Fan Fiction / Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction / Urusei Yatsura Fan Fiction ❯ Poke Walk ❯ Chapter 10 - Sadie Poken's Evening ( Chapter 10 )

Poke Walk: Chapter 10 - Sadie Poken's Evening

Disclaimer:

Pokemon is a copyright of Nintendo. The characters of "Magical Twilight" are the property of Pink Pineapple {Japan} and SoftCel Pictures {USA} from the ideas of Akane Shinshakan and Kinya Watanabe. The characters of Tenchi Muyo are the property of AIC, Hiroki Hayashi, and Yousuke Kuroda. The characters of Urusei Yatsura are the property of Kitty Films - Fuji TV, AnimEigo, and Rumiko Takahashi. The characters of Bubblegum Crisis are the property of Studio AIC (Anime International Company), JVC and AnimEigo.

Some other characters and situations used with permission.

Special Disclaimer:

Pokègirls and Pokèwomen come from the Pokewomon Forum at http://disc.server.com/Indices/169881.html.

"Wild Horses and Pokègirls" is the creation of Metroanime.

C&C, MSTs are welcome E-mail: kelvins.choice@comcast.net or kelvins.choice@att.net

_ _ _ So why don't you just drop in? he felt through the links with the others, normally it was less focused, but staring through the binoculars at the warehouse, drew the question both to the front of his mind and by resonance, to theirs. Especially with the guards, shield and the aura surrounding the place, despite the rather ordinary building within their cordon.

_ _ _ It was this I felt, he sent back down the link, None of you are able to help me here. Another reason I wanted to go alone. He felt varying levels of disgruntlement from the trio who were closely bonded, but also a layer of acceptance. Am I going to pay for this little solo excursion or what? he wondered, At least the others are going to be too mad at me for `abandoning them` to be angry about this.

_ _ _ He considered the word he had said to Dark Atmuff, a Word of Power that literally translated as 'Death through Understanding'. This whole world operates through the same principle. You really start understanding, and you are killed. If you understand it, you can kill it. It also means that your understanding of something proceeds to destroy it. Having its mystery scraped away, leaves it open to the annihilating power of true reality, he thought as he cast the spell that would render him unseen, and changed what he was, so he could pass through the barrier as if it weren't there, instead of him not being there.

_ _ _ He sprang to the top of the warehouse, still unnoticed by those within. Most of them were kids about Gem's age, an older man he didn't recognize, and a woman he did. The winged humanoid didn't look like an angel, neither did the lion-metamorph. I really should start carrying that stupid machine, he thought, Instead of trying to memorize the entries. The sensors would come in handy right now. He shifted and spotted a shorter, pudgy, much older woman, strutting like a charlatan ready to gull the needy and foolish. She stood over a crude altar where a young girl and an older boy flickered in and out of existence. Jeff slipped through the skylight and landed silently, took a moment to compose himself, then cast a pair of spells. The first made the faintest sound of metal hitting stone, the second drew the attention of any mystically inclined person.

_ _ _ Sakura looked askance at the stranger who'd seemingly walked through the old witch's best defenses and stood, observing.

_ _ _ "You really have an interesting problem here," he said, as if party to a joke, "Not difficult, but interesting."

_ _ _ Sakura was about to plead that he not interfere, when her cards seemed to leap from her hands of their own accord. She glanced in fear and saw Li's too had joined the assault. I've never seen the cards act like that! She thought fearfully as they swirled around the man, chanting words of warning, chanting the spells to enclose the man. It's almost like a song, she thought, My cards and Li's, singing together. She stared at the man, who seemed to stand unaffected within the swirling mass. The cards are waiting for one of us to give an order, to attack and kill. Why are they so afraid of him, so afraid for us?

_ _ _ The man spoke words in a language Sakura couldn't understand. She glanced at her father, then at Tori who lay on the altar. Please! We don't have time for this! She wanted to shout. Yui and Kero had not moved, staring at the man and the cards.

_ _ _ 'We stand for Sakura!', 'We stand for Li!' the cards shouted in unison in response to the man's words.

_ _ _ "He didn't cast a spell," Sakura said incredulously, as she watched in wonder, "He just - talked to them!"

_ _ _ "In Russian," her father said in a curious tone.

_ _ _ Some of the cards began to detach from the main swirl around the man, to begin circling her and Li. A mix of her cards and mine, she wondered, What is going on? She continued to stare as the three of them were encircled, her cards and Li's mixing. They continued to sing an elaborate song she'd never heard before, the man listened attentively. Sakura glanced at the old witch, who has become fearful of the display.

_ _ _ The old witch struck her staff against the floor. "Do not interfere!" she insisted. Yet neither the man, nor the cards seemed to be heeding her.

_ _ _ Sakura was at a loss. I trust my cards, she thought, They don't seem bothered by this.

_ _ _ "Are you the one who put the spell on them? It's a lousy job," the man said, "Difficult to unravel, but not impossibly so." He snapped his fingers, and the cards fell silent.

_ _ _ "How did you do that?!" Li demanded, drawing her sword and standing protectively beside Sakura.

_ _ _ "I speak Russian," the man explained, as if that solved everything. "Are you loyal to the House Avalon and the House Shoron?"

_ _ _ 'YES!' the cards shouted in chorus.

_ _ _ "Then we do not have a problem," he said, and glanced back to an odd eight-limbed girl who had also somehow bypassed the defenses, and dropped to the ground behind him, "I heard your exorbitant demand. I'll do the job for far less than that."

_ _ _ Gem smirked at the old woman, then waved to the two girls in the fancy clothes, one pretty and the other scowling.

_ _ _ "Lousy job, with the spell you put on them," Master said, then snapped his fingers, displaying to all he was Master. The girl and boy quit flickering. A pretty girl in a fancy costume ran up and tried to hug both of them.

_ _ _ "Oh Tori, Madison, I'm so glad!" she told them, tears of happiness streaming down her face.

_ _ _ Gem likes her, Gem thought, but concentrated on the furious sorceress.

_ _ _ "Did I ruin your plans?" Master asked innocently, "You put the spell on them, and you can only cure it for a year. Hogwash."

_ _ _ The sorceress unleashed a firebolt. Before Gem could jump to his defense, her Master caught it. Examining the ball of fire in his hand, "Is that all your anger amounts to?" he asked, casually tossing it back, where it exploded, and threw the sorceress back a dozen meters.

_ _ _ "You hurt my friend," the girl in the costume shouted, now clutching a fancy rod, "You hurt my brother!"

_ _ _ Master picked the girl up by the collar, and set her down facing the older man. "No, little one. Leave killing the weak and helpless to the monsters, even if you are just killing monsters." He pushed her towards the older man.

_ _ _ "But she - "

_ _ _ "No!" Master said firmly, "The living need you for more than the dying." Master glanced right at Gem. "Get her and the others safely out of here."

_ _ _ Gem nodded. She took the older boy's hand, put it with the fancily dressed girl's, then his other hand on the nearly vanishing dark-haired girl's. She pushed the trio towards their parents.

_ _ _ Move, move, bad to stay, move, move, she wanted to tell them as she pushed as hard as her arms and legs would allow. Sending all the humans and Pokègirls scrambling forward against her vast strength.

