Nicholas knew he wasn't the only one listening as Melody picked at her guitar strings. Just as she had performed against Roxie, the sounds Melody was coaxing from the instrument were clumsy and untrained, but every few attempts she managed to pull out something that held together. "I can't believe you're the one hitting me with the surprises now," he chuckled, following Sabrina as she all but pranced her way out of Virbank. "Come on, honey. Spill."

"Nope!" Sabrina replied brightly. "It's my turn to do something for you, dearest darling. All I'm going to tell you is that we're heading for the Floccesy Ranch."

"'Dearest darling'," Nicholas snickered. "Oh we're getting deep in the pet names now, huh? Why on earth would we be headed for a ranch." He suddenly made a face and glanced at Cathy. "Look, I know it's an open secret that I've got a thing for the kind of bondage play you'd expect around a working Miltank but you wouldn't be luring me into some kind of weird sex thing by abusing my trust… Right?"

He missed Cindy's eyes lighting up from his casual admission and a scheming grin twitching across the Galvantula's face as Sabrina laughed. "No, no. I want to give you a hand, that's all. We need to head to the ranch for a different reason than whatever pokegirls might be working on it."

"Going to a ranch, but not because it's a ranch," Nicholas mused. "You've got me stumped. What on earth are you planning, woman?"

"Something I'm apparently finally able to keep you from guessing, man," Sabrina giggled. "Come on, put that big brain to work."

"Maybe I just might," Nicholas sniffed, though he let his attention be drawn away by Melody's plucking instead. The energy around the harem felt good. The performance in Roxie's gym had granted a confidence that was making all of them hold their heads up high. But even as he watched Melody and listened to her learn her guitar, his eyes couldn't help but wander past her.

They settled on Jade. All of these pokegirls were reaching the limit of what was 'easy', and pushing into what would separate them from the masses. And yet Jade was still a Golett. Why? And more importantly, would she ever 'break from her shell', so to speak? She'd been growing more animated over time, that was easy to tell, cracking a few jokes, beginning to understand things beyond a literal meaning, but the Golett still acted mostly like an unfeeling automaton. He'd been hoping there might be a more drastic change with her evolution but with that still apparently some ways off he wasn't sure anymore. He wasn't worried about Jade being a late bloomer of sorts – many sources he'd read about Unova talked about how the environment seemed to encourage pokegirls native to the region to be stronger by default, which meant they had evolved to, well, evolve later. It was a region heavy in history, still able to remember the time when pokegirls were much more powerful than today. None of that was a problem. It was the Golett herself that was starting to worry him. Because as much as he welcomed Jade's quite literally stony presence, appreciating how she acted as the straight pokegirl for the others, he wished she could be something more. He still didn't like pokegirls who acted subserviently, those who willingly called themselves his 'slaves' or 'servants'. The ones like Miyuki, Ryuko, Midna… They knew that. They just didn't care, and he tolerated it, because each of those pokegirls had learned over time how to temper their devotion to better 'serve' his expectations of them. Even Ryuko.

But Jade… Jade was the worst of them all. He was her King. Her Lord, her… Keeper. She was his tool, and in her mind, at least from what he understood, she was truly nothing more. Sure, she knew that he expected more from her, but she thought that 'more' just meant giving more of herself to him. That wasn't what he meant at all. He wanted to see the Golett become her own pokegirl. He'd been hoping that if she evolved, maybe it would help with that.

Nicholas let a quiet sigh escape his mouth. Time would tell, he supposed.

"So honey," Sabrina said and shook him from his thoughts, "thought about your plan for facing Skyla yet?

"Somewhat," Nicholas replied. "Ada's at a huge disadvantage, and with how Flying-types are usually, you know, flying, most of the girls are likely going to be joining her in playing support. But that means someone else can take the spotlight." He looked over at Cindy. "I've heard Galvantula are rather proficient at downing flying targets with their electric webs."

Cindy puffed up a bit. "Without their wings, those pokegirls are nothing but fresh meat."

"…Yeah. Just don't butcher one of Skyla's pokegirls, alright?" Nicholas said after a few moments of silence. "That would be rude."

"Oh." Cindy adjusted her clothing. If it could really even be called that. She'd discarded the silk bra and panties, or more specifically had torn them off once she'd finished the main garment and then… eaten them. Leaving her with what had turned out to just be an extra tight silk thong leotard. No crazy colors, either. It was almost all white with just a thin black web design to provide definition to the silk. Well, besides where Cindy's body did. The Galvantula's lack of underwear was blatantly obvious. "If I have to. There are so many silly rules to remember."

"Yeah, just make sure you remember them once I can get you into your first real battle with us," Nicholas grumbled mostly to himself. "With any luck you'll be able to burn off this dangerous excess and settle down a tad."

Sabrina raised a hand to cheerfully wave at another group that was approaching on the road. "The ranch shouldn't be too much farther. I think there's an intersection up ahead we'll turn off at," she said. "So, want to try any more guesses before we get there?"

"Nah, I'm throwing in the towel-"

"Champion Nicholas?"

Nicholas stopped and blinked. The other group coming towards them, it was the young man in front that had spoken and- "Wait, aren't you the guy from…? Hugh?"

Both groups slowed as Hugh and Nicholas turned to greet one another when they met. "I'm so glad I decided to leave early this morning," Hugh was saying as he reached out to shake Nicholas' hand. "You've already finished in Virbank?"

"Well, yeah," Nicholas replied, "but how'd you know I was there?"

"Er… Well, challenging tamers' League profiles are public," Hugh mumbled. "You hadn't gotten the Toxic Badge yet, so after I saw the news about you and that movie thing I figured you'd be heading Roxie's way next. I'd been hoping to catch you at her gym, actually."

"Right, right, I'm a celebrity now," Nicholas replied with a roll of his eyes. "I keep forgetting that means people will be low-key stalking me around. Thanks for the reminder."

"Erm…"

"Oh, I'm not trying to single you out, Hugh," Nicholas explained. "Besides, we've already met. You're fine. So what made you come looking for me?"

"I…" Hugh pulled back when the two released their handshake and he glanced down the road for a few moments before returning his eyes to Nicholas. "I wanted to try and talk to you again. Ever since Castelia your words, they've just been bouncing around in my head and- I realized I needed some time," he said, his gaze falling towards the dirt. "I went home. Back to Aspertia, give me time to think." He looked back up. "I'm not stopping. I know that. I won't stop until I have an answer to where Rena has gone."

Nicholas nodded. "Nothing wrong with that. I hope I didn't make you think I was trying to discourage you."

"No, you were just trying to get me to be sure. To understand what… What everything I wanted was going to mean for me." Hugh took a deep breath. "I think… I won't ever understand, not until it's too late. But I know that I'm okay with seeing this through. To the end."

"You're okay with seeing what you will become at the end of it all." Nicholas held out his hand again and this time he didn't shake, but just held Hugh's grip firmly. "That's true courage, Hugh. I mean that."

