Pokegirl Origins - Unova Chapter 23 - All the World's Her Stage, a pokémon fanfic

As they walked towards the entertainment district and Elesa's gym Nicholas was silent. Utterly. To the point where Adalinda had to shove him to get a response. "Hey. Nick. What's up?"

Nicholas barely acknowledged her. "Thinking. Battle." Now he raised his eyes to the road ahead. "Forming our strategy. Calculating our odds."

Adalinda giggled. "Oh yeah? What do you think?"

"Kalmiya. The pokegirls Elesa used last year – the gliders. What were they?"

"Emolga, Master."

"I think it's fair to expect at least one from Elesa today. There were two in her personal harem." He lapsed into silence again until Adalinda nudged him. "They make Jade useless. They threaten you, Ada. Leaving Kiana to handle them alone. And, if Elesa is half the tamer I expect she is, she won't let Kiana take them that easily." He scowled. "Gym Leaders always have the advantage. My harem profile is public, but they get to secretly choose what pokegirls they use for each challenger. I am sure Elesa will bring a team that counters all of you."

"But isn't she a type specialist? Isn't that what Gym Leaders do?" Adalinda asked. "She'll bring a bunch of Electric-types, right?"

Nicholas barely shook his head. "You're a Grass-type. Yes?"

"Well, uh, yeah?"

"Is that all you wish to be? To do?" Nicholas asked. "Or are you frustrated in how it's all you know. Are you eager to learn more. To grow. To become something better. Stronger." He grunted. "You're in my harem because that's how you think, Ada. Gym Leaders get to where they are because they have pokegirls who think the same. Because they… 'know how to make others' vision into reality', I believe is what Elesa said. She also said how a tamer's job is to 'give their all to help their pokegirls win'. I can't stop thinking about our match against Burgh." He sighed. "Unova is different. Everything is – me, this region, this challenge, the weight of it all. It's like every battle holds the same stakes as fighting Cynthia. The same level of directed focus on me and my harem from our opponents." He turned to the Servine. "I just can't shake the feeling that I'm leading you all to another loss."

Adalinda didn't reply immediately as they looked at each other. The entire group had come to a stop. "Well?" she asked quietly after a while, her eyes locked on his. "You're our tamer. What are you going to do about it?"

Nicholas looked back towards the road. "I can't always win. We, can't always win," he said. "I'm not foolish enough to believe we can. Losing is part of life. It's a valuable way to learn. To grow." He scowled. "But that's only if there's something to be learned that you couldn't learn otherwise." He turned to look at the other two pokegirls watching them. "I don't want to leave Nimbasa without giving the gym a shot. But I don't want to go into a battle we can't win, either. There are still things we need to do. Training we need to have before I think I can be confident in the three of you standing up to the threat Elesa showed me today." He glanced at where Sabrina was watching the conversation. "Sorry, honey."

Sabrina shook her head. "You rushed things for me, didn't you?" she asked. "After what I said in Castelia."

"I may have."

"Well that's not the man I wanted to see." Sabrina smiled. "That's not the man I fell in love with. The man who stepped into my own gym. I remember his pokegirls then. They weren't as strong as my own. But they still beat me. Because their tamer believed in them. Just as Elesa said."

Nicholas smirked and looked at his feet. "Even in Kanto it was never this hard. The Gym Leaders here in Unova aren't playing nice. I'm not a challenger who they want to give a badge. Maybe that's the difference." He looked back up. "This is the first region where I'm being forced to take my victories. They're not being offered to me." A slight smile tugged at his lips. "And because of that, I'm expecting even more from my pokegirls. Despite not giving them everything they need to meet those expectations. I'm pushing us through some arbitrary path instead of doing what's best." His smile grew. "What a horrible lesson to be teaching you, Keldeo. I should be better as your mentor."

Keldeo laughed nervously. "Oh, there was a lesson I was supposed to learn?"

"There is now." Nicholas' finger snapped to each of the three Unovan pokegirls. "All of you. We're headed back to a training ground. We have the rest of the afternoon before we challenge the gym. Because we're still challenging Elesa today." He turned to look at them. "And enough of me keeping everything to myself. I haven't been very open with my thoughts on all of your training because usually, I'd be talking to my Alpha about those things. This harem has no Alpha. Not yet. Which means all three of you get the unfiltered experience." He glanced over and nodded at Kali. "Kali."

Kali barely raised an eyebrow. "Master Nicholas?"

"I need my first Alpha. I have a Grass-type here who needs the pokegirl I've been comparing her to." He smirked. "You think you can find Dahlia and get her back here quickly enough?"

Kali smirked back. "If I know where to go."

"Kalmiya?"

"Dahlia and your other Alphas are remaining in Pokestar to coordinate the rest of the harem, Master," Kalmiya reported. "I will notify her of your request right away."

"Easy enough," Kali chuckled. "Back in a moment, Master Nicholas."

"I think I remember there being a training area down the next street," Nicholas said, stepping into motion when Kali vanished. "Okay, you three. Listen up. Here's what's on my mind." He gestured in Adalinda's direction. "Ada. I've been telling you you need to fight smart but so far all that's meant is sending you out to create openings for the others. That ends today. When we step into Elesa's gym I expect you to be able to make those openings for yourself, too. Make them without sacrificing your body in the process." He swept the other way to indicate Jade. "Jade. You won't be able to satisfy me by being a wall. Especially not if you can be so easily injured by a focused attack like Ada's new Energy Ball. You need to be a threat." He glanced at the Golett. "That's right, Jade. Your Keeper demands you be more than your purpose. Are you able to rise above yourself just as I am more than a simple keeper?"

Jade was definitely growing more animated as more and more time passed in his presence and she responded first by levitating a few extra inches off the ground. "I am only able to rise this far, Keeper. One day I swear to find the strength to do more." Nicholas was beginning to groan when a clearly teasing tone colored the Golett's next words. "Was that a good joke?"

"Wait that was a-" Nicholas laughed and clapped his hands together. "I KNEW you'd figure it out, Jade! Sorry. Let me rephrase. Do you believe you have the ability to meet my expectations of you?"