_ _ _ Jeff looked down at the battered, but recovering, old sorceress. "Who tasked you to this?" he asked in a reasonable tone. I can be unreasonable at any time, he thought, But let's start nice.

_ _ _ "Just tell you here and now? I shouldn't wait, until I'm safely away?" she countered, tried and failed to sit up. She clutched at her head and moaned.

_ _ _ "As you can see, I can rip the information from your mind, even if you are alive or dead, and dead you won't have any defenses," he told her as his spells wound around and through her, "So tell me, then tell whoever instigated this, that all bets are off. You're done as a player on the field, and I'm not really interested in the current game. Maybe a reasonable negotiation can be attempted."

_ _ _ "You know nothing of true power - " the sorceress cursed as she raised her hands, then slumped, clutching her head as if it would explode.

_ _ _ "I have the name, and the location. I'll leave you to the guards," Jeff said as he walked after the others. The guards who came rushing in, were all females, all Pokègirls. Most regarded him with polite disdain as they passed.

_ _ _ Delicately burly, he thought of them. "She's a real magic user, not a Pokègirl magic-type, be very careful. I already know the who, how and where. You don't have to be gentle in extracting whatever else you want to know."

_ _ _ All the girls headed towards the fallen woman. She screamed something, to no effect.

_ _ _ Lost your spellcasting powers? Jeff thought, How tragic. You thought I was going to leave you with them? After what you've done? Mages at least still police their own. One Pokègirl remained standing near him, the same one who'd visited his room before the duel with Honey. She still looks like a well-executed cross between a linebacker and a bikini model, done with enough care she'd be able to pull off either easily. She blushed at his thought, while still managing to look at him as if he were something squishy and organic that she'd accidentally stepped in. It reassured him. A professional, he thought.

_ _ _ "Follow me," she told him and walked away as if he wouldn't think of doing anything else.

_ _ _ "Psilady, right?"

_ _ _ "A member of 'the Fancy'? Right?" she sneered.

_ _ _ "If I knew better what they were, versus just how they dress and worship, I might say yes. I was going to ask if you approve of the way I handled things."

_ _ _ She seemed not to have heard. "A bunch of microcephalic ersatz dopplegangers who have no more concept of what they are mimicking than the man in the moon."

_ _ _ "You keep talking like that. I'll follow you everywhere," Jeff joked, eliciting a laugh, "I'm wearing the same kind of hat I wore since my uncle bought the first one when I was nine. This is a festival, I thought my best suit was appropriate. Suddenly, rescuing Honey and wearing a good English tweed makes me some kind of idiot. I'd just like somebody to tell me the joke, I've heard the punchline all day."

_ _ _ "Cult of Personality. The invincible Cutey Honey and her ally, the unmatched StarMystic Cerise Bloom, two of the greatest heroes in all of the northern Sunshine League. Easily eclipsing even Lian Alice and Granny. Except they were amateurs, who grew overconfident, and offended powers they were unprepared for." She clenched her fists in real anger. "And they included people who could do nothing to protect themselves."

_ _ _ Oh crap, Jeff hid the thought behind a wall of other thoughts.

_ _ _ The sneer had twisted into a grimace promising violence. "Then there came this other hero, who kills Spinnenangsts like it's nothing. I happen to know that the battlegroup sent to deal with that group of Spinnenangsts. And was virtually annihilated. Was composed of 75 super-heavy types, all experienced combat veterans. Fifteen squads, they and their support echelon had 23 survivors. The unit suffered 97% casualties, most of those . . . fatal. Then, that same man, again as if it were nothing, killed the neoLegendary that created the pack. Rather than stand around and accept his accolades, he slips away and goes on to miraculously locate the Team HyperRocket group that's been plaguing the entire north sea area. Then, he comes in and defeats Cutey, rescuing her from an impossible situation, and finally just happens to find his way here, just as the yearly deal is struck. And he not only completes the yearly deal, but according to him, the problem is solved forever." She shouted in Jeff's face, "I don't buy it!"

_ _ _ Jeff held up a finger. "Point of order. I never said I solved it forever. I merely took the spell off its two victims."

_ _ _ She smiled without any mirth or warmth. "Point taken, but that's too many coincidences." The smile vanished. "Could it be that you had a hand in . . . fostering . . . these troubles? I'd be eager to hear any other explanation."

_ _ _ "Before I give one," Jeff said carefully, "I'd like to know how much you believe in gods or other higher powers, and what you think of them."

_ _ _ Her eyebrow quirked. She glanced at one of others, who while being a Psidyke, carried enough ordinance to make a GunValkyrie envious. Jeff could practically feel a bull's-eye being painted on his head. "I think the gods are a corrupt bunch who've used their charges, us, as amusement since they can't think of anything better to do."

_ _ _ "Ah, good. Then think of me as the ultimate `reality` show, 'Hey let's drop him in the biggest pile of shit we can find and watch the antics!'"

_ _ _ She laughed at that as they stepped out of the building and into the twilight. Even the pillbox following them chuckled at that.

_ _ _ "I just have to hope the entity doing it is benevolent rather than malevolent, at least to the rest of you," Jeff continued, "I know he/she/it has it in for me."

_ _ _ "Make a good story, and people do love their heroes," the pillbox commented.

_ _ _ I'm getting out of their town as fast as I can, banquet or no banquet, he thought.

_ _ _ The older woman approached quickly. Gem settled next to Jeff and glared at the guard.

_ _ _ I don't have the heart to tell her that just makes her look adorable, Jeff thought `in the clear` of his defender. Both the Psilady and the pillbox who'd moved to protect their Master smirked at the thought.

_ _ _ "I don't know how we can thank you for what you have done," Ms. Taylor told him.

_ _ _ Small world, he thought while he said, "The spell was simplicity itself. However, I was told that you could provide me with several anvils, of the finest quality and shipped immediately."

_ _ _ "Anvils?" Ms. Taylor seemed stunned, "You saved my daughter for . . . an anvil?"

_ _ _ "I saved your daughter, and the young man, because it was the right thing to do. I came to this location because someone informed me that I could find a source of portable forge equipment, especially anvils. Today is also a day to show off new technology and innovations, is it not?"

_ _ _ "Yes, of course," Ms. Taylor said, completely flustered.

_ _ _ "Arbitrage," Jeff told her.

_ _ _ Ms. Taylor smiled in comprehension and nodded. "I also suspect you want a non-portable one sent to your friend the Growlie on St. Helen's Island. One of our finest of course."

_ _ _ "I would never presume to debate you," Jeff said bowed slightly.

_ _ _ The shorthaired girl with the rod and her longer haired companion with the camera seemed to find this confusing and hilarious, respectively. The girl in the wild costume wasn't sure if they were being friendly or having a spat. The other seemed eager to film the entire exchange.

_ _ _ From the way she keeps glancing at both of them, Jeff thought of Ms. Taylor, I can't quite work out which is her daughter, unless one is hers by blood, and the other by desire.

_ _ _ "You saved my daughter," Ms. Taylor said regally, partly for the camera, "And you shall have your anvils." She paused and considered. "Why do I feel there should be a Choboob running through shouting 'meep meep' with a crazed Coyotits in hot pursuit?"