"I appreciate that," Hugh replied quietly. "Thank you."

"Got any leads?" Nicholas asked as the two released each other again. "Or did I get you moving before you were ready."

Hugh grimaced. "No. I've got nothing. Well, I've heard rumor that Plasma's got a base in Driftveil, so maybe-"

"You won't find what you're looking for there," Nicholas interrupted. "Neo Plasma is up to something in the north."

That got Hugh's attention immediately. "They what? How do you know?"

"I have my ways," Nicholas replied. "I'm actually heading in that direction myself. Was planning on circling through Icirrus and across Unova towards Humilau."

"Guess we might run into each other again at some point, then," Hugh replied. His eyes had set the moment Nicholas mentioned Neo Plasma's possible location. "I'll need to head up there too. Thanks for the info. I'll head to Virbank and grab the ferry, then travel north-"

"That would take you a few weeks, wouldn't it?" Sabrina asked. "We're on our way to Mistralton right now. Want to come along?"

"…Mistralton?" Hugh said, glancing back down the road quizzically. "But this road doesn't lead to Mistralton, there aren't any paths through the mountains."

"I've got a way," Sabrina said mischievously. "What do you say?"

Hugh looked back at her. After a few moments he nodded slightly. "I'd… appreciate that."

"I don't think we've had a chance to really meet," Sabrina remarked as the now larger group got back underway. "I'm Sabrina."

"Hugh," Hugh replied, taking Sabrina's offered hand. "How do you know Champion Nicholas? I think I remember seeing you in Castelia too."

Sabrina giggled. "I'm his fiancé."

Hugh's eyes widened. "Oh!"

"And quite many other things," Sabrina said, lowering her hand. "Like an actress and retired Gym Leader."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Hugh stammered. "I had no idea."

Sabrina gave him a teasing smile. "You didn't even look to see why Nicholas was attending a movie premiere? Quite single-minded, I see. He's lucky you've been there to look out for him from the start, Annabeth."

The Samurott at Hugh's shoulder jerked from the unexpected comment. "Ahm. I'm sorry, Ma'am? What was that?"

"I said it's a good thing he's got you as his Alpha," Sabrina said while stifling her laughter. "Oh, but I shouldn't tease like this. I'm also a psychic, Hugh." She shot Annabeth a wink. "Which is why I decided to invite you and your harem along with us. I knew it was a good choice."

"Oh, so that's how you…" Hugh began, trailing off as he glanced around at his pokegirls and a light blush started to become known. "I was wondering how you seemed to know us, I knew I hadn't actually met you before…"

"I'd ask you to stop tormenting this poor guy, but I know that wouldn't help," Nicholas said with a sigh. "She's decided you're worthy of being a friend, Hugh. I hope you're okay with that."

Hugh's eyes went very wide. "I… Me? But I'm just…"

"Some random dude, a nobody, yeah so was I some years ago," Nicholas replied. "Anyways. I think I remember you saying that you've done the badge challenge before? How did that go?"

"Oh… made it to six," Hugh replied. "Haven't really thought about it in a while."

"Six? With just three pokegirls?" Nicholas gave the pokegirls around Hugh an appreciative smile. "That's pretty damn good."

"Not… just with three," Hugh replied hesitantly. "With five. Maria has chosen to stay home with my family, but Emma…" he trailed off for a while. "When she left… she told me she'd be back once I got my head on straight."

"Hm." Nicholas took another look at the three pokegirls around Hugh. Annabeth was certainly holding a pained expression and neither of the others seemed entirely comfortable hearing mention of their previous harem sister. "I apologize if I'm stirring up some hurts, but is it alright if I ask for more full introductions? I'd love to know more about you and your harem. All of them."

"Annabeth's my Alpha, she's the Samurott," Hugh mumbled, making a few motions in Annabeth's direction. "Then there's Kino, the Eelektross slithering along, and Sandra is the Flygon." He let out a deep sigh. "Maria's an Unfezant. Bird pokegirl. And Emma… She was… is… a Bouffalant."

"You care for her." Nicholas gave Hugh a reassuring smile. "From the way you're talking about how she left she cares for you. I can't even pretend I know the answers to why but I think you're correct in still counting her as a member of your harem."

"I just wish she was still here," Hugh murmured. "I don't even know where she's gone."

"My Beta knows what she's doing, Master," Annabeth said gently as she reached out to squeeze Hugh's shoulder. "Remember? She said she'd be back once you figured things out." The Samurott turned her smile towards Nicholas. "I think, right now, you're starting to do that."

Nicholas gave Annabeth a slight nod. "Could Emma have thought she was doing what was best for Hugh by stepping away?"

Annabeth's eyes flicked towards Sandra. "I have often thought about that, Sir. Emma… She was the most hot-headed out of all of us. I found it surprising when it was her, not Sandra, who seemed to be the raging dragon of the harem most of the time."

"Oh, I could talk for hours about dragons," Nicholas chuckled. "So hot-headed and you still made her your Beta?" He maintained his smile as Annabeth glanced back towards him. "Then there was far more to her than her temper, wasn't there. You think you know why she left. Don't you." He glanced at Hugh. "And you haven't told your tamer."

Hugh blinked and turned to the Samurott. "Annabeth?"

Annabeth fidgeted. "I… trust my Beta, Master," she repeated. "Ever since she's left… I've wondered if she did it, not because she couldn't stand being with you as you were, but… if she knew, that if she stayed… If you brought her along with you as we have hunted for the ones who kidnapped Rena, then she would have only… made it worse." Her eyes were steady as she gazed at Hugh. "I don't think she ever showed it to you, Master. But before she left, Emma was… gone. So completely beyond herself in her rage, in your rage, that she was struggling to even stand as my Beta. I think… I think she realized that. And she knew, if she had stayed, then she would have not held any kind of restraint. She might have been willing to do… anything, to help you find Rena. She would have dragged you down with her. You would have lost yourself, Master. And the rest of us would follow." Her eyes moved back to Nicholas and Annabeth gave him a sad smile. "You would have fed from her rage and become so consumed by your hatred that we would become worse than the ones who we fought."

Hugh was standing, stunned. "Emma…" he breathed.

"I was right. Hugh has a good Alpha," Nicholas replied quietly. "Thank you for letting me talk to him. The first time, in Castelia."

"The words you said made me realize that you understood, Sir," Annabeth replied just as quietly. "Master Hugh needed someone who could understand."

"Oh, Emma," Hugh whispered again, tears starting to bead in his eyes. "That's why…?"

"I think that pretty clearly proves she's still very much a member of your harem," Nicholas said firmly. "She's out there. Waiting for you to be at a point where you're ready for her to return. So stay strong, Hugh. Be the tamer, the man your Beta knows you have the potential to be."

"I, I can't go north," Hugh stammered, his footsteps faltering. "She's got to be around here somewhere, right…?"

