Chapter 2

Chapter 2

On the Path to our First Gym Battle

         Dahlia watched Nicholas walk around. "What are we doing next, Master?"

         "I think you two got enough training yesterday to move on. I'm going to meet this Nidoran and then we'll head towards the forest." Nicholas held up a pokeball. "I already had the NurseJoy hit her with a taming cycle, so she should be back to normal. As long as she wasn't more feral than I realized."

         Ashley bobbed her head in time with Dahlia, the two watching the Nidoran's form materialize.

         Nicholas gave her a quick look over as she got her bearings. The worst of the scars had been seen by the healing machine as injuries, so they were gone, but she still had cosmetic scarring across her breast and some of her limbs. Despite that, and maybe even because of it, he thought, she was quite stunning with her lithe body and defined chest. He could even see a slight horn growing above her forehead, something he was sure she could use in the same way as the hidden spikes along her limbs to inflict poison.

         The girl groaned, getting one leg under her before looking around. She noticed the watching pokegirls first and staggered upright, taking a wary pose. "You, I remember you."

         "Good morning." Dahlia said, curtsying at the cautious Nidoran. "I am Dahlia, and this is Ashley. We are Master Nicholas' pokegirls, like you are now."

         The Nidoran blinked, turning until she saw Nicholas standing nearby. "You?"

         Nicholas nodded. "Hi there. I'm Nicholas."

         The Nidoran ran a hand over her jaw, frowning when her fingers encountered smooth skin. "My scars, they…"

         "I had you healed up, and the machine decided the scars on your face and under your left arm were injuries. Sorry."

         The Nidoran shook her head, feeling where he had mentioned before raising her arm and sighing in relief. "I couldn't move this arm for ages. Thank you."

         "Most of the others are still there." Nicholas offered. "Unless you'd prefer them gone as well."

         The girl glanced down, tracing the raised line that crossed her left breast. "No. No, I'll keep this one." She sighed again and looked back at him. "You must be strong. I remember you defeating many of the pack before I found you."

         Nicholas shrugged. "Not strong enough. You were just fighting on instinct and you still almost took both Dahlia and Ashley down."

         The girl nodded. "I'm proud of that." She hesitated. "So… You're meant to be my Master?"

         Nicholas nodded. "Unless you want to do something else."

         The girl turned back to look at the waiting pokegirls. "No, I'll stay here." She grinned and cracked her knuckles in her palms. "Now, which of you do I need to challenge?"

         Ashley grinned back at her. "I beat you down, girl. Forget already?"

         The Nidoran's expression wavered very slightly. "I was weakened."

         "So was I."

         "I don't think there's any need for that kind of thing." Nicholas soothed, resting a hand on the Nidoran's shoulder. "We're a team, after all. If I need to promote an Alpha I will."

         The Nidoran whirled back to him. "You have no Alpha here?"

         "Nope." Nicholas replied. "And depending on how you fit in, you may not get the chance to be one either."

         The girl's expression grew calculating. "I see."

         "Why don't you prove to me that you're a good Alpha?" Nicholas asked. "Without being in the position, act like you are. That's the kind of Alpha I'd want."

         The Nidoran blinked before nodding. "Yes, Master. I understand." She smiled back at the two. "Greetings. I am Elizabeth. Or Liz, I suppose, if you must shorten my name."

         "Glad to have you with us, Elizabeth." Nicholas replied. "Could you step over with the others, please?"

         He waited for her to join them before sitting and staring at the three pokegirls. "Hm."

         They waited patiently while he stared. "Master?" Dahlia finally asked.

         "Sorry, Dahlia. I was trying to visualize what each of you will look like as you evolve, since I haven't had a good chance to take in each of your beautiful bodies yet." He tapped his chin, continuing as all three began to blush. "It's interesting, so Elizabeth is the tallest, followed by Dahlia… I guess because Ashley needs a perky little body to fly around with." Nicholas gave her an exaggerated wink.

