Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ Of Wild Hearts and Pok�girls ❯ Zesty like Ziggy, Contemptible like Kuno ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Of Wild Hearts and Pokégirls
By: Kid Loose (squall2k184@yahoo.com)

(Giggle)

Yeah

Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh!
Catch me if you can
Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh, Catch me if you can

Look out
It's time the world was ready for a
New thing, it's time I got ahead
Step back!
Nothing's gonna stop me and I
Won't quit 'til I'm sittin' on the top

Never give up when the goin' gets rough
I know I'm gonna make it through
To just try will never be enough
I'll show you there's nothing that I can't do!

Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh!
Catch me if you can
Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh, Catch me if you can

Come on, come on
Catch me now
Catch me pokémon
Can you come on catch me
Can you now?
You can't catch me anyhow
Yow!

Get up
Let's see what you're made of
Bring it on!
You know I'm not afraid
There's no way that you can slow me down now
It's time to show you what I'm all about

I never give up when the goin' gets rough
I know I'm gonna make it through
To just try will never be enough
I'll show you there's nothing that I can't do!

Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh!
Catch me it you can (If you can)
Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh, Catch me if you can (Somebody catch me!)

It's so close
I can almost taste it
There's no way
I'll ever look back
It's so hard
But stopping's not an option
I'm gonna keep on (Keep on)
Keep on, 'cause I believe in…

Oooh! Oooh!

Come on, come on
Catch me now
Catch me pokémon
Can you come on catch me
Can you now?
You can't catch me anyhow
Yow!

Come on, come on (Ooh!)
Catch me now
Catch me pokémon (Catch me!)
Can you come on catch me
Can you now? (Catch me!)
You can't catch me anyhow
Yow!

Come on, come on (Ooh!)
Catch me now
Catch me pokémon (Catch me!)
Can you come on catch me
Can you now? (Ooh, Catch me!)
You can't catch me anyhow
Yow!

Come on, come on (Ooh!)
Catch me now
Catch me pokémon (Catch me!)
Can you come on catch me
Can you now?

Catch me if you can!

Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh!
Catch me if you can
Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh, Catch me if you can!

Ooh!
Come on try to catch me (Come on try to catch me)
Ooh!
Catch me if you can (If you can!)
Ooh!
Come on try to catch me (Come on try to catch me)
Ooh, catch me if you can!

Ooh! (Let's see what you're made of)
Come on try to catch me
Ooh! (You know I'm not afraid)
Catch me if you can
Ooh! (If you can!)
Come on try to catch me
Ooh, Catch me if you can (I'll never give up)

Ooh! (Come on, Come on)
Come on try to catch me (Catch me now)
Ooh! (Catch me pokémon)
Catch me if you can (Can you come on catch me)
Ooh! (Can you now?)
Come on try to catch me (You can't catch me yet)
Ooh, Catch me if you can! (Yow!)

(Giggle)

**Catch Me If You Can**
**From the Pokémon The First Movie OST**

Chapter 06: Zesty like Ziggy, Contemptible like Kuno

+Adults Only+

"I… lost??"
Flabbergasted, Jamin—acting gym leader and star pupil of Fitness Gym's true leader, Gally 'Vanish' Greggman—could only look on in awe as his last pokégirl fell at the paws of Lilith the surprisingly mighty Eva. Granted, most of his other pokégirls had fallen to her harem-mate, Pyre, though it was still an impressive victory.
"Ha-ha! Fork over the badge, street jockey!" Leon declared hotly, and Jamin had no choice but to do so. The scarred boy received his badge mere moments before he was tackled into affectionate hugs by his Eva and Charamanda.
Jamin watched the boy with reverence as he celebrate with his pokégirls "I have just witnessed a future Harem Master in the making!" he cried with intensity.
Over on the sidelines, San sweat dropped. "My, he certainly is passionate, ain't he?" she asked nervously, Aiko standing beside her and mirroring her expression while fumbling with her crystal pendant.
"Quite," Keisuke said dryly, Angel chuckling at her tamer.

Their business in Fitness now done, Team Strife walked back to the pokécenter to retrieve their gear (as well as Daku and Dita) and move on to the next town. Leon promenaded out in front, holding up his new Fitness Badge (which was a circular sigil that bore a woman in a leotard with her hands on her hips as an insignia) for all to see. Behind him marched Lilith and Pyre, the scruffy little Eva and the red-scaled blonde haired Charamanda just as elated over their victory as their tamer. Lastly, a little ways behind them walked San, Aiko, Keisuke and Angel, all looking somewhat embarrassed to be seen with the excited boy and his equally flamboyant pokégirls.
"So, Oniichan, where're we headed next?" asked San, trying to take both their minds off the scene Leon was making.
"Nice Peaks," Keisuke answered simply.
Leon managed to pull himself out of his own bloated sense of self-satisfaction to overhear them, and he craned his head back while he continued walking. "Oniichan, I was thinking about our schedule, and was wondering if we could blow through Nice Peaks really fast and hurry along to July."
"Why do you wanna blow off Nice Peaks?" Aiko asked of the scarred boy. "You know they have a gym there."
"I'm bettin' the lad wants ta' git to July in time for Sadie Pokén's Day," Angel offered.
"Which is exactly why I'd rather avoid that town for now," Keisuke added sternly.
"C'mon, Oniichan!" Leon whined, stopping and turning on his heel towards his older brother. "This is my chance to catch a bunch of new pokégirls!"
"Ototo, catching domestic pokégirls against their will is immoral," said Keisuke, vehemently. "And before you say anything, Angel follows me of her own will."
"It's true, lad," Angel added kindly. "Me Kei couldn't git rid o' me e'en if 'e tried!"
"Well then we'll go to July and I'll find pokégirls who want to come with me!" Leon shot back, assured that this would sway his brother.
"That's not the only reason I want to avoid July on Sadie Pokén's Day," Keisuke returned. "A place like that isn't safe for Imotouchan, what if she were to be captured?"
"Oh man…" Leon's eyes grew wide, and the thought of his dear sister being forced into Threshold made him shudder. "I didn't even think about that."
"But what about the safety protocols?" Aiko asked, which made Leon arch his eyebrow curiously. "Oh right, Leon got a D in history," she said to the boy, making him fume. "See, after Mao's Rebellion the various League Ruling Councils got together and decided that humanity should no longer help 'propagate' pokégirl kind. As such, all (legal) pokéballs were redesigned and reprogrammed with special safety measures to prevent them from inducing Threshold, thus protecting girls like San who have a pokégirl parent but haven't Threshold yet." [A/N: This only applies to the A.U. world of Wild Hearts.]
"Correct Aiko," Keisuke applauded the Kitsune pleasantly before going stern again. "However, many tamers disagreed with the Leagues' decision to reprogram the pokéballs, so a compromise was agreed to in order to appease these tamers. That compromise allows all tamers to deactivate their pokéballs' safety measures on Sadie Pokén's Day, making it the most dangerous day of the year for girls like Imotouchan."
"I'm not scared, Oniichan," San spoke up suddenly, drawing everyone's attention to her. "I got Aiko, Bright, Kané and Violet to protect me, not to mention you, Angel, Daku, Dita and Ototo, Lilith and Pyre." She smiled strongly, showing her brothers just how much she believed in them. "Besides, Ototo needs more pokégirls. He's can't rely on Lilith and Pyre for everything. Plus, he could use a domestic with a good head on her shoulders, since we all know that thinking really isn't his strong suit!" she finished with a hearty laugh.
"Too true, lassie! Too true…" Angel snickered, quickly followed by Aiko. Leon fumed, though Keisuke remained neutral as ever.
The eldest Strife mulled over these things for a while, and finally he announced: "Very well. Leon does need more pokégirls and if Imotouchan has no objection then July it is!"
"Yes!" Leon cheered excitedly. "I'm gonna find me a great pokégirl! After all, what 'girl could resist a tamer who's gotten two badges in only his first three weeks on the job?"