Hugh jumped when Nicholas reached over and slapped him on the back, and was forced to keep up his pace when Nicholas kept his hand there. "She said she'd find you," Nicholas said. "Your Alpha trusts her. Now it's your turn. Trust her to find you."

"But if we go all the way to the other side of Unova…"

Nicholas shot a quick look at Annabeth. "Trust her, Hugh. Like she has put her trust in you. I've been doing this long enough that from everything I've heard I know she won't let herself let you down."

He only let go when Hugh's footsteps firmed again. "I, I guess…"

Nicholas let Hugh find his own pace, intentionally slowing his own steps until he was closer to Annabeth before speaking under his breath. "So the reason Maria has stayed behind, in a certain place…"

Annabeth shot him a quick look of panic. "Please, don't say it," she begged him just as quietly. "You are obviously more experienced as a tamer, Sir. I am sure everything you are thinking is the precise truth. Please do not let Master Hugh know."

Nicholas just grunted and returned his pace to normal, but Annabeth felt her fear ease when he inclined his head slightly in her direction and she heard him whisper a final compliment. "You are an excellent Alpha."

"There's the ranch!" Sabrina remarked brightly from ahead. "Last chance to guess the surprise, Nick! Going once! Going twice!" Sabrina twirled, throwing out her hands with a grin as they passed through the open gate marking the entrance to the Floccesy Ranch. "And gone! Surprise!"

"Surprise what," Nicholas chuckled as he moved up beside her. "I see open fields and a bunch of roaming figures."

"You see open fields," Sabrina stressed with a grin. "Flat ones, perhaps? Long, flat, open areas? Hm?"

"I got nothing."

"Who was it you were on your way to challenge, again?"

"Skyla…" Nicholas started, trailing off as he began to hear the low drone of an engine. "Oh, you genius woman."

Sabrina burst out laughing and grabbed at his hands, tugging Nicholas along and forcing the others to pick up the pace to follow. "Here she comes now! I couldn't ask for better timing!"

Nicholas turned to the sky to see a small single engine plane banking over the ranch, the pilot wiggling the wings when Sabrina started jumping and waving at it. A few figures were exiting the farmhouse down the road and one was uncurling a signal flag before beginning to motion off into the fields where Nicholas could finally see a dirt runway laid out, a small barn or hangar at one end and a windsock sitting still at the other. "We came here because the ranch has a crop duster, so they have to have a maintained runway," he breathed. "Even though Virbank doesn't have an airport themselves, we wouldn't need a big plane. Just something big enough for two!"

"I'd anticipated four, but I think the plane Skyla brought can comfortably seat six," Sabrina replied happily. "She said it made more sense to go a bit bigger anyways so that it would be a more comfortable flight. Let's go say hi!"

"Er, is that runway going to be long enough?" Nicholas asked, shading his eyes as he watched Skyla bank out and around towards an approach angle. "I feel like that plane's a bit bigger than it's designed for…"

"She made a practice flight last night!" Sabrina exclaimed. "She landed it without any lights and made it look so easy. She'll be fine!"

"Last night?" Nicholas gasped. "What in the world kind of favor did you call in?"

"The 'good friend' kind," Sabrina giggled. "Here she comes!"

"I knew you were friends but that's…" Nicholas said, watching Skyla line up her descent as her speed and elevation dropped. "Skyla, Elesa… Brycen. I know those three. Who else have you pulled into your circle?"

"Oh, you'll see!" Sabrina remarked brightly. Skyla touched down and just as promised her landing was completely smooth, the brakes disengaging well before the marked end of the runway as she turned to begin taxiing towards a maintenance area. "THANK YOU!" she yelled, waving at the ranchers and getting a wave back before turning to start jogging for the plane. "Come on!"

The engine was spinning down as they approached and as the rotor came to a halt Nicholas could see movement inside the cabin. Suddenly the door swung open and Skyla hopped out, the woman's long red hair styled back instead of hanging to the sides like usual. "Hi Sabrina!" she called with a grin, waving as she pulled some blocks from a storage compartment and secured her plane with a practiced hand. "Hold on, let me lock the blades." Once Skyla had made sure the propellor wasn't going to start spinning she turned back to the approaching group and threw out her arms for a hug. "Great to see you!"

"Thanks so much for doing this!" Sabrina squealed, wrapping around the other woman before turning to gesture at the others. "We picked up a spare passenger, but it won't change my numbers. Hope that's fine!"

"Oh, we would have been fine with a full plane," Skyla laughed. "No worries there. Hi Nicholas! Long time no see. And then you are…?"

"Er, Hugh," Hugh replied, reaching out to shake Skyla's hand. "I'm sure you don't recognize me at all, but I challenged your gym a year or two ago."

"I make sure to remember a lot of challengers," Skyla replied. "Let me think. So, are you hitching a ride to come give it a second try?"

"Oh, no, I actually already have your badge," Hugh explained. "Miss Sabrina offered to bring me on the flight because I need to head up north."

"Oh, gotcha." Skyla tapped her hand against her arm as her eyes ran over Hugh's pokegirls. "A year or two back. I think I'm remembering something. See, I remember the tamers who make an impact, and about two years ago a certain young man walked into my gym and made such an impact on me that he shook me straight back to being a proper gym leader." Skyla was grinning. "I remember that wild blue hair. I would be happy to give you a lift over to Mistralton. It's the least I can do."

"Wait, Hugh's the tamer you once told me about?" Nicholas asked in surprise, Hugh himself ducking his head in embarrassment. "Okay now I have to hear the full story."

"The full story is this tamer walked into my gym and threw my badge in my face," Skyla laughed. "His Unfezant and Flygon flew circles around my girls while that Eelektross of his grounded the ones the others couldn't handle. I was so certain in my simulations and Hugh here shattered every assumption I'd made." She turned back to her plane and moved towards the cargo compartment. "So you've made it to the Elite Four by now, I presume? Faced Iris yet?"

"Erm…" Hugh bit his lip. "Actually… Your badge was the last one I got. I quit, because of… personal reasons."

"You what?" Skyla asked in shock, pausing in what she was doing for quite a while before turning back to the cargo compartment and peering at something inside. "Must have been something truly important to derail you. I was certain you'd have entered the hall of fame by now."

"I appreciate the compliment, but it was," Hugh mumbled. "It… It was because of Plasma."

"Oh." Skyla pulled back from what she was doing with a sigh. "I won't ask more if you don't want to share. But you're heading north? Drayden, Marlon?"

"No, I…"

"Neo Plasma is up to something in the north," Nicholas explained. "Hugh's focusing on what's most important before he gets back to his badge challenge."

"They kidnapped a pokegirl I knew," Hugh barely whispered. "I won't stop until I find her."

Skyla had stopped to listen and she nodded slightly at Hugh's words. "I understand. But you're still coming to challenge my gym, right Nicholas?"

"Yeah." Nicholas patted Hugh on the shoulder as the group moved towards the passenger compartment at Skyla's instruction. "I don't know anything other than 'North', so I'm going to be taking things a bit more slowly. But I'll be out there trying to figure out what's going on too."