_ _ _ Jeff glanced at the Psilady. "Welcome to my life. Thank you, very generous. Now, we are all standing around on a festival day, while I am sure your daughter and her companion would rather be snuggled up together at home, or out enjoying the festival. I think the tradesman can wait for tomorrow to collect his fee, and get more information about who set this all up, and where I can leave my calling card." The kids didn't get it, Ms. Taylor stared at him with her mouth open.

_ _ _ "Yes, I should be with my . . . family . . . at a time like this." She gave the older man a scathing glare, which the guards chose to ignore, one and all.

_ _ _ "Very good," Jeff said as he tipped his hat and started away.

_ _ _ "Gem!" Gem shouted and waved to the two little girls.

_ _ _ "Wait! You don't know who we are and where we live!" the girl with the rod shouted.

_ _ _ Her Master turned back, letting the fog swirl around him mysteriously. "Those who ordered this done to you will tell me," he intoned darkly. Gem grabbed the edge of his suit and slowly rendered both of them invisible, so they faded from sight.

_ _ _ "Hoeh!" The girl clutched the rod tightly to herself.

_ _ _ "Gem," Gem whispered as they sprinted around a building and out of sight before she couldn't hold the invisibility any longer.

_ _ _ "Now, now," her Master countered as he picked up Gem and put her on his shoulders, she wrapped her arms and legs around and luxuriated in the safe feeling of being with her Master again, "Be nice, we'll let them play with the woman first."

_ _ _ Gem was stunned that he'd interpreted her wishes so well. Gem likes those three little girls, the two with the fancy costumes, and the one with the camera, thought then sniffled, She remembers the little ones that had been slaughtered by the monster earlier, then she considered and began smiling again, She is glad her Master managed to save these.

_ _ _ "The important question is what did you learn?" Master asked.

_ _ _ Gem understands him clearly, she thought in amazement, And this morning, Gem could also almost understand the others. The sounds they make are beginning to fall into patterns Gem can realize.

_ _ _ Gem pulled Jeff's Pokèdex from her pocket, tapping him on the head with it. Silly Master to leave it behind, she wanted to scold him as she and dialed up the CardMaster entry, showing it to Jeff, then dialed up the ClowMystic entry.

_ _ _ "They've updated it, last time I looked, they were only in the Mountain League," Jeff commented.

_ _ _ Gem gestured around, trying to remind him, Master and Gem aren't in the Mountain League. Then she dialed up the Tarantella entry, and showed it to her Master.

_ _ _ "Not a CameraGirl? She sure plays the part," Master said.

_ _ _ Gem could think of no way to explain the rest, The little girls, aren't really little girls, they smell like full-grown Pokègirls. The others chattered that the Sorceress came year after year to steal away a year's growth and experience from the trio, to save the Tarantella and the CardMaster's brother.

_ _ _ "Of course the key to the scam was that the charlatan could never `cure` them, only postpone the inevitable. So that's Cerise Bloom, I assume that the MysticAngel and MysticKat couldn't help her learn the tricks faster, so each year she worked harder at gaining more power, only to lose it again at the end of the year. Someone had a very sweet deal going here." Her Master sighed angrily, then turned to her "So, do you want to go to the banquet?"

_ _ _ Gem does not want to be parted from Master, she told him by hugged him tighter.

_ _ _ "I hope by now, the others have decided to let their hair down and have fun."

_ _ _ So you're going to reward them, Gem thought with disgust.

_ _ _ "I have plans for some of the others," Master explained, completely confusing Gem in the process, "I found out what all the people wearing my clothes are about. And I don't want to deal with them."

_ _ _ Gem thinks Master is running away, Gem wanted to accuse him of.

_ _ _ "There are times that it isn't necessary to win a battle, and it is best not to fight it."

_ _ _ Sounds like an excuse to Gem, she thought sourly.

_ _ _ "Don't you want to take on and fool some people, I saw a place that you'd enjoy."

_ _ _ Ritsuko picked at her food. The banquet is enjoyable for most of the girls, especially those who've `caught` new Tamers, she thought despondently, For me, it's just accents my loneliness. We'd all sat around a table together, now I sit here alone. Few of the Tamers will approach a mere Matron, not when other Pokègirls of greater combat abilities and high Libidos are available. The stewards had even cleared away all the dishes, except hers. She sighed and looked around. Kiyone, of course, has the wallflowers up and dancing. I wonder if she used her venom on them, Ritsuko thought, Misato has her admirers, and the only reason she dispensed with them is that Mara has been toying with her own admirers.

_ _ _ Ritsuko glanced around, she couldn't see Liv or Oyuki. I doubt they grabbed some Tamers and dragged them into a Taming room, but I can't imagine what they're doing, she considered, And what are all those idiots in 'The Fancy' hoping to do? Catch a glimpse of their idol Honey? It's not as if she'd be impressed by any of this. Not the adulation or the invitations. I can see it: Honey 'You are all individuals!' The Fancy 'We are all individuals!' If they went around helping people, then Honey might claim them, but sitting around in little groups squealing about how great she is . . . not offering anything to the outside world, would infuriate her. If I were particularly evil, I'd tell them that. "I'm glad we'll be leaving soon. He'd hit the roof if he finds out, and Honey would be right beside him," Ritsuko whispered to herself, then took a sip of her drink. She watched a group entering, a bunch of under-aged kids in fantastic, if baroque, costumes, surrounded by several women in very severe business suits and sunglasses.

_ _ _ Bodyguards, she thought as they scanned the area for threats, and an empty table, Might as well, the others aren't coming back. She noted that almost all the remaining tables were still full, and she was alone at the last large table that would hold the entire group of latecomers. They'll probably want to be together, she thought, and was mystified when they immediately separated as soon as they arrived. She shook her head and waved them over, collecting her half-eaten food and empty wineglass.

_ _ _ "We didn't want to force you out," a little brunette with a fancy rod assured her.

_ _ _ "My friends neither wanted nor needed the table anymore," Ritsuko said as she started to move off.

_ _ _ "Please stay," the brunette pleaded with her.

_ _ _ Something about her, I almost recognize her, Ritsuko thought as she saw back down. "Very well." She liked the smiling girl immediately, she couldn't help it. She reminds me of Cerise Bloom, but she'd have to be at least 25. Maybe Cerise went through parthenogenesis. "You're a CardCaptor, or are you a CardMaster?" Ritsuko asked.

_ _ _ The girl mumbled something unintelligible and blushed.

_ _ _ "Oh, a ClowMystic, I apologize," Ritsuko said.

_ _ _ The girls just stared at her in amazement. "How could you tell that?" a dark-haired girl with a camera asked.

_ _ _ That looks almost like Madison Taylor! Ritsuko realized, But she should be the same age I am. She should also remember me. "My - Tamer was going over magical Pokègirls with his Witch, and the CardCaptor evolutionary lines are the only ones who deliberately dress so flamboyantly. There was also a famous CardCaptor when I Thresholded -" She stopped. It was too painful to remember the summer when she stopped being a person, and became a thing to be owned. What is that woman staring at? Ritsuko wondered as she mastered herself and sealed off the terrible memories yet again.

_ _ _ Ritsuko wondered of the older woman, Must be a V.I.P., that also explains the guards.

_ _ _ "Are you looking for employment?" the man asked.

