WARNING

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

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Nicholas felt Kiana's posture shift when they entered the pokecenter lobby. He spared a glance back to see the Arcanine's eyebrows furrowed, her lips twitching back from her teeth ever so slightly as they walked and turned back forwards with a huge grin. "Hey, Kalmiya?" he asked as they passed the front desk. The original nurse was nowhere to be seen. "Make sure to grab a copy of that video for me, would you?"

"Gladly, Master."

"Video?" Kiana rumbled.

"Don't worry about it. Kalmiya? Can I also get some directions to where the others are?"

"Go left, behind the pokecenter, and it will be the second block on your right, Master."

Melody had been returned to her pokeball, just as planned, so it was only Nicholas and Kiana that walked up to the training grounds to find Adalinda and Jade sparring while Cathy looked on and Fiona meditated. "Ho!" Everyone turned when Nicholas called and he waved for their benefit before walking onto the field. "Looking good girls. What do you think, Alpha?"

Kiana was now the tallest pokegirl there, rivaling even Cathy as she strode forwards and glared between her two harem members. "Hm."

Adalinda straightened her posture, almost climbing to Kiana's level but coming up just an inch or two short. "You look good, Kiana," she said easily. "Or, do I need to say Alpha?"

Kiana gazed back at her for a few long seconds before cracking a grin. "Not if you don't want to, Ada." Both pokegirls began to giggle before turning to where Nicholas watched. "Hey, Master! You said you had a plan in mind today, right? What was it?"

Nicholas smiled and walked over to join them. "I did, Kiana. The next part will be happening right here." He found her eyes and growled softly, causing Kiana to shift her stance slightly in response. "You said you wanted to stretch, my Alpha. Let's see it. Let's see if you're ready," he said, slinging his backpack off his shoulder and rifling the pocket until he pulled out his TM case, "for… this."

Kiana's stance had continued to lock in as he spoke and by the time he pulled out the Blackthorn TM she had gone completely silent. Adalinda and Jade were each watching their Alpha and her tense, almost hunched posture as her eyes slowly closed and she fought to control her breathing. Nicholas was watching her too and when he saw Kiana's eyes open back up to reveal two orbs of burning flame he turned to where Cathy was standing. "CATHY! My new Alpha needs to let off some steam. Mind being her punching bag?"

Cathy snorted and shoved out towards the arena, slamming a hand into Jade's chest as she passed and forcing the Golett to stagger out of the way. "Only if she doesn't mind if I hit back."

Nicholas turned back to Kiana. Her eyes were locked on his now and he nodded slightly. "I think she'll be just fine with that arrangement. Kiana?" He gestured towards where Cathy had taken up a position in the arena. "I want to see you. Everything. You. Are." His eyes narrowed and his lips drew back so that he could hiss his next words to the Arcanine with his teeth snapping, the imitation of the fangs she and so many of his pokegirls shared. "Imagine her a threat to your pack. And be. Their. Alpha."

Kiana slowly lifted her head from him and turned it to look out at where Cathy stood. When the Miltank saw what was staring at her she snorted, adjusting her stance to be completely battle ready. Silence fell over the training ground for a few seconds. And then came the explosion.

Nicholas and Adalinda were forced away by the heat of the flames engulfing Kiana's body. The Arcanine was consumed, wrapped in the flames that she had nurtured for so long. As she turned her body towards Cathy and began to twist into a ready position everyone could hear her cry. The eerie, keening wail coming from Kiana's chest as she abandoned all premise of restraint. She charged.

Cathy grunted in pain when Kiana slammed into her, the burst of flame that accompanied her reckless attack searing across the arena from the impact. "Shit, girl," she grumbled, struggling to hold Kiana's claws away from where they'd been reaching for her throat. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

Kiana howled, ripping her arm free and spinning in an attempt at smashing a kick past the Miltank's defenses. Despite the gap in strength between them Cathy still dodged, turning the kick into a glancing blow before she was striking back and forcing Kiana to block. Kiana took it well and retaliated, her feet planting, arms straining, as a screaming roar ripped from her throat and she drove her fist straight into Cathy's chest.

"Oh I fucking FELT that!" Cathy roared back, the strength of the impact having forced her to take a full step back in order to brace against Kiana's aggression. "BACK OFF!"

A sickening crack echoed through the arena and Cathy immediately pulled up, her face flashing to worry when she realized she hadn't held back on the strike. Kiana was laid flat out on the ground by the Miltank's backhand and she wasn't moving, her flames gone in an instant.

"Shit, I-" Cathy started, dropping to one knee and fumbling with her bikini to yank a breast free and start working her milk to flow. "I'm so sorry I forgot to think, I-"

Nicholas had jogged forwards when he saw the hit. "Hot damn. I was expecting you to pull your punches, Cathy."

"I'm so sorry Nicholas, I intended to, but she…" Cathy was babbling, leaning down as her milk started dribbling from her nipple. "I just reacted without thinking. I just… I had to get her away from me."

Nicholas' annoyed look faded when he heard Cathy's explanation. "You did, did you. My little Kiana, made my big strong Cathy respect her."

"I… Yeah," Cathy replied, pushing her nipple into Kiana's slack mouth to let milk start draining down the Arcanine's throat. "I'm so sorry…"

Suddenly Kiana's eyes snapped open and she lunged, causing Cathy to scream and try to jerk back before freezing when she felt everything digging into her flesh. Kiana stared up at the frozen Miltank, one hand digging her claws in under Cathy's jaw, her clenched fangs hooked into Cathy's breast, but just as quickly as she had attacked she was fading, her body slumping and releasing her bite as she crashed back to the dirt, well and truly unconscious this time.

Cathy stumbled back and stared down at the unmoving Arcanine in shock. "What the fuck…?" she breathed.