"Well I'll make sure to test your pokegirls nice and good," Skyla replied, her grin returning as she waited for Hugh and Nicholas each to recall their harems and the humans and legendaries to be fully situated in the passenger section. "Gotta make sure they're able to handle a bit of investigative work, y'know? Everyone in? Yes? Here we go!"

"Don't need to refuel?" Nicholas asked in surprise when Skyla slammed the door shut and started pulling out the blocks. "We can just go?"

"That's what I was checkin'! I flew down with a secondary tank full of fuel and we've got more than enough for the return trip!" Skyla exclaimed as she hopped back into the cabin and started her pre-flight procedures. "I didn't want to inconvenience the nice folks here at Floccesy any more than I had to. Sure I would have paid them for their fuel but that still means they'd need to get another shipment in sooner than expected and for a field this size that's a full day's work." She began flicking switches as the engine spun to life. "Buckle up, folks! Next stop, Mistralton City!"

.

.

Nicholas and the others stepped off the plane as the hangar doors began slowly rolling closed. "So, can I expect to see you today?" Skyla was asking as she hopped out of the cockpit and pulled a bag out behind her. "After lunch maybe?"

"Can you expect me today," Nicholas mused as the group followed Skyla towards a set of doors. A few maintenance technicians were milling about and Skyla tossed one the plane's keys before leading everyone into a well-kept private lounge. "I think I'd be fine saying yes."

"Got reservations, hm?" Skyla asked as she plopped her bag onto a counter and began pulling out what Nicholas quickly identified as her regular Gym Leader outfit. "Worried that Galvantula of yours won't be enough to take me on?"

"Unlike many of your challengers, I know you'll be well prepared for a fast Electric-type," Nicholas replied, watching Skyla pull her hair free of its bands and begin transitioning from her functional flight suit to the stylized version she used as her uniform. "Though I expect you knew that already."

"Oh, I have my tricks, just as you have yours," Skyla replied with a light chuckle. "So what's the hesitation?"

"You really expect me to pour my soul out to the woman who's about to be my opponent?" Nicholas asked with a tiny smirk. "Come now, Leader Skyla. I'd hope you thought better of me than that."

"Ahh, I don't care about trying to sneak some kind of advantage. That's no fun!" Skyla exclaimed. "I want a battle, Nicholas. A full-blown slugfest between our harems. That's the energy my simulations lacked." Her eyes danced when she grinned at Hugh. "That's the kind of energy Hugh here shoved back into my gym."

"Even if you're Sabrina's friend, I still don't trust you on this," Nicholas chuckled. "Let's just save it for the gym."

"I'm serious." Skyla hopped up onto the counter and let her legs swing in the air as she sat and looked at him. "We'll be having an unrestricted battle. If knowing that you want to go find another girl before coming back, that's fine, but I'll just bring five. None of them are Ground-types. So how confident are you in that Galvantula of yours?"

Nicholas stared back. Skyla was completely calm. "Cindy is very powerful. I wouldn't underestimate her ability to electrocute your entire harem before any of them even have a chance to form an attack."

"Yeah, those spiders are pretty fast, aren't they?" Skyla agreed. "No use trying to pretend she won't be one of the fastest pokegirls in that arena. But I think Lil will still take that throne." She smirked. "Chargestone Cave is just down the road, Nick. You think I haven't figured out how to deal with a Galvantula?"

"I think you'll be surprised by mine."

"Ooh-hoo, I like that," Skyla laughed. "We'll see, of course, but free advice. As a friend." She hopped back off the counter and began cleaning up with a challenging glint in her eye. "Don't expect your pokegirls' speed to be of any use in my gym."

It was that taunting assertion that haunted Nicholas now. As he stood in front of the Mistralton Gym. The vibe between him and Skyla was different to the rest of Unova, but that didn't mean she was going to be more friendly during their battle. Far from it. From what she'd been saying, and the conversations he'd had with the Flying-type Gym Leader in the past, he was pretty confident that Skyla would be gunning for him just as hard if not harder than the others he'd faced so far.

Were they ready, then? He looked around at the assembled pokegirls. He didn't feel any of the same reservations as he had in Nimbasa, before facing Elesa. These pokegirls were ready to fight. They were ready to win. But he couldn't help but wonder what surprise Skyla had in store for them.

"As we discussed," Nicholas said quietly. "It's your turn now, Cindy." He glanced towards the smirking Galvantula before continuing. "I'll let you take the lead, at least for as long as you can show you deserve it."

"You're so cute when you pretend to be in charge," Cindy purred.

Nicholas just shook his head slightly. He still wasn't sure how he felt about the Galvantula. But there hadn't been a real opportunity to see beneath her surface yet. With any luck, this battle against Skyla would be that opportunity.

"Let's see what's waiting for us," Nicholas said, pushing through the gym doors and scanning the wide-open space that sat inside.

Clay had built his gym down, deep into the earth, as was his domain. Skyla had done the same in reverse. The gym interior stretched to the sky, multiple stories of open air beneath some kind of twisting flooring far above. From what little Nicholas could make out it looked to be some kind of metal grating, likely steel, which was allowing the light from far above to filter down to him. There were still some large shadows, though. He couldn't quite tell what might be making them, but across the scattered airplane parts covering the ground level he could see distinct patches where the light above did not have a direct path to the ground below.

"Massive bit on the far end. I'd say it's safe to assume that's the leader's arena," Nicholas said, pointing up at where the flooring seemed a lot more solid and the supports for the upper floor multiplied in density. "Bet we'd be granted a direct audience with Skyla if we could just fly our way there." He looked at Jade. Maybe if she'd been a Golurk. As it was, she was only just able to lift herself more than ten feet into the air. "Guess we get to take the elevator."

The harem stepped in around Nicholas and Kiana pulled the door shut, the clatter of metal on metal echoing through the gym as the lift lurched into motion. As they rose Nicholas watched some kind of netting pass by, followed by a second layer, and when the car finally stopped he was completely unsurprised to see that the walkways of the upper level had no guardrails.

"Well. It's certainly a Flying-type gym," he grumbled. "Sure glad I'm not afraid of heights."

Adalinda started to slither onto the walkway but recoiled the moment her body touched it. "Ugh! That feels… I don't like that at all."

"Yeah, grating like this isn't exactly pleasant to move across barefoot," Nicholas agreed. "Can't imagine how it is for you. Do you want to ride in your pokeball? I mean, it's the Flying-type gym. Not exactly your cup of tea in the first place."

"If possible, yeah, that might be good," Adalinda replied. "If you need me though I can deal with it-"

"Nope. No need to make you suffer." Nicholas recalled her and turned to Kiana. "What about you? Melody's got her boots so I assume she'll be fine but you go barefoot, even if your feet are a bit tougher than a human's."

Kiana was already standing on the walkway and she just gave him a deadpan stare. "I feel nothing, Master."