Some extra energy seemed to pulse from Jade's helmet's eyes. "I will become whatever you demand I be, Keeper."

"Good." Nicholas winced. "I bet there's a TM I could have found for you too. Something to teach you how to project earth and stone instead of what you do now. Something that would be invaluable against an Emolga." He shook his head. "Too late now. We don't have the time to get you used to a brand-new technique before the gym, not if we're still going to fight it today. But I will not forget. For now, this afternoon, you must focus and become a threat to our enemies." He glanced back at Adalinda for a moment. "Ada showed how your armor is not as infallible as we each might wish it to be."

"At least that shouldn't be a problem in this gym," Adalinda piped up.

Nicholas sighed. "No? What's the Electric-type's greatest weakness?"

"Er…"

"The Ground-type," Nicholas continued. "What's a Ground-type's weakness? The Grass-type. If Elesa doesn't bring at least one pokegirl with a Grass-type specialty I will eat my hat."

"But how would you…?"

"IDIOM!" Nicholas cried before Jade could say more than a few confused words. "Don't worry about it. KIANA!" He whirled quickly to where the Growlithe waited. "Your new technique may be vital to our success today. This time, it will be your job to always be coming in and out of battle to put our opponents at a disadvantage while your sisters take us to victory."

Kiana nodded.

"Let's get to this training area," Nicholas said, getting back in motion so the others would follow. "I'm sure Kali and Dahlia will be here any moment."

Soon Nicholas was directing Kiana and Jade in mock battles while Dahlia stood with Adalinda off to the side. "So," the Venusaur said, "Master wants me to show you the ropes, hm?"

Adalinda nodded. "He said he wants me to be able to create my own openings, instead of creating them for the others by sacrificing myself. I can't say I'm unhappy by that."

Dahlia chuckled. "I'm glad I got him to go back for you. You remind me a lot of me." She gave the Servine a smile. "Spunky underneath that quiet exterior. Did he say anything specific? I can see that my usual strategies may not be the best for you, sister. I can absorb blows. You'd probably crumple to them."

Adalinda took a few moments to respond, and when she did it was with a glint to her eyes as she looked at Dahlia. "The pride awakening inside of me demands you know I would not be stupid enough to just stand there and take them."

Dahlia's nonchalant expression slipped in favor of a firm smile. "Something more than spunk, hm. You've got guts, little sister. So what's Master told you?"

"I remember him talking about how you plant seeds."

"Ah, those." One of Dahlia's vines reached back around to her flower and returned with a long line of small green seeds pulsing along the length. "I infuse a small piece of my energy into a projectile that I can then fling at an opponent to begin leeching from their own reserves."

Adalinda plucked one of the seeds from Dahlia's vine and studied it. "It tickles."

"It should burrow into anyone that touches it," Dahlia said in surprise, Adalinda continuing to just peer at the pulsing object between her fingers. "You're unaffected?"

Adalinda slowly began to smile as she flicked the seed into the air and caught it in her palm. "I can feel it trying. Like a spore, reaching its roots for my leaves. But I do not let any invading weed take me, Alpha Dahlia. Though I can clearly feel your technique within." Her own vines uncurled as seeds began to sprout from their ends. "Until recently I might have hesitated to duplicate such a technique. But now, now I am excited to hold the ability to impose my will on my enemies."

Dahlia raised an eyebrow. "Pride. Imposing your will. He mentioned a dragon within you but I see it is coming out now."

Adalinda flicked her wrist to send Dahlia's Leech Seed into the dirt and summoned the small draconic twister to replace it in her palm. "It is."

"Just see that it does not consume you," Dahlia warned quietly. "There is a fool of a dragon within my harem. I would hate to see you fall to her level."

Adalinda's smirk faded and she closed her hand to cut off the energy. "I will keep that in mind."

"I believe you." Dahlia nodded. "Right. I can see you picked that technique up right away, so let's try another. There are multiple ways to remain on the battlefield much longer than your opponents will expect you to. Have you ever tried to actively draw energy from the light around you?"

Adalinda made a face. "It makes me weaker when I try to charge up like that."

"No, not gathering power. Drawing energy. To cleanse your own fatigue," Dahlia explained. "If you're anything like me then you should love to bask in the sun. It can do more for us than that. There is nothing more satisfying than watching a foe despair when all of their blows fade away."

"Well, I meant it before. I do not intend to stand there and simply absorb an opponent's blows," Adalinda replied. "Being able to replenish my energy wouldn't do much good if that would allow someone to get a clean shot on me."

"You could always time it well, or find some cover," Dahlia replied. "Do you not want me to teach you?"

"It just seems useless if it would make me an easy… target…" Adalinda trailed off before her lips stretched into a wild grin. "No. I have an idea. Please teach me, Alpha Dahlia. I think your healing technique may be exactly what I need."

Dahlia snorted. "Oh? And what changed your mind?"

"Just remembered something I've seen before. I think I can use it." Adalinda's grin was wide enough that her fangs were on full display. "I still don't know what a 'dragon' is supposed to be, but Nicholas says it's all about having pride in myself. So I will. I will have pride in my knowledge and use it to grow my self. Just as I figured out that Seviper technique by studying it, I can learn and expand my own abilities by studying others." She burst out in giddy laughter. "I will hoard knowledge, not wealth or influence like the foolish dragons you talk about. I will hoard the thing Nicholas finds most valuable and grow even more powerful because of it!"

Dahlia was hiding a smile as she watched the young Servine gloat. Her Master truly was a horrible influence on all of them. Taking the shy, studious pokegirl from Bianca's lab and turning her into this. He'd done the same thing to her, all those years ago. Taken her from a shy, quiet Bulbasaur to the Alpha of his harem. He brought out the worst in them, at least according to human society. Maybe that was why they loved him so much. He was more pokegirl than the rest. "Then let us begin, Adalinda," Dahlia crowed, her vines unraveling into a ready position around her. "I am eager to see what our Master has awoken inside of you."