         Ashley groaned and draped a wing across her torso to hide her nudity. "You're such a pervert, Master."

         "Well, maybe." Nicholas conceded. "Still, can you blame me?"

         Dahlia tugged at her top. She was the only one not naked, so Master was…

         "Nah, I don't." Elizabeth breezed. "Give me a few days and I'll get my hair back under control." She tugged at the knots in her shoulder-length, almost white hair. "What was your name again, bird girl?"

         "Ashley."

         "Ashley, stop draping your arm-wing-things over your goods and let your Master see." Elizabeth teased. "It's nothing he hasn't seen or won't see in the future. Right?"

         "Well… I guess not." Ashley mumbled, slowly lowering her wing again. "But when he stares I get self-conscious."

         "What for? He's staring because he likes what he sees." Elizabeth glanced at him and giggled. "See, he's staring at us right now! It doesn't matter if you've only got brown hair and eyes, he's still totally thrilled by them."

         "Master." Nicholas glanced away and had to do a double take. Dahlia was standing defiantly, her top and shorts in a pile next to her. "Don't you like me, too?"

         Nicholas started to say something before thinking better of it and shutting his mouth. "I think I've already said how you all have beautiful bodies." He finally managed to get out.

         "There's no problem with that!" Elizabeth cried. "You look better that way, Dahlia. It's Dahlia, right?"

         The Bulbasaur nodded.

         "Let yourself breathe, girl." She looked around. "Look, nobody is even paying us much attention. And if they did, it'd be because they liked what they saw!"

         "Elizabeth, if Dahlia, or Ashley, or any pokegirl that joins us in the future wants to wear clothing, that's their choice."

         Elizabeth sighed. "Yea, it is, but there's no point to it. Be proud of what you are, don't hide it." She glanced in his direction. "You, I understand why they want humans covered up. You've got this dangly bit that waves about if you're not careful."

         Nicholas rubbed his temples. "Yup, we sure do, and when you get stronger you'll have two dangly bits doing the same."

         "Eh, I'll do something about it if I need to." Elizabeth crowed. "Right. You've taken your good, looong look, so what's next?"

         "We're headed into the forest." Nicholas replied. "I want to see how you fight at first, Elizabeth, and then I'll give Dahlia some time, and then have Ashley take us the rest of the way through. From what I've heard, the place is infested with bug-types."

         "Yea, and a bird will demolish 'em." Elizabeth agreed. "Alright, Master. Let's go!"

         "I'm getting some supplies first." Nicholas cautioned. "Can you girls stay here for a moment? The market is just next door."

         The three nodded, watching him vanish into the building.

         "So, Elizabeth." Ashley turned to the Nidoran. "What's the deal with you and nudity?"

         Elizabeth blinked. "Er, like I said? I'm proud of my body."

         "Yea, but this way anyone gets to see us. Not just Master."

         The Nidoran looked around. "Nobody seems to be staring."

         "No, because it's common for pokegirls to go without clothing." Ashley agreed. "But the ones who do, aren't you bothered that they'll be seeing as much of you as Master does?"

         Elizabeth bit her lip. "Maybe a little, I guess."

         "I think if you want to do it, go for it." Ashley explained. "But I want to get something to at least cover my nipples, maybe some sort of chest strap. Dahlia has clothes already."

         "Maybe I won't wear them." Dahlia muttered. "Standing out here naked feels nice… The breeze, feeling the sun on my bulb…"

         "That's her choice." Ashley turned back to Elizabeth. "So?"

         Elizabeth grudgingly nodded. "I get the point."

         "Good." Ashley grinned at her. "And, Liz, you have every reason to be proud. You look like a queen."

         Elizabeth smiled at Ashley's kind compliment. "Thanks, Ashley. That's the plan, after all."

         Nicholas stepped back out after a few minutes. "Right, we're good! You girls ready?" He grinned at the chorus of yesses. "Cool! Dahlia, want me to put your clothes in my pack?"

