Pokegirl Origins - Unova Chapter 22 - More Than Meets the Eye, a pokémon fanfic

Nicholas let his thoughts wander as they traveled. It was certainly going to give his harem something to do.

Sending them off like that, he meant. Sending them to search for cells of this… Neo Plasma. It had been an excellent idea from Kalmiya as he'd talked to Sabrina about what she'd noticed. How Sohn and even Ryuko had taken over his time the moment they'd met him in Castelia. Leaving none for the new harem. He'd been so focused on making sure they weren't left behind again that he hadn't considered that really, the harem just needed something to do. Something where he wasn't completely out of their reach. This was an excellent way to keep them occupied.

Somehow, Sabrina had managed to send him off with nobody else beside them. Nikki had had her interest drawn away when Sabrina offered the same challenge to her as she had Kali. Sohn and Ryuko had headed back to the hotel to prepare for their hunt. Sabrina and Kali herself had, of course, remained behind, with promises to meet back up once he made it to Nimbasa. Leaving just the new girls. Them, him, and a Miltank he kept forgetting was even there.

It was… almost as if he'd stepped back in time, to a time when it was just him, his burgeoning harem, and the challenges along their way. Almost.

His eyes wandered to the ruins lining the road. Unova… was almost the same as Kanto. But not quite. There was still something different here. Something… Something that reminded him that he couldn't take this region as casually as he had that one.

Nicholas' eyes returned to the road when Adalinda raced past him, her entire body low to the ground to facilitate her speed. She'd been more antsy than usual ever since the gym. He understood why. It had been Kiana's show, and even Jade, a pokegirl who had only joined this harem scant days ago, had done seemingly more in a gym battle than the Servine ever had. She was angry.

He smiled. It was good. That anger had been almost nowhere to be found when he'd first met the Snivy. It was a righteous fury. A dragon's rage. Anger at being outclassed by others. She was growing more and more into her true self every day.

He adjusted his gear and strode forwards. The sun was beginning to set. They'd need to find a place to make camp soon.

The group headed off the road as the sun's rays began casting long shadows behind the ruined walls and Nicholas took in the area around them. "Probably best to find a cozy little nook to make camp. Keep us out of sight." He paused. There it was again. Ever since they'd rested for lunch he'd kept feeling… He wasn't sure. Something. His extra senses were telling him something. The last time he'd felt this way… His lips thinned. The last time had been because of Ghetsis' Shadow Triad.

His eyes moved to a ruin that was nearly intact. "Let's go for that one. Lots of staggered walls."

Soon night had fallen and shadows danced across the walls from the light of a campfire Kiana had started. Nicholas remained silent, seated just in the entrance to the tent, which he'd pitched in a corner facing outwards. From where he sat he could see every opening in the walls.

Jade was a stone sentry. It was what she was meant to be. So she had taken a similar position, nestled into another corner, as her helmet occasionally would turn to focus more on a different approach to the campsite. Kiana was curled up at Nicholas' feet and already dozing, but Adalinda was spread out and staring into the flames. Flicking a leaf from her body to slice through the fire every so often and continuing to manipulate it until the burning ember crumbled to ash.

"I already said it, and you already apologized." Nicholas glanced in Adalinda's direction slightly. "But I want to say it again. I don't blame you for letting me fall."

"I mean it when I say that, without you, we would have lost that match," Nicholas replied quietly.

Adalinda snorted. "Nah. That Leavanny wouldn't have been able to do anything to Kiana, and none of the others could do anything to Jade. They'd just rotate in and out and every time Kiana came in she'd blast another one of them away. It might have been closer, but you would have still won without me."

Nicholas just shook his head. "Maybe that's the truth. Even if it was, having you made our victory guaranteed."

"Eh."

Nicholas let out a quiet sigh. "I know that things have been frustrating for you recently. You're too one-dimensional, and every major battle we face is one that is able to counter you. I want you to know that I am going to help you grow beyond what you are now."

Adalinda snapped her hand around to send two leaves whizzing through the fire in a shower of sparks before they embedded themselves in one of the walls. "I wouldn't mind if you hurried that up."

Nicholas didn't respond. Soon, he thought. You're wanting it so badly now. It will come soon.

"By the way. Any reason we're all sitting out here instead of cuddling in the tent?" Adalinda asked. "I'm not going to pretend it'll solve anything but a good taming might make me feel a little better."

Nicholas chuckled. "Sounds about right." His eyes stared into the darkness beyond the fire. "Not yet, though. Not yet."

Adalinda glanced at him. "What's up?"

Nicholas barely shrugged. "Just a feeling."

"A feeling?"

Nicholas nodded slowly. "I'm no simple human, as you know." His eyes began to flicker with aura as he peered harder into the dark. "There's been someone following us ever since we broke for lunch."

Adalinda immediately got her tail under her and sat up. "There has?"

"Yeah. Someone who is skilled enough, or powerful enough, to hide their presence." He raised his voice. "But not practiced enough to mask that they're doing so."

A rumbling laugh echoed from nearby. "Why do you hide away, little human?"

"Why do you?"

Silence for a moment. Then the laugh began in earnest and Nicholas turned when a large shadow began breaking from the night. Very large. Not to the extent of some of the legendaries he'd met in their true forms, but large enough that even Morgana might be dwarfed by it. Because unlike the Gardevoir, this figure was not simply tall. It was also wide. Eight feet or more and as it stepped into the firelight it was to reveal a body rippling with muscle.

A nude body. A female body. Nicholas found the figure's face and listened to her laugh. A pokegirl, but more importantly, one he had a feeling his pokedex might not immediately recognize.

He took the momentary lull to give the pokegirl a quick look. Tall and heavyset, he'd already seen that, so he rapidly categorized the other defining features he could see. Ash gray skin besides a wide stretch of light beige that covered her groin to neck and reappeared on her face and extremities. Her coloration was not the only inhuman aspect to make it clear that this was a pokegirl, as from the spiky short brown hair on her head curled two very large bovine horns, though unlike Cathy's these were almost angular, flat, instead of rounded and pointed like the Miltank's. The final thing he could see was two hard ridges extending from this pokegirl's upper arms, some kind of orange, potentially bone or keratin material that rose just above the shoulders. Though, he wouldn't be surprised to learn that there was a tail behind her he couldn't see.