Night was approaching. Grand floodlights had come to life all throughout the entertainment district and as Nicholas approached the gym building he could feel the energy in the air. Not from around them, however. From his harem. It had absolutely been the right call to take the extra time that afternoon to make sure they were all ready. Jade was almost a new pokegirl. Kiana's fur was standing on end with how desperately her body strained for release. And Adalinda. The Servine's eyes had been bright when he'd asked her how'd things had gone with Dahlia. Bright, and when she'd replied to him, it had been with an assured confidence that chased every previous doubt from his mind. She had realized something, talking to the Venusaur. The fight against Burgh had put things in motion, and now this gym would be a tipping point for these pokegirls. It was up to him to push them over the edge.

"You can come with us, Keldeo," Sabrina said, gesturing for the legendary to follow her, Dahlia, and Kali. "I know where to go to get a great view of the battle."

"Oh, erm, shouldn't I just follow Sir Nicholas?" Keldeo asked. "As he has said, I am trying to understand the teachings he has for me…"

"You can stay with me if you want, but usually the challenging tamer is expected to be alone," Nicholas replied without taking his eyes off the gym. "Cathy is fully defined as a noncombatant part of my harem, that's why she's allowed to stick with me so closely. You're not registered as anything."

"…Ah, she is your attendant," Keldeo said. "I apologize for questioning your mate, Sir Nicholas. It is not my place as your squire. Forgive me."

Nicholas smirked slightly at Keldeo's contrite words. He had a feeling that she was bowing, too. It would fit. "Your place is to question, and so there is nothing to forgive, Keldeo. In fact, I would ask you forgive me for ignoring you today." His smirk faded as he focused back entirely on the coming battle. "Once tomorrow comes I will make sure we have the opportunity to introduce ourselves."

"O-Of course," Keldeo stammered as she straightened back up.

Nicholas surveyed the exterior of the gym. It looked like a large arena, fitting in perfectly with the rest of the area. What was waiting inside? He smiled. Only one way to find out.

He opened the doors to a blinding wall of light. Cameras flashed, strobes raced across the walls, spotlights swept ahead. He'd stepped onto a wide-open staging area at the base of a long catwalk that led to a stage dominating the far side of the building. To either side were crowds of people and a few models were walking the length. Had he stumbled into an active fashion show?

He had to cover his eyes when a number of huge spotlights snapped on from above and skewered him in their beams. "A challenger appears!" Squinting past the glare Nicholas could see that the models had all stopped in their tracks and were looking at him. "Come now, tamer! Can your star shine brighter than ours?"

"That's Elesa's voice." Nicholas peered at the catwalk ahead. The models weren't moving an inch, all of them standing posed but just far enough towards the center of the catwalk to make things clear. "And those are her gym assistants. I guess that means we'll have to battle one, two…" he thought for a few moments. "No, this is too simple. There's always a way to make it to the gym leader without fighting anyone. If you can embrace the gym, solve its mysteries or best the leader at their own game then you earn the right to face them directly." A grin began to spread across his face. He had a feeling he knew what Elesa wanted him to do.

"I'll need to be alone for this," he said quietly, addressing the pokegirls behind him. Sabrina had hurried off the moment he walked in the door. "Be ready, all of you."

As the three vanished into their recall beams Nicholas straightened up and lowered his arm, allowing the spotlight to shine directly into his eyes. He hadn't made this kind of performance since… Eterna, had it been? Sinnoh? Long before he had even come to fully rationalize who he was. He'd managed to make it look good then, but that had been a complete act. Only meant to be loud and abrasive. Things he did not intend to truly be. After all, there were a lot of cameras here in Elesa's gym. He needed to give Karen nothing but the best footage to work with.

With the light shining directly on them Nicholas' eyes couldn't see. But they didn't need to. His target was standing right in front of him, and he'd already assessed her aura earlier that day. So his eyes, unblinking, unseeing, locked directly onto Elesa's as a swirling energy began to climb his body.

A man in a set of casual travel clothes. Hardly the kind of thing you'd expect to see walking a fashion runway. But Nicholas did. His arms swinging out, muscles bulging as he lowered his chin and opened his mouth to snarl his challenge, the words crashing over the ears of the spectators. "LEADER ELESA! You challenge the Champion – HE ACCEPTS! Do you dare to believe you shine brighter than a dragon?"

As Nicholas approached the first assistant she slipped aside, though even if she hadn't he hadn't intended on stopping. His aura was coalescing now, scales and claws cloaking his form as a roaring maw rose above his head to scream soundless fury at the entire building.

Elesa was laughing as she watched him approach. "I believe I feel an electric jolt racing through my body!" she cried, reaching up to trigger her red visor to retract before throwing an arm in Nicholas' direction. "This sensation! This strength! This beauty! I wish to feel it all!" Nicholas had changed his posture, ensuring that each step he took gave the cameras a new angle to capture of his approach. The second assistant had already stepped aside when he swept towards where Elesa stood and the woman lowered her arm as if she was offering him her hand. "I want to feel everything, Champion Nicholas. So now, my beloved pokegirls are going to make your head spin."

Nicholas stopped at the threshold to the main stage. "An empty claim." He took his first step onto the stage and as he did Elesa began to circle slightly to the side, leading his next steps to mirror her. "You'll end our battle shocked instead, Leader."

Elesa broke out in a huge grin and grabbed her coat, flinging it away to reveal a tight two-piece top and shorts with a buckle over her midriff in the shape of her gym badge connecting them together. "Welcome to the main stage, Champion! It is time for my beloved pokegirls and your beloved pokegirls to compete!" As she spoke the two had circled around to either side of the stage and a pokeball appeared in each tamer's hand. "We will soon see whose star shines brightest!"

As Elesa finished fireworks burst along the edge of the stage to punctuate her words and another assistant appeared in the referee's box. "This battle is a four on four unlimited battle! Free substitutions! Begin!"

Nicholas' eyes had cleared by now and he let his challenging look fade at the referee's words. Another four from the gym leader? If that's the way Unova is going to play I need to grow out this harem, and fast. He flicked out the pokeball he'd chosen, releasing Jade as across from them Elesa released an Emolga.

