Pokegirl Origins - Unova

by SocomSeal

Pokegirls. Humanoid monstergirls who live to battle and need human contact to stay sane. In this world some use pokegirls as tools, but many form close bonds with their partners. This is the story of one tamer and his journey. Inspired by the Moemon Project. Generation 5 - In which the old faces off against the new.

7. Chapter 07 - Sticks and Stones

"Have a good day today! Break a leg!"

Sabrina giggled and kissed Nicholas as she walked for the door of the dining hall. "Love you! See you tonight!"

Nicholas was grinning and waving until Sabrina was completely out of the building. Then his expression wiped and he turned to stride purposefully to where the Alphas and Betas were seated at the same table, a low drone of conversation surrounding them. "Fill me in."

Ryuko slipped out of her seat to give it to him and circled around to stand at his shoulder while the others broke off their conversations to include their tamer. "The only one we have been able to confirm for sure is Jean," Dahlia said. "Zisela would be a better choice to combat her, but Elizabeth is far more flexible, even after the training you have given Zisela and her harem. She simply had to be to continue competing with Ashley and Victoria." Nicholas nodded. "She did very well against Jean on Mt. Silver and we think she should remain on whatever team you put together to face Ash tomorrow."

"I agree. I wouldn't expect any of the tamers in this tournament to just sit around and let their girls fight a bad matchup, but Ash especially," Nicholas said. "Whoever we have to meet Jean in the arena will undoubtedly have to at least threaten others in Ash's harem. Zisela would only threaten… Really just Tara and the Arcanine, right? I'd say Kiyora as well, but from what I remember you're still highly inaccurate with actually projecting the earth at flying targets, Zisela?"

Zisela growled. "Unfortunately."

"Meanwhile Elizabeth would threaten all of them and more," Nicholas continued. "Her fine control of energy has gotten even better over the years."

"Agreed." Dahlia looked around. "I think we should also expect Cassandra. The Espeon. That means we need a Dark-type."

"I would be cautious of jumping straight there," Miyuki said quietly. "I have spent a lot of time with Cassandra since Ash left the mountain. She is not as one-dimensional as she seemed to be during that battle."

"She is still a powerful Psychic-type," Cassidy pointed out. "If we are bringing Elizabeth to nullify Jean's electricity, why would we not bring Marin, Lili, or Midna to nullify Cassandra's influence?"

"I am just urging caution," Miyuki explained. "I am sure you remember Lili's battle against Vira's Sylveon, Eve."

"What little of it there was," Cassidy muttered. She nodded. "I understand. You Eevee are quite annoying to plan around."

"Which is what makes us so desirable," Miyuki purred.

Cassidy rolled her eyes. "I still agree with my Alpha. Marin, Midna, or Lili should be brought."

"I agree, but let's revisit Cassandra," Nicholas interjected. "We may discover one of those three are necessary for someone else, solving this question entirely." When he saw multiple heads nodding he pushed on. "I would like to talk about who we're bringing to match the inevitable juggernaut. Either Willow or that Tauros. There are multiple choices, but I already know my answer. I'm curious what you all think."

Zisela cleared her throat. "Quinn or Sohn would do well against bulky Normal-types, Weyrleader."

"True." Sohn brightened from Nicholas' agreement.

Marin slowly spread her lips to flash her razor-sharp smile across the table. "I know someone else who can kick the shit out of a big fat target."

Nicholas smirked back at her. "And who would that be, Marin?"

"Elaine."

"We've named the three I'm thinking of." Nicholas looked around. "Let's start with Quinn and Sohn. Quinn is a brawler herself. She prefers trading hits. Not viable against juggernauts. Sohn. You're fast. Very fast. But what are you, in order to hold that speed?"

Sohn's smile slipped away. "I'm… frail. That's what you're getting at, isn't it?"

"You are. Against pokegirls in your weight class you do great. Miruko for example. But against a Snorlax? A Tauros?" Nicholas shook his head. "One hit from them and you'll crash and burn."

Marin clapped her hands together with a laugh. "Meanwhile Elaine eats hits as a matter of course."

"She has speed, not as much as Sohn but enough, and can turn her opponents' strength back on them if necessary, meaning she takes hits better than Quinn," Nicholas agreed. "And, while I know you've been working on refining your punches much more to expand your arsenal, Sohn, you still prefer using your feet. If I want a kicking Fire/Fighting-type you know Elaine has you beat."

Sohn sank into her chair with an indignant grumble. "When I flip my feet are up where my hands were, it's not the same."

Nicholas laughed. "Oh, don't get me wrong. My monkey queen is her own kind of tumbling terror. I wouldn't have her any other way." When Sohn perked back up he smiled at her before returning to the table. "That gives us Elizabeth and Elaine for the first two on our side. I think we similarly need to expect a Water-type from Ash, either Spencer or the Lapras, and my gut tells me Lapras."

Scattered murmurs around the table. "Why, Master?" Bea asked.

"Ash will be considering everything we are," Nicholas explained. "Spencer is a tank. She's just like Michael's Blastoise was, Vanessa. You can't scratch her, and she can erase you with her water cannons. But she's slow. That makes her easy to exploit. Ash knows I have fast pokegirls. All I would need to do is bring Ashley or Sera to fly circles around Spencer and wear her down over time. Or, bring Dahlia to cover her in powder and drain her vitality. Spencer would be able to do nothing against that. A Lapras, on the other hand, depending on what techniques she's proficient in would not only threaten any fast Flying-types I brought but also completely nullify Dahlia to the point where Dahlia would be reduced to just the same thing as Spencer – a slow tank, only using her vines instead of water." He turned to the Venusaur. "I'm not super familiar with Lapras, but there were similar pokegirls on the frozen mountains of Alola. Nothing like your powders or seeds could touch them through their mist, only direct attacks. We're talking about strategies to nullify Ash's pokegirls and I have no doubt he'll be considering ways to neutralize mine."

Dahlia slowly nodded. "If you know of techniques that would rob me of most of my abilities… Especially if that Lapras knows them, there is no way I can be a part of this battle."

