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.

3. Chapter 03 - Setting the Stage

"So. How was your dinner?"

Sabrina glanced at the other pokegirl seated with them, all the rest of their respective harems scattered about the dining hall. "You should have warned me first."

Nicholas shrugged apologetically. "I had the idea and made the decision with Diana right before Kali joined you. I couldn't have given you any warning."

Sabrina grunted. Kali was sitting silently on her other side from Nicholas while pretending to ignore the two humans. "Can we discuss it now, then?"

"Of course." Nicholas inclined his head at Kali. "I can't be with you at all times. There are social barriers. Kali is a pokegirl. She can." He returned to Sabrina and adopted a soft tone. "You don't feel safe alone yet. I just want to make sure you're not alone."

"Wherever Kali could go I would bring Diana."

"Sabrina, you had that arrangement for… how long before I arrived here?" Nicholas asked gently. "You couldn't handle Karen. You didn't feel safe. Kali can keep you safe."

Sabrina blew air from her nose. "I know she can."

Nicholas waited a moment before leaning in slightly. "So…?"

"It's just…" Sabrina looked over at the silent legendary. "It doesn't feel right. She's not my pokegirl. She's yours. Even if she wasn't also what she is." She turned back to him. "But I can't tell you to tell her to stop protecting me, because I know all you'd do is tell her to protect me without me realizing. She's more than smart and powerful enough to pull that off." Behind her Kali cracked a small smirk.

Nicholas sighed and gave her a wry smile. "Is the problem because she's that powerful?"

"I don't like being controlled any more than you do, darling."

Nicholas nodded. Sabrina had rested her elbow on the table and was leaning on it while she looked at him, her expression neutral. "It isn't my intention to control you with Kali. But Diana can't stop you from hurting yourself. Kali can."

Sabrina remained in her position for almost a minute, silently watching him, before she finally sighed and pulled back. "I told you I'd stop now."

"Sabrina… You told me you'd stop years ago," Nicholas replied as tenderly as he could manage. Sabrina wanted help. She knew she did. But she was who she was, the woman he loved. She couldn't just come out and say that unless they were alone. Sometimes not even then. In this moment, she understood why he'd sent Kali to watch over her. She understood it was likely the best option for all of them. But she had to save face all the same. "It doesn't matter who we are. What we are. Even the Creator is not infallible. We all could use someone looking out for us."

"Even me."

Sabrina turned. Kali was no longer pretending to ignore them, choosing instead to meet Sabrina's eyes calmly. "Kali?"

"Mistress Sabrina, from the beginning you have stood unbowed before me. Before Mewtwo. It has never needed to be said, but you are not simply my Master's mate." She smiled. "You are as strong as he is, and he is as strong as I am. If you will allow me to accompany you, then one day perhaps I will be as strong as you."

Sabrina stared at her for a few long seconds before speaking. "In our own ways, right?" she whispered. When Kali nodded Sabrina let out her breath in a massive sigh. "Well… You said this was Diana's idea." When Nicholas nodded behind her Sabrina shook her head with a rueful smile. "I guess no matter how I look at it I'm outvoted then. I think we'll need to change your look though, Kali."

Kali leaned back with a snort. "I am not interested in hiding what I am."

"No, not like… that," Sabrina said, glancing at where Celine sat nearby. "I mean your outfit. The suit is good, but I picked that for when you'd be with Nicholas. He's a pokegirl tamer, right? Having you stand out doesn't matter since it's still obvious that you're a part of his harem. With me, if we're not careful someone might pin you as another actress."

Nicholas chuckled and patted Sabrina on the shoulder. "And here I thought you had no idea what world you were getting yourself into. I should have known better."

Sabrina turned and caught his hand when he started to pull away, using that grip to bring him into a kiss. "Oh I won't pretend that I know more than you," she laughed, "but I've made it this far on my own, after all."

"You certainly have." Nicholas glanced past Sabrina's head. "Kali, I think I have an excellent idea for what look you should take. It should be one you'll like."

Kali grinned. "If you believe so, Master Nicholas, then I can't wait to see what it is."

"So." Nicholas looked back to Sabrina. "What's the plan today, honey? Got any more fancy dinners?"

Sabrina giggled. "No. But I was thinking of meeting some of my friends." Her smile grew when Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "Mmhmm. I have new friends. Would you like to meet them?"

.

.

Sabrina had sworn that there was no need for Kali to dress up for the day so she had cast off the business suit and returned to her hoody, though at Sabrina's insistence she was wearing something under it. Nothing more than some biker shorts and a sports bra but it was still far more than normal.

It was just the three of them today too – Sabrina herself dressed in an outfit reminiscent of what she'd worn as a gym leader, Nicholas taking advantage of the casual atmosphere to find his most relaxed fit and really enjoy it. It had been so long since they'd had a real vacation. Even if this wasn't one for Sabrina, he was going to enjoy every moment he could.

"I think you'll like meeting at least one of them," Sabrina was teasing as they walked. "He's a lot like me."