Fast forward to the city of July, dawn of the first day of Sadie Pokén's Day (which actually lasts a week in total). It was decided that for the pokégirls safety they should remain in their 'balls until needed. Thus as Team Strife entered town and approached the crowded square Keisuke, Leon and Daku all drew close to San, the Strife boys holding their swords at the ready as they all prepared to fiercely protect the girl from any would be captors.
Out of the corner of his eye Leon spied a tamer dressed in a mostly light blue kendo uniform accompanied closely by a Dominatrix wearing a black leotard, both approaching them intently. The tamer was grumbling something under his breath as the pair moved easily through the crowd. For some reason the throng of tamers and pokégirls seem to disperse purposely, as if just to make way for the two of them.
"Hey, look at those two," the boy called to his companions.
"What's with them?" Daku asked; having noticed the way the crowd avoided them. "It's like their radioactive or something."
Keisuke followed their line of sight and his eyes widened as he apparently recognized the tamer and Dominatrix. "Oh God, not him…" the bespectacled young man muttered while burying his face in his palm.
"Kei the Blade!" declared the tamer with the Dominatrix in tow, and up close one would note that the Domina-type pokégirl seemed to have a slight psychotic glint in her eye.
Shaking off his displeasure at first seeing this pair, Keisuke flashed them a *very* fake smile and declared: "Tatewaki Kuno and Kodachi! I haven't seen you two since the Crimson League Tournament three years ago."
"Where you defeated us in the preliminary round!" Kuno shot back fiercely, his Dominatrix glaring meanly at Keisuke. "And if you remember, I swore vengeance against you that day! Though admittedly, I never imagined I'd see a pompous, self-righteous windbag like you in July on Sadie Pokén's day."
"You're one to talk about 'pompous windbags,' Kuno," Keisuke shot back sneeringly.
"The Blue Thunder will not be addressed so casually by his sworn enemy!" Kuno bellowed, drawing a bokken off his belt and pointing it at Keisuke.
"Ohohohohohohoho! Hold your tongue, Kei the Blade, lest you feel the sting of the Black Rose!" laughed the manic looking Kodachi.
Leon sweat dropped as he looked upon this strange pair. "Oniichan, who are these jackasses?" the boy blurted out pertly.
"Yeah, and why do I have this nearly uncontrollable urge to nail this Kuno guy in the crotch?" asked San, wrinkling her nose at the bokken-wielding tamer.
"What's wrong with them?" Daku spoke up. "They just met the guy and they act like they hate him."
It's a well-known fact that Tatewaki Kuno possessed the dreaded 'Aura of Ooze' Blood Curse, causing all who met him to instantly perceive him as repugnant (some might call this an apt presumption). However, it seemed that because Daku was an alien he was immune to the effects of the curse.
Anyway, Kuno's eyes fell upon San when she spoke out, and on seeing her, his angry sneer lightened into a delighted grin. "Oh my! Who is this lovely towheaded girl?"
"Who, me?" San asked, blushing while Kodachi glared at her disdainfully.
Keisuke narrowed his eyes warily at Kuno. "That is my sister, Gina Strife."
"Oniichan!" the girl shouted indignantly, reddening even more. 'Gina Strife' was her true and proper name, though she despised the moniker. Thus she was known to most as 'San,' which was short for 'Oneesan' or 'Big Sister.'
"Well, he can't very well call you 'San'. He's older than you," Keisuke reasoned.
"Yeah, Gina!" Leon sniggered, ignoring his sister's death glare.
"Oh but what's in a name?" Kuno spoke up dreamily. "A rose by any other name would still smell just as sweet."
"Wow," the rabbit-eared alien-boy breathed while sweat dropping. "If this guy were any more corny he could pass through your bowels undigested."
"Quite," said Keisuke, unwilling to acknowledge the statement any further.
"Kei, my dear and valued rival," Kuno stated, obviously attempting (and failingly at that) to make nice with the eldest Strife. "Have you come to July this day to sell your sister to a pokéranch? If that is the case, I can save you some time, as I will offer a fair sum for her right here and now."
Before Keisuke could respond Leon leapt between them, drawing his sword. "You bastard!" he shouted indignantly. "How dare you try to say that we would sell San to you or anyone!" The scarred boy gritted his teeth, growling at the bokken wielder.
Kuno sneered at the petulant boy and swung his wooden sword in Leon's general direction. Though the bokken didn't actually connect Leon felt as though something had slammed into his gut, hard. His katana clattered to the ground as the bandana-wearing boy fell to his knees, gripping his stomach painfully.
Keisuke gapped at his brother before turning to the bokken wielder, frowning angrily while drawing his Yami no Ken. "A chakra shockwave? Damn it, Kuno, you've crossed the line!"
"If it's a fight you want, Kei the Blade," Kuno shot back fearlessly. "Then the Blue Thunder will be happy to oblige. I will defeat you, claim you sister as my prize, and show you once and for all that my Etchikenryuu is far superior to your deluded Genki no Tekken."
San leapt out in front of Keisuke and helped Leon to his feet, glaring daggers at the pompous Kuno. "If you'd bother to use your goddamn pokédex," she stated in her own defense, venom dripping from each word. "You'd realize that I'm still human!"
Kuno closed his eyes and chuckled softly, holding up a plain pokéball in his free hand. "This can fix all that," he explained coolly. "And once you've Threshold I will use my family's secret technique to turn you into a Doll, the perfect pokégirl—nay, the perfect woman!" he held his hands out wide in a grandiose pose.
"Unfortunately for you, Kuno," Keisuke began, his normally cool and reserved nature giving way to righteous anger that boiled just under the surface. "I will never allow you or anyone to take my Imotouchan!"
"Hmph!" Kuno huffed, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at Keisuke. "One way or another, Kei the Blade, she will be mine!"
Kodachi arched an eyebrow at her tamer. "Dear brother, why so much fuss over that scrawny wretch of a girl?"
"I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S A 'SCRAWNY WRETCH' YOU PSYCHOTIC BITCH!!" San shrieked as she made efforts to rip Kodachi's eyes out. Fortunately (for whom is uncertain) Keisuke, his head degrees cooler than hers, held the priestess-in-training back by the collar of her hakuma as she savagely clawed at the air just in front of the Domina-type's face.
"Wait, did Kodachi just call him 'brother'?" Daku gapped, eye twitching confusedly. "It's official, this chick is just as fucked in the head as her tamer!"
"Hey Daku," Leon spoke out, eyeing the alien boy inquisitively as he replaced his sword. "I thought your kind had deep respect for all women."
Daku glanced briefly at the bandana-wearing boy before returning to Kodachi, a look of disgust on his face. "That's not a woman! That's Godzilla with bangs!"
"Quite," said Keisuke, ever dryly.
"Enough!" Kuno declared indignantly, leaping backward and holding his bokken at the ready. "I will take the towheaded girl now by force, and in doing so I shall have my revenge against you, Kei the Blade!"
"Ohohohohohohoho! Revenge is a motive I can throw myself behind wholly!" Kodachi added as she followed her tamer. "Face the terror of the Black Rose!"
Keisuke pointed his sword at them both, his brow furrowed with anger. "I'm warning you, Kuno," he said coldly. "Harm one hair on Imotouchan's head and I'll—"
"Hold on, Oniichan," San spoke out, stepping forward and waving Keisuke down. "I want this chump!"
She drew out a pokéball from the long sleeves of her hakuma and pitched it out, materializing Aiko. The normally meek and sweet Kitsune took one look at the bokken-wielding tamer and his equally loony Dominatrix and bore her fangs at them, looking fiercer than any of them would have thought her capable of.
"Aiko, honey," San spoke sweetly to her pokégirl as she drew a fist full of sutra talismans out from her sleeve and held them at the ready. "This guy wants to force me to Threshold and make me his slave."
"Why that… that… that jerk!" the Kitsune stammered as she took on a fighting stance. "MOOF!"
Leon looked on the scene, bewildered. "Why Aiko? San's other pokégirls are much stronger than her."
"It's true that Kitsune's aren't known for their power," said Keisuke, sheathing his sword and standing with arms crossed. "But I trust Imotouchan's judgment. If she thinks Aiko can do this than so do I."
"You can do it, Blondie!" Daku cheered on.
Side by side San and Aiko stood, circling the arrogant Kuno and Kodachi cautiously, sizing them up.
"Hmph! You insult me if you think a mere Kitsune could best me!" cried Kodachi as she drew a rose and morphed it into a whip.
"Kodachi," Kuno spoke up warningly. "Do try not to harm the towheaded girl too badly. I wouldn't want you to mar her beauty."
"Stay on your toes, Imotouchan," the eldest Strife warned his sister. "As Kuno has already demonstrated with Ototo, he is quite adept at channeling chakra."
Leon said not a word, but looked on his sister and nodded determinedly. She caught his gaze and returned it with an appreciative smile before turning back to her foe.
San smirked; glad that she had practiced her chakra control so diligently of late as she began imbuing her sutra talismans with chakra. They were simple weapons, designed to attach to the opponent's body and flare pain receptors with chakra bursts to inflict damage. If she dumped enough chakra into them they would explode a few seconds after activations, dealing actual physical damage to the victim, though the blast wouldn't be large enough to maim or kill, as the girl was loath to do such harm to anyone, even a contemptible cad like Kuno.
As San and Aiko stared down Kuno and Kodachi the girl and her Kitsune glanced at each other, smiled and nodded. Then they charged, racing toward their foes with righteous fury.
San went right for Kuno, hurling her sutra talismans at him. The tamer batted them away with his bokken before they could attach, and San realized she'd have to catch him off guard for her talismans to work. So she struck at him with open palm thrust, which he dodged expertly, and all the while the girl searched for an opening in his defenses to apply her talismans.
Meanwhile Aiko was ducking and dodging Kodachi's whip like an epileptic in a dance contest. Kodachi sneered as the fox skipped about evading her whip strikes, and it was clear that the Domina-type was merely toying with her prey.
"That's enough of that," Kodachi told the fox coolly. "Play time is over!"
With that the Dominatrix leered at Aiko, hitting the Kitsune full force with her Intimidate attack. The little fox was taken aback by the Domina-type's hard stare, and she was frozen in place, shaking nervously. Kodachi chuckled wickedly as she took her time sauntering up to Aiko, mulling over how exactly to dispatch her.
Elsewhere San continued striking at Kuno with open palm thrusts, but the arrogant kendoist just kept dodging her every attack.
"Why don't you fight back??" the girl grunted, lashing out at Kuno forcefully.
"It would be ungentlemanly of me to strike a lady," he replied haughtily.
"Oh, and forcing me to Threshold would be?" San fire back, halting her attack and glaring at Kuno with clenched fists.
"Of course," the bokken wielder returned as though it were the most natural thing. "It is and has always been the duty of every woman to serve men, Sukebe just made it easier for humanity to realize this."
Infuriated San rushed blindly at Kuno, forgetting any sense of fighting tactics and wanting nothing more than to wipe that smug smirk off his face. She raised her hand to slap him but he caught it with his free hand and spun her around, pinning her arm against her back. That done, he shoved her roughly toward Kodachi, who had just finished Dominating Aiko. The Dominatrix took the girl and bound her up along with her broken Kitsuen.
"San!" Leon shouted as he prepared to jump into the fray, but Keisuke held him back.
"Not yet," he said simply as the boy looked accusingly at him. "She's not out of tricks yet."
Leon turned back to the battle and found that—unbeknownst to Kuno and Kodachi who stood over the pair—San was secretly reaching for a sutra talisman on the ground just in front of her. It must have been one of the first batch she had thrown at Kuno.
The Domin-type leaned over San and smiled maliciously. "There's nothing quite as exhilarating as the look in a defeated foes eyes," she mocked, leaning in and forcing a kiss on the blonde girl, her tamer watching with perverse pleasure.
San saw her opportunity and seized it, taking up the talisman and placing it on Kodachi's leg. The Dominatrix pulled back harshly as she felt the surging pain shoot through her, the talisman pulsing San's chakra into her body. Then with a crackling burst the talisman exploded, and the Domina-type was knocked off her feet, plummeting face-first into the pavement. Kuno immediately rushed to help his pokégirl, and with him distracted the blonde girl turned to her Kitsune.
"Aiko! Now's our chance!" she called, snapping the fox out of her daze from the Domina-types Dominate attack.
Now freed mentally she worked to free herself and her tamer physically, scratching at the whip that bound them with her claws. It wasn't long before the vine gave way, and no sooner had it than both the girl and fox rushed at the kendoist and his staggering Dominatrix. Closing the gap quickly, Aiko thrashed Kodachi soundly with a surprisingly powerful right hook while San used a chakra-backed open palm strike to the kisser as an occasion to apply a sutra to Kuno's smug face, which racked his body with pain before exploding violently and sending the tamer sailing backward.
Shaking off the damage, Kuno staggered to his feet, fury (and a burn from the exploded sutra) written all over his face. Deciding that enough was enough, he drew a pokéball out from his pocket and hurled it at San. The girl had no time to react as the 'ball closed in on her, but fortunately her Kitsune was quicker. Grabbing Kodachi roughly by the hair Aiko hurled her in front of San, and the Dominatrix served to deflect the incoming pokéball, thus saving the female tamer. Kodachi continued sailing after that, only stopping whence she had plowed into a telephone pole.
But the fox didn't stop there. Infuriated at the kendoist's gall Aiko charged him, soon joined by San who was just as livid as she. With little other option to stop a pair of raging women Kuno resorted to his bokken, but before he could let fly with chakra shockwaves Aiko suddenly exhaled bright orange flames, which engulfed the weapon and reduced it to a useless smoldering mess. Now there was nothing between him and the two enraged girls, and they took great delight in pummeling him senseless, and once he was flat on his back San felt it appropriate to stomp furiously on his crotch about half a dozen times.
Dusting their hands off San and Aiko left the beaten and bleeding Kuno and Kodachi lying in the sidewalk as they rendezvous with the rest of Team Strife. No sooner were they back beside their friends and loved ones than they noted a resounding round of applause emanating from the crowd of tamers and pokégirls who surrounded them, apparently having watched the whole thing.
Keisuke beamed proudly at his younger sister. "Well played, Imotouchan."
"Yeah!" Leon cheered, slapping one hand on her shoulder while giving her a thumbs-up with the other. "You were amazing!"
"Yeah-yeah, but did ya' have to wail on his junk like that?" Daku asked, looking on the girl warily. "Sure, he was a jerk and all but that doesn't mean you can play the Nutcracker Sweet on his groin."
San laughed it all off, taking in their words with reserved humility.

