused her to look angrier. “Miyuki, the Alpha doesn’t do everything herself. Part of being the Alpha includes knowing when it’s time to step back and let her harem do the work.”
Miyuki’s look flickered as her cheeks flushed in embarrassment and after a moment she ducked her head. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. We’ll find a time for you to show off.” Nicholas grinned and turned to the others. “Nessa, You’re our reserve; if we can win this with Ryuko and Sera that’s what I want to do. You’ll be brought in if either of them need help taking the momentum back.”
Nessa nodded and Ryuko raised a hand. “Master, I…” Nicholas frowned when she hesitated. “I will fight my best.”
“What were you going to say, Ryuko?” Nicholas asked curiously.
Ryuko stole a glance at Sabrina. “I must beg your forgiveness, Master. I allowed a moment of weakness to cloud my judgment.”
Nicholas cocked an eyebrow. “This should be good.”
“During the battle a few nights ago, I… allowed myself to be controlled, instead of thinking for myself as you wish me to.” Ryuko bowed her head. “I will take full responsibility, Master.”
Nicholas looked at Sabrina in confusion. “She was looking for direction. I gave it to her,” Sabrina said quietly. “I felt her shame then as well but I didn’t stop to consider what I was doing.”
Nicholas sighed. “You did what you were trained to do, Ryuko? You became a weapon for your Mistress?”
Ryuko winced. “Yes, Master.”
“I will punish you appropriately later.” Ryuko felt conflicting emotions when he said that but cleared her head when Nicholas continued. “Today, you are your Master’s pokegirl. Am I understood?”
Ryuko pulled herself to attention and slapped a fist to her chest. “HAI!”
“Good.” Nicholas turned to the door. “Let’s do this.”
Once again, no gym greeter. Nicholas looked around, a bit confused, until he noticed the interior. The entire gym was laid out… well, like a gymnasium. Massive boulders, weights, and all manner of equipment was strewn across the floor, while ropes and other materials hung from the ceiling. But in the middle of everything was a crashing waterfall.
The center of the gym was a metal grate and water plummeted from the ceiling straight to the floor with enough force that Nicholas could see pieces of shredded plastic running through the holes in the grate. Thick plastic, likely from an errant exercise ball that had gotten too close.
And standing in the middle of the water was a man.
Sabrina nodded towards the middle. “That’s Chuck.”
Nicholas stepped further into the gym and looked around. He could see a few other people inside, all training in some way, but nobody seemed interested in the visitors. “Do I just…? HEY!” Nicholas waved. “CHUCK?”
Chuck didn’t move and Nicholas sighed. He wasn’t getting near that water. Chuck was built thick, massive muscles keeping him steady under the pounding water. He’d probably get knocked off his feet.
“Yo. If you want to fight Chuck, turn his water off,” one of the others called. “He’s deep in focus right now.”
“Nah. I know a better way.” Sabrina stepped forwards and one of the weights lifted off the ground. “OI! JACKASS!”
Chuck’s head smacked to the side when Sabrina levitated it right into his face and instantly the man’s eyes snapped open. “HROOAAAHHHH!” He stomped forwards, clearing the water before straightening up and glaring ahead of him. “WHO DARES?”
Sabrina idly waved. “Me.”
“Ho-ho-ho!” Chuck grinned and continued towards the group. “Well if it isn’t little Sabrina. What’s the matter, baby? So jealous you had to come see me in person?”
Sabrina rolled her eyes. “Chuck, this is Nicholas. He’s going to take your badge today.”
“HA!” Chuck turned and leered at Nicholas. “Have to get someone to do your work for you, eh? Too scared of my pokegirls?”
Sabrina massaged her forehead. “Chuck, it’s against the rules for two gym leaders to battle for prizes, no matter what they might be. That’s why you sent your stupid apprentice to try and take over my gym.”
Nicholas turned to her in shock. “He WHAT?”
“Yeah. The idiot still challenges me every year, and he’s set up a little dojo next door.” Sabrina shook her head as Chuck laughed. “What’s so funny now.”
“GYA-HA-HA! Good to hear that boy is still doing all right! SO!” Chuck took a fighting stance and gestured to Nicholas. “You want my badge, eh? Come and get it! My pokegirls will shatter your bones!”
“And if they did, you’d be thrown in jail,” Sabrina grumbled to herself.
“Er, no, I mean… shatter his pokegirl’s bones!” Chuck lamely corrected. “Damn it woman, you always ruin my deliveries.”
“I don’t care.” Sabrina glanced at Nicholas. “Make sure to really destroy him, honey.”
“Honey? HONEY?” Chuck gaped at Nicholas. “What’s this?”
“Anything for you, babe.” Nicholas decided to turn away from Chuck for a moment, giving Sabrina a kiss on the cheek before nonchalantly bringing his attention back to the gym leader. “Where’s the arena, fat stuff?”
Nicholas heard Sabrina’s happy giggle as Chuck purpled. “YOU’RE STANDING IN IT! RELEASE YOUR POKEGIRL!”
Nicholas glanced down, stepping beyond the lines he could see before gesturing at Sera. “You’re up first, Sera.”