Nicholas rolled his eyes. He could see the Arcanine shifting her bodyweight back and forth so he knew she was just saying that to maintain appearances as the Alpha. "If you insist. Melody's got her boots, so she should be fine, Jade's Jade. Cindy?"

The Galvantula was already pulling silk from her spinnerets and wrapping it around her feet. "There are birds to fry," was her giddy response.

"Right." Nicholas took a better look at the paths laid out ahead of them. "The only real arena I've been able to spot is Skyla's. I think that means this whole area is fair game." A pause. "It's kind of hard to see the whole place with this wall in the way, but I'm sure that's part of the point. I bet we're already being scouted by gym assistants. Cindy, watch our backs and especially the air above us. Flying-types mean an attack can come from any direction. Let's start moving."

The first thing Nicholas noticed as they broke from the cover of the wall that sat in front of the elevator was the odd layout of the walkways. Almost like a maze, but not an enclosed one – rather, the entire path was clearly visible, even with certain areas hidden by more walled areas. Alcoves of sorts, scattered along the route they'd need to take to Skyla. Places to take cover maybe? But cover from what? Was he right in thinking that they were about to trigger an onslaught of flying pokegirls?

Then he noticed what else he'd originally missed about this gym. Massive fans made up the wall on the far side of the building, behind Skyla's arena, sunlight streaming past their blades. Ventilation? For a building this large, it made some sense…

The loud click of a breaker being thrown as a number of figures appeared along the walkway. And the fans began to turn.

"Party's starting!" Nicholas yelled, falling back when two winged figures launched into the air and began bearing down on the group. "Keep them at range, Cindy, Jade!"

Cindy nearly screamed in excitement as electricity began to spark through her wiry hairs and a bolt speared out to play across one of the figures. The girl dipped but remained in the air – at least until a second blow from Jade's flying fist snapped her wing in half and she plummeted with a squawk, smashing her face against the walkway before spiraling down to be caught by the safety nets.

The other attacker managed to get in, though, and flame filled the air as Kiana unleashed a flamethrower with a roar. The flame was met by a torrent of water and suddenly the air was boiling steam alongside a deafening explosion which slammed into Nicholas, his foot falling back to brace against the shockwave. The fans along the far wall were stirring up a light breeze, so the steam wasn't around for very long, and with her sharp eyes completely unobscured a second laughing cry came from Cindy before more lightning played out towards the dodging enemy. But, despite her immaculate aim the white-feathered Swanna managed to avoid taking a knockout blow by diving below one of the walls around them and forcing Cindy's attack to harmlessly dissipate across its surface.

"Watch from below!" Nicholas yelled. The fans were beginning to pick up speed and the light breeze was turning to a full wind. "And aim with the wind! Our opponents will be riding it to their advantage! Let's mo-!"

He was in the middle of giving the order to advance when he found that his own foot wouldn't obey. The wind howling past them forced it back and as he strained, roaring into the maelstrom, he realized he couldn't hear anything but the rushing wind. He could feel the panic of the pokegirls around him as they, too, found themselves unable to fight the gale, but he couldn't hear them. The wind drowned out everything else. Until he felt his feet lifting on their own accord.

Nicholas gasped in shock as he was blown backwards, his body spinning as he fought to control his flight. Cindy tried to secure herself with her webs but the instant her threads left her body the wind was scattering them uselessly and she, along with the others, was flung towards the back wall where they all slammed to a halt, their breath battered from their lungs while the gale pinned them off the ground.

All but one. The howling wind rushed past Jade and the Golett stood strong. So that when the fans slowed, finally letting her pinned Keeper and sisters of her harem fall back to the walkway, she was ready to defend them.

The Swanna from before popped her head out along with another pokegirl, expecting easy incapacitated targets, and was immediately met by a flying hunk of stone that blasted her from the walkway with a piercing scream. The other pokegirl quickly flung herself into the air, desperately wheeling to avoid another shot from the Golett as she began yelling for help and Nicholas looked up from steadying himself after the drop to see a half dozen figures flapping into the air.

"Guess that's what the walls are for," he winced, nursing the bruises he'd sustained. "NEXT ONE UP AHEAD! COME ON!" he yelled as the others got back to their feet. "MOVE!"

The wind started to pick up again as they fought their way forwards and Nicholas threw himself behind cover, pulling Kiana down with him as Melody hunched up to give Cindy a bit of extra room. Jade just withstood it again, and this time none of the assistants' pokegirls dared test her when the air went slack. Allowing the group to charge past a few safe hollows and slide into another alongside the next gust that put them within reach of the arena.

"Right. Might as well go over this now since the wind's not letting us do anything else," Nicholas grumbled as they huddled behind cover. "Cindy. Like I said, you're leading us in. Skyla claimed your speed will be useless, so I'm sure she'll have some sort of answer, but I need to force her to reveal it. Kiana, Skyla's signature pokegirl is a Swanna like the one that harassed you on the walkway. That means this battle is going to be just as dangerous for you as Clay's was." He glanced in Jade's direction. "Our two most valuable players are Cindy and Jade. And without Ada's decoys here, I might have to make some hard decisions to win. I hope you'll forgive me."

Kiana's fangs glinted in the light. "Anything to protect the pack."

Melody nodded as well. "Yeah. Kinda hard to punch what I can't reach. But I won't let them make a fool of me."

"That's the spirit." Nicholas tensed as the howling winds began to die down. "Here we go. One last rush, girls. Ready. NOW!"

Only two pokegirls were left to try and stop them when the harem broke from cover and began running for Skyla's sheltered arena. Two for Cindy, who unleashed an indiscriminate discharge of electricity that froze both flyers in place as their muscles seized. Then they were through. Skidding to a halt as Nicholas doubled over to catch his breath.

He could hear laughter coming from further into the arena and eventually managed to straighten up again to see Skyla grinning at them. "Hee-hee! I've been waiting for you, Nicholas! Ever since I met you in that café I've been waiting for this!"

Nicholas winced as his lungs protested but he still straightened completely to answer the woman. "Glad I could make it."

"I liked what I saw on your way over here," Skyla continued, her grin never fading for a moment. "You faced that wind and stayed on your feet! It takes a tough tamer to do that. I'm getting real excited for this battle. So why don't you and I have some fun?"

Nicholas smirked and began preparing as Skyla danced towards her end of the arena. "Sounds like a plan, Leader. What's the rules?"

"Unlimited. TKO." Skyla waved and Nicholas' smirk faded slightly when he saw two boxes form around the tamers, instead of the arena. "I hope you don't mind, Nicholas. This is going to be the first time in quite a while – two years, I'd say – that my pokegirls and I are going to be able to fight with our full strength. You ready?"

Nicholas nodded and found Cindy's pokeball. "Ready."

"Then begin! It's time to fly!"