_ _ _ Probably the girls' father, Ritsuko thought. "No, I'm with a Tamer," she said, "He let us all go with instructions to have a good time for a day."

_ _ _ "Ah," the man said.

_ _ _ Would you have been so forward if it wasn't Sadie Poken's day? Are you looking for a new mommy for your girl, or a bedmate, or both? Ritsuko wondered, wishing she had a Pokèdex of her own to determine what the guards were.

_ _ _ She talked to the two young girls, who were amazed that a Matron had been part of a military unit.

_ _ _ "Wouldn't they want you back?" one of the guards asked tactlessly.

_ _ _ "No, the units were dissolved, all . . . " Might as well just say it. "All property liquidated for sale," Ritsuko said. I read the disposition when that exact question occurred to me, she thought, It doesn't make me feel any better that I was 'disposed of for scrapping', not released or retired. I don't know if it was the convenient way of letting me stay with my Master, but it still hurts. Not that I should expect respect, I'm only a Pokègirl. "I was - among that gear." She felt the small hand patting hers. The young ClowMystic was gazing at her sympathetically. "I lived through it," Ritsuko offered.

_ _ _ "I know . . . to be used by someone -" the ClowMystic told her, tears forming in her eyes. Then she looked shocked. "Oh, my manners. I'm Sakura Avalon. My friends are Madison Taylor and Li Shoron. My dad Aiden, Madison's mother Samantha."

_ _ _ Ritsuko was stunned. "Madison! But you and I were the same age . . . what happened?" she stammered, and as the girl blushed, she glanced at the two adults, "And they still glare at each other as if they're divorced."

_ _ _ "Who are you?" one of the guards demanded.

_ _ _ "Before I Thresholded, I was Madison's math tutor, and her high school friend," Ritsuko replied, seeing realization dawning in Ms. Taylor's eyes, but none in Madison's or Sakura's. "So, is Taylor Toys still a going concern?"

_ _ _ "Taylor Industries, yes," Ms. Taylor managed, "You . . . went into the military, didn't you?"

_ _ _ Ritsuko nodded. "I used your Talking Speaker to help several Feralborn to speak and write, at least a little, before the experts took them for formal training. I never was able to break or wear one out."

_ _ _ "I never considered its uses," Ms. Taylor said, "I . . . I must admit I can't place you."

_ _ _ "My hair used to be brown, and I was quite skinny and bookish," Ritsuko said.

_ _ _ "Is your Tamer . . . nice?" Ms. Taylor floundered with the conversation, looked desperately to the others. The guards tensed at their mistress's distress.

_ _ _ Poor woman, you can't remember me, can you? Ritsuko thought, I was at your house practically every day for months, but I Thresholded, that effectively means I died, and you don't want to remember. I don't understand why Madison and Sakura don't remember.

_ _ _ Ritsuko looked up to see Kiyone approaching, making a beeline for Madison, who had slipped out of her chair and was standing in a challenging pose, with a grim look on her face.

_ _ _ "Madison?" Sakura said.

_ _ _ "Kiyone, it's all right. I gave them the table," Ritsuko said, preparing to intercept the Wolf Spider. What's going on? Ritsuko wondered.

_ _ _ Kiyone dropped to one knee, so she was face-to-face with the girl. The two stared intently at each other, ignoring the entire outside world.

_ _ _ Madison seized a handful of Kiyone's hair. Ritsuko almost leapt out of her seat to intercept the Wolf Spider before she could react. Don't do that! Ritsuko wanted to shout, remembering what had nearly happened when Gem had done the same thing.

_ _ _ Kiyone duplicated the gesture, sniffing the handful of Madison's hair, while Madison rubbed Kiyone's on her cheek. Ritsuko glanced at the guards who were all out of their seats, but uncertain what to do. Sakura and Li were looking around, trying to get some insight into their next action.

_ _ _ "Huh?" Sakura asked, condensing everyone's confusion. The pair seemed content to examine the scent, texture, lay and even the taste of each other's hair. Despite their intense expressions, neither seemed ready for battle.

_ _ _ "Tarantella?" Madison asked hopefully.

_ _ _ "Wolf Spider," Kiyone answered proudly. Suddenly the two were hugging each other like long-lost sisters, prompting everyone else to stare in amazement and confusion, at them or at each other.

_ _ _ Madison released Kiyone long enough to ask Ritsuko, "You two have the same Tamer?"

_ _ _ Ritsuko stared at the suddenly embarrassed Wolf Spider. "Well, do we? 'Yes' or 'no'," she said with authority, making Kiyone blush then shiver. Now everyone stared at the Wolf Spider in anticipation of her answer.

_ _ _ "Yes," Kiyone lowered her head in defeat, answered softly.

_ _ _ "I think I may make him an offer," Ms. Taylor said. She leaned close, Ritsuko leaned in to hear. "I've never - rarely seen her so happy, as you well know, she's been a terror on tutors."

_ _ _ I can believe that, Ritsuko thought, as she nodded, Of course after she Thresholded, you couldn't send her back to school. Even your money couldn't get her into a `reputable` academy.

_ _ _ "So what's your Tamer like?" Sakura asked, the poor girl had gone from terrified to mystified, to pleased in a space of a few minutes.

_ _ _ "Oh, he's actually a Field Researcher, and he's . . . rather strange," Ritsuko admitted, "Very endearing, but it takes a bit of getting used to."

_ _ _ "Like dumping us around the city with money and supplies for a week, and telling us to 'make merry, on pain of death'," Liv explained as she arrived at the table, looked at Sakura and Li, then sniffed, "Cards, huh?" She grabbed the glass in front of Li and downed it.

_ _ _ The shorthaired brunette, Li, glared right back. "A fighter, or a bookworm you have to protect?" Li asked in irritation. Liv started choking and coughing.

_ _ _ "Both, actually," Ritsuko said, enjoying the Witch getting slapped on the back by Aiden until she stopped choking. She also felt good bragging about her Tamer. "He's a good fighter, but he does get in over his head. It's our job to keep him out of unnecessary trouble."

_ _ _ "You believe it's your job to keep him out of trouble?" the guard added.

_ _ _ "No," Liv gasped, as she straightened out, resumed her glaring match with Li, "You don't know him. He won't tolerate being coddled."

_ _ _ "But keeping him apprized of the danger of his actions," Ritsuko continued, "And keeping the escape routes open . . . we support and inform, if I had to follow his lead, I doubt I or the others would be so comfortable about being let run loose."

_ _ _ "I don't understand," Aiden spoke up, "He abandoned you?"

_ _ _ Ms. Taylor rolled her eyes at the question.

_ _ _ "No," Liv said forcefully.

_ _ _ "For one day," Ritsuko explained, "He gave us all the rights and responsibilities of a human. Seeking our own fate and path. I'll be glad to go back to someone else having that responsibility."

_ _ _ "So you don't believe that humans and Pokègirls have equal rights?" Aiden asked, an academic interest.

_ _ _ "No, I've met a fair number of humans as uncomfortable with being independent and in charge of their lives as I am. If I had to, I could run my own life. I much prefer being the trusted advisor rather than the chief executive and final authority."

_ _ _ "But does he listen?" Sakura asked, smiling cutely.