The odd ridges were explained when the pokegirl dropped a hand, her fingers curling over the hilt of a massive two-handed sword that suddenly materialized and she swung the blade around to land resting across her shoulders, her skin protected from the edge by how it rested atop the orange structures. "I've always been rather shit at keeping myself all quiet-like," she said good-naturedly. "Not many humans would be able to notice, though. You's the real deal, Nicholas Topolski."

"I appreciate the compliment," Nicholas replied in a similarly cordial tone. "If it's alright with you, may I ask your name? You have me at a disadvantage."

The girl's grin widened and her amber eyes twinkled. "Aye. We do."

Nicholas forced himself not to react. "'We'?"

"Me an' my sisters," the girl replied. "We been wanting to meet you for some time now."

Nicholas' eyes flicked to another opening in the wall when light reflected from something metallic there. "There wouldn't happen to be three of you, would there?"

"Sure are!"

"Three pokegirls. You're not flying, so there's only one Unovan trio of eternal ones that fits." He didn't quite let himself relax, but he did take his eyes off the pokegirl to scan the other entrances to the area. "That must make you Terrakion. Cobalion, Virizion, are you going to hide out there all night?" He leaned forwards and focused on transitioning from a guarded, defensive posture to one that would be better suited for dealing with three – supposedly – benevolent legendaries. "I'm sure all of us have better things to be doing than holding a standoff."

Virizion appeared next. She stepped from the opposite side as Terrakion with a delicate rapier held between her breasts so the tip danced in front of her red eyes. She, just like Terrakion, had a creamy coloration covering her front, though hers stretched from her shins to her breasts instead of from groin to neck like Terrakion. Like Terrakion, Virizion's face was similarly colored to her front, and also like Terrakion, she had a pair of horns emerging from her long, verdant hair. Hers, though, pointed to the sides and curled back in on themselves. Unlike Terrakion, however, Virizion almost appeared to be wearing something. Only a pair of gloves and boots, and maybe some semblance of the back half of a skirt that hung past her ass, but all of it was more likely just growths of the leaves that sprouted from her skin, especially her neck, where they were tipped in vibrant pinks.

She didn't speak, though, and Nicholas glanced through the campfire when light flashed again in the shadows. "Thank you for an invitation to your place of rest," a calm voice said as Cobalion moved into the light. Like her sisters she, too, sported a weapon, though Nicholas could only see the hilt from where Cobalion carried it at her side. The hand not holding her sword gave a flourish in front of her body as the legendary took a bow. "We are honored to make your acquaintance."

Nicholas didn't respond. Cobalion had straightened again so he catalogued her appearance in the same way he had Terrakion and Virizion. Her eyes were a lighter yellow than Terrakion's, and her long, irregular pointed horns were a similar color as they raced backwards over her head. That color was also seen in a pair of shoulder structures, not unlike Terrakion's, but much grander, and glistening with a metallic sheen. They had been what he'd seen reflecting light. Besides that, she had no lighter front, instead patterned in a nearly uniform light blue with a handful of black splotches to break things up. It was only a heavy covering of long, fluffy white fur which fell from her collarbone down over her breasts that provided what might be considered the same coloration pattern as her sisters. When Cobalion stopped behind the fire, the other two both glancing in her direction, Nicholas kept his attention firmly on her. The way they were acting meant Cobalion was the leader of these three legendaries.

"We are honored," Cobalion repeated. "May we join you at your fire, Nicholas Topolski, human who stands with us?"

Nicholas couldn't help but crack a smile. He'd almost missed this. Kali, Celine, Zinnia… Even Nikki had grown out of the wordplay since joining him. Cobalion's statement was made to match her heavily accented speech but it was a dangerous trap. "I but stand among you," he replied. "You are welcome to rest at my fire."

Cobalion inclined her head slightly and all three sat, choosing to rest on their knees rather than truly settle down. "We thank you."

"So." Nicholas looked around at the three while they gazed back at him. "May I ask why you have come to find me today?"

"Is it not enough to simply wish to become acquainted with a human such as you?" Cobalion asked. "It is said many do, after all. But no. I suppose it is not. For any of our kind would assume the same in your position." A smile. "That for another to arrive, unannounced, uninvited – it is to seek an advantage."

Nicholas barely inclined his head just as Cobalion had. "Yes. I do."

"We come instead to seek an audience."

Nicholas blinked. All three were still watching him neutrally. "An audience?"

"It is not often to witness a human such as you," Cobalion replied. "One does not appear for millennia at a time. It may even be said one such as you is more than any other. A True Lord." Nicholas started in surprise. He hadn't heard anyone refer to him in that way since Arceus herself. Did Cobalion mean… or was it just the way she spoke…? "Such a human is one we are in sore need of," Cobalion continued. "Will you hear our entreaty, human Nicholas, friend to pokegirls?"

Nicholas slowly looked around one last time before giving his response. "What would you ask of me?"

Cobalion tilted her head towards Virizion as the third legendary began to speak. "In an age past, we three were formed by the land," she said softly, her voice matching the delicacy of her blade. "Not by any of our kind, as so many were." She gazed into Nicholas' eyes. "For many an age we have existed to safeguard this land from the humans who wish to conquer it. To enforce justice. To prevent the mistakes of the past from being made again." She gestured slightly with her hand to indicate the ruins around them. "Though we often feel drawn to other lands by our purpose, they are not ours to defend. Not us three." She returned her focus hesitantly to Nicholas. "But… While we know we have not failed in our duty, the land has still seen fit to raise a new Sword."

Nicholas frowned. "A new… Sword?" He glanced between each of the pokegirls' weapons. "Another pokegirl?"

"Aye," Terrakion grunted. "The title the humans have given us is quite fitting. The Swords of Justice. It is how we are known, and how we are respected. It is good. But for many years it has been the three swords they speak of. Now there is a fourth." She settled back a bit with a sullen snort. "There is no place for her here."

"Peace," Cobalion immediately chided. "It is true, though, that there should be no reason for her presence," she said to Nicholas. "There is only one reason we can imagine for the land to call for another Sword. As a gift." Cobalion bowed her head, the others doing the same after a moment. "We entreat you, lord Nicholas. The Sword is young. Untrained. We can only grant her so much, for her purpose is not our own." Cobalion raised her head again. "If she remained, her name would fade, become known as naught but the shadow of the three Swords of Justice. It is not our wish she be forgotten, for she has come alone, and within her lies the strength of us all."

"…Huh," Nicholas managed after a few moments. "Is she out there waiting for my answer, or…?"

