Wednesday, September 7th, 302AS
10:48
Wadjet Island, Calaeno Region, Jade Islands League
Exactly as planned, Vince and his harem were out in the wilderness of Wadjet hunting ferals one last time before moving on to the last island in the Calaeno Region they had to visit. Living up to its name, the island had a lot of snake types, and Vince had caught a lot because of it. They were making their way back to the path for an early lunch, Vince discussing the prospect of keeping one of the Naga they had captured with his alpha. “So what do you think? Any of the ones we caught this week strike you as a keeper?”
Constance twirled a loop of hair around her finger as she thought. “Hmm, the red one Reshmi fought and the black and green one Natsumi went up against both seemed promising. And that lavender one was a real looker, but it'd take some work to get her to be much of a fighter.”
“What's up with you and purple?”
“I like the color, okay? Anyway, I don't think a Naga would be that great of an idea though. Reshmi's already got the poison type covered for us, and you've got enough bounty points saved up that we could turn in all the ones we've caught and buy a rarer 'girl from a ranch.”
“Well, actually, I was thinking of having you train her up for sex battles.” Constance gave him a surprised look. “Well, it's just something I've been thinking about. We can still get badges from it, and I don't think it's something many tamers try for, so it'd be like an element of surprise.”
Constance let out a thoughtful hum before continuing. “Still though, I don't think we'd want her to be solely dedicated towards sex battles, so finding a 'girl that fills both needs would be best.”
They were just about to the path when yet another snake type dashed into sight. This one was far longer than all of the Naga they had encountered, letting Vince immediately identify it as one of the snake breed's evolutionary lines.
The snake type pokegirl was moving fast but weary, like she had been running, or at least traveling quickly, for some time. She spotted Vince and his harem and there was just something to her reaction that caused Vince to pause. It was too human, too emotive and intelligent, for him to think she was feral. Still, his harem got ready to fight and attempt a capture, but the snake type didn't even slow down, and was out of sight. Vince barely had a chance to scan her with his pokedex.
“Seduca...” Vince muttered to himself. His eyes flitted over the entry, coming to one of the last lines that mentioned there were no known cases of the breed existing out in the wilds as a feral. His musings were interrupted by a human coming crashing through the underbrush, a tamer belt on his waist.
“Hey, woah...” The tamer stopped and stared for a second, obviously not expecting to encounter another human out in the wilderness. “Hey, kid, you see a snake girl come slithering through here?”
Vince couldn't help but not like the guy. He was giving off the same vibe as all of the Team people from the short time he had been sucked into the underground fights. “Yeah, why?”
“Stupid bitch is my 'girl, and she's run off.”
Vince's eyes narrowed. Definitely some kind of thug, and not a bright one if he was trying to pretend a pokegirl that should have a delta bond with him was his. “Sorry, but I think I'll want to see proof of that before I tell you which way she went.”
The scum-ball tamer smirked dangerously. “Smartass.” Was the only warning Vince had before the entire area around him lit up with the red flashes of pokegirls being released from their 'balls. The guy in front of him, and two more that had been hidden on both sides each had released three or more 'girls, leaving his five fighters outnumbered two to one, at best.
Fighting broke out instantly, with him right in the center of it. The three attacking tamers were all shouting out orders over top of the sounds of fifteen or so pokegirls locked in combat. And Vince was trying to direct his five 'girls in their battles over top of it all. He kept whirling around to try to keep tabs on how they were all doing, but they were easily being kept separated from one another and it seemed as soon as his attention was off of one was the instant they needed his attention the most.
It started with Ava. Even with the odds stacked against her she took down one of her opponents. This small victory marked her as the biggest threat though, so two more broke from his other 'girls to gang up on the Combusticunt. The attacking tamers had almost every element covered between all of them, and it wasn't very long before Ava was brought down by a combination of rock and water attacks.
And that was all it took for things to go from bad to worse. With Ava down, her foes moved on to assist the others. Constance was brought down next, and as soon as she went down all of the support she'd been providing with her magic did as well. Only Reshmi, Natsumi, and Tuuli were left fighting, and all of them had their backs to the wall against three enemies each. Reshmi had one 'girl poisoned, and whatever the rock type was she had bound up in webbing so at least they couldn't use that weakness against her. Natsumi was caught up in what could only be described as a brawl; it was so chaotic Vince couldn't make heads or tails of it. Whatever was happening though, she didn't seem to be doing poorly. And Tuuli...
