WARNING

THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS CONTENT INAPPROPRIATE FOR READERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18

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"Hey, before we go in?" Nicholas stopped in front of the hotel when Sabrina called. "I know that you didn't really want this, and you didn't intend to seek her out today, or anything. But I also know what you're about to do." He turned to look at his fiancé as she stared at him. "You've mentioned it, and I listened; I swear I did."

Nicholas glanced at the doors before walking over and taking her in a gentle hug. "Mentioned this?"

"Everything you've chosen to take on," Sabrina whispered. "When I first met you, I knew there was always going to be more than what you let show on the surface. From the beginning I've known you were something special. An incredible tamer. Then, you turned your will on those like Kali, like Celine, but you never stopped being you. Even… Even now, after what you've spoken about, what you experienced in Sinnoh." She rested her head against his chest. "The man I love has turned his strength towards a goal I can barely even understand. Has begun to be something more than the man I first met."

Nicholas slowly ran his hand down her back. "I asked Celine, but… Sabrina?"

Sabrina's eyes slid shut. "I'm afraid, Nicholas. I don't want you to grow beyond a silly human like me."

Nicholas gently squeezed her. "I will never grow beyond you," he murmured. "Just as I promised Celebi, I will never be lost to you, my love." He smiled. "Besides. You are no silly human. Legendaries respect you, too."

Sabrina pulled back to look around. Kali bowed when the woman's eyes found her and Celine reached out with a gentle smile. "Be proud," she said. "He's right. We see you as his equal, which makes you ours."

Sabrina slowly turned back to him. "I don't feel like it."

"Neither did I, at first," Nicholas whispered.

Celine was watching the exchange and after a moment she took a breath. "Human Sabrina. Mate of my tamer. No – you may not hold the blessings of your mate. But there are those who would gladly give you theirs, if they had any to give." She sank into a deep bow. "I will think on your situation. For you, and you alone, not because of the human we share, I will seek a way that you may be put at ease."

Nicholas slowly turned to look at the bowing legendary. He didn't speak, though. He hadn't been included in Celine's words. From everything he knew of the purpose Celebi held within creation, what she had just promised might be beyond anything he enjoyed from her.

Sabrina seemed to realize as well. After a short pause she pulled herself from his arms and stepped around to where Celine stood. "I…" she trailed off. "Thank you, Celine."

Celine slowly straightened again. "Of course."

Sabrina glanced in Nicholas' direction, a smile tugging at her lips after a moment. "Well. Go do your thing, honey." She raised a hand before he could move. "I wanted to take you to Nimbasa tomorrow. Castelia's sister city and Unova's entertainment heart. You think you can make that work?"

Nicholas snickered. "I'll make sure our uninvited guest doesn't ruin your plan for the weekend, I promise."

Sabrina let her hand fall with a relieved laugh. "Good. I'll see you tomorrow, then."

Nicholas barely nodded as he watched her walk into the hotel with Diana, Kali hesitating a moment before inclining her head to him and following her Mistress inside.

He waited for them all to vanish. "She's not actually here."

Celine chuckled quietly. "Not right now, no, but she was."

"Think she'll return?"

"Despite her attitude, Victini is quite shrewd," Celine replied. "And older than she acts. I believe, if you go through with what you intend, that she will become a valuable ally to you. Perhaps even a friend."

"To be honest, hearing that doesn't help," Nicholas replied. "I was really thrown off by the way she was acting today. No other eternal one I've ever met came close. She's like an excitable teenager."

"It is the aspect she embodies," Celine replied. "You've finally met one of the few who you might be more mature than."

Nicholas shook his head. After a minute he struck out for the hotel. "Would you mind explaining to Zinnia what – who – is going to be joining us?"

Celine laughed. "Of course. Don't let down your guard, as I know you won't, but still. Have fun."

"Sure," Nicholas sighed.

After some thought he decided to head for the open areas behind the hotel instead of somewhere inside. If Victini wasn't waiting for him in the building then he didn't want to have her tearing through the place looking for him. So that was how he found himself contemplating the silent pool as the stars helped the low running lights under the water illuminate the area.

A lot had happened here in Unova. It just never could be a simple vacation for them, could it.

After a few hours of him waiting she returned. Nicholas had seen the light glow creeping from the horizon during his vigil and now it was quickly growing in strength so he sat up, waiting for the first hint of Victini's flames to appear over the trees before he summoned his aura and cast it towards the approaching legendary.

She instantly altered her trajectory to home in on where he sat and moments later slammed into the concrete pool deck, her flames wisping away until it was just her long hair holding them as she stared at him.

Nicholas broke the silence first. "Hello, Victini."

Victini's face slowly split into a massive grin. "Hi."

"Shall we start over?"

Victini was starting to release a giddy noise from between her grinning teeth. "Yes yes yes PLEASE!"

"Then let's start with you." Victini's burgeoning laughter snapped off. Nicholas' words brooked no argument. "I want to know why you're interested in me, and in what way."

Victini's eyebrows twitched as she fought to figure out what to say in response. "I, I, I… I want to start with YOU! I thought you were just a really cool human! But all of a sudden you're all this and like…"

"I guess we each want something of the other, then," Nicholas interrupted as Victini began making abortive gestures with her hands. "How about this? We'll start with what you first wanted from me when you came racing to the ferry, and then I'll answer something, and then we'll keep taking turns?" He smiled slightly when Victini's attention locked on him. "As equals."

"…Equals." Victini's unblinking stare remained locked on him. "That's what it is. You feel like… But you're a…"

"Is my proposal acceptable, Victini?"

Victini finally blinked before her grin returned. "Sure. It's good for me, anyways. You're asking me to go first but what you want is useless information now." Nicholas didn't speak. Of course it was. That was the entire point of the proposal, all to get her talking. It was his favorite tactic to use. "I've been watching you for years. You and all the other interesting humans that come around. Every once in a while, one of you gets really cool. Then I want to meet you, maybe even hang out! So when I sensed you on that boat I just HAD to introduce myself!"