"Which makes this Lapras extra worrying," Nicholas growled. "She'd be able to threaten Elaine, neutralize Dahlia, destroy Ashley or Sera, plus if she's not taken care of quickly she will use her mist to mold the battlefield in her favor. I honestly believe she is our biggest threat."

"Aria to deny her that?" Bea asked.

"No," Nicholas immediately replied. "Aria would be utterly destroyed by a Lapras' ice, same as Ashley or Sera."

"…Lili?" Miyuki asked.

"I know she has that technique to form a sandstorm but no," Nicholas replied. "She would just be drowned or frozen all the same. Hana or Sammy would be our best chances to overwhelm her, and that's hardly a guaranteed strategy." He lapsed into silence for a while. "I think there are three possible options to consider."

"Let's hear them," Bea said.

"First, what I just said. Overwhelm the Lapras with her weaknesses," Nicholas said. "Sammy or Hana for electricity. Morgana with her mystical leaves. Maybe Miruko, she probably has something she could throw out there. I think that option is the least consistent. Second, we could let the Lapras do her thing, and bring someone who could benefit just the same." He turned to Miyuki. "Like perhaps a snow priestess who is one with the cold."

Miyuki smiled at his praise. "Maybe."

"I think that option holds merit, but has the major downside of, well, letting the Lapras do her thing," Nicholas stressed. "Losing control of the battlefield is one of the worst things that could happen. So, option three – we bring someone to beat the ever-loving shit out of her so she can't focus long enough to set up any of her veils or mists."

The table erupted with laughter at how seriously Nicholas had said those words, only coming back under control when Marin reached over and slapped him on the shoulder hard enough to rattle the silverware. "HA! THAT'S my tamer! Beat the shit out of her, I like it, Nick! Who?"

"Nessa would manage, as would you, I think," Nicholas replied. "But I was more thinking a good, solid Steel-type."

Bea raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

"Or Ryuko."

The Scizor stirred behind him. "I do not 'beat the shit' out of my opponents, Master."

"No." Nicholas turned to look at her. "But you certainly pressure them so incessantly that they can't manage anything but direct combat with you. That's what I think we might need against Ash's Lapras."

"…The problem with myself or Ryuko is the undoubted Fire-type that Ash will bring," Bea mused. "Either Kiyora or that Arcanine."

"Victoria, Marin, even Galina would do for that," Nicholas replied. "Hell Elizabeth is already set in stone, and she will easily crush any Fire-type that tries to face her."

Bea tapped her fingers against the table in thought. "Elizabeth and Elaine are set, to face Jean and whatever bulky Normal-type Ash brings. We have not decided on a way to stop Cassandra. We do not have a way to combat the Lapras. We know a Fire-type is all but guaranteed. Leaving one more." She stopped. "There is only one left. Tara. Who here is your worst matchup, Dahlia?"

The Venusaur frowned. "You."

"Me?"

"I have a lot of 'bad matchups' within the harem," Dahlia explained. "Miyuki can freeze and shatter my plants or me. Sohn or Elaine's flames can burn them away. Ashley or any other Flying-type can blow them away while staying out of range. But all of them are threatened back by the pure strength of my vines and poisons. You are not, and my defenses can't stop your psychic fists."

Nicholas leaned forwards. "I don't disagree with your analysis, Dahlia, but I believe there is a much more prevalent threat if we're speaking your weaknesses."

Dahlia raised an eyebrow at him before both rose and she nodded. "Oh. Of course." She turned to Cassidy with a chuckle. "Beta."

Cassidy cracked a nervous smile. "Alpha."

"It says something that you can list so many pokegirls who you would be at a disadvantage against in battle, and the two I've seen react so far both did so with trepidation," Nicholas chuckled. "Let's give Tara the same respect. After the Lapras, she should be our second priority threat."

"I trust Dahlia's analysis, Master," Bea said as she continued to think. "Think of this – Elaine will be there with flames to back me up against Tara. I will be there to potentially pressure the Lapras. Redundancy is good. Who else should come to back me up against her?"

"With Elizabeth focusing on Jean, whoever does should be able to stand against Kiyora or the Arcanine," Nicholas mused. "I think… Marin. Would you like to join your Alpha on the battlefield?"

Marin's face split into a jubilant grin. "With absolute pleasure."

"It's either you or Victoria, and I'm still worried about Cassandra," Nicholas muttered. "Elizabeth, Elaine, Bea, Marin… That covers everyone Ash may bring, but we have weaknesses still. What if Elizabeth isn't around to handle Jean? What if Marin falls before Cassandra does? What if Kiyora is Ash's Fire-type of choice, and Marin is unable to effectively fight her at range?" He paused. "I mean no disrespect Marin but I think I just listed you twice. You yourself may need backup."

Marin was scowling but she still nodded.

"Cassandra… and Kiyora," Nicholas deliberated. After a moment he snorted. "You know, for a minute I wondered if there would be no dragon with me to face Ash, but there's really only one option to cover both of those scenarios."

Miyuki smiled. "Lili."

"Lili," Nicholas agreed. "Her control when projecting rock and stone is much, much better than Zisela's, who prefers to leave it all stuck together. To an extent," he snickered. "Sometimes you rip big holes in the ground but it's still compressed earth."

Zisela rolled her eyes. "Yes, Weyrleader."

"Lili is also an excellent choice to fight Psychic-types, and if worst comes to worst, she might be able to whip up a storm to shred the Lapras' constructs," Nicholas finished. "That makes five. I'm open to all suggestions regarding the last slot."

Silence. After a few minutes Sohn piped up. "Nobody from my harem is on this team yet," she said. "What about Sammy? She's very versatile."

Nicholas slowly tapped the table as he thought. "She is," he said. "Though to be honest, I'd rather bring a monster Normal-type of my own if that's what we're considering, who would be Cathy. But…"

Sohn frowned. "But?"

