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 19
Assault – Part 1
“There it is.”
Hana slowed down when Nicholas spoke, allowing him to catch up before resuming towards the glistening water ahead. “I’m ready, Master.”
“I can’t see anything yet,” Nicholas replied. They kept walking until the forest fell away to reveal the lake in its entirety.
Nicholas came to a stop. Everything was still. The water, the air, he couldn’t see a single other person besides one standing at the water’s edge. Even they were completely frozen, adding to the unnatural feeling in the air.
Nicholas took one more look around before cautiously approaching the figure. “Hello?”
The figure whirled. “Who- how did you get through?”
Nicholas quickly raised his hands. “We’re-“ He stopped. “Lance?”
Lance blinked. “Topolski?
“What are you doing here?”
“I could ask the same of you,” Lance replied. “How’d you get past the recovery team?”
“Recovery team?” Nicholas suddenly groaned. “Fuck. Was that who was at the checkpoint? The task force is here?”
“Yeah. How’d you convince them to let you through?”
“I didn’t. I went around.”
Lance rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Idiots. So much for locking down the area.”
“That doesn’t explain why you’re here though,” Nicholas continued. “I mean, I’m here because I’m looking for Team Rocket, but I didn’t know you were even part of the task force.”
“Well you’ve found them. Or at least you’ve come to the right place,” Lance replied. “The checkpoint was under their control. They were shaking down travelers who came through so I put a stop to it.” He sighed. “I need to find their hideout but wanted to see the situation here first.”
“I never took you to be the hero type,” Nicholas joked. “What happened, angling for a promotion?”
The confused look Lance gave him wiped the smile from Nicholas’ face. “Are you just pretending it never happened?”
“What?”
“The Elite Four selection? I know you abstained from voting but I didn’t think you were the kind of man to play tricks.” Lance shook his head sadly. “It’s the duty of the Champion to protect the League.”
Voting? Selection? “Lance, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Nobody from the league has even contacted me since I…” Nicholas trailed off when he remembered Sabrina’s warning. “…left.”
Lance’s brow furrowed. “But you submitted a blank vote.”
“I’m telling you, I had no idea a selection was happening. It was forged.” Nicholas smacked his forehead. “No, but that doesn’t matter. Team Rocket. You’re here to stop them?”
Lance nodded slightly. “Yes. As the Indigo Champion… and head of the Rocket Task Force.”
Nicholas should have felt angry but he didn’t feel anything at all. “Congratulations. You still haven’t beaten me in a fight.”
Lance chuckled. “It was given by default when you didn’t show up, but now that you say you never received any messages… we’ll need to fix that.”
“No need. It’s yours.” Nicholas rolled his shoulders. “I’ve always hated politics. Someone decided to get rid of me so it’s your problem now.” He grinned. “But Team Rocket, we’re their problem. What do you know?”
“The task force has been watching Mahogany for days. We’re pretty sure their hideout is here.” Lance gestured at the lake. “According to locals, the Gyarados population has been growing increasingly enraged as time goes on. So much so that the lake is unsafe.”
“Think Team Rocket is behind it?”
“I do. I think that the raging Gyarados and whatever their new plan is are connected.”
“So where are these raging Gyarados?” Nicholas asked. “Lake seems pretty calm.”
“I was about to find out when you showed up.” Lance turned back to the water. “Stay back. You’re training a new team, aren’t you?”
“Sure. But they’re not helpless,” Nicholas protested.
Lance ignored him and stepped into the lake.
Nicholas watched him. After a few seconds ripples began spreading from Lance’s feet, propagating across the surface until the calm lake had been covered by pulsing circles.
“What are you doing?”
“You may be a dragon tamer, Nicholas, but you are not a Blackthorn.” Lance raised his voice. “Face me! You rampaging dragons. You who have forgotten your place. Since the beginning humanity has kept you in check; I am Lance Blackthorn! By the ancient rites will you obey!”
Something answered Lance’s challenge deep within the waters and a few moments later bubbles broke the surface. Then another column. And another. Until hundreds of feet of water roiled.
Lance stood his ground when the first Gyarados surfaced. The girl reared back, fixing Lance in her gaze and roaring angrily, but didn’t attack. Half a dozen more appeared before the wild pokegirls attacked in a flash.