Nicholas' gaze flicked around as he released Cindy and Skyla released a blue-skinned pokegirl with a huge collar of fluffy fur and a small pair of bat wings sprouting from between her shoulder blades. The fans were spinning up again, though it seemed they were holding steady at a lower speed. Enough to send eddy currents swirling through the open arena but not enough to directly interfere with the battle.

"Master. That is a Swoobat, a pokegirl built entirely for speed," Kalmiya reported. "Cindy is fast, but she will be faster, even if she isn't likely to be powerful enough to defeat Cindy immediately."

"Well. Looks like we found Skyla's answer to Galvantula," Nicholas growled. "Cindy! They're trying something over there, so let's see you electrocute that Swoobat before she has a chance to pull any tricks!"

Cindy began pulling webbing out and running lengths of it between her hands while current pumped through the material. "I think first," she crooned, her fingers deftly weaving her silk into a net, "I'll make sure she can't leave the ground."

Skyla and her pokegirl remained quiet. "Lilith. As we discussed," the gym leader murmured.

Cindy was starting to pull the web into position when Lilith spoke up. "You're pretty talented at that!" the Swoobat called brightly, still without moving, though her wings were starting to flex back. "Can I take a closer look at your pretty design?"

"Oh, I'll give you a closer look alright," Cindy chuckled, tying a rope of silk to the netting and lifting a coil in one hand, the net in another. "Come and see."

"'Kay!" Cindy jerked back when the Swoobat blurred, the grinning girl appearing in her face but not to attack. Lilith just turned to inspect the crackling silk and peered real close. "Whoah, even the individual strands are braided? Was that your fingers or can you just do that?" Cindy let out a shocked cry and swung, but Lilith easily avoided the swipe and got in closer to inspect Cindy's outfit. "You wove this too, right? You're super talented!" Her eyes turned slightly towards Cindy's face. "Do you think someday I could be as cool as you?"

"What in the- Slow. DOWN!" Cindy screamed, dropping the rope to take her web in all four hands and extend it fully before launching it out towards where Lilith was hovering.

The Swoobat pulled a backflip over the netting and twirled in again while Cindy fumbled with the rope. "But I think it's so awesome, why don't you like that?" Lilith's eyes began watering and her lip trembled. "You're so cool, and talented… and the way you made this…" Lilith's fingers reached out to stroke Cindy's leotard as a soft pink glow began to suffuse the pair. "I hope you know, but… it makes you look so, so… beautiful."

Nicholas was shouting but Cindy had been lost in Lilith's eyes. "I…"

"You don't need to fight, right?" Lilith murmured, pulling her hands back to form a heart with her fingers. "You don't need to hurt me. I'm your biggest fan. I love you."

As Lilith finished speaking the space between her fingers flashed pink and sent a heart-shaped piece of energy lazily drifting out towards the dumbstruck Galvantula. Until it broke against her breast, scattering into a dozen smaller hearts as a shiver wracked Cindy's body and pink suffused her eyes.

"CINDY!" Nicholas roared, giving up on words after seeing how the Galvantula's arms had gone slack and she'd dropped her net uselessly to the arena floor. Instead he tried to force open an aura link. "CIND-!"

The feedback slammed Nicholas back with a shocked gasp. There was… something else, smothering Cindy's mind. Lilith. He clearly saw the Swoobat give him a cold sneer as she reached out to begin caressing Cindy's head. "Yes. I'm yours," she murmured, locking a smug look with Nicholas. "And you… are mine. Not his."

"Cindy, snap OUT of it!" Nicholas barked. "What happened to making these pokegirls your toys, eh? Are you really going to just let this one reduce you to one of hers?"

"She can't hear you anymore," Lilith crooned, gently stroking Cindy's body as another shudder raced through the Galvantula. "You don't want to hurt me… Isn't that right, my love?"

"…no, Mistress" Cindy mumbled.

"That's good. That's good." Lilith detached from Cindy's body and flapped back, lifting her hands as she did. "Now, I could drain your pretty blood, or perhaps drive a stake through your bleeding heart… But I can't risk rousing you, darling." Lilith's smile was cruel as arcane power began to build across her body. "No. My job is to make sure you never are allowed to escape your beautiful delusions."

"CINDY!" Nicholas screamed. "You can hear me, I KNOW YOU CAN! FRY HER! DO WHAT YOU PROMISED ME AND SHOW ME YOU DESERVE TO BE ON TOP!"

"She won't aim a single thing in my direction now," Lilith laughed. "Be quiet and watch, Champion Nicholas. It's over."

Cindy twitched. Her head moving slightly. "You… say what I make is beautiful, Mistress?"

"Oh, of course it is, Cindy!" Lilith immediately cried, her voice going sickly sweet. "And you will make me even more beautiful things, I am sure of it!" A slight sneer made it back into Lilith's expression. "Why, just stay standing right there and I am sure you'll make the most beautiful corpse."

"…Then let me… make… something for you," Cindy said, her voice halting as she struggled to fight past Lilith's control. "Let me… make… something beautiful… MISTRESS!"

Lilith screamed in surprise when electricity exploded in a corona from Cindy's body, the Galvantula still standing mostly limp but her head managed to point in Lilith's direction. The current was indiscriminate, filling the gym entirely and so filling Lilith's body as well as the Swoobat twitched and screamed. "…A firework for you, Mistress," Cindy hissed, the pink suffusing her eyes fading slightly as she broke through. "Would you like another?"

"NO!" What little agency Cindy had managed to claw back was instantly ripped away as Lilith recovered and refocused her attention on the Galvantula, sending Cindy's head slumping back down against her chest like a puppet with her strings cut. "That is enough out of you, love," the Swoobat hissed, having fallen to the arena floor and unable to lift her wings but still holding the power she had been building. "That… little stunt… is going to cost you dearly. What will you do without my love?"

Nicholas knew they were still at a major disadvantage but he had to grin. "I told you, Skyla!" he called across the arena. "Don't underestimate my Galvantula. Now she's even paralyzed Lilith!"

Skyla gave him a slight smile back. "Taking a hit was always in the cards," she called back, and Nicholas' grin fell when he saw Lilith pull a plump green fruit from within her mane and take a huge bite, the cleansing juices dribbling down her skin and letting the Swoobat shake off the paralysis. "Now it's time. Lilith!"

"So proud, of your speed," Lilith hissed, the power building in her body beginning to bubble out and paint the gym in a strange purple haze. "Let's see how proud you are of it now."

The psychic effect slammed into place, the haze solidifying into uniform squares that faded slightly but were still clearly visible painting every single surface around them. Nicholas groaned as he felt whatever it was affecting him, too, even within the protective barrier. It felt… He tried to draw breath but the harder he pulled, it seemed the slower his lungs reacted.

"Be… seeing you, love," Lilith groaned, lifting a hand and focusing power against her forehead. "Got any parting shots for me?" When Cindy remained motionless she let out a breath. "That's a relief. Can't say I'd appreciate another one of those shocks of yours. Time for my sisters to put you in your place."