"If I'm being honest," Nicholas murmured, "I don't want to bring any of you tomorrow." He found Sohn's surprised eyes. "Two days after we will be facing Cynthia. I do not want her to have any chance of preparing for what you have each become."

Zisela grunted. "We still must defeat Ash to meet Cynthia afterwards, Weyrleader."

"I know. We will."

"There is no certainty in anything," Cassidy warned. "We will have excellent odds, yes. Let's not throw them away."

Nicholas sighed. "I know, I know." He looked around. "Then, let's have the last pokegirl be more defensive. Elaine, Elizabeth, and Lili are all threatened by water. Marin isn't, but I don't want too much resting on any one of you, and I'm still worried about what would happen if Jean manages to make it past Elizabeth." After a few seconds of the others looking around with confused looks Nicholas turned to squarely face Dahlia. "There's only one Grass-type I'd trust to stand up to the possibility of a Lapras' ice. Despite her disadvantages, who I'd trust to cover the weaknesses of her battle harem."

Dahlia looked shocked. "Even after discussing how my abilities would be useless, Master?"

"Yes. Even with half of your toolkit taken away you are the only Grass-type I would want to face Ash."

Dahlia's shock faded slightly as she snorted. "I'm your only Grass-type, Master. For whatever reason."

"Sammy has her grassy transformation."

"That's not remotely the same thing," Dahlia grumbled.

"Regardless, I think Dahlia should come to the battle against Ash," Nicholas said to the others around the table. "We'll need a defensive pivot and if the only ones who might threaten her are the Fire-type and potentially the Lapras, having good matchups into four of Ash's harem sounds like a good deal to me."

"She would also be immune to Tara's own tricks," Bea pointed out. "I agree. But, which of us will be the Alpha, Dahlia?"

Dahlia smirked back at the smirking Metagross. "Master, of course."

"Dahlia, Elizabeth, Lili, Elaine, Bea, Marin," Nicholas murmured, completely ignoring the two posturing pokegirls. "I like it. If we knew a bit more about who Ash is planning to bring then there are a few changes I'd make, but if we're aiming to cover every possibility this is good." He looked up to see Dahlia puffing up. "Oi. I listed you six in chronological order, nothing more. Just because you are my first pokegirl and first Alpha, Dahlia, will not make you the Alpha of tomorrow's battle harem."

Dahlia quickly calmed herself. "O-Of course, Master."

Nicholas turned to address Zisela and Sohn. "As I said, your harem will be tested in two days," he said quietly. "Make sure they are ready." His eyes flicked to Zisela's stomach, where the slightest of bulges was beginning to be seen. "I am aware that you are a pokegirl, Zisela, and I am well aware of what pokegirls are designed to do, but are you still able to fight with your egg?"

Zisela gave him a soft smile while Sohn, about to make a joke, froze up when she felt Zisela's claws digging into her skin. "As you say, Weyrleader. I am no human. In fact, I anticipate that I will fight even harder because of my unborn daughter." Her face twisted into a wicked smile. "Her energy is my energy. Her presence grants me strength."

Nicholas nodded. "I see." His eyes flicked to her ring. There was… Always the possibility. With René's own Mega Stone. For Cynthia's energy to become René's energy. For his energy to then need to become Zisela's energy. What would happen to the egg then?

He winced and turned away from the Garchomp. He couldn't think about that. Zisela said it would be fine. He would have to trust her. She was the pokegirl – he was just a human who thought he knew a lot about her kind. Besides. If something did happen to the egg, there was no guarantee it would be bad. Overcharging Zisela with his energy might allow some of it to filter through to enhance her unborn daughter. 'Her energy is my energy', Zisela said. In that case the egg was still firmly a part of the Garchomp. Not a separate pokegirl, not developed to where the Mega Evolution could see her as a separate target…

He blinked. He'd been letting himself worry again. He just… had seen how Kary and Victoria acted towards Vika. He knew how he himself would no doubt be towards… whatever child he and Sabrina made. He cared for his pokegirls. He didn't want to hurt Zisela.

Cassidy leaned over and lowered her voice. "Master." When Nicholas turned to her she smiled. "You will harm Zisela more if you do not do everything in your power to elevate her over her rival."

Nicholas let out a trembling breath. "Of course. I know, Cassidy."

"Besides." Cassidy cocked her head at him. "The process is not some, 'violent' or 'random' thing, is it? It is you. Your power. Your love for us that elevates us to that new height." She reached over and stroked his fingers with a soft smile. "I still hope for Kumu to return with something for me, every day. Elevate Zisela, and I have no doubt your iron will shall keep her egg perfectly safe."

Nicholas squeezed her fingers. "Thank you, Cass."

"That's why I'm here, Master," Cassidy whispered with a smile. "The science and discovery – those things I yearn for, but never at the expense of one of my sisters."

Nicholas nodded and turned to address the table as a whole. "Right. We have our lineup for tomorrow. In just a few hours Lance will be facing Diantha. I want to be there to see the battle in person. Additionally," he glanced at Zisela before shaking himself and returning to address them all, "I need to have a conversation with Steven. Before he faces Gary, because if I don't have it then I doubt I'll be able to find him before tomorrow."

Nods from the pokegirls around the table. "Well Nicholas?" Miyuki asked. "Then what are we waiting for?"

Nicholas chuckled and got to his feet. "Nothing. Let's get back to the stadium!"

.

.

"They could have at least created a designated teleport pad," Nicholas groused while Ashley looped towards the stadium. "Make us fly a mile instead of fifty."

"It was only around forty, Master," Ashley teased. "Don't tell me you're saying I'm slow."

Nicholas cleared his throat. "I… just couldn't tell the true distance because you fly so fast that every distance feels the same…?"

"Good try." Nicholas yelped when Ashley dropped him a few feet above the ground and he had to stumble to stay standing. "Did you see those people at the main entrance?"

Nicholas sighed. "Yeah, probably more Plasma members. This big of an event, they'd be crazy not to use it as a demonstration site." He shrugged out of his backpack and began triggering pokeballs while tossing each one to the pokegirl that appeared. "Right, girls, we're here; I think they've started the festivities already, so head for the stands. Celine?" He looked for the legendary and waved when he saw her standing near the edge of the group. "Can you show everyone to the seats you were in last night?"