“HANA!” Nicholas pointed but Lance was faster; one of his Dragonite appeared in a flash of red and screamed fury. Electricity buzzed across the water’s surface, dropping four of the Gyarados instantly and slowing the remaining three. Hana was preparing to join in when more figures surfaced behind their fallen sisters and she hesitated.
“Rika. Take care of them.” Lance waited for his Dragonite to charge before turning to Nicholas. “Obviously they must be…” he trailed off when he didn’t see the other man. “Topolski?”
“Come on, Hana.” Nicholas jogged down the shoreline, keeping one eye on the water and the other on his path. “God I hate that guy’s ego.”
“What do you mean, Master?”
“Didn’t you hear him? ‘You’re not a Blackthorn’ as if that means anything. Maybe I’m not the descendant of a line of dragon tamers, but I figured out their secrets on my own.” He slowed when he saw what he had been looking for. “He wants to challenge the Gyarados, he’ll get a challenge. If he wants to fix the problem he needs to find the source.”
Hana looked over where Nicholas was. A few dozen feet into the water was a massive pile of stone and wood with a few pokegirls resting above the water. Another wave of roars from the battle drew their attention and as Hana watched two more Gyarados slid into the lake. “What problem, Master?”
“The Gyarados are more aggressive than usual. Team Rocket has been in the area. They’re great at fucking with pokegirls.” Nicholas scanned the bank across from the Gyarados nest. “Even Lance guessed that Team Rocket has done something to the Gyarados, but he’s so full of himself he decided to just beat them up.”
“What do you think happened, Master?”
“I don’t know. But I’m looking for something out of place.” Nicholas’ eyes drifted across the water to the nest again. Something was sparkling near the peak and he squinted. “What is that?”
Hana peered closer. “I can’t make it out, Master.”
“Let’s get a bit closer.” Nicholas walked down the bank. “It looks like something metal… it’s tangled into the structure.” He stopped at the water’s edge. Any closer and he was afraid any hidden Gyarados might attack. “Well, Team Rocket themselves aren’t here. The task force swept them up.” He pulled out Sera’s pokeball and released the Golbat. “Sera, can you get a closer look at what’s on top of that nest?”
Sera turned to the water. “That’s a nest, Master Nicholas?”
Hana was staring at Sera. “Um, hello.”
Sera glanced at her. “The Ampharos that shocked me. Welcome to the harem.”
“Yeah. Gyarados nest.” Nicholas waved at the metal object. “I need to know what that metal is.”
Sera nodded and took off. She was approaching the island when a Gyarados emerged; spinning, Sera avoided the incoming bursts of water and did a low pass before speeding up and flapping away. The Gyarados growled, clambering out of the water and keeping her eye on the Golbat as she returned to Nicholas.
Sera landed and nodded towards the nest. “I don’t think it’s anything, Master Nicholas. It’s just a bunch of metal bars.”
“Just a bunch of bars?” Nicholas stroked his chin. “Were they damaged? Like rusty, from the water? Did they look old?”
“No. Shiny.” Sera placed her fingers in a lattice. “They were all tangled together like this.”
“Were they connected?” Nicholas suddenly asked. “Like stuck to each other?”
Sera blinked. “I think so?”
Nicholas pulled out his pokedex. “Like this, or like this?”
Sera pointed at the second image. “That’s it, Master Nicholas. That’s the object.”
“That’s a radio antennae.” Nicholas closed his pokedex again. “And I’m willing to bet Team Rocket placed it there.”
“How would that make the Gyarados angry, Master?” Hana asked.
“Sera, did you feel anything when you flew over?”
Sera frowned. “Not… really? I wanted to attack the Gyarados…”
“Even though I never ordered you to?”
Sera jerked. “I, I did! I wasn’t thinking of attacking at all until I got closer to the object!”
“Yeah. We’ve found what Team Rocket’s been working on.” Nicholas looked out at the Gyarados that had emerged when Sera flew over. “I’m sorry, girls. Hopefully this helps.” Sera and Hana were looking at him in confusion until Nicholas nodded at Hana. “Destroy it.”
Hana blinked. “Destroy it, Master?”