“League rules dictate you must provide a fair match,” Sabrina called when Chuck reached for one of his pokeballs. “I better not see Kelsey on the field.”
Chuck stopped before growling and pulling a pokedex from… Nicholas didn’t want to know where. He pulled up Nicholas’ tamer profile and shook his head before reaching for a pokeball at the other side of his belt. “Three pokegirls.” He gave Sabrina a scathing look. “Is that acceptable, sweetheart?”
“As long as you follow the rules,” Sabrina replied cheerfully.
After his fight with Bugsy Nicholas had started keeping a closer eye on the tactics of the gym leaders he fought, trying to pick out their tricks. So when Chuck’s fingers slipped behind his belt and withdrew a pokeball that hadn’t been visible before he grinned. The gym leader probably had a dozen or more pokeballs with pokegirls of all skill levels but displayed six to maintain the illusion that Nicholas was fighting whatever he had.
Sera was stretching her wings when her opponent materialized, a blue-skinned pokegirl with swirling white patterns covering her body. She blinked when she saw her. Naked? Was her opponent naked? In a gym battle?
“BEGIN!”
Sera was still trying to figure out if the pokegirl across from her was nude, peering closely at the girl’s breast and groin, when the barriers came to life around them. Immediately the girl twisted, flipping and spinning in a crazy motion that caused the swirling patterns on her body to dance. Sera immediately felt her eyes drawn to the hypnotizing motion, staring as the whirling girl seemed to fade until only her blue and white body was circling in front of her eyes.
Nicholas shouted for Sera to get in the air and growled when she didn’t respond. The enemy pokegirl was moving closer, every flip or spin bringing her towards the stunned Golbat. “That was fast.” He recalled Sera before the other pokegirl could get a hit in, waving at Ryuko while simultaneously reaching for his pokedex. “Let’s see what you are.”
Ryuko stepped through the barrier when it fell and motioned with her hands, slipping her daggers into view and taking a ready stance. The enemy Poliwrath, as Nicholas had finally figured out, had paused her motions for a moment when the switch came but now she began dancing once again.
“Don’t look at her, Ryuko!” Nicholas yelled. “She’s trying to hypnotize you!”
Ryuko smiled. Her Master still raised his voice even though they had been able to hear each other’s whispers from the beginning. “She will have to face me to try, Master,” she replied, her wings buzzing before she dashed. Chuck cursed when Ryuko seemed to duplicate, each afterimage appearing whenever the Scyther paused in her attack.
The Poliwrath faltered before turning towards the leading image and firing a blast of water that sailed harmlessly through nothing but thin air. With a scream Ryuko struck, appearing from within the image she had slipped back to and slicing her daggers down the girl’s front. The Poliwrath managed to duck away from the worst of the strike but a cut still opened along her breast, creating a red line through the hypnotic patterns.
Ryuko was pulling back when Chuck slammed his foot into the gym floor with a command. Immediately his Poliwrath changed tactics; all hint of her passivity vanished as she blitzed towards the Scyther. Nicholas’ own eyes narrowed when he saw the incoming threat. “Chuck’s done playing nice. Ryuko, in the air, NOW!”
Ryuko’s wings extended but that’s as far as she got before the Poliwrath closed in. She twisted, trying to dodge away from the heavier girl’s grasp, but even as she slipped between the Poliwrath’s arms she felt fingers close around her vulnerable wings.
The Poliwrath choked when she felt Ryuko’s daggers sink into her chest but she didn’t let go. Ryuko screamed when the Fighting-type convulsed, her snag allowing her to wrap her arms back around the Scyther and crush her to her chest. Ryuko felt one wing bend wrong and braced herself, expecting to hear and feel as it snapped in half.
A second passed. Ryuko still felt the pain from the wing bending, but nothing further. The Poliwrath still clutched her tightly, and she could feel the girl’s strength crushing her against her body, but somehow her wing had survived.
Nicholas had a small smile tugging at his lips. Ryuko had been caught; she was in a bad spot. But the shining carapace that was facing him refused to break no matter how hard the Poliwrath squeezed.
Ryuko was struggling against the stronger pokegirl when she heard a soft voice come through her radio. “Has my blade grown so dull?”
The pain was forgotten when Ryuko heard Nicholas’ voice. “No- Master, no.” She tried to pull her daggers free but with her own body pressed against them they wouldn’t be leaving the Poliwrath’s chest anytime soon. “She bleeds!”
The Poliwrath grunted as she increased the pressure on Ryuko. “I bleed. You break.”
Sabrina glanced towards Nicholas. She couldn’t hear the words he was whispering but she could feel as Ryuko’s chaotic thoughts began to align with Nicholas’ methodical ones. He truly had accepted himself in the time he had been away.
There were not many tamers who could control their pokegirls. Not order or force, as many believed they should, but control them, as an extension of their selves. The bonds shared between those tamers and their pokegirls were something truly wonderful. She only had one pokegirl she could claim that with; her Alpha, Diana. If Nicholas was forming them with pokegirls he had only been around for months, then he was something special indeed.
“You can not escape. You can not strike. You are helpless,” Nicholas whispered. “But you are not alone.”