"And now?"

Victini gave him a cheeky grin. "NUH-UH! That wasn't the deal! I want to know about you!"

Nicholas smirked back at her. "Oh, my mistake. What do you want to know?"

"Why you're so much cooler than on TV!"

"To answer, I'd like to make sure I understand you properly," Nicholas said. "When you say you've been watching interesting humans, do you just mean tamers who win a lot?"

Victini shook her head rapidly. "No, no, no. There's a lot of interesting tamers, yeah, but there can be other interesting humans too. I like humans who stand out! The ones who get really big are the coolest. The really cool ones are the ones I just have to meet. You make me all tingly." Her grin split her face. "Like when you made that big speech after winning against Cynthia? She's super cool, and you were EVEN COOLER, so when I saw that broadcast I think it's the hardest I've came in at least a century."

Nicholas kept a smile fixed to his own face. "I see. Thank you. Then by 'hang out', you mean 'have sex with'."

Victini's eyes widened and she slapped her hands over her mouth. "MMM! N-No, I mean, maybe, sometimes, if things go that way, um, I mean…"

Nicholas was slowly shaking his head. Victini really was nothing like any other legendary he'd ever met. "Okay, okay. You mean 'hang out', as in actually 'hang out', wherein there might be many different activities."

Victini was definitely bright red when she ripped her hands from her face and began nodding extremely fast. "Yeah."

Nicholas surveyed her before shaking his head again with a sigh. "You want to know why I'm even cooler than what you see on TV. Well, to put it simply, it's because I'm a lot like you. I'm a human who is blessed by many legendary pokegirls, including our creator herself." He gazed calmly into Victini's eyes. "I am, as has been said by other eternal ones, 'one of you'. Merely in human skin. I am a human who remembers and understands what humanity used to be."

Victini's mouth had fallen open as he spoke and when he finished a shiver raced through her body. "You… Sound like him."

Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"I…" Victini's mouth snapped shut and she swallowed convulsively. "N-No, it's my turn to answer, right? Is- Is that your question of me?"

Nicholas eyed her. He hadn't expected his little speech to have this much of an effect on the legendary, but all traces of her swagger were gone. If he wasn't mistaken her eyes were flicking across him, almost as if she was searching for something. "I think it needs to be," he said quietly. "Who is 'him'?"

Victini slowly found his eyes. "A lord of humanity. The only human I've ever called my tamer."

"A truly great human then?"

Victini barely nodded. "Everyone knows him, even today. He created what is now called the Unovan League."

Nicholas blinked at her. "The first king of Unova?"

"Yes."

Nicholas nodded. "I am honored that you would say I remind you of him."

"What do you know of him?"

Nicholas frowned at the question. "More than most, I think. I know he was favored by Tirakan, but most do. I myself know many of Tirakan's creations. I call Rayquaza my patron."

"He was… an incredible human," Victini said quietly. "He was not 'one of us', as you say you have been called, but was above us. As you seem to be."

Nicholas gazed at her for a bit. "Victini, would you like to know what I want of you?"

Victini cracked a tiny grin. "I thought your next question was what I wanted of you."

"I think that there is only one last question to be asked within our agreement. Depending on your answer to it, the rest of my questions might be freely answered," Nicholas replied. When Victini's grin slipped away and her eyes moved to his he spoke. "From our conversation so far, I believe I understand what you want of me. What you truly want – and what you have been searching for for many long years." He held out his hand. "Victini. Would you like to join with me?"

"Wasn't it supposed to be my turn to ask a question?"

Nicholas blinked before breaking into a grin and beginning to chuckle. "I suppose it was, since I asked the last big one. What do you want to ask me?"

"Can we hang out?"

Nicholas' grin widened. "Each and every day if you wish. Will you join me?"

Victini didn't hesitate a moment more before reaching for his hand. "Four thousand years."

"Is that how long it has been since you've known a human like us?" Nicholas asked softly.

Tears were beading in Victini's eyes. "Yes." Suddenly her eyes widened and her blush returned. "Oh, fuck, and I was treating you like the other ones!"

"And how was that?" Nicholas asked teasingly. "Now that we've answered the big question I want to know details. You said you came just from watching my battle against Cynthia. Don't tell me you liked to masturbate to videos of your favorite humans." When Victini tried to pull back slightly Nicholas burst out laughing. "HOW LEWD!"

"IT GOT ME EXCITED!"

"Well now you've got the real thing." Victini took a half step back when Nicholas swung his legs to the side of the lounge chair he'd been laying on and stood. "Your greatest fantasy has come to life."

Victini was staring up at him. "W-Well, um… The humans I like usually don't want to hang out all the time, so…"

Nicholas was chuckling under his breath. "The humans you've hung out with for the last few millennia were not your tamer."

Victini's hair popped as it began to levitate, the flames consuming it burning hotter and hotter as Victini's emotions rose. "Even… Even my tamer, um, isn't always there. And that's okay! I'm pretty good at keeping myself entertained."

Nicholas smirked at her. "I understand." As relief appeared on Victini's face he bent down closer. "I understand that you have become addicted to your fantasies, Victini. Because for many long years, reality has not been able to compete." His smirk grew wider and he disrobed in a few smooth motions. "After tonight, you will find only emptiness within your fantasies. They will never satisfy you again, because each and every one will only remind you of me."

Victini's mouth had dropped open again and she was frozen completely still as Nicholas hovered over her. Only her hair was active, continuing to burn hotter as the legendary's stunned brain fought to process what she was hearing. He took the opportunity to give this pokegirl a good look. From Celine's comments, he assumed that what he was seeing was Victini's natural form, and not something she shaped herself as. She was a bit larger than Celine's own true form – pushing maybe to five foot, most likely less, though it was hard to tell with her flaming hair going wild and the enormous pointed ears protruding through it. They, like the rest of her body, were coated in a soft creamy fur, though the exterior sides were burnt a rich orange instead. Potentially the true color of her hair – when it wasn't on fire. Behind her sat a pair of short fluffy tails that looked almost like miniature furred wings sprouting from her tailbone, also in the same cream color as the rest of her, and as he moved to look at the rest of her he watched Victini's entire body shudder.

