Nielsbrooke was an approximately two day trek from the hustle and bustle of Celaboner city. It wasn't a straight path through, one had to first head east along route 7 towards Sapphron city for about a day before they would eventually find the road north to Nielsbrooke. Or at least they would if they looked closely enough.
Little more than a swath cut through the dense forest with the ground tamped even by a pokegirl. The road had earned the nickname of 'the road that sometimes wasn't' due to the curious habit of the local feral population to try and regrow the trees that had been cut down. Numerous attempts by the city to get funding and clearance to widen the path and install sonic transmitters to drive away the ferals had been rebuffed leaving the city to rely almost entirely on aerial transport for trade.
"You know when I read that ferals sometimes grow trees that block the path this isn't quite what I had imagined." Jack eyed the thick wall of trees that barred his and Lilith's way. Barely a foot of space separated the thick oaks from one another and the branches grew entwined making a thick canopy that let no light through.
"How are they even alive it seems like there is no way they could all get enough sunlight and water the way they are clumped together like that." Lilith placed a hand against the trunk of a tree to test its strength but it remained steadfast.
"Sunlight I have no clue but for water it looks like whatever grew them could take it from quite a distance away." Jack picked up a small handful of what was supposed to be hard compacted soil that made up the road. Instead it was only dust that literally blew away the instant he laid his hand flat. "The ground has been sucked dry. I imagine the only reason the rest of it hasn't blown away is the trees provide a windbreak."
"We have some time before we are supposed to be in Nielsbrooke. Would it be worth trying to hunt whatever did this, master?" Lilith stood up from her spot on the ground and Jack noted that even after kneeling in the dusty road she had not a speck on her.
"It's probably not worth it. Almost any plant type is capable of this, even a Boobisaur if you gave her a few hours. Now if the trees were more twisted and the forest flora dead it would mean a Cardian had been through here and that would have been worth hunting down."
"Will we just be walking around it then, master?"
Jack considered their options for a moment.
"We have no idea how far back this wall goes and there may be more than one of them. Possibly with ferals laying in wait. Or actual thieves come to think of it. That would be a rather smart ambush." He eyed the layout of the wall again after this thought struck and it suddenly seemed quite the likely proposition which simply clinched it. "There is no hope for it then we'll just have to fly there. "He removed Jessica's pokeball from subspace and called back without turning around, "Ask your question I can literally feel your curiosity from here."
"Why didn't you just fly there to begin with?"
"Is my company really so horrible?" Jack faked indignity.
"Of course not master I was just-" She stopped and scowled once she saw Jack laughing. "Actually yes your company was horrible."
"I suppose I'll just have to live with that fact I suppose. Anyway the reason we didn't just fly there is because we weren't in any particular hurry and Jessica hasn't had a chance to practice flying with a person on her back yet."
"She shouldn't have any problems. That sort of thing is supposed to be instinctual."
"Supposed to be. Three words that can be more dangerous than a Widow. While I doubt she would have much problem simply carrying me the problem is what if we were to encounter a feral or worse a group of them in the air. I'd rather her not try aerial combat with a companion until she's had a chance to practice it in a non-lethal environment." A flock of Pidgy streaked through the air and Lilith had to acknowledge the point. "That will be your next responsibility as alpha by the way."
"What will me my next responsibility master?" Lilith asked with confusion.
"Training Jessica in the art of burdened aerial combat of course. Eventually I expect you to take over all of the harems training schedules but you'll have to start somewhere. You'll need to have a plan for how you expect to teach her by tonight by the way." Jack glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and was glad to see she was actively thinking of a plan rather than simply reeling at her new responsibility.
"Are there any restrictions on how to teach her, master?" Lilith rubbed her fingers over her chin as she thought. An unconscious act she had adopted from Jack, much to his amusement.
"Anything reasonable is yours to draw on if you need it and if you can make a convincing enough argument then unreasonable things may be available as well." He threw the pokeball already in his hand and it overturned to reveal a fang toothed grin bearing Nidogg.
"Hello master. Alpha." Jessica's tongue flashed out of her mouth as spoke giving her a slight lisp but allowing her to taste the air for any unseen presence. "I thought we wouldn't be released until we were in Nielsbrooke?"