Nicholas glanced at her and quickly forced down his laughter. The way Cathy was standing, a completely defensive stance while one of her tits hung out and milk dripped onto the dirt was just the funniest thing he could remember seeing in a while. "She does that," he said, chuckling slightly before he could compose himself. "Guess you didn't hit her hard enough, Cathy."

"She's not taking my place," Cathy spat, her tail sticking nearly straight up as she bared her teeth at Kiana's motionless body. "I won't let her."

Nicholas couldn't help but burst out laughing when he remembered Sohn's grumbling comments back in Castelia. "AHAHAHA! What's wrong, my bodyguard? Scared? Scared of a little puppy?"

"She's no little nothing," Cathy growled back, giving Kiana's unconscious form a wide berth while she circled around to him. "She's going to grow stronger and one day I won't just be feeling those hits of hers." She nursed where Kiana had punched her. "If she can bruise me now I don't want to find out what she'll do once we're more evenly matched."

Nicholas found Kiana's pokeball and recalled her, still laughing as he handed it to the Miltank. "Well, it's your fault she's down, so you get to run her back to the pokecenter! ADA!" He gave Cathy a good-natured slap that she responded to with a sullen grumble before turning to start jogging for the pokecenter as he moved towards the wide-eyed Serperior. "Let's give you round two while we wait for Kiana to get back."

Adalinda shook herself and reached for the TM he was offering. "Huh. Right." She hesitated before lifting it to her forehead. "Did Kiana… Are you going to give this to her, too?"

Nicholas smiled at her question. "Don't want it unless she gets it, is that it?" When Adalinda nodded he chuckled. "Don't worry. I was always going to let her have her shot now that she's evolved."

Adalinda nodded again but didn't activate the disk. "I thought so, but… did she pass?"

"Pass? What, that test I said was to see if she was ready?" Nicholas snickered. "I just needed a reason to point Kiana at something and let her cut loose. She's been itching to ever since she evolved and all that energy needed to go somewhere before she burst."

Adalinda snorted and finally raised the Blackthorn TM to her forehead. "She barely got a chance before Cathy decked her."

"She'll have more. It was enough for now." Nicholas watched a shudder run the length of Adalinda's body. "Well?"

Adalinda lowered the disk after a minute and blinked before looking at him. "It didn't hurt this time."

Nicholas smiled. "I knew it wouldn't. Think you can manage more than that pitiful wind of yours now?"

Adalinda handed him back the TM as she bared her fangs and began to hiss. "Watch me."

"I'd love to. JADE!" Nicholas motioned for the two to take back to the arena together. "Let's see some sparring. Ada, I only want to see you working out your draconic techniques. Jade, just be Ada's sparring partner for now, but don't think I've forgotten about you. We'll be picking up some TMs for you while we're here in Driftveil."

Nicholas was watching the two pokegirls, marveling at the crackling beams of energy that Adalinda's tiny twisters had become, when he sensed Cathy returning. And Kiana, he realized, and the Arcanine was… He turned to see Kiana stalking towards him with a scowl etched onto her face. Cathy was following at a respectable distance. "Eh…?"

"She released herself," Cathy interrupted. "Nearly made a scene in the pokecenter."

"MASTER!" Kiana slammed to a halt in front of Nicholas. "I want the TM. Now."

Nicholas frowned and leaned in closer to get a good look at the bristling Arcanine. After a moment he barely shook his head. "No."

Kiana's teeth creaked. "No-?"

"Stop. Recenter. Breathe." Nicholas lifted a hand and slammed it against her chest, letting out a barking command when she started to grab at his wrist. "I said STOP! If this is the dragon that TM will awaken within you then I have no interest in meeting her. This isn't you, Kiana. This is your rage, yes, but it is not. You. Stop. Breathe." He waited for the claws digging into his arm to ease before letting go of her. "You are more than your rage. Do not let it take you now."

Kiana's tail had been absolutely still but now, as her eyes began to lower and her ears drooped slightly it began to swish slowly side to side. "I am… sorry, Master."

"You evolved mere hours ago," Nicholas replied softly. "You are still coming to understand the body you have been gifted. A body that finally can do justice to the raging demon that lives within you." He smiled at her. "I am sorry for waking it. Cathy is not your enemy, nor is she an enemy to your pack. You understand that, yes?"

Kiana took a deep breath and let it all out in a long sigh. "Yes, Master. I do." A pause. "But I still wish to repay her for what she did to me."

Nicholas chuckled quietly at that. "Unafraid, my Alpha is, and willing even as a little Growlithe to go after pokegirls she could never hope to take down. But she is not feral anymore, either. I would hope she has some brains rattling around in that majestic head of hers."

Kiana lifted her eyes to his. "I must," she growled under her breath. "That… dragon, inside of me, refuses to let her get away with it."

Nicholas' smile turned into a smirk. "Then grow stronger," he murmured. "Nurture that frustration just as you nurtured your flames. It will drive you. Do not waste it on a futile attempt now."

Kiana slowly blinked at him before growing a toothy smile of her own. "But it makes me very impatient, Master."

"Well then I guess you'll just have to be stronger than your own urges, won't you, Kiana?" Nicholas asked with a laugh. "Maybe find something else to spend that energy on?"

Kiana blinked again and her toothy smile turned into a lolling grin. "I guess I could do that. But can I have the TM anyways, Master? Please?"

Nicholas chuckled and affectionately messed her hair. "Of course you can, Kiana. Here." He held up the Blackthorn TM for her. "I promised you that when you evolved, you'd get your chance to try it. Go ahead."

Cathy wandered past him as Kiana excitedly took the disk and slammed it to her head only to instantly go completely cross-eyed. "Thanks."