"We travelled from her in secret," Virizion replied without raising her head. "She is… precious, to us. So very precious. Even Terrakion, despite what she claims, would have preferred her to be a gift of our own." Virizion's fingers tightened on the grip of her rapier while Terrakion let out an embarrassed grumbling noise. "But it is clear she is not meant to stay."

Nicholas took a long look at Virizion before nodding slightly. "I understand, Virizion. I understand how it pains you all to do what is best for your ward." He rose. "You believe her a gift from this land. Then, if she is mine, she will have her opportunity to join me. If she is not, then I swear to fulfill the duty you have entreated me with."

A sigh came from all three pokegirls as Virizion and Terrakion each lifted their heads once more. "We thank you, lord Nicholas," Cobalion whispered, sinking into a deep bow before straightening again. "I pray this land sought to thank you as well for your actions in defending it. Keldeo will thrive in your care."

"That's what you call her, then?" Nicholas asked as the three got their feet. "Keldeo?"

"Yes."

Nicholas nodded and watched the legendaries prepare to leave. "How will I meet her? Is there somewhere I should go?"

Cobalion smiled. "We will send her to find you, lord Nicholas. I pray your travels are safe and swift."

"That your steps be firm and your battles long," Terrakion rumbled.

"That your blade always finds its mark," Virizion finished, punctuating her statement by flicking her rapier out to dance through the light of the flames. Then she was gone, Cobalion vanishing soon after, and Terrakion a bit less gracefully jogging off into the night. Leaving Nicholas where he stood, Kiana still snoring, Jade's gaze locked on her Keeper, and Adalinda staring off into the distance.

Nicholas slowly sat back down, his eyes lost in the fire until he turned to address Adalinda. "So about those rumors."

The Servine just snorted and began moving for the tent. "Next you'll be telling me you're friends with the Creator herself."

Nicholas chose not to respond, only scooping Kiana off the ground and kicking dirt to smother the campfire before following Adalinda in to retire for the night.

"Nimbasa City." Nicholas rolled his neck as he gazed at the busy streets ahead. "Kalmiya, where do I go to meet up with Sabrina?"

"I'm afraid that Mistress Sabrina isn't waiting for you anywhere, Master."

Nicholas raised an eyebrow. "She's not? Did you not let her know we'd be arriving to Nimbasa today?"

"Of course I did," Kalmiya replied. "Mistress Sabrina has been in the city for quite a few days already. She's sure the two of you will meet up eventually."

"Nimbasa… Oh, I remember. There were all sorts of things here she was talking about when we toured last year," Nicholas chuckled. "Alright, fair enough, fair enough. I'm not the most interesting thing in Nimbasa for her and that's something I'll just have to deal with." He snickered. "Anyone else waiting for me? Any of my pokegirls?"

"Hana and Elizabeth passed through the city yesterday," Kalmiya reported, "when Elizabeth got them moving again after Hana delayed them a full day and a half from her own sightseeing. Was it your idea to place the gruff Nidoqueen with the bouncy Ampharos to balance each other out, Master?"

"Ha, you give me far too much credit," Nicholas said with a grin. "I've left all that to my Alphas. So, nobody waiting to jump us, huh? Not even Nikki?" When Kalmiya gave a negative he turned to the three pokegirls behind him. "Well, girls, sounds like we're still being left to our own devices. Want to explore the city?"

"Why not fight the gym?" Adalinda asked.

"First, because we've been travelling hard. We should take a day or so to recover," Nicholas replied. "Second, because Sabrina would kill me if I took you three to the gym without including her. Remember how excited she was leaving Burgh's gym? And third… Well, third," he said, looking around at the three, "the road from Castelia was just a bunch of ferals and only a handful of other tamers. That's not nearly enough of a challenge to keep you sharp. We jump into another gym right now, we lose. I don't intend to let us lose again."

Jade slammed a forearm across her chest with a loud thud while Kiana made a happy whimper and Adalinda grinned back at him. "Yeah? How do you intend to make that happen?"

"First, rest," Nicholas retorted, smirking back at her. "Come on! Let's relax, tour the city. Maybe find the best place to train while we're at it, eh?"

The group wandered the streets for a few hours, Nicholas pointing out various sights while simultaneously taking note of the various battle arenas and training grounds scattered throughout the city. It was late afternoon when the group found themselves passing the entertainment district near the east side of town.

"The gym's supposedly in there somewhere," Nicholas said, gesturing towards the amusement park where he'd first been truly introduced to N. It felt like a lifetime ago, the events of the previous year. "Big game stadiums are over the other way… Kalmiya, what's down this street? Looks like a lot of trees."

"The road east from Nimbasa runs through the Lostlorn Forest before opening up on the eastern coast of central Unova," Kalmiya replied. "There is a bridge connecting the central region to the eastern region in that direction."

"Probably a decent way away, so not a destination for us right now," Nicholas replied. "If I remember correctly the next closest gym is west? Similarly across a bridge to the western region?"

"That is correct, Master."

"Cool." Nicholas nodded. "Must be an old forest to be encroaching this hard on the city."

"Oh, Lostlorn isn't really that wild," a voice replied from nearby. Nicholas turned to see a well-built man relaxing on a bench, a bulging hiking backpack nestled between his legs. "Of course, it's called that for a reason."

"Why's that?"

"Well, Lostlorn, right? Lost. Alone. It's called that because if you're not careful you can easily find yourself lost in the trees." The backpacker shrugged. "But how can that be if I said it's not that dense a forest, huh? Tales say the woods are home to a rare kind of pokegirl, a breed of illusion. Enter their territory, and you'll suddenly realize why the forest is called what it is."

Nicholas stepped over to more easily talk to the other man. "A breed of illusion, huh. Zorua?"

"You've heard of them? That's good, to know what is. Or is it?" The backpacker's eyes had slid from Nicholas' face to gaze off into the distance. "Which is better? To live ignorant in a beautiful illusion, or suffer the knowledge of the bitter truth?"

Nicholas blinked. That had turned real heavy real quick. "Er, which do you think?"

"I don't know," the backpacker murmured. "I used to travel Unova with a friend of mine, you see. But he's off traveling the world now. While I remain here. Alone."

Nicholas wandered over and took a seat next to the other man. "Did you want to go with him? Did he not ask you to come along?"