Just as he'd expected.

"HA!" Nicholas crowed, throwing an exaggerated pose for the camera's benefit. "Trying to fly over our earth? Jade! Use your new technique! Knock that Emolga from the sky!"

It was only a bluff, though not having the opportunity to give Jade a Rock-type TM actually worked out in their favor this time. As Elesa cursed and moved to immediately recall her pokegirl it was to see Nicholas doing the same across from her and now Adalinda was taking the field across from a familiar pink-skinned pokegirl.

"Jade chased out the Flying-type! Your show now, Ada!" Nicholas roared, pointing at the Flaaffy in front of Elesa. "SHOW ME YOUR PRIDE!"

Adalinda straightened and stared across the stage at her opponent. Elesa had quickly reassessed her strategy at seeing the double switch and was already shouting a new command. "Stun this one first, slow them down!"

Adalinda snorted quietly when the Flaaffy began gathering charge in her wool. "I swore, Alpha Dahlia," she murmured. "Now witness the dragon our Master has woken."

Before the Flaaffy could discharge Adalinda was moving. Every inch of her came to life, leaves shaking from her back, seeds popping into view along her arms, all of it ripped from her body by a sudden maelstrom of wind through which lanced bolts of purple energy. The Servine was consumed by her Twister and was only barely visible through the wind and debris whipping around her. What was clearly heard, however, was her roar. Nicholas felt his own essence stir in response, as while Adalinda may have still only been a Servine, the sound he heard made it explicitly clear that she would not remain that way for much longer. It was a dragon's roar. The Blackthorn TM had woken her from her slumber.

The Flaaffy squealed and flung herself out of the way when Adalinda's attack exploded outwards. For a moment, the entire stage was choked in debris, then the air cleared, revealing that the Flaaffy was completely unscathed as the cloud of leaves and seeds had been much too thin to guarantee any kind of hit. Leaving the woolly pokegirl to take much more directed aim and send a thin bolt of snapping lightning racing for where Adalinda still sat.

The Servine didn't even flinch when the bolt sank into her body and Elesa and the crowd roared triumphantly. "Well done, Mary!" Elesa cried. "Now disorient and take her apart, piece by piece!"

"Ada, push through the shock!" Nicholas urged. The Servine was still completely motionless and hadn't moved since taking Mary's attack. No doubt a paralysis-inducing bolt. "You can do this!"

Hissing laughter. It had been a while since he'd heard Adalinda laugh like this, but for some reason, he had a feeling he would be hearing it quite often from now on. "Push through?" Nicholas blinked when he realized. As he reached his aura for her, he felt nothing. The Adalinda he was speaking to, the one that had taken Mary's electricity, was empty. Lifeless. "As if I'd ever let something like that touch me." A barely discernible pair of glowing red eyes lifted slightly from the scattered detritus around the arena, the camouflaged Servine fixing her unaware opponent in her gaze. "Let me show you my pride."

With a jerk the false Adalinda went into motion, its tail swinging around as leaves broke free and sliced out towards the Flaaffy. Mary cried out as the very real attack cut into her skin and she immediately rebounded, the blue orb tipping her tail beginning to flash as a half-dozen swirling lights burst free and then raced for the Adalinda decoy, spinning around and around its head and creating a horrible flashing strobe across its eyes until the lights abruptly vanished.

Mary was straightening smugly when those same eyes seemed to flick towards her. Suddenly she was being assaulted by a barrage of seeds and the Flaaffy screamed in pain as they began to take root in her skin and drain her energy. Nicholas could hear Adalinda's smug, hissing laughter as the Flaaffy floundered. It fit her well, this kind of subterfuge. She reveled in turning an opponent's trickery against them.

"There's no way-" Elesa was saying to herself before her eyes widened and she began shouting urgent commands. "IT'S A FAKE! MARY, GET OUT OF THERE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!"

Mary let out a pained wail and dropped to all fours, tensing her body before initiating a headlong charge towards where the fake Adalinda still sat. As she ran her body began to crackle with power until she impacted, sending a burst of electricity through the decoy and another rebounding straight back towards where Elesa stood with pokeballs at the ready. The energized path made her recall instantaneous and without even a second to react there was a Zebstrika slamming onto the battlefield and getting into a ready stance as embers popped from her hooves.

"Here comes that answer to Grass-types I was expecting!" Nicholas yelled, eyes flicking towards where he could feel Adalinda's presence hiding. As the Zebstrika burst into flame and careened across the stage to completely obliterate Adalinda's decoy the Servine herself launched another barrage of seeds, this time giving away her position with nothing to pretend to send the moves from. Instantly the Zebstrika was lowering the arm she'd used to soak Adalinda's attack and turning towards where the vulnerable Servine lay pressed flat against the floor. "If you have a way out of this say something, Ada! NOW!"

Adalinda remained in her position with a cheeky grin as she stared back at the flaming Zebstrika staring her down. "I've done enough."

Nicholas recalled her and pivoted back to Jade. She took the Zebstrika's fiery charge head on with a tinkling laugh before drawing her fist back in preparation to retaliate. With the Golett's Ground-typing keeping the Zebstrika from using the same quick-swap technique as the Flaaffy she was forced to trade another set of blows while Elesa found the right pokeball. Another burst of flame consumed Jade, but to no avail as the Golett shoved her way through to slam a fist into the Zebstrika's face. While the girl staggered from the blow Jade smashed her feet into the floor of the arena, the first time Nicholas realized he had actually heard the Golett's footsteps, and the force from her heavy armor sent cracks radiating from the impact points. When Jade stomped again the cracks compounded, shattering the floor and providing ample material for the Golett to send shooting into the staggering Zebstrika. The force of the blow sent the Zebstrika to one knee instantly, the girl struggling to stand as Adalinda's seeds continued pulsing with stolen energy. Energy which, as Jade returned to a neutral position, was curling across the floor and streaming into her armor to ensure the Golett's defenses would stand up to another burst of flame.