“Yeah. The antennae, the nest if you have to. Blast it until I tell you to stop.”
Hana nodded and stepped to the water’s edge. Sera winced and stepped back when a corona began to form around the Ampharos, her fluffy hair levitating as it sparked with electricity.
Nicholas tasted copper when the lightning flashed, arcing from Hana directly into the metal antennae. A keening scream echoed over the water as the Gyarados spasmed, the current pumping into her just as much as the structure. Suddenly an explosion ripped through the nest, an angry red line flashing faster than the eye could see out the side and deep into the water. A moment later an eruption of bubbles burst through the center of the lake, followed quickly by scattered debris.
“Hana, stop!” Nicholas stared out at the flotsam. Plastic, tubing, he thought he saw some kind of leather casing. “You did it.”
Hana relaxed. Her hair was still sparking when she turned to him. “I did good, Master?”
“You did good.” Nicholas patted her head and immediately regretted it when a spark skipped down his arm. “Ow. Let’s head back to Lance.”
Sera was staring out into the lake. “Um, Master Nicholas…?”
Nicholas turned. The water between them and the nest was swelling, a wave rushing towards them faster than should have been possible. Too late Nicholas realized the danger and he was shouting a warning when a massive pokegirl erupted from the depths.
Sera’s eyes widened when she saw the mouth of sharp teeth closing on her and she twisted, desperately throwing herself to the side. She almost managed to get out of the way but felt teeth sink into her leg and with a pained cry she was yanked into the air.
“HANA!” Nicholas grabbed Sera’s pokeball and recalled her as blood sprayed through the air. “TAKE HER DOWN!”
Hana growled. She’d used so much power that she needed to recharge. But the towering pokegirl in front of her wasn’t going to give her the chance. She’d need to buy time.
Nicholas scrambled back with wide eyes. It was a Gyarados, or appeared to be one, but instead of the normal blue scales this one was covered in an angry red. And she was big. Bigger than any Gyarados he’d seen.
The Gyarados let out a keening scream when Hana blasted her with electricity but the attack hadn’t seemed to do much. Hana yelped when the Gyarados swiped at her and sent the Ampharos rolling across the ground, catching herself in time to see the Gyarados rearing back.
Hana flinched but the strike never came. Carefully she lowered her arms to see the girl on one knee and struggling to move. Quickly she got up, feeling her power returning and focused everything she had left.
The red Gyarados roared in pain when the full strength attack hit her and finally she collapsed, still struggling but unable to do much but squirm.
Hana’s chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. Nicholas considered recalling her but with the Gyarados still moving he wasn’t going to take the chance. “Do I catch her?” He heard noise behind him and turned to see Lance running up. “There you are.”
“There I am? What are you doing?” Lance stared at the twitching Gyarados. “You could have been killed!”
“I told you. My new harem isn’t helpless,” Nicholas snapped. “While you were busy posturing with wild pokegirls I was finding the source of their rage. Team Rocket was beaming some kind of radio signal into the water.”
Lance looked out at the debris. “Is that what that is?”
“Probably a speaker. The antennae feeding it was in the middle of the Gyarados nest,” Nicholas explained. “Now that it’s destroyed the Gyarados should start to calm down.”
“Now that you mention it the last few seemed confused,” Lance admitted. “What about this one? I’ve never seen a red Gyarados before.”
“I don’t know. Neither have I. She attacked after we destroyed the antennae.”
“Another one of Team Rocket’s experiments?” Lance gestured and Rika stepped forwards. “I’ll take care of her.”
“Or maybe she’s just another Gyarados.” Nicholas stepped in between the Gyarados and Rika. She growled at him but he met her eyes and the growl slowly petered out. “This one is mine, Rika.”
Lance cleared his throat. “Rika, come back here.” Once the Dragonite had retreated he flicked his head back towards Mahogany. “If you think the situation is under control here we should look for their hideout.”
“I’ll join you.” Nicholas nodded at the Gyarados. “I’m going to heal her up and figure out who she is.”
“Fine.” Lance turned and began walking away. “Don’t be too long, Topolski.”
Nicholas watched him vanish into the trees before turning to Hana again. “How are you feeling?”