A few hours later who of all people should arrive in town but the malicious duo of Jonah and Hexx. Dressed in plain street clothes the pair of Rockets breezed into town with something of a metaphorical rain cloud hanging over their heads, as made evident by Jonah's slouching walk and Hexx's paranoid glancing about.
"Why're we here again?" said the female Rocket, her head craning around like a Pidgy with A.D.D. "I hate Sadie Pokén's Day!" "We're here to bluster our forces, Hexx!" Jonah returned. "I figure we keep getting beat 'cause we need better pokégirls." "But all that twerp had were an Eva and a Charamanda," Hexx shot back. "We keep getting beat 'cause the twerp's the younger brother of Kei the Blade, who—by the way—keeps coming to his rescue."
"Well… getting stronger pokégirls couldn't hurt," was the only reply the silver haired Rocket could muster. "I mean, look at what we got now. You've got a Catgirl and a Mistoffeles, of which Midnight is the only one who's actually useful for fighting!"
"I didn't here you complaining when you were eating Skye's cooking!" the one-eyed Rocket girl scolded. "And you're one to talk. Loca is useless except for punctuating our Team Rocket motto, and while fair in a fight Misato's best aspect is that you taught her how to lactate beer!"
"Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to teach her to do that??" Jonah glowered at his partner while they walked. "I had to feed her haps until she nearly burst!"
"I don't CARE!" Hexx retorted. "Look, we came here to get new pokégirls so let's just—ah!"
Just then Hexx tripped over something. Bewildered, the pair turned and found that the 'something' she had tripped over was the slowly reviving Tatewaki Kuno and Kodachi.
Kuno jumped to his feet, an angry scowl on his features. "WHERE IS KEI THE BLADE??" he bellowed.
"Ouch! Loud much?" said Jonah, picking his ear with his pinky.
"Did you say 'Kei the Blade'?" asked Hexx, an eyebrow arched high.
"Indeed," replied Kodachi as she rose to her feet and struck a pose. "The swine denied us the victory that was ours in the Crimson League Tournament three years ago and today he denied us the revenge that was rightfully ours!"
"EVIL DEBASER OF THE RIGHTEOUS!! THE BLUE THUNDER WILL SMITE ALL THOSE WHO STAND IN HIS WAY!!"
"Could your tamer please shout a little louder? I don't think they quite heard him on Indigo Plateau," Jonah snarled sarcastically to Kodachi, the pokégirl blinking at him as the joke had sailed over her head with enough clearance to escape the atmosphere.
Hexx's eye grew bright as an idea crossed her mind. "Jonah, don't you see?" she asked, pulling her partner aside. "The twerps are here, plus this douche has a score to settle with them just like we do!"
"I SHALL HUNT THE VILE MISCREANT DOWN LIKE THE—umm—err—VILE MISCREANT THAT HE IS!!"
"Uhh…right…!" Jonah said to Kuno with the tone of one speaking to the criminally insane. Taking in the kendoist's behavior he turned to his fellow Rocket and asked indignantly: "Are you saying we should partner up with this horse's ass?"
"THE VENGENCE OF THE HEAVENS IS SLOW BUT SURE, AND CARRIES A BIG STICK, TOO!!"
Hexx blinked blankly at the shouting man, turning slowly back to her partner. "Okay, so he's a blithering idiot," she said with a shrug. "As long as he leads us to the twerps I can deal with it. The boss would probably forgive our failures if we could avenge the Team Rocket name against them, plus as a bonus we'll steal their pokégirls when we're done. Two birds with one stone, right?"
"I MUST BE OFF!"
"You certainly must," Jonah agreed, watching the Etchikenryuu master run off.
"Wait for me, brother!" Kodachi called after her tamer before giving chase.
Hexx turned to her partner and shrugged again. "I guess we should follow."
And so the villainous pair raced off after the addlebrained tamer and his touched in the head pokégirl.