"Heh." The backpacker leaned back. "No, he never asked me, but… maybe I never gave him a reason to. Was our friendship the beautiful illusion, and our separation the bitter truth? Did I just want to hide from my fear and deny what was inevitable?" The man sighed again. "The Zorua and Zoroark of the forest, it's said they mold their illusions to keep the territory to themselves. Am I just as selfish? Did I only care for our friendship because of what it granted me?" He went silent for a few moments before whispering a few more words. "Did he never feel the same way?"

"Hey, don't say that," Nicholas replied. "Just because he didn't invite you on his travels doesn't mean your friendship wasn't real. You said you traveled Unova with that friend of yours. That must have taken some time, right? Long enough that I'm sure your friend would have said something if he didn't value your friendship as much as you seem to."

"Hm." The backpacker was still staring up into the sky. "I suppose… you're right. Maybe not in the same way, but he valued our friendship in his own way, I think. Maybe he even thinks leaving for his own travels was best for me. I always did cling to him a bit too much, he said." The man's eyes slid shut. "But damn it, it still hurts. I miss him."

Nicholas cracked a smile. "You asked about ignorance or understanding. Me, I think it's best if we know to face the bitter truth. So that we can turn it into a beautiful one instead." He firmed his smile as he reached to give the man a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Don't give up. You'll travel with your friend again, I'm sure…"

"I'm not sure if I ever will," the backpacker whispered, Nicholas' smile frozen on his face. His hand had passed straight through the other man's shoulder to thump something else a few inches beneath the surface. An arm much more slender, covered in fur. "The day he met you, Nicholas Topolski, was the day N began to turn away from me." The man's head turned, though now the illusion was beginning to flicker, a pair of black-furred ears poking through his skull as two piercing turquoise eyes came into view behind the brown that had been on the man's face before. Two eyes filled with tears. "Because of this, I assume. Your kindness. Kindness you are willing to grant even to a complete stranger." Nicholas' hand fell to the bench when the man abruptly got to his feet and with Eris struggling to maintain her illusion her tail, also, was plainly visible as it swished behind her in agitation. "I'm thankful that he had the chance to meet you. Even if it meant he would leave me."

"Wait a- Eris?" Nicholas gasped.

"I'm glad I got this chance to speak to you," Eris whispered, her real voice cracking through as the illusion continued to waver. "Because damn you, you've given me back my hope."

"ERIS!" Nicholas tried to lunge for the Zorua but just as she always had before she wasn't going to let him. Eris flipped over the back of the bench, leaving his grasping fingers behind with her illusion fading completely as she turned to sprint away. "WAIT! Fuck, they-" He shot to his feet to yell after the fleeing Zorua. "ANTHEA! CONCORDIA! THEY'RE SEARCHING FOR YOU!" His fingers clenched when she vanished into the trees. "Damn it!"

"Eris," Cathy grunted. "Was that the one who taunted you on that night? The night we were searching for Reshiram."

"…It was," Nicholas said quietly. "Anthea and Concordia called her N's true sister. Was she waiting here for me? Has she been following me?" His fist tightened. "Damn it. She was crying. They said she would be distraught and I couldn't even help her."

Cathy turned to look in the direction Eris had run off. "She won't have gone far, Nicholas. Should I chase after her? I'm sure I could-"

"I'm sure you could as well," Nicholas interrupted. "But no. She's not a wild pokegirl to be… to be hunted down and captured." He glanced away from the forest. "I should have known something was up when that random guy went right into talking philosophy." He lapsed into silence for a bit as he ran over their conversation, redefining the words the backpacker had said through the realization that it had been the Zorua the entire time. "She's… I think she's doing the same thing N is. Coming to terms with the truth." He let out a sigh and glanced back at where Eris had been sitting. The large hiking backpack had been part of the illusion, of course, leaving the bench empty again. "I hope she…"

He paused. The bench wasn't entirely empty. There was something sitting where Eris had been. "Huh?"

"Was Eris… Your pack?" Kiana asked as Nicholas bent down to grab the object laying on the bench. "Master?"

"My pack," Nicholas murmured, his thumb running along the circular object Eris had left behind for him. A thank-you gift, it had to be. Why else would the Zorua be carrying around a TM? "No… No, but in a strange way, I think she was… is… a friend." He looked up to stare off into the forest. She was probably still there. Watching him from the shadows. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "In her own, strange, way, I'd like to believe she's a friend." He turned back to the others. "Come on. We've sightseen enough for one day. Let's find a place to spend the night and be ready to train hard in the morning." He looked back down at the TM. "One gym badge under our belts. You three are officially members of the World Champion's Unovan championship harem, now." He looked back up with a fierce glint in his eye. "So let's show the world what that means."

POKEDEX UPDATED

Tamer: Nicholas Topolski

Badges:

Basic Badge

Insect Badge

Harem:

Adalinda, Servine – Level 31

Kiana, Growlithe – Level 29

Jade, Golett – Level 29

Non-Com Harem:

Kalmiya, Porygon-Z – Level 35
Cathy, Miltank – Level 72

"Are you sure you're not going to be satisfied with the one?"

Adalinda stared deadpan at Nicholas. "You say you want to help me stop being so one-dimensional in my abilities. Give me the TM."

"I would in a heartbeat, Ada," Nicholas replied, waving the TM he'd received from the Blackthorn Clan in the air in front of the Servine, "but the thing is, this disk is meant for a dragon." He stopped. "It's not meant for you."

Adalinda's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You say I'm a dragon."

"I say that you will, one day, hopefully discover that you are one," Nicholas replied easily. "Do you think that day is today?"

"Just give me the damn TM," Adalinda growled, lunging forwards and letting out an annoyed shout when Nicholas jerked the disk away. "CUT THE SHIT, NICK!"

"What fuels your anger, Ada?" Nicholas asked, dancing back to avoid a sudden attempt by the Servine's vines to snare him. "Is it the petulance of a little pokegirl? Or is there something more. I heard it back in Burgh's gym. I don't hear it now."

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, HUH?" Adalinda screamed as she chased the dodging man across the training arena. "WHAT, DOES BEING A DRAGON MEAN BEING A BASTARD LIKE YOU?"

"IT MEANS HOLDING PRIDE!" Nicholas roared back, planting a foot and surging back along his path so that he got right up in Adalinda's face. "PRIDE, ADA! Pride in yourself. Pride I KNOW you hold! Because even on that first day," he said, the hand not holding the TM wrapping around the back of the Servine's neck and forcefully tilting her head up to match his eyes, "I recognized your pride. Pride in your work. Your knowledge. But not in yourself. Never in yourself." His eyes narrowed. "Bianca was too positive an influence on you. She taught you how to be soft."