Nicholas reached over to thump her with a fist bump. "That's what I'm here for, Cathy. Careful though." He grinned. "One day you might find her coming for your head."

"I look forward to it, actually," Cathy growled as she watched Kiana's frozen body. "Having someone around to challenge my place will keep me from getting soft."

"Now that's more like the kind of attitude I expect from my pokegirls," Nicholas replied. "How's Fiona been?"

Cathy turned to look at where the legendary was still meditating. "You said she's young?"

"Basically a newborn from what I know."

"She acts it." Cathy looked back to him. "Petulant, headstrong, but learning at a very rapid pace. Whatever you've been talking to her about has been working, too. She's starting to be more like what I'm used to from Kali or Celine."

"Only the good things, I hope."

Cathy blinked before letting out a barking laugh. "Of course. I'd tell you if she was like a certain someone instead."

"Hey, Nikki's been doing better too."

Cathy responded by giving him a thunderous scowl. "Better. I still haven't forgotten the bath she gave me."

"Oh, come on. You and Kali gave her two," Nicholas grumbled. "Pokegirls. Kiana, how do you feel?"

The Arcanine's eyes had come back into focus but she hadn't moved until Nicholas called her name. Then she lowered her hand and stepped over to hand him back the disk. "This… This is…" Her eyes slid shut as a shudder ran through her body. "You were right, Master. This… dragon… is nothing but my rage." Her lips were curling back before with a snap Kiana's teeth slammed together and she wrenched her head around so that when she opened her eyes again they were locked on where Adalinda and Jade were taking a rest from their sparring. "Thank you. Thank you, for… For stopping me a moment ago." She blinked back suddenly watering eyes. "Oh, I can't stand it anymore! GIRLS!" Nicholas burst out laughing when Kiana sprinted towards the resting pair, receiving shocked cries from each of them when the furiously wagging Arcanine crashed into the pokegirls of her pack and drove both to the ground to begin happily smothering them in affection. Even Jade, Nicholas was surprised to hear, was protesting right alongside Adalinda.

Cathy let out a quiet snort and turned to return to her original position near Fiona. "From monster to mother in an instant, huh."

"She swings hard and fast, that's for sure," Nicholas agreed, moving to follow Kiana as Cathy walked away. "But I think that's because she's always right on that line. Ready at a moment's notice to pump her energy towards either. Or both." He grinned as he approached the writhing pile of pokegirls. "OI! Kiana, let your pack be for a moment. I need to tell you all my plan for the rest of the day."

Kiana rolled over and yelped when Jade's hand closed around her tail so the Golett could drag her Alpha far enough off of herself to sit up. "Will it include the training you promise, Keeper?"

"It might, but I was thinking that would probably be tomorrow," Nicholas replied. "What I would like to do with the rest of today is head downtown and get everyone situated with their new bodies first. Clothing and other gear, I mean. Ada, I'm sure you'd like something that's not so tight."

The Serperior grunted and picked at the edge of her top where it was pressing into her skin. "It might be nice."

"It will be a good low-stakes way to introduce Melody to everyone as well," Nicholas continued. "See if she wants anything, all that. I assume you don't want anything, Jade? Not planning on floating around without your armor anytime soon?" When the Golett shook her head he turned to Kiana. "How about you, Kiana? Want to pick up some new clothes?"

Kiana had scampered away from Jade and was nursing her sore tail. "No, Master. I don't wear clothes. Why ask now?"

"Well, you've evolved now."

Kiana cocked her head. "Why does that matter?"

"Well, because you- as a Growlithe, you were covered in fur," Nicholas tried to start.

"And I still am!" Kiana exclaimed proudly, leaping to her feet and throwing a pose.

Nicholas bit back the rest of his words. If Kiana wasn't going to be bothered by how her everything was now on full display then he wasn't going to try and convince her to hide it. Having her naked body thrust in his face certainly had helped make that decision. "…Right, then," he stammered, tearing his gaze from Kiana's bouncing breasts to focus on Adalinda. "Ada, once you pick a store you like the looks of I'll release Melody and see if she wants anything too." He looked over at Cathy and Fiona. "CATHY! FIONA! We're going to head downtown to do some shopping. You coming?"

Cathy grunted and nodded. "Sure. Come on, sword girl." When Fiona didn't react she frowned and bent over to poke her on the shoulder. "Oi. You fall asleep?"

Fiona twitched before her eyes snapped open and air whistled past her teeth when she gasped. "What-? It's…" her chest deflated as she exhaled and found where Cathy was watching her. "Ah… Madam Cathy?"

"Quite deep in 'meditation' there, eh?" the Miltank teased good-naturedly. "Nicholas and the others are leaving. You going to come along?"

"…Yes, of course," Fiona replied, though she didn't get up for a minute, letting Cathy go ahead before slowly getting to her hooves. As she did she let out a long exhalation, shivering even under the warm afternoon sun and letting her eyes slip shut when she didn't see her breath frosting in the air anymore.

It had felt… so real. The shadowy place. The presence, the… hatred. The cold. Such cold. Creeping inside of her and turning to a deadly fear. She shuddered again and opened her eyes, shaking her head in an effort to clear the memory away. Even still it lingered, as the young legendary followed Cathy. Lingered, looming over her and daring her to turn around. To face it. She could not. She could only fix her eyes ahead and beg for her pounding heart to be still.

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Melody materialized and stumbled, fighting back a yawn as she looked around. Nicholas waited for her to get her bearings before clearing his throat to draw her eyes towards him. "Hey. Over here."

Melody seemed to shrink a bit as she continued to take in where they were. "Oh… Um, hello, Master."

Nicholas frowned. "Everything okay?"