"Right, that's enough, Kate!" Elesa called, raising the Zebstrika's pokeball. "Let Jane take care of this Golett with her Energy Ball!"

"Tsk." Nicholas made a face. Of course he'd been right about that as well. As he reached for Jade's pokeball, however, he hesitated. Why would Elesa give that away? It's not as if he'd know that whatever Electric-type she was intending to send out next would be able to use a Grass-type technique. She wanted Jade off the field, sure, but the Golett had taken a decent amount of damage already. Why not try to finish her off with the element of surprise? Make it so she couldn't return for the rest of the battle, instead of just chasing her off temporarily? And why was Elesa taking so long to trigger…?

His eyes widened a split second before his finger could hit the recall button. "JADE! FINISH THAT ZEBSTRIKA, NOW!"

His shout instantly galvanized Jade into action and not a moment too soon. Elesa's feint had nearly worked as Kate went from a limping retreat to a vicious lunge with shadow bursting from her eyes, intending on taking advantage of the Golett lowering her guard in anticipation of a recall. Instead of an open target her searching fist slammed directly into Jade's block and though the darkness still hit Jade hard, the light within her armor flickering slightly, Nicholas' warning had allowed her to withstand. Withstand, and retaliate with a keening scream as her hand thrust out and fingers wrapped around Kate's face. The Zebstrika only had time for a few futile slaps at the stone arm gripping her before Jade drove her head into the ground. The Zebstrika went limp.

Elesa placed a hand daintily over her face as she recalled Kate and Nicholas finally raised Jade's own pokeball. "Can't fool such a wonderful tamer as you, can I, Champion?" Her fingers drifted down past her eyes to reveal them sparkling with manic glee. "You, and your pokegirls… are shining BRILLIANTLY! BUT! A properly dramatic victory requires a dash of danger and a pinch of peril!" She threw out her arms, jubilant laughter echoing through the arena as the fireworks went off again. "This battle is only just getting started!"

Nicholas quickly triggered Jade's recall when a Joltik appeared in front of Elesa. Bluff or not, he needed to respect the possibility that this was Elesa's answer to Ground-types. A good thing he did, too, because as Kiana took to the battlefield for the first time it was the promised Energy Ball that slammed into her. Jade would have been blown away. As it was, Kiana just shrugged off the Grass-type technique and lunged for the Joltik with flames erupting from her jaws.

Right before she could close the gap the Joltik managed to loose a bolt of electricity straight into Kiana's chest, the Growlithe's limbs spasming and nearly throwing her off course but with grim determination Kiana stayed on target and the Joltik let out a tortured scream when the Growlithe's fangs sank into her body. But she did not fall. Against Burgh, Adalinda had held on to give her sisters a fighting chance. Now it was time for Nicholas to be on the receiving end as the Joltik wrapped her fluffy limbs around Kiana and her entire body discharged. This time Kiana couldn't avoid the effect and her entire body seized up as electricity locked her muscles. Not really to the Joltik's benefit, though, since the Growlithe tensing up just meant the fangs buried in her opponent's flesh sank even deeper. The Joltik fainted, but her job was done. When Elesa recalled her Kiana's movement were jerky, her limbs refusing to move and bend properly. Allowing the Emolga to come back out and take to the air uncontested, chittering as she dashed about and twirled to send blades of air slicing into Kiana's back. Kiana was helpless to take the first salvo but when the second cut into her and sent her to her knees she managed to force her head around to track her opponent. The next time the Emolga swooped in Kiana's body came alight and she forced herself upright, a pained roar escaping her lips before she threw herself towards the incoming pokegirl. The two collided, the Emolga squealing as Kiana's flames licked at her delicate flight membrane before she slammed Kiana with a headbutt and the Growlithe slid to the floor.

Nicholas was grimacing. Jade was hurt, bad. Probably only had one hit left in her. Adalinda, on the other hand, was relatively fresh but this Emolga would be a terrible matchup for her. He didn't have a choice. He had to believe the Servine could pull out a miracle.

As he recalled Kiana and reached for Adalinda's pokeball his grimace faded, replace by a calculating look. No, if Adalinda could take just one hit, then they could win this. He just had to believe she could.

He released her and immediately began rattling off his plan. "Ada, do whatever you can to withstand a blow from that Emolga and get your seeds draining her! You're going to go down but you need to set things up for Jade, she's hurt bad but she can close this out. She can only do it with your help."

Adalinda grinned as she began twisting across the arena floor. "No need. I'll take care of…"

Adalinda's head snapped around when the Emolga rocketed past. Wait. Fast. She's too-!

Blood sprayed through the air as the Emolga's slicing winds lacerated Adalinda's body. Whatever technique she'd been preparing seemed to die as the Servine was blown off her feet and she tumbled with a choking gasp. Nicholas hissed when he saw her struggling to get up. "HANG IN THERE, ADA!"

"I… got hit," Adalinda breathed to herself, her eyes fixed on the trembling fingers propping her up. "I wasn't supposed to, I-" Her breath caught. Slowly her fingers curled in and she clenched her fists tight as she lifted her head to find where the Emolga was wheeling around. "Is it really that easy?" she whispered to herself with a shudder. "Is it really this easy, Alpha Dahlia? To lose myself?" Her eyes set and she shoved herself back upright with lips curled back and fangs glistening in the stage lights. "YOUR DRAGON MUST BE PITIFULLY WEAK!" she screamed, more for her own benefit than anything. It wasn't very likely Dahlia could hear her from wherever the Venusaur was spectating things. But Nicholas could. "TO GIVE IN TO HER PRIDE THIS EASILY!"

Faster, came the feverish thoughts as Adalinda uncoiled her vines and began charging a barrage of seeds. If I was only faster. FASTER! Her body strained, energy building… but it was not to be. She wanted nothing more in that moment than to evolve. To become the dragon she was told she could be. If she had been, then there would be no need for another. She could finally prove her worth in battle. Here. Now.