"That was originally the plan yes but it would seem the way is blocked and we'll need to fly there instead." Jack ran a finger along the rough scales above her eyes and she gave a soft hiss of pleasure.
"Of course master but I do not think I can safely carry the both of you."
"Not to worry. You'll just be carrying me." She leant down and Jack leapt onto her back settling into the correct position before pulling out Lilith's pokeball and addressing her, "Remember I expect you to have a plan by tonight."
"Yes master." She replied as her body dissolved into red particles and vanished.
Jessica experimentally flapped her wings a few times to test the air before she began to fly in earnest. His bond with her wasn't as developed as with Lilith but he could still tell she was intensely curious about what Lilith was supposed to be planning. That was okay though, she would find out soon enough.
She steadily made her way north using the spots where the tree canopy was thinnest as a guide for where the path was supposed to be.
Jack kept a careful eye on the forest always searching for any hints of an attack from below; ever ready to order Jessica to ground for better positioning. Other than a few brief flashes and twitches in the canopy nothing materialized, making the trip a thankfully quiet one.
"Master I can see the town now. It looks like it's about 10 miles away." The wind robbed her voice of most of its power but he still caught the gist of what she was saying and tapped her shoulder twice to tell her to stop.
"I want you to find a clear spot on the road and land." He said once she had fully stopped.
"Yes master." The sudden jerk of renewed acceleration jarred him but he otherwise didn't react as she renewed her flight. This time at a slight angle to clear the last of many walls of trees placed along the road.
The soil on this side of the path was dust too. A fact that became all the more apparent once they dipped below the tree line and all the air displaced by her wing beats tore through the ground to send a cloud of debris everywhere and Jack into a coughing fit.
"Well at least now I look the part of a well traveled tamer." Jack said, once the coughs wracking his body had subsided.
"The ground was much dustier than I thought it would be." Jessica bowed her head contritely.
"I should have remembered that it would be like that before I ordered you down." He had no problem admitting his own culpability when it was actually warranted. She hadn't felt the dirt where as he had and even watched a pile in his hands blow away.
"Will you be bringing Lilith back out now, master?"
"No, I think I'll keep the pleasure of your company awhile longer." She gave a fang toothed smile and continued along the trail with Jack still on her back. As they approached town the path began to widen considerably with the trees running alongside the road thinning out until the massive smokestacks of the town came into view.
"Now Jessica do you remember what I told you for when we arrived here?" Jack her pull to a stop as the iron wrought gates came into view.
"That there will be a large, most likely hostile celestial presence and that we aren't allowed to start any fights with them." She recited from memory.
"And what are you allowed to do?"
"We can taunt, cajole, and otherwise annoy them all we want. Should they start a fight we are to respond defensively until authorities arrive or you order otherwise."
"And what is the most important rule?"
"Should we feel your life would be in danger we are to disregard all other rules and respond however we feel most appropriate." A small drop of venom coalesced at the tip of her fang and fell to the ground with a soft hiss.
"Exactly right." He stroked an eye ridge and she leant into his caress. "Be particularly on guard if you see any Warrior Nuns or Seraphs about."
He jumped off her back, mindful of where her tail lay, and led the way through the gates and into the gatehouse.
"Welcome to Nielsbrooke. Do you have anything to declare or anything illegal in your possession." A security guard asked without glancing up from his magazine.
"No."
"Alright go on through then." The guard gave a negligent wave of his hand and Jack simply stared at him.
"Was that really your entire security set up. Simply ask?" Jack couldn't help it, he had to ask.
"The town is 10 miles in circumference with only one gate. Anyone with anything to hide would just walk through the 9 miles of unpatrolled border. Quite frankly I'm mostly just here to give directions." He finally looked up and saw their dirt covered state. "I take it you tried to land on the road?"
"What gave it away?" Jack asked dryly patting his chest and sending a small cloud into the air.
"Happens all the time. People don't realize that with the road in that condition you have to be more careful. Though you may want to be more careful in town as well."
"Oh and why is that?"
"A rather large number of celestials have taken residence in town and they won't like your Nidogg."
"And I would care what they think why?"
"Oh good you're not one of those new age touchy feely tamers. That's all that seems to come by these days talking about equality this and feelings that. It's enough to make you sick." The sneer on his face was gone in an instant and he handed a small card to Jack. "That's the directions to a place with nicer facilities you can stay at. The pokecenter is a crap hole. It's slightly farther away but it was designed that way. I'd also stay away from the west district if I was you. That seems to be where they are congregating."