"It's… fine, Master," Melody replied with a quick nervous smile. When she saw Nicholas giving her a flat look it vanished. "O-Oh, right…"

"Please don't make me drag it out of you every time," Nicholas said dejectedly. "I don't want that to be our relationship." He sighed when Melody just looked like she closed up more. "And, you can call me by name, if you'd like. I prefer it actually."

"I'm sorry, Master, I would, but… I don't know what it is," Melody confessed.

Nicholas blinked. "Huh? I could have sworn I introduced myself earlier… Did I not?" He awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. "Shoot. My bad. I'm Nicholas."

Melody's eyes flicked as a blush began to appear spreading across her face. "Oh… I think you did, actually, Master Nicholas. I… must not have been paying attention."

"Well you've been rather preoccupied with everything. Let's just make it official here, alright?" Nicholas stuck out his hand. "I'm Nicholas, and if you'll have me, your new tamer."

Melody didn't shake, choosing instead to keep her arms curled across her body. But she did sidle closer to him with a smile and bob of her head. "Yep. And I'm, I'm Melody. My Master gave me that name." Her smile grew as she let out a happy giggle. "You gave me that name, Master Nicholas."

"I did, I did." Nicholas reached over to give her a little hug. "You don't have to call me all that though if you don't want to. I don't mind. Just Nicholas or even Nick is fine."

"You're… sure?"

"'Course I am." Nicholas squeezed her again. "Now. What's bothering you, Melody? You're all huddled up like you're cold but it's a perfectly nice afternoon." He frowned. "You wouldn't happen to be a cold-blooded pokegirl, would you? I was under the impression that all pokegirls were warm-blooded, but…"

"N-No, it's nothing like that," Melody interrupted quickly. "I just…" her eyes darted around the street and back to him. "I've never really liked… being naked. In public. Like this."

Nicholas immediately wrapped her in his arms and turned so that the Palpitoad was shielded by his body. "Well why didn't you say something," he murmured. "I never intended to force you to walk around nude all the time. Look what's behind you."

Melody craned her neck to look and her arms, held tight across her chest while her legs did their best to hide her slit from view, dropped a bit when she read the sign. "The Fashionation…? Is that a clothes…?"

"A clothing store, yes," Nicholas finished for her. "Kiana and the rest of your harem sisters are in there right now. One of them is shopping for herself and I told them I'd bring you in right away." He smiled. "So, all that to say, yes, Melody. You want clothes – and the first thing I intended to do for you was to buy you some."

Melody pulled from his grasp and hurried for the door. "Thank you!"

Nicholas laughed as he followed her in. She hadn't questioned him that time. It was progress.

Melody quickly slipped behind a few racks when she saw the strangers dotted through the store and peeked out when Nicholas entered. "Erm, what can I get?"

"Whatever in the store you like," Nicholas replied. "In the best material and with whatever alteration you desire. We can even go to another store if you don't think anything here will be your style. It's all fine. No limits. I mean that."

"No limits…?" Melody murmured. "Master Miron would… never…" she swallowed convulsively and tore her eyes from him. "My… last, tamer. Would have never said anything like that."

"And I am proudly showing you how I'm nothing like your last tamer at every opportunity," Nicholas replied. "Anything, Melody. Whatever outfit you've always dreamt of. It's yours, if you can find someone in town who sells or makes it."

Melody shivered. "Master, I… Nicholas. Nick?"

"Ada calls me Nick."

"Ada…?" Melody shook herself. "Uh. Nick. I… I can't remember what I might want. Everything before is so hazy still. I'm…"

"Before you let the word 'sorry' pass your lips, there's nothing to apologize about," Nicholas interrupted. "You were abused and then abandoned to go feral. The fact that you remember anything is a miracle. So no. Don't apologize. This just means we get to discover what you want together." He walked over and gently coaxed her out from behind the clothing rack. "Come on. Let's find the others – I want to introduce you and you can ask if they have any ideas."

Melody shyly followed him deeper into the store, doing her best to slip between the racks whenever they passed someone, until Nicholas saw Cathy towering over everything around her. "Ho, Cathy!" he called, waving when the Miltank looked over. "Hey! Where's everyone else?"

Cathy just pointed down as Kiana's head shot up next to her. "Right here. That the new girl?"

"This is Melody. Melody, this is Cathy, a Miltank who likes to follow me around," Nicholas joked, laughing when Cathy snorted. "She's a member of my harem, but not your harem. Not Kiana's pack. I met her in Sinnoh."

"Right," Melody tried to say confidently.

"Sinnoh's another part of the world entirely," Nicholas muttered to her.

"Oh! Right," Melody replied. "Hi, Cathy. I'm Melody."

Cathy raised an eyebrow when she took the Palpitoad's outstretched hand. "A feral with some manners?"

"Oh that's right, I never explained, did I," Nicholas said. "Melody was… abandoned, we'll say, by her previous tamer. She's not feralborn."

Cathy frowned. "Abandoned? What a sack of shit."

"Trust me, I'm being kind by using that word," Nicholas muttered under his breath. "Anyways, yes. Melody, Cathy, Cathy, Melody. And that's Fiona over there," he said, pointing at where the legendary sat and prompting a small wave from her that Melody returned, "and finally for now is Jade, who you might have mistaken for an extra thick mannequin."

Melody shook her head and waved the Golett too. "Hi! I didn't. I knew you were someone."

Jade stared back. "I am not someone. I am Jade."

"She... you get used to it," Nicholas said to the bemused Palpitoad. "And Ada, or Adalinda, she's the one currently shopping and she's probably off who knows where. Kiana?"

Kiana gave him a huge shrug. "No idea, Master. She said she'd be back."

"Well that's good enough for me. Right! Girls, Melody here wants to find something for herself too, but she's not quite sure what. Any ideas?"

"…Actually," Melody called, forestalling the others' responses, "I think I might have gotten one already."