Cindy gasped when Lilith vanished, her chest heaving as she was released of the Swoobat's influence. "Fucking… Shit…"

Nicholas watched a Skarmory materialize across from him. A fast pokegirl, but only over long distances. Meaning if Lilith had formed some kind of effect to make slow pokegirls fast, and fast pokegirls slow, Cindy was in danger.

"Looks like that disadvantage is bigger than I thought," Nicholas growled, snap-recalling Cindy before the Galvantula could even recover. "You'll use our speed against us? Well then we'll push through all the same! KIANA!"

The Arcanine materialized and turned her attention to the Skarmory as she took to the air, but with the psychic power holding her back it was like Kiana was moving through molasses. She'd barely managed to turn to face her opponent when the Skarmory was diving, one hand glowing white and snapping out like a spear as it pierced Kiana's chest.

Kiana screamed as she was borne through the air and thrown free to tumble across the ground, and though she managed to get back up and begin building flames in her jaws, she still wasn't able to let them loose before the Skarmory had come back around for another pass.

Blood everywhere as the Skarmory's glowing fingers sank deep between Kiana's ribs, though this time she didn't get away unscathed. Kiana's flames found her, racing along the Skarmory's wings as the girl screamed and spiraled out of control to smash against the wall above. She managed to catch her fall, but the damage was done. Her metallic skin was charred and as she tried to land her legs gave out, sending the Skarmory face first to the floor to finally stop moving.

Nicholas growled when Skyla replaced the Skarmory with a Swanna. Kiana was on her last legs. Adalinda could resist the white-feathered bird's water – Cindy would retaliate with a guaranteed electrocution. But both pokegirls were fast. And with Kiana so grievously injured, the Swanna probably didn't even have to use water to take her down. A Flying-type attack would spell disaster for either pokegirl. "Sorry, Kiana," he called. "Anything to protect the pack."

Kiana grinned, blood running down her chest to soak into her fur. "Anything, Master."

To his surprise, Kiana managed to move before the Swanna could finish her off. Fire blossomed across the sky, singing the Swanna's feathers, but it was nothing more than a parting gift before she did exactly as Nicholas had feared and fired a flurry of slicing winds from her wings to lacerate Kiana's skin and rip her bloody fur from her body.

But as Kiana fell, Nicholas watched the strange psychic pattern begin to fade. A time-limited effect! He'd been worried when it hadn't faded with Lilith's exit from the battlefield but if the secret was time… A strategy was beginning to form.

"Heh. Seems all you've really done is trade one for one, Leader Skyla," he called mockingly, recalling Kiana and grabbing Cindy's pokeball again. "And now Cindy is free to do what she was always going to do."

"Sorry, Nina," Skyla whispered as Cindy reappeared and locked in on the Swanna with a bloodcurdling scream. "You did well handling that Arcanine."

Smoke rose from Nina's body when Cindy unleashed everything she had into her and the moment the attack ended Skyla was recalling the motionless Swanna in order to bring Lilith back in. "My love!" the Swoobat called, giving Cindy a confident smirk that Cindy responded to by spitting curses. "We meet again!"

"I will fucking KILL YOU!" Cindy screamed as lightning arced between her limbs. "How DARE YOU make me bow to a flying RAT!"

"Oh, but I didn't make you do anything," Lilith taunted, crooking a finger towards where Cindy seethed. "My power only brings out what lies deep inside. The truth is, little spider… You wanted to kiss my feet."

"I'd rather die," Cindy spat. "Better idea. How about you die for me."

"Better idea." Lilith's eyes glowed in her triumph as she seemed to be summoning her seductive ability again. "Bow to me."

"Better better idea," Nicholas called, a recall beam already taking Cindy from the battlefield as he raised another pokeball. "Pray you're able to reverse that technique of yours."

Skyla screamed a warning to Lilith but it was too late. Their own subterfuge worked against them as, just as Nicholas had suspected, Lilith wasn't trying to infatuate Cindy again. Skyla had instead directed her to set up the speed reversing effect immediately, anticipating that Cindy would try to defend from Lilith's advances. Everyone in that arena knew the Swoobat was faster, but building power for the psychic technique took time. She needed a way to survive while she did it. And even if Lilith had tried for her seduction, he would have been satisfied with his play regardless. He doubted Jade would have even given the Swoobat a second glance.

Jade appeared as the psychic effect took hold, painting the gym in a soft purple and the Golett seemed to perk up slightly. "Keeper?"

A smile spread over Nicholas' lips. Jade's voice was alert. Quick. Just as he'd hoped. "How do you feel, Jade?"

The Golett was more animated than she'd ever been as she cocked her head and focused on where Lilith stood. "I feel well, Keeper. Is this my opponent? She seems injured." The Golett's gauntlet curled into a fist. "May I finish the job?"

"Oh, yes," Nicholas laughed. "Please do, Jade."

"Get out of there, Lilith, I need you to handle that-" Skyla was starting to say when Jade blitzed across the arena. She was as fast under the effect as Cindy or Adalinda were out of it and Lilith, similarly crippled by her own power, couldn't even get her hands up in time to try and stop the fist that crunched into her face. Jade's punch shattered the Swoobat's jaw and she flew to the side, crashing into the wall of the building and slumping bonelessly to the floor.

Jade literally danced back to reset closer to the center of the arena and Nicholas could hear light confusion coloring her words. "What is going on, Keeper? Why do I feel… What do I feel?"

"I don't know, Jade," Nicholas called, laughing as he watched the Golett's aura surge over itself as she experienced the psychic effect. "What do you feel?"

"I, I feel…" Jade whispered, lifting a fist before cracks splintered her helmet as if in an earsplitting grin and the slots for her eyes burned with energy, "I feel ALIVE!"

The luminescence was blinding as Jade's armor shattered to reveal her true form underneath. Both humans were forced to shield their eyes as Jade evolved but soon the light vanished again and Nicholas lowered his hand to stare at the hulking figure that had replaced the small Golett.

Jade had reformed her armor, and by the looks of it she had grown. A lot. The newly evolved Golurk towered over the battlefield and this time, as Nicholas stared up at a behemoth some nine feet tall, it wasn't a legendary that stood before him. It was Jade. Finally, he'd found a pokegirl who rivalled Morgana in her size.

"COME ON!" Jade roared, and though her voice still tinkled melodically it was undeniably a roar. "BRING THE NEXT TO FALL BEFORE MY KEEPER'S MIGHT!"

Skyla's eyes narrowed and she released one of the fragment-winged pokegirls Nicholas had seen filling the sky during the battle at the League a year prior. "To the sky, Neite," Skyla growled. "We need to drag this Golurk out of Lilith's inversion but you can't do it directly. Stall, and rain shadow on her."