Celine nodded with a warm smile. "Of course! I'll have to figure out how to get there from this entrance, but that shouldn't be too hard. Follow me, everyone!"

Nicholas fell in behind the excited pokegirls and smiled when Cathy drifted straight to his side. They were in and moving for the main area when a thought struck him and he got the attention of the closest pokegirl, Aria. "Hey. Aria. I'm going to head down to the lounges to see if I can find Steven. I want to catch him before his battle this afternoon and it's probably best to do it as soon as I can."

Aria nodded. "Would you have me inform the others, Lord?"

"If you could, please."

Aria beamed and gave him a curtsy. "With pleasure, Lord!"

"Thanks." Nicholas waited for her to hustle ahead and turned to Cathy. "Coming with?"

Cathy grinned. "Always."

"You'll miss the battle."

"As will you," Cathy pointed out as they turned away from the disappearing harem. "What I will not do is leave my Master undefended."

"Not sure what trouble I could get in inside the building, but whatever," Nicholas teased. "I never expected you to do anything different."

Cathy made a face as they moved down through the back hallways towards the lower levels. "Of course you would say something like that. Come on, Nicholas. You'll jinx us."

"I am quite positive that my bull is infinitely stronger than some jinx," Nicholas chuckled.

Cathy's tail swished as the pace it was waving increased from his compliment. "Why are we looking for Steven anyways?" she asked curiously. "Something about his battle?"

"Not… exactly," Nicholas replied. "I want to talk to him about those stones Kumu keeps handing out."

Cathy followed him around the next corner. "Yes. You have said he told you about them before?"

"Yeah, essentially," Nicholas replied. "Diantha has an artifact like my anklet and Cynthia knows about them too. Steven tried to tell me it was a closely guarded secret, yet all of his Elite Four had them, and I just… Something's not adding up." He sighed. "I want to figure out why."

Cathy nodded.

"Anyways, if I remember correctly he was… thaaat direction from our lounge?" Nicholas asked when they stopped in front of the doors he recognized as being the common room he and Lance shared. The dragon master Champion would undoubtedly be long gone from them now and in the arena. "I think he came from a tunnel on that corner of the stadium during the opening ceremony."

Cathy nodded again and they were turning to follow the hall when Nicholas heard someone clear their throat.

He turned. There was a young man, probably only in his twenties, with long green hair tied back and tucked under a black baseball cap watching him from nearby. As Nicholas turned the man stepped into the hall proper and revealed him to be dressed in a white open collared V-neck shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms and a black undershirt tucked into smooth khaki pants. "Hi?"

The man smiled slightly. "Hello, Nicholas Topolski."

Nicholas blinked. That had been an extremely strange greeting from someone he had never met before in his life. Familiar and yet formal. He slowly turned to fully face them as his instincts began sounding the alarm. "Hello. You are?"

"You may call me N."

More alarm bells. "N, huh?" Nicholas said. "That's not a very common name. Just a single letter?"

"I never said it was my name," N replied softly. "I'm glad I was correct. To catch you here. Without… most of the pokegirls you imprison." N was walking forwards and Nicholas' eyes were flicking up and down his body for more hints as to his identity. He saw an odd cube hanging from the man's belt and a pendant that appeared to be a gyroscope with yellow and blue arms around a black core, but nowhere did he see any identifying markers. "I don't think I could have managed to bear their screams if they were here."

Cathy had already moved between the two humans with a low snarl. "Stay back."

"Why?" Nicholas watched as Cathy's body language went from hostile to confused when N continued walking forwards with a slight tilt to his head. "I hold no ill will to you, miss pokegirl. I am not your enemy. His orders have no hold over you. Do not defend him."

"I-" Cathy stuttered. Nicholas was opening his mouth to speak when suddenly N leapt back. With a shattering roar Cathy had swung, her fingers just barely missing N's shirttails. "I don't- RARGH! I SAID STAY BACK!" Cathy looked as if she was physically slamming her head against barriers next to her as she snapped from side to side before finally lowering her stance and opening her eyes with an angry growl. "I do not know who you are, but if you are Nicholas' enemy, then you are mine, regardless of what you say."

"That's…" N whispered. "Why? Why do you deny it?"

"Your words were false," Cathy snarled. "I will defend Nicholas with all I am, because I do not do so by any order."

Nicholas was watching N carefully. He had an idea now who the man was a part of, if nothing else. "Are you a member of Plasma?"

N smiled slightly. "Some might say that."

"Then why are you here." Nicholas extended his arm to gesture at Cathy. "My answers have not changed. I already spoke to some of your other members outside Virbank. Did you not watch the news?"

"I had no need to." N settled back now that Cathy was in full guard mode and daring him with her eyes to make another step towards Nicholas. "Your words, you see, mean nothing."

"Then attack me and be done with it."

N slowly began to laugh. "I can see why Eris liked you. You're quite blunt. A trait I suppose is valuable to a… tamer such as yourself." He lifted his hand to pull off his hat and shook his head. "Your words mean nothing. Your pokegirls', on the other hand…" N glanced at Cathy. "Hers are… strange."

"There's nothing strange about me telling you to fuck off," Cathy growled.

"No… not the words from your lips," N murmured. "The words of your soul." He kept his eyes on the Miltank for almost a minute before moving them back to Nicholas. "I have never heard a pokegirl say such things."

"What are you talking about."

"You don't hear her?" N asked softly. "I suppose I should not be surprised. Nobody does. Nobody but me."

Nicholas scowled. "If you're not here to talk to me then I'd appreciate if you stopped talking at me."

N blinked and began to laugh again. "Quite. I wonder. Nicholas Topolski, why do you imprison pokegirls? I dream of a world where pokegirls are free – free of human chains. You commit pokegirls to more than just the metaphysical chains of your slavery. You place them in physical chains. Confine them to their pokeballs. Like that, no pokegirl can ever be perfect. Humanity mars them."