But because she was not, because she could not, she instead proved her true worth. That which would earn her what was soon to come. By rising above the intoxicating superiority that Dahlia had watched cripple Kary. And perhaps, even if she didn't realize it yet, displaying the one true quality which each of Nicholas' most valued dragons shared. Those like him. Those with the ability to look beyond one's self. That had the resolve, and dignity, to perform an act of self-sacrifice. Just as their Weyrleader would. This time, she did so willingly.

There was no way for the Emolga to weave between all of the seeds and her flight faltered slightly when she took the impacts, Adalinda's fervor causing the roots to burrow even faster than usual. As the Emolga shook herself and got back on target it was to see Adalinda snarling, posted up strong with one hand reaching out, her eyes blazing as she pulled tendrils of energy from the Emolga's body. But it was only her will keeping her upright. Despite the energy she managed to drain during the Emolga's approach another cutting blast of wind sent the Servine to the ground, and this time she did not get back up.

Nicholas recalled her and took a moment to gaze thoughtfully at Adalinda's pokeball. The last few days had truly changed the Servine. As he looked back up and swapped her for Jade he couldn't help but smile. He just couldn't wait to see what she would become next.

Jade appeared and Elesa hesitated. On one hand, her Emolga was slowly being drained. Leave her in, and she would go down. The question was whether she could take Jade with her. But swap her to the Flaaffy, and Nicholas would take control of the battle. The pure Electric-type would be easy prey for the Ground-type Golett. Jade would get valuable time to recover her strength before facing the Emolga again. Neither option was very appealing.

She chose to leave her Emolga on the battlefield. As Jade planted her feet and took a ready position, the stray energy bleeding from the Emolga drifting in towards her, the girl herself came blitzing in with a scream.

Nicholas cursed when he saw shadow suffuse the swooping pokegirl. Of course the Zebstrika hadn't been the only one to know that technique. Elesa was aiming to finish this battle with one last decisive blow. "JADE! DEFEND!"

The Golett locked her stance. "Keeper. Am I all that remains?"

Nicholas blinked. How had Jade figured that out? "Yes. You stand as my last defender, Jade."

If Jade had had a mouth she would have smiled. "As it shall forever be." Her forearms slammed together as the Emolga came closer and just before the opposing pokegirl was about to strike a lattice of sparkling light erupted from the seams of Jade's armor to fully encase the motionless Golett. "COME!" she roared, the crystalline tone of her voice only slightly diminishing the effect of her words. "BREAK YOURSELF UPON MY BODY!"

The shadows blasted over her when the Emolga slashed into Jade's shield but nothing was allowed to get through. It all dissipated harmlessly in the air around her and as they did the Golett's rigid stance seemed to relax slightly. Though she would never admit it the rejuvenating effect Adalinda had sacrificed herself for had been sorely needed to keep Jade standing as strong as she claimed to be.

Elesa threw a hand forwards. "This battle ends here! Ashley! She won't be able to summon that defense again. Let's show our fans your shining star!"

As Jade lowered her arms to gaze across the stage at where the Emolga was preparing to make another pass Nicholas held his breath. He had to leave this up to her. Up to Jade. She was showing her first signs of autonomy in this battle and win or lose he needed to let the Golett be. He wasn't sure, if the damaged but still fully operational Emolga had the power to take Jade down. He wasn't sure, if Jade had the power in her to finish this with a counter blow. If the two pokegirls clashed, he didn't know which would come out on top. But the way that Jade was moving made him believe she did. So he had to let her finish this herself.

Ashley dove. Jade drew her fist back. A flurry of shadow extended phantom strikes from the swooping Emolga and Jade was engulfed without a single scream. Not even as the shadows wormed their way into the seams of her armor and tore at the soft, vulnerable light within. Not a sound. Not until Ashley was almost on top of her. Only then did Jade roar.

The shadow blasted apart to reveal a different darkness boiling up from Jade's body. The spectral energy shot down her arm to coalesce around her hand before Jade swung, putting everything she had behind it and sending her first smashing straight into Ashley's face. The Emolga's head snapped back, her body continuing its momentum for a moment before it pivoted over Jade's fist and sent the Emolga flipping over backwards to slam onto the stage on the other side of her intended target.

There was silence in the arena. Slowly, Jade turned her head to look at Ashley. The Emolga wasn't moving. Jade had…

Then a twitch. A jerk. And Ashley was struggling upright, bloodied, burnt, unsteady, but planting her feet and turning to find where Jade stood. The Golett was motionless. All but unconscious on her feet. It was over.

Yet, the silence continued. Ashley had stood – but she did not move. Not until Jade sluggishly lifted an arm and pointed at her.

"Fall."

The Emolga's legs gave out, dropping her to her knees, then her body slumped, dropping her onto her face to lay, finally unmoving, as the very last trace of her energy was pulled from her by Adalinda's seeds to twist through the air into the Golett's hand.

Nicholas let out his breath with a tiny smile as Elesa recalled her pokegirl. That was it. Jade had managed to take the Emolga down, sure, but Elesa still had that Flaaffy. This battle was over. These pokegirls had fought with everything they had. And they had proven that they could overcome what Unova had to throw at them. The next time he met Elesa on her stage he would make sure they could not be outnumbered.

And yet for some reason Elesa wasn't celebrating. There was another fit pokegirl to come against a Golett who could hardly stand yet the gym leader was just gazing across the arena at him. She finally flipped the Flaaffy's pokeball into her hand and released her. "Do your best, Mary," he heard her call. "Get her confused and she'll take herself out. Just one hit will do it."

She's bluffing, Nicholas realized, his eyes widening as Mary began bouncing towards Jade. A Tamer's job is to make their pokegirls believe they can win, no matter the situation, she said. She's bolstering her pokegirl. Is it not over? He clenched his fists and bellowed out towards the motionless Golett. "JADE! As my final bastion, my unwavering sentry, strike now! STRIKE FOR YOUR KEEPER! STRIKE! FOR! YOUR! LORD!"