Neite inclined her head and levitated into the sky only for Jade to leap after her with an excited scream, her legs vanishing to reveal the energy inside her armor before it glowed pure white and blasted out to propel the Golurk in hot pursuit. As she swung a heavy fist boiling with shadow Neite's wings flashed with power and a barrier got in the way, which just led to Jade laughing and taunting the Sigilyph. "Coward!" Jade cried, hammering another punch into Neite's barrier so that it shattered and the Sigilyph was blasted away. "ONLY I AM THE UNBREAKABLE ONE!"

"Let's see just how unbreakable you are," Neite's voice hissed through the minds of everyone present, the Sigilyph forming shadow of her own and sending it blasting through Jade's form.

Truly, blasting through her. Because as the energy ripped into Jade the Golurk's entire form shimmered and vanished from sight.

"What the…" Nicholas breathed, eyes straining for where Jade had gone. Fear crossed Neite's face as she whirled, desperately searching for any sign of where Jade's attack was going to come from. "This is certainly a new trick, Jade…"

"Coward," Jade's voice repeated, echoing along with tinkling laughter from all around Neite as she spun. "Go on, coward. Let us see how well you break."

"You won't touch me!" Neite screamed back, throwing her arms and wings out as far as they could stretch as a lattice of sparkling light encased her fully. "Just try it!"

Shadow erupted around Neite's barrier, seeking, probing, and the Sigilyph smirked as it seemed to be held at bay. Only for her smirk to freeze on her face when a heavy hand clamped down on her shoulder. "Tag." Neite's scream was cut short when Jade's fist punched straight through her back. "You're it."

The lattice shattered along with Neite's body crumpling, falling to crunch against the arena floor as Jade fully reformed her armor up above. But she did so slowly. The psychic pattern around them was already wavering and Nicholas gritted his teeth. This battle still wasn't over. "Jade! Reset! Fall back, now!"

Skyla twirled a pokeball between her fingers as she recalled Neite. "Well played, Champion," she said. "Well played." With a flick of her wrist the feathered dragon pokegirl Nicholas had seen in Iris' harem took to the sky and blasted past Jade to begin climbing for the ceiling. "But I will never give up! To do so is an insult to the pokegirls who fight with me!"

"You can finish this, Jade!" Nicholas called. "Finish the fight!"

Jade tried, but the Archeops was climbing faster and kept widening the gap before wheeling back around and rocketing into the Golurk's armor with a sickening crack. Shards sprayed everywhere from the reckless attack and Jade faltered, falling back towards the arena before she caught herself again. "I…" she muttered, her jet sputtering, "I need…"

Nicholas hissed as Jade plummeted back down to slam into the arena. "JADE!"

The Archeops screeched in triumph, coming around for another hit on the motionless Golurk as Skyla cheered.

"JADE!"

"Just one moment, Keeper," Jade murmured, the glow of her eyes dimming slightly as she settled down and energy began to knit over the broken pieces of her armor. "I just need… to rest." The Archeops was coming in hot as she lifted her head to look at him. "I will endure."

Broken stone fragmented against the walls but this time it wasn't a crack when the Archeops impacted. It was a crunch. Leaving the girl to flap away with an unsteady wobble in her flight.

"Keep it up, Shay! She's going down!" Skyla yelled.

"No… No!" Shay cried, seeming to be having difficulty keeping her head up. "I hit her but she won't fall! She won't fall, Mistress!"

"She's about to!" Skyla yelled. "Come on! Finish this!"

Shay tried to come back around for a final blow but this one was barely even a strike. Causing Shay to wail even louder and begin flapping for the ceiling, fleeing as life returned to Jade's eyes and she stood.

"I endured." Jade turned to see Shay flapping towards the ceiling and growled. "Another coward?" Jade shot to her feet and roared after the fleeing Archeops "WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU-!"

"I think I may need to bring out Cindy," Nicholas called. "She's a bit too fast for you to catch."

"…No," Jade growled. "I will catch her. She is too far, but I will catch her all the same, Keeper. Witness me!"

Nicholas smiled. Lilith's technique had faded long ago, but Jade still thrummed with energy. Maybe it was because her evolution had occurred inside of it, or maybe not, it didn't matter. What mattered was that what he had been hoping for had come to pass. Here, finally, was a pokegirl he could work with. "I've got a better idea," he chuckled, and when Jade turned to look at him quizzically he tapped his temple. "Let me show you what you can do."

Jade breathed out when she felt his presence touch her mind, watching as memories flowed, memories of her Keeper, of a place, unknown to her but intimately familiar to him. And her eyes lit up as she watched a figure dressed in gaudy clothes leap from the center of a ring, laughing and laughing before bringing both arms back and locking them in place. "Yes, Keeper," she laughed, turning her eyes to where Shay continued to flee. "That is an excellent punishment for one such as her."

Shay was still frantically searching for a way to get away, farther, anywhere away from Jade, when she heard the boom. Energy was spewing from the bottom of Jade's armor and then suddenly she was moving. Rocketing straight towards the panicked Archeops and before Shay could dodge she felt Jade's fists closing around her legs and arms. "Down you GO!" Jade roared, yanking her arms down so that Shay was stretched across the Golurk's shoulders and then she let her jet cut, gravity taking over as Jade dragged a terrified, screaming Shay along with her to smash into the arena floor and break the Archeops over her back.

Jade was still laughing as she tossed Shay's limp body aside. "You DISGUST me," she taunted, turning her back on her unconscious opponent. "Out of my sight."

Nicholas recalled her, watching Skyla do the same for Shay. "I assume that's our TKO?" he called.

Skyla took a moment before she smiled. "It was. Oh, Shay. What am I going to do with you." The barriers protecting the two tamers dropped and Skyla ambled over towards Nicholas. "You're an amazing pokegirl tamer, Nicholas. And an excellent strategist. I hope you didn't take Lilith's threats too seriously. She needed to get in your spider's head."

"Nah. No hard feelings," Nicholas chuckled back. "After all, Cindy was talking about treating your girls like prey just this morning. Pokegirls."

"Pokegirls," Skyla laughed in agreement, finally reaching out to shake his hand. "You know, being your opponent today has been a new source of strength for me, I think. It shows me clearly what more there is out there. What new summits there are to climb." She smiled. "You fully deserve this badge, Nicholas. Just as he did two years ago."

"Too bad Hugh didn't stick around to see this." Nicholas pocketed the badge Skyla handed him. "I feel like he would have enjoyed it."

"That young man has too much on his mind to enjoy things right now," Skyla said quietly. "You said you're sniffing around for that Neo Plasma, same as him?"

"Yeah."

"Then the two of you be safe." Skyla released him. "I thoroughly enjoyed our battle today. I'd hate for it to be our last."

.

.

POKEDEX UPDATED

Tamer: Nicholas Topolski

Badges:

Basic Badge

Insect Badge

Bolt Badge

Quake Badge

Toxic Badge

Jet Badge

Harem:

Kiana, Arcanine (Alpha) – Level 41

Adalinda, Serperior – Level 39

Jade, Golurk – Level 43

Melody, Seismitoad – Level 41

Cindy, Galvantula – Level 40

Non-Com Harem:

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