Vince kept scanning for Tuuli, she was no where near the ground and just as Vince looked skyward for her he heard a pained scream that he knew was the Flirt's. She was plummeting down, head first, a liquid streamer of red chasing her down. Vince shouted out to her, yelling for her to catch herself, to wake up and stop herself from falling, but the only thing Tuuli did was hit the earth with a gut-wrenching crunch of broken bones as her neck snapped to the side at a nightmarishly unnatural angle. Vince had her ball in hand, almost hitting the button that was his only hope to recall and save his pokegirl, when a bloodied, clawed hand caught him about the wrist and forced him to drop the ball.
The dragon type had dropped down right behind him, and started to command him to call off his remaining two 'girls even as both fights now became four on one. There wasn't any hope of winning, there never had been. And now Vince was being stopped from even trying to save a 'girl that was lying on the ground, broken and bleeding, from trying to protect him.
The feeling was like touching an electrified fence. A massive pulse throughout his entire body that left his heart pounding in his chest. Things seemed to slow down, just a little, as his mind stopped thinking, stopped considering action, and just made his body act. He ripped his hand free, the claws tearing into his flesh without him even feeling the pain. Using the force of the pull to wind up a hook, he then slammed his fist into the dragon types jaw. Had he been thinking, he would have known the action was just as hopeless as the rest of the entire encounter had been. It didn't matter how many blood gifts he had, barehanded against a dragon type 'girl was just something that could never end well for the human.
Something neither the human or pokegirl expected happened though, something that left the dragon type stunned momentarily, giving Vince just enough time to pounce for Tuuli's dropped pokeball. Just when his fist connected, there was a flash of bright blue light. The Dracona was left dumbly feeling the small patch of ice crystals left from where a human had hit her with Frost Punch. And it had hurt!
Vince almost had Tuuli recalled a second time when the Dracona snapped out of her moment of confusion and slammed her tail down on the back of his head out of rage. Everything went black as Vince fell to the ground.
-
Vince opened his eyes just a crack, but what light did enter his vision was enough to do many horrible things to his brain. When he stopped seeing stars, he finished opening his eyes. He was inside. The floor was dirt and the walls were lightweight, and seemed almost tent-like. Green light crept through the small gap between the floor and the walls, and looking up he could see the shadows cast by tree branches and canopy. So he was still out in the wilderness.
A new spike of pain in his head made him try to clutch his forehead, only to find out that his arms were locked in shackles. Further attempts to move were met with similar results. He found himself lying on his back, hooked up in what he recognized as taming restraints. Highly disturbing thoughts flew through his mind, but then were pushed out when he remembered the desperate battle he and his harem had been in before he had been knocked out. The restraints didn't even have the decency to groan against his efforts to move and twist around, anything so he could look for signs of his pokegirls.
A shadow was cast over him, one that let him know someone at least built like a human had entered the temporary structure. The voice let him know the figure was male, and from the sounds of it, from somewhere out of the league. Ruby or Sapphire had to be the place, based on the faint traces of an accent. “Huh, he's awake.” There was a click of switch, and the apparatus Vince was locked into started to rotate so he was moved to a standing position.
“No matter. Chetyre, take the sample.” Vince shouted out in surprise when he felt a sudden pain in his arm. A human looking pokegirl next to him had stabbed him with a needle, with little care for his comfort. She drew out some blood and then dabbed at the hole with a cotton swab.
“Who the hell are you? What the hell is going on? Where am I? Where are my 'girls?” Vince demanded. The man took the vial of drawn blood from the 'girl he had called Chetyre; completely ignoring his questions.
The pokegirl on the other hand, started rattling off answers in the exact order Vince had asked them. “I am Chetyre, or Four, the Supe-bra Genius of my master, Vsevolod. We are perfoming research, in hopes of discovering how to manipulate the threshold process, and other similar phenomena transforming humans into pokegirls, in hopes of creating a new breed of considerable power. This is a temporary lab we have set up in the wilderness of Wadjet island to take advantage of an opportunity working with the three criminals you did battle against provides. Your pokegirls have been given to them, as payment for their services.” Vsevolod grunted impatiently.