Ryuko realized within the same instant that Nicholas shouted. She was following his orders even as he spoke them, with a delay so small that it seemed nonexistent. Not as a mindless weapon; but as her Master’s blade. For a few sweet seconds she felt the greatest rush she had ever felt from battle.
“WINGS! THROW HER!” Ryuko’s good wing flared, energy pouring down her carapace as she heaved. The Poliwrath squawked when she was thrown off balance and her grip loosened, but not enough to free Ryuko. It hadn’t been her intention anyways. The energy built until Ryuko’s wings shimmered with light, at which point she did something she would never have considered normally. She let go of her daggers.
Her Master had shown her the way out. But she had needed to use her own instinct as well. Two minds, not just one.
By willingly sacrificing her weapons she suddenly was free to move. After all, the Poliwrath only held one of her wings. It had been her own strike that had anchored her to her opponent’s chest. The Poliwrath choked when Ryuko flipped, her legs spinning up to hook over her neck. A shin slammed into her windpipe at the same time as Ryuko’s other leg wrapped behind her and suddenly she was the one in trouble, Ryuko’s leg lock strangling her.
“FIRE!”
The instant the Poliwrath let go of Ryuko’s wing, moving to counter the attack on her neck, Ryuko struck. Her wing, which had been in so much pain before, flicked back to join the other before both sliced down. Or up, because of the Scyther’s inverted position.
Slicing winds shredded the Poliwrath’s skin as they raced up her body and the girl herself let out a keening scream that slowly turned into a gurgle when Ryuko’s shin popped into her neck an inch. Ryuko was jostled free when the Poliwrath fell and rolled, finding her footing before surveying her unmoving opponent.
The Poliwrath lay on her side with a slight dribble of blood coming from her mouth. She was covered in shallow cuts, the blood from them staining her skin red.
Chuck recalled his pokegirl and glared across the arena at Nicholas. He barely gave the gym leader a glance before surveying Ryuko. Noticing how her injured wing wasn’t folding like it should he spoke. “Ryuko, can you continue?”
Ryuko slowly bent down to retrieve her daggers from where they had fallen. As she did she could feel the bruising all across her body crying out in protest. “Yes, Master.”
Nicholas chuckled to himself and recalled her once she had recovered her blades. “Miyuki?”
The Eevee jumped. “What?”
“You can take one, right?”
Miyuki stared at his back in horror. “There’s no way!”
“Figured.” Nicholas twisted to show her his teasing grin before pulling Sera’s pokeball back out as Chuck released a familiar pokegirl. “But I haven’t forgotten you. By the time we get back to Morty’s gym, you’ll be fighting.”
Chuck took a look at the still-dazed Golbat and nodded. His pokegirl, a Primeape, screeched and charged full speed when she saw the vampire bat pokegirl appear. Nicholas tried to get Sera to snap out of it but it took a meaty fist slamming into her cheek to shake Sera awake. Her scream echoed when she crashed to the ground, her own wings getting tangled underneath her when the Primeape leapt on top and began pummeling Sera’s hasty attempts at a block.
Well, it worked for Ryuko. Let’s try again. “Sera. Wings, blow her away!”
“DON’T LET HER GET IN THE AIR!” Chuck roared. His Primeape chattered, dodging back when Sera swiped before her own energy started to gather. With a deafening scream she threw her entire body at the prostrate Golbat.
Sera felt something snap as she slid across the floor with the Primeape on top of her. But it wasn’t a wing. Those she had managed to fold before the attack hit. Now she tried to shove her opponent away but, finding herself barely able to move her arms, swapped to trying to shake the Primeape off of her instead. She grew increasingly frustrated when every move she made just exposed a new patch of skin to be rubbed raw by their slide. “Get. OFF!”
The Primeape reeled back when Sera screamed but rebounded quickly and Sera gagged when a hand grabbed her throat. “Quiet,” the girl hissed, their slide finally slowing to a halt. “Your words make me angry.”
“I said wings, Sera.”
Sera blinked at the calm tone in her ear. That had been a command. Since when did Master Nicholas give commands?
Well. Her fangs glistened when she grinned. Who was she to ignore one?
The Primeape was looking for a good way to extend her pin when she felt Sera tense. She wasn’t worried, though. The Golbat’s ribcage was broken. She wouldn’t be swinging her arms-
With a strangled gasp Sera’s wings shot out from underneath her and the Primeape yelped when Sera bucked. The two lifted nearly a foot off the floor before slamming back down. Sera felt the impact further compress her chest and gritted her teeth, fighting the pain, before surging again. This time she felt the Primeape’s hand loosen from around her neck.
The Primeape was unsteady, doing her best to remain on top of Sera, so when Sera brought her wings down in a mighty, desperate have, she was sent tumbling off the Golbat. Without her weight Sera rocketed through the air and crashed into the arena barrier, crumpling to the ground to lie moaning. Both tamers were yelling at their pokegirls but Sera managed to right herself first, finding the struggling Primeape and glancing back at her bruised wings dejectedly.
“Sera. Are you good?” Nicholas looked over at her. “Nessa can come in.”
Sera shook her head with a wince. “I haven’t hit her yet, Master Nicholas.” She felt her throat tenderly. “Hurts… to speak.”
“I’m fine with you not hitting her if it means you don’t have to be hurt,” Nicholas replied. “She seems strong.”