_ _ _ "Looking for a kind Tamer?" Liv teased, but it lacked the usual venom.

_ _ _ "Yes . . . I met someone," she said, hugging her wand tightly to her, "But he left before I could ask him."

_ _ _ Ritsuko caught the slight jealousy from Li.

_ _ _ "He'll be back tomorrow," Kiyone said, then turned an accusing eye at Ritsuko, "If we're right."

_ _ _ "Sakura dear," Ms. Taylor said, "He hasn't been paid, he'll be back. Tonight, it will be more fun celebrating."

_ _ _ Ritsuko and Liv exchanged glances. Why do I think we aren't talking about two separate people? Ritsuko wondered.

_ _ _ The tavern was a little rough, but all the `nice` Pokègirls were at the Banquet, not near the docks, and certainly not in The Iron Maiden. Besides, Jeff thought as he smiled and nodded, Bringing Gem in had set the tone, at least on Sadie Poken's Day. Nice father bringing in his little girl for a series of challenges at arm-wrestling. A few of the more powerful, and scariest, Pokègirls were keeping an eye on Gem and 'her father'. Nothing melts a Pokègirl's heart like a little kid, Jeff thought, Somebody who moved against me or Gem would be in a world of hurt.

_ _ _ The Minotaura currently losing to Gem was mooing desperately. Gem's face was screwed up with the effort of slowly pushing the larger Pokègirl's hand lower and lower. Gem's legs were braced against the bottom of the specially-reinforced table.

_ _ _ How long is the table going to last? He wondered of the heavy steel and concrete structure that had weathered a long series of challenges, There don't seem to be any lack of new challengers.

_ _ _ The Minotaura let out an agonized 'moo' as Gem pushed her hand down on the table. A cheer rang through the crowd. The Minotaura, slump-shouldered, pushed through the crowd to the order center, and ordered another cheeseburger, this time, with an onion flower as well.

_ _ _ Somebody's learning about setting odds, Jeff thought, nodding to the Taverngirl to give the loser a short beer.

_ _ _ "Do you ever feed her?" the Minotaura asked as she sat down next to Jeff, nursing her arm and the beer.

_ _ _ "I do, but she's always willing to eat. You know how kids are at that age," Jeff answered with a smile, enjoying being part of the background while the Pokègirls enjoyed themselves.

_ _ _ Another cheer, and an Amachoke walked away in amazement that 'a creature so tiny' could defeat her. So another loser bought another cheeseburger and got another short beer.

_ _ _ "Mister," the namesake Iron Maiden who ran the place whispered to Jeff, "Can you ask her to order something else, we're out, that's the last burger in stock. We'll have a pepperoni pizza up in a little bit."

_ _ _ "I'll check." Jeff stood to check with Gem. "Pepperoni pizza okay? They've run out of burgers," Jeff asked Gem, who pouted cutely, despite the Corala straining to hold her own.

_ _ _ "Gem," she said as she slapped the poor girl's hand down. Another cheer, and another stunned and rather pained loser. Gem gobbled down the burger the Minotaura brought, and set the onion where she and others could enjoy it. Jeff sampled it and returned to his place, signaling for another short beer for the loser.

_ _ _ Waiting for him, was a girl wearing a suit and tie much like his own. "It's good, but it's not perfect."

_ _ _ "Excuse me?" Jeff asked as he took his seat.

_ _ _ Three other girls stared at him from nearer the doorway, all wearing the same costume, as well as sneers which made them all very unattractive. The fur coats they wore drew his eye, Back home, that wouldn't be a big deal, he thought, We raised animals to skin or you didn't waste it after you hunted and ate them. Here, I can only imagine how they got real fur, and I bet it wasn't road kill.

_ _ _ "Come on! He's a poser," the nominal leader suggested, earning a glare from some of the regulars.

_ _ _ Not old enough to be out on your own yet, Jeff thought as the girl tried to rally her arrogance in the face of real threats.

_ _ _ "Heather, Posey said he'd be here," the first girl rallied.

_ _ _ Probably chickened out when she really thought about it, Jeff thought, Or her parents found out.

_ _ _ "Well we aren't missing the Banquet." Heather and her two shadows, stuck their noses in the air, and marched out.

_ _ _ "I apologize for the trouble," the girl said, blushing and tightly gripping her coat hem, "But it's not right, none of it." She indicated his clothes.

_ _ _ "What's wrong with it?" Jeff asked, looking himself over.

_ _ _ "First, the hat's wrong. The band's a single color, blue, not plaid."

_ _ _ Oh, one of the Fancy. Terrific, I'm not even dressed correctly to be me, he thought. "That's all?" Jeff asked, purchased another short beer for another loser, and watched the pizza, hot and sliced, headed for the table.

_ _ _ "Well, the boots should be muddier. I worked hard getting mine muddy."

_ _ _ Jeff glanced at his carefully shined boots, and the girl's much filthier ones. "Why would he wear trail dirty boots to a festival?" Jeff asked, "Especially here. It would be an insult to Honey." I can play this game too, he thought.

_ _ _ The girl nodded.

_ _ _ "Who is 'Posey'?" Jeff asked.

_ _ _ "My sister. She has . . . 'visions'." She held up her fingers like quote marks, "But she's rarely wrong."

_ _ _ "What did she say?" Jeff asked.

_ _ _ The girl looked around nervously, then crooked a finger to tell Jeff to lean close. "That he'd be here," then to explain it better, "Honey's new Tamer."

_ _ _ "Oh . . . I haven't seen him," Jeff said, straightening up. He glanced at Gem, who was massaging her arm after beating a Malakim.

_ _ _ Gem put her palms together and mimed going to sleep, while her latest `victim` carried away her half-eaten onion flower. Gem sprang the distance. Jeff caught her easily, and noted the slightly cuteness-mesmerized expressions on the Pokègirls' faces as they stared at Gem hugging him tightly with all eight limbs.

_ _ _ "So, was this more fun than that stuffy, ole banquet?" Jeff asked her. Gem growled happily, nuzzling his neck. Jeff began massaging her shoulders. "I can guarantee, you'll sleep good tonight. I just hope the others are having a good time."

_ _ _ Something caught his eye through the large window. "Incoming!" he shouted. The crowd was on the floor, Gem's latest opponent threw herself in front of them on the floor as a bolt of blue-white light punched through window and out the other side of the building.

_ _ _ "Damn!" Jeff said quietly as he crawled towards Gem. "Get the others," he told her, waited for her to nod, "I'll keep whatever is out there occupied."

_ _ _ The girl grabbed his arm. "That was a HyperBeam!"

_ _ _ "No, that was Hellfire, and Posey was right," Jeff told her as he pulled his arm loose and headed out.

_ _ _ Ritsuko walked into the police station, the largest one in town. The Jennies and other officers were putting on armor and pulling heavy weapons. "Excuse me, but my Master turned in a heavy rifle. He's currently engaged with that thing," Ritsuko said as clearly and as quickly as she could, "I don't have the claim ticket, but it had red silk inlay. The rifle was in two pieces in the case -"

_ _ _ The desk 'Jenny gave up under the onslaught of details. "Do you know the combination, and do you have his ID in your collar?"