"Oh?"

Melody's eyes flicked to Cathy and then to a rack nearby. "Yeah… I think so."

"Well go for it then," Nicholas replied with a smile. "We'll be here when you've picked something out. Unless you want someone to come with you? Oh, or do you want one of my spare shirts to cover up while you…?"

"I think I'll be okay," Melody interjected. "But, um, just in case… Who's Ada?"

"Serperior. Grass-type lamia pokegirl."

"Okay. If I see her I'll try to say hello." Melody took a deep breath and struck out for a nearby section, but she didn't make it far before glancing back. "Um… Cathy, right?"

Cathy nodded. "Yeah."

"Your jacket… Do you like it?"

Cathy grinned and flexed, drawing the flaps of her jacket to the sides in the process to show off her abs. "It's great. Makes me look strong, don't you think?"

Melody quickly nodded and broke into a beaming smile. "I do! Okay. Back soon!"

"Must have been your jacket that gave her an idea," Nicholas mused as he watched Melody disappear deeper into the store. "Interesting. It doesn't really cover anything though?"

"Why does that matter?"

"Because Melody doesn't seem to like letting others see her naked," Nicholas replied. He shrugged and turned to the others. "Oh well. I guess we wait and see what she comes up with."

Adalinda returned to the group first. Jade had been posing occasional questions to Nicholas so he was focused on her instead of their surroundings and the sudden sound of someone clearing their throat behind him made him jump in surprise. "Hm? Who…" he started, trailing off as he turned and stared at the figure behind him.

Adalinda slithered up and sat back on her coiled-up tail to provide him a clear view of her body. "Hey. What do you think?"

"What do I…?" Nicholas breathed. After nearly a minute of staring he tore his eyes from her torso with a huge grin. The Serperior had appeared dressed in an open-chest form-fitting mesh bodysuit with a rich green trim. "That's nothing like your old look at all."

Adalinda glanced away, the Serperior's confidence melting away from his reaction. "It's, no it's not," she said bashfully, ducking her head slightly and bringing one hand up to begin nervously playing with her hair while her tail began to squirm. "I thought… I thought, well, you seemed to like how tight that was, and… I wanted to be able to move, so…"

Nicholas chuckled. By now Adalinda's other hand was twisting into the hem of her new top and the one messing with her hair had fallen to half-cover her face while it did. "You look elegant."

The hand drifting over Adalinda's face immediately shot back so that the Serperior could look at him. "Y-You think so?"

"I do. Was that what you were going for?" Nicholas reached over to trace the extraordinarily deep V of Adalinda's tight bodysuit from where it clung to her shoulders to all the way below her navel. "I especially love how the trim on this sits. It transitions to the mesh just late enough over your breasts to provide you some modesty but early enough that I can still see your beautiful scales underneath." He smiled as his hand caught hers where it was fiddling near her groin. "And this down here. Where the trim comes together into an inverted fleur-de-lis – I can see all around it, and you've got nothing around your waist anymore, you naughty girl. What would happen if I peeled this back?"

Adalinda squeezed his hand with a tiny grin. "Try it if you dare."

"If I dare?" Nicholas crooned. His fingers slipped beneath the flap to rub across the soft skin of her groin. "You should know by now, Ada… I can't resist a challenge."

He'd crept nearly to where he expected her slit to be when his exploring hand was brought to a halt. He tugged once against the vine wrapped around his wrist before lifting his gaze to see the Serperior staring down at him with an intense look in her eyes.

"You dare…?" she hissed softly, eyes challenging him to talk back. A look he recognized well. A look he himself often gave to others. It was undeniable. Whether from the TM or from her evolution, or perhaps both, or even neither, the little Snivy had grown into a domineering serpent. A dragon.

The flurry of movement came faster than most onlookers would have been able to comprehend. Nicholas' other hand snapped to Adalinda's vine, twisting to release it from his wrist. Adalinda's tail uncoiled in a flash, the end seeking to curl up his leg until a stinging blow made her recoil with an angry hiss. Nicholas continued the movement of his backhanded strike, using the momentum to push himself forwards and fully into the Serperior's space, and Adalinda thrust her head forwards to meet him, denying his claim and reaffirming her own as the dominant dragon. Only to gasp, her eyes widening in shock, when Nicholas' hand roughly grabbed her by the hair and crushed their mouths together in an aggressive kiss. She was struggling, turning her focus onto his unexpected attack, when the follow-up made her squeal in pleasure. The hand Nicholas had used to bat her tail away had come back around and without a moment's hesitation he'd shoved it beneath the flap covering her groin to sink his fingers deep into her cunt.

Immediately Adalinda's body wilted, allowing Nicholas to loom above as he pleasured her, and he accepted her gesture of submission just as quickly by releasing his painful grip on her hair and transitioning into a much more sensual embrace, each relaxing and beginning to giggle together as Nicholas fingered Adalinda and the Serperior's vines began squirming beneath his shirt. "You dare," she giggled in between kisses. "Still not kissing your ass though."

"Come on. Say it," Nicholas growled playfully.

"Nnno!"

"SAY IT!" Nicholas laughed, letting go of her to slam his hand into her cleavage and ride the Serperior onto the floor. "Say it, my dragon. Recognize your weyrleader."

Adalinda just responded by baring her fangs at him and hissing, colored by her own laughter. "Never!"

Nicholas chuckled and pricked his finger against one of her fangs before sitting back. "I'll conquer you yet."

"You'll try," Adalinda murmured blissfully, the two smiling at each other until Nicholas slid aside to let her up. "You're lucky I am as great and disciplined a dragon as I am, you know. Otherwise I would have taken what I am owed right here."

Nicholas reached down to help her pull herself back upright. "In the store? In front of who knows how many of the common rabble, none of whom deserve to witness your glory?"