Hana was still panting but now it wasn’t from exertion. Her cheeks were flushed. “Master- I was afraid, when you stepped in front of that dragon… but your voice…”
Nicholas frowned. “My what?” He thought about what he had done to get Rika to back down and his frown deepened. “Wait, why did I do that?”
“It excited me, Master,” Hana whispered. “I do not know why.”
“Great. Now’s really not the time for this.” Nicholas lightly slapped her arm. “Snap out of it, Hana. Are you combat ready?”
Hana flinched. “I-“ she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Yes, Master.”
“Good. Because I’m waking this Gyarados up.” Nicholas pulled out a potion. “Best case scenario, she’s not feral. Worst case scenario she attacks again.”
Hana nodded and prepared herself as Nicholas healed the Gyarados. A few minutes passed until the girl stirred, letting out a deep groan when she rolled onto her side.
“Hello. Do you understand me,” Nicholas said calmly. “My name is Nicholas. Are you tame?”
The Gyarados pushed herself onto one arm. “I-“ her other hand moved to her head and she winced. “I have a splitting headache.” Her eyes moved to him. “Who are you?”
“My name is Nicholas. We’re at the lake north of Mahogany Town,” Nicholas supplied. “Who are you?”
“I am Koryu,” the Gyarados replied. “Why are you at my lake?”
“Ah. Your lake.” Nicholas looked at Hana and shook his head. “We won’t be fighting anymore, Hana.”
Koryu looked at the Ampharos and her eyes flickered. “You. I remember you.”
“I think you’ve been under the influence of a radio signal,” Nicholas explained. “You and every Gyarados in the lake were becoming extremely violent and aggressive.”
“Is that why I have a headache?” Koryu kept her eyes on Hana. “Or is it because of her?”
“You’re the Alpha of the colony here, is that right?” Nicholas nodded when Koryu turned her attention to him. “I apologize for the harm we have caused. It was necessary to neutralize the device causing you and your sisters to lose control.”
“Hmph.” Koryu glanced at Hana again before getting to her feet. “You are a respectful human. But you must still pay for your actions.”
“I am about to go after the ones who did this to you,” Nicholas tried to explain. “I would be happy to-“
“No excuses.” Hana hissed when Koryu moved towards him. “You will pay. Now.”
Nicholas resisted the urge to shrink back as Koryu towered over him and with a surprised look she came to a halt when he spoke. “I give you my word that I will return, Koryu, Alpha of the lake. Time is of the essence, and I will not delay for anyone.” Lance’s actions, the talk of being a dragon tamer, and the way he had stared down Rika all blurred together until he found himself saying things instinctively. “Whatever the reparation it will be yours. I swear… on my heart.”
Koryu settled back as a low rumble began to build in her chest. “It has been a long time since I have met a human like you, Draconid. You offer anything in return for my patience? I accept.”
“Master,” Hana whispered, “what are you saying?”
Nicholas shook his head slightly. “I will only accept what is fair.”
“As is right,” Koryu agreed. “Go then, human Nicholas. And take this to remind you of your oath.”
Nicholas held out his hand when Koryu slid a claw under a scale and broke it free, depositing the brilliant red shard into his palm. “Your gift seals our agreement.”
Koryu grinned at him. “I eagerly await your return.”
Hana slowly stepped closer when Koryu turned around and slid back into the water. “Master…?”
Nicholas let out his breath all at once. “Can we please not talk about it?”
“But what you were saying-“
“-is something I’m still trying to understand,” Nicholas finished. “I know who can help me, but they’re not here. And we need to be focused on what’s here.” He turned around, pocketing the scale and pointing down the road. “Mahogany Town and Team Rocket.”
Hana still hesitated but when Nicholas moved she shook herself and followed.
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They caught up to Lance just inside Mahogany Town. He was talking with a group of tamers and when Nicholas walked up he waved them away. “There you are.” He smirked when Nicholas rolled his eyes. “We’ve snapped up a few Rocket grunts who were in the open and I think I know where their hideout is.”
“If you’ve started rounding them up then they know we’re coming.”
“Not necessarily,” Lance replied. “We’ve done it quietly. But once we move in on them that will change.”
“So where are you thinking their hideout is?”
“This way.” Lance led Nicholas through the streets and came to a halt next to a building. “You said there was a radio antennae at the lake, right?”