Leon wasn't having much luck finding a new pokégirl. As was Sadie Pokén's Day tradition, he tried his hand at the early morning challenge and/or quiz events, finding every pokégirl he challenged wanting to engage him in a quiz. Like San had said, thinking was never his strong suit, and all the really rare and strong pokégirls had ridiculously long quizzes that he never failed to fail.
"Cheer up, Ototo," Keisuke consoled as Leon trudged dejectedly back to them. "You could always try The Ring."
The bandana-wearing boy glanced over at the aforementioned arena and could quite clearly hear bloodcurdling screams emanating from its direction. "Thanks, but I'll pass."
"Probably a good idea," Daku agreed. "I don't even wanna know what's going on over there."
San massaged her temple softly, a musing expression on her face. "How about trying your luck in the Marathon?" she offered, smiling brightly.
"Great idea, sis!" Leon clenched his fist, a firm resolve burning in his chest. Without another word he raced off to the signup booth to apply.
"Well, what now?" asked Daku as they all watched the boy run off.
"I guess we should take a spot on the sidelines and see how he does," San offered, Keisuke nodding beside her.
"KEI THE BLADE!!"
They all whirled around to find none other than Tatewaki Kuno racing toward them. The Blue Thunder hurled a pokéball at San as soon as he was in range, but fortunately for the girl her brother and staunch defender drew his sword and in the blink of an eye cleaved the 'ball in twain.
"I warned you, Kuno!" Keisuke declared, leveling his sword at the Etchikenryuu master while drawing Angel's pokéball off his belt and releasing her.
"Aye! No' d'at Kuno arse ag'in…" the Umbrea groaned, recognizing the nitwit tamer.
"Don't forget about me!" shouted Kodachi as she joined her tamer. "Prepare to become reacquainted with the terror of the Black Rose!"
"Get a new catchphrase ya' weirdo!" Daku sneered at the Dominatrix.
"Wait for us!" the Rockets shouted in chorus, jogging over and skidding to a halt before Keisuke, Angel, San and Daku. Once assembled the two villains threw off their street clothes revealing their Rocket uniforms underneath, and no sooner was that done then the pair immediately launched into their motto.
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!"
"WE KNOW!!" the entirety of Team Strife shouted as one, causing the Rockets, Kuno and Kodachi to all jump back in surprise.
"May we please drop this 'motto' business?" Keisuke demanded more than asked, rolling his eyes at the laughable criminals. "It's getting tiresome."
"Fine!" Jonah said gruffly as both he and his partner drew out all their pokéballs. "We'll skip the damn motto and cut right to kicking your ass!"
Thus the Rockets' harems appeared, a Minotaura, Trixie, Mistoffeles and a Catgirl in total.
"Loca, that's right!" said the Trixie, not realizing that they were forgoing the motto.
Just then Kuno pulled a dyno-cap out of his pocket and activated it. It bore a rack of bokkens, and the kendoist chose one and re-capsulated the rest. "Kei the Blade, I will be taking the towheaded girl now," he said as while pointing the new wood-sword at Keisuke.
"You got a one track mind, ya' know that!" San observed scornfully, reaching into her sleeve for her pokéballs.
"I wouldn't, if I were you," Kuno warned, drawing out a black pokéball. "I was saving this special pokéball for you, but if you call upon your harem I'll be forced to use it on them."
Beside him, Kodachi chuckled wickedly. "The black 'ball can ignore the registration signal from their pokéballs and capture them, forcing them to undergo a second Threshold in the process," she warned haughtily. "If you value your pokégirls you'd best keep them in their 'balls where they'll be safe."
Team Strife sneered at the bokken-wielder disdainfully, no one more disgusted than Keisuke. "I never thought even you would sink so low, Kuno," he said venomously. "And as if partnering with Team Rocket wasn't bad enough—"
"THE BLUE THUNDER WORKS ALONE!!" Kuno bellowed, cutting off the bespectacled tamer in mid speech.
"What, are we invisible or something?" Jonah asked of his partner, who could only shrug back to him.
"This moron is so self-absorbed… I don't think he even realizes we're here!" the one-eyed Rocket girl reasoned.
And it was true that Kuno never acknowledged them even as he launched into his next point. "I am an honorable man at heart," he alleged. "Your sister has proven to be a capable fighter and I will not claim her until I can best her. As such, I will not use the black 'ball until I've defeated her, or unless she forces my hand." He finished with a glance at San that seemed to dare her to push him.
San huffed, removing her hand from her sleeve without a pokéball. "Fine! Let's do this!" she returned fiercely.
"I went easy on you last time," the bokken-wielder taunted, holding his wooden sword at the ready. "I will not be so lenient this time." He turned to his Dominatrix, giving a quick glance to Keisuke before ordering her, "Don't let Kei the Blade or his cohorts interfere."
"Understood, brother!" she acknowledged, turning to the rest of Team Strife and forming her rose whip.
"I guess that means us, too," said Hexx, shooting her partner a look.
Jonah returned her glance with a questioning look of his own, drawing out a dyno-cap and activating it, which formed his trademark giant axe. "Remind me again why we're taking orders from this dumpling-head?"
"Talk about the 'blind leading the blind'," said Daku as he released Dita.
"What's going on, Mister Alien?" the Cabbit asked her alien tamer.
"Long story, honey. Basically, 'we good', 'them bad'."
"Gotcha!" that's all she needed to hear.
Meanwhile, San stared down Kuno fearlessly as she drew out her sutras and charged them. "Care to forfeit now and spare yourself some pain?" Kuno laughed arrogantly. "After all, I'd hate to sully that pretty face."
"Save it, Kuno!" the girl retorted as she charged at him, only to be felled by a swing of his new bokken.
San hit the ground on all fours, her sutras scattered as she gritted her teeth against the shooting pain in her stomach where the swordwave had hit her. Kuno didn't give her time to recover, racing over and kicking her hard in the chest. The blow flipped her onto her back and she had but a moment to roll out of the way as Kuno brought his bokken down on the spot where she had fallen, crashing down with enough force to crack the pavement. Rising to her feet quickly San attempted a chakra backed open palm face slam, but Kuno dodged it and smashed her in the back with the pommel of his wooden sword. The blonde girl stumbled forward a few steps only to be knocked flat on her face by a swordwave to the back.
"Damn!" San cursed, straining to pick herself up. "He wasn't kidding! He was going easy on me last time."
Kuno fired another shockwave at her, striking her in the back. The force of the blow propelled her forward and she skidded painfully over the pavement before at last coming to a stop.
"IMOTOUCHAN!" Keisuke howled worriedly as he and Angel prepared to race to her aide, only to have Kodachi, the Rockets and their entire harems block their way.
"You'll have to get past the Black Rose, first!" the Dominatrix laughed as she flailed her whip at Keisuke, forcing him to dodge quickly.
"Angel! Help Imotouchan!" the dark haired tamer called to his Umbrea, his long hair and dark coat flaring widely as he danced about, avoiding Kodachi's whip-strikes.
Angel made a motion to take to the air but was blocked as a Chakra-Blast (1) attack sailed over her and nearly took her head off. She turned to find its originator, Misato the Minotaura, barreling at her. The cow-pokégirl caught the Umbrea hard in the stomach, knocking her backward. As Angel sailed she flipped back, launched herself from a handstand and landed gracefully on her feet.
"Sorry, Beloved, but d'is cow's no' gonna let me pass!" she apologized before returning to battling Misato.
"Damn!" Keisuke cursed as neither he nor Daku were in any position to race to the girl's aide either, the furry alien tamer and his Cabbit ducking alternating magical strikes from Hexx and her Mistoffeles.
Elsewhere San had stumbled to her feet only to be knocked down by another shockwave. "It is as it should be," observed Kuno as he slowly drew up to her, retrieving the black pokéball from his pocket. "Even a still human girl should be properly battled before she is captured." San watched Kuno bounce the 'ball in his hand ominously, her lip quivering with fear.
Angel managed to blind Misato with a dark energy projectile to the face at pointblank range, and thus was allotted enough time to look up and see Kuno hurl the 'ball at San. Reacting quickly Angel manifested her Dark Shield before the girl, deflecting the pokéball in the nick of time. However, immediately afterward her opponent sent her reeling with an axe-handle strike to the back of the head and the Umbrea went down.
With Kuno disarmed of his dreaded black 'ball San went right for her own pokéballs. But as she pulled the minimized 'balls from her hakuma sleeves Kodachi turned away from Keisuke and countered with her whip, binding the girl's hands and causing her to drop the still minimized 'balls. Fortunately the Dominatrix was in for a very harsh lesson: 'never turn your back on Kei the Blade.' She learned this mistake when Keisuke hacked off her whip and clocked her with a chakra backed left hook.
Her hands no longer bound San moved to retrieve her pokéballs, but Kuno quickly scattered them with another shockwave, rushing on the girl righteously. With no other weapons at her disposal San pulled out more sutras and attached them to the bokken-wielding tamer as he drew up close. He recoiled as pain shot through him and was flung backwards when the talismans exploded.
"Imotouchan! Run!" Keisuke yelled as he decked the Rocket Catgirl with a chakra-charged body shot, then used his sword to deflect an axe strike from the male Rocket member.
Heeding her brother's advice San turned tail and ran for all that she was worth. Behind her Kuno recovered his black 'ball and gave chase.