He immediately regretted his choice of words when Adalinda's eyes narrowed and the Serperior let out a heady sigh as a smile spread across her lips. "Oh, I like the sound of that. Elegant, you said? Yes, I could get used to being your queen."

"Ada."

Adalinda's eyes, half-closed in bliss, snapped back open and darted towards the voice. Kiana was sitting with a leg crossed in front of her, one hand propped up on the raised knee while the other sat at her side. Her claws were ticking against the floor as she stared straight at the Serperior. "Watch your tongue."

Adalinda didn't hesitate a moment before sinking into a deep bow. "Apologies, Alpha."

Kiana grunted and looked towards Nicholas. "Don't you think you've teased her long enough? It's not all Ada's fault that she's beginning to let herself go."

"Heh." Nicholas stepped away from Adalinda. "I suppose not, my Alpha. Sorry, Ada."

Kiana tapped her claws a few more times before sighing and bringing both of her hands together. "I don't like having to do that," she said quietly, and though the reproach was clear in her words she kept it from being biting by adopting an almost sulking tone. "It's no fun."

Nicholas chuckled to himself. "I suppose it wouldn't do to have my big wonderful Alpha unhappy now, would it? I guess we'll have to do what she says, Ada."

Adalinda was gazing at Kiana with her head cocked to the side and a thoughtful look on her face. "Interesting."

"Once Melody gets back with what she wants I'll find us a place to stay while we're here in Driftveil," Nicholas said, turning to smile at the Serperior. "And once I do, I think it's fine to use the rest of the day to let Melody socialize? What do you think Kiana? Let me finally give Ada what I promised her when she evolved?"

Kiana smiled slightly when Adalinda's head snapped around towards him. "That can work, Master!"

Nicholas smirked at the happy voice she used. Just like Dahlia he was going to need to stay on his toes around the Arcanine, it seemed. A thought struck and his smirk faded. Had he always? Had Kiana been this manipulative from the beginning, only hiding it…? His smirk returned, growing wider until it had become a huge grin. She had, hadn't she. Hiding behind her pidgin talk even as a Growlithe and only revealing her true dialect on occasion. Utilizing her 'cuteness' to weasel her way in at his side for attention at any opportunity. Convincing Adalinda to let go of her grudge within just a few days. She was every inch the protective Alpha, the caring denmother, the brutal packleader she claimed to be, but that didn't mean she wasn't also sly. What a pokegirl this random feral had turned out to be.

Melody found them nearly half an hour later. Long enough that the group had drifted between multiple conversations and were all now just sitting around resting.

The Palpitoad stopped far enough away that the only one who would notice her was Cathy, the Miltank unwavering from her sentry post, and closed her eyes. When they opened again they were firm and she strode straight forwards without any hesitation, her pace increasing when she saw Cathy's tail flick in her direction before a small grin tugged at the Miltank's lips and she gave the approaching Palpitoad the slightest of nods.

"Hey! Nick!"

Nicholas sat up in surprise at the hail. "Who…? Whoa, Melody?"

The Palpitoad came to a halt between all of them, slamming her hands together with a loud crack and creating a visible shockwave that quickly dissipated before she brought the back of one hand to rest against her hip and lifted the other to run her webbed fingers through the slightly longer fringe of her short black hair. "Yeah. Hey."

"'Hey' yourself, Melody," Nicholas replied in awe. "Holy shit that looks great!"

"Heh. After seeing Cathy I knew you'd appreciate the look," Melody replied confidently, twisting a bit to let the light play over her clothes. "And you know… As I figured it out, started putting things on… I don't think I remember, but it feels right."

Nicholas got to his feet and reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "You sound right, Melody," he replied. "This is you?"

Melody moved the hand playing with her hair to take his arm and give it a squeeze in return. "Yeah. I think it is."

Nicholas chuckled. "You are incredible."

Melody couldn't help but glance away in embarrassment from his earnest compliment and he used the opportunity to soak her in. He'd focused most of his attention earlier in the day on Kiana, only giving what was left to Melody, so he had a lot to look at. He'd taken a cursory look at the Palpitoad's body when he'd had her naked for their introductory taming so he skimmed over the more obvious features, like her short black hair, and the darker blue skin that he remembered covering Melody's limbs, back, and sides, before it hit a black border that circled her front and separated the blue of the rest of her from the sandy white skin that stretched from head to groin. Even if he could barely see any of it right now. Not with how Melody was dressed.

She had found a short-cut leather jacket, much like Cathy's, though with Melody's much smaller chest hers looked like it might be functional and not just for decoration. She was still wearing it open, though. It let her show off the long, slightly ripped orange shirt underneath, the hem of which was bunched up over her waist to give the Palpitoad a sort of punk rock look that was only emphasized by the black pants she'd chosen to pair with the black jacket and were further tucked into a pair of thick black combat boots that laced halfway up her shins. As she returned to embarrassedly toying with her hair Nicholas' eyes were drawn up to the simple, yet all-important accessory that truly drew Melody's entire look together. Something that screamed just how confident this pokegirl could be with a little bit of help. The plain black choker around her neck.

"Hey, wait," Nicholas said, pulling back and taking another look at Melody's shoulders. The firm fleshy bump that grew to cover most of her forehead was still there, parting her bangs, but if he wasn't imagining things… "Didn't you have some like, shoulder pad things before? The same as your forehead?" He reached over to squeeze Melody's shoulder and nodded when he felt what was underneath her jacket. "Yeah, I thought so. Is this not uncomfortable for you?"

Melody grunted at his touch and shifted to pull out of his grasp. "It's fine. Annoying, and I'll need to take the jacket off to fight, but it doesn't hurt or anything."