“That’s what it looked like.”
“Look at this.” Lance pushed a few branches on a nearby tree to reveal a metal pole. “It’s hidden in this tree, but wouldn’t you say this looks like an antennae?”
Nicholas moved his eyes up the trunk until he could see the lattice of metal spread out. “I would indeed.”
“I think we should see who’s inside.”
Nicholas readied his pokeballs. “Let’s do it.”
Lance chuckled and gestured for Rika to lead the way. “Just follow me, Topolski. If you had your dragons this would be different; but you don’t. As far as I’m concerned you’re my backup.”
Nicholas resisted the urge to snap at him again. “Fine.”
The interior of the small shop was covered in dust, knickknacks and random equipment lining the shelves. An older man stood up behind the counter when the four entered. “Ah, welcome, welcome. Fancy a souvenir?”
“A souvenir shop eh?” Lance strolled down the aisles. “You sell anything… ‘special’ here?”
“Just whatever is on the shelves.” The man leaned back. “We have all sorts of items that you might be interested in.”
“Hm.” Lance finished his tour and stopped in front of the counter. “See, I think what I’m interested in isn’t on the shelves.”
Without warning a man in dark sunglasses and a mask stepped out of a back room and moved to the counter. “What you see is what we’ve got, friend,” the man said with a smile. “If you’re not going to buy anything you can leave.”
“Not until you answer a few questions.”
The man motioned and the bouncer reached for Lance.
“Big mistake.” Lance smiled when the bouncer recoiled, clutching their broken fingers. Both he and Nicholas blinked in surprise when a clearly feminine scream came from the staggering figure and instantly Lance barked an order.
The hyperbeam Rika fired sent the disguised pokegirl smashing through two of the shelves, an avalanche of crap burying her as Lance stepped around the counter to grab the suddenly panicking man. “Looks like we’re doing this the hard way.” He slammed the shopkeeper against the wall and gestured. “Where are they? Where is Team Rocket hiding?”
“Master!” Rika had moved to inspect the unconscious pokegirl and she shoved part of the shelf aside to reveal a hidden staircase. “There’s a way down.”
“Huh. Guess I don’t need you after all.” The man pleaded but Lance smashed his face against the desk and let his body slump to the floor. “Go!”
Nicholas ran down behind Lance, joining him at the base of the stairs. Electrical lighting ran down the ceiling of the underground tunnel, with decorations breaking up the blank stone walls at regular intervals. Familiar ones. The stone statues were obviously depicting a feline pokegirl, just like the ones Nicholas had seen decorating Giovanni’s gym.
“Persian statues. Team Rocket’s trademark,” Lance confirmed. “We’re in the right place. Topolski,” he turned to Nicholas, “I’m going ahead, to find their bosses. I’ll probably stir up a lot of attention as I do and I don’t want to be ambushed from behind. That’s where you come in.”
“You want me to clean up.”
“Precisely.”
Nicholas sighed. “Go on then, Champion. Go have your fun.”
Lance couldn’t help but leave him with a parting remark. “Don’t worry. The grunts I leave should be weak enough for your new harem to take care of.”
Nicholas clenched his jaw as Lance and Rika ran off down the corridor. “This? This is why I didn’t want to go crawling to the task force for help.”
Hana tapped his shoulder. “What are we going to do, Master?”
Nicholas turned to her. “Well what do you think we should do, Hana? Do we sit back and wait? Run away? Or did I promise you a battle.”
Hana’s indecision vanished. “You promised me a battle, Master.”
“And you’ll get one.” Nicholas triggered all of his pokeballs. “You’ll all get one. GIRLS! We’ve found Team Rocket’s base. Lance has gone ahead to soften them up.” He pointed down the corridor. “Let’s show them hell.”
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The next group of grunts fell to Nessa and Ryuko, the two melee fighters crashing through and allowing Sera to clean up. Miyuki was on high alert, all of her senses straining for anything sneaking up on Nicholas, and Hana ran with them, delivering precision strikes whenever an enemy broke away.
Nicholas barked orders as necessary but he was excited to see that the harem didn’t need many. Hana, of course, being the new girl needed the most help fitting into the flow of things; but she was able to take a supportive role without disrupting the others.