Oblivious to the crisis befalling his siblings, Leon had completed the signup sheet and was all ready to begin the Marathon. With a few minutes before the race began he took the time to mingle with the pokégirls and other tamers.
Then he saw her, a Muffgoose! Just like the one Professor Cid had had. Leon knew immediately that she was the one he wanted to catch. All bravado, he waltzed up to her, feeling it only sporting to make her aware of his intentions.
"Hi there," he greeted the pokégirl warmly, extending a hand to her. "The name's Leon Strife. Just thought I'd let you know that I'll be gunnin' for ya' in the race."
The Muffgoose eyed him guardedly for a moment, but must have decided he was harmless as she took his hand graciously. "Eh, guv'. The name's Ziggy, Ziggy Gibson," she answered in a cockney accent.
She was a bit shorter than the last Muffgoose Leon had seen, topping off at about five foot three, but she was quite lovely. Like all Muffgoose she had her breed's trademark red 'M' stripe across her chest, red-furred shins and forearms, and the red checkmark over her left eye leading into an all red left ear; both ears about three inches in length and ending in points. Her pupils were dark and surrounded by pink corneas, and there was an adorable cat-like muzzle to her face. Her body was quite shapely with large breasts, nice hips and a waist that while trimmer than Cid's Muffgoose's still maintained a cute slight paunch to it. Like Lilith she had a scruff of fur atop her head that gave them impression of bangs, and a large bushy tail about half as long as she was tall. As she stood smiling politely before him Leon noted that she wore no clothing save for the colorful barrette clipped to her left ear and a pet collar around her neck that bore a tag with her name.
"Say Ziggy," the boy began. "You've got a pet collar, does that mean you had a tamer before?"
"Nah!" she replied casually. "I just like the way it looks on m'."
"Oh. I guess I can relate," the boy laughed, pointing out his heart-shaped burn scar.
The Muffgoose nodded. "Looks good on y', guv'. Kindda make y' look all dashin' like."
"Thanks, I thought so too." Leon smiled brightly at her. He really liked this pokégirl and now he hoped he'd catch her more than ever.
"Today's Marathon is about to begin," crackled a voice over a megaphone. "All participants please report to the starting line."
"Well Ziggy, I guess I'll see you in the race." He grinned widely at her. "I hope you're a fast runner 'cause I got quite a few tricks up my sleeve."
She laughed warmly at him. "Catch me if you can, guv'!"

A few minutes later found Leon at the starting line, a collar fastened to his neck that allowed the race officials to keep tabs on his location during the race and a recording baton about a foot in length in his hand. The baton was used for 'tagging' pokégirls, marking them as his whence the race was complete.
"On your marks!" shouted a race official holding a starting pistol.
Leon glanced about quickly, looking for Ziggy. At last he found her near the end of the line of tamers and pokégirls all crouched ready to shoot out of the gate when the race began. He also noted a fair collection of Cheetits and Chocoboobs also participating in the race. The boy didn't hold out much hope that any of them would be tagged, but all he really cared about was getting Ziggy.
"Get set!" the race official shouted.
Leon snapped back to his senses and crouched with one hand braced against the ground, ready to burst from the starting gate at a moments notice. He steeled himself and stooped ready for whatever the race threw at him, a close eye kept on the Muffgoose he intended to make his.
"GO!" *BOOM* the official fired his pistol and the race began.
Leon gaped in awe as Ziggy exploded from the starter line. While not nearly as fast as some of the other pokégirls she was quite speedy when compared to the average human, and awestruck in watching her move Leon had forgotten to start running himself.
"Shit!" he cursed as he finally starting off, noting Ziggy looking back at him and waving tauntingly.

Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh!
Catch me if you can
Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh, Catch me if you can

Leon pushed his legs as hard as he could, only to find that he wasn't gaining on the Muffgoose at all. So he decided to call on his ace-in-the-hole. It was a simple chakra trick he learned while working on his chakra control in Fitness. A variant of the strength enhancing chakra techniques, it involved channeling chakra to the legs to increase endurance. The tricky part was doing it while running, but Leon would have to work that out on the spot. Flying by the seat of his pants was one thing Leon excelled at.
First things first, he would have to ignore the way Ziggy tauntingly waved and spanked her bum at him, definitely the hard part. Clasping his hands together he began drawing the chakra to his legs and almost had it when he spied another tamer coming up on Ziggy, which broke his concentration. The Muffgoose notice the other tamer too and drew out what looked like a dyno-cap, activating it and turning it into a pristine looking long neck electric guitar, of which her breed were famous for carrying around. Ziggy wielded the instrument skillfully, batting the tamer's baton out of his hand and forcing him to stop and retrieve it. While Leon was glad that Ziggy had eluded the rival tamer he realized that that guitar of hers would cause problems for him later. However, the challenge only served to strengthen his resolve, and when he attempted chakra channeling again he found his chakra arriving at his legs immediately, and he burst forward with renewed vigor and speed.

Look out
It's time the world was ready for a
New thing, it's time I got ahead
Step back!
Nothing's gonna stop me and I
Won't quit 'til I'm sittin' on the top

With his new chakra reinforce speed Leon closed the gap between himself and the Muffgoose he coveted, holding his arms up as he wore an expression of avarice. Ziggy saw him coming and readied her guitar. Once he was in range she swung, but Leon was expecting this and leaped right over her weapon, pouncing on her in animalistic fashion. The pokégirl dodge-rolled out of the way just in the nick of time, both of them taking a face full of silt as they hit the dirt.
As Leon sat up on his haunches and shook the daze from his head he noticed yet another tamer coming up from behind, baton at the ready to tag the Muffgoose. Innocently, the scarred boy extended a leg and caught the tamer as he ran past, sending the guy stumbling face-first to the ground. Having seen all this, Ziggy acknowledged the boy appreciatively before rising to her feet and resuming the race, Leon following close behind.

Never give up when the goin' gets rough
I know I'm gonna make it through
To just try will never be enough
I'll show you there's nothing that I can't do!

Onward they raced, running ever faster. As Leon drew up close he swung his baton at the pokégirl, but she deflected it with her guitar. Fumbling to hold on to it while running the boy regained a firm grip and swung it at the pokégirl again. She blocked it skillfully and shoved his hand away, and he stumbled, nearly falling. Ziggy took the opportunity to press ahead, laughing lightheartedly as she pulled away. Leon sensed no malice in her laughter and gave chase diligently, laughing heartily himself. Somehow, this had ceased being about him catching a new pokégirl. Now all that mattered was that both he and Ziggy were having the time of their lives.

Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh!
Catch me if you can
Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh, Catch me if you can

As the race entered narrower city streets Ziggy rounded a corner sharply and disappeared from view. Taking the turn a little more widely than the Muffgoose Leon grabbed hold of a street sign and launched himself, using the sign to slingshot himself around the bend and sail toward his target. He caught her with a scissor kick to the back and they both went down.
Ziggy rolled out of the way as Leon brought the baton down to tag her. They both made it to their feet and the boy rushed the pokégirl, waving the baton around wildly. The two of them wound-up in an impromptu sword fight between baton and guitar as Leon fought fervently to tag her, having to use chakra-enhanced strength to compensate for the pokégirls naturally superior strength. In spite of it all the pair grinned widely, this all being more fun then they would have ever thought it could.
"You're right good, guv'!" the Muffgoose complimented, deflecting another strike from Leon's baton. "But I'm better!"
With that she ducked and hit Leon with a sweeping kick, knocking him off his feet. As he hit the ground, landing hard on his backside, Ziggy escaped by scurrying up a telephone pole. Little did she know that Leon had been practicing how to walk on walls using chakra, though he had to keep moving as he hadn't master how to remain stationary while clinging to the side of a given surface. Nevertheless he raced up the face of the pole. Imagine Ziggy's surprise when she saw the boy racing up to her horizontally.

Come on, come on
Catch me now
Catch me tamer-boy
Can you come on catch me
Can you now?
You can't catch me anyhow
Yow!

Just as it looked like he had the Muffgoose cornered, she spied a passing Pidgeota and leapt from the pole, grabbing a hold on the bird-'girl's left leg. Not to be out done, Leon leapt after her, getting a little added boost from his chakra. He soared right passed the Muffgoose and snagged the Pidgeota's right leg. The poor patsy Pidgy-evolution just couldn't support them both at once, and as she strained her wings to the breaking point to keep from just dropping like a stone Leon and Ziggy obliviously resumed their guitar on baton sword fight.
The thought of tagging the Pidgeota never crossed Leon's mind, even as the pokégirl crashed into the street, sending both him and Ziggy sailing forward. So intent was he on besting this Muffgoose that the moment he recovered he charged for her again. This had now turned into a friendly contest of strength and will, and Ziggy was just as intent on showing him that she would not be beaten without a fight.