"What are these things, anyways?" Nicholas asked, returning to the one on her forehead and tapping it with his finger. It was like hitting wet sand. There was no feedback, all of the force being completely absorbed into Melody's body. "I'll be honest, I know almost nothing about your breed. I know a lot of different kinds of pokegirls but the first I'd heard about the Seismitoad line was when I got here to Unova." He blinked. He couldn't feel his finger at all anymore and pulled it back to stare, the tip glistening with some kind of liquid while a tingle raced down his arm when he tried to make a fist. "The heck?"

"Well they're… things?" Melody replied unhelpfully. "I can make them buzz to make noise, like…" she focused, the bump on her forehead beginning to vibrate until a low hum filled the air, "…but I really can't do much with them yet."

"You're such an interesting pokegirl," Nicholas chuckled, shaking his arm to try and chase the numbness from his hand. "I think that one on your head is secreting some kind of paralyzing mucus. Wild. Well, you said the shoulders of that jacket are a little uncomfortable?"

"Sure, but-"

"Nah, hold that thought. That jacket's unaltered, right?" Nicholas asked, barely waiting for Melody's nod before he was reaching into his pocket and pulling out a knife. "Hold still."

"Hey wait a- Nick-!" Melody gasped, freezing when he sliced the blade into the leather and swiftly cut a hole large enough for the bump on her shoulder to pop through. "B-But now you'll have to…"

"Pay for it, yeah, I hear that from my pokegirls a lot," Nicholas replied, moving over to the other shoulder without stopping and repeating the process so that both bumps were revealed. "How's that? Better, worse, would you rather have a full open shoulder design, whatcha think?" He glanced at her. "I told you anything, didn't I? I meant anything. I've destroyed more sets of clothing making sure my harem is comfortable than I think I've bought them to wear. Money to me is no object."

"W-Well," Melody stammered, thrown out of her attitude by the unexpected move, "having just the holes is… better, for sure." She hesitated a few moments before shaking her head. "I don't think I want open shoulders. I like covering them. But I didn't like the pressure. This is good."

"Excellent." Nicholas stepped back with a grin. "I admit. I heard you say, 'I'll need to take this off to battle', and I wasn't just going to let that slide. That jacket looks good on you, Melody. The outfit just wouldn't fit without it."

"Th-Thanks."

"Let's find someone to work you a version that's not just my shoddy cut job," Nicholas muttered, beginning to scan the store. "Oh. And Melody?" When the Palpitoad blinked he continued. "This might not mean much to you, considering you didn't know what Sinnoh was, but the reason I don't need to worry much about money is because I'm working to become the World Champion of the World League." He smiled slightly. "I've conquered Indigo, Hoenn, and Sinnoh so far. Champion Iris and Unova? They're next." His eyes turned and locked onto hers. "And you are going to be a part of the harem I lead to victory."

Melody blinked many more times before speaking. "I… don't know a lot of what you just said, but I get the point."

Nicholas chuckled and nodded towards an employee he could see further into the store. "Good. Then let's get you an altered jacket and we can find where we'll be staying here in Driftveil for the next few days."

.

.

The bedroom door swung shut to muffle the sound of conversation from the common area of their suite and the two figures inside immediately pressed together, their hands running over each other until Nicholas managed to break free long enough to fumble at the wall and hit the lights. He turned back to see Adalinda's hungry eyes drilling into his and the Serperior took the lead, pressing their lips together as her long forked tongue wormed its way into his mouth.

When she finally let Nicholas break free with a gasp her tongue remained, twisting through the air while Adalinda gave him a sultry smile. "Kept me waiting long enough."

Nicholas grinned back at her. "Bite me."

Adalinda hissed, her fangs slipping past her lips as she began circling him with her tail brushing against his legs and forcing him to constantly shift so that the Serperior couldn't snag him in her coils so easily. "I just might."

"Then do it already," Nicholas replied, yanking his clothes off and drifting towards the bed so Adalinda was forced to follow if she wanted to continue her predatory motions. "As you can see, I can't wait."

Adalinda's eyes flicked down to his stiffening member before returning to his face with a smile. "I desperately want to swallow you whole, Nicholas. Those are the urges you have been letting grow inside of me ever since I evolved. That you have been feeding, with your constant teasing, and reminders of what you are to me now." She had been hissing already but it was growing in intensity as she locked in on him. "I am a dragon. And my Weyrleader has yet to claim what is his."

"So it wasn't a euphemism at all, was it," Nicholas replied, pressing against the mattress to cut off Adalinda's circles and force her to face him directly. "Your urges truly are telling you to consume me and grow stronger." He gave her a cheeky grin. "I think you're still a little too small to pull that off."

"Doesn't mean I won't try," Adalinda replied, her jaw unhinging alongside a particularly aggressive hiss from the serpent pokegirl. Without any further warning she struck.

Nicholas howled in pain when Adalinda's fangs sank into his neck but before she could add to the hold and begin working her tail around his body he'd twisted, bodily lifting the Serperior from the floor and flinging her around to slam against her back on the mattress. The move twisted her fangs free of his flesh with a spray of blood but Nicholas paid the pain no heed, leaping after Adalinda before she could roll away and slamming his knee into her stomach to pin her while his hands grabbed either side of her new bodysuit and ripped it from her shoulders.

Adalinda struggled as he brought the material down just far enough to act as an impromptu binding around her arms, the voluptuous breasts he'd popped free bouncing as she did. "You think I need my arms?" she snarled, throwing him off and twisting around with incredible dexterity even though her arms were uselessly pinned to her sides. Now Nicholas was the one on his back, the Serperior looming over him as her jaw began to open wide again and her fangs glistened with the mix of her saliva and his blood. "Just lay still and let it happen, NICHOLAS!"