He jerked back in surprise when she let out an orgasmic cry. "OHMYFUCKINGGOD!" As she screamed her muscles unlocked and she staggered, falling on her ass when her legs spasmed and her head snapped back. "By the creator oh my GOD! I'd forgotten how much better humans could be!"

Nicholas stepped back towards her when Victini didn't seem to be moving from where she'd landed, now panting heavily, on the ground. "Then let me continue to remind you."

"W-Wait," Victini stammered when he straddled her. "Be careful, my hair…" She yelped when Nicholas bent down and slammed her completely onto her back, pinning her by the shoulders.

"Worry about yourself."

"How the fuck are you so cooOOOL!" Victini screamed as Nicholas pressed his dick to her slit. A few pushes back and forth got his half-erection fully hard and Victini's scream peaked when his tip began to work its way inside.

Nicholas glanced down as he continued pushing into Victini. It was always hard to tell whether the strength of the pokegirls he felt was a part of their innate energy or a function of their physical body, or some combination of both, and even now, perched on top of her, he couldn't tell where exactly the surprising amount of power Victini's body was pushing back at him came from. Her light fur hid the details of the body underneath. Even her breasts, large enough to form distinct mounds on her chest, but small enough that she had no real cleavage to speak of, were at first glance just two smooth bumps. The only places the fur thinned or outright vanished enough to clearly see the skin underneath was on each of Victini's hands and feet, where it was revealed that she had a warm tan to her skin, and also somewhat on her face, especially around her clear blue eyes. Yet as he thrust, he felt how the fur on Victini's groin pulled back from the motion of her vagina, and in a flash of curiosity he released his grip on Victini's shoulders to stick his hands onto her breasts.

The fur on her chest also easily peeled back to provide access to the legendary's nipples, but Nicholas' scientific curiosity had broken his dominant pin and Victini wasted no time once she was free.

Nicholas grunted when the body he was fondling suddenly twisted under his hands, giving him the chance to feel her musculature as his hands slipped to her abs, before Victini's arm came around and snagged him by the back of the head to yank him down into a needy kiss. "You can't beat victory herself," Victini hissed excitedly when she broke the kiss with a wild grin.

Nicholas' eyes lit up at the challenge and Victini squealed when he redoubled his efforts. Before long she was crying out with every motion, her arms stretched above her head while Nicholas kept a firm grip on her legs to make sure the smaller legendary wasn't bounced off his shaft by the more violent thrusts.

"IT'S NOTHING I HAVEN'T DONE BEFOOOORE!" Victini screamed as another orgasm shook her body. "N-NO BEEETTTEEEER!"

She immediately regretted speaking when she felt the aura swirling from the human currently slamming his dick deep into her pussy begin boiling up. "No better?" he growled. "Strange. Usually a pokegirl will not beg for me to break her." With a squeal Victini felt herself yanked off the ground and spun around, her arms and legs scrabbling for purchase but finding none as Nicholas pulled her off his dick and hooked his arms under her thighs before reaching up and locking each of his hands on her forearms. Victini found herself completely unable to move her body, wrapped up in Nicholas' hold, and she shivered when his lips pushed against her ear. "Apologize."

"M-My hair, not from behind, you'll be burnt…" Victini whimpered when Nicholas squeezed his grip even tighter and even the slight flexes she'd been able to make were stilled. Leaving her with legs stretched wide and her body on full display to the world with a pulsing warmth against her taint.

"I told you," Nicholas hissed right into the legendary's massive ear, "to worry about yourself." Victini gasped when she felt his penis slipping between her folds until it caught below her clit and began to turn back into her pussy. "Look."

Victini was only feeling as Nicholas' dick began grinding against all the best spots but when the whisper in her ear turned curt her eyes snapped open. She hadn't even felt it but Nicholas had walked over to stand in front of a mirror mounted above the side of the pool. Likely to give the lifeguard on duty a full view but now it performed a different purpose. It allowed her to see her position clearly.

Her hair blazed, consuming everything behind it in red and orange flame. Yet the eyes still pierced it. The man holding her, holding her up as if she was some kind of doll, was not only surviving her flames… He seemed to be completely ignoring them as if they weren't even there. And as she stared at the reflection, the words returned to her like a thunderbolt.

Equals? No.

Above us all.

Hours later Nicholas finally let go. Victini fell, crumpling to her hands and knees as his semen oozed from her. After a few minutes she slowly raised her head.

"Done already?" came the amused voice behind her.

Victini shivered. "What more can you do?"

"I thought you'd learn by now not to ask questions you don't want the answer to." Victini let out a sharp gasp when she felt his hand curl around the side of her neck and his fingers worm between her lips before he abruptly released her again. Then he was helping her to her feet. "Maybe I will show you more next time."

Victini slowly turned to face him. "We're… actually done, then?"

Nicholas gave her a smug look. "Why? Haven't had enough yet?"

Victini closed her eyes and when they opened again she shook her head. "The only humans I would ever allow to be known as my tamer would need to be beyond mere victory. You… win."

Nicholas' expression softened. "We can keep going if you'd like. Are you actually done?"

Victini shook herself. "Brr. Yeah, if you want for now." She grinned at him. "So. My tamer. What now?"

Nicholas smiled slightly. "Now you get to learn how things work in my harem."

"Yeah? How's that? Gonna give me an order or something?"

Nicholas chuckled. "No, I almost never give orders around here. But I'm still the Alpha of this entire harem." His eyes glinted. "I can prove that again, if you wish."

Victini quickly shook her head. "Nope. Not treating you like a rando. Like an equal, right?"

"Exactly."

"Easy enough after seeing you in action tonight." Victini let out a deep sigh. "Seriously, though. What now?"