“Room!” Nessa yelled as she charged past a break in the wall.
Sera wheeled back, scanning the interior as she flew. “Empty.” She braked, landing in preparation to more thoroughly search it.
Nicholas screamed when an explosion devoured her. “SERAAA!” He sprinted forwards, coughing as he waded into the smoke and dust left behind. The corridor ahead of them creaked and he could see Nessa and Ryuko running back towards him. “No! Get back, we’ll go around!”
Nessa slid to a halt. “But-“
“GO!” Nicholas frantically searched the floor. There, under a slab of concrete. He grabbed the debris, fingers straining as he shifted rubble off of Sera’s unmoving body. “Hana, blast that fucking room!”
With an angry scream Hana filled the room with electricity and Nicholas grabbed Sera, pulling her to safety as screams echoed from the ambushers. “Miyuki, my bag! Medicine!”
Miyuki was pulling at his backpack when shouts came from behind them. Nicholas whirled and cursed when he saw more grunts rounding the corner. “Move!”
Nessa grabbed Ryuko and shoved her further down the corridor when part of the ceiling collapsed. “Go! We have to find a way around.”
Nicholas still cradled Sera’s body in his arms as he ran. Behind him Hana threw bolts of lightning at their pursuers, slowing some, stopping others. Miyuki constantly scanned the walls until she grabbed Nicholas. “Here!”
Nicholas let her pull him into a recess next to one of the statues. Hana hesitated as she reached them before her eyes set. “I’ll find Nessa and Ryuko, Master.”
“Hana-“ Nicholas reached out but the Ampharos kept running, throwing attacks back when the grunts rounded the corner. Nicholas held his breath as they stormed past the hiding place until, finally, it was quiet.
Nicholas slowly peeked out. Seeing nobody he laid Sera on the ground and reached for his backpack. “She’ll be okay… she just needs healing…”
Miyuki stared at the shredded remains of Nicholas’ bag. “Um…”
Nicholas unhooked the shoulder straps. “No… no, no no!” He searched the ruined bag but all that was left in the outer pockets were a few pokeballs. Everything else was gone. “The potions- it’s all gone.” He shoved his hand into the main compartment and angrily slammed the bag down. “Camping gear? Sure. Important medicines? GONE!”
Sera stirred. One eye cracked open and she gazed up at Nicholas. “Master Nicholas…?”
Nicholas took her hand when she reached for him. “It’s okay, Sera. I’m going to put you back into your pokeball. You’ll be all right.”
Sera swallowed. The motion highlighted a gash where flying debris had cut into her shoulder and she winced as the wound broke open again. “I can… fight.”
“I’ve lost our medicine,” Nicholas soothed. “You’re out of this one, Sera. It’s okay. You did well.”
“No.” Sera forced herself upright even as blood ran down her body. “Find me… find an enemy. I can heal.” She coughed and clutched at her side when her stomach spasmed. “Blood…”
“Drain me,” Miyuki blurted out. “Take my energy, Sera. You’re more important than I am.”
“I disagree. The Alpha is most important.” Nicholas pulled out Sera’s pokeball. “There’s nobody for you to…”
Miyuki looked at him when Nicholas trailed off. “Nicholas?”
Nicholas slowly sat down next to Sera. “Sera.” He waited for her to turn towards him. “You need blood. You need energy.”
Sera blinked. “Find-“
“There’s nobody else.” Nicholas barely hesitated before pulling his shirt off. “You need a lot of it.”
Sera stared uncomprehendingly. “Master?”
“You can’t take it from Miyuki. I need her too.” Nicholas cupped her head and lowered his own, shivering when Sera’s breath tickled his neck. “From the start, I’ve given you my blood. Take it, Sera. It’s all I can give.”
Sera trembled. She could feel it, inches from her lips. Her Master’s blood pulsed just beneath his skin.
What if she couldn’t restrain herself? She’d never drunk from him directly. Always he’d filled a cup for her. With her wounds, and the intoxication his blood would bring her, would she be able to stop?
Her inner turmoil kept her from moving until Nicholas spoke again. “I trust you, Sera.” He turned slightly so he could look into her eyes. “I always have.”