Her fangs sunk into the sheets instead of his skin thanks to Nicholas throwing himself aside just in time and before she could work herself free he'd thrown his arms over her back and with a grunt Adalinda felt her tail kicked out from underneath her so that Nicholas could drive her face first against the mattress this time. "Thanks, but no matter how sexy you are, getting vored isn't exactly on my to-do list today," he growled, securing the makeshift binding of her bodysuit to ensure the Serperior was only able to bring her jaws and body to bear against him. "Now if you want to swallow my dick I won't argue, but the moment you try to bite it I'll break a tooth. Or your pretty little jaw- UGH!"

He hadn't been paying attention and was sent reeling when Adalinda's tail snapped around in much the same way as he had batted her away in the store. This time though the target was much more valuable and stars cascaded across his vision as he was forced to fight to stay conscious from the blow to his temple. It gave Adalinda more than enough time to get her fangs free from the bed and begin hunting him again, keeping her body low to the mattress this time and coiled to strike at a moment's notice. "Then you'd better stop me," she hissed, her vines uncurling to join the fight and replace her disabled arms. "Prove you are what you say you are! Prove it to the dragon you have awakened, the wild THING within me that DEMANDS you conquer it or be conquered in turn! FUCKING TAKE ME, YOU BASTARD! SCREW THIS HEAT FROM MY BODY ALREADY!"

Nicholas tumbled when she slammed into him and he rolled a few times to escape her seeking coils before propping himself up and giving the savage Serperior a cheeky grin. "Such language. And here I thought you were a refined lady, a queen."

"IF I AM A QUEEN THEN YOU WILL SERVE!" Adalinda roared, lunging for his throat again with her fangs stretching wide.

"Oh, it is so refreshing to experience a dragon like you," Nicholas chuckled, his blood dropping down his arm. He'd intentionally turned to meet Adalinda's lunging bite with a shoulder check and now her fangs were stuck in his flesh as he reached over to wrap his other arm around the Serperior's neck and lock her in place. "This has been a long time coming for you, Ada. So let's not delay any more than we already have." He grinned, aura dancing in his eyes. "Just remember, though. You bit first."

Adalinda couldn't make more than a muffled noise when the arm she was biting down on twisted around to firmly grope one of her breasts. Pleasure, pain, it was all the same for them in this rough taming, pain when Nicholas made true on his word and roughly bit down on one of Adalinda's ears, pleasure as Nicholas kneaded the large orbs spilling from her chest, pain when she captured one of his legs in her coils and began to squeeze, pain when he stepped on Adalinda's shoulder with the other to hold her still as he yanked her head up and pushed his dick into her mouth, pain when she instinctively bit down and he responded by following through on his threat, smashing his knee into her jaw and pulling back before slamming his cock deep down the Serperior's throat. Pleasure when her tongue coiled around his shaft and began to massage the length. Pleasure when he drew it free and moved to sink the bloodied member deep into Adalinda's cunt. Pleasure when she drew him to her chest and he began sucking on her nipples as he thrust. Pleasure, as her tight coils released his leg, and he came, filling her to the brim before pulling out to find the Serperior's tail snaking up his torso. Pleasure when she wrapped him fully, but did not squeeze, and dragged him down to the mattress before twisting her torso around to face him, her coils parting to provide Adalinda access to his penis and she serviced him, Nicholas unable to do anything but let it happen as she licked him clean before enveloping his shaft between her breasts and sensually working him to another spurting orgasm. And another. And another. Sometimes with her probing tongue, sometimes in her mouth, sometimes between her breasts, sometimes a combination of all three. Pleasure, as his twitching dick was finally allowed to rest and pulse against Adalinda's scales, the Serperior herself sliding up towards Nicholas' head and sharing one last deep kiss before she let him go and transitioned her constricting wrap into what was more of an embrace than anything. Her arms wrapped around him, Adalinda having freed herself from her bodysuit what felt like hours ago. His arms cradling her, idly fingering the Serperior and sending happy shivers racing through her body.

"Well?" he murmured to her. "Think you've calmed down a bit now?"

Adalinda shuddered as she came from his squirming fingers. "Ah- Ah… I… No. I never will," she breathed back. "Such an interesting phenomenon, these urges."

Nicholas snickered and twisted his hand to initiate a much more directed attack that made Adalinda's muscles clench down as the Serperior bit back a pleasured scream. "Still ever the scientist, Ada. Just enjoy it. This feeling. It is what you wanted." He stroked her hair and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "The feeling of being claimed by a dragon far stronger than yourself. Because I claim you. You are mine – a dragon of my weyr, and you will remain a part of it for as long as I see fit."

Adalinda's tail curled. "Ahh…"

"Now, do you understand?"

Adalinda let out her breath in one long sigh. "I… do," she whispered. "Could you… Could you do that to me again? I want to feel…"

Nicholas smiled and wiggled free of her coils, swinging his leg over her body so that he was sitting on her thighs with his softening member laying against her skin. "I claim you," he growled, staring down into Adalinda's eyes. "You are mine, little dragon. And will be forever if I so choose."

Adalinda's eyes rolled back and her back arched with a low groan as she came. Nicholas gazed down at her for a few seconds before chuckling and beginning round two, starting the much gentler activities by massaging her breasts until he was hard enough to slip back inside Adalinda's soaking wet folds and pass most of the rest of the night entwined with the Serperior as he welcomed the latest dragon into his weyr.

.

.

POKEDEX UPDATED

Tamer: Nicholas Topolski

Badges:

Basic Badge

Insect Badge

Bolt Badge

Harem:

Kiana, Arcanine (Alpha) – Level 34

Adalinda, Serperior – Level 36

Jade, Golett – Level 35

Melody, Palpitoad – Level 34

Non-Com Harem:

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