         The Bulbasaur hesitated before nodding. "Thank you Master."

         "Sure." Nicholas took them and hefted his pack back onto his back. "Off we go, girls! To Viridian Forest!"

         They were approaching the northern city limit when a man staggered out from behind a nearby building. "Ho, boy, you look like… zzz… A pokegirl… zzz… taaamer!"

         Nicholas stared at the old man. "Excuse me? I mean, yes, but who are you?"

         "You young'uns know nothing these days!" The man roared, still weaving unsteadily. "I betcha don't even know how to catch a pokegirl!"

         Nicholas stared at the man. The man stared back. Nicholas glanced at the three pokegirls standing beside him. The man stared at them. Nicholas turned back.

         "I think I do."

         "NONSENSE!" The man roared. "No respect for your elders you blasted young-"

         "Let's go, Master." Dahlia whispered, carefully pushing him along the road and leaving the raving man behind.

         Nicholas breathed a sigh of relief when the man was out of sight. "What the hell was that."

         "An old coot." Elizabeth replied bluntly.

         Nicholas sighed. "Yea, I guess he was. Poor guy."

         "Let's get going, Master." Ashley piped up. "The forest is up ahead."

         They were walking along and making good time when Nicholas stopped. "Hey, hold on a second." He stepped over near one of the lines of trees that formed the route. "Dahlia, remember the parallel area I was talking about?"

         Dahlia nodded. "Yes?"

         "Look at this." Nicholas pointed at where some of the trees were younger than the others. "Think we can squeeze through here? These trees look pretty weak."

         "Maybe…" Dahlia muttered, stepping forward and testing the tree. "Huh. It's not budging."

         "Let me try." Elizabeth stepped past and grabbed the thin trunk, bracing her body and shoving as hard as she could. "This- won't-" She let go with a gasp. "Wroah! Budge!"

         Nicholas looked up at where the tree canopies had tangled together. "Shit. I was hoping this was an old path, and it might be, but it's completely grown over. Maybe if we cut some of these down we could get through." He checked his backpack. "Wouldn't you know it, Oak didn't give me a machete."

         Elizabeth glanced at her fingers before looking at Ashley's claws. "I don't think I'm strong enough to do much, Master."

         "Same."

         "Let me try." Dahlia's vines snaked out and she braced. "Ready? One, two-"

         She whirled, sending them slashing against the trees. Nicholas jumped when she yelped in pain, the vines immediately recoiling and the Bulbasaur dropping to the ground.

         "Dahlia?!"

         "Ow." Dahlia managed. "That really stung."

         "I guess the answer is no, we can't go that way." Nicholas tried one more time to force his body through the gaps before giving up. "Well. Shit."

         "The forest, Master?"

         "The forest." Nicholas agreed. "Elizabeth, you're in the lead. I want to get you some experience."

         The Nidoran nodded, skipping to the front. "Do you have a map, Master?" She asked as they passed through the southern forest entrance.

         "Nope." Nicholas chuckled. "But I've got a decent sense of direction. We'll backtrack if we hit a dead end."

         Which, of course, they did. Immediately. Elizabeth was in full battle mode, fighting off dozens of wild bug-type pokegirls, until she finally held up a weak hand. "Please, sub me out." She gasped. "There's too many of them."

         "On the bright side, we've exhausted every possible path except the correct one." Nicholas sighed, recalling her. "Dahlia, take the lead."

         Dahlia started down the new path, sighing in relief when she saw a human casting about in the low light. "Master, there's someone ahead."

         The tamer popped up, his wide hat and netting protecting him from the mosquitos that were buzzing all around Nicholas' head. "Eh? Hey, You're a tamer!"

         "Yea, nice to see a-" Nicholas started before the kid scrambled out of the grass and struck a pose.