_ _ _ Ritsuko took off her collar, instantly handing it to a newly arrived Jenny to take to the reader. Considering how most Pokègirls feel about being collared, it should prove I'm telling the truth, Ritsuko thought, but still fidgeted at the idea of losing her collar. The second OfficerJenny returned the collar, while the first returned with a familiar box.

_ _ _ I hope to God, Sukebe, and whoever else is listening he didn't change the combination. She flipped the two latches, then put the first number in the center dial. Stay calm, stay calm, she reminded herself as she went through the painfully complex sequence.

_ _ _ The creature backed away, screaming from a face full of holy water. Jeff was alone. But from the noise, that will be changing soon.

_ _ _ "What do you know?" Jeff commented, "I guess she really is holy." I'm glad this thing really is a demon and not a `Demon` element Pokègirl, he thought as he advanced, Or I wouldn't have been able to drive it out of town with a cross and the Nicene Creed. He had the cross out again. While others darted in and grabbed the wounded, one Demon-Goddess was simply staring at her wounds as a rather chubby Tamer and a MilkTit dragged her away to the stretcher bearers.

_ _ _ Can't believe you got nailed so easily? he thought of the Pokègirl, Tough as you were against Humans, against the real thing, you're as fragile as us. "Keep everyone back," he ordered. A few cops and a random Pokègirl with or without Tamers are just mincemeat against this thing, he reminded himself, Time to see how much of what I was Dark Atmuff returned, and here I was lamenting my lost humanity. He fired at the creature at powder-burn range, cold iron and silver bullets from an enchanted gun.

_ _ _ The demon screamed in agony again, unleashing a psychic attack as it did.

_ _ _ Stronger than the last, Jeff thought as he struggled to remain vigilant and standing. Glad you don't keep using those, he thought as the creature charged to hand-to-hand range. Jeff was instantly on the defensive. My teacher might think you're a wimp, but I'm nowhere at that level of proficiency, he thought as he parried with his staff, or dodged, occasionally, a claw would tear through his suit coat. The flesh isn't far behind. He dodged the wing buffet and got a kick to the leg that laid it open.

_ _ _ "You finally managed to draw first blood," Jeff taunted, as he emptied his pistol, each impact forestalled the charge for a few seconds. When it finally managed to stagger at him, Jeff shoved his staff into its gut and fired a spell point blank.

_ _ _ The demon writhed in complete disorientation as the universe seemed to flicker around it. Jeff scrambled around behind and severed one of its wings. The pain brought it back to reality. A blow from the other wing hurled him away.

_ _ _ Jeff landed hard and immediately reopened the bottle of holy water, trying to coax the last drops onto the base of the severed wing, to prevent easy reattachment.

_ _ _ An Armsmistress in a party dress stepped up to the monster, drawing her sword and getting ready.

_ _ _ "Get away!" Jeff shouted as the demon's remaining wing tore the Pokègirl in half. He ignored the Tamer's anguished cry as he stalked towards the demon. His flesh had crawled together, sealing the leg wound the demon had inflicted. Now he had its near full attention. After all, I'm the only one who's hurt you, aren't I? he asked silently.

_ _ _ It screamed its rage and a spell. Jeff felt it and he disrupted it before it could strike him or anyone else. He answered with a series of gunshots, each bullet carried a spell of his won. Each impact hurled the creature back, adding to its pain and rage, and hidden within, paralysis. The slowing of the creature's reactions gave Jeff the time he needed to charge behind it, grab the remaining wing, and slice through the joint that joined the wing and the body.

_ _ _ The demon's desperation counterstroke hurled him away. Thanks for the assist, he thought, his hands still gripping the wing the blow had let him tear loose. He looked up and smiled. Without its wings, the demon's own energies are consuming it, he thought with satisfaction.

_ _ _ "Good night Sweet Prince," he offered as he tipped his hat, then fell as fatigue finally caught up with him. Damn that hurts, he thought as hands eased him onto a makeshift stretcher, I just hope that's the last. Oops, don't think that! The chubby Tamer and MilkTit were loading him aboard.

_ _ _ "Relax mister, we'll get you out of here," the Tamer said, then immediately got a solid building between them and the rapidly burning demon.

_ _ _ A pillar of black fire leapt out of the ground. Revealing an even larger demon of more horrifying appearance, a parody of humanity, wingless and twisted. "I think somebody is taking this far too seriously," he commented.

_ _ _ The bar of brilliant white light that slammed into and through the creature told him that somebody might be alive tomorrow.

_ _ _ Misato gulped as the 'Blessed Widow' released her HyperBeam and rained Heavenly Fire on the foul insult to all reality who had appeared. The pair carrying their Master on a stretcher hightailed it away as the demon reeled from the impact. Misato glared at the abomination and raised her sword.

_ _ _ Misato glanced at her two Harem-sisters, Gem seemed perplexed that the creature was still unhurt. Mara's looking forward to this, Misato thought as Gem ran towards them, the demon in a leisurely pursuit, Almost as much as I am. She saw that off at a distance, Kiyone was helping with the wounded. Misato could feel what this thing represented, and what it befouled with every breath. Let the others deal with the wounded, she thought from within her icy-rage, This is what I was born to destroy!

_ _ _ "Let's drop this big nasty and give `Fearless Leader` a piece of our minds," Mara said, brandishing her sword, "Uh, Wings? Holy Pants? You stand there like that it's gonna Tame you first."

_ _ _ The Storm Demon's prattlings are unimportant! she thought within her rage. The rage that gave her focus, made her clearheaded about her mission and her goals for the first time since she'd laid eyes on Brusiella. This is no Infernal Pokègirl, she thought as she raised her own blade, the uncertainty about Mara dropped away, This is a demon from Hell. None of the others can harm it, because it isn't of this world. But I have a blade to send it back where it came from. She advanced carefully to meet it, a little surprised that Mara advanced with her.

_ _ _ "You got an idea, a plan?" Mara asked.

_ _ _ Misato let out a shriek of rage and charged the abomination.

_ _ _ "Good to know," Mara commented as she ran beside her.

_ _ _ Another HyperBeam tore through the space between them, striking the demon in the face. The blast did little damage, but it did dazzle it, allowing the pair to drive their swords deep within it.

_ _ _ Misato stabbed deep, as did Mara. The creature screamed in real pain, as the enchanted blades pierced its vitals. Its back hand caught Misato as she tried to pull her blade loose. She landed in a crumpled heap, her blood everywhere.

_ _ _ I failed, she thought, her mind filled with curiosity. She couldn't move, although she could smell the blood and bowels' odor. I failed my Master, and now I'm going to die, she thought as darkness closed in on her.

_ _ _ Gem felt an almost uncontrollable rage. This thing harmed Master, then the others, she thought, feeling a fire grow within her, The trickster one dances around, slashing and feinting to draw it away from the other winged girl.

_ _ _ Gem knows her rage is nothing. My attacks only confuse it, not harm it, she tried to calm herself and think, The blades had harmed it, but one of the wielders is down. Gem smiled as a solution to that occurred to her. Master will be proud of clever Gem! She summoned her Heavenly Fire, stronger and more than she had before. She hurled it again and again at her fallen Harem-sister. Until Misato rose, still bloody, her clothing torn, but hale and hearty, wreathed in the white fire.