"Thanks for the tip. Try not to work too hard now." The guard merely chuckled and waved his hand lazily as they walked out the gatehouse.
"We won't be needing this me thinks." Jack crumpled the small piece of paper into a ball and threw it to a nearby trash can, scowling when it rode the rim and fell off.
"Will we not be staying there master?"
"Of course not. The west district is where all the action is apparently so that is where we'll be staying."
The duo made their way through the city streets, heading for the west district pokecenter. Jack kept a careful eye on their surroundings as they traveled. Several celestial pokegirls could be seen, almost always in the company of a tamer. A few weren't and he took care to note the buildings where they milled about. A small rundown grocery store, an electronics boutique, and even a tobacconist. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason but he noted it all the same.
Their attempts to observe him were also catalogued, if only for how bad they were. Head turns when there was no reason, frequent glances, a few had dropped any pretenses at all and simply glared as they passed.
"Master that Warrior Nun seems close to attacking us." She moved slightly ahead to put her between Jack and the Warrior Nun to his approval. The Warrior Nun had a wicked looking scimitar strapped to her thigh and was caressing the pommel while glaring at them.
"Keep on guard and remember your orders." Jack fixed a smile to his face and waved politely. The Nun barred her teeth in return and clenched her hand around the weapon. Jessica's serpentine form tensed next to him and for a moment it looked like there would be a brawl. A Megami appeared from the tobacconist the Nun was near and rushed over to whisper something into her ear.
Jack couldn't make out the words but he saw her eyes flicker just before she let go of the sword and he saw a group of children playing where she had glanced.
"Pity. I had rather hoped to have started our mission but with children there that Nun won't fight."
"I would have liked that as well master." She loosened her stance slightly but remained between him and the two pokegirls, carefully watching their every move.
"You may just get your chance at a fight after all." Jack muttered, the Megami began to head in their direction.
As she approached he noted the rather vibrant shade of short metallic pink hair and the floral sundress.
"Hello sir. My name is Amber." She stopped and watched him but he merely stared back as she waited for his name.
"My name is Sir Haddington von Schultz the third, but you may call me sir." Ordinarily he would have left without saying anything but he was curious as to whether she already knew who he was or not.
"Well Mr. Sir," He mentally gave her the point on that one and vowed to never use sir as part of a fake name again. "If you hadn't noticed my friend Anastasia has a bit of an issue with your Nidogg and I was hoping you could see your way to maybe having a different pokegirl out." She batted her eyes and smiled demurely at him and Jack made a show of thinking it over.
"Okay." He said at last, receiving a stare from Jessica but an even wider smile from Amber.
"Oh thank you. I told Anastasia that you could be reasoned with if we just asked politely." It was odd being next to someone so sugary sweet. Most people lasted a few moments like that in his presence before his biting words and malicious aura turned them. The last person that could do it was Karen Mercer, the valedictorian from Ridgeville.
"Well there is certainly no harm in at least asking and if there is something I can do to make someone's life better I figure why not." He smiled patronizingly, something she either didn't catch or ignored completely.
He flicked his wrist in a single practiced motion and a pokeball appeared to bring Chandra into being before it just as quickly disappeared.
Amber stared in shock at the Dark Lady who scowled back and reached for the savage looking whip at on her hip until Jack placed a hand on her should and she stilled.
"Now Chandra be nice. This is our new friend Amber and in order to make her friend Anastasia more comfortable I am swapping you and Jessica." Another beam of red light rent the air and Jessica disappeared with nary a sound. "Remember to be nice." An undertone of steel laced his voice and his grip on her shoulder tightened.
"Yes master. I'll be nice." She muttered something unintelligible after but he ignored it. There was only so much you could expect from a Dark Lady in the presence of a celestial after all.
"That's not what I meant." Amber cried shrilly and everyone on the street turned to look and Jack smiled and waved in return.
"You said she didn't like Jessica so I swapped her out. What more do you want from me?" He feigned confusion and watched as Anastasia started making her way towards them. "You may want to have another chat with your friend by the way. She looks upset about something."