Nicholas sighed. "If you didn't care for my words before why ask for them now?"

"I want to hear them from your own mouth."

"Well, I dream of the same world you say you do," Nicholas replied. "I intend to change our world into that world. A world where every pokegirl is free to live. Pokegirls, and humans… we are each deeply flawed creatures. Intentionally so by our creator. But I do not seek to separate us. I seek to create a world where humans and pokegirls can be together. Not, as you say, a world where humans control pokegirls, or where they chain them. A world where our species are in harmony. And… perhaps in that world, a pokeball would be useless in its primary function. I am sure they would see much less use. But they would still be used – because a pokeball is not just a tool that can be used to imprison a pokegirl. It can be used in so many wonderful ways. For transportation, for medical care. True, the pokeball was first created to imprison feral pokegirls. So… to answer your question, in this world ferals still exist. Pokegirls who are a threat to themselves and to others. Because they do not have a human companion. Not a controlling Master, but a friend." Nicholas slowly shook his head. "I try to be a friend to my pokegirls. In that, I do not confine them to any pokeball. It is not some, 'unbreakable' cage. Each of them know how to escape theirs. And the truly good tamers, including many who have become known as powerful tamers, all have pokegirls who can do the same." Nicholas let out a sigh. "Yes. We 'imprison' ferals. Never have I 'imprisoned' a tame pokegirl. Once the world I dream of becomes a reality, no human will ever have the need to 'imprison' a pokegirl again."

N was slowly shaking his head. "The pokegirls you call 'feral'… Why must they be imprisoned? What makes them 'wrong'? You claim your purpose is noble but your justification is still of slavery, no matter how temporary."

"No pokegirl wishes to be feral," Nicholas pleaded. "Would you? To be a prisoner in your own body? Unable to reason? To think? I… I don't like it any more than you do, but pokegirls need human contact of some level to stay sapient. To be alive."

"What makes you believe you can speak for them?" came the biting retort. N had replaced his cap and was staring angrily at where Nicholas stood. "You, who can't even hear them. You claim 'ferals' are unable to think? That they are somehow lesser than pokegirls enslaved by humanity?" He spread his arms. "I think my friends should test your disgusting claims. To see if you truly see a future where pokegirls are free."

Nicholas blinked. Something, no, two somethings had moved in the shadows. Cathy firmed her posture into a battle stance as a pair of figures moved into the light. On one side of N, a twitching, clinking automata with gears churning throughout her translucent body. The other, a scampering arachnid with bristling yellow hair covering her body and two sets of arms that stuck to the wall she hung from.

Both were nude, allowing Nicholas a very intriguing view at the automata's internal structures, but that didn't mean much. What did was that neither pokegirl spoke even though the arachnid was chittering excitedly. Nicholas scowled when he saw electricity arcing through her hair and another glance at the mechanical pokegirl showed her to be clicking into a battle posture herself. Every aspect of these two pokegirls, combined with N's words, told him that he was staring down two ferals.

And yet, they ignored the young man. Seemed to move at his suggestion. There was something special about the green-haired human and Nicholas wasn't keen on being at his mercy.

"Don't attack," Nicholas murmured to Cathy as the Miltank prepared to charge. "I'm sure you could bring at least a few walls down on us and I'd really like to avoid that."

"What would you suggest I do?" Cathy hissed. "Let them attack you?"

"Help is on the way," Kalmiya soothed in Cathy's ear.

N was watching the two pokegirls approach Nicholas when he looked up. Before either could strike he was turning and making quick statements. "Come. Run! Before they imprison you too." He glanced back at Nicholas with his eyes narrowed. "Don't believe this is over, tamer."

Nicholas remained where he was as the three fled down the hall. Then he heard the footsteps and a moment later the door to the stairwell was flung open to eject two uniformed guards and just behind them… He breathed a sigh of relief. "Cassidy."

Cassidy's eyes were locked on where N had retreated to. "That way," she said to the security guards. "He went that way!" As the guards ran off she turned and threw her arms around Nicholas with a relieved sigh. "Oh, Master. Thank goodness you're safe."

Cathy bristled. "He was never in any danger."

Cassidy pulled back to look at the Miltank. "Kalmiya told me you faltered, Cathy. The first true threat to our Master and you-"

"That's enough." Cassidy fell silent when she heard Nicholas. "Something was different about that guy. N. He kept talking about strange things he could hear Cathy's soul saying. I would be willing to bet Cathy heard him saying strangely persuasive things as well. Even still, she resisted his influence." He walked around to grip Cathy's arm. "She did not fail. She fought him off. She won."

Cassidy let out a sigh. "Master…"

Nicholas cut her off. "No. The matter is closed. Cathy will be commended for her actions, not disciplined for them." He looked up at the stone-faced Miltank. "Thank you, Cathy. My trust in you was not misplaced."

Cassidy let out another sigh. "Fine. Since I know you only will assert your authority as our tamer when you truly feel strongly over something, I will not argue any further." A pause. "If what you're saying is true… Is it, Cathy?"

Cathy began to tremble. "For a moment… I was confused why I defended him."

Cassidy looked pained. "Then we'll have to discuss what happened with the others. A human who can make us doubt Master? He's dangerous."

"Not to me." Cassidy turned to look at Nicholas with a raised eyebrow. "I would hope all of you hold some doubts over me. Even Ryuko or Sera I hope still have some kernel of doubt beneath their fanaticism. Otherwise… Otherwise, you are just the slaves N said you were." He reached up to stroke Cathy's face. "This man's ability to bring them to the surface is one I welcome."

Cassidy shook her head. "We will still discuss this incident."

"I would hope we do." Nicholas released Cathy and stepped back. "Has Lance's match started yet?"

"No. They've been showcasing the arena and the rule set for the match."

Nicholas' eyebrows rose. "Rule set? It's not just an unlimited battle?"

"No. Apparently, no round will have the same rules as another," Cassidy explained. "They've talked about all sorts of different things we might see throughout the week."