"A lot like you, huh," Nicholas said with a grin. "A psychic?"

"Nope!"

"An… actor."

"That one's hardly a surprise," Sabrina giggled. "Come on, try again!"

"You can't tell me this guy's not a psychic like it's more surprising than him being an actor," Nicholas teased. "You're both, aren't you?"

"You're so close, come on! Last guess, the café is around the next corner."

Nicholas huffed and rubbed his chin as he thought. "Hmm. This guy's a lot like you. An actor, but not a psychic, so what else could he be?" He pretended to be deep in thought before snapping his fingers. "Ah-ha! He's hot!"

Sabrina burst out in a fit of laughter, grabbing his hands and dragging him down the road. "NICHOLAS!"

"Well? I'm right, aren't I?" Nicholas laughed back. "You haven't said no!"

"That's NOT what I was getting at!" Sabrina replied. "Just hurry up already, they're waiting for us."

Nicholas grinned but picked up his pace so that he was jogging along with her as they turned the corner and approached the café.

The maître d' gave the couple a warm smile as they approached. "Miss Natsume! Your table is waiting for you. And you, sir," he said, turning and bowing his head slightly to Nicholas, "I am afraid we have not been introduced. May I have your name, please?"

"Nicholas Topolski," Nicholas replied with a smile. "Does the table have room for three?"

"Monsieur, our tables always have room for more," the man replied with his smile. "Our guests are never asked to limit their presence here. I assume, then, that the mademoiselle pokegirl is with you?"

Nicholas nodded as Kali walked up behind them. "She is."

"How wonderful! And your name, Mademoiselle?"

Kali cocked her head slightly in the man's direction. "I am Master Nicholas' pokegirl. You may call me Kali."

"Then may I address you by your Master's name, Mademoiselle Kali?" the man asked.

Kali blinked before shrugging. "That's fine."

Mister Topolski, Miss Natsume, Miss Topolski, please, allow me to show you your table," the man replied warmly, sweeping his arm as he led the way into the building.

Nicholas heard Sabrina huff quietly and after a moment he leaned down close to her ear with a smile. "We'll change your name soon enough."

Sabrina jerked away in surprise before turning and giving him a radiant grin as she threw herself into his arms for a kiss.

"H-Hey, the greeter is waiting for us," Nicholas stammered when Sabrina's move brought them to a stumbling halt.

"So? That's what he's paid to do," Sabrina whispered back. "You can't just say something like that and expect me to let it go."

"When?"

Sabrina went still, pulling back after a few moments with indecision written across her face. "I…" She glanced at the patiently waiting maître d'. "I just… found this life. Found something that makes me happy." She turned back to Nicholas. "I want it all. Is that greedy of me?"

Nicholas smiled gently and tenderly kissed her back. "Not at all. We'll wait. I'm not going anywhere." He raised a teasing eyebrow at her. "Are you?"

Sabrina's indecision washed away and she beamed back at him. "Not at all."

"Good." Nicholas paused. "Didn't you say your friends were waiting for us?"

"OH!" Sabrina quickly disentangled herself and took a few quick steps after the maître d'. "Yes. Yes, they are. Eh hem."

Pretty soon Sabrina was pushing past the maître d' to just about run for a large table. "BRYCEN! SKYLA!"

"WHEYYYYYY!" A man with long blue hair styled into a braided ponytail leapt to his feet when he saw Sabrina. "THERE SHE ISSS! HEY!" He jumped out with a massive grin and slapped a loud high-five with the approaching woman. "Fuh-HINALLY she shows up! I'm starving!"

Sabrina laughed and turned to display Nicholas and Kali. "Brycen, Skyla, this is my… fiancé, Nicholas. And one of his pokegirls, Kali. You'll be seeing more of her than of him because she's going to be fending off Karen and the rest."

"She finally is going to do something about the constant abuse, eh?" Brycen snorted. "What kind of girl is this- oh, sorry. Kali," he said, addressing Kali directly, "what kind of pokegirl are you? Karen's a pretty aggressive Houndoom, and there are other pokegirls working as agents for various producers…"

Kali smiled. "I am an Espeon, Mister Brycen. Yet, I am not worried about an 'aggressive' Houndoom."

Brycen paused and gave her another look. "Hmmm." His eyes moved to Nicholas and his lips twitched upwards. "No offense to your own girls, Sabrina… but I think I can guess why this Psychic-type isn't bothered."

Sabrina glanced at Kali before moving her eyes to Nicholas instead. "He's a stronger tamer than I am."

Nicholas shook his head and stepped forwards to offer his hand to the two. "The only reason Kali isn't worried about standing up to that Karen or anyone else is because if she makes trouble, I'm the one who will get the blame. If Diana or any of the others in Sabrina's powerful harem got in trouble it would just reflect on Sabrina herself."

Brycen quickly captured Nicholas' hand and gave it a firm shake before releasing him to let Skyla have her own greeting, the other woman taking Nicholas' hand with a slight incline of her head and a mischievous half-smile. "You're the tamer I've seen in the news, that's for sure." Brycen grinned and looked around. The maître d' had been replaced by a waiter. "Drinks? Anyone want some drinks?"