"She's upset because you brought a Dark Lady out you monster." That her voice could get even more shrill wasn't a bet he would have taken but apparently he should have.
"I'm not a mind reader you know. How was I supposed to know you didn't want a Dark Lady around. Why I bet even those children over there would be easier to please." He made sure his voice was loud enough to carry and Anastasia came to a grinding halt.
"You have to get rid of her." Amber grabbed his arm in a vice-like grip and looked up imploringly at him.
A blur of motion from the side caught his eye and he saw Chandra's fist flash as she struck Amber's elbow. The sickening crack of bone shattering echoed in the street and Jack watched dispassionately as Amber collapsed to the ground clutching the arm that flopped uselessly.
"That's enough Chandra. I'm sure she has learned her lesson about touching her betters." He briefly considered whether or not to egg the situation on even further when the decision was made for him.
Anastasia came rocketing from behind to slash out at Chandra who teleported away, but not without receiving a large gash on her right hip from the surprise attack. Jack hadn't escaped unscathed either. He had been close enough that Anastasia knocked him to the side as she had charged and now the same sickening crunch of bone snapping echoed as she landed on his arm. The arm he used to access his pokeballs in subspace he dimly realized through the haze of pain. The technique was possible with his other arm but the surge of pain every time he took a breath kept throwing him off.
“And now O kings, be ye wise. Be admonished, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest He grow angry, and ye perish in the way for His wrath may quickly kindle.” Anastasia chanted in an unearthly timber and her twin braids began to float as she and her sword took on a heavenly white sheen.
"You will not hurt master." Chandra cried back defiantly and grabbed the leather whip from her side and unwound it with a flourish.
The Warrior Nun laughed hysterically and charged forward; using her blade to deflect the flashing whip away from her body. Every time she got close enough to strike she would but Chandra merely teleported away only to repeat the process when none of her ranged attacks had any effect.
There had been few people on the street before but now it was deserted, save the combatants, Jack and the sobbing Amber. Sirens echoed through the air as the police made their way to the battle.
Grey dust began to swirl down the street and Jack thought he was beginning to hallucinate, which would have been a sign that his injuries were far more than a broken arm, but at the side he could vaguely make out several pokegirls making the dust and another blowing it in their direction.
His eyelids began to grow heavy as he inhaled the powder on its way to the ground. His left arm ran through the same motions he had been attempting without success one more time and at last the familiar discharge of magic resonated through him as all of his pokeballs clattered to the ground just before his vision went black.
/o.O.o\
If one were to take a walk down Plymouth street in Nielsbrooke one may or may not find a flat expanse of wall with a single discolored spot that looked vaguely like a cat's eye if they squinted and turned their head. If one were to press that spot three times in rapid succession while thinking the phrase 'sic semper tyrannis' then one might be able to gain access to a narrow alley that stank of urine. And if one were to proceed all the way to the end, careful to avoid the trip stones set out in the cobblestone path then hypothetically they might see a purple haired slip of a girl enter the single iron door that existed in the alley.
"Was your mission successful?" Dressed in well worn clothes behind a tattered wooden desk sat Elsie Farren. Born into poverty she lived a life of little excess, even after rising to incredible success as an adult. She never forgot the pain of hunger and how she wished that just one of those affluent people would feed her rather than dress well. Her only self allowed excess was a single unlit cigar that never left her lips.
"Partially successful. I was only able to convince him of Anastasia's innocence." Anna was a Drow Zee that had long since grown disillusioned with the world and spent her days with Elsie trying to help the alliance change it.
"How were you only partially successful? If you had enough access to him to change his memories one way then why not the other." She placed her chin over clasped hands and devoted her full attention. Anna was not someone that went against the mission for no reason.
"As you know I don't actually alter memories. All I do is convince them subconsciously that they saw something differently. As long as the new situation is reasonable enough then it essentially becomes the true past for them. Someone with strong enough defenses-"
"Which he didn't have."
Anna caught the unstated message of get to the point and continued.
"The problem was that he refused to believe that he ordered the attack on Anastasia and Amber. He's here for something that precludes direct violence and he knows that he wouldn't do it."
"So you were unable to do it then."
"I could have done it but that sort of thing leaves too much of a mark behind. If he really is here on behalf of SEELE they would look for it and an agent of theirs with serious memory modification would be enough to bring the league in force."