Sera lowered her hand as her eyes grew hard. “I thought you knew me better than that, Master Nicholas.”
Nicholas smiled. He did, but with what they had gone through together he wanted to make sure. “Then strike, Sera. Fly, wind, and dive.”
Sera nodded and took off. The Primeape was back on her feet by now and she snarled, tracking Sera’s flight with one arm clutching her side. Nicholas looked at her with a frown. If Sera hadn’t hit her, why was she injured?
Maybe she had hit so hard that she had hurt herself in the process. Nicholas decided to make a split-second decision. “Sera. Change up. Bait her attack and dodge.”
Sera swung back around. This time, she needed to trust him. She needed to.
But as before, a seed of doubt crept in. She could attack from a distance, making sure the Primeape was flagging before getting back in range. Yet he wanted her to do it immediately.
What had he seen that she hadn’t? Sera dodged away from the hopping Primeape before settling in for one final run. The one time she hadn’t listened, she had failed. Ignoring her doubt, she dove.
The Primeape laughed when she saw the Golbat coming straight at her and settled in, her body beginning to glow with suppressed power. “Come to be crushed, flying rat?” She grinned when Sera’s wings flapped, pushing the Golbat even faster. “HA!”
At the very last second Sera tucked one wing, spinning away in a barrel roll that left the Primeape with nothing in front of her but air. With a screech the girl’s charge turned into an undignified scramble that sent her tumbling head over heels across the ground. Without waiting for any more advice Sera finished her roll, swooping back towards the Primeape with her hands outstretched. The collision slammed the monkey girl into the arena barrier and she howled when Sera’s fangs finally found their mark. She tried to push the Golbat away but after only a few seconds Sera disengaged to allow the Primeape to slump forwards.
Chuck recalled his Primeape and stared at the Golbat. A low hiss was emanating from Sera’s throat, her mouth hanging half open with swirling tendrils of the Primeape’s energy moving across her body.
“I’m not letting her sweep us,” Chuck growled, reaching under his belt again and withdrawing a white pokeball. “LET’S GO! CLIP HER WINGS!”
Sera shook her head to clear it when a girl appeared in front of her. The two pokegirls stared at each other for a moment before Sera lunged. Instantly the other girl jumped, twisting past Sera and landing upside down. Before Sera could even turn around the girl had launched back into the air to sink her foot into Sera’s back.
There was no scream as Sera fell, but she did manage to get a swipe at the girl’s leg before she could retreat. The other pokegirl hopped away, favoring her uninjured leg for a few steps before dashing back in.
“Hitmontop,” Nicholas muttered. “You’re what Bruno had. Sera, don’t fly, she will break your wings and you can’t predict her!”
Sera weaved away from a flurry of strikes. She could feel the Primeape’s energy reinvigorating her but it wasn’t enough. This girl was fast. Very fast.
Oh. She shouldn’t fly? She’d already been told what to do then.
The Hitmontop was spinning in when Sera’s wings snapped back and the Golbat shot away. For a moment the girl stopped her chaotic movement, identifying a new path, and it was then that Sera struck. When the spinning Hitmontop was moving in a straight line.
The blowing tornados threw the Hitmontop off her feet and she struggled, trying to break free of the winds before working with them instead. Sera’s eyes bugged when the Hitmontop began spinning within her attack, using it to fuel her own momentum before breaking from the gusts to rocket at incredible speed, one foot outstretched.
Straight into the arena barrier.
Sera watched as the girl crumpled. Her low moans were all that could be heard when the winds dissipated and eventually Chuck recalled the Hitmontop with a curse. “Sure. I lose because she shatters her own leg.” He glanced at Sera before walking towards Nicholas and holding out a badge. “Take it. Fucking Flying-types.” He handed it over before turning and intentionally kept his eyes off Sabrina as he walked away and through a side door.
There was a confused silence for a few seconds before Sera turned back to look at Nicholas. “Um… I won?”
Sabrina sighed. “That was nowhere near as satisfying as I had hoped it would be. It started great but those pokegirls just took themselves out. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” She stepped closer to Nicholas and gave him a hug. “Thanks, Nicholas. You’re building another powerful harem.” Nicholas heard her softly breathe out as her chin came to rest on his shoulder. “I love you. Stay safe. Don’t make the same mistakes I have.”
Nicholas turned to return the gesture and after a moment he kissed her forehead. “I will.”
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POKEDEX UPDATED
Tamer: Nicholas Topolski
Badges:
Zephyr Badge
Hive Badge
Plain Badge
Storm Badge
Harem:
Miyuki, Eevee (Alpha) – Level 28
Nessa, Croconaw – Level 29
Sera, Golbat – Level 30
Ryuko, Scyther – Level 29
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Nicholas stepped off the boat and turned back to thank the captain. “The ride back was much smoother. Thank you.”
The captain nodded. “Ye, we had it smoother that time. It was like the wind led the way.”
Nicholas gave him a forced smile before turning back to the city. The medicine for Amy was in his bag, his badge collection had been increased by one, and he had a new goal in mind. But it wasn’t all good. The wind had definitely led the way back to Olivine; in fact, he thought he had seen Suicune standing on the waves, watching the boat. Unfortunately, his gamble seemed to have paid off.