_ _ _ Gem smiled nastily as the demon beat on the nasty, trickster winged-girl's defense. Tiring her with its relentless attacks. Gem considered, Gem has a solution for that too.

_ _ _ Ritsuko lay down on the ridge line. The scope revealed Gem looking incredibly angry, although still cute. I don't think it took her seriously, Ritsuko thought as the Blessed Widow hit Mara with a lightning bolt that would have flattened a charging Rhynodame. "His mistake," she said as the Storm Demon's speed and strength increased tremendously. She smiled as Gem rained down a furious barrage on her two Harem-sisters, Lightning on Mara, Heavenly Fire on Misato. The pair took their almost limitless endurance to heart and attacked with their own fury. Healing over wounds instantly and ignoring any indication of fatigue.

_ _ _ "Okay," Liv said from behind her, "You're loaded, let's dance."

_ _ _ Ritsuko snugged the rifle tight into her shoulder. Her world shrank down from watching the whole battlefield, to a single target. All I need, is a moment they're clear and - The report from 'The Gun' and a meter long tongue of flame told the world that another defender had been heard from. She felt Liv pulling the breechblock and replacing it with a loaded one. Ritsuko's eye never left her target. The bullet had obliterated half the creature's head, yet it fought on as if unwounded.

_ _ _ When you spoke of monsters, Ritsuko wondered of her Master, Was this what you tried not to explain? Or something more terrible still? Then as Misato and Mara drew back, she fired again. That leaves six of the bullets that were in the case, she thought as she awaited the tap on her leg that said Liv had reloaded, it came and she fired immediately. "I hope Master has more ammo stashed somewhere."

_ _ _ "Hardly necessary," Liv commented, "I think somebody is truly pissed."

_ _ _ Ritsuko adjusted the sight to a wider view. Misato and Mara still glowed from the charging Gem was still doing. The demon, however was encased in meters of what looked like ice, but was much stronger, considering that it was still trapped by it. Oyuki stood off at a distance, her brow furled, her hands outstretched, straining to hold the creature in its prison.

_ _ _ "They've got it," Liv commented as the two warriors charged in, each dragging one of the demonic wings their Master had severed from the previous victim.

_ _ _ Cutey was also there, directing a busty Alaka-Wham to assist Oyuki's ice and Kiyone's webs in holding the creature motionless as the sword-wielding Pokègirls did their work. They sliced great wounds in the creature's exposed back, and shoved the end tips of the wings into the creature.

_ _ _ Then they ran like Hell, and Liv threw herself on top of Ritsuko. The light shown through her tightly closed eyelids, leaving after images that effectively blinded Ritsuko. All she could see was a purple mist everywhere.

_ _ _ "Let's pack this thing up and get out of here," Liv urged.

_ _ _ "I can't see," Ritsuko admitted, the beginning of fear piercing her joy at the victory.

_ _ _ "Then pack it by feel, but let's go! That was probably the last, but our Master is down there and I don't want to lose him in the crush!" Liv said harshly, her own fears clearly dwarfing Ritsuko's.

_ _ _ "Why are Witches always causing trouble?" Ritsuko asked as she stood, her shoulder aching from the abuse.

_ _ _ Jeff opened his eyes. It's a ceiling, he thought, amazed his mind was even that sharp after the battering he'd taken. He spotted the chandelier, which confirmed his suspicion, and introduced another, I'm at the Palace of Versailles. "Did anybody get the number of that train?" he asked quietly. I still hurt, he thought, Either it's the same day, or I don't heal as fast as I used to . . . used to, how am I going to explain going from gutted to alive? Or do I invoke 'Master's privilege and just never mention it?

_ _ _ "That's what you get trying to take on a whole Wreckball team while they're still on the field," a voice told him. He didn't connect it with the bodyguard, until she leaned into his field of view.

_ _ _ "Just one team, which seems so ungallant," he replied, "Very uncharacteristic. Also, I doubt I would have spoilt the game. Probably took on the offensive and the defensive side."

_ _ _ "Typical," she said disapprovingly.

_ _ _ "Very well, on a serious note: those demons were all killed?"

_ _ _ "Yes," she told him, "All five of them. It seems you killed three, the other two required some help. You're getting a bounty for the weaker four, your Harem took out the fifth while you were hors' d'combat. You'll have to sign for it."

_ _ _ "Isn't that the point of Sadie Poken's day? Nobody questions Pokègirls being human. They got it, they'll get the reward," Jeff said as he sat up.

_ _ _ "Sit DOWN! Before I knock you down! None of this 'I'm fine my buddy's hurt worse!' crap!"

_ _ _ "My apologies," he said as he lay back down, "I had no idea my return to health threatened your pay raise. At the risk of further offending you, what have I done to earn your antipathy?"

_ _ _ "You're a man, that's all," she said as she walked to the door, admitting several smiling NurseJoys, and a human-looking doctor, female of course.

_ _ _ Terrific, he thought, then glanced at her as she handed the doctor a thermometer and the NurseJoys tried to roll him over on his chest. My nursemaid is a Psidyke "Don't even think it," he told the doctor in his best 'Clint Eastwood' tone. God, you are God and I am not . . . but you are having too much fun at my expense, he thought.

_ _ _ "Gem!" greeted Master as she bounced into his room. She turned around at the side of his bed, to show off the clothes the little spider girl had made for her.

_ _ _ "Charming people and making trouble," Master said, "As usual."

_ _ _ Gem shook her head. "Gem," she shrugged and waved to the mage girl and her friend who waited at the doorway. Gem wishes she could explain that Master teases everybody, she thought, Especially those he cares about. The mage girl smiled nervously, as if afraid to set him off.

_ _ _ "You're all so sweet, I have to be sour just to compensate," Master said.

_ _ _ "Gem," she assured her friends, while patting her Master's head as patronizingly as she could.

_ _ _ "You did very well fighting that demon. I'm very proud of you," Master told her without any hint of teasing. Gem felt warm all over, and at that moment, could have died happy. "I was especially impressed that you came up with that tactic on your own."

_ _ _ Gem practically glowed with radiated praise, knowing, Master teases, but also praises.

_ _ _ "So how did you get your pretty new clothes?" Master asked, "Madison?"

_ _ _ The little spider poked her head into the room. "Yes, sir, we made clothes for everyone. With Miss Kiyone's help."

_ _ _ Gem wished she could tell Master, The big spider girl, and the rest of his Harem misses Master. She mimicked the gaze that Mara often gave him, hoping he would understand.

_ _ _ "Very well, I'll see her, and the others, when the doctors say I'm up to it."

_ _ _ Gem climbed into the bed and snuggled against him, wishing she could use the healing powers of him. Except, she knew, They didn't work properly when I tried them before.

_ _ _ "You'll be up and around soon," the little spider girl commented, "I've heard the doctors talking . . . they were very surprised at your rate of recovery. My mother has also talked about a new mission."

_ _ _ "Gem," said as she pointed at the little spider girl and the little mage girl standing shyly beside the door frame.

_ _ _ "I'll have to hear the offer," Master said, then turned to Gem, "I'll take your advice under advisement."

_ _ _ "Gem," she hugged Master, then rolled out of the bed, taking the little spider girl's hand, then the little mage girl's hands, and drew them after her. Gem knew, The others will be in the common room, talking at each other and drinking hot, bitter liquids with milk and sugar added.