He couldn't be happier when he saw Adalinda's eyes flash and she shoved back, her fingers digging into his skin as she tugged her way free of his grip just to shove her face right into his and begin hissing out her response. "Professor Bianca taught all of us kindness," she retorted, true anger coloring her words. "Kindness is not the weakness you make it out to be."

"There is no kindness on the battlefield," Nicholas replied quietly, daring her to argue with his gaze. "Do you hold enough pride in that conviction to defend it, even against those who will not care to respect you?"

Adalinda took a few moments to respond, simply staring into his eyes before she blinked first and glanced away. "Just give me the damn TM."

"Not yet," Nicholas said, though he wasn't answering her. He'd already held the disk towards her to take. "But you will. I know you will, Ada. One day." He watched her take the dragon TM and stare at the beaten surface. "It comes out. Little bits and spurts. One day none will be able to question you anymore. On that day, you will be ready for that TM."

Adalinda's grip on the disk tightened. "Fuck you." Without another word she shoved it against her forehead.

Nicholas took a half step forwards when Adalinda's entire body went stiff. He'd been goading her, sure, but he'd meant what he'd said, in a way. He wasn't sure if the Servine was ready. The Energy Ball TM he'd given her had been hard enough on her body already. Kiana was still working to control the TM Eris had left for them, the technique it held giving true power to the Growlithe's aggressive snarls during battle. She'd been accidentally infusing her voice with the technique during normal conversation while she learned which was something he wasn't too happy about. Even if it had led to some funny moments with an enraged Adalinda as she screamed at the bashful Kiana for smacking her with a technique meant to complement the Growlithe's natural intimidation factor.

His worry over the Blackthorn TM was justified when Adalinda suddenly spasmed, flinging the disk from her hand to tumble over the ground. "AGH!"

"Ada? ADA!" Nicholas caught the Servine when her muscles gave out and she crumpled like a wet noodle. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Adalinda moaned piteously in his arms. "Fuck… That… That was… Nothing, like the other one…"

Nicholas gently lay her on the ground. "I shouldn't have taunted you. I knew you weren't ready, I- I'm sorry. I was trying to draw you out. I shouldn't have."

"It… hurt," Adalinda murmured, her face slack and drawing her eyelids closed. "The other one, it tingled, as I saw how I could coalesce my energy, but… this one…" A shiver ran through her whole body. "It hurt, but… the pain…" She trailed off and remained silent for nearly a minute before opening her eyes to see Nicholas still worriedly staring down at her. "The pain. It didn't come from the disk. It was… something inside of me was being drawn out. Towards it."

Nicholas gently cupped her cheek and blinked, focusing on his aura sight instead of his eyes. "I don't see anything different inside of you."

"You can see…?" Adalinda murmured before cracking a slight smile. "Of course you can. You talk about being able to see things." She propped herself up with Nicholas' help. "No, let me get up on my own. I need to." Nicholas dutifully took a step back and waited for the Servine to get her tail back underneath herself and raise her torso again. "It was that… that dragon you say is in me, wasn't it? That TM isn't like the other one, it doesn't teach me anything, show me anything… It just awakens what's already there." Adalinda winced and rubbed her neck. "That's why you were so sure I wasn't ready. There's nothing here."

"There's obviously something that the TM found inside of you," Nicholas replied softly. "Someone once tried to use it and nothing happened. No reaction like yours. It was… Ryuko, I think? Her or Miyuki. I was talking to them about training opportunities back in Johto and mentioned the TM." He watched Adalinda get her bearings. "I wasn't lying when I said that you'll be ready for it one day, Ada. I promise you that."

Adalinda raised a hand to gaze through it. "Why were you mocking me so much? Is that really how 'dragons' behave?"

Nicholas looked guilty. "Er… Well, it's definitely part of the politics I deal with, yeah. All of the dragons in my weyr are constantly jockeying for position and I'm supposed to be the one at the top." He sighed. "I was doing that to you just now, too. Sorry. You don't understand it yet. It's not fair."

Adalinda shivered again. She had to be imagining it, but as she stared at her hand she thought she could see something… No. No, she couldn't see it. But she felt it. Something strange, barely discernible, shaken free to begin drifting beneath her skin. She clenched her fist. "Just like wild pokegirls," she said. "The only measure of status is their strength." She looked up to find Nicholas. "A harem, within a harem, where the only rule is that there are no rules. Of course I didn't understand it. I only saw the greater harem when you brought me to meet everyone." She slowly lifted her fist towards him before uncurling her fingers, palm up. "I've told you I don't understand. You say one day I will." Her eyes flashed and Nicholas' eyebrows rose when he saw a crackle of purple energy dart across the Servine's hand before a few small leaves broke from her skin and began spinning in the miniature cyclone she was creating. "Now I know I will."

"I guess that TM awoke something after all," Nicholas said quietly.

Adalinda closed her fist to cut off the energy. "You want to know something stupid?" She grinned at him. "I thought it would feel so good, doing that. But instead, I'm unbelievably pissed off that it's all I could manage."

Nicholas' eyes lit up at that. "Yes. Yes! PRIDE in yourself, Ada! A dragon's pride. Nurture it. Your day will come."

"Master?" Nicholas turned to see Kiana bending down to pick up the dragon TM from where Adalinda had thrown it. "Can I try the special disk?"

"Er, that's not a great idea," Nicholas replied quickly, dashing over to pluck the TM from the Growlithe's hands. "You saw how much it hurt Ada, right? Let's learn from that and not have it hurt you too."

"It won't hurt me! I can handle it, Master, I promise," Kiana pouted, trying and failing to reach for the disk while Nicholas fended her off. "I want to try!"

"You aren't even ready to evolve and you want to try this? You're not even a dragon pokegirl," Nicholas replied. "Maybe you can use it, maybe you can't. But not right now. Not until you evolve."

"But Ada got a chance!" Kiana whined, stomping her foot in a huff when Nicholas tucked the TM away. "I want my chance, Master!"

"I know you're serious, but you're so damn adorable when you're angry," Nicholas chuckled, ruffling Kiana's hair and scratching the base of one of her ears as he did so. Even despite the attention she jerked her head away to continue pouting at him. "Look, Kiana, it hurt Ada. I don't want to see you get hurt too. Okay?" He smiled at her. "You'll find your time to evolve, I know you will. Once you're ready I'll let you try this TM."