Enough of that. He shook his head. He needed to release the harem and move forwards.
The girls took shape around him and Nicholas gestured towards the lighthouse. “We’re here. Let’s drop this medicine off and then start searching.”
“For Team Rocket?” Nessa asked as he walked away. “Are we ready for that?”
Nicholas sighed. “We need to be. The secret is out. They know someone is hunting them, and if what Sabrina said is true, they know it’s the government.” He stepped into the lighthouse, nodding when the guards immediately moved aside. “They’re going to make their move soon, if they haven’t already. We need to figure out what it is.”
The elevator ride was silent, each person inside lost in their own thoughts. When the door opened Nicholas stepped out and raised his voice. “Jasmine! I’ve brought the medicine.”
“You- Champion Topolski?” After a second Jasmine poked her head around the wall. “You really found something?”
“I did. The medicine lady said she’s seen this disease before.” Nicholas pulled the bag out and presented it to the gym leader. “She said that Amy will want to take one of these a day until her symptoms fully fade, at which point she’ll need to finish the rest once a week until they’re gone.”
Jasmine took the bag and opened it to look at the wrapped paper capsules. “What are they?”
“I don’t know. She mixed everything before I got there,” Nicholas explained. “But she said the disease is called pokerus. I looked it up while I was in Cianwood. If Amy had been part of a combat harem, it would have been helpful to her, instead of what it’s done.”
Jasmine stepped back into Amy’s room and withdrew one of the capsules of medicine. “Does she need to swallow it whole?”
“I don’t think so?”
Jasmine gingerly poked a hole in the paper and knelt beside the Ampharos. “She’s still sedated. Ah, this might be dangerous; can you step outside?”
Nicholas quickly stepped back. Jasmine withdrew a pokeball and triggered it, the coalescing pokegirl growing and growing until all Nicholas could see was a mass of metallic skin.
He could hear Jasmine saying something, muffled by the body in front of him, and Nicholas yelped when electricity played across what little glass was uncovered. After a minute the discharge stopped and, a few seconds after that, the massive pokegirl turned back to red light.
Nicholas slowly poked his head inside the room to see Jasmine straightening her clothes. “Are you okay?”
Jasmine nodded. “I didn’t want Amy’s discharge to hurt you, so I had Neil absorb it. I’m fine.”
The Ampharos was breathing normally now and as Nicholas watched her face twitched. “Is she asleep?”
“Yes. Real sleep, not sedated.” Jasmine looked at him in relief. “Thank you. I don’t know what would have happened without you getting that medicine.”
Nicholas nodded absentmindedly. With the Ampharos’ body no longer contorted in pain he found himself admiring her curves. She was a good looking pokegirl – flowing, fluffy white hair, her yellow skin combining with scattered black rings to make her body pop in all the right places.
Nicholas cleared his throat and looked back at Jasmine. “Sorry. Got distracted. You’re welcome.”
Jasmine smiled. “You’re forgiven. So, did you say you were touring the gyms? Where will you go now?”
“I need to go to the east side of Johto,” Nicholas replied. “Haven’t figured out exactly where yet, but I have two more gyms to tour.” He shrugged. “Of course, the main reason I’m doing this is to challenge them, but I won’t force you to-“
“It would be my absolute pleasure to entertain the Champion,” Jasmine replied with a smile. “I apologize, but I doubt we’ll give you a good fight.”
Nicholas blinked. “Why do you say that?”
“The gym leader position is hereditary here in Olivine,” Jasmine replied. “I’ve never faced the Elite Four to prove myself.”
“Wait, really?” Nicholas frowned. “Is that normal?”
“In Johto? Yes. Over half of the gyms are passed down within the same family of tamers.” Jasmine shrugged. “We will give you our best, but-“
“I think the battle will be just fine,” Nicholas interrupted. “As part of the journey I left my championship harem at home.” He smiled, turning and gesturing to bring Nessa into view. “See? Croconaw. We’ve been traveling for just a few months.”
Jasmine blinked. “Oh.” Her face immediately brightened. “Then I hope you will come back to the gym with me. I want to give you and your new harem a fight to remember.”
“Ryuko? Sera?” Nicholas looked at the two. “How are you feeling? Up for another match?”
Ryuko quickly saluted. “Always, Master. I failed to give my best this morning.”
Jasmine looked surprised. “This morning?”
“We faced Chuck before taking the boat here,” Nicholas replied. “He gave us a tough one but Sera pulled it out.”
“The uh, Golbat?” Jasmine asked hopefully.
“Yep.”
“I insist. You must come back with me; I want to see the kind of training the Champion gives his pokegirls.” Her eyes flicked to Ryuko for a moment. “And if I remember correctly, your Scyther there, Ryuko, was affected by a Metal Coat, yes?”
Nicholas frowned. “Yes, but I thought it was benign.”
“Oh, it is. It is.” Jasmine kept her eyes on Ryuko for a few more seconds before turning away. “Come, come.”
“If it’s all right I’d like to freshen up first,” Nicholas apologized. When Jasmine glanced back at him he shrugged. “We just got off the boat. And that other match this morning. I want to run everyone through a healing cycle again.”