"I wish I wasn't missing that," Nicholas groaned. "Crap. Well, if the match itself hasn't started we still have time. Cathy?" He grinned when she looked down at him. "Would you continue accompanying me to Steven's lounge?"

After a few moments Cathy cracked a smile. "Of course, Nicholas." She hesitated a moment. "And… Thank you."

Nicholas chuckled and patted her arm again. "Of course. We'll see you in the stands, Cassidy."

The Alakazam nodded and turned to head back up the stairs.

As Nicholas and Cathy turned to hurry down the hall another shadow moved. Eris gazed after the pair, sadness in her eyes. After a few seconds of this she turned to follow the path N had run.

N slipped out of the stadium and reached out to the two pokegirls. "Go. Be free." Without any more bidding the two sprinted away from the building, causing a few panicked cries from the crowds milling around when the automata bulled straight through and the arachnid hissed, spitting webbing that crackled with electricity at the nearest cluster before scampering off into the trees. N watched them go and raised his eyes to the mountain range that rose on the other side of the bay. Low tide would provide an alternate path off this island, just as it had granted him the path to bring the pokegirls here in the first place. They would make it back to their homes.

He knew he'd lost the guards long ago so when he moved away from the clamoring humans and their slaves and something turned to follow he slowed. Then after a few moments he sighed when he recognized the presence shadowing him. "Eris?"

The Zorua shimmered into view beside him, taking her young male guise in the open. "Did you have to get angry?" she asked sadly. "He loves pokegirls, just like you. Couldn't you see?"

N's expression flickered before he ripped his eyes from her with a snarl. "Something was wrong with his pokegirl."

"Wrong?"

"She…" N trailed off as his emotions warred across his face. "Her soul… did not cry."

Eris stepped in front of him with a worried look. "Does mine?"

"Yes," N hissed. "Even yours, despite everything I… Despite how I try so hard to let you be free." N's eyes slid shut. "It shouldn't be. Only pokegirls without humans have souls like that. Like that Joltik. The Klink." He slowly opened his eyes again. "It was wrong. So wrong."

Eris stepped in front of him again when N moved to sidestep her. "Why does my soul cry to you, N?" she asked softly.

N looked at the Zorua with a tortured expression. Eris' soul cried… because it cried for him. It shouldn't be that way. "It cries."

"Why?"

N tore himself from Eris' pleading expression and struck for the bridge without giving the Zorua her answer. Leaving her to scamper after him as she watched tears beading in the human's eyes.

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Back in the stadium Nicholas and Cathy were approaching the next quadrant.

"Right, let's see…" Nicholas mused as the hallways began turning back to the familiar structures he knew from around his own lounge. It only made sense that the stadium was symmetrical down here. "The lounge should be right… around… ah ha!"

He pushed through the massive double doors and took in the scene inside. Two pokegirls. Well, he was definitely in the right place. "Hello, Tetsu."

The Metagross rose from her seat with a frown. "Nicholas? What are you doing here?"

"Looking for your Master." Nicholas nodded at the other girl sitting inside. "Forgive me, you're… Dory?"

"Dorah," the massive Aggron rumbled.

"Dorah, right," Nicholas corrected. "Yeah, I'm looking for Steven, Tetsu. Is he available?"

Tetsu was sinking back onto the coach. "It depends. Why are you looking for him?"

"I want answers."

Tetsu raised an eyebrow at the aggressive statement. "Are we going to continue playing games and sniping words back and forth, or are you going to tell me why you're angry with my Master?"

Nicholas sighed. "Are you aware that Champion Diantha has a Key Stone?" When Tetsu didn't respond he scowled. "Oh good, the silent treatment. Yeah I think we're going to keep playing games if that's the way you're going to be."

Tetsu's chest rose and fell as she took a deep breath and let it all out at once. "I am aware, yes."

"Then you know why I want answers."

Tetsu turned to one of the hallways. "He's with Nene."

"I can wait."

"I know you can." Tetsu kept her eyes turned away from him for almost a minute before turning back. "He's busy, and I don't want him distracted before our battle. I should know most of what you want. Will you be satisfied with that, or do you require every answer to come from him?"

Nicholas walked over and sank into a chair across from the Metagross. "I will accept what you can offer, but I will not promise to be satisfied."

"Will you promise to leave your need for satisfaction until after the tournament, regardless of the results?" Tetsu asked quietly.

"I will only promise to take your request under fair consideration."

Tetsu smiled slightly. "I suppose I will take what I can get with you, Nicholas. I know well how you become when you are focused on a goal." She shook her head. "Yes. Diantha has a Key Stone. Ask."

"When Steven told me about this power in Hoenn he made it seem as if he and his father kept some great secret." Nicholas raised four fingers. "I then found that Steven's entire Elite Four held Key Stones." His thumb popped out. "Then I met Cynthia and learned she, too, knew of Mega Evolution." The other thumb came up. "Now Diantha." He lowered his hands. "I think you can agree that this 'closely guarded secret' seems to have spread pretty far beyond me and Steven."

Tetsu sighed. "You are correct. My Master did not lie, but as you yourself no doubt often do, he did not tell the full truth." She paused. "I believe I remember him telling you… that he did not discover Key Stones or Mega Stones on his own?"

"No, he told me he had a friend or an acquaintance, a colleague, something of the sort who'd told him about them as part of evolution stone research."

Tetsu nodded. "The power of Mega Evolution is a guarded secret. However, it is not true that only a select few know about it. It is rumored even to the public."

"Hm."

"The actual tools? The Key Stones, the Mega Stones? As you yourself saw, they are hardly regulated," Tetsu continued. "The young man in Hoenn, who dug up the Mega Stone for your Gardevoir? Many, many similar events happen daily around the world. My Master's intention of confiscating them when he heard you speak of the discovery was noble, but foolish. Two things he often is." She sighed again. "However, there is a certain process to create a Key Stone. It is not enough to simply obtain the infused meteorite. And, as he told you, without a Key Stone a Mega Stone is just a pretty gem."