Kiana grumbled when he reached out to scratch her again but this time she let him. "I don't want to see anyone hurt either, Master. It always makes me so angry. The pack should not be harmed."

"And you're part of that pack, you silly little pup," Nicholas chuckled again, giving her a real good scratch. "Which means that also applies to you."

Kiana remained silent while he pet her but spoke in a low voice when his hand finally left her head. "Someone must be hurt so the pack is not."

"Heh." Nicholas grinned at her before realizing the eyes gazing up at him no longer belonged to the Growlithe he'd grown used to. "Let's… make that be our enemies. How does that sound to you, Kiana?"

Kiana's eyes immediately went back to normal when they lit up and her tail started wagging. "Sounds great, Master!"

"Then let's get back to training so that's what happens!" Nicholas exclaimed, pointing towards Adalinda. "Ada, Jade, you two next. Ada, I want to see if you can pierce Jade's armor with your new technique – and Jade, I want you to work on your restraint." He scowled at the Golett. "I am not satisfied in my sentry going kamikaze every time she thinks she's starting to lose a fight."

"Kamikaze, Keeper?"

"Fucking… Basic language TM, right." Nicholas rolled his eyes. "I do not like that you attempt to injure yourself in order to land a final blow on your opponents." His eyes narrowed when he sensed a slight tremble in the air that indicated the Golett was about to speak. "No excuses. I demand more from my servants. Prove your worth to me, Jade."

The Golett immediately went rigid in salute. "Yes, Keeper."

He gave her a good look. "Make sure you understand, Jade," he said quietly. "The gym here is an Electric-type one. Just as Kiana was in Castelia, you will be the one the rest of this harem depends on during this fight."

To his surprise, the Golett actually nodded her head.

As the two moved towards the combat area Nicholas took another look over at Kiana. The Growlithe was back to her usual, playful self. But he knew what he'd seen. The same thing he'd only glimpsed a hint of in Castelia. The same thing that Sohn had recognized, and he, stupidly, had just brushed off as being a 'battle stance' of Kiana's. He'd denied that side of the Growlithe what she wanted by keeping the Blackthorn TM from her. What would that do? Kiana's low growl echoed to him as he watched her cheer on her battling sisters.

Someone must be hurt so the pack is not.

The way she'd reacted when he'd suggested making that their 'enemies'… Who? Who had Kiana meant by that? Who must be hurt to protect 'the pack'?

"Ah, man, look at that crowd," Nicholas griped. They were approaching the exhibition hall Sabrina had told him to meet at and there were people spilling out the doors. "This much activity for this kind of event… I thought you said it was an amateur fashion show, Kalmiya!"

"It is, Master."

"Obviously more important than just that," Nicholas grumbled, slowing his pace and scanning for a path through the chaos. "I'm sure Sabrina is already inside…"

"Nick! Over here!"

Nicholas turned to see Sabrina waving at him from a spot off to the side of the building. "Oh. Or maybe not. Hey, honey!" He and the others made their way over and Nicholas gave Sabrina a hug and kiss before pulling back to look her over. She'd come dressed in an outfit reminiscent of the Gym Leader uniform she'd taken to after he'd helped chase Team Rocket from Saffron City but with quite a few changes. The midriff-baring pink tank top had expanded around her sides to create a sort of bodice while also growing a tail that hung like a sort of half-dress behind her, and her white dress pants had devolved into a pair of much more comfy looking black sweats, really making it seem like Sabrina had taken her old look and let her hair down with a new one. Though it also held something more for her, as he looked at his fiancé. He looked up to her smiling eyes and smiled back. Letting her hair down. She certainly was, no longer bound by her gym or her past… She was finally allowed to simply be herself.

"Like what you see?" Sabrina asked playfully.

"You're as incredible as always, dear," Nicholas replied fondly.

"Flatterer."

"Tease," Nicholas retorted, both grinning at each other and going in for another big hug before turning their attention to the crowd together. "So what's all this then? Doesn't look like the crowd for an amateur fashion show like the billing on this place advertised."

"Oh, did I forget to mention?" Sabrina asked mischievously. "There's a very special host for today's show. So special that when she showed up this happened."

"A special host, huh," Nicholas said. "A surprise that you knew about, though, and the public didn't?" He gave Sabrina a sideways smirk. "Who is it. Come on, fess up. You chose to meet here for a reason and I'd bet it had nothing to do with coming to watch a show. It's all about whoever is getting mobbed by that crowd."

"You want to find out?" Sabrina giggled. "Come on! Let's go see!"

She led him around the crowd and through a side area, slipping them past a line of people who gave way as they approached and as Nicholas glanced around he could pick out the minute details identifying them as being a bit more than just another part of the crowd. Plainclothes security? Who was here? Why was Sabrina able to so freely bring him and his new harem to meet her?

His questions were answered when they circled up the steps a bit to finally get a clear line of sight on the focus of the crowd's attention. A woman and a pokegirl, the woman in a fluffy light yellow fur coat with her long black hair draped behind her, and the pokegirl, a tall, curvaceous figure who stood posed on two equine legs. Her jagged patterning of black and white hair across her body, drawing rippling bolts of lightning to either side of the white mane cascading down her back from between a pair of alert ears, identified her clearly. A Zebstrika. A woman, and her Zebstrika. There was only one person in Nimbasa Nicholas imagined this could be.

"That's Leader Elesa."

Sabrina giggled and clapped her hands together excitedly. "Yep! I was having dinner with her last night and we talked about you. She was very insistent that you should meet before she welcomes you to her gym later today."

Nicholas chuckled. "And so you made this happen. Do we head down and say hi?"

"No, she'll come to us," Sabrina replied, motioning Nicholas to follow her towards the hall's doors. "Unless you want to try and take some of her spotlight. Do you?"

Nicholas smiled slightly as he followed her. "That would go counter to the image my publicist is working so hard to build for me."

"Oh. Yeah. Her." Sabrina leaned up against a wall and raised an eyebrow at him. "Did you know that Kali had to… 'chase off' a few rather belligerent individuals at one of my screenings the other day? Very rude people. No tact."

Nicholas smirked. "A few representatives of the Unovan Screen Actor's Guild, by any chance?"

"And incredibly enough, infinitely easier to deal with than a fucking bitch of a Houndoom," Sabrina replied, though Nicholas was delighted to hear that there wasn't any malice behind her words. "You were right."

Nicholas snickered and playfully nuzzled her neck. "I can be that sometimes."