Sabrina sank into a chair with a deep sigh. "I haven't been able to let myself have a drink since… it's been too long. I'd like something light. Sea breeze, half shot?"

The waiter nodded and began writing as the others placed their orders, Nicholas finishing them off with just a plain glass of water. As the waiter left to put in their order Brycen leaned back across the table and nudged Sabrina's arm. "Hey. You know, we haven't had our rematch yet."

Sabrina raised an eyebrow with an amused smirk. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. I've been thinking, and I'm going to get you next time," Brycen grinned. "I've played it over and over and I'm telling you, no matter what I do, my strategy is flawless."

"Mmhmm." Sabrina's eyes had unfocused and after a few moments she raised her hand and began poking the air. "All I'd have to do is block you there, there, and then attack through the opening you left here, and just like that." Her eyes returned to the present and she slapped both hands together with a grin. "BANG!"

Brycen's jaw had dropped while Sabrina was talking and now he sat stunned, though only temporarily. Almost immediately he was out of his seat and yelling. "HOW! Damn you, you… magic woman! I saw all of that! SHIT!" He crashed back into his seat and looked at Nicholas with a defeated grin. "She's magic, really she is. She just walked into my imagination and schooled the hell out of me."

Nicholas had to stifle his laughter while Sabrina settled back with a smug expression. "She's psychic, not magic. Could we do some introductions? You both obviously know me, but I think I only know one of you." He glanced at Skyla. "I think I saw your face in Mistralton."

"You flew into my airport, that's right," Skyla replied. "I'm Skyla, owner of the-"

"Wait." Sabrina had leaned forwards and was holding out her hand to forestall Skyla's introduction. "Before we do. Honey?" She gave Nicholas a sideways grin. "Can you guess what Brycen and Skyla and I all have in common?"

"Oh-ho-ho, playing games, are we?" Brycen chuckled.

Nicholas scrutinized the other two. Brycen was dressed up in clothing that looked more like a costume than anything, especially with the blue domino mask wrapped around his head and the open robe he wore. Skyla was similarly in strange clothing, though hers was more normal than Brycen's outfit. A short blue pilot's jacket left her midriff bare, while similarly short cut shorts were all she had covering her legs besides a pair of tall boots. Costumes then? Sabrina had already said calling them actors was the easy answer, so what else could it be?

Costumes… But why would they be in costume for a casual lunch with friends? Did that mean these were their normal outfits? Who would wear a costume-like outfit daily, as if it was their uniform? Skyla said she owned the Mistralton airport, but Brycen…

He slowly turned to look at Sabrina. She'd come to the lunch in a less than normal outfit herself. If he squinted a little he could be fooled into thinking she was wearing her old gym leader's uniform, the black bodysuit underneath not in play but the form hugging crimson crop top and skirt absolutely there.

He took that revelation and glanced back at the watching pair on the other side of the table while expanding his awareness. Then, a moment later, he smiled. "I see."

Sabrina's smug look drifted away when Nicholas leaned forwards with the slight smile of his own and she threw her head back in a huff. "DAMNIT! I should have taken the win before you actually got to meet them."

Brycen had a smile on his lips, Skyla's eyes bright as she stared at Nicholas, while both waited for him to speak. "You're gym leaders," Nicholas said. "Funny, Sabrina said you were actors." He paused. "Ah." His smile grew. "No wonder you're all such good friends."

"Well I'm not an actress, actually," Skyla said. "My friend Elesa is working on becoming a professional model, though. Brycen, on the other hand…"

"THE MYSTERIOUS MASKED BRYCEN-MAN!" Brycen roared. "HAH! Yes indeed, you have a good eye, Nicholas. Your beautiful fiancé there has stolen yet another step on me, though. She's actually managed to retire. I'm still in the game, at least for now."

Nicholas nodded. "Well with any luck you'll finish the process before I get around to finding your gym."

Brycen's eyes glinted. "Oh? Afraid of my ice, 'Dragon Master'?"

Nicholas locked eyes with the other man. "Oh, I had no idea you specialized in the Ice-type. I was just trying to be courteous to you. You know – let you retire without facing a crushing defeat."

Brycen slowly began laughing, Nicholas joining him, as both men reached out to slap each other's hands and move back into their chairs while the two women just shook their heads.

"So anyways, I-"

"Oh, here come our drinks," Brycen interrupted before Skyla could say more than a few words. The woman leaned back with a roll of her eyes as he continued to talk. "Everyone good to order food? Yeah?" The waiter handed out the drinks and took their orders, Brycen resuming where he'd left off without even a pause. "By the way, Sabrina, you have to play a part in one of my movies. You'd be incredible."

"Brycen-Man is the villain, isn't he?" Sabrina asked. "Would I be the latest hero? I don't know…"

"You could just play yourself!"

Sabrina shook her head. "I'm not sure if I'm ready for a lead role so soon."