Jade's helmet lifted. Mary was approaching and the lights were beginning to flash from the orb on her tail. "Keeper," she murmured, audible only to herself until with a creak cracks radiated from the corners of her helmet's eye slits. "LORD!"

The strobe that attacked her could do nothing. Jade was locked on. She stepped towards Mary, one hand flashing up to swat the offending energy away as she let out another roar. Mary took a nervous step back before she stumbled, letting out a piteous cry as her ankle twisted in one of the cracks in the floor that Jade had broken what felt like ages ago. It was those same cracks that Jade reached for now and still roaring the Golett slammed her foot to the ground, willing the debris to rise. So it did. Rose and smashed Mary back until the Flaaffy could take no more. She fell. It was over.

Nicholas remained where he was for a while when the arena barrier fell. Jade similarly had gone motionless again, staring at the empty spot where Mary had fallen. As the stage effects went off over and over and the cameras flashed she still didn't move until he had begun walking towards her.

Jade's head lifted slightly when he approached. "Keeper."

"Yes, Jade?"

The Golett was staring now at where Elesa gestured for the cameras. "None need bother doubting their worth to serve a Keeper. Yet you demand I question mine."

"I do." Nicholas stepped up beside her. "Do you know why?"

Jade's head turned to look at him. "I once wondered. How my Keeper, could be a King. It was something I knew must be true, but I could not understand why."

Nicholas smiled slightly. "Because I showed you how."

"My… Keeper." Jade's eyes gazed into his from behind her cracked helmet. "Would you prefer I called you Lord?"

"I would prefer you call me whatever you desire, Jade," Nicholas replied softly. "Whatever it is you believe I am."

Jade's eyes dulled for a moment before returning. "I… desire to understand, Keeper. My station. My Keeper. My… Lord."

Nicholas chuckled softly. "And how do you wish to find that understanding, Jade?"

He felt Jade shift. Excruciatingly slowly at first until one hand rested against his arm. The other reaching around his waist. The Golett's head tilting, inching towards him and when he leaned in to reciprocate her helmet dissolved to allow Jade to press her lips to his.

When they pulled apart Nicholas kept his eyes firmly on her own. "I am honored," he said quietly, gazing at the shimmering light of Jade's true body.

"And I understand," Jade replied just as quietly, unafraid even though she stood exposed to the entire building. "My Keeper demands I question my worth for it is not a mere Keeper I serve. My King is my Keeper. That is what I failed to understand. I believed myself a servant of a Keeper. I am not. I am the servant of my King. My Lord." Her eyes shone. "My King's own servant, and his alone."

Nicholas grinned. "And one in whom her King is rightly proud." He turned towards Elesa. "Walk with me, Jade. Witness your King."

Elesa reached out when they approached. "Champion Nicholas!"

Nicholas smiled as he took her hand. "Leader Elesa."

"You shocked us for sure." Her grip tightened slightly as her smile firmed. "I never intended to hand you this badge, you know."

Nicholas chuckled. "I know."

"I threw it away. The battle." Elesa released him. "I didn't want to recall Ashley, to bring Mary in as nothing more than a sacrifice in front of your Golett. Meanwhile your own pokegirls sacrificed themselves gladly. That is why I lost. Why you are a more powerful tamer than I may ever be." She looked towards Jade. "The battles you fight… That our own Champion fights. It is said your pokegirls are as fearless as ferals." She looked back to him. "I don't understand. Maybe I never will. And maybe that is why I am only a Gym Leader."

Nicholas reached out to shake Elesa's hand again. "That may be for the best, honestly," he said. "To be what I am… It's not so simple."

Elesa giggled and pulled back to throw an arm in the air. "Perhaps not! But a shining example of a tamer – that is what you are! Be well, Champion!"

Nicholas nodded and turned for the runway. As he walked, Jade trailing behind, she was lost in the sight of her King. The surging aura. The roaring dragon. The man from which it all came.

POKEDEX UPDATED

Tamer: Nicholas Topolski

Badges:

Basic Badge

Insect Badge

Bolt Badge

Harem:

Adalinda, Servine – Level 33

Kiana, Growlithe – Level 32

Jade, Golett – Level 34

Non-Com Harem:

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

"Next stop. Driftveil City." Nicholas adjusted his backpack and stared out along the road. "Should take us some time to get there. Time enough to get to know one another." He turned. "I intend to spend most of this time with my harem, Keldeo, but I promised you today. That's why I asked the others to rest."

Keldeo slowly nodded. Cathy was some distance away, walking about and creating a perimeter around the two to leave Nicholas and the equine legendary on their own. Adalinda, Kiana, and Jade were all resting after their grueling gym battle in the pokeballs on his belt. Dahlia had returned to Pokestar alongside Kali and Sabrina. It was just them.

Nicholas waited for Keldeo to speak but when she didn't take the initiative he did. "Tell me. You have said that your mentors said only that you were to come to me, to learn from me, and little else, correct?" When Keldeo nodded again he continued. "In the time before me, you said they taught you, but did not test you, is this also correct?"

Keldeo swallowed nervously. "It… is, Sir Nicholas."

Nicholas nodded. "Tell me. Do you trust me, Keldeo?"

Keldeo recoiled slightly with a surprised gasp. "T-Trust? Of course, Sir Nicholas! Wh-Why would I have reason to not…?"

"I only asked," Nicholas interrupted kindly, "because there are many things it seems your mentors did not tell you." Keldeo quieted as he spoke. "I asked because they are things I intend you to know. But some of them may surprise you. So I ask if you will trust my word. Believe what I say."

Keldeo shifted anxiously. "I… Are you… implying, Sir Nicholas, that… Madam Cobalion, Madam Virizion, Madam Terrakion… Were not honest with me?" She lifted her eyes to his. "Are you, implying, that you will be?"

"Now, that would depend on your definition of a lie," Nicholas replied. "I have no reason to believe your mentors told you falsehoods, Keldeo. However, if you were to count someone withholding the truth as a lie, then yes." He gazed steadily back at her. "If you were to do that, then I am saying they were not honest with you."

Keldeo's eyes fell and her gaze drifted away from him. "I had suspected."