_ _ _ "He's tired, but I'll bet he takes the mission," Cutey said, "No matter what it is." Gem knew Cutey spoke the truth.

_ _ _ "Good to know," the Alpha said, then turned to Gem, "Was he happy the way we took out that demon, and with you especially."

_ _ _ "Gem," she said nodding, paused, "Gem." She nodded again, conveying that their Master was pleased by both actions.

_ _ _ "Oh, he's proud of you two," the witch said, angry at herself and all that is, as usual, "But is he really proud of all of us?"

_ _ _ Gem smelled the faint sweet-sour smell that indicated the witch had added something else to her bitter drink. Gem shook her head, not understanding, Why can't that one just accept Master was very pleased with what we did, together, without him yelling orders to all of us. We saved the others and we killed the monster.

_ _ _ "He'll tell us the truth," the witch continued unhappily, examining her cup intently, "When, or if he's up and around."

_ _ _ "Ladies," the Alpha said sharply, reminding all of her authority and position. Gem glanced around and saw that the balance of power was clearly supportive of the Alpha. The witch clearly didn't like it, but she lacked the power to even split either of the winged girls from the Alpha, despite their constant feuding.

Jeff's Harem
Oyuki - Megami
Kiyone - Wolf Spider
Misato - Seraph
Ritsuko - Matron Alpha
Mara - Storm Demon
Gem - Blessed Widow
Liv - Witch
Cutey Honey - Titto

CARD MASTER, the Powerful Card Wielding Pokègirl
Type: Very Near Human
Element: Magic
Frequency: Very Rare
Diet: human style food
Role: long range attacks/magi
Libido: Average to High
Strong Vs: Poison, Psychic
Weak Vs: Bug, Dark, Ghost
Attacks: Draw, Baton hit
Enhancements: Increased sensual perception, mind tuned to magic
Evolves: ClowMystic (mechanism unknown)
Evolves from: CardCaptor (special, captures all cards and passes "Final Judgment")

_ _ _ Once a CardCaptor captures all of her cards she must undergo a ceremony called "The Final Judgment." Exactly what this entails is unknown since no Pokègirls have ever spoken about it and a CardCaptor must face it alone. If she passes this test then she will evolve into a Card Master. It is impossible to tell a CardCaptor and a Card Master apart without a Pokèdex since they undergo no physical changes when they evolve. However a Card Master will be tougher than before, able to absorb more damage before being knocked unconscious, and she will have more magical energy and is thus able to use her cards for longer before exhaustion sets in.

_ _ _ One thing that has been noted is that if a CardCaptor has any natural magical talent, she will lose it when she evolves since she now relies totally on her cards to create her magical effects. All Card Masters gain one new talent, however, the ability to create new cards other than those which CardCaptors can use. This can make battling Card Masters tricky since they may have unexpected abilities. Creating a new card usually takes at least a month and the more powerful the card the longer it takes, although there have been occasions in which Card Masters have spontaneously created new cards in times of great stress.

_ _ _ Card Masters can evolve into ClowMystics, although what triggers this is unknown. However researchers have noted that all Card Masters who evolved had a MysticAngel and a MysticKat in the Harem with them.

_ _ _ There has never been a reported case of a human girl Thresholding into a Card Master and it is believed that it is impossible for this to happen. In fact, every known Card Master evolved from a CardCaptor. Even inducing pathogenesis in a Card Master will result in the birth of a CardCaptor. This has led to the belief that the only way for a Card Master to come into existence is for a CardCaptor to pass her "Final Judgment" and evolve.

CLOWMYSTIC, the Little Mage Pokègirl
Type: Very Near Human
Element: Magic/Psychic
Frequency: Very Rare
Diet: human standard
Role: card collecting, performing magic, being cute
Libido: Average
Strong Vs: Normal, Fighting
Weak Vs: Bug, Dark, Ghost
Attacks: Bonk, Card Shuffle, Dodge, Parry
Enhancements: Youthful
Evolves: StarMystic (normal; trigger unknown), MysticKat (mechanism unknown), MysticAngel (mechanism unknown)
Evolves From: CardCaptor (unknown), Card Master (unknown)

_ _ _ The first ClowMystics were created by the noted Pokègirl researcher Clow Read, presumably by experimenting on CardCaptors, given the similarity of the two breeds. He also created the first examples of the ClowMystic's evolved forms, the StarMystic, the MysticKat and the MysticAngel. The exact date of this breeds creation is unknown, because when they initially appeared they were mistaken for CardCaptors, but it is generally believed to be about 50 AS.

_ _ _ Most ClowMystics evolve into StarMystic since it is very hard to get a ClowMystics to evolve into a MysticKat or a MysticAngel unless certain triggers are used in a certain way and only Clow Read knew what these triggers were. Unfortunately Clow Read was killed in 67 AS in an attack on his lab by an unknown organization and his research data on these Pokègirls was destroyed at the same time. Although there have been rumours about his research notes turning up either in a storage cache or in the hands of an individual or organization, but these have all proven to be false so far.

_ _ _ Whilst ClowMystics can use their staff as a weapon in an emergency, their main attack is card shuffle which relies on using their cards to create various magical effects. When the ClowMystics wants to use her magic a card appears in her hands, exactly what effect occurs depends on the card that she uses, for example the fire card might result in a flamethrower attack, whilst the healer might heal the injuries of one of her harem sisters.

_ _ _ This is similar to the CardCaptor and resulted in them initially being mistaken for that breed of Pokègirl, but there are a couple of differences. First the CardCaptor's cards are contracted spirits which she releases to cause her magical effects, the ClowMystic's cards are simply magical items which she uses to focus her magic and guide it to create the desired effect. Second a CardCaptor must capture new spirits to get new cards whereas the ClowMystics creates new cards as she goes up in level. The exact card that a ClowMystics gets when she levels up is apparently random and this makes battling ClowMystics tricky since two ClowMystics of similar levels can have widely varying capabilities.

_ _ _ ClowMystics are human in appearance but they do not age normally, they tend to look like a girl of around 12-13 even if they are older. This has led to more than one tamer who owns one being accused of underage taming, fortunately a simple Pokèdex scan can reveal the truth. Most ClowMystics like to take advantage of their youthful appearance by dressing in cute clothes that suit their apparent age whilst still appearing sexy. They will always be carrying a staff which as well as acting as an emergency weapon is sometimes used in their magic, such as using the sword card to turn it into a sword. Despite not being particularly strong Pokègirls ClowMystics are talented gymnasts which makes them very capable at dodging attacks.

_ _ _ Despite their apparent age ClowMystics are as enthusiastic about taming as any other Pokègirl Should she find herself in a harem with either a MysticAngel and/or a MysticKat she will insist that she be tamed with them.

_ _ _ Feral ClowMystics are extremely rare since most Pokègirls of this breed are either domesticated or Threshold Pokègirls. A ClowMystics has a low feral state where they find that their card shuffle attack produces a random card rather than the one that they intended to use.

_ _ _ Girls who Threshold into ClowMystics tend to do so at an early age, usually about 12-13 years old, and this can be difficult to detect since they undergo no physical changes. Those girls who go through Threshold later will always end up appearing as they did at the age of 12-13.