"I was being serious." Nicholas glanced to the side. "There are two pokegirls who want to introduce themselves, and once we've had those, I'll be heading to bed with my mate."

Victini looked around in confusion. "Who?"

"Can't sense them?"

"I may be a Psychic-type but I'm no good with telepathy," Victini groused. "Hellooo? Who's out there in the dark?"

The shadows seemed to wrap around a figure as she walked into the pool lights and gave Victini a neutral look. "Good evening, Victini."

Victini blinked as Zinnia's emerald green wings spread out behind her. "Do I know you?"

"You know of her. And of me," Celine said as she appeared on Nicholas' other side. "You seem to have taken to Nicholas in the same way you took to that man all those years ago. It's good. You were so much easier to deal with when there was a human tempering you."

Victini swiveled to her. "Hey, wait a second. Who are you two? Stop with the dumb mask trick thing already, nobody would be talking like that if you weren't an old lady."

Celine nearly choked on her response. "OLD-!"

"They are, right?" Victini complained to Nicholas. "That one on the boat was too, wasn't she. I know I've never seen or even sensed her before though, and I got a reeeeal good feeling when she slapped me in that little box."

"Am I going to have to do introductions or can we act like I ask Victini to act? As equals within my harem?" Nicholas asked tiredly.

Zinnia sighed quietly. "Victini." When Victini turned back to her Zinnia raised her head, dispelling her clothes before releasing her energy. As the glowing yellow patterns burst to life across her skin and Zinnia's body began to swell and twist into a more accurate, if still smaller representation of her true form she spoke again. "I am Rayquaza. Daughter of Tirakan."

"OHHHH!" Victini gasped. "She was always so proud of you! I'm so glad to finally meet Tirie's little girl!"

Zinnia looked stunned at the response she'd gotten and began stammering out a reply. "I… Uh, well, I mean, I… was dead, for a few millennia, and was only recently resurrected, so…"

"Oh I thought you were just always off busy busy doing your own thing," Victini said. "I'm so glad you're not dead anymore! So you've taken to this human? Just like Tirie did for the old king! Wow, isn't that awesome – it's just like before, my tamer and a dragon for my best friend!"

Celine had finally gathered herself enough and cleared her throat loudly. "EH-HEM. And I," she said, letting her own form shrink and return to what Nicholas had seen when she'd met him at her shrine, "am Celebi."

"Cele…" Victini swiveled back. "Ooh, that's fun. Don't tell me Nicky is your tamer, old lady."

"STOP CALLING ME OLD LADY!"

Victini danced back with a giggle when Celebi floated towards her. "But you are! You're as old as old can get!"

"The word is TIMELESS," Celebi snapped. "I wish you'd act your own age, but I can see I was right to assume that you hadn't changed one bit over the last few thousand years. Fine. I am known as the Bellossom Celine, and Rayquaza is the Salamence Zinnia. Make sure to use our given names and not our true ones when interacting with us outside of Nicholas' harem."

"Yeah, I've never understood why you old ladies are so obsessed with being something else," Victini groused. "Fine, fine, I'll do it. Don't expect me to fake it though."

"That's something to discuss at another time," Nicholas interrupted. "Celine? Zinnia? Anything more to say to Victini?"

Both legendaries were returning to their disguised forms and Zinnia shook her head, shying back when Victini danced over to give her a big hug. "Um, no, not really."

"We are going to have so so much fun I am going to tell you all about the things I would do with your mom and there are so many places to go and…" Victini was babbling as Nicholas turned to head back to the hotel, Celine joining him after a moment and leaving Zinnia to her fate.

Nicholas cracked a tiny smile as they walked back inside. "I wasn't aware you were sensitive about your age, ancient one."

Celine shot him a disgruntled look. "Don't you start now."

Nicholas laughed. "I won't, I won't. Timeless one. Unchanged from the instant of her creation. As beautiful now as she was then."

Celine's expression changed to a beatific smile and she wrapped her arms around his with a happy growl. "Much better."

"I think I can make a slight detour on my way to Sabrina."

With another happy noise Celine pulled him to her room.

.

.

Nicholas stifled a yawn. The sun was barely even above the horizon and he and Sabrina were standing outside of a travel agency in Pokestar Studios. Nimbasa was too far away to travel to normally for a day trip and none of their pokegirls knew the city, so a professional teleporter would be needed.

Finally Nicholas saw an employee unlock the doors as the first rays of sunlight were creeping up the street and they walked inside with Kali and a freshly rested but highly grumpy Cathy in tow. Nobody else had chosen to join the humans today – Victini was busy with Zinnia, Diana had elected to remain behind and force some order back into her harem, and the rest of their respective pokegirls were happy in their own pursuits. Nicholas had a feeling they were mostly staying away to let their Master and Mistress have their time together, though.

"Good morning, good morning. How may I be of assistance today?" the receptionist asked brightly as they stopped in front of the desk.

"Two to teleport to Nimbasa City," Sabrina replied.

"Two with pokegirls?"

"They'll be in pokeballs."

"We still hold a nominal surcharge for any filled pokeballs in transport," the receptionist apologized. "It's a policy that came from a number of incidents with our services being used for commercial use." The receptionist turned to their computer and began typing. "Two with pokegirls, teleport to Nimbasa, and will this be a round trip today?"

"Yeah…"

"One-way is fine," Nicholas interrupted before Sabrina could agree to the itinerary. "We don't want to commit to any return time."

"I must warn you sir, the charge for two one-way teleports will be higher than a round-trip, and scheduled travelers hold priority to all teleport attendants…"

"It's fine." Nicholas glanced at Sabrina and cast his thoughts towards her. "Kali can just bring us back whenever we want."

Sabrina blinked. "Oh. Good call."

Kali's amused thoughts cut in on the humans' telepathic conversation. "I could have simply brought you both to this city as well, Master Nicholas."