Vince blinked for a moment. He definitely hadn't expected to get all of those questions answered. Then he decided to try his luck again and asked another question. “What the fuck are you planning to do with me?”
Chetyre seemed to almost fight against a compulsion for a moment, then rattled off the answer to Vince's question again. “My master, Vsevolod, has a theory that it will be possible to create a new breed or even species by manipulating the threshold process in humans; because no one is truly a pure blood and it is very rare for a family to only have one breed in their line; my master believes it will be possible to control what genes are expressed during threshold, and this would allow him to control what breed the human became, and perhaps eventually; allow him to guide the process to creating a new breed altogether.” The Super-bra Genius breathed in greedily after finishing.
“He's turning people into pokegirls?! And he thinks he'll make a new breed that way? That's insane!”
Chetyre looked at him indignantly. “Yes he is, yes he does, and it is NOT insane! The Firemaiden breed came into being by crossing blood gifted humans and pokewomen, and it is believed that the legendary Shiva was a human woman that Sukebe transformed into the Legendary Ice Goddess Pokegirl. Sukebe began as only a man, as is my master now, so surely he can accomplish the same thing if he has the time and resour-” The Super-bra Genius was recalled mid sentence.
“I'll not have you taking advantage of my assistant's shortcomings, boy.” That was the most he said to Vince before releasing another pokegirl and addressing her. “A'deen, Chetyre was feeling too chatty, so you'll be helping me.” The pokegirl that was unmistakingly an Alaka-Wham nodded her head and stood silently next to her owner.
Vince started struggling against the restraints again, but exerting all of his strength the most he could do was force out a low metallic groan from the contraption. Vsevolod growled irritably at the noise. “Cease your pointless struggling. Those restraints are made for a pokegirl far stronger than you are. I'm just being cautious considering you were able to utilize a chi based attack earlier today.” The man spun around in a chair to face Vince. Vsevolod was a small man with a sinister face, cold eyes, and an expression that seemed to belong to someone who had been bored for a long time but possibly just found something interesting. “I have to admit, that is intriguing. I thought I'd have to wait until I could get to Crimson League to find someone like you.”
The Alaka-Wham seemed to take over whatever her master had been doing as the human continued to study Vince. “I suppose I should finish explaining things, since my Genius went ahead with most of it anyway. She just can't leave questions unanswered... You see, me and my fellows have a rather... unique view concerning Sukebe and the result of his actions three centuries ago. One that the leagues strongly disagree with.
“Although creating a new breed of pokegirl through my research will definitely serve as a step towards my goal, what I really want is to create a new species. To blend the line between pokegirl and human until it no longer exists at all. You've had to think like we do, with as strong as you are when pitted against a normal human. We are the superior specimen, stronger faster and better. We should strive to push that gap even further, until we ascend to the magnificent form that we were always intended to take.”
Better than humans? The thought had crossed his mind sometimes. Not many people could deny that physically he was superior. “You know, I might buy that load of 'taur shit if it weren't for my wonderful experience with my blood curses. What happens if all of your 'ascended people' have Tamer's Disease like I do?”
“Come now, has that really been so much of a problem for you? You have pokegirls to sate your desires at any minute of the day, something like Tamer's Disease is a triviality.”
“Triviality!? Have you not seen how people react to anyone with that fucking curse?! It's like a Bombshell with her pinned pulled! They all give you just a little extra space, keep on their toes so they can run at the first sign of you going off! Triviality my ass!”
“Fool! You only have those problems because the leagues have manipulated the minds of the people to think that way. With these changes would bring about a change in the minds of all human kind as they join us in the ascent! No longer would anyone be judged for possessing the gifts Sukebe granted us, they would be seen as what they rightfully are.”
“You're fucking insane.”
Vsevolod shook his head. “It's a pity you think that way. Oh well, you'll most likely wind up a pokegirl anyway once I'm through. Then you'll be given to the goons as payment for their services and your mind will be erased.” Suddenly he was looking at his Alaka-Wham, who was obviously sending him some kind of message through telepathy. Her antennae were going spastic, twitching and waving about before they came to a stop. Vsevolod snarled. “Very well, it seems the league once again is on their way to interfere. A'deen, will we be able to take our current subject with us?”