"The idea being, then, that Key Stones are what are kept a guarded secret," Nicholas concluded.

"Key Stones, but more importantly, their relationship to Mega Evolution," Tetsu said quietly. "In truth… I believe you may have known of this power long before my Master spoke of it to you."

Nicholas frowned. "How?"

"You hail from Alola. Yes?" When Nicholas nodded Tetsu raised an eyebrow. "Do your stories not speak of the special relationships your people hold with the pokegirls of the islands? Do they not speak of incredible powers that can only come when a human and a pokegirl are as one? Do they not tell of ancient battles, where your guardians and the humans of their time came together to vanquish overwhelming foes by unleashing attacks of impossible strength?"

Nicholas stared at her in shock. He… He had never even considered that. It was true. Alolan legend told of how the Island Guardians would unleash powers beyond any pokegirl, legendary or otherwise, when aided by the Island Kahunas. How had he not realized? "The legends… are of Mega Evolution?"

"Or something like it," Tetsu said. "It is a power that many cultures and people know, in one form or another. Especially one culture. One people. Where the event that led to the world becoming corrupted occurred." She nodded at Nicholas' look. "Kalos. The region Champion Diantha hails from. Just as it is in Alola, the power is not only known, but a part of public knowledge. It is only the method of manipulating a Key Stone that is not."

"Then how does Cynthia know of it?"

"Sinnoh?" Tetsu snorted quietly. "The birthplace of creation? Must you really ask that question?"

Nicholas shook his head. "I guess not. Was Steven's contact from Kalos, then?"

"He was. I am sure you will meet him one day – the leading Pokegirl Professor of Kalos, Sycamore."

Nicholas' thoughts moved back to Cynthia. "The rumors," he asked. "What is widely known?"

Tetsu gazed at him. "Thinking of revealing something?"

"What I am thinking, is that I intend to defeat Cynthia," Nicholas growled quietly. "I do not intend to do so at anything less than each of our full powers."

Tetsu let out her biggest sigh so far. "Champion Cynthia no doubt sees the power as nothing more than that… power. To be used properly, yes, but if you challenge her… I do not anticipate that she will hesitate." Tetsu shook her head sadly. "The world has only known of it as rumor, Nicholas. An entire age of blissful ignorance. It has been the greatest defense against those who would use that terrible power to bring harm."

Nicholas stood. "If you chose, Tetsu, how many of the spectators in the stands could you slaughter before being stopped? How many could any of the pokegirls there?" He scowled. "I do not believe in ignorance or restriction as methods for defense. All those methods do is leave the eventual victims unprepared for the one who will eventually bypass them. Let the world know. It is up to those like us to protect it from those who would threaten it, just as it is up to us now to stand against those who would twist pokegirls to their destructive ends. You should know that quite well."

Tetsu gave him a wry smile. "I suppose I do, Lorekeeper."

Nicholas smiled back at her. "I believe I am satisfied. Are you?"

Tetsu stood and reached out to shake his hand. "I suppose I must be," she murmured. "If during this tournament, we step into a new age… I will fight for its future alongside you, Nicholas." Her fingers tightened on his for a moment. "I will enjoy meeting you in the finals."

Nicholas grinned. "Likewise, Tetsu."

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.

By the time Nicholas had made it to the stands the battle was over. He had missed it entirely. A shame, too, because Diantha had won.

Nicholas was forced to witness the event through the excited clamoring of his pokegirls, as he had had his pokedex with him, and thus the best camera the harem had had on hand was a commercial model pokedex Dahlia used as her phone. It had not picked up anything well enough to watch.

Lance had fallen. To that woman. His dragons, overwhelmed. As Nicholas listened to the girls recount Diantha's harem his lips thinned. Morgana spoke of the Gardevoir in hushed tones. She would be a problem whenever they met.

He remained lost in thought for the hours until the next match. Thoughts of the strange man, N, of the battle tomorrow, of Tetsu's answers. When Steven and Gary entered the arena, which had been turned into a ruined city littered with debris, he still wasn't paying much attention. Not even as Clay announced the rules – a tag-team battle. Substitutions would only be allowed if the pokegirl being subbed out first made her way to her tamer's side of the field.

It started well for Gary. He led with Alexa, and the Charizard took the sky above the ruined battlefield before beginning to blast massive craters in the buildings and roads throughout Steven's side of the field. Systematically removing all of Steven's cover. Steven could be seen in his box holding a terse conversation with whoever he'd sent out – an arena of this size, there was no way to shout orders and so everyone had been provided radios if they didn't use some already. Who had it been? Nicholas dragged himself from his thoughts to watch Alexa begin flying in between the ruined high-rises. In a normal arena, Alexa would only be able to fly maybe twenty feet up at best. This one essentially had no limit. The stadium stretched nearly two hundred feet above the arena floor, and the arena's lower boundaries extended a good distance below that.

Whoever was on Steven's side of the field would need to fight at those extreme ranges. Did he even have a pokegirl in his harem who could?

Alexa was weaving beyond a ruined tower when a beam of light speared from a pile of unassuming rubble and caught her right in the chest. The Charizard screamed in pain as she was thrown into the building she'd just been flying past and as she smashed through with the walls collapsing in on her Nicholas saw the rubble shift and move, eyes blinking to life as Steven's Claydol levitated off the ground. Instantly the building Alexa had vanished into exploded, the enraged Charizard screaming her fury as she blasted her way free and then drew back, inhaling deeply as light shone from beneath her skin and she launched a raging firestorm towards where Vala hovered.

The Claydol didn't attempt to dodge. She simply chose to take the attack head on, and as Alexa's wings faltered and the Charizard caught herself on a ledge to recover from the all-out attack the fire cleared to show the Claydol still hovering in the exact same place. Alexa snarled, letting go of the ledge to allow gravity to assist her getting back in the air but Vala wasn't going to let her. A keening wail echoed from the psychic energy she emitted as it sliced out and caught the rubble around the falling Charizard; Alexa screeched when it all moved at Vala's command and the Charizard was bombarded by a hail of stone.