Sera breathed out. As she did she felt it all drain away - the doubt, the indecision, the fear. Her Master trusted her. Trusted her completely, enough to offer to feed her from his body. A feeling she had never felt before filled her mind and she stretched out her fangs.
Nicholas held himself steady when Sera bit. She quickly pulled back, wrapping her lips around the bite marks and beginning to feed. As she did Nicholas felt fatigue creeping up on him, the Golbat drinking in his life force just as much as his blood.
Immediately Sera’s wounds began to heal. The energy filling her was her Master’s. It was beyond any pokegirl’s, anything she had had before.
She would be able to fight again. To protect him. In that moment, Sera knew her fate. Knew it completely, without hesitation. She would serve him. Forever, if possible. But until death without question.
Miyuki jerked up when she heard shouting. “Incoming!”
Nicholas kept himself relaxed. If he tried to get up Sera wouldn’t be able to get what she needed. Already he could feel her beginning to strengthen, her movements becoming more and more deliberate. Just a little more…
Miyuki jumped to her feet when the pokegirls appeared in front of them. Her tamer and harem sister were vulnerable. She was all that stood between them and Team Rocket.
As she ran forwards, a battle cry on her lips, the glow began.
But not from her. Behind her Sera continued to feed, and with each swallow the evolution glow brightened. Her body slimmed, every part of her growing more angular. Deliberate. Deadly. Her wings, which had gone from awkward, massive things, to structures designed for flight, now changed again. The membrane shrank, separating down the middle as new bones grew to support an extra set. The membrane itself changed as well; from a thin fragile material designed only for flight to a solid leather that seemed ready to take even one of Ryuko’s blades.
Miyuki dug her glowing fists into the floor, ripping chunks of stone out to pelt the closing pokegirls. She couldn’t keep it up for long. There were too many.
Sera opened her eyes and removed her lips from Nicholas’ neck. He started to turn to her when she stood in a single fluid motion. “Rest, Master Nicholas.” Her eyes narrowed, giving the newly evolved Crobat a predatory expression. “I am whole.”
With a scream she leapt into the air.
Miyuki stumbled. The pokegirl that was pressing her shouted in excitement and charged in, intent on dropping the Eevee, when the scream assaulted their ears.
Miyuki yelped when a figure flashed past her. Sera blocked the incoming attack with one arm, two of her wings slicing down in a counterattack that sent the pokegirl blowing backwards. Turning to the rest of the group she focused, hissing as energy began to build. Liquid dripped from her wings as she brought all four slicing together, an X-shaped blast scattering the enemy pokegirls immediately.
Sera landed softly and turned to Miyuki. “My Alpha.” She bowed. “Our Master lives, and so do I. We must rejoin the others.”
Miyuki stared at her. “Sera? What happened to you?”
“I have accepted my place,” Sera replied simply. “We must go.”
Miyuki ran back to help Nicholas to his feet. “Are you okay?”
Nicholas nodded and took the arm Miyuki offered him. “Just a bit tired.”
“Come on.” Miyuki led him to where Sera waited. “Hana, and the others…”
“We’ll find them.” Nicholas gazed at Sera when they got close. “That’s you, Sera?”
Sera bowed. “Yes, Master Nicholas.”
Nicholas slowly smiled. “You look good.”
Sera looked back up with a smile tugging at her lips. “I have never felt better.”
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POKEDEX UPDATED
Tamer: Nicholas Topolski
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Zephyr Badge
Hive Badge
Plain Badge
Storm Badge
Mineral Badge
Harem:
Miyuki, Eevee (Alpha) – Level 33
Nessa, Feraligatr – Level 34
Sera, Crobat – Level 34
Ryuko, Scizor – Level 33
Hana, Ampharos – Level 34
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“Come out little pokegirls… we’re not going to hurt you…” The group of Team Rocket tamers searched through the pockmarked halls with their pokegirls. Signs of battle were everywhere - broken statues, scorch marks, holes and cracks in the structure. But no sign of the intruders.
Hana whimpered as Ryuko dug into her leg. “Almost, sister.” With a grunt she finally hooked her finger under the broken bone, closing her grip to pop it back into position.
Hana’s scream was muffled by Nessa’s arm and the Feraligatr grimaced as Hana bit down hard. “Done?” She whispered.