"Relax Anna I'm not questioning your skills but I need all the information I can get for the report." She nodded and relaxed slightly. "What were you able to accomplish then?"
"He think that after breaking Amber's arm for grabbing him, his Dark Lady attacked Anastasia in a rage. It doesn't keep him out of the picture but it will save Amber and Anastasia."
"That's something at least. Neither one deserves what would happen should it get out that they started the fight. The orphanage will be lacking as it is until Anastasia returns. I really wish you had succeeded with the original mission though." Elsie sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose in an attempt to soothe the growing ache.
"It was impossible." Anna replied stiffly.
"I know but unfortunately it means we go to the next step of the plan. The higher ups want an agent in his harem."
"There is no guarantee for the agent you know."
"Yes but that is a risk they are willing to take." She leant back in the chair. "I know you don't like doing this sort of thing and if you want I can reassign you to something else. There are always plenty of jobs."
"If I didn't do this then you would send someone else to do it, wouldn't you." Anna asked quietly.
"Yes. It has to be done. No matter how we might feel about it."
"Then I'll do it. Not doing it personally doesn't change the fact that it's wrong. It just makes me feel less guilty. And makes one person more so."
"I don't want to do it anymore than you do but sometimes we must do what we feel is wrong, because it is right."
"May what we do in the name of good never visit us in the dead of night." Elsie watched Anna make her way back out into the alley. Leaving her alone with her thoughts once more.
/o.O.o\
Sleep powder was a very curious substance. While quite potent and capable of inducing sleep in seconds it almost never produced any side effects, even allergic reactions were virtually impossible.
The almost never came from people on things that prevented sleep. Dangerously high levels of amphetamines, certain magical effects, or the extremely rare variant of the night walker bloodgift.
Those with the regular version had an increased resistance to the powder but would eventually succumb to Morpheus. The extremely rare variant however made one physically incapable of sleep. Since the powder couldn't function as intended it would build up in the victims system until it reached critical levels and sent them into a chemical induced coma. Bringing them out was simple enough and took no more than a few hours but extended exposure to the toxin could induce an overdose.
Jack slowly opened his eyes only to slam them shut at the intense light that greeted him. His entire body ached but the pain was most concentrated in his right arm, ribs, and ankle. Sharp pangs every time he drew breath encouraged shallow ones and he lay still, simply breathing and trying to remember how he got there.
The incessant beep of the cardiac monitor made trying to wade through his muddled memories impossible and he opened one eye as little as possible to find it and turn it off.
"Careful now you almost unplugged your EEG." The NurseJoy took his hand from what he had thought was a cardiac monitor and put it back at his side. "Though I suppose now that you are awake it isn't necessary anymore." With his eyes tightly shut he couldn't see her move but she must have as that horrible beep subsided and he was left in blissful silence.
"Can you tell me your name?" Or not.
He opened his mouth to respond but was seized by a racking cough. A plastic cup was pressed to his lips and he greedily drank down the ice water.
"Let's try again. Can you tell me your name?"
"Jack Rivers." He hoped she would leave him alone but no such luck.
"You've been in a chemical induced coma for the last few hours Mr. Rivers. We managed to remove the poison that caused it shortly after admittance but left you to wake up on your own. It's much safer that way."
"Why was I in a coma?" He tried opening a single eye but shut it just as quickly.
"We were afraid of this. Often times recent memories become muddled in this type of scenario. What is the last thing you remember?"
"I remember walking into town and then I think I remember a Megami. Now why was I in a coma." It was decidedly an odd feeling to try and demand something when you had to keep your eyes tightly shut for fear of light.
"You were involved in an incident earlier. The police blanketed the area in sleep powder to stop it, but you had a reaction due to your blood gift. When the chemical builds up it-"
"I'm well aware of how my gift functions. Now where are my things, I'd like to leave." In particular the lack of pokeballs was a major cause for concern.
"Your belongings and pokegirls are being kept at the front desk." She emphasized the difference and Jack simply nodded in acceptance, not having the inclination to argue. "You'll be able to get them when you are discharged. Which will be tomorrow most likely."
"I want to be discharged now."