“Oh. Of course.” Jasmine bobbed her head with a smile. “Then please come find me at the gym when you are ready.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Nicholas stepped through the gym doors he could see a line of people waiting between him and a raised arena. As he stepped forwards a few turned and he recognized the tamers standing guard at the lighthouse. “Welcome, Champion!” one called. “Please, right this way. Leader Jasmine is waiting for you.”
“Where are the tests? The qualifiers?” Nicholas asked as he got close. “Am I fighting you first?”
“No, of course not. There is no need for any of that,” the tamer replied. “You are obviously ready to take a badge challenge, and we owe you for going to fetch that medicine.”
Nicholas nodded and kept walking, greeting each of the assistants in turn before finally he stepped up to the arena.
Jasmine was waiting for him at the other side and when he came to a halt she raised one hand in a salute. “Champion Topolski! Thank you, so much, for what you did at the lighthouse.”
“I just did what I could,” Nicholas replied. “I’m glad that I was able to help.”
“I know…” Jasmine trailed off and Nicholas was surprised to see her glance away with a slight blush. “But… this is different. You’re here for a battle, and I will give you one.” She looked back at him with determination. “Please, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Jasmine, a gym leader, and I use the Steel-type! They’re very hard and strong!”
Nicholas smiled at her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Leader.”
Jasmine composure wavered for an instant before she recovered. “Eep! Challenger, I understand you started your journey with a Totodile, now Croconaw. May I see her in battle?”
Nicholas blinked. “You’re not trying to take advantage of me, are you?”
“There’s no reason for me to try and cheat an advantage.” Jasmine purpled when he hesitated. “I’m not lying!”
“Nessa?” Nicholas looked at the Croconaw. “You haven’t had a good battle in a while. How are you feeling?”
Nessa rolled her shoulders as she stepped forwards. “Impatient. I was hoping I’d be fighting today.” She settled into a neutral stance with a growl. “I’ve been waiting to show you the results of my training.”
“It’s decided, then.” Nicholas looked back to Jasmine. “Ready when you are.”
Jasmine nodded. “Thank you. NEIL!”
Nessa’s growls deepened when the massive pokegirl materialized. Nicholas was taking in her size as an old memory nagged. She looked like…
…Metal Coat are used by Onix…
Nicholas blinked. That’s what was in front of him. A metallic Onix. Steelix.
The bulky metal lamia began coiling, the spikes that randomly stuck from her body meshing together to form a barrier in front of her body. “Mistress.”
“Hold back just a little, Neil,” Jasmine said. “She’s just a Croconaw.”
Neil nodded. At Jasmine’s command the barrier sprang to life around the arena and the Steelix screamed.
Nessa clutched her ears in pain as the sharp noise seemed to cut right into her. She couldn’t even move until Neil stopped and by that point she could feel her head pounding. Her whole body ached.
“Nessa! Do NOT get too close. You’re never going to be able to break through her skin, so you’ll need to wear her down with techniques.” Nicholas grimaced. Nessa’s water had grown stronger over time but it wasn’t her strong suit. She was a brawler. An opponent like this was her worst nightmare.
Nessa growled but didn’t move forwards. Ever since Ecruteak she had been working on getting stronger in everything, just like Nicholas had instructed. And she’d learned that she was still very weak with her water attacks. So she had begun focusing on them exclusively. Now, finally, she had an opportunity to show him how she had grown.
Jasmine’s eyes widened when blue light began to shine from Nessa’s chest and quickly shouted a warning to Neil. The Steelix curled up even tighter, her steel lattice nearly solidifying into a solid wall.
Nessa felt the water building in her chest and snarled. That wasn’t where she wanted it. Suddenly the air around her thickened when she pushed the energy into her aura, the feeling in her chest diminishing as water started swirling around her body.
Nicholas’ jaw dropped when Nessa screamed and threw her arms forward. Water erupted in a massive wave that swept the Croconaw off her feet, carrying her with it as it bore down on the bracing Steelix. Neil grunted when the wave hit but held on, keeping her defenses up until she felt something heavy smash into her tail.
Nessa hadn’t been swept away, but rather swept along with the crashing wave and it was her foot that had impacted Neil. Neil felt a brief flash of pain at the impact site before she regained focus, but it had been enough. The lattice in front of her eyes cracked open an inch.
Instantly water jetted through. Nessa let the water carry her past the Steelix, listening to Neil roar in pain. As the Steelix lowered her guard Nessa could see patches of her body flushing red, highlighting where her attack had penetrated the Steelix’s heavy defenses.
“Neil. Knock her down.”
Neil snarled, coiling up again before bringing her outer coil into the air. With a roar she slammed it into the arena floor.
Nicholas felt himself nearly fall as the shockwave ripped through the arena and he saw Nessa tossed off her feet to slam, face first, into the floor. “Nessa!”
Nessa groaned and slowly got back to her feet. The fall had stung, but it had barely hurt. Why?
That kind of an attack should have destroyed her knees as the floor jackhammered beneath her. With a frown Nessa flexed. Nothing. No pain.
“Neil. Again.”
Neil’s body was lifting when Nessa looked up. She wasn’t going to wait for Neil to make another attack. She was going to strike first.