Get up
Let's see what you're made of
Bring it on!
You know I'm not afraid
There's no way that you can slow me down now
It's time to show you what I'm all about

He brought the baton down on her and once again she blocked it. As he swung it around to move it off her guitar she moved with him and their 'weapons' became entangled. One slip was all it took and they both lost their grip at the same time, sending both items flying from their hands and out of reach. Now disarmed the two of them took up fighting stances and prepared to take this hand-to-hand.
She caught him with a shot to the stomach followed by an open palm smash to the face. She was resorting to basic self-defense as oppose to her pokégirl attacks so as not to seriously injure him, though her enhanced pokégirl strength was still quite painful. Shaking off the damage Leon retaliated with a few body shots of his own, dumping large chunks of his chakra behind the strikes. Ziggy winced against the pain, the chakra-blows knocking the wind out of her and leaving her open to a facial hit.
The Muffgoose stumbled backward and looked on the boy, genuinely impressed with his resolve. She smiled fiercely at him, and he returned her grin just as intensely, exhilarated by her and her fiery spirit.

I never give up when the goin' gets rough
I know I'm gonna make it through
To just try will never be enough
I'll show you there's nothing that I can't do!

As the boy and pokégirl were about to go at it again, a red and white blur that Leon instantly recognized as San raced past them, followed quickly by a repugnant bokken-wielding blur easily recognizable as Tatewaki Kuno. The pair raced past them so fast it left their heads spinning.
"What the 'ell was that, guv'?" Ziggy asked.
Leon gritted his teeth furiously. "That was my sister… being chased by some jerk who's trying to force her to Threshold!"
"Core blimey! That's awful!" the Muffgoose gaped, furrowing her brow in anger. "We'd best get to 'er first, 'cause if that wanker doesn't make 'er Threshold someone else is liable to if she stays on the Marathon course."
"Right!" Leon replied as he ran and retrieved Ziggy's guitar, passing it to her before racing after his sister and her would-be captor, his new friendly rival following close behind.

Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh!
Catch me it you can (If you can)
Ooh!
Come on try to catch me
Ooh, Catch me if you can (Somebody catch me!)

Leon and Ziggy caught up to them just as San ducked behind a parked car to avoid another one of Kuno's chakra shockwaves. The boy and Muffgoose joined hands as they ran up to the bokken wielder, clocking him with a double clothesline from behind. With Kuno down for the moment Leon raced to San's side.
"You alright, sis?" Leon asked as he extended a hand to help his sister to her feet.
"I'll be 'alright' when that brain-dead asshole stops trying to catch me!" San replied disdainfully, dusting off her dirty and battle worn hakuma.
"Oh guv'? 'E's gettin' up again!" called Ziggy from out in the street.
"Shit!" Leon swore, diving over the car hood to join the Muffgoose. "You sit this one out, San. Me an' Ziggy'll handle him this time!"
"No!" San called boldly as she rounded the car to join her brother and the pokégirl. "We'll take him together."
And so Leon San and Ziggy all stood side-by-side staring down Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder leveling his bokken against them.
"Hmph! That blusterous rapscallion again!" Kuno huffed as he drew two more pokéballs off his belt. "Naga! Lickingtongue! Keep them busy while I catch the towheaded girl!"
"Lilith! Pyre! Let's rock 'n roll!" Leon returned as he called out his trusty Eva and Charamanda, the two pokégirls striking poses to show off their lovely schoolgirl outfits as they appeared.
"Me an' your 'girls 'ill handle the Naga and Lickingtongue, guv'," Ziggy assured, waving Lilith and Pyre over to join her. "You an' y'er sis go give that bloody buffoon what for!"
Leon nodded to her as he drew his katana, San going into a fighting stance beside him.

It's so close
I can almost taste it
There's no way
I'll ever look back
It's so hard
But stopping's not an option
I'm gonna keep on (Keep on)
Keep on, 'cause I believe in…

Needless to say, Naga ran for the hills as soon as she saw Ziggy, which left only Kuno's Lickingtongue for the three pokégirls to deal with. Hopeless odds, really but that didn't stop Lickingtongue from attacking with Lick, her long slimy tongue sliding out and lashing at the three heroic pokégirls.
Ziggy took the initiative, stepping forward and batting the tongue away with swings of her guitar, which allowed Lilith and Pyre to get in close and slam the Licking Pokégirl in the gut. The sudden blow caused her to bite down on her own tongue, and she groaned painfully as she back peddled away. Lilith took the occasion to leap up and deliver a roundhouse kick to the pokégirl's face, her forceful blow sending the Lickingtongue reeling to the side. Before she could recover Ziggy came up fast and delivered the haymaker with a swing of her guitar to the enemy pokégirl's temple.
Meanwhile Leon and San rushed Kuno with gusto, chakra punches flying a plenty as Leon used his sword to keep Kuno's bokken at bay, preventing the Blue Thunder from using the weapon to launch chakra based attacks. With little other option Kuno dodged what he could and withstood what he couldn't, and at long last he had had enough. The bokken wielder retaliated sharply, striking the ground forcefully with his sword, a tactic that Leon had been unprepared for. The strike generated a chakra-wake that hit both Strifes hard, skidding them back a whole foot.
Seeing their tamer apparently in danger Lilith and Pyre made a motion to join him, only to be halted by a wave of the hand from Ziggy. "The guv' 'ill 'andle this!" she said simply, wearing a content smile on her face as she watched Leon and San recover from Kuno's attack and strike back rightly.

Come on, come on (Ooh!)
Catch me now
Catch me tamer-boy (Catch me!)
Can you come on catch me
Can you now? (Ooh, Catch me!)
You can't catch me anyhow
Yow!

With righteous fury Leon struck hard with his katana. Kuno attempted a block with his bokken only to have it cut down to nothing more than a hilt. Awestruck at having disarmed the bokken wielder in one strike Leon hesitated, allotting Kuno an opening. With a well-aimed kick to the sword's pommel Kuno knocked the weapon right out of the boy's hand before sending him sailing with a blow to the chest. San endeavored for restitution but with only one combatant now Kuno could easily block her blows.
Leon's katana clattered noisily to the ground beside them, and San made a rush for it only to have Kuno cut her off with a firmly placed foot on the blade. She reached for it anyway, and the Blue Thunder kicked it aside and out of reach. What he didn't realize was that this was merely a fake out ploy, and in fluid motion San went from bending over for the blade to rising up and slapping a fully charged sutra on Kuno's chest. The ripples of pain and resulting explosion sent Kuno stumbling backward.
Having finally recovered Leon stood and joined his sister. Together they raced forward, stopping a mere foot before their dazed adversary. Halting but an instant they whirled around simultaneously and delivered a pair of spinning head kicks to Kuno's smug visage, the blows positively dripping with chakra.

Ooh! (Let's see what you're made of)
Come on try to catch me
Ooh! (You know I'm not afraid)
Catch me if you can
Ooh! (If you can!)
Come on try to catch me
Ooh, Catch me if you can (I'll never give up)

The vicious attacks sent Kuno sailing off his feet, and in the heat of the moment he seemed to hover in the air for a few seconds. Memories of their day training on Professor Sessler's laboratory grounds came flooding back to Leon, and he knew exactly what he wanted to do. Leaping forcefully the boy flew directly over the bokken wielder, delivering a mighty chakra punch to the tamer's gut that sent him hurtling to the ground. He impacted with a cracking thud and went limp, apparently unconscious.