"Yeah, but there's probably rules and things on teleporting pokegirls within the city limits," Nicholas thought back. "There were around Driftveil and the stadium, remember? This is easier. You can bring us straight back to the hotel without any issue."

Kali shrugged as the employee turned to Sabrina and tried to upsell her instead. "Ma'am, booking a return is truly advisable – there are flexible time slots that can be added to your reservation, and-"

"I think my fiancé has already said no thank you," Sabrina cut in, giving the man a cold look. "One-way, two teleports with pokegirls. That is all."

The receptionist settled back. "Very well. Then if you could each please sign these forms…?"

They finished the paperwork and paid before being directed to take a seat in the lobby. Fifteen minutes later they were called back to a staging room where a strange brown-skinned pokegirl waited. Her body seemed almost artificial, yet moved organically, and various black patterns and colored orbs scattered all over her torso, arms, and head made her silhouette very hard to discern, adding to her alien appearance. She spoke in resonant tones as she instructed them in how to prepare for the teleport and Sabrina recalled Kali first, letting the pokegirl take her by the shoulders and vanish from sight.

About ten minutes later the girl reappeared alone and Nicholas recalled Cathy before teleporting as well. They appeared in a similar room at first, where the girl spoke to an attendant before teleporting again, this time to what he recognized as being a destination pad.

"Thank you for choosing our services today," the pokegirl said as she released him and raised an arm to point out the door. "Your traveling companion awaits you outside."

Nicholas nodded and the girl vanished again. Stepping outside he smiled when he saw Sabrina and Kali waiting and walked over while triggering Cathy's release. "There we go! We did make it to Nimbasa, right?"

Sabrina giggled and pointed out the windows at the city beginning to wake up. "Sure did. I can see the stadium from here."

"There's a stadium here too?"

"Sure is. Hey, did you teleport twice or just once?"

Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "Twice, why?"

"I was just surprised that we didn't teleport straight here."

"Teleportation requires exponentially more energy the farther you attempt to go at once," Kali said quietly. "Cutting the distance in half and making two jumps is slower, but requires far less energy – especially with a passenger."

"Oh." Nicholas frowned. "But we just went… I don't know exactly how far, but not that far. Not even across the whole league or anything silly. You and the others, heck I remember even Tetsu teleporting me twice as far as Pokestar to Nimbasa in a single jump."

Kali gave him a smug look. "As I said, Master. Doing so requires exponentially more energy. Only a powerful pokegirl could manage to make such a distance seem effortless."

Nicholas slowly began to laugh. "Ah. Of course."

"Well, we've got a few hours to burn," Sabrina said as Kali grinned. "The weekly Sunday musical at the big Nimbasa Theater starts at ten, so I figured we'd check that out, but before then I guess we just get some breakfast and explore the city."

"Anywhere specific in mind?" Nicholas asked as they exited the building. "What about that stadium you mentioned?" He began turning. "Where's it at?"

"Don't you worry about the stadium right now." Sabrina caught his hand and began pulling him deeper into the city. "You'll get a good look at it later tonight."

Nicholas raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Oh, will I?"

"Yup! Come on, let's see the city."

They didn't do much more than sightsee through the Nimbasa strip, taking in the glowing advertisements and gaudy buildings before finding a restaurant for breakfast and heading to the Musical Theater. There, Nicholas discovered that the 'Sunday musical' was a sort of open event similar to the contests of Hoenn, which explained why Sabrina had been interested in it. He and Cathy were sucked into hours of costuming and performance alongside Sabrina and Kali with all of them sharing the stage with dozens of others as they sang karaoke and performed dance routines for the audience while wearing hundreds of different props. It was quite fun, he realized, and made even better by the joy he saw in Sabrina's every move. She was in her element. This was a glimpse for him into the life she was trying to build for herself. It was… She was beautiful.

It was well past noon when Nicholas finally stepped off the stage for the last time, following a giggling Sabrina into the back and grabbing her in a hug before both humans collapsed in a tangle of limbs and just lay there, exhausted, Nicholas joining her in her giddy laughter after a while as Cathy and Kali found resting spots around them.

"You were beautiful out there," Nicholas whispered when they finally began to calm down. "I can't wait to see your movies."

"I- I'm so happy you liked it," Sabrina said. "Oh, I wish I could bring you on set…"

"One day," Nicholas interrupted quietly. "Once you make it big, right?"

Sabrina's eyes glowed happily. "Right."

Nicholas chuckled softly and kissed her hair. "Right. I've worked up one hell of an appetite. Get changed and get lunch?"

Sabrina nodded. "Lunch sounds great."

They emerged into the early afternoon and a city that had completely come alive from the slow traffic of the morning. So alive that the first two restaurants they tried both had wait times for a table and they were forced to move off the strip to find somewhere that wasn't completely packed.

They ended up heading back across the bridges that spanned the canals separating Nimbasa into three distinct sections and finding a place in the more commercial district. As they ate Nicholas took in the buildings around them, including an older looking classical style building with towering pillars and carved stonework that made it stand out from the concrete around it.

"So, what's the plan after lunch?" he asked Sabrina. "You said I'd get a good look at this stadium later tonight, so we've got some time, huh?"

"There's far too much to do for a single day," Sabrina laughed. "Want a list?"

"Sure, but only list things you'd want to do."

Sabrina beamed at him. "Aren't you sweet. What if I want to make my cute man happy?"

"You already do that every day," Nicholas replied softly, causing Sabrina to blush happily. After a few seconds of them grinning at each other like idiots she shook her head.

"R-Right. Um, I definitely want to spend a few hours at the amusement park, and then there's a few different locations around the city we could tour. Like that over there, that's the Gear Station, the central hub of Unova's subway system."

Nicholas turned back to look at the building he'd been appreciating. "Oh, that's cool. Where else would you be thinking? More art studios maybe?"