Nicholas was considering their options when Nessa sprinted towards the Steelix. With a sigh he spoke. “Nessa, I said to stay at range.”
“No.” Nicholas blinked in surprise. Nessa’s voice had been perfectly calm. “I don’t know why, but I feel invincible. I’m taking her down my way.”
Nicholas hissed when Nessa jumped and was immediately batted away by the end of Neil’s tail. She landed well, scrambling back from her hands and knees and charging straight into Neil’s defenses. With a shocked gasp from Neil Nessa drove her fist through the lattice of spikes, her now bloodied hand coming to rest inches from the Steelix’s face.
“Take this,” Nessa snarled, pushing her energy down her arm and pulling as much water as she could with it.
Neil’s muscles spasmed when the attack slammed into her, sending the Steelix’s tail flailing about the arena. Neil herself was blown backwards, screaming in pain as Nessa’s attack battered her body.
Nessa fell back to the floor and howled, clutching her bleeding arm in pain. But she’d done it. Looking up with a grimace she could see Neil moaning on the other side of the arena. She’d beaten this behemoth. Her way.
Nicholas gasped when Nessa began to glow. Her body swelled within the evolutionary light, noticeably growing taller as her tail extended to match. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. Jasmine held up a hand to signal a pause and recalled Neil as Nicholas rushed into the arena. “Nessa!”
Nessa turned to him and Nicholas’ breath caught. Nessa stared at him, her new features etching a constant scowl across her face. Gingerly Nicholas reached up, tracing the taught muscles along her jawline in wonder. “Look at you.”
Nessa grunted and Nicholas felt her entire cheek flex when she did. “What.”
“Nessa.” Nicholas lowered his hand with a smile. “You’ve evolved. And you did it by fighting your own way. I am looking at you and I can see that the scared Totodile from the lab is long gone.” He moved his hand to her shoulder and squeezed it tightly. “I am so proud of you.”
Nessa raised her hands, looking down over her new body with an unreadable expression. “I’ve evolved.” Suddenly her fists clenched and her eyes snapped to his. “What am I now?”
Nicholas blinked. “Pardon?”
“Am I good at everything, and excellent at nothing?”
Nicholas slowly smiled. “I am looking at you and I know that’s no longer true. When I watched you smash through that Steelix’s defense I realized that you have become a juggernaut.”
When Nessa grinned her mouth was filled with even larger, sharper teeth. “What does that mean. Master.”
“It means,” Nicholas murmured, “that you have become unstoppable.”
Nessa returned the comment with a sultry growl that cut off when Jasmine cleared her throat. “Challenger- Champion, our match has not finished yet.”
Nicholas nodded and moved backwards. “Nessa. Let’s go.”
“If I may be so bold,” Jasmine called, “I would like to see your Scyther fight next.”
“Give her a chance,” Nessa blurted out. “After all.” She looked back with a sneer. “If I keep going, nobody else will get one.”
Nicholas chuckled quietly and he saw Ryuko immediately step forwards. “Careful, Nessa. I seem to remember Ryuko schooling you before.”
Nessa stepped past the Scyther and lowered her voice. Nicholas didn’t catch what she said but it caused Ryuko to turn towards her and, after a second, Ryuko smiled and Nessa continued to Nicholas’ side.
Ryuko watched a Magnemite materialize across from her and sighed. This one, too, seemed to have liquid skin. She already knew her daggers would be ineffective.
“Daggers-“
“I know, Master,” Ryuko whispered. “I will not make that mistake again.”
Jasmine was watching closely as Ryuko got ready. She saw the Scyther’s wings extend, picking out the light metal sheen on her carapace, and lowered her own voice. “Coli, you remember what we discussed?”
“I do, Mistress,” Coli replied quietly. “I will do my best to help her.”
“It’s the least we can do. They saved Amy.” Jasmine looked back to Nicholas. “Are you ready, Champion?”
Nicholas nodded. “Ready.”
“Then begin!”
Ryuko was astonished to find the Magnemite charging right along with her. The two pokegirls impacted near the center of the arena and Ryuko grimaced when her hands sunk into the liquid metal covering the Magnemite. Instantly she felt the liquid absorb into her skin and she grabbed Coli as tightly as possible. She didn’t want to shift her grip and absorb more, even if she had been told it was safe.
But unknown to her, Coli wasn’t fighting to win. Ryuko gasped when the Magnemite slammed her body against hers, the metallic coating splattering all across her body and clothes. Then, with nearly every possible inch of skin contact, Coli exploded with electricity.
Ryuko’s muscles seized uncontrollably, locking her jaw open and hands closed around the Magnemite’s arms. The metallic liquid still on Coli’s body was picked up by the current, whipping through the air and sinking into Ryuko. Unable to move, paralyzed and fully at Coli’s mercy, Ryuko could only gag as she felt something begin to pull at her skin.
It was like a million tiny needles were trying to get out all at once, across every inch of her body. Finally a noise escaped Ryuko’s frozen mouth, an unnatural piercing scream as the air in her lungs whistled away.
Nicholas’ eyes were bugging out as he watched Coli’s attack. There was no way that was something Ryuko could handle. This Magnemite had to be as strong as the rest of his harem! What was Jasmine doing!