"Mr. Rivers you almost died from a sleep powder overdose. On top of that you have three fractured ribs, a broken ankle and your right ulna was essentially shattered. We expedited the healing with magic but if you stress them before they can fully heal then they will break again. Quite frankly the only reason you are awake right now is that it would be too dangerous to sedate someone so soon after a coma."
"I'll be fine." He slung his legs off the side of the bed only to wince as his ankle hit the floor.
"You really should listen to the nurse Mr. Rivers. Your ankle doesn't look like it will be up to taking your weight for awhile." Jack looked up to see a middle aged man that had gone prematurely bald. A crooked grin lit his face and was accentuated by the scar running to his ear. "I'm officer Daniels and I'm here to ask you a few questions about earlier."
"The police in this town sure work fast. In Viridick you could wait half a day for one to arrive but you managed to get here not even ten minutes after I wake up."
"We get paged anytime a person of interest in an ongoing investigation wakes up. And for some reason someone important wants this case dealt with as quickly as possible." He shrugged his shoulders at his inability to change the situation.
"I'd like to get this over with as quickly as possible as well. I have things to do after all."
"I sincerely doubt that gimpy." He ignored the glare Jack sent his way and took a seat beside the bed. "Now in as much detail as possible tell me what happened today Mr. Rivers."
"First I got up and had a piece of toast. Then I brushed my teeth and helped Lilith brush her hair." He stopped when he saw the officer patiently recording everything he said, "You're just going to write it all down?"
"Of course. You have things to do after all, so everything you say must be important." Jack's left eye twitched in annoyance. There were few things he hated more than being beaten at his own game.
"The Megami grabbed me. Chandra knocked her off and attacked the Warrior Nun."
"Chandra is your Dark Lady, correct?"
"Yes."
"Witnesses report you having a Nidogg out shortly before the altercation. Why did you switch the two."
"The Megami asked me to."
"The Megami asked you to bring out a Dark Lady."
"Yes." Essentially true but it was always the qualifiers that got you.
"And you agreed."
"Correct again."
"Now why would you agree to do that?" Daniels cocked his head in puzzlement.
"It's just the sort of thing I do."
"You, shining bastion of good will, agreed to do something a Megami asked just because."
"You're making me blush." Jack deadpanned and grabbed the cup of water left on the table.
"Last question." Daniels leaned in close and stared directly into Jack's eyes. "Is there anything else you would like to report?"
"No." He had never been vulnerable to authority figures attempts to ferret out the truth before and the fact that Daniels seemed better at it then most didn't change that fact.
"Pity." The officer tucked the tablet back into his pocket and stood up. "It has been decided by those in a higher pay grade that what happened will be declared a no fault incident and everything let go. Unless you want to press for a more thorough investigation on your behalf of course."
"That won't be necessary. All I need is my things and I'll be fine."
"Then I hope if we ever meet again it will be under different circumstances." Daniels offered his hand with a smile and Jack scowled when he saw he would have to stand to shake it.
It took everything he had not to cringe as pain shot its way up his leg when he stood but he shook his hand.
"You have to get back into bed. You're not healed yet." The nurse tried to gently press him back into bed but he smacked her hand away.
"I don't need bed. What I need is to be discharged."
"You can't be-" She started but was interrupted by Daniels.
"Let him go. After all he knows best."
Jack ignored the urge to flip the bird and slowly made his way out the door with the nurse hesitantly following. Every step brought a new wave of pain but he ignored it as best he could as he made his way the thankfully short distance to the front desk.
"Jack Rivers. I want to be discharged and I want my things."
"Sir you can't just-"
"I want my things." The day's events had gotten to him and he reflexively drew on his aura as he spoke. His eyes darkened and the lights seemed to dim as stared down at her. "Now."
The girl jumped and began to furiously dig behind the counter for the box containing his effects.
"You really should be nicer to people. After all you never know when you'll need their help." Daniels placed a hand on Jack's shoulder and he resisted the urge to rip it off.
"I'll try to keep that in mind." He took the box and slowly limped out the hospital without a backward glance.
Active Harem
Species Name
Succubus Lilith
Dark Lady Chandra
Nidogg Jessica
Katie NurseJoy
Indigo League Badges: Pewtit, Celaboner
Blood Gift: Affinity(Infernal), Nightwalker
Blood Curse: Rebel
Remember to read and review. You can most likely expect the next chapter in about a month as I want to work on my other stories.