         "You're a tamer, I'm a tamer, I challenge you to a pokegirl battle!" The boy yelled gleefully. "10% cash prize!"

         "Yea, that's standard for this region, I hear." Nicholas grumbled. "Well unfortunately for you, I just spent all my money on supplies. You'll get, like, ten bucks. Tops."

         "Eh, I have a bank account, so since the law is pocket cash, you'll get the same." The boy laughed. "Come on, let's battle!"

         "Yea, yea." Nicholas nodded at Dahlia. "Dahlia, you're up." He turned back to the boy. "Unlimited, right?"

         "Obviously! That's the only way to battle."

         "You'd be surprised." Nicholas muttered.

         Dahlia watched the boy release a short girl with antennae. "Caterpie. The worm pokegirl." Nicholas' pokedex chimed.

         "Katie, use String Shot!" The boy yelled.

         Dahlia let out a defeated sigh and attacked without waiting for Nicholas' command. Katie managed to coat her in the sticky substance before Dahlia's vines smacked the bug girl into unconsciousness.

         "Holy crap, you didn't even tell her to do that!" The boy cried.

         "I'd recommend teaching your pokegirls to think for themselves as well." Nicholas called. "Their reactions will be faster than you shouting an order."

         The boy frowned. "Huh, you're right." He recalled his first pokegirl. "Alright, Kate, you're next! She's slow, so Tackle!"

         Nicholas rubbed his eyelids. "Did this boy seriously name his Caterpie Katie and Kate."

         Dahlia shot him a sympathetic look before yelping when the second Caterpie smashed into her. She quickly retaliated, dropping the bug pokegirl with a single attack.

         "Ah!" The boy recalled her. "Well, my next pokegirl will do the job!" He remained posturing for a few seconds before deflating. "If I had one."

         Nicholas shook his head and walked over. "Don't feel too bad, mate. I trained a lot before bringing my girls into the forest."

         The boy nodded, handing over the prize money. "I guess so. I can't go much further in because the pokegirls just get stronger, and neither of mine can hold up." He shrugged. "But I have to keep trying, right? Even if I keep losing, one day I'll win."

         Nicholas smiled and clapped the boy's shoulder. "You got it, man. Good luck out there, and be safe on your way back to the pokecenter."

         He watched the boy until he disappeared down the path. "I really hope he makes it back safely without even one of his Caterpie to protect him." He muttered.

         "The way out is right there." Dahlia pointed out, peeling the sticky goop from her body. "Ick. I hate bug-types because of all the fluids they shoot everywhere."

         "You good?" Nicholas asked.

         "I got most of it." Dahlia shook herself. "Alright. Guess this is the way through."

         "Hold on." Nicholas peered ahead. "Two more tamers in a battle up there. Let's go around."

         "But the only way around is…" Dahlia stared at the overgrown forest around them. "Ah, dangit."

         She was covered in even more white string by the time they made it back to the path and the look she gave Nicholas said only one thing.

         "Ashley, your turn." Nicholas chuckled, recalling the Bulbasaur. "Let's go until you need a break, and then we'll set up camp."

         Ashley nodded, pushing ahead. With her ranged attacks she easily blew away any bug-types that tried to attack them and after a few more hours of walking she held out a wing to stop him.

         "Tamer." She explained.

         Nicholas peered over her shoulder. It was another tamer with a mosquito net over his face, likely due to how much time he spent in the forest. This one, however, was much deeper in, which suggested he had more powerful pokegirls.

         "He probably only has bug-types." Nicholas muttered. "You can take him."

         "You think so, Master?" Ashley asked. "He's a bit older than the last boy."

         "And I'm 24, which is older than him." Nicholas chuckled. "I say you got it. Let's go."

         The tamer turned when they approached and he grinned. "Ho ho! We got another traveler!"

         Nicholas came to a stop. "Oh? What do you mean by that?"

         The boy walked up. "Ran into a guy yesterday in traveling clothes. Gave me a great battle, too, with his Mankey."