<Not unless we leave some of the equipment, master.>
“Bah, a Damsel minded fool with a large number of blood traits isn't even worth leaving a ball-point pen. I think there are equal number of them in the world, and pens serve a more useful function. Let us be on our way, the imbecile can be dealt with by the imbeciles.” Equipment was shut down and disconnected in a flurry of telepathic manipulation. All of the devices spread out on the tables flew through the air and packed themselves away in a number of metal cases. The cases all shuffled towards Vsevolod and his Alaka-wham in the center of the temporary structure before the human, the pokegirl, and all of the equipment teleported away.
Vince was left locked in the restraints as the three thugs outside suddenly started shouting in panic. One of them ran in to where Vince was. “Aw, hell. The nut bailed on us. Shit boss, the fuck do we do with the kid?”
From outside Vince heard someone else shout, “Ball him or kill him, I don't give a fuck let's just get the hell out of here!” The criminal tamer pulled out a black colored pokeball from his pocket and was expanding it to capture Vince when out of the shadows there was a flash of steel that left the Love Ball shattered and a blade at the tamer's throat. All around outside there were noises indicating that the other two were quickly finding themselves in similar situations as a combination of normal JILF and Wadjet's local Royal Guard came down on them.
-
Wednesday, September 7th, 302AS
23:27
Wadjet, Jade Islands League
An Officer Jenny came over and sat down another cup of tea in front of Vince. He really wasn't much of a tea drinker, but he was stuck in the police headquarters for a while longer, and so he had been slowly sipping at the tea she kept offering just for something to do. Just so he could keep his mind off of things before one of the human officers came back to tell him what happened to his harem. Not to mention it was keeping him awake.
He looked over at the notice board, the one that had the listed bounties, missing persons, and other flyers and notices. Staring back at Vince from a piece of paper was Vsevolod, an almost picture perfect drawing of him; made by an Artits who was shown the memories from him and the panicked Seduca he had encountered. It turned out the Seduca was formerly a tamer around his age that remained local. All of his family had been Naga and yet somehow when that insane bastard had made him transform he wound up a much rarer breed. That was how the league forces knew to come to the rescue. Apparently Vince had stalled the three Team Wannabe members long enough for the guy, or 'girl now, to make it back to town and raise the alarm.
It turns out Vsevolod was a former researcher from Sapphire league, but he got in trouble with them when he started taking on side projects they didn't quite approve of. Then there were rumors about him being in some crazy cult that worshiped Sukebe, with all of the members being just as crazy as he was. They went to arrest him but he vanished from the league and this was the first time he'd resurfaced.
Finally an older looking woman came out and sat down across from him. She had a tray with five pokeballs on it, and if they were his, then one was Hanako's based on the coloration to distinguish the 'kit's ball from the rest.
“Tamer Vincent Flare,” The officer took in a deep breath. “These are the members of your harem we managed to recover. They've all been ran through a healing cycle, and we've interviewed them for all the information we could get. I am now releasing them back into your custody. We located your pokepack as well, be sure to claim that before you leave. Based on what you've told us, we also located the remains of your pokedex. You'll have to have another one issued to you. Now... here's the temporary paperwork that's your proof of ownership and will act as your license. There's one last thing we need to explain; then you're free to go.”
Vince looked over the paper that listed the pokegirls that belonged to him. Each one had a long serial number first, but afterwards was the breed and registered name. They were listed with the most recently registered first.
Sayjin, Natsumi
Tick Tock, Constance
Flowergirl (pokekit), Hanako
Flowergirl, Hana
Arachnae, Reshmi
Combusticunt, Ava
Vince slowly transferred the pokeballs to his belt and then sat with his head in his hands.
“Mister Flare?” Vince looked up. He hadn't even realized the Officer Jenny had sat down across from him. “I have some information concerning your Flowergirl. She was... being ran through a conditioning cycle when we arrived. It was interrupted but...” She trailed off. The words just didn't seem to be sinking in for Vince though. Conditioning cycle, interrupted, why was she being so hesitant? “The process functions by destroying the personality and memories first, and then begins to rebuild the mind to a point where the pokegirl is functional. At that point it's finished and can't be reversed. If that process is interrupted, the progress is undone and her mind returns to the erased state. It is possible at this incomplete stage to restore some of the mind, or at least some memories. But it takes a powerful psychic or an extensive amount of time for even that. It would probably be easiest if you run her through the complete process... Do you understand, sir?” Vince nodded dumbly, though he didn't feel like he had heard a word. “I'm... sorry. Sir.”