Coli doubled down, screaming her own effort as the electricity pumping through Ryuko surged. The needles she felt grew even worse, hotter, some cold, until Ryuko couldn’t take it anymore. She stopped trying to resist.
Coli gasped in relief when the metal liquid appeared covering Ryuko’s skin. She’d had enough power to give. It had worked.
Within the corona of electricity a new glow began. Ryuko’s body, overloaded with energy and an abundance of strengthening material, decided it was time to change. So it did. The first thing to go were her daggers, her carapace squeezing onto her arms and reabsorbing them. Next were her wings, the carapace once again gobbling up the structures it once protected. Until it was time for the carapace itself to vanish.
Coli staggered backwards, feeling the immense fatigue from what she had done. Every drop of energy she had, she had given to the Scyther. It had been enough. It had to have been.
Ryuko jerked when Coli broke off, the electricity dissipating harmlessly. Nicholas stared at her. She wasn’t moving. She was frozen like a statue.
Suddenly Ryuko’s muscles relaxed and she crumpled to the ground, closely followed by Coli.
“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” Nicholas glared across the arena at Jasmine. “MY GIRL CAN’T HANDLE SOMETHING THAT POWERFUL! NOT YET!”
“No?” Jasmine glanced at Ryuko. “I feel she can handle that and much, much more.”
Nicholas was making to scream again when he saw Ryuko stir. Stunned he watched her struggle to her feet, smoke rising from her clothes. “Wudafk.”
Nicholas blinked. “Ryuko?”
“Asr.” Ryuko weaved unsteadily. “I’nove.”
Nicholas was reaching for her pokeball when he noticed. Ryuko’s smoking shirt, cut open to allow her wings to extend, was displaying bare skin. He glanced at her neck, and arms, and saw nothing but skin each time. “Ryuko. What- Where is your carapace?”
With a groan, Ryuko fell to her hands and knees.
“This battle is OVER!” Nicholas jumped when he heard a yell from nearby. One of the assistants appeared and glared at Jasmine. “Leader Jasmine, you forfeit the match. League rules state clearly that a Leader must provide a fair challenge. Your use of Coli, one of your personal harem, against this tamer clearly violates that rule.”
“It does.” Nicholas looked up to see Jasmine smiling at him. “But then again, I never intended to win anyways.”
“What the- What have you done?” Nicholas asked, stunned. “What’s wrong with Ryuko?”
“Nothing,” Jasmine replied. “Check your pokedex.”
Nicholas was pulling the device out when Jasmine released another pokegirl. This one looked completely human and after a few words with her Mistress she walked over to where Ryuko knelt.
“Let’s see…” Nicholas pointed the scanner. “It says…” he trailed off.
Ryuko looked up to see a woman squatting next to her. “Welcome, Sister,” she whispered. “Tell me. Do you have a Master you have surrendered yourself to, in mind, body, and soul?”
Ryuko coughed. She finally had some control of her body again. “Of course,” she wheezed. “Who are you?”
“Your Sister,” the woman replied, reaching to help Ryuko to her feet. “Bound not by blood, but by our purpose.” She glanced at Nicholas. “Is he the one?”
Ryuko nodded.
“Then surrender,” the woman said, stepping back a bit. “However you may believe, become His.”
Ryuko stared at her. What was this woman talking about? Maybe she was a pokegirl? If so, who was she?
“Show us, Sister. Show us your heart.”
For some reason Ryuko understood this time. Instinctively she relaxed, feeling for the newly created core pulsing within her chest. She didn’t question it, because it was part of her now. And she activated it.
Nicholas was staring at the pokedex entry. Scizor. The Pincer pokegirl. Ryuko had evolved? How? Why? She had been mid battle!
Gasps from behind him drew his attention and he looked up, dropping his pokedex at what he saw.
Ryuko was gone, replaced by a figure in full armor. The red metal shone in the gym lights, adorned with black patterns down the arms and a wicked crown adorning the helmet. “Ry-Ryuko?”
The figure turned smoothly towards him and Nicholas took in the additional black patterns across the chest and greaves. “Master.” Nicholas blinked at the voice. It seemed to be Ryuko’s, but distorted through the armor. It sounded… commanding. “I stand, now and forevermore, as your sworn defender. Your sword and your shield. None will reach you while I live.”
The other pokegirl was watching Ryuko with a smile but turned when Jasmine called. “Mistress?”
“How is she?”
“She holds her conviction with pride, Mistress. Not many of us do.” She looked back at Ryuko once more before walking back to Jasmine’s side. For a moment, red metal shone across her skin before fading once again. “She will serve as I do.”
“Then I made the right choice.” Jasmine patted her Scizor’s head before recalling her. “Thank you, Nicholas.” She watched Ryuko speak with the others. “I only hope my gift is enough to repay my debt.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POKEDEX UPDATED
Tamer: Nicholas Topolski
Badges:
Zephyr Badge
Hive Badge
Plain Badge
Storm Badge
Mineral Badge
Harem:
Miyuki, Eevee (Alpha) – Level 28
Nessa, Feraligatr – Level 30
Sera, Golbat – Level 30
Ryuko, Scizor – Level 30