"You had?"

Keldeo closed her eyes and shivered. "It all felt so strange. Why they would send me to you. Why they would refuse to teach me their secrets. Why… Despite all of them assuring me of our kinship, I never felt a part of them."

Nicholas sighed. "How much do you wish to know."

Keldeo still had her eyes closed and it took a while before her pained expression smoothed. "I have been sent to learn in your service." Her eyes opened and she turned to him with a resolute gaze. "You have welcomed me. In a way they never did. If you would tell me, I… I would wish to know everything you have to tell." She quickly bowed. "If you will accept it, Sir Nicholas, I would wish to share what little I have in return."

Nicholas barely nodded. "Very well. Then let us use today as I promised. I will begin." He turned to start walking and gestured for Keldeo to follow. "Your mentors visited me only some days ago to petition my aid."

"They did?"

"They did," Nicholas replied. "As they have told you, and you have said, I am known to some as a 'True Lord' of humanity. A human who stands above the rest. A human who stands above even pokegirls. Even those such as you." He shook his head. "I would assume that one such as me could be anything. Tyrant or savior. But you would not be here if I was the former." He looked back at her. "I have chosen to use my strength to heal this broken world. To reunite our species. A lofty, noble goal, but it is the truth I seek. To that end, shortly before you formed, I awakened Reshiram, Tirakan's fragment of truth, in an effort to safeguard that future." He turned back to the road. "I was successful. And so, your mentors believe, the land I defended saw fit to reward me. They believe that is why you now exist. That is why they have sent you to me."

Keldeo recoiled slightly. "It is not to learn, but to… consort?"

"I said that is why they have sent you to me," Nicholas repeated. "They called you my gift. As if your purpose was to serve me however I saw fit." He growled under his breath. "I must believe they meant well. But no, Keldeo. I have no interest in a mere consort. In fact, if you discover your purpose takes you away from me I will release you from my service with every blessing."

Keldeo hesitantly picked up her pace to catch back up to him. "Then…"

"I no longer have any interest in the true reason for your existence," Nicholas said with a hard edge to his voice. "You have been sent into my care. Thus I will teach you. You seek your true purpose. I intend you to find it." He turned to smile at her. "I vow to never lie to you, Keldeo. Whether that is by falsehood, or omission. So you must also know that though I intend these noble things I believe I would find great pleasure in your purpose keeping you beside me."

Keldeo's eyes had widened and her face was slowly growing red. "Ah… Sir Nicholas…"

Nicholas chuckled and turned away again.

"Th-Th-Then I should vow to meet your… ah… expectations," Keldeo stammered. "Whatever… they may be."

Nicholas snorted under his breath. "Do not make such a vow to me, Keldeo. I am not so kind as to forget it."

"…Unless I were to exit your service, yes?"

Nicholas stopped. After a few moments he turned back to the nervously waiting legendary with one eyebrow raised. "If you wished to exit my service then as I promised I would release you happily and with every blessing I had to give."

"Then my vow… is given." Keldeo slowly reached out, her expression growing firmer as she did until her fingers closed around something only she could see. For the first time Nicholas witnessed her sword when it materialized in front of her, Keldeo grasping the hilt while the point of the longsword dug into the dirt. "For I know," she whispered, eyes lingering on the pommel of her sword, "that your words ring true."

Nicholas gazed back at her until Keldeo lifted her eyes to meet his. "I accept your vow, Keldeo." He turned back to the road and started walking again. "You will need a name."

"A name?" Keldeo asked, hurrying after him while deftly twisting her sword into place at her hip. It remained there, almost seeming to be glued to her body as she scampered to catch up. "I am Keldeo."

Nicholas chuckled. "Yes. You are. But that is not a name. It is a designation, just as I am 'human'." He looked at her with a smile. "A name identifies you, as you. Many of my pokegirls discover their own, and many ask me to grant them one. Which would you like to do?"

Keldeo's eyes slipped away to take in their surroundings and Nicholas admired her minute body movements. The way her silky blue tail flicked as she thought. How her ears twitched and quivered. The subtle shift in her step when she came to her decision and turned back to look at him. "I… would be honored, Sir Nicholas, if you were to grant me my name." She noticed him staring and blinked. "Sir Nicholas?"

Nicholas blinked back before letting out a wry chuckle. "You seemed so uneasy before at the thought of being my consort. Yet here you are, offering it to me. Here I am, seeing you as such." He smiled and turned away. "Fiona. That is the name I grant you, Keldeo. You shall be known as Fiona."

Fiona had a light red tinge to her cheeks as she followed him down the road. "I was only uneasy, Sir Nicholas, when I thought it my only purpose. You have assured me it is not."

"No. It is not."

"Then, I, um… will gladly fulfill my duties, Sir Nicholas."

Nicholas began to laugh as a thought struck. "Hold on now. How would you know what those 'duties' were, hm?" He snuck a glance and his laughter grew when he saw Fiona's face holding a deep blush. "I knew it! You've never lain with another, have you, Fiona?"

"I have witnessed the madams," Fiona replied with a squeak. "I…"

"You will lay with me tonight." Fiona's noises were silenced when he grabbed her arm and pulled her around to his front. She could only gasp and squeeze her eyes shut as his hands took firm hold of her body and Nicholas bent down towards her. "But the night," he murmured, Fiona's jaw hanging slack as he tenderly worked their kiss, "is so far away."

Fiona shivered when he broke their lips apart. "Sir Nicholas…"

"We have some time before nightfall yet," Nicholas replied, making Fiona mewl by slipping his hands to caress her chest and groin before he pulled back and released her. "And we still have so much to speak of."

Fiona's eyes fluttered open when he stepped away from her. "If this… is all I would have received, to exist as your consort… perhaps… perhaps it would not have been as terrible as I feared." Her already flushed face somehow seemed to darken even more when Nicholas began to laugh. "Sir Nicholas…!"

"I would hope as much, Fiona," Nicholas chuckled. "Now come. The road is long and I wish to hear more about you before we stop for the night."