-
Thursday, September 8th, 302AS
6:12
Wadjet, Jade Islands League
Vince had gotten on the earliest ferry he could to head to Isis. He had got back to the pokecenter, let out Ava, Reshmi, and Constance so they knew he was alright, but then felt exhausted so he tried to sleep. Sleep didn't come because as soon as he tried to lay down he felt restless. When he was up again, it was back to being exhausted. Then he had made the mistake of letting out Hana to check on her. After that he wanted to be anywhere but there, so he packed up quickly and made his way down to the dock.
He was standing at the back of the boat, looking over the railing at the wake cutting through the waves. Apprehension and uncertainty were ruling his mind. Why was he still going to Isis? Why did he think any of his plan was going to work now? Everything had been fucked up beyond the point he could see a solution; at least he couldn't in his current state. His head was just full of doubts and questions. What should he do now, and what was he going to tell his harem? What was he going to tell Hanako?
Hana honestly had looked dead. Flat on her back on the bed, the Flowergirl was completely limp. She had barely been breathing, and that was the only indication there was any life at all. Her face was slack and neutral. Her eyes staring up somewhere infinitely far away at a point not quite directly above her, her head tilted just a little to one side as it rolled ever so slightly. She didn't respond to his words, didn't react when he touched her shoulder. She was just gone. Vince had ran out of the room, and Constance had to recall the Flowergirl and then bring him back.
Hana's pokeball was in stasis in the pokepack now. He wasn't sure if she still needed to eat, and if she did how would her be able to feed her? Or if she still needed tamed? He didn't think he could bring himself to do it even if she did still need it. Everything's so fucked up. He couldn't stop the thought from echoing in his head.
Everything's so fucked up. Everything's so fucked up. So fucked up. Fucked up. Fucked up. Fucked up. Fuck up, you fucked up. Fuck up. Fucked up.
A gentle breeze caressed his face and he spotted a white shape at his side. He reached out to put an arm around Tuuli but... His hand found nothing, the wind was natural and the white form was a cloud way out on the horizon. He just stared at the point where he had thought his Flirt had been. How could it have not been real? How could have it been anything but her? It's what she'd always done, walk up silently next to him, stir the air around him and then wait to be pulled in close to him.
He gripped the railing in front of him as he dropped to his knees. His insides felt like a tight ball, like it was twisting around in a knot and trying to collapse on itself. Emotions were boiling up inside him and if the pressure built up anymore he was just going to scream and not be able to stop until enough steam was let out of the release valve.
It was the quietest someone could talk without it being a whisper, “Vince?”
He stood up and turned around, as fast as he could. Like it'd be shameful to let anyone see him like this. There was Reshmi, not fooled at all from the clear look of concern on her face. “Yeah, what?”
“We're worried... Come back and sit with us. Please?”
“Heh,” It definitely wasn't a laugh. Or maybe it was. Maybe he just found it so absurd that was the only way he could react. “And what? Tell you all it's going to be okay?” I can't do that. I don't know that. I feel like I don't know anything anymore. I don't know why I should keep going with this stupid shit. “Reshmi, I just... I... Tuuli's dead. Hana's... Hana is... GONE. What do you want me to do?!”
Suddenly his vision was all soft black skin as he was pulled tightly against her chest. She was petting his hair and cooing into the top of his head. Telling him he'd be okay, that things were alright. It was the exact same things he'd done for her in the early couple of months he owned her, when she was still distraught over having her human life stolen from her and becoming a pokegirl.
The entire world seemed to shrink down. There wasn't any island they where everything terrible had happened. There wasn't any ocean. There wasn't a boat. The only two things in all of existence to Vince was Reshmi in him. And in this tiny world inside her arms he finally felt safe. He felt comforted. He didn't feel like he had to hide his emotions, or act strong for the sake of anyone else. So Vince did what he'd been wanting to do ever since getting handed back the list of what pokegirls he still had.
Vince cried.