Ooh, Catch me if you can…!
(Giggle)

"You were brilliant, guv'!" Ziggy applauded as she, Lilith and Pyre raced over to the triumphant brother and sister. They shot the pokégirls victorious grins, glancing at each other briefly before beaming at the 'girls again…
Then both Leon and San keeled over backwards, nimbly caught in the arms of the Eva and Charamanda respectively.
"Wha' 'appen ta them?" asked the Muffgoose, quite perplexed.
Before anyone could give her an answer, Tatewaki Kuno rose again, a pair of footprints on his face and the black pokéball clenched tightly in his hand, his brow creased with lines of fiery indignant anger. "THE TOWHEADED GIRL WILL BE MINE!!" he bellowed. "THE BLUE THUNDER WILL NOT BE DENIED!!"
Ziggy stood defensively in front of the unconscious Strife children and the pokégirls who held them as Kuno prepared to let the pokéball fly, but before it could leave his hand it was pierced through and through by a whizzing bullet, the projectile almost clipping his hand in the process. Whirling in searched of the origin of the shot the Muffgoose found an OfficerJenny jogging up to them accompanied by Keisuke, Daku, Dita, Angel and the entirety of San's harem.
The 'Jenny raised her gun at Kuno, her gaze steely. "Tatewaki Kuno AKA 'The Blue Thunder,' you're under arrest for possession of an illegally modified pokéball!"
Faced with the gun toting officer Kuno dropped the destroyed remnants of the black 'ball and raised his arms, defeated.
Else while, San's pokégirls raced to the side of the cataleptic girl and her equally comatose brother. Bright took San into her arms while Violet did the same for Leon, Aiko and Kané standing around them and looking on fretfully.
"What's wrong with them, Keisuke?" the Kitsune spoke up as the eldest Strife came up to them.
Keisuke said not a word, placing a hand on each child's head and closing his eyes with concentration. After a few minutes of him apparently musing his eyes flew open and he smiled warmly. "They're alright," he said while removing his hands, an audible sigh of relief exhaled by everyone present, save Kuno. "They just burned up a lot of chakra so their exhausted, that's all."
Angel grinned and chuckled softly to herself. "D'ey'll sleep tonight!" she said lightly as she rounded behind and patted each child on the head kindly.
"I presume we have this lovely lady to thank for those two being okay?" Daku affirmed, racing forward and kissing Ziggy's hand lightly.
"Shoot, guv' I's didn't do that much," Ziggy replied modestly, resting her guitar against her shoulder and blushing a bit from the horned boy's attention. "Your little mates did most o' the work, I just 'elped where I could."
Angel arched a confused eyebrow at the guitar-baring pokégirl while Keisuke smiled appreciatively at her. Then the dark haired tamer leveled his gaze on Kuno and sneered. "Jennifer, take him away," he said to the OfficerJenny.
"With pleasure," Jennifer Bluestone replied as she grabbed Kuno roughly by the shoulder, knocked him off his feet and slammed him hard into the ground, collecting his arms and cuffing them tightly behind his back.
"NO ONE CAN HOLD BACK THE RIGHTEOUS FURY OF THE BLUE THUNDER!! VENGEANCE BE UPON YOU ALL!!"
"Throw the book at 'im, 'bobby. This one's positively sixes and sevens, right?" Ziggy told Jennifer, her free hand on her hip as she shook her head reproachfully.
Angel shot the Muffgoose another strange look. "Lassie, I can'na und'rstan' a word y'er sayin'!" she said seriously.
Everyone looked hard at Angel, and after a few moments of awkward silence they all broke out in laughter.
Stifling her laughter Jennifer brought Kuno to his feet and started off. "I'll take this one to the station personally, then call for someone to pick up those Rockets I helped you take care of."
"Jenny, oh Jenny!" Daku sighed dreamily.
"Thanks again, Jennifer." Keisuke waved her off.
"Hold on a sec'," Aiko called as she raced over to the police-pokégirl and her captive. Without a word she lifted her foot and smashed it into Kuno's crotch with all her might. The Etchikenryuu master opened his mouth wide as if to scream, but all that came out was a strangled groan.
"That was for San, 'cause I know she'd do it if she were conscious," the Kitsune said matter-of-factually, turning up her nose at Kuno and rejoining her harem-sisters, leaving Jennifer to cart the kendoist away.
Erstwhile Ziggy re-capsulated her guitar and began to leave also, but before she'd gotten too far she looked over her shoulder, smirking reverently at them all. "Give ya little mate a message for me when 'e wakes up," she said to Keisuke. "Tell 'im that ol' Ziggy 'ill be waitin' for 'im in the banquet hall tonight at ten o' clock wit' a special challenge just for 'im!"
"I'm sure he'll appreciate that," Keisuke told her. "Provided the challenge isn't a quiz."
She laughed aloud as she sauntered off, humming a tune all the way.

"Okay, so we had some setbacks. We can always give it another shot. After all, the twerps are gonna be here all week, right?" "Hexx! We're handcuffed to a friggin' sign!"
This scene finds our delinquent duo, their pokégirls, and the manic Kodachi all securely fastened to a street sign, dejection clear on all their faces.
"This is without a doubt our most humiliating loss to date!" Jonah groaned, slouching against the sign.
"Indeed!" Kuno's Dominatrix agreed. "The Black Rose is shamed!"
"Whatever!" said Misato, trying in vain to break the retrains that were even strong enough to hold her in place.
A passing tamer happened upon this scene and, deciding that Hexx and the pokégirls were too tempting a target to pass up, drew some pokéballs out of his pockets and prepared to launch them. He was quickly fried into unconsciousness by a magic thunderbolt for his trouble courtesy of the female Rocket.
"I still got it!" she said cheerily, snapping the fingers on her free hand.
"Glad you're having fun." Jonah sighed again. "Can we please think of a plan to get outta here??"
"Yeah! This is no fun!" Loca the Trixie agreed with her tamer.
"I might have something," said Skye, Hexx's Catgirl, as she reached into her pocket and retrieved a small box. "I managed to pilfer this from that weird looking kid with the Bunny ears and the horn." She opened the box and found a trio of evolution stones sparkling within.
"That's an Angel Stone!" Jonah announced.
"And a Mana Crystal!" Hexx added.
"A Psi Crystal too! Yup, yup!" Loca chimed in.
"Anyone of those could make the kitty evolve!" Kodachi enlightened as if anyone didn't already know that.
"Uh… right!" Jonah replied. "Now, which one should we choose?"
"The Mana Crystal will make her a Mistoffeles, like me," Midnight explained.
"We all know how well that turned out!" the male Rocket scoffed. "Moving along, how about the Psi Crystal?"
"No, no that'll make her a Cheshire," Hexx enlightened reasonably. "I don't really wanna have to deal with that, and besides, what we really need is some muscle. Better go with the Angel Stone."
"Angel Stone it is, Mistress!" Skye answered quickly, plucking the aforementioned stone from the box.
Quickly she was enveloped in blindingly bright light. The surging power of her evolution burst the handcuff off her wrist and reduced her clothes to tattered shreds. When the light died down a nude and fierce looking battle-form Griffon stood before them all.
Skye wasted no time in using her newfound strength to free her Rocket compatriots as well as Kodachi, a job she did with less care than their aching wrists would've liked, for having just evolve she was in a near-feral state.
"Jeez, Skye! You nearly tore my arm off!" Loca protested, rubbing her throbbing limb. "I don't have super strength like Master Jonah, ya' know!"
"Skye sorry. Skye not know her own strength," the Griffon apologized.
"Very impressive," Jonah complimented whilst also rubbing his own wrist. "I'd be willing to bet you're stronger than me and Misato combined."
"Ohohohohohohoho! At last brother and I will have our vengeance!" the Domnia-type laughed wickedly before running off.
Hexx watched her go, than shook it off and laughed herself. "The twerps better watch out, 'cause Team Rocket's back and we're better than ever!"

To be continued…

**PARDON THE PARODY**
**BEHIND TO SCENES OF WILD HEARTS**

Kid Loose (KL): Okay, folks! Everybody take your places 'cause we're ready to start filming this episode!
Ranma: Are you gonna need me for this chapter?
KL: No, Ranma, you're not in this chapter. You're not even in this series!
Ranma: How can you have a PG fic without me? I'm the PG world's greatest hero!
Kuno: Greatest hero? Ha! You're nothing more than a pathetic twit!
Ranma: Yeah, and you're horribly out of character.
Kuno: THE BLUE THUNDER IS NEVER OUT OF CHARACTER!!
Keisuke: My but aren't we in a cap lock-ish mood today.
Chuck Norris: What about me?
KL: We've got you on standby, Mr. Norris. If we need you we'll call.
(Before leaving, Chuck Norris eats a Magikarp and shits out a Gyrados.)
San: (Eyes wide as saucers.) Well I certainly didn't see that coming…
Kuno: THE BLUE THUNDER COULD DO THAT TOO… IF I WANTED TO!!
Keisuke: (Deadpan.) Quite…
Leon: (Eyeing Keisuke) You never break character, do you?
Keisuke: (Deadpan.) Quite…
Ranma: Anyway, so I came all the way out here and you've got nothing for me?
KL: If you want, you can go to my place and watch my Inu-Yasha DVDs until we're finished.
Ranma: Okay! That show is cool, and Kagome is way hotter than Akane! (Runs off.)
Angel: Can I please take off this pokégirl costume? I'm sweatin' like a pig in here!
KL: But we're about to start shooting!
Angel: But it's hot!
KL: And put your fake accent back on!
(Angel stomps off grumbling under her breath.)
Kuno: THE BLUE THUNDER HAS HAD ENOUGH OF THIS SILLINESS!! (Stomps off.)
Keisuke: A very cap lock-ish mood today…
KL: (Sighs.) It's times like these that make me wanna go back to Digimon Fan Fiction.
Tai Kamiya: (Wearing a Sith Lord cloak.) Come back to the dark side!
San: (Sneers.) Don't you have to go argue inanely with Matt?
Tai: Well, it is about that time again. (Runs off.)
Aiko: Tell Guilmon I think he's cute!
Leon: Tell Renamon I think she's smokin' hot!
KL: Me too!
Keisuke: (Deadpan.) Quite…

THE END…
***

I do not own, nor do I claim to own Pokémon, Pokégirls, Vandread, Ranma ½, Digimon, or any related properties their of. All I own are my original characters and the plot.
This series is A.U. and should not be considered part of the 'canon' continuity of the Pokégirls Universe.
This fic was completed 10/15/06 at 6:14 PM and then edited on 11/20/06 at 3:31 PM.