"Well then you could be the mystical ally of the hero…"

Nicholas was left staring as the two were absorbed into their own little world. Even when he tried to get a word in Brycen or Sabrina just chattered on without acknowledging him and he glanced at Skyla. "Are they always like this?"

"Yep," Skyla sighed. "We might be able to break them out of it when the food gets here. Ah well."

"Well." Nicholas scratched his head and shrugged. "You were introducing yourself at some point, right?"

Skyla laughed. "I was, I was. I'm the owner of the Mistralton Cargo Service and the Mistralton International Airport, as well as the Gym Leader of Mistralton City. It's thanks to me that you're here at all."

Nicholas smiled and reached over to offer another, more formal handshake. "Thank you, then. Sabrina asked for a favor?"

"She told me she wanted to get you here, and I offered the full plane," Skyla replied. "I would have flown it myself but I prefer smaller aircraft than a jetliner."

Nicholas nodded. "Of course you're an aviator. And wait, don't tell me – you specialize in the Flying-type."

Skyla laughed. "Now why on earth would you make such an assumption?"

"Lucky guess," Nicholas snickered. "Well, whenever the day comes that I return to Mistralton and challenge your gym, I look forward to meeting you on the battlefield."

Skyla nodded. "So do I. A year or two ago and I might have said something different." She grew pensive. "I'd begun getting… annoyed, at the constant time being a Gym Leader requires, because I was getting less and less time to fly. I even started ignoring battle requests in favor of just… handing out my badges based on empirical simulations." She sighed. "My aviation company has wonderful techs on staff, but they were versed in flight simulations, not pokegirl battles. Those simulations were flawed. Even if they hadn't been, they didn't take into account some of the most valuable factors in a battle. Like a pokegirl's capacity to evolve." She glanced at him. "It took a rather bullheaded young tamer to get me to snap out of it. Not even my fellow Leaders had managed that yet."

Nicholas nodded and looked to where Brycen and Sabrina were still going strong. "There's a reason I took the first opportunity I could to vacate the title of Indigo Champion. It becomes your life, that kind of position. If you're not careful, it will begin to control you."

Skyla smiled softly. "Very true. I'm sure you've met many Gym Leaders in your years of travels."

"Yeah. While I can't say I got close to all of them, I absolutely met some who shared that kind of situation. Sabrina got out entirely. Brycen said he's doing the same. You sound like you're working on reclaiming a healthy balance?"

"I am, and to be honest, Unova itself is working on reclaiming that balance," Skyla replied. "I think I started to talk about this earlier, but my friend Elesa is working to enter the modeling scene as her way to balance. Then there are the other Leaders. Clay and his stadium, the Striaton Brothers closing their gym in favor of opening a restaurant, Lenora's retirement… Iris' Championship push, and Drayden's subsequent move back out of retirement to return to his position in Opelucid. Unova is changing. You're here at a good time."

Nicholas settled back. "I just heard a lot of names that I'm very curious about."

Skyla raised an eyebrow. "Curious? I would imagine someone like you would have done his research before visiting his next challenge."

"I have no intention of challenging anybody until my woman tells me to," Nicholas chortled. "My little back-and-forth with Brycen wasn't fake. I have no idea when I'd get around to challenging his gym, so if he's on his way out, who knows if I'd even find him there? Besides." Nicholas smirked. "I have unfinished business with someone else first."

Skyla was smiling as she tapped her finger against the table. "That's right, you do, don't you? Champion Cynthia of Sinnoh. The woman who, until you came along, ruled uncontested as the strongest tamer in the World League. The Champion of Champions. Did you know? She mentored multiple of our very own."

Nicholas blinked. "She what?"

"Mmhmm. Iris, for one, our current Champion and one-time Gym Leader. Also one of our current Elite Four, Lady Caitlin."

Nicholas nodded slowly. "I suppose it makes sense for Cynthia to have many powerful friends. I do as well."

Skyla giggled quietly. "Don't we all? It's part of becoming one of the elite. Strength attracts strength. Sure, we all battle, we compete – but at the end of the day, nobody understands our power better than the others like us."

"So your friend, Elesa I think you said. She's a Gym Leader too?" Nicholas asked.

"That's right. She leads the Nimbasa Gym. Electric-type specialist."

Nicholas snickered. "Oh so that's why you're her friend. You wouldn't survive being her enemy."

Skyla burst out laughing at that. "HAHA! Well, it would be a tough fight, that would be for sure. Still, my girls would give it their all."

"Unlike a few years ago."

"Unlike a few years ago," Skyla agreed. "Though, even then they would have gladly battled. I was the problem, not my harem."

"Well I'm glad you've figured things out," Nicholas smiled. "I met a Gym Leader in Sinnoh who had stopped battling as well. I didn't accept his badge until I'd earned it."

"Oh, I'll make you earn my badge, I promise you that."

They were both still laughing when the waiter returned, breaking Sabrina and Brycen from their conversation in favor of the meal. Nicholas left off his own food after only a few minutes to make sure he got in before Brycen or Sabrina could pick back up again and soon the entire table was chatting away, Kali relaxed beside them, content that her Master's mate, her Mistress, was happy here, and she was not needed.