"And whenever you are just makes me more confident for the next time," Sabrina murmured, her eyes sliding shut happily from his affection.

It took a while but eventually Elesa turned from the crowd and began walking up the stairs towards them, a small number of women slipping past the security line and calling after her. Elesa herself came to a halt next to where Nicholas and Sabrina were and fixed Nicholas with a smile.

"Champion Nicholas Topolski," Elesa said, one hand cupping a side of the combination headphones and visor covering most of her face. "It's been a while."

"It certainly has, Leader Elesa, and… Iansan, I believe it was?" he said to the posing Zebstrika beside her Mistress. "I hear you're the woman all these people are here to see."

Elesa laughed and made a sweeping gesture to the small crowd following her. "Not at all. It is these wonderful beauties that are the star of today's show! But," she said, her voice dropping almost to a murmur, "the one I am here today to see… is you." She reached out her hand. "To have an opportunity away from the lights and cameras to shake your hand. To take a moment and meet as us, like we never had the chance to do a year ago." Her eyes shimmered when Nicholas took her hand and he was surprised to feel, instead of the dainty hold he'd been expecting, a perfectly firm grip. "Before we each are forced into the parts we play."

Nicholas allowed himself to return Elesa's words with a challenging smirk. "I have to say. You and Iansan seem a bit different from the last time I saw you. Was that the you Leader Skyla mentioned you were trying to get away from?"

The small smile Elesa had affixed to her face ever since shaking his hand turned up slightly as the barest hint of her own sneer poked the corner of her mouth. "We all have a character to play, Nicholas," was the response that came back to him, and though Elesa maintained her elegant voice he could plainly hear how she was letting a little bit of something else slip in underneath it. "Calm, cool, collected… that is the character that sells best as a model." She flicked her long hair back and gave him a cold smile. "But the real me is the one who battles alongside her pokegirls as a Gym Leader. A model's job is to make someone else's vision look like a reality. A tamer's job is to give everything they have to make their pokegirls feel like they can win. I've come to realize that both are rather similar." She released his hand and took a step back. "When we meet in my gym, I'll be sure to show you how."

Nicholas suppressed a chuckle as Elesa's expression smoothed again and she turned to address the models around her. Just a character she played, hm. He was looking forward to this.

"Come on, I got us a VIP box," Sabrina giggled, pulling him into the hall when Elesa and the models vanished inside, prompting the security line to finally break and let the crowd stream after them.

"Miss Elesa! Miss Elesa!"

Elesa beamed at the chanting crowd and flashing cameras as she gestured to the side. "Thank you, everyone, but please! Let's hear it for our excellent talent tonight! The blonde bombshell, give it up for Marilyn!"

Nicholas and Sabrina were drawing a crowd of their own as Elesa coordinated photo ops across the way. The show had been a wonderful exhibition and he'd thoroughly enjoyed discussing each model's outfits with Sabrina. Apparently the main reason for it had been to allow aspiring models to gather a following, considering members of the crowd were now being prompted to pose with their favorite girls. The first step towards being a recognizable figure, he assumed. "All this show business. I don't think I'll ever understand it."

Sabrina finished signing an autograph and gave the excited fan a smile and wave as he ran off. "Oh, don't be like that," she laughed. "You get it. It's just because my show business is with dresses and makeup that you don't like it. Yours is with blood and flame."

Nicholas chuckled and shrugged. "Guilty. Though I will say I'm impressed, 'My Queen'. Your character seems to be rather popular already. After nothing more than a few trailers that I haven't even been allowed to see?"

"Oh, it's only natural," Sabrina replied smugly.

They were still chuckling when someone new slipped from the crowd. "Miss… Natsume?" the girl asked, and though she was trying to be sneaky with it Nicholas could see her shoving a phone out of sight. "Do you have a moment?"

"Of course! Would you like a picture, an autograph…" Sabrina paused. "Wait, aren't you one of the models from today?"

The girl flashed a quick smile and did her best to settle into a cool pose with the back of one hand resting against her hip. "I did take the runway, yes."

Sabrina was interacting directly with the model while Nicholas took a few surreptitious looks between her and where Elesa was standing. The girl talking to Sabrina was clearly a Zebstrika herself, and as his eyes flicked from her to the way Iansan was standing and back again he could clearly see the attempt at mimicry. It just wasn't working in quite the same way – Iansan was a lot curvier than this Zebstrika, and probably a bit bigger, too. That size difference allowed Iansan to tower over most observers and thus look down on them, adding to her mature, aloof vibe, while the one talking to Sabrina had to look straight on and thus her smaller, more athletically toned body just looked awkward in the same kinds of poses Iansan was pulling off so well.

"I've been a fan ever since seeing the early promotions for… The Mysterious Door," the Zebstrika said. "Do you-"

"The Mysterious Door?" Sabrina interrupted in confusion. "Do you mean Through the Mystical Door?"

"Oh! Yes, of course, sorry," the girl laughed nervously. "The name must have changed from the early promotional material, sorry…"

"No, the name has remained the same through production," Sabrina replied, causing the Zebstrika to flush. "But anyways, you were saying?"

"Er… I…" the girl stammered, eyes darting around as she found herself unable to meet Sabrina's steady gaze. "…Nevermind," the girl finally mumbled, awkwardly shuffling her hooves. "I just… I was thinking… I'm sorry for bothering you," she blurted out, bobbing her head and fleeing into the crowd.

Nicholas looked at Sabrina in confusion. "What was that about?"

Sabrina held a similarly puzzled look as she looked after where the Zebstrika had vanished. "Honestly, I don't know. I could tell right away that she wasn't really as much of a fan of mine as she pretended to be but I didn't get a chance to figure out what she wanted before she just ran off." She turned to shrug at him. "Her thoughts were a mess too. That was one of the amateur models, right?"

"She said she was, I think," Nicholas replied. "Odd. When I was looking her over it made me think she was trying to emulate Elesa's Alpha, Iansan. Maybe she'd figured out you were Elesa's friend and wanted to get closer to you to get closer to Iansan?"

"Maybe?" Sabrina said. "But if that's all true why did she give up that quickly? I know I was trying to throw her off but I didn't expect it to work that well." She looked around. "Where did she run off to?"

"Probably back over to rejoin the photo op."

"Nah, I don't feel her mind in that direction," Sabrina muttered. After a moment she struck out towards the milling crowd. "I'm curious now. Stay here, I'll be back."