         "About yea tall?" Nicholas asked, holding a hand to Michael's height. "Did he have a Squirtle too?"

         "That's the one! You know him?" The boy asked.

         "He's my friend."

         "So, you might be able to give me a good fight as well then." The boy grinned.

         "Depends. Ashley here is my only pokegirl ready for battle." Nicholas nodded at the Pidgey. "I assume you've got a bug-type."

         "Type matchups aren't everything." The boy replied with a smile.

         Nicholas frowned. This tamer actually knew what he was doing. "No, they're not. Ashley, you ready?"

         "Yes Master."

         "One pokegirl with cash salvage!" The boy called. "Let's do it, Kathleen!"

         "Oh come ON! Does everyone around here name their pokegirls after some variation of Kate?" Nicholas cried.

         "You must have met Brian." The boy chuckled. "He named his Caterpie after her. Too bad he didn't choose some Weedle."

         The pokegirl that materialized instantly buzzed up to ten feet in the air and Nicholas had to reposition his scanner.

         "Beedrill. The poison bee pokegirl." The pokedex said.

         "More fucking poison." Nicholas grumbled.

         "Kathleen! Keep in the air and attack!"

         "Yes, Master." The cool voice from the bee pokegirl shook Nicholas and he began shouting his own orders. "Ashley, if you can't match her height, don't try! Dodge her and attack where she's going next!"

         Ashley gritted her teeth and stared up at the smug looking bee girl. "She's strong."

         "She's not that much stronger than you, so don't give up!" Nicholas roared. "DODGE!"

         Ashley winged to the side when Kathleen dove to attack. By the time she had whirled to retaliate, the Beedrill was already back in position above her.

         "Can't hit me here, birdy." Kathleen crooned, the lance-like stingers jutting from her wrists tracking Ashley's body. "All I need is one good hit and you'll be suffering my poison."

         Ashley planted her feet and screamed a challenge. "If you're so confident, THEN HIT ME!"

         "Ashley, NO!" Nicholas tried to yell but Kathleen was already dive bombing the defiant Pidgey.

         Ashley met the Beedrill's charge with a gust attack that bowled the bug girl head over ass until she slammed into a tree. Immediately Ashley followed up on her advantage, dashing in and landing a few blows before Kathleen could wing back into the air.

         The Beedrill spat blood, her eyes glowing with rage. "Now I'm angry." She hissed. "Dodge THIS!"

         Ashley screamed when Kathleen buzzed in and unleashed a flurry of strikes with her stingers. She fell back, clutching at the bleeding holes where the Beedrill had connected, and glared up at where her opponent had returned to her position.

         "You're a fucking coward." She spat. "Hit and run? Is that all you can do? Stand and fight!"

         Kathleen's lip curled into a sneer. "I fight to win, darling. And you. Can't. Hit me."

         Nicholas was shouting a command but Ashley ignored him. She knew how to end this battle, she just needed to trick the Beedrill. "One good hit and you'd be down!" She screamed. "You're scared. Scared!"

         Kathleen laughed, her movements becoming faster before she locked her arms in place and aimed directly at Ashley's chest. "It was a fun battle, little bird."

         Ashley screamed when the diving Beedrill stabbed her but didn't fight back, letting a surprised Kathleen carry her weight for an extra few moments before the Beedrill was forced to disengage in order to get back to her favorite position.

         "Why'd you do that-?" Kathleen started to mutter before the torrent of air caught her and sent her screaming into a tree with a sickening thud.

         Ashley felt the impact of the ground catch her unprotected head and stars danced across her vision, but she'd done it. She'd finally aimed where Kathleen was going to be, and she'd hit the stupid bug straight on.

         The tamers recalled their pokegirls, Nicholas looking over at his opponent. Both waited for a few moments before the boy sighed.

         "Draw?"

         "Draw." Nicholas agreed.