.

.

Nicholas stifled a yawn as he flicked through the channels. It was much later in the day and Sabrina was off at a rehearsal, leaving him all alone. Or, well, "alone". There was of course his entire harem within the hotel. At this point they basically had an entire floor to themselves.

Speaking of. He let the remote fall, watching the channel he'd settled on but not really paying much attention. It was some kind of news coverage of what seemed to be a political figure in an imperial robe making a speech. Better than commercials, probably.

The harem. His thoughts wandered. Kumu had managed to find them here. He hadn't really expected anything less – she still held most of Arceus' divinity, after all, even if the cracks were beginning to show. This time she'd just handed Miruko a long black silk ribbon tied to a cream-colored stone and left again. He'd been confused as to how a ribbon was meant to work until Miruko had silently tied it around her neck, creating a rather elegant looking butterfly knot that left the stone dangling just below her collarbone. Much like Elaine's collar, but just as the leather collar fit the Blaziken, the ribbon fit the Lopunny's more pronounced sexuality perfectly.

He looked up when he heard a knocking sound from nearby, but it wasn't coming from the door. "Yeah? Who's knocking?"

Kalmiya materialized from his pokedex and stepped around the bed. "That was me, Master. Was that a good way to ask for your attention? The others knock before coming in."

Nicholas chuckled. "It was a good idea. A bit disconcerting hearing that noise come from empty air, though. Why not just talk in my ear like you usually do?"

Kalmiya shrugged. She'd come to a stop between him and the television. "Well, Master, I usually would – but I wish to talk about business, not our usual topics. It seemed more appropriate this way."

Nicholas shuffled back against the headboard so he was sitting up straighter. "Good thinking. What did you want to discuss?"

Kalmiya gestured over her shoulder. "Can you turn that off?" Nicholas hit the mute button as the old man on stage seemed to be picking up steam. "Thank you. I wanted to inform you that since your declaration to Karen you have received no fewer than seventeen e-mails with various levels of requests. The least credible were just messages claiming that you are in debt to various services Sabrina has used in the past, while the more credible were a few greetings and one that seemed to be from Karen herself outlining the 'offer' she apparently had made Sabrina previously."

"As long as you don't get caught, I don't care how you verify the validity of any of the messages received," Nicholas replied. "I agree that the ones demanding money are probably not entirely truthful, but that's part of the job. I've just stepped in front of every scammer and Seviper oil salesman in the business. The ones you think are probably real. Besides Karen, how many others are there?"

"Three, Master. Two are simple greetings and promises for further contact from talent scouts, and one is both a greeting and an offer for a dinner meeting."

"From?"

"From a… one Russel Mayor. He is known for various direct-to-video releases that were commercially successful."

Nicholas waited for her to elaborate. When Kalmiya didn't he shook his head. "Let me guess. He directs porn."

"He does, Master."

"Regarding anyone who is approaching us with offers for parts in pornos, just turn them away for now. Sabrina has told me she isn't interested in taking any of those parts alone."

Kalmiya smiled slightly. "Alone, Master?"

"Mmhmm. I said what I said. For now just take that as 'Sabrina is not interested in any pornos'."

"Understood. That will lower the incoming messages significantly." A pause. "Master, what is Mistress Sabrina's current role? I'm afraid I don't have that information."

"Because I ordered you not to look for it, or because it's not publicly available?"

"Both, Master," Kalmiya confessed. "I admit, once we had arrived here I took your order to be null and void as you had met back up with Mistress Sabrina. I found quite a lot about her activities, but nothing about what she is currently doing. Only a single line in a press release from Pokestar Studios naming 'Sabrina Natsume' as an upcoming star in one of their blockbuster releases."

"Diana probably knows more," Nicholas replied. "Her or Sabrina will be able to tell you who to get in touch with. Oh." He held up a hand. "Kalmiya, I probably don't have to warn you, but just in case. Your existence is still a relatively guarded secret. When you communicate with others make sure you only ever portray yourself through normal means, as my pokegirl or secretary, whichever is more proper. Don't tell people you're a Porygon-Z, don't materialize in their offices, make it seem as if you're sending voice and video calls even if you're in their computers. Got it?"

Kalmiya's eyes sparkled with humor. "If I must, Master."

"Uh-huh. Thanks." Nicholas lowered his hand. "Right, the Donphan, or I suppose Houndoom in the room. What did Karen say."

Kalmiya shrugged. "It was completely formal. An outline of the expected response timeline, a warning of the imminent audition deadline, the expected compensation package and the credentials of both herself and the director who has retained her as his talent scout. Do you wish to hear the full details?"

"Not especially. We need to hear from Sabrina whether she even has availability first," Nicholas sighed. "Karen mentioned this director being a big shot, didn't she? Was she telling the truth?"

"She was, Master." Kalmiya turned and gestured at the television, static racing over the screen to drown out the talking man until it was displaying an internet bio page. "Cleavon Schpielbunk. He is well known as an eccentric director with heavily artistic films, though from time to time he has directed global blockbusters and thus made a name for himself as one of the most influential directors in Unova."