"Nimbasa doesn't do the same kind of art as Castelia," Sabrina explained as he turned back to her. "Here it's all human. Sports, performance, fashion! We could do that, actually," she said. "Skyla's friend Elesa is the gym leader here and she's become a growing part of the Unovan fashion scene. I bet I could get her to meet us and then we'd both be happy!"

Nicholas laughed. "If I know gym leaders, and I hope I do, considering I'm going to be marrying one, I know that you lot love to stick to your gyms like it's everything. So if we wanted to meet Elesa I'd bet money we'd need to do it at her gym, and I've sworn not to enter one, remember?"

Sabrina's eyes glinted. "Unless I shove you through the doors of one, if I remember correctly."

"I didn't mean like this!"

"Well too bad what you meant," Sabrina giggled. "I'm keeping that option on the list."

Nicholas rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. So we've got a fashion model, an old train station, and an amusement park. What about the sports you mentioned Nimbasa likes?"

"Oh, that's boring," Sabrina said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "That would probably take the rest of the day, if there's even a match scheduled for today. How about we check out Gear Station and then head to the park?"

"I think that's a great idea," Nicholas chuckled.

They spent some more time finishing their meal and were walking out of the restaurant when something down the street caught Nicholas' attention.

Sabrina glanced at him when she felt his thoughts shift. "What's up?"

Nicholas had come to a halt now and was staring into the distance. "It's… probably nothing."

"Mmhmm. You may not be a psychic like me but I'm well aware that you've got your own abilities, honey." Sabrina walked around to peer off where Nicholas was. "See something that way? I just see street."

"It's… I don't think I necessarily saw anything," Nicholas said slowly. "But, something caught my attention. Maybe I did see it but whatever it was was so inconsequential my brain immediately forgot it as unimportant." He was still staring down the street. Unease. He felt uneasy. Something was wrong. "Whatever it was… something doesn't feel right."

Sabrina glanced at where Gear Station stood in the opposite direction to where Nicholas was staring before rolling her eyes. "Come on. Let's see what it is."

Nicholas looked to her in surprise. "Huh?"

"It's bothering you. Not much usually does." Sabrina began walking, forcing him to follow. "That means this must be important."

Nicholas was shaking his head as he caught up to her. "It's probably nothing, and whatever it is shouldn't be our concern. We're here to have fun together, aren't we?"

"To be perfectly honest, as long as we make it to the amusement park for a few hours, I don't care what we do with the rest of the afternoon," Sabrina replied. "Come on. Maybe it's a criminal organization working to take over the world."

Nicholas let out a massive groan. "Really?"

"Haha, I'm kidding!"

They walked a few blocks before beginning to hear the chanting. Another few blocks and they looked around a corner to see a massive crowd blocking the street, signs and banners waving, and Nicholas let out another groan. "Oh. It's just Plasma."

"Oh. Well, that's boring," Sabrina grumbled. "I guess you got the same feeling as when you met that mob outside Pokestar Studios."

Nicholas blinked. No, that wasn't right at all. The protestors he'd interacted with at Pokestar hadn't triggered anything in him, no feelings of unease like he felt now. In fact the feelings were stronger the closer they got to this crowd and as he scanned them he realized why.

The chants were accompanied by shouts. Angry shouts. Forceful shouts. This wasn't like Pokestar. This wasn't like any protest he'd witnessed here in Unova. This crowd… something was very wrong.

"Sabrina stop," he urged and grabbed her by the arm. "This isn't like Pokestar. Something's wrong here. These people are angry."

"Well yeah, they're protesting…"

"No, listen." Nicholas pulled her back so that the crowd hopefully wouldn't turn their attention to them. "I've talked with a lot of people here in Unova and even a protest doesn't get heated. Not usually. This League has suffered multiple civil wars in its history, the public hates unnecessary violence."

"But a protest-"

"Not a protest," Nicholas cut her off grimly. "I think we're seeing the beginnings of a riot." He glanced down. "Kalmiya, what's down the street? What could Plasma be outside?"

"From the location, Master, it is most likely the Nimbasa Pokegirl Breeding Center, a business that offers pokegirl mating services to tamers."

Nicholas' mouth thinned. No wonder. "Make a call to the Nimbasa police. This is definitely going to turn violent."

"They're just out of my range," Sabrina griped. "I can't get anything from their thoughts except anger. You're sure that's not normal? Seems normal to me."

"If we'd been in Kanto, sure," Nicholas replied. "Something like this would be normal. There'd be police already on scene. But here in Unova, it's anything but."

"Well unless you're planning on doing anything about it, let's head to the subway station," Sabrina said, turning to walk back down the street. "You confirmed your feeling and called the police, right? What more is there to do?"

What more was there? Nicholas winced. He still felt a creeping sense of dread but Sabrina was right – he'd called the police, and it was their duty to deal with this, not his. He couldn't even claim it was 'his' League or anything. He was just a tourist. This wasn't his problem until someone got hurt.

He was turning away, taking one last look at the crowd, when a small group within it made him grind to a halt.

The majority of the Plasma members were dressed normally in various civilian outfits. But… there were a few he could see that were dressed eerily alike. All in the same blue hoodie and black sweatpants. As he watched, two put their hoods up and one slipped off his backpack. Opening it to withdraw…

Nicholas' blood ran cold as the description from the previous day ran through his mind. A man in a light blue hoodie with a white cloth robe or hauberk pulled over the top…

"I'M DOING SOMETHING!" Nicholas roared, breaking into a dead sprint with Cathy scrambling to keep up with his sudden burst. "KALMIYA! Get the police here, NOW! Convince them somehow, I don't care how, but there's about to be a repeat of Castelia!"

They'd stopped much too far away. Nicholas could only watch as the two pulled on their white uniforms and slipped through the crowd to vanish from sight. He was half a block away when he heard the sound of a shattering window.

Chaos. The crowd broke from their mostly organized grouping and choked the street, slowing him immediately as some Plasma members scattered in surprise, but many pressed closer to the target of their anger. Nicholas could hear the surprised yells of multiple people from the direction of what must be the business and then… Screams. He was shoving his way past a few indecisive protestors when he heard a bang and a massive purple cloud filled the air.