“It’s set.”
Hana moaned and Nessa got off of her when she felt her bite relax. “We’re lucky to have found you.”
Hana could only nod, tears flowing down her cheeks as she struggled not to cry out.
“They’re still searching for us.” Ryuko cocked her head to listen to the Rockets. “And they’re still between us and Master.”
“Think we can break through?”
Ryuko looked down at Hana. “Not with her leg broken. She can’t run.”
“I’ll be fine,” Hana gasped. “Get to Master.”
“Believe me, sister, I want nothing more than to race to his side,” Ryuko growled. “I should never have left it. But I will not abandon you.”
“Maybe he’s fine,” Nessa murmured. “Sera will have been healed by now… and the group chasing him followed you, right Hana?”
Hana shook her head. “The tamers… but some of the pokegirls, they turned back.”
“…he has Miyuki,” Nessa amended.
Ryuko nodded. “And if we can not trust our Alpha to protect him, we can not trust any of us.” She turned to the door. “We will not break through. We must defeat them, and join with him.”
Nessa stood with her. “If we sit here, cowering until he saves us, we have no right to be in his harem.”
“Exactly, sister.” Ryuko looked at Nessa. “Are you ready?”
Hana pushed herself, still grimacing in pain, closer to the door. “I’ll help.”
“Ready when you are,” Nessa replied.
Ryuko nodded and put her hand on the door. “Ready… and…”
Nessa frowned. Ryuko had trailed off. “Ryuko?”
“It’s quiet.” Ryuko leaned closer to the door in an attempt to hear better. “There’s nothing… no shouting, no footsteps…”
Nessa moved up beside her. “You’re right.” She pulled back. “Did they turn back?”
Ryuko hissed. “Master is that way.”
Without another word Nessa shoved through the door.
Bodies were strewn about the corridor and as Nessa scanned she saw one of the bat pokegirls standing a decent distance away. With a battle cry she began building water.
The girl turned in time to see a Feraligatr bearing down on her, a tidal wave breaking as it crashed over the unconscious grunts. Nessa’s eyes widened when she realized whom she was attacking and with a yelp she tried to stop her attack, but it was too late. Sera was about to be slammed.
Nessa gasped when Sera jumped. The Crobat’s wings sprang to life and she dove, water spraying as she sliced through the wave above Nessa’s head. Nessa had lost focus and now she felt the current sweep her off her feet, bringing her crashing through the hallway in an undignified, spluttering heap.
“Was that-?” Miyuki was asking as she rounded the corner and received a full frontal soaking. “NOT AGAIN!”
Nicholas slowly began to laugh when he saw the two struggling pokegirls and bent down to help Miyuki to her feet. “Hey Nessa.”
Nessa scrambled upright. “Nicholas!” Nicholas grunted when she slammed into him, crushing him in a wet hug. “You’re safe.”
“We all are.” Nicholas stroked her cheek. “Hana? Ryuko?”
“They’re okay.” Nessa pulled back. “Hana broke her leg.”
“I don’t have medicine. She’ll have to go in her pokeball.”
Flapping wings could be heard a moment before Sera rounded the corner, hovering over the ebbing water to keep herself dry. “This way, Master Nicholas.” She glanced at Nessa before breaking into a smile. “If you’re going to greet me like that, give me a warning next time.”
Nessa breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Sera nodded. “Me too.”
“Let’s keep moving.” Nicholas rounded the corner and whistled softly when he saw the carnage. “Damn, Sera. Leave some for the rest of them?”
Sera’s fangs glinted in the light. “How could I, when I fight for you, Master Nicholas?” Her eyes moved to where Ryuko had stepped into the open. “I understand now. What drives her. It drives me.” She turned back to him. “But I will not forget your command. I will not lose myself. I will be as strong as you expect me to be.” She bowed. “Master.”
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POKEDEX UPDATED
Tamer: Nicholas Topolski
Badges:
Zephyr Badge
Hive Badge
Plain Badge
Storm Badge
Mineral Badge
Harem:
Miyuki, Eevee (Alpha) – Level 34
Nessa, Feraligatr – Level 34
Sera, Crobat – Level 34
Ryuko, Scizor – Level 34
Hana, Ampharos – Level 34