"I think Sabrina named someone related to the film she's landed a role in too," Nicholas mused. "Something or other Harbor."

"Markus Harbor," Kalmiya almost immediately replied. "Did Mistress Sabrina mention a role in an action film?"

"I think she did, yeah."

"That would be him then, Master. He is known for his incredibly successful action franchise, Wonder Fighters."

"So, a similar level of fame to that Schpielbunk guy?"

"I'd say Mister Harbor is a bit more mainstream, but otherwise, yes."

"Thanks. That helps form my recommendation for when I talk to Sabrina about the second offer." Nicholas looked up at the ceiling. "Send a reply to Karen with exactly that. I can't commit to any answer right now, but promise her I will meet with my client at the earliest convenience to discuss the offer."

Kalmiya nodded. "Sent, Master."

"Thanks." Nicholas remained staring at the ceiling while he thought. "Would you go find Diana right now? Figure out as much as you can about what Sabrina's up to?" He smiled slightly. "Go satiate that curiosity that I know has been eating you alive ever since we were in Kanto."

"FINALLY!" Kalmiya didn't bother hiding her excitement as she flung herself onto the bed, planting a few sloppy kisses and grinding her naked body against him before abruptly zipping away and through the hotel room door so fast even the shocks weren't enough to stop it slamming against the wall and rebounding closed.

Nicholas slowly lowered his head after a few minutes. With Kalmiya gone the television had returned to the broadcast, though by now it was just a normal news talk show.

He was surprised. He was feeling… excitement, over this role he'd taken for himself. Maybe because it was its own kind of battle. A battle of wits and wills that would be unfolding between him and dozens of others. His first opponent had already made herself known. Karen. Others would come.

His lips twitched into a smile and he raised the remote to resume channel surfing. It wasn't a badge challenge, but it was still going to be fun.

.

.

Some miles away, an older man in ranching gear meticulously ran his fingers through his puffy hair before pressing his hat back into place. He'd been doing the same thing for nearly ten minutes at this point, the motions squashing the anxiety that threatened to rise inside of him. He was waiting at the edge of an oceanside boardwalk with a long bridge covered in barricades stretching out behind him.

Finally he stopped. A young, dark-skinned woman, dressed in a cream long-sleeved V-neck top with pink highlights and a short pink skirt over pure white leggings was approaching him, while a lithe, almost skeletal pokegirl with large bladed tusks curving out from between her lips stalked along behind.

The man held out his hand with a warm smile when the woman got closer. "Miss Champion. Thank you for coming to meet me tonight."

The woman cracked an amused smile as she accepted the handshake, pumping it quickly and just as quickly letting go. "Come on, Clay. We were on a first name basis while I was a Gym Leader."

"Yes, well… It's about appearances, isn't it?" Clay grumbled. "Especially these days."

"I didn't become Champion to act like someone else," the woman chided. "I'm just Iris. I'm just me. You know me."

Clay shook his head before cracking a wry smile of his own. "Fine, fine. Thanks for coming out here, Iris."

"Of course." Iris smiled warmly as she settled against the rail, her pokegirl drifting to a spot beside her but not leaning on it herself. "So. What did you want me to see?"

Clay chuckled. "I just said I wanted to talk."

"Uh huh. Talk, face to face. Even you understand the ease of a voice or video call."

"Yeah, yeah." Clay huffed. "You and your smarts. Well, it's behind me."

Iris looked past the man to the bridge. "The bridge? Seems under construction. Isn't that the, uh… bridge to the Driftveil barrier island? What's special about it that I can't see?"

"Well." Clay grinned. "The bridge isn't under construction. It's just closed off, because we're finishing construction on something else."

"The old warehouse district got demolished, huh?"

"Well… yes, after five years of bureaucratic bullshit," Clay replied. "You're just stringing me along, aren't you? I know you, Iris. You're too curious to be this… calm in front of a mystery."

Iris glanced at Clay with a teasing smirk. "Clay, you've talked the ear off of anyone who you could get your hands on about your special little project. It's not a secret. To anybody." She burst out laughing at the look on the man's face. "I don't know the details though, honest! I just know that you're wanting to turn Driftveil City into the third entertainment hub of Unova."

"I guess I… have been pretty stoked to see this thing built," Clay muttered. He shook himself. "RAGH! Come on. I want to show you the stadium."

"Ooh, a full stadium!" Iris exclaimed as they moved onto the bridge and began picking past the barricades. "That's certainly something we don't have yet. We have Pokestar Studios down in Virbank, we have the theme parks and the fashion industry's catwalks throughout Nimbasa, but a real stadium? What kind of events? Baseball? That's what the fields in Nimbasa are for."