Smokescreen, his brain analyzed even before the smoke had reached him. Sabrina was running after him, and he felt Kali warring between her Mistress and joining him at the front, so with a very stern thought he focused her priorities. "Kali, there is danger. You are to protect my mate at all costs."

He felt her immediately snap back to Sabrina's side. "Yes, Master Nicholas."

Smokescreen. He just had Cathy with him and she was already causing injuries by plowing through the crowd. Many of these people were innocent, or at the very least far more innocent than the ones who had broken the tenuous peace, so he didn't want to cut her loose. The downside of having the Miltank as his bodyguard, he supposed. Ryuko would be much better suited to operating with the surgical precision necessary here. Her words came back to him and he grimaced. Each to their own strengths. Here he was without any of the other pokegirls he'd befriended over the years, without his harem that he'd built until it could handle any situation. He'd have to rely on himself.

He vanished into the smoke as aura began feeding his eyes, forming a hazy outline that was better than nothing. He still needed to get better at discerning the shape of the world by the flow of aura around inorganic things but this would be enough. He had a feel for the building, the walls, the windows. More importantly, he saw the two bright lights fleeing around the side.

There were a dozen voices clamoring inside but he ignored them. They were shouting in confusion, shouting for the police, and not a single voice seemed to be moving to follow the two criminals. He heard Cathy roaring in confusion as she tried to follow him and failed, crashing over a hedge in her blindness, but all he could give her was a direction before he took off, leaping a wall and sprinting down the alley in hot pursuit.

One of the running figures seemed to immediately realize that he was on their tails because he saw a head turned back through a flash in the concrete jungle and moments later he was scrambling to stop his momentum as the alley in front of him abruptly turned into a solid wall. Finding the way forward seemed impossible until he realized that the two must have darted between the alleys, fast enough and with a minimal amount of lateral motion to fool his senses into believing they were just running in a straight line. He could feel them getting farther with every passing second and with an angry snarl Nicholas took a few steps back, scanning the dead end until he found a hanging fire escape and leapt for it, clawing his way up until he could clear the wall and tumble to the ground on the other side to resume the chase.

Then the city was gone. Nicholas pulled up from his sprint, his steps slowing as he took in what had opened in front of him. A walled area stretched to either side, an entrance gate dead ahead. Behind it, tents. The amusement park.

He grimaced as he stared at the environment. The chaotic layout would make it nearly impossible to search effectively, and the hundreds of small buildings and attractions offered easy places to hide.

His eyes snapped to two flashes of white and he ran, dodging through the parking lot until he had reached the entrance booth. Too late. The two were nowhere in sight. But they had undoubtedly been who he'd seen entering the park – the queues for entrance were scattered, people clustered about and complaining loudly about the hooligans who had bulled through them. They were inside the park.

He was debating what to do when a voice made him stiffen. "Looking for someone, Nicholas Topolski?"

Nicholas slowly turned. A young man was walking towards him with his hands hooked into his pockets. The green-haired human from the PWT. N. "Somehow I'm not surprised to see you."

"And I you," N replied. "Yet, this time you are alone. Truly, alone."

Kalmiya was in his pokedex but he wasn't about to correct the other man. "Your friends blinded Cathy, kept her from being able to follow me."

"My friends?" N asked curiously. "The two I saw you pursuing? What makes you believe they are my friends? I was about to suggest we look for them together."

Nicholas frowned slightly. "You're with Plasma just like they are, aren't you?"

"I have never said I was." N looked into Nicholas' eyes and Nicholas was surprised to see him hesitating slightly. "There are people who call themselves Plasma… Who are angry, and deeply impatient," he said slowly. "Who are human. Their action will not bring change. Only resistance." He raised an eyebrow. "Even if I am as you claim, do you really have the time to question and delay? With every passing moment the two you pursue get further away."

Nicholas scowled. "Fine. I'll believe you, for now."

N motioned for him to follow and they entered the park, walking past the entryway to the main road where the two scanned the area. No sign of the two Plasma members.

"They're not in the open," N observed. "We should gather more information."

"Maybe the security cameras…"

"I have a better idea." N pointed at where a Ferris wheel rose above everything else in the center of the park. "Let's ride the Ferris wheel and see if we can spot them."

Nicholas hesitated but eventually followed N to the boarding area and before long the two were seated inside one of the compartments. As they began to lift from the ground N looked up with a calm smile.

"I love Ferris wheels," he murmured. "The circular motion… the mechanics… They're like a collection of elegant formulas. The mathematics that lie behind every part of this world are beautiful to me."

Nicholas grunted.

"Still on your guard?" N asked without lowering his eyes. "Even though we are as alone as we could be?"

"Because of it, actually," Nicholas replied. "I don't trust you, N. You keep skirting around my questions to your identity, you have never given me your name, and the last time we met you just about sent two pokegirls to attack me. Now you just so happen to be here, the place two terrorists fled to, two men who I know are associated with you in some way."

N kept his eyes on the metal arm holding their compartment. "I would like to apologize for my actions when we first met, Nicholas Topolski. I was angry. Confused." He finally looked back down. "I have met many humans who claim what you claim, you see. None of them meant a word they said."

"Well I do."

"I have come to realize that," N said softly. "I listened to what you said to the Plasma members outside Pokestar Studios. What you said to Unova. It gave me much to think about."

"Not enough to give up on your plan of segregation, I assume."

N gave him a small smile. "Not at all. In fact, to quote yourself, I agree, Nicholas Topolski. You say that in our world pokegirls and humans are tied together by destiny. I agree. You say none of us alone hold the power to change that. I agree."

Nicholas remained silent. He heard the 'but'.