[Author's Notes: This chapter was fun! Fun, but long! The first of a number of song-fic chapters to come.
(1) Traditionally, this attack is properly known as 'Ki-Blast' or 'Chi-Blast' but since I like to refer to that ol' mystical life force as 'chakra' I renamed the attack for my purposes.
Also, astute PG fans will note that Kuno's cap locked dialogue from when he first meets the Rockets is almost verbatim for his cap locked dialogue from Metroanime's fic. Consider it homage to the PG writers who came before me, BELIEVE IT! ^_^]

WHO'S THAT POKÉGIRL!?!
Official Pokédex Entries

CATGIRL, the All Purpose Perfectual Pokégirl
Type: Animorph, very near human
Element: Psychic
Frequency: Common
Diet: human style foods, particularly fish and milk
Role: Catgirls can be found working behind the desk at Kwik-E-Marts to being pets to being partnered with a human in the security forces. They are also found as typists and clerks.
Libido: Average (becomes High monthly)
Strong Vs: Fighting, Poison, Psychic
Weak Vs: Bug, Dark, Ghost
Attacks: Scratch, Bite, Slap, Kick
Enhancements: High speed and agility, high hand-eye coordination, night vision, enhanced senses
Evolves: Cabbit(orgasm), Housecat(normal), Griffon(Angel Stone), Cheetit(Cat E-Medal), Cheshire(Psi Cyrstal), Shaguar(Ice Crystal), Tigress(battle stress), Catfish(Water Stone), Mistoffeles(Mana Crystal)
Evolves From: Kitten(normal)
Catgirl is the normal end evolution of Kitten. They are often found in the private sector as workers or pets. They tend to be playful, affectionate, mischievous, proud, and fastidious.
Kittens and Catgirls were one of the breeds to fiercely battle Mao during the Rebellion, and one particular Kitten (Tianna) refused to kill her former Master's human girlfriend despite Psi-dyke mind control and being nearly broken through dominating Tamings.
The Catgirl was popular as a breed prior to this, but after this story broke it surged to unheard of levels. Another Kitten, Kimiko, was credited with helping to bring down the mad Tamer Happosai. As a result of all this good press, Catgirls are considered to be "darn near human" and mistreating a catgirl in public is likely to bring public outcry.

PIDGEOTA, the Mile-High Pokégirl
Type: Near Human
Element: Flying
Frequency: Uncommon to Rare
Diet: Insectivore, some plants
Role: couriers, scouts
Libido: Average (High with Tamers they like)
Strong Vs: Bug, Fighting, Plant, Ground
Weak Vs: Electric, Ice, Rock
Attacks: Gust, Swift, Taunt, Move By, Quick Attack, Feather Shuriken, Scratch, Preen, Cuddle, Caress, Feather Blizzard, Wing Buffet
Enhancements: Minor Levitation, Lightweight Frame, Freejoints (hips and knees), Prehensile Feet, Improved Respiration, Endurance, Atmospheric Comfort, Enhanced Vision, Aerolocation
Evolves: None
Evolves From: Pidgette (normal)
The Pidgeota is the final form of Pidgy, evolving from Pidgette after having enough successful fights and enjoyable Tamings. She again gains several inches in height, usually standing over six feet now. The feathers on her arms are quite long and firm, letting her firmly catch air under them. She barely gains any larger bust, but her feathers feel even softer than before, and become much more sensitive. Expensive pillows are made with Pidgeota down. She also gains some strength, enough to be able to carry a single person aloft with her.
Pidgeotas are very fast flyers, tucking their free-jointed legs closely up under them as they soar. They can climb high into the sky, and enjoy circling around mountaintops. Their vision sharpens to a very high level, allowing them to read newsprint from over a mile in the air. They can also sense where their opponents are due to their sensitive feathers being able to detect minor movements of air, letting them fight effectively even when blinded. Combined with their Endurance, Improved Respiration, and Atmospheric Comfort abilities, a Pidgeota can track her prey for miles, often times without it ever knowing she was watching them.
Pidgeotas can be quite lusty with Tamers they like. Their feathers are much more sensitive now, giving them a greater appreciation of being stroked and petted during Taming. Now that they have larger wings, they are able to perform their most enjoyable carnal act: Taming in the air. The way this is done is that a Pidgeota will use her Minor Levitation to raise herself off the ground, and then wrap her legs around her Tamer's waist, while he holds her torso (under her wings so they aren't restricted). Flapping furiously, she'll take off into the air while he Tames her, rising as high as she can. When she finally climaxes, the Pidgeota will hold herself rigid, letting both of them fall into a steep dive, the feel of her Tamer and the wind rushing over her sensitive feathers helping to send her into a series of multiple orgasms. Despite how dangerous this may seem, there has never been a reported death of any Tamer doing this activity, since a Pidgeota always hangs on tightly to her Tamer (and the Tamer naturally never lets go of her), and she always, no matter how lost in her pleasure she is, pulls up before she hits the ground. Many Tamers enjoy the exhilaration and feeling of danger, but just as many other Tamers are terrified by the experience and never do it again.
Pidgeotas are strong fighters. Their Gust attack is like a localized tornado, being able to easily bowl even a ready opponent over. Her Quick Attack lets her fly very low for short distances at speeds that make her seem like a blur.
Feather Blizzard is used more as a distraction move than anything else; filling the area with blinding feathers that obscure her opponent's view. Wing Buffet has been known to knock down trees if used long enough.
Feral Pidgeotas tend to leave most other beings alone, just soaring and enjoying the feel of being above it all, the wind rushing over their bodies. Threshold girls rarely become Pidgeotas directly, but those that do take it very well, sometimes considering their new flight abilities and powers to be almost worth the trade off.

NAGA, the Snake Pokégirl
Type: Animorph, Near Human
Element: Poison
Frequency: Uncommon
Diet: small animals, usually eaten whole and live
Role: rarely utilized, their diet and habits tend to spook people off. They are also (like Starboob and some other varieties) lesbian in their tastes, making them difficult for male Tamers to work with.
Libido: Low (no particular high points)
Strong Vs: Plant, Bug
Weak Vs: Ghost, Rock, Steel
Attacks: Leer, Poison, Wrap, Wrestle, Sex Attack 2, Bite
Enhancements: Extreme flexibility (bones are actually hard cartilage with softer areas), poison injectors under the nails and in the fangs can deliver one of four poisons - selectable by the Naga. Hypnotic gaze that only works on specific types (mainly mouse, bug, or bird types) of pokégirl.
Evolves: Garter (Very Near Human type, weaker but more popular, mechanism unknown), Arbust (normal; entire body becomes mildly poisonous and can spit venom), Sideviper (rare, only encountered as a Feral; battle stress), Lamia (Venom Stone)
Evolves From: None
Naga is an unpopular choice for a pokégirl. Due to a lack of hard bones, her strength is usually blunted unless she can hug or wrestle with her foe. Her main attacks are through the use of the various poisons her body normally produces. Sleep venom is the usual attack, which is how she keeps her prey from struggling as she swallows them. There are also many other problems with having a Naga, such as their cold-blooded nature making them susceptible to opponents with Ice attacks.

LICKINGTONGUE, the Tongue Pokégirl
Type: Very Near Human
Element: Normal
Frequency: Rare
Diet: human foods
Role: pleasure and assassination
Libido: High
Strong Vs: Ghost
Weak Vs: Fighting
Attacks: Lick, Buttwiggle, Tongue Lash, Tongue Wrap, Kiss of Death (normally not used)
Enhancements: Increased Physical Attributes, Enhanced Tongue
Evolves: None
Evolves From: Unknown/None
LickingTongue was, during the war, originally used for assassinations. They look just like a normal human being except for a slight pink tint to their skin which is barely discernable. They where usually sent out to seduce high ranking officials with their beautiful looks and then kill them with their tongue. A LickingTongue's tongue is able to grow to great lengths, usually only being able to extend 3-5 feet, they can be trained to make it grow up to near 10 feet in length. The tongue is capable of rapping around things and crushing them (some of the original assassins would rap their tongues around men's necks and crush it). The tongue can also be coated with a special sticky saliva that comes from small sacks on the insides of the Lickingtongue's cheeks.

~Kid Loose Productions~