"Actually, I talked to Elesa about this project before getting started. See, she wasn't completely happy when I told her I wanted to build a full stadium. Apparently there are many talks to upgrade the other facilities in Nimbasa to add more to the city's offerings for tourists." Clay winked and tapped the brim of his hat. "But ol' Clay already knew that, you see. The problem Nimbasa's got is they've run out of space. The parks, the show halls. Those took all the prime real estate and then there was still a demand for sports and battling. Like you said, there are fields… Nimbasa is where our national teams practice, after all. But there's another thing they're using that space for, right?"

Iris had begun rubbing her hands together gleefully. "You've made a stadium for pokegirl tournaments."

"RIGHT IN ONE! Let Nimbasa have their balls and fields. Driftveil will be where the tamers go to play."

"And considering tamers of some definition make up the vast majority of the world's population… I think I see why you went for them instead of sports teams," Iris giggled. "I bet Elesa was happy too. They haven't even attempted to commercialize pokegirl battling. It's a brand-new market. Nobody understands the appeal of a good battle. It can be as exciting as any show or sports game."

Clay smiled and shot her a thumbs-up. "But you do, Iris. I knew you'd love to hear about my plan. What with everything you're testing at the League."

"Would you like to trial my systems at your new stadium?" Iris asked curiously. "I'm not sure they're really ready for actual play yet, but…"

Clay shook his head. "No, no. That's your thing. Maybe we can bring it to Driftveil once you've finalized the designs but for now, I just want showmanship. Big tournaments. Big names. Do things that people don't see all that often." He leaned closer. "That's why I came to you. You've got some big friends."

There was something burning behind Iris' eyes when she lowered her voice to reply. "Who are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking… An eight-slot bracket. With the strongest, most well-known tamers the World League has to offer." Clay winked. "If I remember correctly, you're on good terms with at least three of them."

Iris tapped her cheek thoughtfully. "I can guess two of the names you want, but the third?" She smiled slightly. "Is it me?"

Clay chuckled but shook his head. "No, I think that would be unfair to the competition. You'd have the home field advantage as Champion of Unova. I was actually hoping you might convince Alder to represent us in the bracket."

Iris made a face. "Alder? He's just going to get knocked out in the first round. He was looking to retire before I even faced him."

"One last hurrah?" Clay pleaded. "Come on, he's your mentor, isn't he? You can convince him I'm sure."

Iris sighed. "Well, it's true that he'd be the only real choice to represent Unova. Fine, I'll do it." She raised her eyes as the stadium came into view and whistled softly. "Damn, Clay. How big is the arena?"

"Big enough that it's actually four," Clay replied with a smile. "Of course, for big events, those four would be combined into one. I've brought together a team of pokegirls and humans to work the grounds, and-"

Iris held up her hand. "No, don't tell me. I can guess, and guessing just makes me even more excited." She lowered her hand as her smile grew to split her face. "If your stadium can live up to the tamers you want inside of it, you may cement Unova's place as the World League's entertainment heart."

"That's the plan," Clay replied. "That's the plan." He waited a moment. "So. You'll reach out to the other Champions?"

"I'll reach out to Cynthia and Lance first," Iris replied. "It shouldn't be too hard to convince them, and they'll help me with the others. But I'm curious." She cocked her head. "There are only six regions in the World League. Technically, five leagues. Where are the other two or three competitors going to come from?"

"I've got my ideas, don't you worry," Clay replied. "One of them is simple. I think it would make sense for the Indigo League to have a representative, just as the Kanto and Johto regions should. Indigo is still the most politically powerful League, after all. We wouldn't want to slight anyone who lives there."

Iris nodded. "Okay, I like that idea. That would make seven. Who's the eighth?"

"Well." Clay leaned closer and gave Iris a conspiratorial wink. "Why not a representative of the World League itself? A… World Champion?"

Iris gazed back at him for a few seconds without any emotion in her eyes. Behind her, her pokegirl was beginning to tense up. "We have no World Champion. XENA!" She had flicked back to glare at her pokegirl as a barely perceptible growl was beginning to echo from her chest. "Control yourself, my Alpha."

Xena slowly let the tension fade from her body, her lips drawn back to reveal rows and rows of jagged teeth that surrounded the tusks sprouting from her mouth. As her red eyes began to dull once again, her black tusks similarly losing the red energy that had begun suffusing the blades, she spoke. The words twisted past her teeth, giving this pokegirl a terrifyingly deliberate sound to her speech. "He is. Here."

"We do not have a World Champion," Iris snapped at Xena. "There is none, and as long as we stand, there will never be one."

Clay very, very gingerly stepped around to get Iris' attention. "Miss… Champion?" He smiled nervously when Iris' eyes snapped to him and he felt the presence of the rampaging dragon that dwelled within this unassuming young woman. "We need an eighth. Do you have any better candidates?"

Iris' eyes narrowed slightly, causing Clay to shift back slightly, before her face relaxed and she let out a defeated sigh. "No."

"Then… Would you be willing to approach your friends?" Clay did his best to smile naturally, though his anxiety was still evident. "I'm hoping to begin advertising the event as soon as the next few weeks."