Nicholas chuckled and tipped an imaginary cap after her as Sabrina vanished, followed closely by Kali. "Yes ma'am." He was still chuckling a few moments later when he heard a quick patter of hooves and a nervous call from the other direction. "Oh, she's back. Sabrina! Sabrina, that Zebstrika is right-" he called, turning to greet the girl.

The first thing he noticed was the nudity. The shorter pokegirl staring up at him didn't have a single stitch of clothing anywhere to be seen. That let him see that she was, instead of the black and white of a Zebstrika, wrapped in a chest of soft blue hair over a body of pale skin. Instead of the white mane, orange hair spilled from her scalp and the blue hair of her chest climbed her neck to find a pair of long quivering ears on either side of her head. But it was her face that had given him pause. Standing tall in the center of her forehead, piercing the orange, was a pale, proud horn. Sitting as the focal point for a pair of wave-like crests that swept across this pokegirl's brow and created, despite her wide-eyed expression, the unmistakable appearance of grandeur.

"Um… Hello?" the girl asked nervously. "Are you… the Lord?"

Nicholas stared back at her while his thoughts caught up. "And you are…?"

The pokegirl made a quick gasp and dropped into a bow, almost looking like she was going to smash her face to the floor with how quickly she went. "I am sorry, i-if I am mistaken, Madam Cobalion said the Lord was in this human building, and he would stand apart, that I would know him, but I am still working on my training and-"

"Stop." Nicholas face had contorted in a pained grimace. "You must be Keldeo."

The girl's head popped back up. "Y-Yes! You are then-?"

"The 'True Lord' you were sent to find, yes," Nicholas replied tiredly. "They said you were untrained but this…" He glanced around. Luckily it didn't seem any of the crowd was giving Keldeo a second look. Made sense. She was just an oddly colored pokegirl to them, if they observed her at all. "You're acting like a newborn." He grew silent for a moment as he looked down at the nervous legendary. "I suppose that's because you are."

"I am, um, s-sorry…?"

"No, that wasn't… forget it." Nicholas began to walk and Keldeo nearly tripped over herself trying to follow. "Come on. Away from the crowd."

"…You are really him, right?" Keldeo asked once they were out of sight. "I mean, Madam Cobalion said I would know, and no other human here is like you, so-"

"Like me how. Why are you not sure," Nicholas interjected.

"W-Well, um," Keldeo stammered. "The way your spirit… flows."

"The way my spirit flows," Nicholas murmured. "That's a new one, I have to admit." He looked at her. "I'm used to referring to that as my 'aura'. Your own is quite…" He trailed off. He could sense what Cobalion had meant. This pokegirl was apparently a freshly manifested legendary. And still, underneath her clumsy words and movements sat a presence greater than any of the three that had come to petition his aid that night. "It is strong," he decided to finally say. "Tell me, what did your mentors tell you about me?"

"They just said I must seek out the True Lord, to learn from him and realize my destiny," Keldeo said anxiously. "But I do not know what my destiny is meant to be. Do you know? Is that why I am here?"

Nicholas let out a quiet sigh. So the other three swords hadn't told Keldeo anything they'd told him. Great. "You are here because I am to assist you in discovering that destiny, that purpose," he replied. "Whatever and wherever that may take you."

"Oh."

Nicholas gave her a quick look over. "Do you have a sword? The others did."

"Oh, erm, right!" Keldeo threw out a hand, focusing for a moment before letting out a nervous laugh. "Oh, they'd just finished teaching me this, I'm sorry…"

"That's fine, don't worry about it," Nicholas sighed again. Sabrina had told him to stay put – he needed to get back to where she expected him to be. "Once we have an opportunity in private we can talk more. For now, I am Nicholas Topolski." He held out his hand. "Whatever your purpose for existing, I made a promise to help you realize it. The details can come later." He smiled when Keldeo clumsily shook. "You will have to be patient, however. I wasn't expecting to meet you so soon and I have plans for the day. You're welcome to come along, though."

"I, I wouldn't dare ask anything else," Keldeo replied quickly. "Thank you, Sir Lord, ah, Sir Topolski, for accepting me as your squire."

Nicholas gave her a quizzical look for a few moments. "I have to say that is completely unexpected to hear from an eternal one," he muttered as he turned back towards where Keldeo had first approached him.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Nicholas glanced back at Keldeo's fretting face. "Wrong? No, but…" he hesitated before turning away. "You sound… respectful. Humble. I'm not used to that from the eternal ones. Even those I like." He grew silent. "Is it because of your nature?" he murmured under his breath, unable to see how Keldeo's ears twitched as they caught every single whisper. "Or are you still too young to have learned to be arrogant?" His lips thinned. Regardless of why Keldeo existed, why she had been sent to him, he was not going to let this legendary pokegirl become like the rest. It no longer mattered why the anima of the planet might have granted Keldeo form. He had decided to claim her as his own. He was the harbinger of a new age of harmony, and he would make sure that this pokegirl, the first of a new age of eternal ones, would become one that stood beside humanity. Not above them.

It didn't take long for Sabrina to return, though she did so without the Zebstrika. "I think I've got her figured out…" she was saying, pausing when she saw Keldeo shifting her hooves beside where the others waited. "Who's this?"

"A… new 'friend' of mine," Nicholas said, stressing the word while giving Kali a surreptitious glance. "I had been told about her but hadn't expected to have her find me in Nimbasa. I would have warned you if I had." He looked over at Keldeo. "Keldeo, this is my mate."

Sabrina's eyes flicked towards Keldeo when she got the hint. "Is she going to change your plans for the day?"

Nicholas shook his head. "No. This one is surprisingly unorthodox. She shows respect."

Sabrina blinked and began to laugh when Keldeo dipped her head in embarrassment. "Interesting. Once I'd cornered that Zebstrika she was beside herself to do the same. I've arranged to meet back up with her once I'm free." She winked. "I may need to consult with my agent first, though."

"More than just a fan, huh."

"What do I do in between movies?" Sabrina asked. "Well, that girl might be an option." She blinked before shouting indignantly when she saw Nicholas struggling to hold back laughter. "HEY! I didn't mean it like that!"

"Like what?" Nicholas managed to choke out between aborted laughs.

"Dirty-minded tamer," Sabrina grumbled. "Elesa's already left for her gym. You still intend to follow or are you going to keep your mind in the gutter all day."

"I'm pretty sure my mind lives in that gutter. Occupational hazard," Nicholas snickered, but he nodded. "I'm ready to see what Elesa has in store for me. Let's go."