"My vision is to change the world without using force. Trying to change the world by force will just make others resist. If people resist, the ones that will be hurt are the innocent pokegirls enslaved by foolish tamers. You understand. Pokegirls are not just tools for people to use!" N scowled. "But if the world rejects my ideal," he murmured, "and if my power alone is not enough to change it, then I will not have my power alone." He locked eyes with Nicholas. "I know you, so I suppose it is only fair for you to know me. I am not 'part' of Plasma – I am their King."

Nicholas slowly settled back into his seat. "I'd heard Plasma claims to have a descendent of the original royal line on their side."

"Yes. Plasma's Sage Ghetsis is my adopted father, and as their King I have striven alongside them to save all pokegirls."

"Even if all humanity joined you, you still wouldn't be able to change the truth of the world."

"I know."

Nicholas frowned slightly. N was unphased. "You… know?"

"Yes. Plasma does what it can, but I agree with you. We are merely one part of the equation of the world, and so cannot act upon it. Cannot change it. Not alone." N smiled. "I know what is needed. The power my ancestors bore. The power of the original dragon! The pokegirl who, alongside the first king, brought order to Unova, to the world! It is my turn to become that king!"

Nicholas felt a chill run through him. "The original dragon is dead."

"Dead, but not gone," N replied. "Her presence survives. Zekrom. The ebony dragon said to lend her power to those who want to build an ideal world! She exists, and she will rouse from her slumber at my presence. When she senses the hero who will free pokegirls. Together, we will lead the way to a new future."

"Even if…" Nicholas trailed off. It was useless trying to play things off with this man. N. He truly was something special… not unlike him. "I do not know their names but I know that, if Zekrom exists, she is not alone," Nicholas said instead, leaning forwards to growl the words at N. "Tirakan's very essence broke when the original king's sons went to war. Split between the two brothers as two new pokegirls." He wouldn't mention the others, the Lati twins, or the potential other pokegirl Zinnia had said might have formed. They wouldn't sway N. "If you seek one half, the other will resist you."

"I look forward to it."

Nicholas' mouth popped open in shock. "What?"

"You speak of Reshiram, the alabaster dragon," N said. "She would not be able to stop Zekrom and I alone. But she will not be alone." N leaned forwards with a wide grin. "If you truly wish to stop me, Nicholas Topolski, then you must become a hero as well. Awaken Reshiram! If she recognizes you, then we will be as equals. If you want to protect the bonds you claim exist between pokegirls and people, then you must search for her. If you do not, if you can not, if she does not – then there will be no one able to interfere with my new formula to change the world."

Nicholas stared at the other man. "You're… challenging me."

"You are the only human who has made me question myself," N replied quietly. "I… thank you, for that, Nicholas Topolski. Your pokegirls trust you for some reason. Even if I can't understand that, it's still good. If every person and pokegirl cared about one another like you and yours do, perhaps I could watch over the future of people and pokegirls without having to liberate pokegirls from people who just use them. But I can't. Because they don't. So oppose me. Because if you don't… If you don't, then the pokegirls and their tamers who care about one another, like you and your 'harem', will be separated. And that… that will break my heart a little."

Nicholas gazed at N. "You're hoping I'll fail. That Reshiram will refuse me. It will vindicate you."

"Truthfully… I am no longer sure what I hope for," N whispered. "But I know what I must do, and I will not stray from my path."

Nicholas glanced out the window. They'd passed the peak of the ride by now and neither man had even bothered to pretend to look for the two Plasma members. It had all been a setup. To get him alone with N. "Fine," he growled as he turned back. "Then you'll have your opposition, King of Plasma." He steadied himself when the compartment bounced as they approached the ground. "It will start right now, as I subdue you and ruin your dream of ever even finding Zekrom."

N burst out laughing which just made Nicholas scowl. "You think you can subdue me? Alone?"

"Easily."

N's laughter cut as suddenly as it had come. "Perhaps you could," he murmured. The compartment jerked to a halt and the door opened. "But I am not alone."

"Those two chumps…" Nicholas trailed off at what he saw in the doorway. A lithe figure was holding the door open, clad in full grey and black ninja gear with long white hair and a mask over their face.

N stood and gave Nicholas a small bow. "Thank you for speaking with me today, Nicholas Topolski. When next we meet, I will stand beside Zekrom, and this world will change."

Nicholas didn't dare move as N left the compartment, not with the figure in the door watching him. The hair on the back of his neck was standing up as well and, though it was faint, he could feel another similar presence outside the window behind him. Stupid. Of course Plasma's so-called "King" wouldn't be left alone.

As N left Nicholas spoke. "You're who I sensed when I left the restaurant," he said calmly to the figure in the door. "Unease was all I had to go on. Did you orchestrate that riot as well?"

"My father helped set this meeting up," N said from his position outside. "He also wanted to see what kind of a tamer you were, for Eris to have taken notice of you, and I to be interested in you."

"…Come, Lord N," the figure in the door said in a voice that barely rose above the noise of the park. "It is time to return to your castle. We brought the one you wanted."

Nicholas sat perfectly still as N and the figure vanished into the crowd, only daring to move when the light presence behind him vanished as well. Only then did he emerge, gazing out at nothing in particular until he turned to head back towards where Kalmiya was telling him Sabrina waited.

.

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Celebrity Profile Overview

Zinnia – Salamence

The Salamence. Symbol of the Hoenn Draconid people. Nicholas Topolski claims them as his heritage – so it is only natural for him to claim a Salamence as well. In fact he claims two. The smaller of the two, Zinnia, shows another aspect of the Draconid myth – her scales are green, instead of a Salamence's normal red and blue, a rare coloration rumored only to occur in those Salamence blessed by the Draconid's patron deity, Rayquaza. But such a thing is surely just a myth, especially with Zinnia's diminutive stature next to the other true-blooded Salamence in Nicholas Topolski's harem.

Celine – Bellossom

Bellossom, known as the dancing flower pokegirl. Hardly a breed known for their battle skills, and Celine does not break the mold whatsoever. She is a gentle, cuddly Grass-type companion pokegirl who Nicholas Topolski picked up in Indigo during his time as Champion of the region.