Iris nodded. "Of course. I'll make some calls." Her eyes had moved beyond the man in front of her as he began to profess his thanks. They were fixed on something only she could see. She, and the Haxorus behind her. An image that had been burned into their minds from the day he'd made himself known. A man like her.

.

.

On the other side of the League, another young person was gazing at something only he could see. His long, pale green hair pooled around his head as he gazed up at the ceiling of a small room.

A shuffling noise made him turn his head. An older man in a gaudy robe had stepped through the door. "How are you, N?"

The young man returned his eyes to the ceiling. "You had a good speech today, father. I could barely focus with how many caged pokegirls were around us."

"I see." The man stepped further inside. "I hope I expressed your ideals well, my son. Many in the crowd listened. Some pokegirls may be free now, thanks to what you have taught me."

"I hope so."

The older man reached over and patted N's arm with a smile. "Rest well. Every day we gain more to our cause. Once you are king of Unova, and not simply we Plasma, things will finally be as they should be."

N remained silent until the older man had left. Turning his head in the other direction he gazed at the pair of eyes that had popped into view next to his bed. "Yes, Eris?"

The eyes blinked before a head began to form around them, a male human with short black hair and a pair of hair tufts with frosted tips sticking straight up above his brow. "Yes what."

"Why are you here?"

"I'm always here." The head rose as Eris got to their feet. "Master."

"Don't call me that."

"I'll call you whatever I want, because you'd rather I have that choice, right?" Eris smirked and tried to jump onto the bed with N but yelped as the young man deflected their attempt and sent them crashing onto the floor on the other side. "OW!"

N was rolling his hand with a grimace. "Sorry, I accidentally groped your chest. I can never get your proportions right when you're projecting an illusion."

"Maybe that's because I change them every time." Eris scrambled back upright and leaned over the bed, pausing when N held up his hand in preparation. "Aw, gonna deny me again?"

"I'm not really in the mood to play, Eris. I'm sorry."

Eris settled back with a huff. "It's that big dumb Ghetsis, isn't it. Why can't he just leave you alone?"

"He's just looking out for me, Eris." N gazed off at the ceiling. "The same he has since he adopted us."

"Adopted you," Eris replied. "You don't even want me around."

"That's not…" N trailed off. "That's completely untrue, Eris. I won't push you away."

Eris' face split into a wild grin. "But you just DID!" They began laughing when N groaned. "Seriously, though. Ghetsis is a human like you. I'm just a pokegirl who you can't convince to leave."

"At least you choose to annoy me. That's all I care about," N replied quietly. "All those pokegirls today… How many of them chose?"

"I'm sure there was at least one," Eris tried.

"If even one of them didn't, then that's one too many," N spat. "Pokegirls must be free. You are not meant to be slaves to humanity."

Eris slowly settled back. After a few moments their body seemed to melt, the illusion wavering and fading to reveal a nude fox-like pokegirl with dark black fur. "You're never any fun when you get like this. I'm going to snap you out of it."

N waited, turning his head after a minute to see what Eris was doing. She was gone.

He slowly turned back to the ceiling. Eris was annoying, but she was family. She was free. Even if she kept trying to turn herself into… his slave.

He hated it. But he cared for her. She'd been his friend, his sister, from the beginning. But even she didn't understand him.

No, there was no other being like him. A human with the soul of a pokegirl. Eris had probably gone off to try and find one. That was usually her answer to when he 'got like this', whatever she meant by that. He was alone. There were no humans who could understand him, even if some chose to release the pokegirls they had enslaved. Nobody could understand the pokegirls' desires like he could, not even themselves. Even Eris' soul cried for freedom, despite what she had, what she said, how she acted.

He would give it to them.

It was his purpose.

.

.

CELEBRITY PROFILE OVERVIEW

Iris Grangil – Unova Champion

Born in Eindoak, a small reclusive town in the north-western Unovan wilderness, Iris Grangil claims heritage from an ancient line of Dragon-type tamers. But even the others in her family can not stand up to our current Champion. At the age of ten she travelled across the globe to study with the Johtonian Blackthorn Clan, as well as the Sinnohsian Celestica, before returning home to become the apprentice to our very own Drayden. When Drayden retired as Opelucid Gym Leader, Iris took his place – until she saw her other mentor, Champion Alder, beginning to look towards retirement. With her draconic heritage behind her, and her own overwhelming strength as a tamer by her side, Champion Iris quickly proved that she was not the seemingly carefree young woman she appeared to be. She was a Champion – our Champion, and she stands strong with all of the wisdom of her mentors augmenting her own.

Xena – Haxorus

Little is advertised about the dragon clans that call Eindoak Town their home, but much is known of their dragons. The Hydreigon and Haxorus pokegirl lines are Unova's dragons. As a native of Eindoak, Champion Iris naturally claims one of them as her own. Her Alpha, Xena, is a wicked battler. Many an opponent has been vivisected by her bladed tusks, or torn apart by her slicing limbs, while completely unable to scratch the scales that protect her. Just as Champion Iris' appearance belies her terrifying inner strength, Xena's lanky frame conceals an obliterative force within.