She slammed into the ground as Vala's attack had broken her wings and struggled upright, finding where the Claydol hovered and spitting fury. Vala's body was glowing. She was much too far away to see, but… Nicholas wondered if he was actually seeing psychic power emanating from the Claydol. The feeling he was getting, even this far away, made the energy seem much more alien.

Alexa looked like she was considering her options. Grounded, she would be easy prey for any of Steven's pokegirls, and so even though she got to her feet and appeared to be charging another attack, what actually came from her mouth was a roiling cloud of black smoke that quickly expanded to smother the arena and hide her from view.

Unfortunately, even though Vala was blinded by the smokescreen, Alexa's pain had made her flee in a straight line towards the tag zone. So the Claydol's first blind shot was all she needed and Gary cursed when he saw his Alpha buckle, her agonized roars echoing out when Vala's energy lanced through the smoke to skewer her cleanly.

Next came Pandora, who took revenge for her Alpha by dashing through the smokescreen and obliterating Vala with her infused strikes, but those same strikes did nothing to the pokegirl who emerged afterwards. Nene absorbed them and bound the stoic Gyarados in her tentacles before sending Pandora smashing through every bit of rubble Alexa hadn't melted, effortlessly lifting and throwing the Gyarados like she was but a doll until Pandora's limp body came to a halt halfway through a wall. Sonya, Gary's Rhyperior, came smashing through the battlefield next but couldn't stop Nene from walking back to Steven and being recalled so that his Skarmory could take to the sky. What came next was a hard-fought battle between the two, especially so with Gary's desperation. Sonya was the last one of his own pokegirls who could threaten the flying tank. The Rhyperior's earthquakes leveled the battlefield, removing aerial cover for Tori, and her arms launched chunk after chunk of twisted rubble to batter Tori's metallic body. Not by throwing them, but by launching them like shots from a cannon as Sonya would leverage the heavy pistons sprouting from her elbows to send shockwaves smashing down her arm and into whatever rubble she was holding.

The two traded back and forth for almost ten minutes. Sonya sending missiles rocketing into the sky, Tori flashing past to carve bloody lines across the Rhyperior's body before vanishing out of sight and landing to rejuvenate. Sonya blasting the hiding place with rocks before getting pissed and causing an earthquake to collapse the building Tori had vanished into only for the Skarmory to burst from the shaking building already in flight and on an attack. No matter how Gary and Sonya tried to change up their attack patterns Steven was always a step ahead – Sonya just couldn't time an earthquake to catch the Skarmory when she landed in a roost and Steven made sure of it by remaining completely unpredictable. Sonya even had a chance, as she was flagging, to catch the Skarmory. She'd managed to destroy a large amount of the buildings providing screens for her launched projectiles and Tori had been hit hard by the entire last salvo, leaving the Skarmory heavily injured. Another salvo would finish her. But Tori was already wheeling around to find a place to recover. By the time Sonya could lock on and fire, her rocks would have no chance of finishing off the Skarmory, and Tori would be able to slip away and escape from the pinch. So, believing Tori had no choice but try to find a roost, Gary commanded Sonya to send an earthquake ripping through the building it appeared Tori was going for. She did. Only for the Skarmory to appear around the other side, still fully injured, and still in the air, risking everything and counting on her opponent to do exactly that. Sonya fell before she could launch any more stones. Cursing the bloodied and battered Skarmory until she succumbed to her wounds.

When Circe came next and teleported forwards with occult fury to attack the resting Skarmory Tori actually remained right in front of her to recover her strength, causing the Alakazam's desperate aura blast to sail wide and harmlessly towards where Circe had believed the Skarmory would retreat to. Tori might have even been reveling in the Alakazam's helplessness when she lunged forwards, only using her wings at the last second to provide extra speed for her body as she smashed through the frail Psychic-type and sent her back to her pokeball mere moments after she'd emerged from it.

It was over. Tori rotated out a few times to preserve her strength, and Luna did manage to get a sneaky knockout by Gary anticipating one of them and bringing the Umbreon out to catch Tetsu in a double-switch which allowed the Dark-type to engulf the Metagross before Steven could save her, but when the Skarmory came to rest on a twisted pile of metal and watched Gilla the Nidoqueen slowly crash to the ground, the final score was six to only two.

Nicholas snorted to himself as the harem prepared to return to the hotel. "What do people say? That Indigo is a political power these days, not a taming one?" He slowly shook his head. Lance and Gary, the two 'Champions' of Indigo were out in the very first round. It was up to Ash to uphold Indigo's legacy. He felt bad that he, who had also stood as Indigo's Champion, would be the one to take the legendary tamer down.

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Celebrity Profile Overview

Elaine – Blaziken

First seen alongside Nicholas Topolski in the promotional material 'Tamer's Journey', an advertisement of the Hoenn Battle Frontier, Elaine went on to stay alongside Nicholas Topolski as a member of his harem. She is known to be extremely stubborn in battle, sometimes even defying her own defeat to continue fighting unconsciously, though if the rumors are true she only acts as such from a deep masochistic streak, one that has become so engrained that she will only accept defeat from her own tamer – and this writer, for one, can easily believe such with the casual bondage Elaine has been seen to happily wear even in battle.

Marin – Sharpedo

Sharpedo. The nightmare of sailors across the world. The undisputed apex predator of the seas. Though Sharpedo have terrestrial forms it is rare to find one outside of a tamer's harem that is somehow specialized in their natural environment – either a Water-type specialist, or one who makes their living on the sea. But some leave the seas behind to join regular combat harems. While you might assume such a Sharpedo only does so because she cannot handle the deadly seas, Marin proves those assumptions wrong. Her (relatively short) time in Nicholas Topolski's harem has seen the Sharpedo racking up the highest amount of 'life threatening' battles among any of Nicholas Topolski's pokegirls. She is a bloodthirsty, vicious predator, and her opponents are undoubtedly relieved whenever they are allowed to fight her on dry land.